Elsewhere, 32 towns and cities will host 200 hours of festivities including an aerial tightrope walk in Coventry, a world record sing-a-long attempt in Manchester and the UK's biggest tea dance in Plymouth.

BBC: Weather hampers New Year revelry

The light of a full moon shimmered on the plain, and from time to time they saw a rabbit jump, but Pereda paid no attention, and after a long spell of silence he softly began to sing a song in French that his late wife had liked.

NEWYORKER: The Insufferable Gaucho

Keita has traveled a long road to sing this song, both in his life experience, and with his music.

NPR: Salif Keita Savors 'La Difference'

His team-mates were queuing up to sing his praises as they basked in the glory of a long overdue trophy success.

BBC: Peacock struts at Old Trafford

The road has been a long one, starting with her standing on a milk crate as a child so she could sing solos in the church choir.

CNN: Country singer aims to break down barriers

The billionaire has long been known to sing in public, including a cameo turn as '80s rocker Axl Rose in a 2010 video made by Geico Corp.

WSJ: No Song, or Dance, for Buffett

From the day we met, he was Mr. Sets My Brain on Fire, then he evolved for a long, lovely spell into Mr. Makes Me Sing REO Speedwagon in the Shower, but there was always an undercurrent of Mr. You Are Seriously Pushing Your Luck Here, and I eventually found myself doing the ol' step-ball-change with Mr. Why Am I Banging My Head Against This Wall?

NPR: Kristin Chenoweth Is 'A Little Bit Wicked'