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[Flash@TMB]

Unexpectedly we are ahead of schedule with the refurb. All the interior walls are down and it's now easier to get an idea of how the place will look when it's finished.

It's not always clear how a job like this will turn out, because sometimes you run into structural issues when you strip everything back. Thankfully we've cleared all the major hurdles and, since some breaks went our way, the end result should exceed the original vision.

The new stage looks like it's going to be 2 feet wider than the outgoing one in addition to being positioned centrally across the room, as opposed to stuck in the corner.

The capacity appears to be dramatically increased without being altogether obvious.

For a while it looked like there might be a pillar positioned in front of the RHS speaker stack (uugh) but when we opened the wall up there was no pillar as such, so the space is now wide open and pillarless (PHEW).

The chimney turned out to hold 3 flue pipes, 2 of them very historical. The removal of these has created another 12sqft of floor space.

It will be possible to see the entire stage from every where in the bar apart frm the toilets and the very extreme LHS of the room, although the LHS will still have a view of at least 3/4s the stage.

The dancefloor is fuckin massive for a venue of our size and positioned right in front of the stage.

I beggining to think that the place is really going to be transformed by all this.

Watch this space.


Flash

[Flash@TMB]

As of yesterday the builders managed to claw out another foot of width on the stage. The new stage is now going to be 3 feet wider than the old one, and is positioned exactly central. This will make a huge difference.

[VEYDEN]

Cant wait to see the diff from B4... Should be cool.

[Rachie]

I swear my friend actually cried when he realised you were closed last Friday...

[Flash@TMB]

I felt the same way last time the bar was refitted back in '94. It seemed like it was closed for months, my social life was in ruins

Worse was when The Venue shut back in '89. This was in the pre Palace era and would be the equivalent of Moshulu closing down. The place was at the peak of it's powers, this was a disaster for us.

I also got a real pang when I saw that RGU had transformed the Sloe Club into a student shop. You expect these places to be around for ever.

Let your friend know that we are about a week ahead of schedule and this is only the second week. The target date for reopening wass the 14th Feb, but looks likely to be much sooner.

It'll be worth it, everyone will be blown away!

[Rachie]

I will pass it on. No fear.

[Rob Karloff]

Sounds ace People will have two kickass alt venues within spitting distance of each other!

[Flash@TMB]

Having venues close together is a big boost. People move between them throughout the course of the evening, and know in advance that they have the option of an easy change of scene.

Although the new layout is classic mini venue, The Moorings will continue to operate primarily as a drinkers bar. We have approached 4 promoters and intend for each of them to run 1 Saturday per month, putting on a mixture of local bands from Aberdeen and new bands with good reputations from all over.

On Fridays we will continue to host the Wrecking Ball.

On Sundays we intend to offer short term residencies to local bands and also stage a jam session but in a slightly modified format.

We may occasionally put on a bigger act on the odd weeknight, but aside from that weeknights will be given over to the jukebox. The jukebox will be broadcast through the new PA, the sound of the new PA is HiFi quality and it sounds just as good a low volumes.

The bar will continue to offer it's selection of specialist spirits, bottled beers, and draught products.

[Startex]

Flash.

Curious about the moorings becoming a hot new venue. What's the PA specs and would you be interested in staging goNORTH events if the possibility was explored? Also, what's the license. Are you going for a 14 + over?

[Flash@TMB]

Yes we are interested. (virtually) All bookings for the bar will now be done through promoters as opposed to direct. Promoters will be entitled to charge ticket sales or door money, but all expenses must be covered by that pot.

Live music will occur on Sat and Sundays. Sundays the bar will organise it's own jam session / open mic affair. Fridays we stage The Wrecking Ball, this is a Rock Night with a DJ. Mon-Thurs we operate as a bar only, but would be happy to stage a big name act if the opportunity arose.

We are looking to work with 4 promoters and assign each a particular Sat of the month. Any 5th Saturdays will be set aside for special occasions.

The stage is located centrally against the far wall. It's on two levels, 24" front 4' deep and 39" 6' deep riser. There's about 15 feet of width between the stacks. The stage has tremedous visual impact as it faces the front door from the other end of the room.

The PA is a consists of Funktion One speakers and MC2 amps. This uses 2 double bass bins located under the front of the stage, with the top cabs mounted high up inside custom made units. There are 2 twin delay speakers about 2/3rds the way down the room where the sound from the main stacks has dispersed too far. These only comprise high and mid, as the bass travels just fine.

One stage we have 6 wedges and a subwoofer.

The desk is a Yamaha DM1000.

There's a Behringer graphic will built in NA and the main compressor/limiter is a Behringer Composer Pro.

Total power is 25KW. Yes that's TWENTY FIVE so read that part twice.

Our workable capacity is a comfortable 200.

Get in touch with me and we can arrange something.


Flash