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[saf-one]

ALOT of people here seem to forget that the Lemon Tree was more than just a fukin Venue!

Bitching and moaning about how badly it was run, rubbish gigs etc. - (Its was on the up as far as I was concerned with a new programmer in place and next years gigs/events looking great.)

What some people dont realise is the place had its hands tied with years of council bureaucracy and bullshit.

Because it was part financed by the council the Lemon Tree had to be part run and manged by the council therefore meet certain rules, regulations and rubbish. From everything to its finance, having to put the bar out to tender, to mangement to health and safety - alot of crap implemented by the council which just wasn't conducive with a profitable business. - Oh and never giving them a 3am licence didnt help.


Also the council expected the Lemon tree to employ the likes of a Youth development officer etc. And run theater workshops for the disabled, youth projects, kids plays, dance shows, music workshops etc etc
ALL OF WHICH LOSE VAST AMOUNTS OF MONEY!!!!
But help Keep kids off the street, enrich disabled peoples lives, help and encourage the youngsters into music and is overall a benefit to the community as a whole.

Then the council turns round and say = "oh why you not making money?!!"

"WTF!!!!!!! Because you have implemented so much BULLSHIT, restrictions, bureaucracy, rules AND we're trying to meet the remit that its impossible to make money!!"

Its a disgrace the council has let it go under. Also the way they spun the initial story about how they offered a loan but the L tree board said no. Making them out to look like the bad guys.
It didnt mention anything of the fact they were making the volunteer board personally viable for the said 250k!

[u70jc]

I think that there should be a fundraiser for the LT staff, not for bailing out the Lemon Tree.

[saf-one]

Originally Posted by Chris

BBC NEWS | Scotland | North East/N Isles | Arts centre bid wins commendation

Interesting article.

Hmmmm'

"""The multi-million pounds plans include areas for film screenings and music performances plus workshops and dance and TV studios. """

Dont we have all those things already?!!!

Film Screeneings = in the Massively under used belmont cinema.

music performances plus workshops and dance = Hmm THE FUKIN LEMON TREE, foyer, dance space etc!

TV studios = why the fuk do we need a TV studio. Im sure we have somthing like this too and closed because no bastard used it.

Aberdeen city council are a bunch if idiots . Why ruin a lovely green space in the city centre for facilitys we already have or dont need.
Looks like another denburn health center esk 'modern' monstrosity waiting to happen.

[Lucky Rathen]

Originally Posted by Dave

If this is actually happening, it's going to be a seismic occurence in Aberdeen, we're already desperately short of decent venues and to lose one of the best is gut-wrenching. I'm actually not joking about the Needles and The Lorelei, I'd put them on in Exodus if needs be, but in the long term the vacuum this is going to create is going to be massive.
.

I think quite the opposite - wouldn't you say that perhaps the reason it's shutting down is due to a upsurge of decent venues in Aberdeen? ie Tunnels and Moshulu? Two similar sized venues capable of attracting the same calibre of bands is bound to have taken a bite out of their profits, plus with Moorings and Drummonds having bands on eveynight, the days of just having Drakes and the Lemon Tree are well in the past. The kinds of gigs 'Shulu has been putting on in the last year or two have been shitting all over the LT.

[Alan Cynic]

There's never been a band I liked playing in Moshulu (too many for my wallet in the Lemon Tree).....but that's an age/taste thing. Moshulu as a place is OK...but if you fall down on that carpet you're there for life!

[Ollie]

they need to sort it out long term. Lemon tree is an important aspect of the arts and music scene

[Bigsby]

Originally Posted by Hogisbald

The AECC has been getting its act together..the Lemon Tree hasn't.

The council subsidy for the AECC is much, much more than the Lemon Tree ever got.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Elwood Cobra Kai

I think quite the opposite - wouldn't you say that perhaps the reason it's shutting down is due to a upsurge of decent venues in Aberdeen? ie Tunnels and Moshulu? Two similar sized venues capable of attracting the same calibre of bands is bound to have taken a bite out of their profits, plus with Moorings and Drummonds having bands on eveynight, the days of just having Drakes and the Lemon Tree are well in the past. The kinds of gigs 'Shulu has been putting on in the last year or two have been shitting all over the LT.

The thing is, the Lemon Tree is a far superior venue to both Moshulu and the Tunnels in almost every respect. In terms of comfort, service, accessibility, sound quality, cleanliness and atmosphere (on both busy and more relaxed nights) it beats both of them comfortably. What they've been lacking is the wherewithall to challenge other venues in terms of volume and quality of gigs due to their situation.

If the Lemon Tree were to be run as a business, along the same lines as Moshulu or The Tunnels, and didn't have to worry about their commitments to community programmes and workshops and experimental theatre and all the other loss-making projects it housed it would give them a serious run for its money.

I still believe that the loss of the Tree, even in its present state, will be a massive loss to the music community. It offers something that neither of the other two venues can, and that's a touch of class. Moshulu and the Tunnels are both grungy and very basic in terms of facilities. That's OK for folk like us, we're used to it, but the Lemon Tree often put on gigs that attracted a different, more, er, (diplomatic hat on) respectable crowd than the usual Aberdeen gig-goers. I can't imagine seeing Chris Hillman, or Bert Jansch, or Odetta, or indeed anyone of that status in the folk/blues/jazz/country sector being staged effectively with the same sense of occasion anywhere in Aberdeen but the Lemon Tree. That's a very big market which is perhaps divergent from the Aberdeen music scene as we see it, but the loss of the LT will be keenly felt in those circles.

[Lucky Rathen]

Originally Posted by Dave

The thing is, the Lemon Tree is a far superior venue to both Moshulu and the Tunnels in almost every respect. In terms of comfort, service, accessibility, sound quality, cleanliness and atmosphere (on both busy and more relaxed nights) it beats both of them comfortably. What they've been lacking is the wherewithall to challenge other venues in terms of volume and quality of gigs due to their situation.

If the Lemon Tree were to be run as a business, along the same lines as Moshulu or The Tunnels, and didn't have to worry about their commitments to community programmes and workshops and experimental theatre and all the other loss-making projects it housed it would give them a serious run for its money.

I still believe that the loss of the Tree, even in its present state, will be a massive loss to the music community. It offers something that neither of the other two venues can, and that's a touch of class. Moshulu and the Tunnels are both grungy and very basic in terms of facilities. That's OK for folk like us, we're used to it, but the Lemon Tree often put on gigs that attracted a different, more, er, (diplomatic hat on) respectable crowd than the usual Aberdeen gig-goers. I can't imagine seeing Chris Hillman, or Bert Jansch, or Odetta, or indeed anyone of that status in the folk/blues/jazz/country sector being staged effectively with the same sense of occasion anywhere in Aberdeen but the Lemon Tree. That's a very big market which is perhaps divergent from the Aberdeen music scene as we see it, but the loss of the LT will be keenly felt in those circles.

Fair point, and well made. I did enjoy my visits to the Lemon Tree but they had become few and far between recently, probably once or twice a year. It was a nice venue but they simply didn't offer many gigs I wanted to go and see, and on the rare occasion they did, I didn't fucken know about it.....

I can see what you mean though, when I think of the ab-music scene I think of grungey venues and rock bands, there's not really anywhere else in town that will put on all the jazz / country etc- though how much of a crowd did they attract? (having never attended I have no idea). The fact thats it's gone tits up so spectacularly doesn't suggest they were making much from those nights either. For all I know, there could be a bunch of old farts on another message board somewhere else complaining that they haven't been putting on decent folk gigs for the last two years.

[Alan Cynic]

This old fart can confirm they've been putting on great (and well-attended) folk gigs