FatHand

PM me his details, Ghost of Bongo are in the market at the moment. Could a least have a jam with him. Oh yeah, is he willing to travel for gigs? Colin

Come along to the Lemon Tree this Saturday night to get your fix of Granite Soul with SOULED ASYLUM. Try something different this weekend. 'Souled Asylum' are a soul/R&B band comprised of local musicians. With 4 singers, a 6-piece brass section and rock solid back line, they produce a non-stop, full blooded live stage-show which is without equal at local level. They mainly play in and around the Aberdeen area at public, private, corporate and charity events and attract a strong following of loyal supporters Careful rehearsal ensures quality performances with an energetic and polished stage show. Come along to one of their shows to experience an authentic live and gutsy soul atmosphere. http://www.souledasylum.co.uk

That sounds like an ace night. Not enough soul and funk in Aberdeen. If you like live soul music, check out: http://www.souledasylum.com

My first gig with them last night and it was amazing fun! If you weren't there, come along to the next one and I guarantee you will dance like a lunatic!

Aka-Ska http://www.aka-ska.com Come along and listen to classic Ska tunes and raise money for Staff and students from the University of Aberdeen who are participating in theTwin Gardens Expedition to the Harenna Forest in Ethiopia this summer,helping to develop conservation strategies for the unique flora andwildlife of this inhabited region. Also throwing their cap down to raise the funds for this worthy cause are: Cheap Dirt Open Air Tumble Dryer Children DJ Dan providing a reggae, roots & ska backdrop. Other bands tbc. Tickets are 3 at the door; 2 in advance from any aka-SKA band member I'll get links to the other bands in a minute.

Would you come and watch a bunch of quality Glasgow bands playing in Drummonds on a Friday night?

Yeah, sorry! Just go to Drummonds, Tunnels, Lemon Tree, Moorings, Kef, Snafu.... whenever you get a chance. It may be hit or miss but at least you can get drunk and find a gem or two while you are at it. It is all on the GC Guide - an excellent resource for finding out what is on and usually with links to the band web pages. Oh yeah, if you like spontaneous folk music, there are a group of musicians that meet up in various pubs around Aberdeen. Last time I saw them was a while ago in the Blue Lamp. Never forget the Blue Lamp either. There are often really good bands, and groups that play there but overlooked due to the lack of advertising (check GC guide for this). Colin

AKA-Ska on 29th May

For soul, try "Souled Asylum" - covers of classic stuff with great musicians and huge line up. http://www.souledasylum.co.uk this is just a plug my own bands opportunity so come along to see Ghost of Bongo as well. We are kind of funk orientated at times. Musical preview on the following link: http://www.myspace.com/ghostofbongo Cheers Colin

It'll be next year at some point I think, so you have my full ska attention until then!

Gentle reminder

I'm sure they do, but there is something good about having control over a gig when it is out of town. I've had some very bad experiences where I've ended up having to organise everything myself anyway - no drum kits, no sound engineer turning up, absolutely no promotion, mysterious venue changes, too many bands on the night and only getting a 10 minute slot - but on the day of the gig. This is not fun, it is stressful. It has meant having to make contacts fast but with reliable people rather than promoters you don't really know. I think the hardest thing will be agreeing on dates to play and finding a suitable vune.

Fair enough. I'm going to give it a trial run anyway. Won't hurt anyone to try. As I said, in the worst case, it would be a chance to play outside of Aberdeen and If I have a foot in the door and can set up these type of gigs for other Aberdeen bands I will do my best. As the guy from black matter mentioned, it will take time to warm up. Do be warned, as Stuart Maxwell says, you don't play down in Glasgow to make a profit. It is all about the thrill of playing somewhere else, a bit of a road trip. It is fun and that is how it should be viewed.

Ah the bubble has been pierced! Any constructive ideas are welcome. I would rather this not be one of those things where negativity keeps rubbing down a genuine wish to set something of this nature up. I am open to suggestions, help and encouragement. If you want to get involved then its a case of the more the merrier. It should also be something that is fun. That, after all, is why we play in bands!

That is a good question! It will be all about the promotion. Glasgow has a different mentality than Aberdeen. Get a good night in a good venue and people will come anyway - gig goers. Whenever we play down in Glasgow now, the crowds get bigger as people remember the name of the band. Gradually have more people we know who would not miss a gig we play down there. This should work for any band of some quality. Plus, with all nights of this nature, reputation for providing quality will also help. May not hit the spot the first time but should develop as people suss it out.

Definately epic and definately a lot of hard work! It could possibly give Aberdeen bands a chance to take part in events like Go North that exist in other cities.

This really has to be an ongoing project rather than one off events like Go North. It also has to be supported and organised by the people it is actually going to benefit - people in bands. I have recently had an idea that might help with increasing the exposure of Aberdeen bands outside of Aberdeen. You hear a lot of complaints about Aberdeen music scene being overlooked by music industry types and that they never come here (except to some degree at Go North). The way I see it is that they have no reason to if the only place your band is famous is Aberdeen. You must go to them if they don't know you exist. If you want to make headway, you also have to be able to draw a crowd wherever you play. This involves playing outside of Aberdeen. I know a lot of bands are already doing this but it may help if this is occasionally done as a collective. An Aberdeen Bands night in Glasgow/Edinburgh once every couple of months (or alternating) might be a way of showcasing some of the quality that exists in Aberdeen. It may also open up doors for some bands to play more regularly down there and for some bands just to get down there in the first place. This is also good way for bands/musicians to raise their game. Whenever we've played with high quality bands, especially outside of Aberdeen, the pressure and excitement have pushed us to another level. A good crowd can also make the atmosphere more intense which again makes you play with more energy. These are elements which could make a night like this work. It would also show that Aberdeen has a thriving music scene and give us the opportunity to make contacts that would not normally be possible. Is this something that anyone would like to try out? Any suggestions for getting it to work/venues to approach? In the worst case, it'll be a chance to play somewhere other than Aberdeen.

Great, its always good to know people's real names!

That is not a problem. It's only fair if you are lugging a kit there as well! We are playing with a borrowed drummer at the moment. His band are playing in one of the Go North events kind of early on. Do you guys mind playing last so we can sound check as late as possible? Need to check up on the details of his gig. If he can't make it for sound check, maybe tubthumper could bash out a beat for us? Colin

Yeah, thats the right idea. Unfortunately its usually me that has to pick up all the shit! I think it would be a mistake to even charge at the door unless you are needing the money. All the Go North stuff is free which will make people think more than twice about paying to get in! What time are you taking your kit down tubthumper. I'll easily give you a hand with it if you like.