saf-one

I resent the implication that I am Aberdonian.

I also resent your half-baked logic.

This thread is entitled "Tips for 08", and by it's very nature, a 'tip' does not need an explaination, as it is just a suggestion.

So someone coming on here and saying simply, "I expect big things from [insert band name]", constitues a tip-off.

And if you are implying that people on this website seem to think that their opinions are being taken as gospel by the world at large, then I think you should have a wee lie down.

This thread is a chance for us all to try and pretend to be cool, and predict the future.

Why don;t you have a wee go yrself? You might like it!

.

Ditto Mr Dedalus. Well said.

Stripey - Chill out and dont dare imply I, or anyone else on this forum, is a "twat" or a "gromless fucker".

So who do people think are the bands/artists we will be hearing alot more of as we venture into 2008?

Seen as I've started this nonsense I'll go first.

I fink we'll hearing alot more from;

Vampire Weekend

Holy Fuck

Black Kids

Operator Please

MGMT

Dan le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip

Yo Majesty

Pete and the Pirates

Does it offend you yeah

Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong

Muscles

Ebony Bones

Friendly Fires

The Teenagers

Your Turn.

Please note;

Although I listed these bands doesn't mean I necessarily like em.

Its just a list of folk I think we're going to hear more of whether we like it or not.

So who do people think are the bands/artists we will be hearing alot more of as we venture into 2008?

Seen as I've started this nonsense I'll go first.

I fink we'll hearing alot more from;

Vampire Weekend

Holy Fuck

Black Kids

Operator Please

MGMT

Dan le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip

Yo Majesty

Pete and the Pirates

Does it offend you yeah

Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong

Muscles

Ebony Bones

Friendly Fires

The Teenagers

Your Turn.

I heard it was Kode (used to be Drum). Which is alot more likely.

But you know what rumors are like.

I'd be very surprised if it was Drummonds.

Im sure someone will post soon to put the record straight.

They weren't by the way. Apparently they should be in at some point today.

Right all sorted.... apparently some confusion between One Up staff over them.

Fixed now so they do 100% have tickets!!!

Earl of sandwich some has toooo

They weren't by the way. Apparently they should be in at some point today.

Hmmm there seems to be some confusion between One up and Moshulu regarding this as One up were requested to start selling em on Monday.

Mr Milne is on the case.

Kinda getting sick of the thai hookers, can we mix it up a bit this time?

I was thinking that for the same money as the 2 high end ho's you could get a gaggle of aberdeens finest.

I would quite like a shot at that one in the wheelchair and maybe the one who is so disabled she doesn't even know what's going on. I heard that her mother sits in the corner of the room reading a book whilst the action is taking place. (No joke btw i actually heard that)

you're getting the vibe i'm after here, right?

Seriously though i am well looking forward to this night, i was gutted i missed the last one.

I'm gonna make sure it's like the wild, crazy party in your pants that everyone is invited to.

Everyone except those 'Adventures In The Beetroot Field' guys, i hate them....

Can just imagine you now rocking about Moshulu with a gaggle of Abdns finest pasty faced, greasy, junkie whores... we'll get you a fur coat, a walking cane and a massive gold goblet for your pimp juice to complete the look... oh and a ramp set up for the disabled ones too.

Or not, went into One Up just now and they didn't know anything about this.

Will try the box office on my way home.

Just back in Adeen and this has been brought to my attention by a few folk.

Sorry about that mate. Did you have any bother at the box office?

Will find out what the deal is with One up and will let y'all know asap.

We had it first. That's all im sayin.

But of course you can G dawg.

Usuall 6 bottles of Cristal and 2 Thai hookers in your rider too aye?

Heard great things. Annoyed I couldnt make it.

Aye its at the Tunnels.

Great stuff your up for it.

I think the line up is pretty much full now. Need to check. Details to follow shortly.

Helping some of the peeps @ the Lemon Tree put together a Save the Lemon Tree gig this Saturday (daytime!).

Looking for folk to get involved. No Money obviously but there'll be press, radio and possibly TV coverage of the event ...pleanty of flyers/posters doing the rounds too.

Pm me please if your available. Cheers

I thought about asking santa for that

but then decided I much prefere a Kitten with lazers for eyes.

Two Adventures in one night! What more could you ask for?!!!

Hi Everyone,

Been holding off posting because of how personally sensitive I feel about the loss of the Lemon Tree and all that it means to me. It's hard to read some of the comments here that seem naive at best, if not purposefully hurtful. But since I post here for all my shows, I guess it would be bad manners to not at least comment once on the situation.

First, this isn't going to be some balanced statement, not at all. I had a very personal stake in the Lemon Tree even if I saw it's flaws and handicaps. I've never worked with such amazing people. And seriously, I'm not just saying this out of some 'the ship is sinking, say something poetic' sensibility...It's sincere when I say that the staff there are some of the most genuine and committed people I've ever worked with.

But having said that, I do understand many of the comments on here, from the 'don't pump money into a leaky bucket' to the 'best venue Aberdeen's ever seen' and all the rest. At one time I've had most of those thoughts as well, and of course if you're only exposure to the Lemon Tree is as a music venue, how can you not see it in only these terms?

But much of that changed when I actually started working there. Now,---I know that's not an option that everyone can have and isn't the point, but once I was exposed to the shear volume and diversity of work that was occurring as a result of the Lemon Tree, I realized that most of my opinions were being formed from a very narrow perspective and misconception of what the Lemon Tree actually was and I had no idea of the scope and amount of work and love that the L.Tree pumped out to the community.

Yes, I said love and it might sound ridiculous hippy bullshit, but it's not, and I ain't no hippy-most of you who have strayed into one of my concerts know that. Yes there were amazing shows, yes famous artists played there, yes it's the top venue for local bands to aspire to etc. But that doesn't hold a candle to what the real value of the Lemon Tree was and what it was really achieving quietly and constantly behind the scenes, not asking for any pats on the back or accolades etc.

And that includes the drama groups with disabled people that wrote, performed, and organized their own plays. Want to talk about quality and commitment? They were top notch, and the Lemon Tree and staff were there to provide that experience to sold out audiences. Would a local bar do that? There's the seniors group that met every week with more enthusiasm than any local band I've ever seen...and not just choir and brass bands (who are there and excellent as well) but full on rock bands with 70 year olds giving it there all-who's going to step up to support these people? There's the puppet shows with world famous artists performing to hundreds of children who will always remember these events. There's the Thursday lunchtime gigs for up and coming bands. And there's the Youth Music development that I was coordinating that had some of the best tutors in Aberdeen giving lessons for free in the absolute worst areas of town to kids that really, I mean, REALLY needed it, need some hope and some opportunities.

This is what we've lost, this is the true shortsightedness of the council, this is what we should all be gasping about. I can't tell you how many times I was at one of these centers when kids had to freeze in their tracks until the community leader ran out to remove the drug needles littered across their path...Who's going to support these kids and provide them with opportunities to 'get out'? I mean, it goes on and on and on the amount of work like this that was pumping out into the community. And not a fucking word about that in the paper or on the radio...no, just 'Isn't it a shame we won't get to listen to xyz' on Wednesday nights.

So yeah, I think it sucks we lost a great venue, but I think it's a tragedy that we lost an amazing arts organization that really cared about it's community and the people it served, all the while having to labor against a mistaken identity as a commercial music venue. With the closing of the Lemon Tree I've spent most of the week telling the tutors that they won't be able to work with their kids, telling the community centers that their music programs are over, and next week I get to go and meet with all the kids across the city we've worked with and personally to try and explain why all of a sudden it's all over, and that's just my little slice. All the other arts development workers will have to do the same with their communities too.

The Lemon Tree was much more than a center or venue, it was a heart pumping support out into the community and supporting groups that really needed it, in ways that no other arts organization was doing, and none as well.

Bill

Here here!! I agree 100% and glad someone from "the inside" has made it clear to everyone the great work the Leomn Tree did.

PS Why move the thread?

So due to the sad circumstances we've moved Adventures Close To Home to MOSHULU for Dec 22nd (The Needles last ever gig + Copy haho ACTH DJS and Giles walker)

Not ideal but dem it the breaks....and the Moshulu team are sound and know what there doing so it should be a great night.

this is fucking pish, the lemon tree was awsome! sssssssso many legends have played / performed there. ohhhhhh those days of radioskool - best of my life. fact.

But by the looks of the efforts been made by supporters and staff hopefully this will only be a temporary close down.

Radioskool was class!! Loved that night.

We can only hope.

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.

Well said.

(PS. I apologise for some of the bad language in my previous posts - Its been a stressfull day)

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.

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!

Total disaSter!

The Lemon Tree was much more than a Venue.

All the youth development work, arts work, local band support, disabled theater groups etc etc all huge loss makers - no much wonder they couldnt balance the books.

The line up for for gigs and events for next year was looking great too due to the efforts of the new booker Isla who had the place on the up.

I could rant on forever about it but I need to shoot off....all in all - Its a massive shame.

As for Adventures Close To Home - We're currently working out our options, hoping to getting our fancy lights back, and will be back for sure.

Currently working out our options after the Lemon Tree disaster.

Watch this space.

Unfort the gig is 18+

So far Copy Haho will be on around 10.45 and The Needles around 12.