Sep 172013
 

With thanks to Suzanne Kelly.

Gerry Jablonski

Gerry Jablonski and The Electric Band have long been one the most successful acts to come out of Aberdeen.

Their first 2 albums on Fat Hippy Records have sold to classic blues rock fans all over the world and both albums have had to be re-pressed to supply demand for their music!

On the 23rd September Fat Hippy will release their stunning third album Twist Of Fate.

Recorded whilst the band were fighting for their future as drummer Dave Innes (Midge Ure, Marillion, Fish, Bay City Rollers) battles with stomach cancer there is real passion and pain on this album and it takes the band and their electric music to a whole new level.

The band will play Aberdeen’s Lemon Tree on September 20th; other upcoming dates include 21st September at Non-Zeros, Dundee and 27th September in Edinburgh’s Voodoo Rooms.

With tours of Poland, Germany and Czech Republic already booked for 2013 and 2014 to launch the album and interest from the USA growing every day you should probably catch this band whilst you can!  More info:

www.gerryjablonskiband.com
www.fathippyrecords.co.uk

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Sep 172013
 

Get InclusiveFeatWith thanks to Maree Adams.

The Aberdeen Arts Coalition are hosting Aberdeen’s first ever inclusive arts festival on the 20th and 21st September 2013.

The Arts Coalition are a partnership of arts and disability organisations who are working together to promote opportunities for adults with learning disabilities to realise their hopes and dreams, and to flourish within the arts. The Festival will showcase a wide range of talented acts, featuring people with and without disabilities.

Acts at the two-day Cowdray Hall festival will include Leanne Smith, Tonik, Mixit, SCAT and 5th Avenue – an eclectic mix of North-east culture , including disco, pop, jazz, blues, and Scottish traditional and new music.

The festival will also showcase comedy from John Scott, along with art, film and photography exhibitions from established local artists. Satellite events will be staged in various venues in the city, including Gerry Jablonski and the Electric Band at the Lemon Tree, Dan Leckie at the Atheneum, and live comedy, art, dance and drumming workshops.

GET INclusive has been organised by the Aberdeen Arts Coalition with Aberdeen City Council, and is supported by many local and national artists and bands including world-renowned percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie.

Dame Evelyn Glennie said:

“GET INclusive aims to increase awareness and to see beyond the disability. Projects like this have had an enormous impact on the lives of people who need to be included and given purpose”

Sep 122013
 

A day of special events will be taking place in Aberdeen to celebrate International Day of Peace on Sunday 22nd September. With thanks to Jonathan Russell.

LovePeaceSpecial activities will be taking place across the world. To inaugurate the day the Peace Bell is rung at the United Nations. The 21st September is the opening day of regular sessions of the United Nations.

The events in Aberdeen are being run to promote the ideas of peace, constructive aid and conflict resolution in opposition to war, poverty, the arms trade and nuclear weapons.

The day will start with an event organised by Karina Stewart yoga teacher who for the seventh year running along with yoga communities across the world will lead a moving meditation of 108 sun salutations.

This will take place at 10am in the morning at Camphill,  Murtle estate at Bieldside and will be followed by a light lunch and meditation ,music and dance with the Kirtan Scotland band. Funds raised will go to the Aruncahlum school in Southern India

In the evening Aberdeen and District Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament will be holding  a concert of uplifting music and poetry at the Blue Lamp.

Musicians appearing include  The Sylver Bridal, Lauren Hart/ Simon Gall / EuanAllerdyce, Kirsty Potts, Dave Davies and Friends and Yoleah Li on violin

Poets will include Richie Brown and Catriona Yule. Fiona Napier will be reading poems by local peace activist Hilda Meers. Karina Stewart will be leading a peace mantra.

Funds raised will go to Aberdeen and District Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

For further information contact Jonathan Russell Chair Aberdeen Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament mobile 07582456233 and for the Yoga and Kirtan events Karina Stewart on 07974010465

Sep 102013
 

The Local and Chemikal Underground Records are pleased to announce an extensive RM Hubbert UK tour to celebrate both his winning the Scottish Album of the Year Award with Thirteen Lost & Found, and the imminent release of his follow up album. The tour includes a date at The Tunnels on Saturday 28 September.

Thirteen Lost And FoundHubby has released two albums to date, First & Last (Chemikal Underground), nine solo instrumental guitar pieces heavily influenced by flamenco rhythms and techniques. First & Last was written to help Hubby deal with the death of his parents and return of chronic depression. It’s not as depressing as that sounds.

Thirteen Lost & Found (Chemikal Underground) allowed Hubby to reconnect with old friends with whom he’d lost touch for ten years.

It features collaborations with talented Scottish musicians including Aidan Moffat (Arab Strap), Emma Pollock (The Delgados) Alasdair Roberts, Luke Sutherland (Long Fin Killie, Mogwai) and Hanna Tuulikki (Nalle, Two Wings).

Hubby’s long-time collaborator and friend, Alex Kapranos (Franz Ferdinand) produced.

More details are awaited on his third Chemikal Underground album due for release on 27 September, comprising five instrumental guitar pieces and five songs exploring the idea of letting go, moving on and acceptance.

A prolific live artist, Hubby has toured extensively over the last three years, headlining and supporting, among others, Mogwai, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, The Twilight Sad, Franz Ferdinand and Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat, King Creosote.

On 7 March 2004, Craig B played a solo show for IMP at Drakes.

It’s still talked about today so it’s exciting news that he will be Hubby’s support.

In February 2010, from the ashes of Aereogramme, The Unwinding Hours emerged, with the release of their debut album, almost exactly three years to the day of the release of  Aereogramme’s My Heart Has A Wish That You Would Not Go.

It was, unsurprisingly, brilliant. Reinvigorated and afforded the time necessary to create an album with which they were happy, Craig B and Iain Cook delivered a collection of songs as emotional, dynamic and intelligent as anything Aereogramme produced at their very best. Their second album Afterlives was released in August 2012.

28 September
The Tunnels
Doors 1930

Advance Tickets £8 plus booking fee. £10 on door
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/230364

www.chemikal.co.uk
www.rmhubbert.com
http://www.facebook.com/interestingmusicpromotions

Aug 302013
 

Woodend Barn Box Office and Marketing man David Officer brings Aberdeen Voice readers news of three upcoming shows featuring some of the finest folk talent around.

Jonny HardieOld Blind Dogs

Old Blind Dogs barely need any introduction to north-east folk fans. Jonny Hardie’s group have been wowing audiences around the world for over 20 years and show no signs of stopping.
We’re delighted to welcome them back to Woodend Barn on Friday Aug 30th at 8pm and can guarantee good times!

Tickets are going fast for this and we strongly recommend buying in advance.

Jenna Reid and Kevin MacKenzie

We’ve got a brilliant concert on at Tarland’s MacRobert Hall on Friday 13th September at 8pm with Jenna Reid and Kevin MacKenzie.  Shetlander Jenna will be familiar to anyone who’s seen Blazin Fiddles in the last few years but she’s a fantastic fiddler when on her own too.  She’s accompanied by guitarist Kevin MacKenzie for what should be a fantastic evening of traditional music.

Luke Daniels and Lauren MacColl

Luke Daniels and Lauren MacColl join forces on Friday 20th September at 8pm to present a night of expressive and inventive traditional music from two of the most gifted players around just now. Not to be missed.

Looking further ahead, we’ve got State of the Union (Boo Hewerdine and Brooks Williams) appearing on Friday 4th October at 8pm, and a very special evening with Rachel Sermanni in the intimate surroundings of Migvie Church in Logie Coldstone on Saturday 2nd November at 8pm – a concert which will have limited tickets available.

Aug 122013
 

By Renee Margaret Slater.

The ‘In-Tent On Action Against the Bedroom Tax in Aberdeen’ at Union Terrace Gardens event is to highlight the plight of those faced with paying the Bedroom Tax in our city. We want the event to emphasize what may happen to public parks when tenants are faced with eviction due to housing debts.

The Bedroom Tax has been brought in by statute to charge people who have spare bedrooms, who are on Housing Benefit and reside in social housing.

Those people in such properties will have money deducted from their benefits – 14% for one bedroom and 25% for more than one.

This legislation discriminates against those disadvantaged through low wage and those who are unemployed. ‘In-Tent on Action Against the Bedroom Tax in Aberdeen’ will highlight what could happen when those who cannot afford to pay the Bedroom Tax are evicted from their homes.

This government wants tenants in Housing Associations & Council Housing (i.e. not private) who are on Housing Benefit to downsize to smaller properties. There aren’t the smaller properties for families to move into. This situation is common throughout the UK. One of our members in Aberdeen Against The Bedroom Tax has acquired information from ACC on the actual waiting figures regarding one bedroom properties in the city.

The number of people on the waiting list for one bedroom properties is 3,855. The number of one bedroom properties available to rent is 89.

Something is definitely not adding up here. This situation is repeated throughout the UK.

In-Tent on Action Against the Bedroom Tax in Aberdeen is supported by a large group of people directly affected by the consequences of the legislation, plus Aberdonians not affected but disgusted by the effects of a government that has no concern about the outcome of its benefit cuts on the poorest sections of our community.

Unlike the poll tax that affected everyone – this Bedroom Tax legislation only affects those on housing benefit residing in Social Housing.

Moving To Other Premises:  One of our members who has an autistic son – has been told by Aberdeen City Council that she must leave her 3 bedroom house in Torry to move into 3 bedroom premises in Manor Avenue. There is no logic here. Apart from the massive upheaval it will bring for her and her child, she still has to pay the bedroom tax, only it will be without family and friends’ support.

We have one major obstacle to overcome. We are faced with government propaganda machine that brands ordinary people on benefits as scroungers. They have a ‘Jeremy Kyle’ attitude to claimants that assumes that ‘everyone is on the take’.

Discretionary Housing Payment is to help those who have paid for the Bedroom Tax from their general benefits – money that is used for food, clothing, travel etc. Discretionary housing payments are worth only a small fraction of the total cut in housing benefit and are often only temporary, meaning problems can go unresolved. In Aberdeen, the City Council has decided not to repay the money to people affected but to add the cash to their Council Tax.

Many people who have to pay the Bedroom Tax are now in arrears with their rent. Once tenants are in arrears they are excluded from the exchange list and therefore cannot move to smaller properties. A vicious cycle ensues, forcing tenants into making painful choices.

This legislation has forced people to juggle paying rent and buying food for their children. Many have resorted to food banks.

We wish to ensure that ordinary citizens in Aberdeen are not fooled by a Coalition Government which accuses friends and families of ‘ripping off the taxpayer’. For every so-called scrounger there are 9 others suffering from this insidious Bedroom Tax. The In-Tent on ‘Action Against the Bedroom Tax in Aberdeen’ – in UTG’ is an opportunity for Aberdonians to see for themselves what may happen when we begin to see our parks occupied by ordinary people who have been evicted due to arrears.

Our protest is a message to both Aberdeen City Council and the UK Torry LibDem Coalition – Do not be complacent – your legislation WILL force families onto the streets!

Those expected to turn up on Saturday 24th August are people already paying Bedroom Tax, Those In arrears due to Bedroom Tax and supporters who see their friends and neighbours suffering from this insidious legislation.

This will be a peaceful and symbolic gesture from the people of Aberdeen in support of those affected by the Bedroom Tax. Similar actions are happening in over 30 cities throughout the UK.

We request that people be peaceful & to keep the park clean. We expect tents, gazebos, food parcels soup kitchen & some musicians. There should be speakers explaining the effects of the Bedroom Tax on the population. There will also be stalls with information..

 ‘In-Tent on Action Against the Bedroom Tax in Aberdeen’

 Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen

 24th August 2013

 12 noon – 8.00pm

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Aug 012013
 

Oil And Glass Gallery and Workshop invite you to the opening night of New Grads ’13, an exhibition by selected 2013 graduates of Gray’s School of Art, at 7pm – 9pm on Friday 2nd of August.

During the exhibition, which continues until 18th August, pieces will also be showcased in a number of windows in Torry Town Centre, including the constituency office of MSP Maureen Watt, Gail Goodfellow Solicitor and Eternal Video/Janie Barclay photography.

The exhibition features works by Rachel Kerr, Annirose Ansbro, Harriet Voar, Laura Mcglinchey, Michael Astbury, Lauren Milton, Gemma Balfour, Tomasz Wrobel, Amy Brown,  Holly Aitchison, Jon Nicolson, Yasmin Oskooi and Grant McNicoll.

Oil and Glass Gallery and Workshop
64 Victoria Road, Torry,
Aberdeen
AB119DS
shelagh@oilandglass.co.uk
01224 905134.
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Open Tues, Wed, Fri: 10am – 6pm,  Thurs: 10am – 8pm,  Sat 10am – 5pm, Sun 12pm – 5pm.

Aug 012013
 

With thanks to Kirsty Young.

Artists in Print: 21 Years of Collaboration celebrates the wealth of prints made, in collaboration with numerous acclaimed artists over the last 21 years, by Peacock’s own master printmaker, Michael Waight.
Over 30 prints by prolific artists such as John Bellany, John Byrne, Ian McCulloch, Toby Paterson, Barbara Rae, Peter Randall-Page, Ralph Steadman, Frances Walker, Sylvia Wishart, Donald Urquhart, plus many more, will be shown together for the first time in this exciting exhibition.

Michael Waight has curated this show to give printmaking enthusiasts, fans of Peacock Visual Arts and the communities of Aberdeen a chance to see how he has spent the last twenty-one years in the Peacock workshop and in whose company.

The impressive list of artists included is by no means exhaustive – Mike having worked with over fifty artists on over three hundred editions and proofing projects.

To accompany the exhibition, Peacock Visual Arts will host a gallery tour and printmaking workshop, dates and details of which to be confirmed.

A gallery walk-around and informal talk with Michael will also be held at the gallery, to coincide with Impact 8 Conference (Dundee) and the Scottish Print Festival.

Michael Waight, Printmaker comments:

‘Putting this show together allows me and Peacock Visual Arts very publicly to acknowledge our thanks to every artist who has, and continues to, come our way. The artists are the brave and tolerant partners in these collaborations, entrusting ideas to us with faith and understanding that we can do justice to their vision.’

FEATURED ARTISTS 

John Bellany

John Bellany has inspired a new pride in Scottish artists; a fact duly recognised when he received the CBE.

His paintings are in the collections of major museums and art galleries throughout the world, including the National Galleries of Scotland, The Tate Gallery, The Museum of Modern Art, New York and the Metropolitan Museum, New York.

 

Adam Bridgland

Adam Bridgland (b. 1979) lives and works in London. He graduated with a Masters in Fine Art at the Royal College of Art in 2006 and has since exhibited widely in the UK, Europe, Asia and America. The BritishMuseum, the V&A, UBS, Boeing Asia and Debbie Harry are just some of the collectors of Adam’s work.  Described as ‘your favourite leisure time artist’, Adam embraces the everyday object finding inspiration from the colouring book image, travel guidebooks, and scout camping paraphernalia. Kitsch and humorous, yet equally poignant, Adam’s work rejoices in the mundane and is an investigation of the notion that holiday-making is just another ordinary everyday activity and that the holiday is essentially a fantasy that rarely lives up to our expectations.

 

James Furneaux (1935 – 2013)

James Furneaux was born in Aberdeen on 7th June 1935. In 1965 he became a lecturer at AberdeenCollege, where he taught art and design for 23 years, before taking early retirement in 1988 to concentrate on his own art.Furneaux was most noted for painting Aberdeen’s lesser known buildings and landmarks from unusual perspectives, and this early training in architecture was often apparent in his depiction of the city’s buildings.

 

Ralph Steadman

Ralph Steadman was born on 15 May 1936 in Wallasey, Liverpool.

He is renowned for his political and social caricatures and cartoons
and for illustrating a number of picture books, for which he received several
awards.

His work is sought after all over the world.

 

Exhibition Runs: 3 August – 14 September 2013
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 9:30 – 5:30pm
Entry: Free to exhibition. Charges will apply to events and workshops.

Aug 012013
 

With Thanks to Jonathan Russell  and Aberdeen CND.

Tuesday 6th August sees the 68th anniversary of the first ever explosion of a nuclear weapon when the United States dropped a nuclear bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. This was followed on the 9th August by the explosion of a further nuclear bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaki.

Aberdeen and District Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament have organised an event to mark the occasion and remind people of the potential horror of the use of nuclear weapons.

200 peace lanterns will be released onto the river Dee to commemorate the 200,000 men, women and children who died following the nuclear explosions at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Many more died later from injuries or prematurely from the horrendous health effects that followed.

The first speaker at the event will be Christian Allard North East Scotland Regional Member of the Scottish Parliament and member of the international body Parliamentarians for Nuclear non-proliferation and Disarmament. Other speakers include Fiona Napier Chair of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Chic Lidstone from the Work Place Chaplaincy Scotland,  Gabrielle Anderson from the Quakers, Euan Benzie of the Radical Indepence Conference and Jill from Aberdeen Against Austerity,

Poems will be read by Tommy Campbell from Unite and Aberdeen Trades Council. Kirsty Potts will provide some rousing songs.

The last speaker rounding of the event will be the well known Labour Party councillor Len Ironside

The memorial event which is open to all the public to attend will take place on Tuesday 6th August at 8.30pm by the side of the River Dee at the Fishermans hut off Riverside Drive (between the Bridge of Dee and Duthie Park –  see map below)

Jonathan Russell Chair of Aberdeen and District Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament stated:

“For most of us nuclear weapons have been a part of the world we live in for all of our lives. We can as such often put into the back of our minds just how horrific these weapons would be if used. As part of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty and the New Start treaty of December 2010 nearly 50% of these monstrous weapons have been destroyed. 

“There are still however 19,500 Nuclear Weapons in the world – enough to destroy our world several times over. Nuclear Power Stations, if hit directly or if they caught fire in a nuclear strike, would add to the conflagration.”

Date: Tuesday 6th August 2013, at 8.30pm
Venue:  the Fisherman’s Hut on the River Dee
(by Riverside drive )

For further information please contact Jonathan Russell,
Tel 01224 586435
Mobile  07582-456-233
e-mail jhamiltonrussell@hotmail.co.uk

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Jul 262013
 

With thanks to Dr Paul Schlicke.

The exhibition on 19th century journalism, trailed in Angela Joss’s recent article will be on display in the foyer of the Duncan Rice Library at the University of Aberdeen for the remainder of the summer.

It really is worth visiting for an insight into how the goings-on at a time of great political upheaval were documented.

In a time where there is an overbearing 21st century political and constitutional question to be answered, the exhibition provides a means of gauging how journalism has changed, even if the fervour of political argument is no less intense.

The exhibition was brought to Aberdeen largely due to the considerable efforts of Dr Paul Schlicke who is also working hard to have a Dickens Fellowship established in the city. He has been in touch with details of the autumn programme which looks to be extremely rewarding for Dickens addicts.

Dr Schlicke says,

Our schedule for autumn is now firmed up, and you should all get cracking with your reading of what is arguably Dickens’s greatest novel, Bleak House.

“Taking the cue from members who participated in the seminars on Hard Times in spring, each of the meetings will be prefaced by an informal lecture.

“I’m delighted to announce that Grahame Smith, Professor Emeritus from Stirling, has agreed to give the opening lecture. Professor Smith is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen, and for several years has been external examiner for the University’s Department of English. He is also past president of the international Dickens Fellowship.

“He has written books, articles and reviews on Dickens, most notably Dickens, Money and Society (1968), Charles Dickens: Bleak House (1974), Dickens: A Literary Life (1996), and Dickens and the Dream of Cinema (2003). It is a great pleasure to welcome him back to Aberdeen.

“Other speakers will be myself and Dan Wall, recent PhD from the University of Aberdeen and specialist in 19th century periodicals.”

All meetings will take place on Tuesday evenings, 7–9 pm, in the Grampian Housing office, at the corner of Huntly St and Summer St, with plenty of free parking in the Grampian Housing car park. There is no charge for attending the seminars.

  • Tuesday 17 September 2013 – lecture by Professor Grahame Smith, introduction to Bleak House, followed by seminar on numbers 1-5, chapters. 1–16.
  • Tuesday 15 October 2013 – lecture by Dr Paul Schlicke, the topicality of Bleak House, followed by seminar on numbers 6-10, chapters 17–32.
  • Tuesday 12 November 2013 – lecture by Dr Dan Wall, the serialisation of Bleak House, followed by seminar on numbers 11-15, chapters 33–49.
  • Tuesday 10 December 2013, – lecture by Dr Paul Schlicke, plots and detecting in Bleak House, followed by seminar on numbers 16–20, chapters 50–67.

A warm welcome will be extended to all comers, and lively questioning and debate is almost certainly guaranteed. You can be added to the mailing list by e-mailing Dr Schlicke at p.schlicke@abdn.ac.uk

For more information, visit https://sites.google.com/site/aberdeendickensfellowship/