Events Archives - Page 9 of 34

Heather Day At Duthie Park – A Century On

Aberdeen City, Events, Featured No Responses »

Aug 102015

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

This month’s 5th Friends of Duthie Park Open Day is just six days short of being on the 100th anniversary of one of the largest events ever held in the park.

On the 22nd August 1915, during World War One, no fewer than 26,000 people, a significant proportion of the city’s population at the time, crammed into the park at sixpence a head for ‘Gala and Heather Day’, an event held to raise money for Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Included in the attractions were a musical drill by a team of ladies, displays of physical drill by a squad from the Gordon Highlanders, exhibition dances and a motor cycle gymkhana.

Fast forward one hundred years and, as Friends Chairman Alan Amoore explains, there are similarities between the event then and the forthcoming Open Day on Sunday 16th August, which is being held in association with Aberdeen Sports Council.

“While I’m not sure we’ll manage to get 26,000 through the gates, our nominated charity for this year is the Archie Foundation, which is of course is based at ARI. In addition, we’ll have dancing demonstrations, fitness drills, vintage vehicles and lots more including wrestling, horse and cart rides, Aberdeen FC Community Trust, The Paul Lawrie Foundation, the Bon Accord Silver Band and much more. And while it cost 6d to gain entry a century ago, our event is completely free, so not everything has gone up in price.”

The full running order for the event, which takes place between noon and 4 pm on Sunday 16th August, is as follows:

Bandstand – Noon – 2 pm; Bon Accord Silver Band

Stage – Noon – Bokwa with Jodie; 1 pm – Zumba & Powerhoops with Elma; 2 pm – Sharon Gill School of Dancing; 2.30 pm – Airyhall Dancers; 3.15 pm – Granite Beat.

Park Area – It’s A Knockout; Horse & Cart Rides; Bouncy Castles; British Military Fitness Obstacle Course; Wrestlezone Scotland; Aberdeen FC Community Trust ‘Speed Cage’; Paul Lawrie Golf Foundation; Paddle Boats, Vintage vehicles; Face Painters; Stalls; Spree Media; Refreshments.

Winter Gardens – Spike the Talking Cactus; McPuddick.

Scottish Bed Making Championship Launches In Aberdeen

Aberdeen City, Charity, Featured No Responses »

Jul 162015

With thanks to Ian McLaren, PR account manager, Innes Associates.

Michele Binnie and Courage the Cat launch the Scottish Bed Making Championship

Cash for Kids’ Michele Binnie and charity mascot Courage the Cat launch the Scottish Bed Making Championship at Village Urban Resort

Hospital corners will be the order of the day when a new competition is held in Aberdeen next month. The city is to play host to the inaugural Scottish Bed Making Championship on Thursday, 06 August.

The brainchild of local children’s charity Cash for Kids, the event forms part of its fundraising efforts for this year’s Bed Appeal.

The appeal, which officially launched earlier this month, aims to provide underprivileged children in north-east Scotland with a bed of their own and local disabled youngsters with specialist beds.

The charity hopes this year’s Bed Appeal will raise around £25,000 to purchase beds for more than 100 local underprivileged and disabled children.

The Scottish Bed Making Championship will be staged at Kingswells’ Village Urban Resort and is expected to attract entries from hotels, guest houses, care providers and hospitals in north-east Scotland.

Teams of four will be challenged to make a double bed – fitting sheets, pillow slips and duvet covers – as quickly as possible, before then making a bed which will be judged on its presentation. Points will be awarded for each task, with the two highest scoring teams then taking part in a bed race to be crowned Scottish Bed Making Champions. The winners will also win a corporate bowling night courtesy of Codona’s.

Cash for Kids charity manager Michele Binnie said:

“We are very excited to be launching the Scottish Bed Making Championship, which will be an important part of the 2015 Bed Appeal. The appeal highlights the issues of poverty and disability that families here in the north-east are facing.

“The championship is open to any team that wants to show off its bed making prowess, whether they’re from the hospitality and care industries or another sector entirely. Cash for Kids is grateful to Village Urban Resort Aberdeen for getting behind the event and we look forward to a great evening on Thursday, 06 August.”

Tracy Harrison, general manager of Village Urban Resort Aberdeen, said:

“The Scottish Bed Making Championship is a fantastic initiative to raise funds for this important appeal. It gives housekeeping teams in hotels and guest houses, and nursing and care staff a chance to shine at something they have to do proficiently and speedily each day.

“The championship is not just about making a bed quickly, but also presenting it well. The judges will be looking for crisp hospital corners and well plumped pillows. It will no doubt be a fun and competitive event, and one that we hope our hospitality colleagues across the north-east, and further afield, will get behind.”

Entry to the Scottish Bed Making Championship costs £100 for a team of four people, all of which goes directly to the Bed Appeal. Anyone interested in entering a team should contact Michele Binnie on 01224 337010 or michele.binnie@northsound.co.uk, or register online at www.northsound1.com/bed.

Cash for Kids is Northsound Radio’s listeners’ charity. It makes grants to individuals, families, children’s groups, organisations and projects throughout the Northsound transmission area. All money is raised locally and spent locally to benefit local disabled and disadvantaged children and young people under 18. More information on Cash for Kids can be found at www.northsound1.com/cashforkids, or telephone 01224 337010.

Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.

Hell Yeah – Feast Your Eyes At Peacock

Aberdeen City, Events, Featured No Responses »

Jun 152015

Since last Saturday, June 6, Hell Yeah have taken over Peacock Visual Arts to draw a sugar loaded, popcorn poppin’, over indulgent large-scale illustration installation on the walls of our main gallery.

Hell Yeah actively encourage viewers to visit them in the gallery throughout the duration of the installation in order for you to engage with their creative process, with questions and interaction with artists welcomed.

Once the installation is complete the gallery will be closed throughout the day on Friday 26 June to prepare the space for the official Closing Party, which will feature previously unseen work
from the artists hung directly on top of the installation.

The guarded nature of the Closing Party is intended to provoke viewers’ curiosity, urge you to explore the artwork further and also offer a fresh perspective of the exhibition as a whole.

The closing party will take place on Friday 26 June, 6-8pm, all welcome.

The finished exhibition will then run until Saturday 18 July 2015.

About the Artists

Hell Yeah are two artists who work together on large-scale site-specific illustration installations as well as commercial projects. Their typical Scottish dry wit and youthful enthusiasm for life gives their work a raw yet playful mix, which can leave the viewer feeling both amused and uneasy at the same time.

Live Drawing: 6 June – 25 June 2015

Closing Party: Friday 26 June. 6-8pm. All welcome.

Exhibition: 27 June – 18 July 2015

RAM It Down Festival 2015 – Saturday May 23

Aberdeen City, Events, Featured, Information No Responses »

May 182015

With thanks to Mark Chalmers.

Fans of heavy metal in Aberdeen are set to have their own music festival. RAM It Down is Aberdeen’s only dedicated heavy metal festival, with 10 bands playing across two indoor stages.

The event will take place on Saturday 23rd May in The Garage Aberdeen and is the result of hard work from a group of volunteers in Aberdeen University Rock and Metal Society.

Five touring heavy metal bands from across the UK are set to play alongside five local bands. The bands have been chosen from a diverse range of metal sub-genres.

Headlining the main stage is groove-metal band, Xerath, who are increasingly gaining recognition for their extraordinary musicianship and intense technical metal sound.

Vocalist of Xerath, Rich, commented,

“Xerath are hugely excited to play this year’s RAM It Down Festival. We’ve always had an absolute blast in Scotland and it’s about time we ventured further north to Aberdeen! We cannot wait to see you all there at what promises to be a really special show!”

Joining Xerath on the main stage is female-fronted symphonic metal band Winter in Eden, who are travelling up from Durham especially for RAM It Down Festival. Winter in Eden have worked with some of the big names in their style. Their most recent album was produced by Ruud Jolie, guitar player of Within Temptation.

Steve Hauxwell, who plays drums for Winter in Eden had this to say,

“I’m really fired up about appearing at ‘RAM It Down’. I’ve never been to Aberdeen before and yet have heard so many great things from other acts that have performed at The Garage, so I already know it’s going to be an event to remember. There’s a good variety of styles on the bill too, personally I’m looking forward to seeing Red Rum deliver some good ‘ol Pirate Metal.”

Travelling yet further, is Nottingham-based Red Rum, who last year played Garage Aberdeen supporting fellow pirate-metal band Alestorm. Red Rum feature a range of traditional instruments, including Flute, Bouzouki and Mandolin, which they used to add a folk dimension to their pirate-themed heavy metal.

Commenting on their return to The Garage, bass player, Steven Ryan said,

“After pillaging Aberdeen for the first time with the mighty Alestorm we are thrilled to pillage again! No body will stop us on our quest as we sail to the finest shores of Scotland to play a rum-tastic show. We are excited and honoured to bombard Aberdeen with our pirate-shantees once more!”

One of the exciting names in Scottish heavy metal at the moment, are undoubtedly Fife-based Party Cannon. Their brightly-coloured logo may resemble that of a well-known mutli-national toy shop, but this ironically contrasts with the style of their music, which is extremely heavy. Party Cannon are influenced by bands such as Napalm Death and Cannibal Corpse, but do this in an entertaining way, often lightening the mood by bringing novelty items, such as balloons to their gigs.

Chris Ryan, who plays bass in Party Cannon, commented,

“We are super excited to bring our unique mix of atmospheric black metal and Euro mega trance to this year’s RAM It Down Festival. Join us at our alter of flesh, fog will rise and gabba will live in Aberdeen this May.”

Opening the main stage, are Aberdeen-based, White Wasted Virgin. They have a psychedelic-infused metal sound, which they claim is influenced by ‘everything heavy’. They have a comparatively energetic take on a style often described as ‘doom metal’. They will be opening the show at 5pm.

Headlining the second stage, is Toledo Steel, a band who are not just resurrecting the sound of early 80’s British metal, but also the direct approach to bringing music to their fans through intense touring commitment all over the UK. Toledo Steel are travelling all the way from Southampton to play a 3-date mini tour across the main Scottish cities.

Tom Potter, guitar player of Toledo Steel said,

“We’ve always found our Scottish fans to be some of the most dedicated and loyal metalheads. RAM It Down will be our first gig in Aberdeen and it’s a great honour to headline the second stage.”

Supporting Toledo Steel on the second stage are four local bands. These include, Asylum Four Star, who, like Toledo Steel, are resurrecting the sound of 80’s heavy metal, complete with powerful lead vocals, epic guitar solos and a strong rhythmic backing. Contrasing in style, are local band Boak, named after a colloquial word for vomit. Boak’s style fuses some of the heaviest punk and metal influences into their own sound.

Heavy metal has from its creation has been a style that demands intense musicianship, Aberdeen-based Kamehameha play a ‘tech-metal’ type style where the talent in the ranks of the band is displayed through intense grooves and instrumental parts.

Opening the main stage are a jam-band drawn from the ranks of the organisation hosting RAM It Down Festival. Aberdeen Uni Rocksoc band will be playing songs from across the spectrum of rock and metal.

RAM It Down Festival 2015
Sat 23 May, Garage, Aberdeen.
Doors 4.30pm (bands from 5pm)

Tickets are £10 and are available from Seratique, Belmont Street, Aberdeen and Campus Bar, Windmill Brae, Aberdeen.

E-Tickets are also available through Skiddle.

Tunnels Date For The Stevie Nimmo Trio

Articles, Featured, Gigs and Concerts, Opinion No Responses »

Apr 232015

With thanks to David Innes.

Some fantastic blues acts have played in Aberdeen so far in 2015. Ian Siegal, Laurence Jones and King King graced the Jazz Festival and Robin Trower, with Joanne Shaw Taylor in support, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd all excelled at The Lemon Tree in April.

Then Seasick Steve, supported superbly by My Baby, delighted the Music Hall audience last weekend.

Graham Robertson of Blues Rock Aberdeen is keen to point out that the blues action continues, with the Stevie Nimmo Trio booked to play an afternoon show at The Tunnels on Sunday 3 May at 1500, a perfect way to celebrate the May Day weekend.

As one half of Scotland’s highly respected Nimmo Brothers, Stevie Nimmo has built a deserved reputation over 15 years of touring and recording, and is a well-respected musician throughout the blues and rock scene.

Following a successful Nimmo Brothers gig in Aberdeen in 2014, Stevie now brings his trio line up to the Granite City for a full-on electric gig.

Stevie’s critically-acclaimed Wynds Of Life solo album in 2010 featured top Texas musicians, and now the first Trio album is on release to coincide with the tour. Songs previewed live during 2014 received great audience reaction.

Virgil and the Accelerators will return to The Granite City playing at The Tunnels on Friday 15 May.

Tickets are available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com

Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.

Gardener’s Question Time Supports Local Charity

Aberdeen City, Charity No Responses »

Apr 032015

With thanks to Michael Jamieson.

Disability charity Momentum Skills has announced details of their next fundraising event.
Beechgrove Garden presenters Jim McColl and Carole Baxter will be answering questions at a Gardener’s Question Time on Wednesday 29th April in the Inverurie Town Hall at 7.30pm. Joining Jim (pictured) and Carole on the panel will be locally based horticultural advisor and soft fruit specialist, Colin Stirling.

The evening will be hosted by STV news presenter Chris Harvey. They have all given their time in supporting this, the very first Gardener’s Question Time in aid of Momentum Skills.

Momentum is a leading not-for-profit organisation providing rehabilitation, training and care services for disabled and socially excluded people in Aberdeen and North East at their Centre in Migvie House, Aberdeen.

They empower people to gain the skills and confidence they need to live independently and to fulfil employment goals. Momentum’s services help a wide range of people, including those with a brain injury, spinal injury, mental health difficulty, physical or learning disability, all in the areas of employment and training, job retention and community rehabilitation.

Momentum Fundraiser Michael Jamieson said:

“We are most grateful to Jim, Carole, Colin and Chris for giving their time and expertise to help raise funds to support the continuing work of Momentum in the North East.

“This is the ideal opportunity for all budding gardeners, and indeed those like myself who perhaps just want to find out about gardening generally, to come along and have their horticultural problems and queries answered by these three gardening experts. Of course we also have one of STV’s top presenters hosting the event for us which will most certainly add to the overall enjoyment of the event.”

Tickets cost £8, including refreshments, and are available in advance from Michael Jamieson on 07739 526531

Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.

Aberdeen Forward Courses

Charity No Responses »

Mar 202015

With thanks to Angela Theobald.

Environmental charity Aberdeen Forward are hosting a range of workshops and courses up until the end of 2015.

Aberdeen Forward works closely with local communities, businesses and individuals to educate and promote projects that help to protect our environment, reduce waste & encourage sustainability.

Course Details –

Hobby Club: Every Wednesday, 10am-12pm/1.30pm-3pm, these are drop in craft sessions. Donation of £2 per person.

Upholstery Weekend Course: 28^th to 29^th March, 9:30am to 4:00pm, £190

Plant ideas workshop:

We are pleased to offer this plant ideas (http://www.plantideas.org/) workshop which teaches how to make the most of plants in various useful ways. The cost is £35 per class. Here is the format of the classes:

Herb Walk: 25^th April 11-13:00, Duthie Park
Wild Food: 6^th June 11-13:00, Aberdeen Forward Building

Back to Basics Sewing courses 2015: 6pm-8pm, £92, every Thursday in each block

23 April to 28 May
11 June to 16 July
30 July to 3 September
17 September to 22 October
5 November to 10 December

Intermediate/Advanced Sewing courses 2015: 6pm-8pm, £92, every Tuesday in each block

20 April to 25 May
8 June to 13 July
27 July to 31 August
14 September to 19 October
2 November to 7 December

Curtain Making: 12pm-4pm, £92, every Saturday in each block

1, 8 and 15 August 2015
7, 14 and 21 November 2015

Booking

To book or find out more please contact courses@aberdeenforward.org or 01224560360.

Venue

Unless otherwise stated, the venue is:
Aberdeen Forward, 2 Poynernook Road, Aberdeen, AB11 5RW

Easter Stars In Their Eyes – At Inverurie Town Hall

Aberdeenshire, Articles, Charity No Responses »

Feb 272015

By Duncan Harley

Having made a return to Scottish television screens earlier this year, Stars in their Eyes is also back, live on stage, in the heart of the Garioch for the fifth year running.

The show, staged by local film and theatre company Right Here Productions, has so far raised around £6.5k for local charities and for 2015 has gained celebrity endorsement in the form of a good luck video from the TV host Mathew Kelly.

Inverurie’s very own Stars in their Eyes Mathew Kelly look-a-like, Dan Greavey says:

“Every year we raise money for charity and we are hoping that this year will be our best yet.We are delighted that this year the real Mathew was willing to give his time to personally wish us good luck!”

As advance preparations get under way for the Easter Saturday event, organiser Alison Telfer advises early booking since the 2014 event sold out well in advance.

Showtime is Saturday 4th April, 7.30pm at Inverurie Town Hall. Tickets and Company Sponsorship details are available from Alison at 07742343788.

City Tour Date For Promising Pop Rock Outfit

Aberdeen City, Gigs and Concerts No Responses »

Feb 122015

With thanks to Jenny Entwistle, Chuff Media.

Black Country 5-piece EofE are coming to play Aberdeen Downstairs on 23rd February, supporting UK metallers Glamour of the Kill. The tour will be in support of their brand new single ‘Stars In Hollywood’ (out 09/03) which is currently on the Kerrang! Radio and XFM playlists.

Last year, the band supported both McBusted and The Vamps on their mammouth UK tours, culminating 2014 with their own headline tour which resulted in them selling out their hometown date at Birmingham Institute.

Following the unveiling of their debut track ‘Bridges’ in November, EofE, continue to leave their mark with the release of the band’s first official single, ‘Stars In Hollywood’, due March 9th.

With their ever-growing army of devoted supporters, ‘Stars In Hollywood’ is a second helping of scintillating pop rock from EofE, sending out a real statement of intent. The song lyrically explores the theme of determination and hope, with aspirations of eventually leaving their hometown, moving on to bigger things and rising to the top.

‘Stars In Hollywood’ is the next chapter of the EofE story, placing the band firmly alongside the likes of fellow UK rockers You Me At Six and Mallory Knox .

“EofE are going to be the next big thing” – Sophie K (Team Rock Radio)

Tour Dates:

23rd February – Aberdeen, Downstairs

24th February – Glasgow, Audio

25th February – Newcastle, Think Tank

26th February – Manchester, Sound Control

27th February – York, Fibbers

28th February – London, Underworld

1st March – Bristol, The Exchange

3rd March – Wolverhampton, Slade Rooms

4th March – Stoke, Sugarmill

5th March – Nuneaton, Queens Hall

6th March – Nottingham, Rock City Basement

7th March – Gloucester, Guildhall

8th March – Milton Keynes, Crauford Arms

Aberdeen Debut For Jericho Hill – Moorings 21.02.15

Aberdeen City, Featured, Gigs and Concerts, Information No Responses »

Jan 192015

The sound of Johnny Cash comes to the North-east in 2015 as Jericho Hill make their long awaited Aberdeen debut at The Moorings Bar on Saturday February 21st. By Al Pritchard

The Glasgow based five-piece have built a reputation as the tribute band for people who don’t like tribute bands with their high-octane shows up and down the country. Jericho Hill have notched up a string of prestigious appearances at summer festivals such as Wickerman, Belladrum and Blackpool’s annual gathering of all things Punk Rock, Rebellion.

They are regulars at a number of venues across Glasgow and including a recreating of the Live at Folsom Prison LP at The Grand Ol’ Opry and a memorable two-show day in the chapel at the infamous Barlinnie Prison.

Since their first gig in 2009, there have been a couple of changes in personnel but the current line-up has been settled for the best part of the last four years, and this gig is a bit of a homecoming for two of the band’s members.

Leader, and the band’s very own Man in Black, Bill Wright will be fondly remembered by Aberdonians of a certain vintage as Lonesome Cowboy Bill, who, as the name suggests could be found in bars and clubs across town in the late 1980’s playing a set comprised entirely of Hank Williams and Johnny Cash numbers to the assembled throng, and also had a spell with The Rodriguez Brothers with Dave Wilkinson of local punk dignitaries Toxik Ephex.

Bill’s first recruit, and the only other member of the current line up to have played in the band’s first gig in Glasgow’s Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, is Joe Whyte. Joe has provided lead guitar styling in a number of bands over the years, including Jailhouse (with current Jericho Hill bassist Rab Christie), The God Fearing Atheists and Reaction.

With a lovely line in Western shirts, brothel creepers and feverish fretwork, Joe was immediately sold on the idea of a Johnny Cash tribute band by Bill’s insistence that Mr Cash was indeed the original punk rocker.

The second returning son is drummer Al Pritchard. His first gig with the band was in mid 2009, but he will perhaps be more familiar to the Aberdeen crowd from his time on short lived early 90s acid house casualties, Thirteen. This will be Al’s first appearance in Aberdeen since Thirteen’s legendary Xmas Eve show in the Pelican Club in 1999.

Bassist and chief joke writer is Rab Christie. He and Joe were both members of the aforementioned Jailhouse. As well as having made an appearance at Aberdeen’s Cafe Drummond, Rab has also appeared at both The Albert Hall and The 100 Club with Al Pritchard as one seventh of the now defunkt proto-folk combo The Boppin Heads.

Filling the June Carter role, and lowering the average age of the band quite significantly is the wonderful Charlene Boyd. Star of stage and screen, Charlene’s infectious enthusiasm is an essential part of the Jericho Hill sound and they would not be the band they are without her.

Make no mistake, this is not cabaret. No slavish copying for this band, they prefer instead to dial up the Man in Black’s inherent punk energy and attitude, for a blistering show covering his entire career. From the beginnings with the Tennessee Two, right through to the American Recording sets of Cash’s later years, Jericho Hill provide something for everyone, provided everyone doesn’t expect to sit down and nod their heads gently.

Get up. Get Rhythm, Get down and get with it.

Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.

Older Entries Newer Entries