Last week’s Voice featured Aberdeen entertainment iconSid Ozalid, his life, his act, his impact, the release of his new book, and news of ‘not to be missed’ performances in the city. Well, If you did happen to miss out on catching Sid live on Friday and Saturday, then fash yersel not – this week we present a brief account of the missed mayhem, and a poem from ‘Mr Elastic Brain’.
Sid Ozalid jetted in from Sunny Amsterdam last Friday for a whistle stop tour of Aberdeen to promote his fab new book ‘Mr Elastic Brain – The Life and Poems of Sid Ozalid’.
The previous week he had done three gigs in London and the week before that three gigs in Holland, so he was keen to make it a hat trick and do three gigs in Aberdeen.
This meant two gigs on Friday night and a book signing/performance at 1UP on the Sat afternoon.
Below – Sid Ozalid performs ‘Tartan Underpants’ accompanied by Dave McLeod.
Lots of people made one gig, a few brave people made it along to two gigs, but apart from Sid and his lovely wife only one person made it to all three: a Mr Colin MacLean who had driven up from the Kingdom of Fife to see Sid after an absence of 26 years.
Colin and Sid had performed together in 1977 in one of Aberdeen’s first punk bands, ‘The Enormous Snakes,’ and Colin had gone on to work with Sid as one of his All-Stars over a number of years, taking in the Edinburgh Festival and supporting The Clash at Inverness Ice Rink.
The first two gigs sizzled with professionalism, wit and dancing. The 24 year-old MC at Geesalaff Comedy Night, Miss Anna Devitt said:
“I was exhausted just watching; he was non-stop, how can someone this old have so much energy? My mum is a big fan and told me to get one of his books, the book truly is amazing, so I told mum to get her own copy.”
The third gig at 1UP, the sole suppliers of Sid’s book in Aberdeen, was the most surreal by far.
Sid performed ‘Salvador Dali’s Hat’, ‘Three Fat Ladies at the Bingo Hall,’ and thrashed himself with a daisy — but nothing had prepared him for two drunk shoppers and a man in an electric wheel chair.
The drunk shoppers really giggled at Sid’s antics, but thought nothing of standing next to him flicking through CD’s and asking his opinion on Hip Hop and Jazz classics.
Sid took all of this in his stride and was set the extra challenge of being nimble on his feet when the electric wheelchair man was so taken by the performance he decided to join in, whizzing to the stage and joining Sid on the first electric wheelchair elastic brain dance routine ever seen in Aberdeen. Sid may well have been the dance teacher to the Queen at one time in his life, but nothing had prepared him for this!!
Some nice people had ordered Sid’s book from Amazon and brought it along to be signed, and other nice people bought copies of the book at 1UP, and there then followed a good half hour of chatting and book signing.
A special mention must go to Fred Craig of 1UP who had brought along one of Sid’s original book/records from 1982 ‘Songs and Stories from a Suitcase Extravaganza.’ Fred wanted this signed, and in return Sid was rewarded with a well deserved cup of tea.
With all profits going to MIND for better mental health Sid was a happy man. http://www.mind.org.uk/
Tartan Underpants
They are groovy they can dance
They can put you in a trance
That’s my tartan underpants
Tartan underpants ooh
Tartan underpants ooh
You can use them as a tent use then as a hanky
One thing is sure there’s never hanky panky
In my tartan underpants
Tartan underpants ooh
Tartan underpants ooh
I don’t drink whisky don’t eat haggis
Go to bed with a girl from Paris
In my tartan underpants
Tartan underpants ooh
Tartan underpants ooh
My pants are funky they know what to do
Goodbye boxer shorts it’s the Y Front crew
That’s my tartan underpants
Tartan underpants ooh
Tartan underpants ooh
I’m a boring old folk singer
Philip is my name
My mother is a miner
My sisters on the game
I’ve a face like a scrotum
Wear an Arran jersey
Nobody likes me
I’ve got bad breath
Claymore !!!
My old sheep ran away
my dog is very angry
He hasn’t slept all week
And likes a drink of shandy
Ben Nevis !!!
The year is 1979. I am at Aberdeen’s 62 Club to watch a selection of local punk bands, and my attention is drawn to an unfamiliar name on the bill.
Sid Ozalid? A band? A guy? Pretty punk if slightly strange kind of a name though, which for an 18 y.o. punk diehard was somehow reassuring.
On stage appeared a tall, skinny, slightly weird-looking guy with no guitar. Not punk – not punk at all, which in the circumstances was all the more intriguing.
What happened next was somewhere between seeing the light and being scarred for life.
Out of a sudden discharge of nervous energy came an onslaught of surreal, silly verse spliced seamlessly with a bunch of broken anecdotes delivered at a pace leaving no pause for appraisal; accompanied by incongruous, disjointed, directionless dance moves which somehow worked – they must have worked, as somehow, he stayed on his feet.
Then it was over. I had not moved. I was still staring at the empty stage, and I remember thinking: “I hope no-one asks me what I made of Sid Ozalid.” Devoid of reference points, my thoughts were a long time coming. Yes, I found it funny, and yes I was immensely entertained – I just didn’t know why! Neither punk nor Python, neither Cutler, Cooper nor Cooper-Clarke, Sid Ozalid certainly breathed the same air, but did not walk on the same planet.
Would I perhaps find a clue to understanding what made Sid tick from his publicity around at the time? –
“Legend has it that Sid Ozalid was born sometime during an eruption of earwigs.
“Sid arrived on earth from the planet OZ in the year 1898. His spaceship was disguised as an old brown suitcase that was full of inflatable toys.
“During this period he specialised in walking backwards into hat stands.
“Six years later he split from Flying Ozalids to form Sid and Sam the Ozalid Twins. This dynamic duo thrilled audiences with their routine entitled ‘The First pickled Onion in Orbit’, but alas this too came to an abrupt end due to lack of cupboard space”
– Alas, No.
Fast-forward to the following evening.
Three troublesome fat ladies, a conductor named Russ and a womanising fire raising tortoise had taken up permanent residence in my consciousness, and it seemed that the only way to exorcise these delightful demons, and at the same time come to terms with the experience was via demonstration to the uninitiated.
And so there I was outside with my brothers and sister and a few chums, recounting those fragments of verse I could recall whilst attempting in vain to recreate those unique ‘dance’ moves.
Perhaps an observer of the ‘lite’ version would be better placed to help me understand what it was about Sid that had so affected me. No chance. They stood – as I had stood, and stared – as I had stared, and laughed. That evening, each time another chum arrived in our company came the call:
” Hey Fred, go dae yer Sid Ozalid, watch ess, it’s really funny “
The previous evening Sid had performed for around 15 minutes. Twenty four hours later, I must have performed twice as long armed with only about 30 seconds of Sid’s material. More than once, passers-by stopped on the other side of the road … then moved on when they ascertained I was not in need of medical assistance.
As I look back I realise this was a solid indication that Sid Ozalid would be around for some time to come, and would become, if not a legend, definitely an icon of the Aberdeen Entertainment scene.
I was not the only one for whom Sid Ozalid presented an enigma:
” he auditioned and was invited to perform on two different talent shows. Once again the producers liked what Sid was doing but did not know how to describe him. They settled for ‘eccentric’. ” – Douglas John Mclean Cairns
Thirty two years on, having enjoyed many more of Sid’s performances, yet being no closer to understanding exactly how to explain what it is about Sid Ozalid’s act that entertains, amuses and excites me, I find myself charged with the task of reviewing his brand new book:
“Mr Elastic Brain – The Life And Poems Of Sid Ozalid”.
Having just finished reading it, I find myself desperate to tell everyone to go get themselves a copy as soon as possible, but as with my impression of that first performance, I struggle to articulate why it will be worth more to you than a tenner. But I will try.
These days, I know Sid Ozalid by his not so ‘pretty punk, and kinda reassuringly strange’ name Douglas Cairns …. which is actually more reassuring.
So, where to start?
This is an autobiographical book in four parts, about Sid Ozalid, written by Douglas John McLean Cairns. Or is it? As with all things Sid Ozalid, it is the equivalent of an ‘any-way-up’ cup as the first part of the book demonstrates.
Even to someone as familiar with the writer as I am, It startles me to discover that the madness which fuelled the performances of Sid Ozalid and brought so much pleasure to many also had an alter ego in the shape of a mental illness which had a devastating effect on Douglas Cairns for a period in 2001 – and as a consequence, all but put an end to Sid.
“People had always told Sid he was mad. He thought they were joking until the dawning of the new millennium, suddenly he had a doctor’s certificate to prove what people had been telling him for years.” – Douglas John Mclean Cairns.
Here it is we find – in between some hilarious stories of Sid’s outrageous antics and adventures – an honest account of the extent of Douglas’ illness, punctuated by humour of a nature that can only be explained in terms of Douglas’ story being written by Sid.
It is difficult to pinpoint where ownership of the pen changed, but what results is uniquely unsettling, and simultaneously entertaining. For Sid to joke about Douglas’ dark and desperate situation is surely to run the risk being regarded as sick … but then, at the pertinent time, they are both sick aren’t they?
I don’t have the recipe, but I am pretty sure the main ingredient is his ability to appeal to our inner child.
However, at no point does the humour mask the pain, the lighter asides serving only reinforce the severity of the debilitating condition by way of contrast. It is a brave piece of writing, sandwiched between hilarious tales of the more familiar and wonderful madness of The Artist Formerly Known As Sid Ozalid.
The major portion of the book’s contents is a collection of Sid’s wonderfully bizarre and humorous poems and songs which were the mainstay of his act from 1977 to the present day. Similarities with this material and that of Spike Milligan are impossible to ignore. However, to leave it at that would be to compare a wedding cake with a rowie on account of their flour content.
So am I any closer to putting into words what is the magical appeal of Sid Ozalid?
Well I don’t have the recipe, but I am pretty sure the main ingredient is his ability to appeal to our inner child.
Didn’t we all spontaneously giggle and cackle as babes in response to the simplest and the silliest of things? A pulled face? A silly noise? The poking out of a tongue? A sudden unexpected movement or gesture? Anything at all unusual yet unthreatening? When did we stop being so spontaneously and so thoroughly amused? Did we stop giggling, or did our adult entertainers decide our needs for entertainment lay elsewhere?
If nothing else, Sid Ozalid demonstrates that our inner child is still with us and desperate for a giggle, and the mere fact he knows our tickly spot is enough to make us all the more tickly.
If there should ever be an Aberdeen Entertainers Hall of Fame, Sid Ozalid will be there. He will be neither a statue in the foyer, a framed picture on a wall, or a prized prop or instrument in a glass case. The broom cupboard will be as good a place as any to start your search, but when you track him down he will be possibly be represented by that item described within the spontaneous lyrics of a similarly strange and hilarious Scots band.
” I’ll perhaps take a piece of white bread and I’ll paint it brown so you think it is brown but when you toast it it’s actually white for the paint falls off “( from the album Hairy Scalloween by The Pendulums. )
Footnotes.
Mr Elastic Brain – The Life And Poems Of Sid Ozalid by Douglas John McLean Cairns is published by Chipmunka Publishingwhich specialises in giving a voice to people with mental health and other issues.
The profits from sales of Mr Elastic Brain are being donated to MIND – a leading mental health charity.
“We campaign vigorously to create a society that promotes and protects good mental health for all – a society where people with experience of mental distress are treated fairly, positively and with respect.” – http://www.mind.org.uk/
Aberdeen Voice will present a sample of Sid’s poetry in the coming weeks – if that’s OK with Sid, or Douglas, or both – so you can judge for yourselves should you miss all three performances in town this weekend.
Geesalaff Comedy Night Friday, May 27 at 8:00pm
Cellar 35, Rosemount Viaduct ( Sid onstage around 21.00pm )
Less is More: minimalism at heart of 2010 sound Festival
Offering more than 60 performances in over 20 venues across North East Scotland, the 6th sound Festival will open on Wednesday 20 October with a performance by the Red Note Ensemble at Woodend Barn, Banchory, featuring the World Première of Gabriel Jackson’s new work for strings, and will run until Sunday 14 November.
This autumn sees sound joining forces with the Glasgow Concert Halls to offer a Scottish celebration of Minimalism. Following a weekend of concerts in Glasgow launching Glasgow’s Concert Halls’ three year exploration of the genre, sound picks up the baton with five days of performances under the banner Less is More including works by composers such as Bryars, Fitkin, Glass, Gordon, Nyman, Reich and Riley. The Smith Quartet makes a welcome return to sound with four concerts including a performance of the complete string quartets of Philip Glass. Other highlights of Less is Moresound include the Festival’s opening concert with Red Note Ensemble.
“Collaboration has always been at the heart of sound,” says Fiona Robertson of sound. “as we work closely with music clubs and other organisations across the North East. Our opening events form part of a Scottish celebration of Minimalism in which we are delighted to partner Glasgow Concert Halls..”
sound is the North East of Scotland’s contemporary music festival. Following a pilot event, “Upbeat” in 2004, the first festival was launched in November 2005. sound is now an annual event, which aims to make contemporary music more accessible to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. As well as programming its own events, sound operates as an umbrella for a range of concerts, workshops, masterclasses and performances programmed by other organisations in the North East. Dame Evelyn Glennie, James MacMillan and Rohan de Saram are current Patrons of the festival.
The programme showcases the broad mix of new music for which sound has become recognised from instrumental to choral and electroacoustic, and includes no fewer than 18 World, UK and Scottish Premières. sound regulars including The Smith Quartet, Hebrides Ensemble, Edinburgh Quartet, Primrose Piano Trio, Sally Beamish and Richard Craig are joined in 2010 by an array of “newcomers” including Bibby Piano Duo, Rautio Trio, FOUND and Hoot.
26 Collective Present …. ABERDEEN ALTERNATIVE A4 EXHIBITION 26 Collective are proud to present a selection of pictures from all across the creative scene in Aberdeen & beyond! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127661767258800&v=info&ref=ts
Comedy
Sun 17th Oct.
8.00pm, Blue Lamp
Comment Breakneck Comedy – The Joke Factory STU AND GARY, BRUCE FUMMEY, GRAEME THOMAS, DEREK MILLAR, JON GREENAWAY
8.00pm, Music Hall
DARA O BRIAIN £19.50+BF
Tues 19th Oct.
7.30pm, Lemon Tree
ROB DEERING £12+BF
Music
Sat 16th Oct.
7.30pm, The Tunnels
THE WOE BETIDES, LOST CITY LIGHTS, THE SIDE, SOUL CASINO £5
WOODENBOX, A FISTFUL OF FIVERS, KITTY THE LION, TUNGSTEN, BULLHELM £6
8.00pm, The Tunnels
POLAR BEAR, TUT VU VU £10/12
9.00pm, The Moorings
The Jam Factory ( every Sunday. ) Bands, acoustic musicians, jammers, poets etc. all welcome.
Mon 18th Oct.
7.00pm, The Warehouse, Windmill Brae
BOWLING FOR SOUP £18.50 adv +bf
9.00pm, Blue Lamp
Traditional Acoustic Session. All welcome.
10.00pm, Café Drummond
Open Mic Night ( Every Monday )
Soloists, Poets, Musicians, Maniacs, and Full Bands Welcome.
( Full back line provided ) For more info, call 01224 619930
Wed 20th Oct.
8.00pm, The Tunnels
DON BROCO Plus Support
8.00pm, Shelley Leigh’s
Thurs 21st Oct.
The Big Mic Up – Hosted by Dave Moir and Kenny McLeod
Get off the couch! come down to Shelley Leigh’s and hear the music, be part of the vibe, Come along folks to Dave and Kenny’s open mic night . If you like to play, or just to listen then be prepared for a night of great music at Aberdeens latest musical cultural venue.
Fri 22nd Oct.
7.30pm, Lemon Tree
THE FAMILY MAHONE £10+BF
7.30pm, The Tunnels
CHANTEL McGREGOR Plus Support £7
7.45pm, Blue Lamp, Gallowgate
Celtic Society Public Ceilidh with Iron Broo Duo Aberdeen University Student Association (AUSA) Celtic Society are holding a Ceilidh with the Iron Broo Duo of Fred Wilkinson (bouzouki) and Charlie Abel (accordion). All dances will be called, no experience is necessary.
The Ceilidh is being held in the legendary Blue Lamp, on the Gallowgate in Aberdeen – Surely the most famous Live music venue and finest pubs in Aberdeen. In case you’ve not been there before just look for the actual Blue lamp on the wall above the door. The entrance to the Ceilidh is through the revolving door to the right of the lamp up the hill.
There will be a raffle during the interval. Dancing will be from 7.45/8pm till midnight. The bar usually remains open till 2 if you are in need of some lubrication after the ceilidh.
The music will be lively. www.ironbroo.co.uk
8.00pm, Café Drummond
WHOLE LOTTA LED ( Led Zeppelin Tribute )
8:00pm, The Moorings
DARTH ELVIS AND THE TATTOINE TRIO
Sat 23rd Oct.
7.00pm, OXJAM ABERDEEN TAKEOVER
– Music festival featuring the best local bands in Aberdeen at 5 city venues
Tunnels 1
Le Reno Amps, Turning 13, Cuddly Shark, Eric Euan & Duke. Tunnels 2 Weather Barn (formerly Cast Of The Capital), Carson Wells, The Deportees, The Marionettes & Katerwaul. Cafe Drummond The Wildcards, Kashmir Red, Energy, Emerald Sunday & Talking Sideways. Blue Lamp The Lorelei, Gerry Jablonski Band, Oxbow Lake & Chris Carroll. Enigma Jo McCafferty, Kitchen Cynics, Craig Davidson, The Scandal Extracts & Sarah J Stanley.
Wristbands cost £5 and allow access to all of the venues across the whole night and also free entry to the aftershow party at Snafu. Tickets can be purchased at www.wegotickets.com, by contacting Oxjam Aberdeen and soon at selected outlets.
GIVE AND TAKE DAY People can take along, items such as furniture, kitchenware, books, dvds & cds, toys, and plants/gardenware between 12.00 noon and 3.30pm.From 1.30 until 5.00pm the Stewart’s Hall will be open to the public who can come along and take items they want for FREE.
26 Collective Present …. ABERDEEN ALTERNATIVE A4 EXHIBITION 26 Collective are proud to present a selection of pictures from all across the creative scene in Aberdeen & beyond! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127661767258800&v=info&ref=ts
Sun 10th Oct.
12:30pm – 3:00pm, Union Terrace Gardens!!
37,000= events around the world on 10:10.10
This is Aberdeen’s only one in the city centre!! Lots going on from low carbon education/information, nature events, lots for kids of all ages. Oxjam will have a gazebo of live music & a chance to buy their wonderful wrist bands for their main event a couple of weeks later. A great day for all the family.
If the weather isn’t good come along anyway as we will transfer everything into the alcoves under Robbie Burns statue.
Music
Sat 9th Oct.
7:30pm, The Tunnels
A GENUINE FREAKSHOW, THE DEPORTEES, HEADLIGHT, CRAYONS £5
7:30pm, Music Hall
BUCKSBURN AND DISTRICT PIPE BAND, BOGHALL AND BATHGATE CALEDONIA PIPEBAND “Fired Up” Pipeband Concert £15+BF
8:00pm, Café Drummond
KING KURT
8:00pm, Blue Lamp
SOUTHERN TENANT FOLK UNION, SMOKIN CATFISH
8:00pm, The Moorings
MISS THE OCCUPIER, THE FIGHTING 69TH, TRANSMANTA
8.00pm till 3.00am, The Tunnels Room 2
A SKAndalous night out with the Granite City Roller Girls! Come join the Granite City Roller Girls for a night of SKAndalous fun in the Tunnels! Propaganda DJs spinning out punk, new wave, rock and ska all night plus Sound System live to get ya’ll skanking about and living it up with the best quad-based roller-skatin’ team in town. £3
The Jam Factory ( every Sunday. ) Bands, acoustic musicians, jammers, poets etc. all welcome.
Mon 11th Oct.
7:30pm, The Tunnels
GENERAL FIASCO, WILDER Plus Support
7:30pm, Café Drummond
FOR A MINOR REFLECTION, KATERWAUL Plus Support
9.00pm, Blue Lamp
Traditional Acoustic Session. All welcome.
10.00pm, Café Drummond
Open Mic Night ( Every Monday )
Soloists, Poets, Musicians, Maniacs, and Full Bands Welcome.
( Full back line provided ) For more info, call 01224 619930
Tues 12th Oct
7:30pm, Lemon Tree
THE SHEE £10+BF
7:30pm, The Tunnels
THE DELAYS, STRANGE DEATH OF LIBERAL ENGLAND 7:30pm £10/12
Wed 13th Oct
8:00pm, Café Drummond
ETERNAL IDOL. DEATH WATCH, THE BEAST MUST DIE, BROCK LOBSTERS £3
Thurs 14th Oct
7:30pm, Lemon Tree
CAVERN BEATLES
7:30pm, The Tunnels
THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE, RAGGEDY ANGRY, Plus Support £12/15
9:00pm, Slains Castle
Acoustic Session
Fri 15th Oct
7:30pm, Lemon Tree
ANIMALS & FRIENDS with Special Guest – SPENCER DAVIS £16+BF
7:30pm, Deeside Activity Park, Lumphanan
Public Ceilidh with CLACHAN YELL £15 (INCLUDING STOVIES)
8:00pm, The Tunnels
TWENTY TWENTY Plus Support
8:00pm, Café Drummond
WE ARE THE OCEAN £7.50
8:00pm, The Moorings
SHUSH, THE SCANDAL EXPERTS
Sat 16th Oct
7:30pm, The Tunnels
THE WOE BETIDES, LOST CITY LIGHTS, THE SIDE, SOUL CASINO
£5
REFLECTIONS AND VISIONS
– THE WORLD THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES
Launch of an exhibition of photographs from young people who have had experiences of care. They were supported in the project by SIRCC (The Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care) and the exhibition was launched at the SIRCC annual conference in June to celebrate 10 years of the organisation.There will be a civic reception on Thursday the 7th of October to launch the exhibition in Aberdeen, where it runs in different venues for the next month.
( Click pic to enlarge. )
Fri 8th Oct.
10.00am, Faculty of Health and Social Care, RGU, Garthdee Campus
GIVE AND TAKE DAY People can take along, items such as furniture, kitchenware, books, dvds & cds, toys, and plants/gardenware between 12.00 noon and 3.30pm.From 1.30 until 5.00pm the Stewart’s Hall will be open to the public who can come along and take items they want for FREE.
SPARROW AND THE WORKSHOP, THE JOHN KNOX SEX CLUB, STEPHEN WINTON
7:30pm, Tunnels
THE DELANEYS & Support
8:00pm, Café Drummond
AVOID THE MORNING, DUKE, WE ARE HEROES
9.00pm, The Moorings
The Jam Factory ( every Sunday. ) Bands, acoustic musicians, jammers, poets etc. all welcome.
8.00pm, Café Drummond
HEALTHY MINDS COLLAPSE, KASHMIR RED, Plus Support
Mon 4th Oct.
7:00pm, Music Hall
LEVEL 42 £25+BF
7:00pm, Lemon Tree
JERRY HARMON, LAURA LOCKYER £7+BF
7:30pm, Snafu
THE XCERTS
9.00pm, Blue Lamp
Traditional Acoustic Session. All welcome.
10.00pm, Café Drummond
Open Mic Night ( Every Monday )
Soloists, Poets, Musicians, Maniacs, and Full Bands Welcome.
( Full back line provided ) For more info, call 01224 619930
Wed 6th Oct.
7:30pm, Lemon Tree
INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT £12+BF
7:30pm, The Tunnels
FLASHGUNS, MALFUNCTION £5
8:00pm, Café Drummond
KASSIDY & Support £7
Thurs 7th Oct.
7:00pm, Lemon Tree
WALTER TROUT
£17.50+BF
7:30pm, The Tunnels
LAUREL COLLECTIVE, BELGRADE, & Support
£5
9:00pm, Slains Castle
Acoustic Session
Fri 8th Oct.
7:30pm,The Tunnels
MUDHONEY
8:30pm, Lemon Tree
MACFLOYD £13+BF
8:00pm, Cafe Drummond
RANDOM HAND & Support
Sat 9th Oct.
7:30pm, The Tunnels
A GENUINE FREAKSHOW, THE DEPORTEES, HEADLIGHT, CRAYONS £5
7:30pm, Music Hall
BUCKSBURN AND DISTRICT PIPE BAND, BOGHALL AND BATHGATE CALEDONIA PIPEBAND “Fired Up” Pipeband Concert £15+BF
8:00pm, Café Drummond
KING KURT
8:00pm, Blue Lamp
SOUTHERN TENANT FOLK UNION, SMOKIN CATFISH
8:00pm, The Moorings
MISS THE OCCUPIER
8.00pm till 3.00am, The Tunnels Room 2
A SKAndalous night out with the Granite City Roller Girls! Come join the Granite City Roller Girls for a night of SKAndalous fun in the Tunnels! Propaganda DJs spinning out punk, new wave, rock and ska all night plus Sound System live to get ya’ll skanking about and living it up with the best quad-based roller-skatin’ team in town. £3
Victorian Aberdeen Photo Walk ( Hidden Aberdeen ) Join our guide, Allan Paterson, former director of the Aberdeen Urban Studies Centre, educator and expert in Aberdeen’s built environment as he takes us on a journey between Rosemount and Rubislaw in Victorian Aberdeen Sadly no tea – bring a flask! 🙂 Meet outside Rubislaw Church which is across the roundabout from Queen’s X Church
WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? a video installation by Oliver Reesler “What is democracy?” is not one question, but two. On the one hand, the question relates to conditions of the current, parliamentary representative democracies that are scrutinized critically in this project. On the other hand, the question traces different approaches to what a more democratic system might look like and which organizational forms it could take. The project asked “What is democracy?” to activists and political analysts in 18 cities around the world, resulting in a multiplicity of different perspectives and viewpoints. Exhibition runs 25 September – 30 October
Ceilidh for the VisayansA fundraising ceilidh in aid of volunteer for the Visayans, a charity organisation in the Philippines helping communities out of poverty. http://www.danceforthevisayans.weebly.com
7.30pm, The Tunnels
ELLIOT MINOR, MAKE THIS RELATE, AUTUMN IN DISGUISE.
The Jam Factory ( every Sunday. )Bands, acoustic musicians, jammers, poets etc. all welcome.
8.00pm, Café Drummond
HEALTHY MINDS COLLAPSE, KASHMIR RED, Plus Support
Mon 20th Sept.
8.00pm, Café Drummond
OCEANSIZE
9.00pm, Blue Lamp
Traditional Acoustic Session. All welcome.
10.00pm, Café Drummond
Open Mic Night ( Every Monday ) Soloists, Poets, Musicians, Maniacs, and Full Bands Welcome. ( Full back line provided ) For more info, call 01224 619930
Tues 21st Sept.
7.30pm, The Tunnels
AMY SAWERS My return to the stage after the beautiful Heidi came along nine months ago! Also joining me on stage is Andrew Duhon ( all the way from New Orleans) and Kenneth Clark. Doors at at half seven and it will be a sharp start so come along early if you can!
8.00pm, Café Drummond
TRAPPED IN KANSAS, CAST OF THE CAPITAL, MIN DIESEL
8.00pm, The Tunnels, Aberdeen
RECKLESS LOVE, JETTBLACK, DIRTY ZENNA, GUTTERGODZ £10 … get in touch with either of the bands for tickets!
Wed 22nd Sept.
8.00pm, Blue Lamp
CORINNE WEST, JOE PHELPS & TUNGSTEN, BULLHELM
8:00pm, Café Drummond
KEN MAYBURY ” THE HYPNOTIST ” £3 … Free Admission To All 2010 Freshers!
7.30pm, The Tunnels
MARK MORRIS (THE BLUETONES), WILSON, THE TRADE, KASHMIR RED.£7.50
Thurs 23rd Sept.
8.00pm, The Tunnels
MT. DESOLATION, STANLEY£10
8.00pm, Café Drummond
Jack Daniels’ Band NightJABLONSKI, LADY MERCEDES, THE RUCKUS £3
8:00pm, The Tunnels
Gig For Palestine GONG FEI, TRAGICAL HISTORY TOUR, SIMON GALL & FRIENDS, RAPUNZEL WIZARDCome find out about SPSC Aberdeen’s current campaigns and find out how to get involved. All profits on the door will donated for aid for the next flotilla to Palestine. See Article
Fri 24th Sept.
7.30pm, Music Hall
Public Ceilidh with CLACHAN YELL
8.00pm, Café Drummond
COPY HAHO Plus Support
Sat 25th Sept.
7.30pm, Lemon Tree
THE CHRISTIANS £17.50+BF
7.30pm, The Tunnels
PEARL AND THE PUPPETS, NICKY POWELL, MYKE BLACK
8.00pm, Captain Tom’s
RIGHT HAND LEFT, TURNING 13, Plus Support £4
8:00pm, Mambo’s Peterhead
THE DRAYMIN, VELVET AUDIO, GRANT DAVIDSON, FUNKY TRANSPORT ( DJ SET ) £5
8.00pm, Café Drummond
THE VIPER LINES, TIJUANA SUN, DEVILS DISCO
8.00pm, The Moorings
APES I.Q. (tbc), DAYDREAM FRENZY, THE DIRTY TRICKS
Northern Edge Jazz Festival Local authority run festival with big name acts in the form of Stan Tracey, Courtney Pine & Curtis Stigers. Lots of gigs & workshops on over a 10 day period www.boxofficeaberdeen.com
Sun 12th Sept.
7:30pm, The Tunnels
ANGRY Vs THE BEAR, INATLANTA, THE FIRE AND I, THE MINIATURE DINOSAURS £5
7:30pm, Music Hall
CURTIS STIGERS £18+BF
8:00pm, Blue Lamp
GRAHAM MACKIE, TEDDY, RAY BRADSHAW, ASIM ALI and More £5/7
9.00pm, The Moorings
The Jam Factory ( every Sunday. ) Bands, acoustic musicians, jammers, poets etc. all welcome.
Mon 13th Sept.
9.00pm, Blue Lamp
Traditional Acoustic Session. All welcome.
10.00pm, Café Drummond,
Open Mic Night ( Every Monday )
Soloists, Poets, Musicians, Maniacs, and Full Bands Welcome.
( Full back line provided ) For more info, call 01224 619930
Tues 14th Sept.
7:00pm,The Tunnels
TOMMY REILLY Tommy Reilly is a talented Scottish singer–songwriter from Torrance, East Dumbartonshire.
He gained recognition after winning the Channel 4 TV show Orange unsigned Act.
7:00pm,The Tunnels
TOMMY REILLY Plus Support
7:30pm, Lemon Tree
THE CAVERN BEATLES £14.50+BF
8:00pm, Café Drummond
SKY LARKIN Plus Support
Wed 15th Sept.
7:30pm, The Tunnels
MAKE SPARKS, THREE KNOTS, FAREWELL SINGAPORE, HEADLIGHT £5
Thurs 16th Sept.
7:30pm, Lemon Tree
ADRIAN EDMONDSON AND THE BAD SHEPHERDS £15+BF
8:00pm, Cafe Drummond
SUCIOPERRO Plus Support
Fri 17th Sept.
Music Hall
SWEET ADELINES 30th ANNIVERSARY in Aid Of Cornerstone… see article
7:30pm, The Tunnels
10:00am to 6.00pm, The Princess Royal and Duke of FifeMemorial Park, Braemar
Braemar Gathering The Gathering is famous for its friendship and hospitality which we look forward to sharing with the many visitors. http://www.braemargathering.org/
Home composting Learn how to make your own compost from kitchen and garden waste in time for next year’s seed sowing projects. £2 Contact Aberdeen Forward http://www.aberdeenforward.org Tel ; 01224 560360
email : admin@abzforward.plus.com
10th to 11th Sept.
Gadiefest 2010 A Festival of Storytelling and Traditional Arts in the North East of Scotland. http://www.gadiefest.co.uk/
Comedy
Fri 10th Sept.
8:30pm, Cellar 35, Rosemount Viaduct
GEESALAFF Comedy night
“There won’t be a dry seat in the house!” Graeme Pyper
Doors open 8.30 p.m. Mayhem starts at 9!
Music
Sat 4th Sept.
7:30pm, StonehavenTown Hall
Ceilidh and a Curry Featuring a rare public appearance by SHINDIG
Tickets from Celtic Chords Tel: 01569 763913 http://www.celtic-chords.co.uk/
7:30pm, Kilau Coffee ( Little Belmont Street )
Katerwaul single release KATERWAUL, SARAH J STANLEY
7:30pm, The Tunnels
THE SECOND HAND MARCHING BAND, BENNI HEMM HEMM, EAGLE OWL
8:00pm, The Moorings
EDDIE AND THE HOTRODS, JOHNNY SKYSCRAPER, Plus Support
8:00pm, Café Drummond
TOM HINGLEY (The Voice Of The Inspiral Carpets)
11pm – 3am, The Tunnels
IT’S A RAVE!
A nostalgic evening allowing you to indulge your inner raver….
Revisit the toxic youth of the 90’s for an evening of nostalgic dance classics, britpop and old skool rnb….
Dress; Think glow gear, rave paint, fluro, 90’s heros, nostalgic trash to dress your body, Boomboxes, 90’s dance inspiration and glowsticks… £3
Sunday Sessions, MIKE BLACK, STEVE WINTON, CRAIG JOHN DAVIDSON, CHRIS GLEN, OLIVER RICHARDS
9.00pm, The Moorings
The Jam Factory ( every Sunday. ) Bands, acoustic musicians, jammers, poets etc. all welcome.
Mon 6th Sept.
9.00pm, Blue Lamp
Traditional Acoustic Session. All welcome.
10.00pm, Café Drummond,
Open Mic Night ( Every Monday )
Soloists, Poets, Musicians, Maniacs, and Full Bands Welcome.
( Full back line provided ) For more info, call 01224 619930
Tues 7th Sept. to Fri 17th Sept
Northern Edge Jazz Festival Local authority run festival with big name acts in the form of Stan Tracey, Courtney Pine & Curtis Stigers. Lots of gigs & workshops on over a 10 day period www.boxofficeaberdeen.com
Thurs 9th Sept.
7:30pm , The Tunnels
ESPERI, NOISERV, AMBER WILSON, CRAIG DAVIDSON
8:00pm, Blue Lamp
SAM BAKER £10/12
8:00pm, The Tunnels
ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK, SAMURAI FURY, ETERNAL IDOL, SEMPERFI £10
Sat 11th Sept.
7:30pm, The Tunnels
TALK TO ANGELS (ft Mickey Dale, Embrace ), MEET ME IN VEGAS £5
The Jam Factory( every Sunday. ) Bands, acoustic musicians, jammers, poets etc. all welcome.
Mon 16th Aug.
9.00pm, Blue Lamp
Traditional Acoustic Session. All welcome.
10.00pm, Cafe Drummond
Open Mic Night( Every Monday )
Soloists, Poets, Musicians, Maniacs, and Full Bands Welcome.
( Full back line provided ) For more info, call 01224 619930
Thurs 19th Aug.
7:00pm, Lemon Tree
PETER GREGSON £10+BF
7:30pm, The Tunnels
GAP YEAR RIOT Plus Support
Fri 20th Aug.
7:30pm, Lemon Tree
BLACKHEART £9+BF
8:00pm, The Moorings
TUPELO TOWN ASSEMBLY
8:00pm Café Drummond
TEN EASY WISHES
Sat 21st Aug.
7:30pm, The Tunnels
LIONS CHASE TIGERS, TURNING 13, HE SLEPT ON 57, Plus Support £5
7:30pm, The Tunnels
SONIC BOOM SIX
8:00pm, The Moorings
HIGHT BRUISE
9.00pm – 11.00pm, UnionTerraceGardens
UNPLUGGED MUSIC Just turn up and enjoy. Bring lanterns – night lights in jam jars, torches, whatever.
