Gig Shot

28/11/2021

Shed Seven with support from Reverend And The Makers at The Music Hall, Aberdeen on Thursday 25th November 2021

Jon and Dan from Reverend and the Makers stood in at short notice for this tour so it was just an acoustic set. It was not a "just" though, it was a great set. Jon engaged with the audience, played some great songs, and told some lovely stories. Still amused at the thought of the sparkly granite of Aberdeen being quite "wow" when visited with acid some years ago! He also spoke about his time out from music when he had mental struggles and pointed out that you are not alone if going through similar, then he sang The Wrestler. He seems somewhat resentful of how popular Heavyweight Champion of the World remains, pointing out that you wouldn't still expect Kylie to play Locomotive, but it is a great song, and so great to see it live again.

Shed Seven burst onto the stage in a roar of noise. After almost 2 years of not being able to perform live for an audience they lead singer, Rick Witter, especially seemed to have an exuberance of energy. He bounced, he twirled, he shimmied and he absolutely rocked! I've seen the Sheds a few times, including last time they were at the Music Hall in 2019, and they have never been quite as amazingly excellent as they were that night. We got all the hits and several others besides. There were trumpets as well as the usual drums, guitars and maracas. There were flashing lights, shout outs to Twitter fans (including my friend apparently. Yes I'm Maria and I am indeed reviewing this gig, excuse me whilst I melt in embarrassment!), and a young lad right at the barrier was thrilled to get picked out and given a maraca, and drumsticks at the end of the gig. We sang along, we grinned happily, we chased rainbows, and we absolutely adored the Sheds. Haste ye back chaps!!

14/11/2021

Man of Moon with support from The Ghost Tape and Angry Man Car Park at The Tunnels, Aberdeen on Thursday 11th November 2021.

What a line up, three bands for one well priced ticket - Agp Aberdeen really do spoil us! The support bands were both local talents (both of which I've been wanting to see for some time). Both very different, but very good. The Ghost Tape are 3 older guys with some proper rock songs, that got everyone in the mood. Meanwhile, Angry Man Car Park are 3 young lads; whose androgynous singer was just too happy to be back on stage to be angry that night! Great atmosphere and really got "the youngsters" down the front.

Finally it was time for Man of Moon, again. Our reviewer, Maria, saw them in 2014 supporting We Were Promised Jetpacks at the Garage, then again in 2019 when Flares and Seagulls hosted them in The Cellar. Chris Bainbridge and Mikey Reid are the well matched duo from Edinburgh who have developed their talents over the years playing together. They said it was the largest crowd they had played to in Aberdeen and it did look like the Tunnels was pretty full by the time they started. It was utterly bouncing by the time they finished. A great set with some brilliant songs like The Road and I Run.

30/09/2019

31/07/2019

Ocean Colour Scene, Music Hall, Aberdeen. Monday 29th July 2019.
First up was Yasmin Kiddle with her acoustic guitar, pleasant to look at and good on the ear. She played a variety of songs, including various covers, and demonstrated she can also play keyboard. At one point we were encouraged to join in the singing as “this one is a belter” and we were treated to her new single, out that day, called Desire. Other dates on the OCS tour were having Daniel Meade who was in Aberdeen previously supporting the Proclaimers, but its good to try out new artists.

Ocean Colour Scene have certainly aged since I first saw them in Wembley about 22 years ago, but haven’t we all. The main change from that night is that there is now 20 odd years of emotions mixed in with their music, it was pretty clear that a lot of the audience have loved some of those songs for 20 years. The line up is different, with Simon Fowler and Steve Cradock being the only originals. Quite obvious when Steve’s young son came out onto the stage first! Can you imagine learning guitar – learning your Dad’s hit songs?! No pressure there, lad!

The set was a mix of the songs we know and love, with some of their more recent material. You Got It Bad, The Circle, Riverboat Song for example, huge singalongs and lots of cheering. At one point it even seemed like Simon was a bit overcome with the huge love being thrown at him, luckily we were all singing too loudly to cause an issue! There was even the Beatles’ classic Day Tripper in the encore – which was of course finished with Day We Caught The Train.

Venue security was kept busy, trying not to let people use flash photography or sit on each other’s shoulders, or fall off the balcony with their enthusiasm. They did a great job though ensuring everyone had a wonderful and memorable evening, the buzz as the hall emptied was of sheer exhilaration.

Further information:

We are heading out soon on our ‘Summer in Scotland’ tour starting July 25th in Motherwell. We’re taking some collectable Vinyl pieces from our OCS HQ with us to the…

11/06/2019

Beverley Knight, Music Hall, Aberdeen. Saturday 8th June 2019.
Part of Aberdeen Performing Arts’s Project Band, our support tonight was from 16 year old Robyn Davidson. Well coached she introduced each song and ended each with a “thank you” so you knew when to clap. The latter was not necessary, her performance was all the encouragement we needed to applaud. Songs covered were quite varied, from her favourite Billie Eilish’s Bellyache to 7 Years from Lukas Graham and What You know by Two Door Cinema Club. She did have one of her own songs, called Wrong Direction, which was very good – we should watch out for this young lady in the future.

Finally, it was time for Beverley Knight, who bounded onto the stage and was like a crazy package of energy for her complete set. She jumped, she danced, she waved her glorious hair around, she showed off her fantastic boots. Mostly though, she sang, and she filled the Music Hall with the wonder of her voice, she is just utterly amazing. Some of the notes she hit, and the length she held them were breathtaking. The back of my neck tingled several times and I almost pinched my friend to see if it was real.

Beverley Knight has been performing for 25 years and this is her anniversary tour, she took us through some of the highlights of those years from Flavour of the Old School from 1994, Piece of My Heart, Shoulda Woulda Coulda, There was some conflict in the building as the APA staff wanted everyone in their seats – but that just was not possible, for some of the songs in particular. Mostly though there was that glorious ecstatic feeling when a lot of people are in a venue listening to one very special musician – and her talented band of course, what an atmosphere! When they left the stage, no one left their seat, all desperate for more. She did not disappoint coming back out with I’m Every Woman from the Bodyguard musical and Come As You Are.

No truer words have ever been sung than Beverley Knight singing “I’m gold baby”.

Further information:

2019 sees Beverley celebrate an incredible 25 years in music with a sellout concert at London’s Royal Festival Hall on May 23rd with symphony orchestra. The show will be recorded for a live album, due for release later this year, details to be announced. 2019 will also see a collection of shows a...

31/05/2019

Kyle Falconer on Thursday 29th May at The The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen

Support was provided by Marc Culley, a young lad from Peterhead. Marc played the guitar and sang, mostly covers of 80s Britpop bands such as Oasis and the Verve. Although he shows potential he lacks stage presence and admitted himself he just mumbles so you should read the poster to get his name. His debut single Babylon is a great song which he hid in his set, without a "this is my own song".

Kyle Faulkner and his band gave an energetic set full of noise and enthusiasm. His fans are dedicated and excitable, many heads received a free beer shampoo over the evening. It's always fun to be in the middle of an audience who adore the music being played, singing along, jumping around, and generally being ecstatic.

Kyle showed off his talents by playing guitar, the ukulele, keyboard and at the end we even got harmonica. He told stories in between songs, sometimes crazy, but generally amusing especially about playing snooker or pool and trying not to poke holes in the ceiling with the cue. Songs included the Therapist and Family Tree. Some members of the audience were obviously fans of Kyle's previous band The View so they may have been disappointed by the lack of their iconic song Same Jeans.

No one left disappointed after such an enthusiastic set. Kyle did over run but no one was complaining or in a rush to leave. For those keen enough to hang around at the end he even came out, posed for selfies, and signed vinyl procured from the merchandise stall.

29/04/2019

Eddi Reader Scotland Tour 2019, Music Hall Aberdeen. Saturday 20th April 2019.
The support act was a young lady called Siobhan Miller, she’s been Scots Singer of the Year an unprecedented three times at the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. She was accompanied by Euan Robertson on guitar and another Ewan on bass. She did quite a variety of songs including one Tell Us a Story of Your Own, which I totally loved the lyrics of! She did the title track and Let Me Mean Something from her newest album, Mercury. As well as singing and playing beautifully she talked easily between songs and explained where they are from and how in folk music songs are passed down from generation to generation. Sibohan also got the audience involved in a fun rendition of Adam McNaughtan’s song Cholesterol.

Unfortunately Eddi Reader witnessed an assault on her way to the venue so arrived late, and slightly flustered. She handled it very well though, it was not until the next morning that her tweets revealed how major an incident it had been. She did start with Send the Devil Back to Hell which was very fitting. Siobhan came back on stage to duet with her on Maid O’ The Loch which was a charity song written for a paddle steamer on Loch Lomond. Every song had a story and the set list was made up as she went along, we got the White Cat song from the margins of the Book of Kells and My Favourite Dress about her husband (and guitarist)’s Aunty Mary who had dementia. Wild Mountainside and Hummingbird also featured, inbetween stories of her musical family and the songs they sang. Known for her Burns’ songs she gave us Ae Fond Kiss before finishing with her Mum’s version of Mona Lisa.

An amazing evening with two very talented lady singers, and their accompanying musicians. Both took us on a journey into their lives, although many Aberdonians will wish that Eddi Reader had not had her dreadful experience on the way there, not the lasting impression we like to make. However they say music sooths the soul and this evening was perfect medicine.

Further information: