Tag Archives: Cafe Drummonds

Aka Ska – Cafe Drummonds 25th February

Posted on by

At the radio meeting we were going through the upcoming gigs and assigning people to go and review them. Up came Aka Ska who no one had heard of, so we had a listen to their stuff and with an open mind (since I’m not a hardcore ska music fan) I volunteered to check them out. And I am so glad I did, what came next was one of the best nights of live music I’ve had for a long time. The band formed in 2006 with what seems to be the sole purpose of bringing the joys of ska music to the wider world and having a blast while doing it. It was a fabulously relaxed gig with everyone (including the band) just having a good time.

It was a strange audience which consisted of a large group of burley bikers, a stag do, a hen party and then everyone else. But once the band had started up (there were no support acts) everyone slowly but surely were all jumping around and dancing. It was such a good atmosphere and the music was brilliant, playing all the classic ska tunes (and even ones the unexperienced ska listener like myself could recognise!) including ‘Monkey Man’ and some classic tunes by The Specials. A highlight for me was the entirity of Cafe Drummonds singing along to ‘Red Red Wine’ made famous by UB40. Even if you are not into ska music I would definitely recommend seeing them when next in town, a band committed to keeping gig prices cheap it makes for a brilliant night out with a difference.

Holly Abbott

Autumn In Disguise – 23/10/11

Posted on by

Not every gig finishes up outside, in the middle of the street, on top of a van. This was, however the case on Sunday night as a fire alarm meant Café Drummonds had to be evacuated. But as the masses gathered in Belmont Street, a certain Mr David Gonnella risked life and limb to mount the roof of a nearby VAN, with a pink acoustic guitar (‘cause that’s just how he rolls), and was soon joined by fellow Autumn In Disguise rascal Mike Hendo. While some scrambled for their phones in hopes of recording a potential ‘I Was There’ moment, others simply enjoyed the duo’s impromptu acoustic rendition of ‘Let’s Call This A Home Run’. Pretty darn surreal.

It’s a testament to the quality of the gig as a whole that this freak incident didn’t overshadow any of the ‘actual playing’ that preceded it. While it would be wrong to suggest that this was an “Autumn In Disguise (plus support)” show, there was always a feeling that, tonight at least, this was going to be the local band’s night. As We Climb and We Start Partys more than adequately excited the crowd, as did the official ‘support’ bands, but as one would expect, AID got the biggest reaction and inspired the loudest sing-alongs.

Two local bands played sets from opposing ends of the rock music spectrum to warm the crowd up, although due to time constraints they were only given maybe 4 or 5 songs each. This did not, however, prevent them from making an impact. Adrienne represented pop-punk, showing off some driving riffs, and while they didn’t necessarily have the big choruses to really get the crowd moving, they certainly displayed enough tight musicianship to impress, and convince everyone that they are a band with potential. Entrosolet, in contrast are a prog metal outfit who as such like nothing more than making loud noises. This is not to say that they don’t have any consideration for melody – in fact their guitar lines are rather well considered. See ‘You Are Not Alone’ (sadly not a Michael Jackson cover) for an example of metal with character. However, in a live environment, the lead screamer’s lyrics became somewhat unintelligible. Not one for the (either not present or horrifically outnumbered) mums and dads.

The filling of our five-layered Drummonds sandwich was Cambridge’s own As We Climb, whose brand of catchy, well-constructed pop-punk earned the first truly enthusiastic reception of the night. Despite looking a little like a skinny Dave Grohl, singer Ben Scarr (hopefully his real name) possesses a fairly smooth pop voice, somewhere between Josh Franceschi and Aled Phillips. It never gets too close to becoming ‘whiny’, like so many of his peers. At one point he said his band is having “literally the best fun ever” on tour and they certainly looked like they are. ‘Get It Together’ and ‘Razorblade Smile’ are as infectious as anything else around.

‘Infectious’ is an adjective that We Start Partys also seem to aim for, albeit by a rather different approach. It’s all in the name really. It probably wouldn’t be a stretch to say that they seem more concerned with dancing than rocking. They heavily include samples of the likes of Nero and DJ Fresh – perhaps brave considering the mostly rock-based nature of the crowd. However, they generally succeed in starting the party (I’m deeply, deeply sorry), and their original material works really well.

So with the anticipation well and truly built, Autumn In Disguise took to the stage to close the show. By now a hugely experienced live band, the local boys don’t really seem to put a foot wrong in the eyes of the crowd. They have 3 or 4 massive anthems at their disposal that either instantly win over newbies or get the experienced following ‘bouncing’ (to use the contemporary vernacular). Not least of which is the ‘See Me In Terror’, which still sounds massive even after hearing it a ridiculous amount of times. Even if vocally they don’t hit every exact note, they prove the theory that live music doesn’t need to be technically perfect. They have more than enough guts and passion to make up for it. Plus, they’re always willing to scale mid-size storage vehicles to please their fans. Surely that can’t be a bad thing?

Alan Henderson

Oxjam Aberdeen Takeover 2011!: Café Drummonds

Posted on by

22nd October 2011 – the day Oxfam filled up four of Aberdeen’s most popular venues with some thoroughly exciting acts. The cause is, of course, admirable, but how was the music?

Well, at Café Drummonds at least, it wasn’t bad at all. The night kicked off with Oliver Richards, a local singer-songwriter, strumming an acoustic guitar and generally making everyone feel content. Looking and sounding like an edgier Olly Murs, his mix of laid-back tunes and livelier jaunts had everyone present confident that it was going to be a good night. ‘Go Baby’ was a definite highlight. This guy should be playing to more people than the few who turned up early enough on the night.

Second on the bill was ‘mystic folk’ duo Leighann & Jan, who delivered an assured acoustic set, even making room for an occasional cello part. Their biggest asset is Leighann’s powerful, emotive voice, and the duo make the biggest impression when it’s allowed to take centre stage, as on the likes of ‘The Witch‘. Jan’s voice is perhaps not quite as confident, but it provides an occasionally lovely harmony. Their cover of The Knife’s ‘Heartbeats‘ was particularly pleasant.

The night’s penultimate act was Stanley, who took to the stage looking rather dapper in some pretty nifty suits. Their busy, multi-layered sound combined with lead singer Stephen Podlesny’s engaging croon made for an extremely charming live experience. From the moment Podlesny sound checked with ‘You Are My Sunshine’ he had the audience in the palm of his hand. Stanley have also achieved what many previously thought was impossible – they’ve made a xylophone riff work within a rock song. It happens on their first single, ‘Monkeys & Friends’, a song which shows off every member’s technical virtuosity. For a band that makes use of trombones and xylophones, Stanley don’t half rock. Highlight of the night.

And so it was left to experienced local indie-rockers The Little Kicks to capitalise on the momentum gained by Stanley and finish the night on a high. That they would succeed was never really in doubt, such is the esteem in which these guys are held in the local scene. They play all the right notes in all the right places, know how to ‘play the pauses’, and insert an appropriate amount of “woah”’s into their choruses. As a band they are as tight as one could expect. Sometimes it doesn’t look like they’re enjoying themselves as much as the audience are, but maybe that’s part of their image. Regardless, they’ve made a whole lot of people very excited for their new album, due for release at the end of November.

Alan Henderson

Oxjam Aberdeen Takeover 2011

Posted on by

This Saturday, the 22nd to be precise, Oxjam will be ‘taking over’ Aberdeen in a musical sense.

But what/who is Oxjam, and what do they do? Put simply, Oxjam is the musical arm of the charity group Oxfam, an organisation I’m sure we’ve all heard of. And what they is raise money for charity through music events, like the aforementioned Aberdeen Takeover. For more info on them take a look at their website.

So the Aberdeen Takeover which, as I’ve mentioned, is this Saturday, the 22nd of October 2011, is going to be quite the event! It kicks off during the day when there will be a free acoustic set at the Kilau Coffee Shop on Little Belmont Street from local artists Tim Courtney and Steven Milne between 2 and 4pm. Look out for Oxjam collectors around Aberdeen during the day as well; they’ll be the ones with the buckets standing in the pouring rain! Give generously!

Saturday night is where it really gets going though! Oxjam will be taking over four Aberdeen venues (I guess that’s why they called it the ‘takeover’ then!). The venues are The Blue Lamp, Café Drummonds, Snafu and Tunnels 2, at which a whole host of different bands and acts will be performing. And for just £7 you can purchase a wristband which will let you into each venue as many times as you want over the course of the night to see whatever bands/acts you desire! Wristbands can be purchased on the night at any of the venues. Not only that, but the wristband gets you exclusive access to the after party at Tunnels 2 which begins at 12 and will feature Ali Welsh and DHC’s Steve Milne on DJ duties. If you don’t have a wristband you can still get in for £2. It promises comical drunken fun for all. Bring a camera along to snap your mates in various states of calamity! I’ll be there of course, and you can buy me a drink if you like.

But to be serious for a moment, this event is all about raising money for charity. The smallest sums of money to us can make a massive difference to others across the world. For just £3 a family can get fresh water, something which we take for granted here but is a privilege to many across the world and can literally be a life saver. For £1000 a library can be built to provide education and a future to young people all over the world. So have fun, but remember that it’s all for a great cause; saving lives.

So back to the event itself. Check out the Facebook event and the Facebook page for more details and features on the bands involved throughout the week. And of course it would be rather remiss of me to not tell you what bands are actually going to be performing, so below is a list of what bands are playing at what venues. Please note that all the gigs open at 7pm and the first band will start at roughly 7.30pm. For more info on the bands check the aforementioned Facebook pages or click on the name of each band.

The Blue Lamp

The Lorelei

Dearstalker

Craig John Davidson

Jamie Rodden

 

Snafu

Katerwaul (HEADLINERS)

Carson Wells

Min Diesel

 

Cafe Drummonds

The Little Kicks (HEADLINERS)

Stanley

Leighann and Jan

Oliver Richards

 

Tunnels 2

Taco and the Sharpies (HEADLINERS)

Stanley Odd

Under The Noose (U.T.N)

Acoustic Act/Taco DJ

 

So if you had any plans for Saturday, cancel them! Instead come along to the Aberdeen music event of the year! Bring friends, and their friends, and their friends! See lots of new bands and chat to lots of new people (including your rather handsome scribe!). It’ll be a cracking night, and not one to be missed. DO IT.

 

Stuart Manson

Northern Lights to shine upon Seaton Park

Posted on by


En route to the University of Aberdeen, students who live at Hillhead Halls of Residence journey through the picturesque park on a daily basis. However, on July 30th and 31st 2011 a brand new festival has been announced to take place in the park, featuring the likes of old-school Madness, soulful Paloma Faith, and more than another 50 acts over the two days.

The event will be giving the public three stages to choose from, boasting a line up which will light up the Granite City. This festival is the first of its kind for Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland. Well established acts will be performing to festival-goers, but Northern Lights will provide the brilliant opportunity to showcase local talented acts.

The main stage presents chart favourites such as Madness, Maxïmo Park, Kelis, The Noisettes, Paloma Faith, The Waterboys, Tinchy Stryder and The Futureheads while having Scottish appearances from Idlewild, Edwyn Collins, The Twilight Sad and Aberdeen’s The Xcerts. There is also a mystery guest that is yet to be announced, and with the current line up I’m sure when it’s revealed it won’t disappoint.

In addition to this, there will be an arena focusing on the best dance music Europe’s top DJs have to offer, including Sander Van Doorn, Audio Bullys, and Scotland’s favourite Mylo.

Northern Lights Music Festival is a 14+ event, and ticketholders will receive a wristband in exchange for their ticket at the gate. Individual day tickets can be purchased for £50, an average Saturday night out! But you should get the weekend tickets at a brilliant value of £90.

Don’t miss out on this phenomenal event. Get your tickets for Scotland’s newest festival at ticketmaster.co.uk. You can also phone Café Drummonds on 01224 619930 or The Cavern Record Shop at 01224 625005. For those who crave the feeling of the tickets in their fingers now, you can purchase your tickets at Café Drummonds, 1 Belmont Street, Aberdeen; at The Cavern Record Shop, 13A Belmont Street, Aberdeen; or go to Aberdeen Box Office, Union Street, Aberdeen.

To all those avid festival-goers, there won’t be any camping at this event so you can keep your tents wrapped up. This means you will have to vacate the festival site at the end of each day. Don’t worry though, if you’re travelling to Aberdeen and need a place to lay your head, single student accommodation have been made available at Hillhead Halls of Residence at £25 a night, or £40 for two nights. Great news though, just because your tent can’t join you doesn’t mean your sleeping bag and pillow won’t. There will not be any linen provided so make sure you bring these with you if you’re staying at Hillhead. To get further information and to reserve a room, email: hillhead.halls@abdn.ac.uk or visit www.abdn.ac.uk/accommodation. But of course, if you don’t fancy shacking up like a student, Aberdeen boasts a range of hotels and B&Bs to suit any taste.

Make sure you’re there, it promises to be astounding.

Josh Lee

ASR Live presents James Clark Jones @ Cafe Drummonds

Posted on by

Aberdeen Student Radio presents one of Canada’s finest singer/songwriters since Neil Young. Playing some really mellow acoustic folk, he’s on on a UK tour and is finishing it here up in Aberdeen. Come on down for some quality tunes.

Admission £3

Press Blurb:

James Clark Jones is a singer, a songwriter, and an engaging live performer. He is equally adept as a guitar player, with either an acoustic or electric guitar in his hands. When playing his Fender Stratocaster you are reminded of Mark Knopfler or Eric Clapton. In quieter pieces, James uses a Karol Signature acoustic guitar, paying homage to roots-style music, blues, and Rock’n’roll. His voice has been compared to Harry Chapin, Clapton, Knopfler, and Cat Stevens—even Chris Rea. Born in Glasgow, but raised in the suburbs around Toronto, he has three albums of original songs in release, and recently finished his latest CD, dispatch from purgatory. . . . The new CD, dispatch from purgatory, available now! Go to the website and click the ‘Buy Now’ button. . . . Currently on a solo acoustic tour of the UK.