You’ll have noticed things have been a bit quiet on here of late, that’s because I’ve been part of a new project.

And this is it:

57north.org

Think of it as a supercharged version of The Kiosque. We’re aware it’ll take a bit of time to get all the sections, news and listings etc. up to speed, but it’s a pretty good start I reckon, and region-wide too, which is a boost for all you non-metropolitan types : )

I’m also aware that the club/electronic side of things is lacking at the moment, hopefully that will change too.

The details are here for anyone who wants to get involved/add events/give us feedback etc.

And no, it won’t be just “boring cooncil stuff”.

As for The Kiosque itself, well, it’ll still be here in some shape or form, quite what that shape or form will be I’m not sure, but I’m not going to let it die.

Cheers

John

With 2013 under way we are busy booking up shows for the next few months at The Lemon Tree. Looking into March we’ve got a busy programme of shows for you so take a look and book your tickets now.

First up on the 3rd March are Toploader. Having achieved success in the late 90s with the smash hit Dancing in the Moonlight and platinum album Onka’s Big Moka they have returned with a new release and tour. Latest single Turn It Around is currently dominating the airwaves and sure to see band hit the heights again.

Noisy Night will be a unique experience on the 9th March. Noisy Nights is the live event hosted by Red Note Ensemble and a chance for local composers to submit their work to be played on the night by the orchestra. All this in a laid back atmosphere where you can relax with a beer and listen to some of the best pieces of music all from the local area. For more about Noisy Night, take a look here.

The brilliant Duke Special are up on the 11th March and will be a great show to see at The Lemon Tree. The Irish singer-songwriter has a unique and charasmatic playing style sung in his disticntly-accented voice giving a theatrical feel to the whole evening. Warm and romantic have been terms used to describe Duke Special and anyone in attendance will see exactly why.

Jazz legend Courntey Pine visits us on the 15th March as part of the Aberdeen Jazz Festival. The renowned multi-instrumentalist released his latest album House of Legends last year and was named the Jazzwise Album of the Year. We’re excited about this one so book your tickets now. Check out  for full details of the festival.

The 16th March sees the return of the legendary punk band Stiff Little Fingers. Having previously played sell out shows we’re pleased to welcome them back to the venue for what will be a great show. We’re expecting the remainder of the tickets for this one to go quickly so get in now to avoid disappointment.

Sam Lee and Friends had an exceptional 2012 so we’re expecting an interesting show on the 19th March. Having released debut album Ground Of Its Own he was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize and three BBC Folk Awards and is fast becoming recognised as a pioneer of modern folk music. Noted for his unique voice and songwriting we can’t recommend this one enough.

The brilliant Fence Records present a show of acts on their roster on the 21st March with an evening with James Yorkston, The Pictish Trail and Seamus Fogarty, Fence Records (owned by King Creosote) release and champion some of the best songwriting talent Scotland has to offer and have been putting on some great shows recently including the first Eye O’ The Dug festival in St Andrew’s last year. With three great acts on one bill this is going to be a fantastic showcase.

On the 23rd March we welcome Midge Ure to the venue. The popular songwriter brings his classic hits from his solo albums along with his time in Ultravox. Fans can expect to hear all their favourites at a show that is already selling fast so make sure you book now to avoid disappointment.

Next up is Donnie Munro on the 28th March. The former singer of Runrig heads out on his solo tour that sees him play extensively across Scotland and Scandinavia. An important part of Scottish songwriting and is for anyone who is a fan of folk music. Having previously been a student in Aberdeen (he attended Gray’s School of Art) we’re looking forward to giving him a good reception.

Not quite a music gig but Andy Kershaw will be at The Lemon Tree on the 30th March to talk us through his career and interests. Known for his keen interest in music we can expect to hear all his interesting tales and insight from his time in broadcasting. Having had a career that has seen him being a roadie and tour manager for Billy Bragg, presenting the Old Grey Whistle Test, co-presenting Live Aid and having interviewed the likes of Bob Dylan and The Ramones he’s sure to keep us entertained for the evening.

As you can tell March is going to be busy for music at The Lemon Tree. On top of all these we’re pleased to announce the onsales of Albert Hammond, King Charles, Band of Friends (tribute to Rory Gallagher), Lucy Rose, Then Jerico, Public Service Broadcasting, Kate Nash, Connie Lush, Rachel Sermanni, Martin Carthy, The Doors Alive, The Bloody Marys, The Magnets, Funk Connection and MacFloyd. Something for everyone I’m sure you’ll agree! Tickets for all shows can be purchased at www.boxofficeaberdeen.com, by calling 01224 641122 or visiting the box office.

Click here and buy one. Your life will be better for it.

Fri 1 Mar | Cellar 35  Cara Mitchell, The 1930s,  Charlotte Carpenter, Foxhunting, Leanne Smith

Sat 16 Mar | The Tunnels  Woodenbox with a Fistful of Fivers, Marionettes, His Name Is Codeine

Fri 29 Mar | The Tunnels  Fat Goth, Carson Wells,  [] wall []

Wed 17 Apr | The Tunnels  Mechanical Smile, Cats In Capes, You And What We Are, Culann

Thu 25 Apr | The Tunnels  The Mouse That Ate The Cat,  Das McManus, Seanconnery, Uniform

Sat 11 May | Cellar 35  Siobhan Wilson & Support tbc

Friday 8 February

The Tunnels | 7.30pm | £12  Facebook Event Page
The Robin Guthrie Trio, Mark Gardener

Him from Cocteau Twins (and two cohorts) and him from Ride.  Guthrie does instrumental stuff these days while Gardener does the solo thing, they did collaborate on a single last year however, so you can expect a bit of this action too:

Snafu | 8pm | £5  Facebook Event Page
Stanley Odd, Duke, The Shores, Home Alone/DHC DJs

Edinburgh’s Stanley Odd make hip hop with a Scottish accent that actually works; check out the video below of them playing with The Electric String Orchestra at Celtic Connections. Woah.  Noisy Aberdeen guitar three-piece Duke have just been nominated for a SAMA, while Peterhead indie-rockers The Shores get things underway. This is a Dirty Hearts Club night so you also get the usual DJ shenanigans from them, with help from Home Alone.

Saturday 9 February

The Tunnels | 7.30pm | £6/£5adv  Facebook Event Page
Michael Cassidy, Margaret Finlayson, Willson Gray, Jaimie Wren

Paisley alt.folkster (apologies for the horrible pigeonholing) Michael Cassidy visits with a full band in tow, while support comes from local singer-songwriters Margaret Finlayson, Willson Gray and Jaimie Wren

The Moorings | 8pm | £3
The Fudge Music Awards 2013

For the uninitiated, every year Fudge (they’re the promoters from The Moorings) run polls for various categories about music and stuff in this fine city (find out more on their Facebook Page, I think some of them may still be open at time of writing). We always get nominated but no-one ever votes for us. Probably with good reason. Anyway, this  ’glittering’ ceremony is the result. I can pretty much guarantee that some of the acceptance speeches will be the very dictionary definition of ‘NSFW.’ Alongside all this mayhem there’s also live music from Bisongrass, Miss Lucid & Semperfi. Messy. (There’s a poster for the show at the end of this post.)

Sunday 10 February

The Tunnels | 7.30pm | £8/£6.50adv
Peace, IndianRedLopez
Birmingham indie/electro/pop outfit Peace are all over the radio at the moment (you’ll probably have heard the tune below at some point), so this rescheduled show from last year is a good chance to see them before they either hit stardom or crash like a burning plane. Support comes from oft-written-about-on-this-site locals IndianRedLopez who’ve been working on some new stuff which should get an outing tonight.

Have fun!

A touring exhibition from the V & A Museum charting 100 years of fashion photography and featuring work from the likes of Edward Steichen, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, David Bailey, Miles Aldridge, Corinne Day, Rankin, Tim Walker and Steven Meise. Potentially rather cool indeed. More info here.

We’ve got a pair of tickets to give away for this, read on to find out how to get your paws on them..

The first Interesting Music Promotions gig of the year has ‘doozy’ stamped all over it. It’s been a long wait for the follow-up to The Pictish Trail‘s (AKA Johnny Lynch) 2008 album Secret Soundz Vol.1 on Fence Records , although it appears to have been entirely worth it. The cunningly-titled Secret Soundz Vol. 2, recorded in a caravan on the isle of Eigg no less, is a superb collection of lo-fi electronica peppered with Lynch’s lower-fi, self-deprecating, and in places, deeply personal lyrics. It’s even better than Vol. 1. and I can’t wait to hear it live.

Doing the double-shift of Mr Trail’s backing band and support act are Edinburgh post-folksters eagleowl, who themselves have a forthcoming album on Fence. As if that’s not enough, opening the show is Rob St. John, whose 2011 album ‘Weald’ on Song, By Toad Records is well, very good indeed.

So, quite the line-up then, for the chance for you and a pal to head down without paying however, simply email your name under the heading ‘Pictish Trail Comp‘ to interestingmusic@hotmail.co.uk before noon on Friday 25 January when we’ll pick the winner at random.

Good luck!

Acid Thunder: Saturday 19 January | Origin | 11pm | £5

Two rather different clubnights for the weekend, which when written together sound like potential headline acts for a ’boutique’ prog-rock festival which promises so much but ultimately disappoints..

Luckily, they’re not, so first up is Strawberry Wine at Cellar 35 on Friday which is a pleasant wee night of C86, early Creation, twee indie-pop and shoegaze. Here’s the Facebook event page. Free entry for anyone wearing an anorak apparently too. I predict sartorial arguments aplenty and cries of ‘racism’ from the duffel coat fraternity.

On a bassier note, Saturday sees the last-ever Acid Thunder at Origin. Worry ye not, as the crew are only taking some time out to focus on less-regular nights, so they’re not going away forever. As you’d expect, the line-up includes some of the best of the city’s ever-burgeoning electronic/bass/dubstep/house scene including Bones & Money, Lockah & more. Here’s a (very) recent mix Lockah did for Canadian online clothing store SSENSE, who could probably sell you an expensive anorak, but may be pushed to get it to you in time for Friday..

Your last chance to see the Gary Hume exhibition is this Saturday. It’s rather good..

Right, back for real this time (even if it is a short post) and I shall ease your way into 2013 by recommending this second offering from fledgling-promoters-with-familiar-faces Laika Come Home.

Billed as ‘an evening of drone, improv and noise rock’, we get four acts for four quid, all of whom should be loud and weird enough to hold your attention. Here are some links:

[ ] (pronounced ‘wall’)

Kitchen Cynics Orchestra (Local legend and new-ish cohorts, not on yer internet, yet)

Mark Rennie

Daemons

I was going to try and explain some of these acts, then noticed the poster below does a better job of it than I ever could. Honest. If everyone could do that on their posters from now on though that’d be great cheers thanks. Good to be back. All the best.