Category Archives: info

Local bands set to battle it out to secure two thousand pounds prize money

Date: 10/02/13

Venue: Cafe Drummonds, Belmont Street, Aberdeen

After months of live performances, seven local bands have been announced as the finalists for a prestigious city based live music competition.

Over the last six months more than 20 bands and solo artists have taken part in a series of live knock-out rounds to secure a spot in the final of the ‘2K Tournament’, organised by Aberdeen’s leading live music venue, Drummonds.

All the acts that have made it through to the final, which takes place on Friday, February 15 at 7.30 at Drummonds, now stand the chance of winning a £2,000 cash prize that can be used towards new equipment, recording and touring costs.

The bands and solo artists that have made it through to this year’s final are  Akord, Deadfire, Gutter Godz, Late Landing, Leanne Smith, Ray Brower and You Are What We Are.

Jim Sandison, the owner of Drummonds and the man behind the 2K Tournament said: ‘This competition is a great way for us to support local bands by providing a platform for them to take part in a competition that can provide a real kick-start to their careers.  Making music is an expensive business and so the prize money will help the winning act cover costs such as recording or promoting and marketing of their material.  There has been a real buzz around the competition this year and we are really pleased that so many up and coming artists from in and around the city have supported the competition over the last few months.  We are really looking forward to the final and it’s going to be a tough decision to pick a winner because all the acts are so good.’

Now in its second year, the 2K Tournament was set up to help promote local artists and their music.  By offering a substantial cash prize it provides crucial additional funds to local musicians that can help them record and promote their material.  It also provides a hotbed for local bands to meet and exchange ideas and contacts.

The winner of last year’s 2K Tournament was local singer songwriter, Amy Sawers.

Three judges from the local cultural and music scene will mark the live performances and the winning act will be announced on the night.

Drummonds is one of the longest running live music venues in Aberdeen and has supported the city’s emerging talent for the more than 20 years.  It also hosts well-known touring acts, open mic sessions, spoken word nights and live DJ’s.  For more information on live music and other events at Drummonds click here.

Links to the contenders:

Akord

Deadfire

Gutter Godz

Late Landing

Leanne Smith

Ray Brower

You and What We Are

Good luck to all artists taking part and we’ll hopefully see many of you there to support this very worthwhile event for LOCAL artists.

The winner of our pair of tickets for this years Wickerman Festival is Carolanne McNicholas.

Thanks for all the entries, we wish we had more to give away.

We’ve often pondered having a video of the week featured on FnS… sometimes something from the vast back catalogue out there but also something new from the many links to such things that we get sent to us… good idea? bad idea? already done to death?

Let us know what you think folks.

It’s that time of year when lists are everywhere and FnS is no different… here’s New York Johnny‘s best albums and gigs of 2011.

Albums
1. Moon Duo – Mazes
This is the side project of Wooden Shjips mainman Ripley Johnson so it’s probably a bit of a swick having two of his albums in my picks. But, hey, what can I say? It’s a sound I like. A bit more electronic in this than the WS album, it brings a touch of Suicide into the mix of psychedelic drones and skewed rockabilly shuffle beats. Try it, you’ll like it.

2. Loaded 44 – Wasted On You
The best punk album I bought all year by a mile. It sounds like Debbie Harry fronting the UK Subs. And I definitely mean that as a good thing haha! Pure and strong vocals singing pop hooks over muscular punk guitars and a driving rhythm section. Sure there’s the odd track that’s slightly off the pace but there’s a good 10 songs on here that could be HIT singles in a better world.

3. Wooden Shjips – West
Find a chord, fuzz it and play it for five or six minutes. That seems to be the Wooden Shjips methodology. It doesn’t sound like much on paper but it’s pretty great when you listen to it. Groovy, drugged out, 70’s spacerock for the 2010’s.

Gigs
1. Alice Cooper / New York Dolls – SECC, Glasgow
Total legend exceeds high expectations could have been the headlines for this one. The perfect gig for Halloween. Great seats, great players, great sound, the setlist a perfect balance of hits and surprises. And I got to dress like a zombie!

2. The Boys – Rebellion Festival, Blackpool
My best festival set of the year was pushed so close by Jello Biafra, The Outcasts and The Cravats. This just shades it though as singing bassist Duncan “Kid” Reid turned in a tour-de-force of a performance for his last UK gig with the band. This was the old cliché of giving 110% made real.

3. Les Savy Fav – The Tunnels, Aberdeen
The best of the local gigs I attended this year  by some way. A major coup for AGP landing this one and it was great to see a hefty midweek turnout at The Tunnels witnessing the surf-punk sounds and madcap antics of Tim Harrington and co. This really had to be seen to be believed.