Quote:
|
Originally Posted by wattie-buchan Any way, i invited them for a drink in the moorings (the only rock bar in town) |
Now that is misinformation! The following places all qualify (some more than others) as catering for the rock set. Hope I haven't missed any. Everywhere differs slightly, and it's really a case of horses for courses. Based on what little I know, because bear in mind that I hardly ever leave The Moorings, so these details may be a little sketchy:
Bassment
This place has a decent sized pool hall. They also specialise in cocktails with all the bar staff especially skilled in this area. Music is mainly corporate rock. American and tex-mex style meals are served. Pub quiz night and karaoke night. The premises are large with a 400+ capacity.
Blly Bundy's
From what I've heard they specialise in classic rock. Pub meals are served. Rock covers bands 2-3 nights a week.
Blue Lamp
Been a student rock type haunt since the 60s. Public bar still has 60s decor and 60s jukebox with good selection of 60s and early 70s rock classics. The lounge (lampie) is one of the prettiest bars in town. Decent CD jukebox here. They serve real ales. Live music, mostly blues, soul, and jazz with a little rock thrown in.
Cafe Drummond
Originally an indie bar but drifting ever further over to the rock end of the spectrum. Live music most nights, mixture of original material and covers, occasional famous blast from the past type acts. Hosts 'Battle of the Bands'. Installed PA system. House drum kit.
Doctor Drakes
Very very cool, very very underground. Micro venue that pretty much revived the local music scene. Live music is original material, and smaller touring bands from all over the world play here on a regular basis. Specialises in hardcore, punk, and anything that the more corporate orientated venues don't. Installed PA system.
Kef
Mini venue that puts on regular touring bands with local support. Large installed PA system.
Malt Mill
Mini venue specialising in local covers bands. Installed PA system.
The Moorings Bar
Original rock venue in aberdeen circa mid 60s. Renouned for varied selection of specialist liquor. Reputedly the world best jukebox. Dart board. Live music at least twice a week, original material from local bands and smaller touring bands. Famous for drunken debauchery and dancing. Installed HiFi quality PA system and full compliment of house, amps, guitars and drums.
Moshulu
Large capacity venue. Specialises in cocktails. Dancefloor. Regular alt club nights specialising is different aspects of the rock genre. Regular toruing bands with local support. Unusual weekly 'activity' night with inflatable props! Also hosts bigger name acts from time to time. Large installed PA system.
Tilted Wig
Once a rock bar now drifting more mainstream. Big screen sports. Regular covers band.
Going back a couple of years many of those places did not exist in their current form. Interestingly since more places started catering to the rock market we have become much busier. Our turnover has more than doubled in 2 years. This is because people like a change of scenery, and if they can't get one then they have a change of scene instead. OK there will be people that only ever go to the same place, but the majority tend to drift.
Look at last Friday night for example. We were approaching capacity, yet apparently Moshulu was also very busy. I don't know about the rest but Drakes and Drummonds is rarely empty. So from that we can assume that the scene consists of well over a thousand people. 3 years ago there were maybe 200 tops.
In addition every venue has a comfortable capacity that is usually ~70% of it's total capacity. The remaining 30% is a kind of buffer zone. Add all the buffer zones together and the scene has plenty potential to grow further.
Furthermore ALL the venues I've listed with the exception of The Tilted Wig are Independantly operated/owned. That's fantasticfor this town. None of us are 'at war' with each other. It serves us all best if we work together to grow the scene. A little friendly rivalry is good. Do you really think we'd have spent a pile of money rennovating the bar if the scene wasn't growing and there was no competition?
So no need to stir thing up!!!!!!!!!
Flash
)
