A new Aberdeen Music Week will hit the high notes next week – as organisers say they have been inspired by global gatherings such as SXSW in Texas and the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg.
The event, presented by the city-based art and music organisation Raven Afrikulture, is a celebration of music, culture and creative innovation in the Granite City, including performances from more than 50 artists, masterclasses, panel discussions and networking opportunities.
Aberdeen Music Week (AMW), supported by Aberdeen Inspired, will run from Wednesday, August 20, to Saturday, August 23, at venues ranging from Aberdeen Art Gallery to Unit 51 on Carnegie’s Brae.
It will culminate in a final concert with a range of performers and artists, headlined by Aberdeen music legends, the Gerry Jablonski Band.
Credit: Aberdeen Music Week
Adedeji Ekundayo, festival lead for Aberdeen Music Week and founder of Raven Afrikulture, said: “This debut Aberdeen Music Week is our chance to show just how vibrant and diverse the city’s music scene can be.
“Saturday’s live performance is going to be a celebration, not just of incredible artists, but of the audiences who make live music magical.
“We want people to walk away feeling inspired, connected, and proud of what Aberdeen has to offer.
“Our hope is that this first year lays the foundation for a festival that grows into a fixture on the cultural calendar for years to come.”
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said the Business Improvement District was delighted to support the inaugural Aberdeen Music Week.
“Aberdeen is blessed with a range of talented musicians and creatives from all walks of life, diverse communities and different backgrounds. The one thing they have in common is a wealth of talent and passion for music,” said Adrian, who is set to appear in a short documentary specially created for AMW and being screened during the event.
“Aberdeen Music Week is an ideal platform to make sure those diverse voices can be heard and those artists can be seen, while exchanging ideas and innovation to further boost the Granite City’s remarkable community of musicians and all those who support them.
“My hope is that Aberdeen Music Week will be the start of something big and wonderful that becomes a fixture on our cultural calendar, one that pulls people into the city centre to come for the music but stay to discover the many other attractions and businesses at the heart of the Granite City.”
Credit: Kayo
Adedeji said AMW had been inspired by the success of events such as SXSW in Austin, Texas and the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, which began as grassroots celebrations before evolving into “engines of creative innovation, economic activation and culture identity.
His hope is that AMW will be a platform for both emerging and local talent in Aberdeen, build partnerships across sectors such as music, tech and education, while creating media platforms and mentorship networks to boost local artists and musicians, not just locally but nationally and globally.
The event’s programme includes online masterclasses with creatives from the UK, US and beyond, online “fireside chats” with music industry professionals, as well as an in-person networking event for artists and representatives from the music industry.
An Amplify Aberdeen Showcase of artists will be held at the Cowdray Hall on Friday, August 22, featuring a range of artists plus the screening of the event’s specially-commissioned documentary.
Special guest for the showcase will be AiiTee, a singer-songwriter based in Aberdeen, who has been nominated for several music awards in Scotland, including being consecutively shortlisted for the “Scottish Album of the Year” in both 2021 and 2022.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired being recorded for short documentary to be show as part of Aberdeen Music Week. Credit: Aberdeen Inspired.
The event will include various DJ sets, including Vagrant Real Estate (VRE) a versatile hip-hop producer and DJ from Aberdeen, who welcomed Aberdeen Music Week.
He said: "It’s great to be a part of the first Aberdeen Music Week, celebrating artists from all across the region and bringing together musicians from all genres and backgrounds.
“So many industry events tend to focus on the central belt, so having something like this in Aberdeen is a fantastic opportunity for the city and its residents.”
The showcase for the week will be the Final Concert on Saturday at Unit 51, headlined by the Gerry Jablonksi band.
Other artists will include:
- Ay Bangz, a dynamic Nigerian-born artist making waves in the UK music scene
- Cameron Stewart Grant, an artist from rural Aberdeenshire gaining a reputation for his captivating music and emotive performances.
- KAYO, born and raised in St. Lucia, whose sound is a unique fusion of Caribbean roots and global influences.
- Daisy Mack, a young singer/songwriter from Aberdeen who writes indie folk-pop music.
- Beachgrove, a four-piece indie rock band with roots in guitar music, recently drifting into a more introspective, midwest emo-inspired sound.
- Moody Moody, an alternative band weaving together shoegaze and dream pop textures to create alternative bangers.
To find out more about Aberdeen Music Week go to aberdeenmusicweek.com