Lemon Tree Brochure - Summer 2023

The beating heart of cultural life in Aberdeen!

Discover legendary acts and the hottest new talent with an exciting new season of shows at the Lemon Tree! Mica Millar, one of the brightest new soul stars in the UK, visits in June and Rachel Sermanni will bring her dreamy folk-pop to Aberdeen in September. There’s ridiculous answers with Pickled Republic and investigate the paranormal with Danny Robins this Autumn. Festival season kicks off with Rise Up!, a weekend of unity, creativity and expression with Light The Blue set to shine a spotlight on young talent from across Scotland. Book your tickets now and enjoy the good times!

Bands & Singer Songwriters

Martha Ffion plus support

Fri 28 July 2023

doors 7pm

Scottish Album of the Year Award nominated Glasgow-based Irish singer-songwriter Claire McKay AKA Martha Ffion makes her much-anticipated return, with a back-to-basics set of classic pop songs in the 60s songbook vein, taking a raw and unfiltered look at love and how it cuts both ways.

Tickets £13.20 Lounge (standing)

Hothouse Flowers

Sun 21 May 2023

doors 7pm

Formed in 1985 in Dublin the Hothouse Flowers are an Irish rock group combining traditional Irish music with influences from soul, gospel, and rock.

Tickets £31.35 Lounge (standing)

Mica Millar

Mon 19 June 2023 doors 7:30pm

Mica Millar has quickly become one of the UK brightest new soul stars, picking up Jazz FM’s prestigious Soul Act of The Year 2022 award.

Tickets £24.20 Lounge (standing)

The Silencers

Sun 25 June 2023

doors 7pm

Join Jimme, Aura, James & Conor O’Neill for an acoustic evening. Expect stories, questions, renditions of the old favourites and an introduction to the new album.

Tickets £24.75 Lounge (standing)

The Chameleons + Special Guests

Mon 26 June 2023 doors 7pm

Known for their atmospheric, guitarbased sound and passionate lyrics, The Chameleons are regarded as one of the most underrated Manchester bands of the 1980s.

Tickets £27.50 Lounge (standing)

Sharon Corr

Wed 12 July 2023 doors 7pm

Grammy Nominee/Brit Award Winner, singer/songwriter and violinist – hugely successful both as a member of legendary Irish group The Corrs and as a solo artist.

Tickets £27.50 Lounge (seated) SOLD

Callum Beattie

Thu 3 August 2023 doors 7pm

Callum Beattie’s new material is a collection of songs clawed from the raw stuff of existence, nostalgic patriotism and bleeding love.

Tickets £24.75 Lounge (standing)

The Little Kicks

Sat 22 July 2023 doors 7pm

Combining soaring vocal harmonies and infectious guitar hooks with the distinctive warmth of analogue synthesizers, The Little Kicks create an exciting melody-driven sound.

Tickets £16 Lounge (standing)

Rachel Sermanni plus support

Thu 28 September 2023 doors 7pm

Rachel Sermanni is a Scottish based singer /songwriter that makes the mundane moments mystical. She brims with dreamy indie-folk pop.

Tickets £16.50 Lounge (seated)

Withered Hand

Sat 28 October 2023 doors 8pm

Edinburgh based cult-indie songwriter Withered Hand (Dan Willson) makes a welcome return to the stage with a full band show in support of his new album How To Love

Tickets £19.25 Lounge (standing)

Zak Abel

Sun 29 October 2023 doors 7:30pm

Zak Abel is a British singer / songwriter, who first rose to fame after supplying guest vocals on Gorgon City’s UK Top 20 hit single ‘Unmissable’.

Tickets £20.35 Lounge (standing)

Horse: The Road

Less Travelled

Sat 11 November 2023 doors 8pm

Horse makes a welcome return with a special Acoustic performance in which she will be joined by Lorny T, Dan Crichton and a trio of strings.

Tickets £22 Lounge (seated)

Sat

Hue And Cry Piano and Vocal Show

Sat 18 & Sun 19 Nov 2023 doors 7pm

To date Hue and Cry have sold in excess of two million records worldwide. The band are currently working on a brand new album and have made a welcome return to performing.

Tickets £27.50 Lounge (seated)

Lindisfarne

Sun 10 December 2023 doors 7pm

With unforgettable songs like Meet Me On The Corner, Fog On The Tyne, Lady Eleanor and Run For Home, Lindisfarne’s power to galvanize audiences remains undimmed.

Tickets £33 Lounge (seated)

Los Pacaminos Featuring Paul Young

Mon 11 December 2023 doors 7pm

Los Pacaminos was formed in summer 1992, when UK pop star Paul Young’s love of all things Tex-Mex led to exploratory discussions with some like-minded musician friends.

Tickets £24.75 Lounge (standing)

The Blockheads

Sun 10 March 2024 doors 7pm

The Best of The Blockheads 1977-2024

Performing a large selection of their classic songs spanning over 5 decades.

Tickets £31.35 Lounge (standing)

Tribute & Party Bands

The Complete Stone Roses

Thu 28 & Fri 29 December 2023

doors 7pm

The Complete Stone Roses are one of the UK’s most well-known, most seen and most successful tribute bands. Selling out venues across the UK and Ireland regularly, they have helped to carry on the music of one of the UK’s most influential bands - The Stone Roses.

Tickets £19.80

Lounge (standing)

SOLD OUT SOLD OUT

Porkpie

Sat 13 May 2023 doors 7:30pm

Porkpie are the real deal, from the classic ‘big’ ska band mould, with a full brass section, keys, guitars and porkpie hats.

Tickets £19.80 Lounge (standing)

Showaddywaddy

Sat 20 May 2023 doors 7pm

Showaddywaddy have long been established as Europe’s most successful ever exponents of retro-inspired rock & roll. The record speaks for itself!

Tickets £24.20 Lounge (standing)

Macfloyd

Sat 1 July 2023 doors 8pm

Scotland’s Pink Floyd tribute return. With 50 years since Dark Side of the Moon’s release, they will perform the full album from start to finish plus many more Pink Floyd tracks.

Tickets £22 Lounge (standing)

The Smiths Ltd

Sat 8 July 2023 doors 7:30pm

If you never saw The Smiths then this is your chance to experience the thrill of those great songs played live.

Tickets £16.50 Lounge (standing)

The Bloody Marys - Return to Summer Camp!!

Sat 15 July 2023 doors 8pm

The Bloody Marys are back. Their tongue in cheek, high energy and excellent musicianship ensures a night to remember.

Tickets £16.50 Lounge (standing)

Hells Bells

Fri 8 September 2023 doors 7:30pm

Formed in 1996 and hailing from Bristol, Hells Bells has evolved into perhaps the most well known and professional AC/DC tribute band in the United Kingdom.

Tickets £17.60 Lounge (standing)

An Evening of Glen Campbell Jeff Dayton Band

Tue 19 September 2023 doors 7pm

Jeff will be performing songs from his time as bandleader with the late Glen Campbell, including Wichita Lineman, By The Time I get to Phoenix and Rhinestone Cowboy.

Tickets £31.35 Lounge (seated)

Springsteen Sessions

Sun 8 October 2023 doors 7:30pm

All the anthems, classics, hits and selected album rarities are there in a stunning and spectacular two-hour-plus show which has fans leaving the venue wanting more !!!

Tickets £16.50 Lounge (standing)

Voodoo Room

A Night of Hendrix, Clapton & Cream

Fri 10 November 2023 doors 8pm

A stunning high energy ‘Power Trio’ featuring some of the U.K.’s finest musicians whose credits include: Steve Winwood, Massive Attack, Arthur Brown, Fish, Thunder, Lulu etc.

Tickets £17.60 Lounge (standing)

Other Music

Talisk

Fri 8 December 2023 doors 8pm

Talisk are a multi award-winning folk trio from Glasgow. Ground-breaking, chart-topping, genrebending and instantly enthralling. Previous winners of Folk Band of The Year (BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards) & BBC Radio 2 Folk Award.

Tickets £18.70

Lounge (standing)

Elephant Sessions

Fri 12 May 2023 doors 8pm

Hailing from the Highlands of Scotland the band formed in 2012. Creating a progressive blend of intricate tunes, combining trad, funk and electronica resulting in a new and exciting sound.

Tickets £19.58 Lounge (standing)

Breabach

Fri 2 June 2023 doors 8pm

Breabach unite deep roots in Highland and Island tradition with the innovative musical ferment of their Glasgow base.

Tickets £18.15 Lounge (seated)

Songs From The Last Page

Thu 7 September 2023 starts 7pm

Songs from the Last Page is a brilliant new song-writing and live performance project run by Chamber Music Scotland and composer Gareth Williams

Tickets £13.20 Studio (seated)

Salt House

Fri 3 November 2023 doors 7pm

Salt House have been a mainstay of the folk scene for a decade. New songs that sound as if they’ve always been here. Ancient ballads woken up.

Tickets £15 Lounge (seated)

Mànran

Sun 3 December 2023 doors 7pm

Multi award-winning Scottish supergroup Mànran have spent over 10 years at the heart of the Scottish traditional music scene.

Tickets £24.75 Lounge (standing)

Bahookie Rock Ceilidh

Sat 9 December 2023 doors 8pm

Bahookie return for their annual unique rock ceilidh, the ideal Christmas Party night as the band mix traditional ceilidh classics with modern hits.

Tickets £15.40 Lounge (standing)

Pre-show Treat

Open Tue to Sat, 10am - 9pm at His Majesty’s Theatre.

Book a table for the full theatre experience, and choose from our delicious new menu.

Or pop in for mid-morning coffee, brunch or light bites into the evening.

To book your table, scan the QR code or call 01224 641122.

Comedy & Spoken Word

Uncanny: I Know What I Saw

Fri 24 & Sat 25 November 2023 starts 7:30pm

Tickets £13.20 - £5.50

Doors 7.30pm

Join Danny Robins, creator of the smash hit BBC Radio 4 paranormal podcasts Uncanny, The Battersea Poltergeist and The Witch Farm and award-winning West End play 2:22 – A Ghost Story, for the biggest investigation into the paranormal - ever.

Tickets £26 Lounge

Carl Hutchinson: Watch Till The End

Thu 18 May 2023 starts 7:30pm

Hutchinson is back with a brand new show for 2023. If you haven’t seen Carl, prepare to be dazzled by the UK comedy scene’s best kept secret.

Tickets £16.50 Lounge

Painting Prose: In Conversation with Maggie O’Farrell

Thu 13 July 2023 starts 6:30pm

To celebrate the paperback release of her breath-taking new novel The Marriage Portrait, join us in conversation with bestselling author Maggie O’Farrell

Tickets £8 Studio

Josie Long: Re-Enchantment

Wed 20 September 2023 starts 7:30pm

‘After defeat, re-enchantment is necessary’, said Lola Olufemi. This inspires Josie Long’s brand-new show infused with humanity, compassion and some brief political rants.

Tickets £18.15 Lounge

Paul Foot: Dissolve

Fri 6 October 2023 starts 8pm

Multi-award-winning and trail-blazing comedian, Paul Foot, is back on tour with Dissolve, his most personal, surprising and ground-breaking show ever.

Tickets £17.60 Studio

Waterstones Aberdeen in collaboration with Aberdeen Performing Arts presents

Weegie Hink Ae That ?

Sat 7 October 2023 starts 8pm

From sketches to songs aboot aw things Scottish, come see these wee comical dafties dae what they dae best! Fast-paced, witty comedy with clever twists on Scottish culture!

Tickets £22 Studio

Martyn Ashton: Bike Party

Sat 14 October 2023 starts 7:30pm

One of the biggest personalities in mountain biking, former World Champion Mountain Bike Trials Rider, GMBN’s Martyn Ashton, is a legend of the sport.

Tickets £20.50 Lounge

Ignacio Lopez:

El Comico

Fri 10 November 2023 starts 7pm

Ignacio Lopez scrutinises his immigrant upbringing and family tree in a relentlessly funny show about clashing cultures and never fitting in.

Tickets £16.50 Studio

Geoff Norcott:

Basic Bloke

Thu 16 November 2023 starts 8pm

A kindly and funny stock-take of both himself his fellow man, Basic Bloke unlocks some of the more complicated behaviour of your husbands, dads and brothers.

Tickets £17.60 Lounge

Tue 2 & Wed 3 May 2023 starts Tue 7pm, Wed 1pm

Able(ish) Tickets £11

True North Session

Sat 15 July 2023 10am & 11:30am

Fri

Theatre

Scissor Kick presents

Pickled Republic: Existential Questions, Ridiculous Answers

Thu 5 October 2023 starts 7pm

Pickled Republic by Ruxy Cantir is an exciting solo show about our search and need for purpose. Inventive clowning, puppetry, and mask theatre combine to create a show full of “confident absurdity...., pitch-black humour and pulpy carnage”. (The List)

Tickets £13.20

Studio

Ten Feet Tall presents The Last Fish in the Sea

by Laura Miller

Sat 6 May 2023 starts 7pm

Spring 2050 and climate change has decimated oceanic life. As the world gets ready to find a new purpose for its barren waters, Dr Dolly Freeland, the last working marine biologist, isn’t ready to give up hope. Taking her final voyage out on to the North Sea, Dr Dolly soon learns the true sound of nature’s voice and it isn’t quite what she expected.

This is a script-in-hand performance of this new play with an opportunity for discussion after the performance.

Tickets - pay what you can Studio

Surrogate Productions presents Who Killed My Father

Tue 30 May 2023 starts 7pm

Growing up gay in a small town in France, Édouard endured the violence and homophobia of his alcoholic, right-wing father, a factory worker. In 2000, his father suffered an accident which left him bedbound and on morphine for the pain. Now, Édouard confronts his father, uncovering a startling connection between political decisions and his father’s broken body.

Who Killed My Father is an intimate declaration of love from son to father and a defiant call for social justice.

Tickets £13.20

Studio

Ayetunes!

presents My Doric Diary

In association with Aberdeen Performing Arts

Thu 14 - Sat 16 September 2023

Thu-Sat 7pm, Sat 2pm

It’s Hogmanay in Fraserburgh 2010. But all is not sparkly balloons. Daisy is desperate to attend the town’s New Year’s Eve party but Granny will not allow it. After an argument, a disgruntled Daisy locks herself in her room amongst her music and old schoolbooks. Things take a time-bending twist when Daisy is magically transported back to Hogmanay 1994 - the same night 17 years earlier. But why has she been brought here? And why now? And most importantly who is that mysterious figure standing at the mic?

£13.20 Studio

Solar Bear presents

Wake Up

A triple bill of visual theatre

- by 3 deaf directors

Wed 11 October 2023 starts 7pm

TIES directed by Moira Anne McAuslan. A young woman discovers a tie in her grandparent’s attic and starts to daydream.

BLACKOUT directed by Craig McCulloch. A man wakes up to find a dead person next to him on a sofa. What will he do with the body and how did it get there?

TIME TO WAKE UP directed by Petre Dobre. A man is jolted from his armchair, nodding off in front of the TV and onto a rollercoaster ride through the history of life on Earth.

£13.20 Studio

Not enough drama in your life? Top up after work.

Koi Collective presents Crossing The Void

Sat 11 November 2023 starts 7pm

Following their sold-out Fringe run in 2022, award-winning company koi collective revive their 5-star show for one night only. Hannah has been dead for a year, and her pals are still struggling to find their feet. Hoping that a séance will bring the group together again, the girls toast, celebrate and mourn over a bottle of bucky. However, ghosts of many forms drift amongst them, secrets hang in the air and lines are crossed that unpick the stitches of their social fabric, revealing the ultimate truth – the group are now no more than strangers.

Tickets £13.20

Studio

“One of the most magical theatre initiatives of the last decade”The Scotsman

Dance

Danscentre Senior Review 2023

Thu 22 - Sat 24 June 2023

Thu & Fri 7pm, Sat 2pm & 7pm

Danscentre is back with the Senior Review after a long wait to share our dancers’ talent in this intimate venue. An eclectic mix of classwork, original choreography and different dance genres - the review celebrates the hard work of our senior dancers and non syllabus classes over the past year.

Tickets £24.20 Studio

Citymoves Dance Agency presents Sketches

Fri 30 June 2023

by Katie Armstrong in collaboration with DJ and Composer Mariam Rezaei

Starts 7pm

A series of three short intellectually and geographically accessible movement vignettes, set to and inspired by Bachs’ Violin Concerto in A Minor.

Tickets £13.20 Studio

Become a Friend

Benefits of becoming a Friends

Enjoy

Family Shows

Independent Arts Projects presents

Sex Education Explorers (S.E.X.) by Mamoru Iriguchi

Fri 29 & Sat 30 September 2023

Fri 2pm, Sat 6pm

A packed, joyful and humorous time-travel ride through the evolution of sexes. Packed with 1980s pop hits, surreal humour and a creative use of props, costume and video, the show is for ages 12+ and adults who missed the sex education they deserved at school!

Tickets £8.80 Studio

Co-commissioned and co-produced by Fuel, Imaginate and Northern Stage in association with National Theatre of Scotland.

The Protest

Tue 9 May 2023

Suitable for ages 8-13 years

1:30pm & 6:30pm

A bold new play from award-winning writer Hannah Lavery and directed by Natalie Ibu exploring what it takes to make a difference, the power of friendship, and the importance of believing in your own voice.

Tickets £8.80 Studio

Dirliebane Theatre Company presents.

BOUNCE - The Marshmallow Challenge

Sun 14 May 2023

10:30am & 1:30pm

Sally and Destiny are ‘Challenge Enthusiasts’ and are embarking on their biggest challenge yet. BOUNCE, a comedy theatre show that explores emotions and resilience, is an engaging and funny performance that is truly tailor made for Primary aged children.

Tickets £8.80 Studio

Shaper/Caper presents

Paper Moon

Tue 31 October 2023

12pm & 2pm

A delightful and memorable interactive adventure show for under 5s by acclaimed dance company Shaper/Caper, featuring beautiful set and costume design by Janis Hart. Join Poppy and her dog Peppy on this adventure as she launches across the canvas sky, towards the Paper Moon.

Tickets £8.80 Studio

Presented by Aberdeen Performing Arts and Scottish Theatre Producers

The Gift

Sat 2 - Sat 23 December 2023

Ideal for ages 18 months - 5 years

various times

A mountain of discarded wrapping. A lonely child with an active imagination. It’s often the cardboard boxes, not the gifts inside that are the most fun. Is the true gift the joy that can come from the imagination? Beautiful and playful, The Gift offers a fabulous 40 minutes of brightly-coloured fun.

Tickets £11, Children £9, Family of 4+ £8.50 per ticket Studio

Buying tickets

Tickets can be purchased 24 hours a day at aberdeenperformingarts.com, which also has all the latest news and listings. You can also visit the box office in person from 10am, Tue-Sat at His Majesty’s Theatre and the Music Hall, or phone our team on 01224 641122.

Where is it?

You will find the Lemon Tree right behind Marischal College on West North Street - just in case you’re not sure, here’s a map:

By bus: there is a bus stop right outside and we’re just round the corner from Union St, King St and Broad St so lots of buses

By car: try the car parks at Frederick St, Marischal College and Gallowgate.

How much?

We’ve printed the whole price of ticket in the brochure, this includes the booking fee (the only extra you’ll have to pay for is postage, but most tickets are now e-tickets that can be printed at home or shown on your digital device) - there could well be discounts for students, children, over 60s or Friends of Aberdeen Performing Arts - just ask or check online.

Do I sit or stand?

A bit of both - we try and create the right atmosphere for each gig, some will be seated, some will not - but we always have a limited number of seats available at the back. For any accessibility requirements, please get in touch with the Box Office team.

What do the times mean?

If it says ‘doors’ then that’s when the doors open and you get inside for a drink. If it says ‘start’ that’s when the show starts. Some shows have support acts, we can’t always confirm this until nearer the time and ‘start’ can mean the start of the support act, not the main act.

How old do I have to be?

All ages are welcome, but under 16s must be accompanied by an adult, and under 18s can’t be near the bars.

Schoolhill