YOUR GUIDE TO
SPRING SUMMER
2018
8 - 11 FEB
8 - 18 MAR
25 - 27 MAY
14 - 17 JUN
30 JUN -1 JUL
27 JUL - 4 AUG
aberdeenfestivals.com FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Contents 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Welcome from Steve Harris, Chair of Aberdeen Festivals
8 - 11 February
8 - 18 March
25 - 27 May
14 - 17 June
30 June - 1 July
27 July - 4 August
25 August - 22 September
8 - 16 September
20 - 23 September
It is hard to believe we are now entering the 5th year of Aberdeen Festivals. And what a success the venture has been. Local and national awareness of our festivals is at an all-time high and attendances and ticket sales have soared across the board as a result. And now, as we enter 2018 Aberdeen Festivals is now looking ahead to a fresh line up of festivals and a spectacular calendar of events. What other region can boast a festivals group that covers everything from visual arts to all kinds of music, lights to design, dance to traditional boats? The Northeast of Scotland is now recognised across the country as a place where, in the realm of arts and culture, “something is happening”. The cultural and creative life of the city belongs to us all and getting out there and supporting this exciting roster of festivals helps us to realise with pride what a vibrant and creative place we live in. It used to be said, by some, that “nothing happens here”. Aberdeen Festivals, with its year-round programme of arts and culture has demonstrated that nothing is now further from the truth. It is up to all of us to support our festivals and ensure that we, the people, determine the success of this sector. With such a lot on offer over the next 12 months I’d encourage everyone to try at least one of these festivals, you won’t be disappointed! Steve Harris Chair, Aberdeen Festivals
11 - 27 October
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24 October - 3 November
SUPPORTED BY AB DN
VisitAberdeenshire
8 − 11 FEB Running for four nights between the 8-11 February 2018 SPECTRA, Aberdeen’s stunning festival of light, will return to celebrate Scotland’s ‘Year of Young People’ through this year’s theme ‘Play the Night’. Bringing together leading international artists with Scottish collaborators and developing new talent, the festival will deliver a four-day light and music showcase to animate Union Terrace Gardens, the Kirk of St Nicholas, and Marischal College. Alongside its much-loved light festival, SPECTRA will introduce an enhanced music programme to its 2018 festival. Music venues across the city will be brought to life by a smorgasbord of Nordic and UK talent with late night sessions featuring some of Europe’s top DJ’s and bands including Lindstrøm, Hidden Orchestra, Plaid, Mammút and Emma Pollock. Organised by Aberdeen City Council in partnership with Curated Place, SPECTRA will once again light up the winter nights offering more experiences of light and sound than ever before!
spectraaberdeen.com
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8 − 18 MAR As a result of the huge increase in demand for Aberdeen Jazz Festival’s shows in 2017, the festival is expanding to 10 days in 2018 creating more scope for its wide-ranging and exciting programme! In 2018 you can expect cutting edge, vintage, swing, fusion and every other style of Jazz you can think of. There’s also acoustic and electric Blues, soul, R’n’B, hip hop, Big Band, world music, and all manner of derivatives that create a festival of national and international importance, while focusing on creating special occasions for people to enjoy. Venues include HMT, Blue Lamp, The Lemon Tree, Carmelite, The Tunnels and multiple informal venues in the city centre, around the Green, and the West End. You can even enjoy the fun for free at Jazz On The Green, the multi-stage city centre event. “What’s really appealing about the event is the range of styles on offer, the accessibility and the sheer enthusiasm and friendliness of those involved. My experience? This jazz was hot. And delicious.” (Tom Morton’s Beatcroft).
aberdeenjazzfestival.com
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25 − 27 MAY May Festival is set to deliver more than 120 events when it returns to the University of Aberdeen’s historic Old Aberdeen campus in May 2018. Now in its fifth year, the 2018 May Festival will welcome famous faces, whilst celebrating the ‘Year of Young People’ and showcasing the North-east’s distinctive cultural landscape. The three-day weekend festival, will span popular and current themes including literature, music, film, science, food and sport with a programme of tours, talks, exhibitions and of course, the favourite produce market. May Festival’s unique Discover strand of events will also give festival audiences the opportunity to gain an insight into the cutting edge research going on at the University of Aberdeen. There is lots to do for families including the popular ‘Hall of Mayhem’ which offers a host of hands-on events, workshops and interactive sessions including Lego workshops. Most events are free, come and join the Mayhem!
abdn.ac.uk/mayfestival
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14 − 17 JUN Look Again Festival invites you to ‘become a tourist in your own city’ by seeing Aberdeen city centre through fresh eyes. Look Again Festival is a celebration of the very best contemporary visual art and design, showcasing both local and internationally acclaimed talent in Aberdeen. Aligning with Scotland’s ‘Year of Young People’, Look Again Festival’s 2018 programme will see artists and designers respond to the theme of ‘Serious Play’. Three iconic locations; Marischal College Quad, Broad Street and Castlegate, will be animated with an array of live art and performance, playable structures, interactive workshops and creative interventions across the four-day festival. Come along and explore your city - look in, look out, look up, look down, look again at super Aberdeen!
lookagainfestival.co.uk
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30 JUN − 1 JUL This year Aberdeenshire celebrates 25 years of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival (STBF) in Portsoy, showcasing an action-packed weekend of boats, skiff racing, crafts, live music, food and drink. There will be a fine range of historic boats with Isabella Fortuna at the heart of the festival, while energetic skiff teams challenge on the water, much to the delight of onlookers. A full and lively programme of music is guaranteed, with many musicians and performers taking to stages, streets and venues around the town to entertain the crowds - do join in with a song or dance! Sailing, zorbing, climbing and cycling can be found at Loch Soy for younger adrenalin seeking visitors. You will also find storytelling, children’s shows, bouncy castles, face painting and lots more, including the Wee Red Bus, a festival favourite! Sample the enticing and delicious food and drink of the many producers and caterers in the popular Food Fayre and around the festival, there’s something to tempt every palette. Whatever your interest, STBF is sure to have something to offer, it really is a day out for the whole family and the festival looks forward to welcoming you to Portsoy, Aberdeenshire!
stbfportsoy.org
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27 JUL - 4 AUG Welcoming over 800 artistic young performers and musicians from across the globe each year, Aberdeen International Youth Festival (AIYF) is a truly international multi-arts youth festival. The renowned festival provides an inspiring platform for creative collaborations across cultures and artistic genres and the 46th festival will mark Scotland’s ‘Year of Young People’. As part of its festival, AIYF is set to deliver a programme of varied performances that celebrate the rich artistic voice of local and visiting young people. AIYF 2018 will welcome groups from across the world as well as embrace the local talent found here in North-east Scotland. Don’t miss any of the unique performances across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire at a range of iconic venues and open spaces. You’re invited to share the excitement, wonderful youthful talent and powerful artistic energy created by this cultural celebration of youth arts and young people.
aiyf.org
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TOP 10 2018 ABERDEEN AND ABERDEENSHIRE EVENTS
HIGHLIGHTS BEER AT THE BARN 16 - 17 FEBRUARY n WWW.BANCHORYBEERFESTIVAL.COM
GRANITE NOIR 23 - 25 FEBRUARY n WWW.ABERDEENPERFORMINGARTS.COM/GRANITENOIR
NUART 12 - 15 APRIL n WWW.NUARTABERDEEN.CO.UK
TOUR SERIES 17 MAY n WWW.TOURSERIES.CO.UK
ENJOY MUSIC FESTIVAL 1 - 2 JUNE n WWW.SKIDDLE.COM/FESTIVALS/ENJOY-MUSIC
TASTE OF GRAMPIAN 2 JUNE n WWW.TASTEOFGRAMPIAN.CO.UK
STONEHAVEN FOLK FESTIVAL 5 - 8 JULY n WWW.STONEHAVENFOLKFESTIVAL.CO.UK
GREAT ABERDEEN RUN 26 AUGUST n WWW.GREATRUN.ORG/GREAT-ABERDEEN-RUN
BRAEMAR GATHERING 1 SEPTEMBER n WWW.BRAEMARGATHERING.ORG
ABERDEEN COMEDY FESTIVAL 4 - 13 OCTOBER n WWW.ABERDEENCOMEDYFESTIVAL.COM
24 OCT − 3 NOV Scotland’s celebrated festival of new music, soundfestival, returns to North-east Scotland in 2018. Inviting you on a sonic adventure, soundfestival takes audiences on a journey of discovery exploring new music in unique and iconic venues across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. With world-class artists, cross-art form collaborations, world premieres, family-friendly events, late night soundsessions, talks and workshops there is something for everyone at this original festival. In 2018, soundfestival features new music from prominent composers including Oscar Strasnoy, Sally Beamish, Diana Burrell and John de Simone, as well as ground-breaking performances from some of the most exciting and cutting edge contemporary music ensembles from around the world including Icebreaker, Ensemble Klang, 2e2m and Red Note. Continuing its series on ‘endangered’ orchestral instruments, this year soundfestival shines a spotlight on the viola. Featured artists include renowned contemporary violist, Garth Knox, who returns to perform in his hometown of Aberdeen. Full programme details will be announced as 2018 unfolds.
sound-scotland.co.uk
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11 − 27 OCT Fear The Creative…. Art continues to oil the cogs of our imagination - as Scotland’s most prolific and long running contemporary dance festival returns in 2018 - running over three weekends in October. DanceLive embraces a broad programme of contemporary dance, performance and live art that celebrates creativity, diversity and experimentation within the framework of a dynamic programme of movement, dance and visual performance. DanceLive is part of a wider programme of year round dance activity produced by Citymoves Dance Agency SCIO - an independent dance organisation funded by Aberdeen City Council and Creative Scotland to provide classes, workshops, community based projects and professional artistic support to Scotland’s growing dance community. #DanceLive18 is where art meets the real world - in a sometimes challenging process of movement and ideas - which will often try to move your opinions as well as your feet!
dancelivefestival.co.uk
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20 − 23 SEPT
True North is Aberdeen’s music festival - located at the heart of the city, the festival features the contemporary music industry’s most interesting, relevant and exciting artists. Taking place between 20 - 23 September 2018, the festival features a series of unique headline performances in city centre venues, a Fringe programme of free intimate gigs across Aberdeen, a chance to be inspired by a festival masterclass and discussion programme, an amazing gig for kids, and an opportunity to get up close and personal with festival artists. For all the latest announcements like the festival on Facebook, @TrueNorth_Fest and follow the #TrueNorthFest across social media channels!
aberdeenperformingarts.com/truenorth
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8 − 16 SEPT North East Open Studios (NEOS) is one of the UK’s largest open studios events. Across nine days in September 2018 the festival will celebrate the variety of creative talent in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Marking its 15th festival year, NEOS 2018 invites you to discover the diverse range of artists and makers in North-east Scotland as they open their studio doors. Come along and experience the passion of the artists, learn what makes them tick, get excited by their creativity, enjoy hands-on workshops and discover art at its grass roots. As part of the ‘Year of Young People’ the festival is set to encourage the next generation of aspiring artists, with roadshows and pop up events through the year. The NEOS Book, a guide to the exhibitors, will be available online from early July and in print from the beginning of August 2018. #NEOS2018. Get involved. Be part of it.
northeastopenstudios.co.uk
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25 AUG − 22 SEP TechFest is Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire’s annual festival of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Marking the festival’s 25th year, the Activity Weekend and Eureka Family Series will provide a diverse opportunity for everyone to enjoy learning about STEM in a memorable, fun and engaging way. The highly anticipated Public Programme will once again return with tours and talks by local scientists covering popular topics including food and drink and local interest points – learning has never been so much fun! TechFest Science Festival is highly regarded as a key event within education, industry and the wider community, and is well supported by the Scottish Government, local authorities, industry and further education establishments. The festival aims to promote STEM subjects to young people and to the wider community by providing an accessible, diverse and entertaining programme. Add these dates to your diary: • TechFest Activity Weekend: 25-26 August 2018 • TechFest Public Programme: 8-22 September 2018
techfestsetpoint.org.uk
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PROUD SPONSORS Giving back to the communities where we operate is deeply rooted in Nexen’s values. At Nexen, we take pride in creating strong community partnerships where we live, work, and operate. Our vision is inclusive, safe and vibrant communities where education, innovation, arts and culture thrive.
YOUR GUIDE TO
AUTUMN WINTER
2018
25 AUG - 22 SEPT
8 - 16 SEPT
20 - 23 SEPT
11 - 27 OCT
24 OCT - 3 NOV
aberdeenfestivals.com FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: