Aberdeen Music Week: The Granite City Strikes a New Chord
A brand-new music festival takes centre stage in Aberdeen this August, bringing together artists, industry voices and audiences for four days of celebration, connection and creative innovation.
Aberdeen is tuning up for its first-ever Aberdeen Music Week (AMW), a four-day celebration of music, culture and creativity running from Wednesday 20 – Saturday 23 August.
Presented by city-based arts and music organisation Raven Afrikulture and supported by Aberdeen Inspired, the event is set to transform venues across the city – from Aberdeen Art Gallery to Unit 51 – into stages for more than 50 live performances, masterclasses, panel talks and networking sessions.
The debut festival takes its cues from global icons SXSW in Austin and Hamburg’s Reeperbahn Festival, aiming to showcase Aberdeen’s vibrant scene while laying the groundwork for a fixture on the city’s cultural calendar.
Festival lead Adedeji Ekundayo, 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.”
KAYO is part of the Saturday 23rd August final line-up
The Programme
Amplify Aberdeen Showcase at Cowdray Hall on Friday 22 August will spotlight emerging talent alongside a specially-commissioned documentary about the city’s music culture. Special guest is award-nominated singer-songwriter AiiTee, with DJ sets from Vagrant Real Estate.
Networking and Masterclasses include online fireside chats with industry professionals from the UK and US, as well as creative workshops designed to connect local musicians with global voices.
Final Concert on Saturday 23 August at Unit 51, headlined by local legends The Gerry Jablonski Band, with a line-up that includes Ay Bangz, Cameron Stewart Grant, KAYO, Daisy Mack, Beachgrove and Moody Moody.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said:
“Aberdeen is blessed with a wealth of talent and passion for music. Aberdeen Music Week is an ideal platform to make sure those diverse voices can be heard and those artists can be seen, while pulling people into the heart of the city.”
With its mix of live performances, innovation-led discussions and grassroots celebration, Aberdeen Music Week is poised to give the Granite City a festival worthy of the global stage.