SPECTRA 2018 adds music to festival programme
11 December 2017
SPECTRA returns to the city for the fifth year - inviting audiences to “Play the Night” and featuring a unique music programme which has been announced today.
Aberdeen City Council’s annual light festival SPECTRA will once again brighten up the winter nights encouraging audiences to get out and experience the city at its best when interactive sculptures, architectural projections and experimental music create new ways of exploring the urban landscape.
SPECTRA’s first live music programme, delivered through 2017 partners, the True North Festival, was successfully introduced in 2017.
This year, the music element goes beyond a live stage and will feature an outstanding music programme, supported by Event Scotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, played out at venues across the city by a smorgasbord of Nordic and UK talent - culminating in stunning AV shows from stars of electronic music.
Aberdeen City Council culture spokesperson Councillor Marie Boulton said: “SPECTRA as a light festival is very much a fun, family affair. However we want to develop the cultural contribution in Aberdeen and our second largest festival audience are young professional adults who enjoy the arts as whole.
“We wanted to offer something that crafts a synergy with SPECTRA but also develops different stand-alone strands of the festival to create something alternative for our diverse audiences.
“The light festival and the music programme can be enjoyed individually or the two elements can be woven together to form an entire evening of alternative light and sound”.
Stuart Turner, Head of EventScotland, said: “Since its inception in 2014, SPECTRA has quickly grown to become a major event in Scotland, bringing a spark of inspiration to the winter months in the North-east. We are delighted to be continuing our support of SPECTRA through our national programme fund to help expand the festival to include this outstanding music programme of exciting national and international talent, and showing why Scotland truly is the perfect stage for events.”
Acts in the music line up include cornerstone of Warp Records Plaid, electronic music supergroup Wrangler, and the incredible Hidden Orchestra along with Stavanger’s world famous producer Lindstrøm. Other acts include Faroese stars Orka, Icelanders Tonik Ensemble, Sykur, ADHD and the rocking Mammút. Closer to home we’ll be welcoming established and rising independent UK music stars Emma Pollock, Nányë, Cymbals, Wyles & Simpson and Mt. Wolf.
After the main music programme signs off each night, DJs will take over the city. James Orvis fresh from the BBC introducing stage at Amsterdam Dance Event will be welcomed to Aberdeen as is Cler Lever, the first ever female DJ to play the main stage at Creamfields. One of Norway’s most influential techno musicians, Mental Overdrive and the solid doctor himself, legendary producer Steve Cobby are also booked to make an appearance at SPECTRA 2018.
The SPECTRA Music programme kicks off at The Assembly on 8 February with an eclectic mix of UK and international names - from up and coming indie-electronic act Cymbals followed by avant-garde Icelandic Jazz outfit ADHD and finishing off with hauntingly beautiful Mt. Wolf.
On February 9 the weekend steps up with Reykjavik Grapevine 2016 album of the year winner Tonik Ensemble, followed by the addictive minimalist techno of Faroe Islands duo Orka. Wrangler, with Cabaret Voltaire’s Stephen Mallinder fronting the electronic supergroup, will close The Assembly with a show combining stunning visuals and irreverent lyricism.
Friday’s late programming takes audiences over to Tunnels to see emerging Scandi influenced pop songstress Bruch followed by legendary synth techno producer Mental Overdrive, hailing from the city of Trømso in Norway and an integral member of the scene that spawned Royksopp, Bjorn Torske and many more seminal acts.
The Saturday (10 February) programme kicks-off with psychedelic electronica infused rock trio Nányë followed by celebrated Icelandic Mammút act. Finishing the Saturday programme at The Assembly will be the superb Hidden Orchestra, with a visually stunning AV show.
Late programming spreads into Tunnels and Unit 51 with Scotland’s own Emma Pollock and hauntingly deep blues act Seafoam Green at Tunnels. Producers and DJ’s Cler Lever and James Orvis will take the stage playing heavy, progressive, melodic and deep house and techno in Unit 51.
The final night of music on Sunday 10 February sees The Assembly come alive to a raft of electronic treats from Icelandic trio Sykur, London based duo Wyles & Simpson and Warp Records legends Plaid – unveiling an all new AV projection show.
Following onto the late programming at Tunnels and Unit 51, indie-rocker Emilio Pinchi and vaudeville dream pop 8 piece Science of the Lamps will be live in Tunnels. Unit 51 will host two pioneers of their respective fields, as Steve Cobby plays a DJ set before the headline act of the weekend Lindstrøm take over.
With more pop up performances happening throughout the festival, the SPECTRA Music programme will be a welcome addition to an already superb light and sound festival.
Early bird tickets for the SPECTRA Music Programme are on sale now and can be purchased at : https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Aberdeen/Various-Venues-In-Aberdeen/Spectra-Music-2018/13099944/