Live music flows beyond the harbour this July
Free gigs at Drummonds bring four nights of great independent music to the city centre.
While most eyes will be on Aberdeen Harbour this July as the Tall Ships sail in, a short walk into the city centre brings you to a different kind of gathering. Drummonds on Belmont Street, tucked just off Union Street, is hosting its own series of live music events across the Tall Ships weekend. No tickets, no barriers. Just music.
Across four nights from Friday to Monday, they’ve pulled together a line-up that’s less about spectacle and more about character. It’s music from bands with something to say, whether they’ve been gigging for decades or are still shaping their first album.
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A weekend of character and contrast
Friday kicks off with Randolph’s Leap, a band whose indie-pop roots run deep in Scotland’s DIY scene. If you’ve caught them live before, you’ll know what to expect: brass, strings, catchy melodies and the kind of offbeat humour that can win over a room. They’re joined by The Planet Hour, one of Aberdeen’s more interesting recent arrivals. Their mix of indie-folk and alt-rock gives weight to songs that stick in your head without shouting for attention.
Saturday brings a different energy with The Lorelei, a band long embedded in Aberdeen’s music history. Formed in 1990, they’ve returned more than once from long pauses, bringing with them the same swagger and scrappy brilliance that once earned them the description “The Pogues and Screaming Trees swaggering home drunk.” Supporting are The Killing Tide, whose cinematic rock is shaped by the North East coastline and built on emotion rather than volume.
Stories, songs and a late-night finish
Sunday leans into storytelling. The Deadly Winters, a six-piece with a fondness for folk-rock and Americana, bring tales of love, loss and mischief. Their reworking of “The Cuckoo” was picked up by BBC Radio Scotland last year, and their mini-album ever onwards was met with praise for its mix of joy, sorrow and open-hearted songwriting. Rhythm and Booze called it “acoustic folk at its absolute best.”
The weekend wraps up on Monday with a Leisure Club special, loosely tied to the Kaiser Chiefs gig at the Beach Ballroom. It’s a later set, and a more relaxed way to end a long few days of ships, crowds and noise.
It’s an easy reminder that not everything this summer needs a sea view. Sometimes, a dark room, a decent sound system and a few good bands are enough. Find out more about the Tall Ships Music Programme here.
