This is May: New Stages Open and Old Stories Twist
From dance and fiction to live gigs, galleries and bold reworks of the past.
Wow! It doesn’t feel that long since we hit send on the last issue. Time seems to have sped up. Maybe that just happens when you have good conversations with people doing meaningful things.
This month’s issue brings together four stories shaped by those conversations. There’s no set theme, but a thread runs through them: people making space. For connection, for change, for reflection. None of them are showy. Each one holds something quiet and human. People who do their thing for themselves and their community.
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Doric Studio. Clothing and apparel inspired by life in the North East of Scotland. We work with local artists to bring our imagination to life working out of our studio in Aberdeen.
Small Spaces Doing Big Work
The team at SNUG got in touch to tell us about Grow, a new programme launching this May. Based in the Anatomy Rooms, SNUG has become a gentle fixture in Aberdeen’s creative life—a space to pause, make, and reconnect. Grow builds on that idea, with a free series of artist-led workshops exploring creativity as a tool for wellbeing.
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We met Claire Abbott and Birgit Itse at a coffee shop to hear more about what unfolded in Monymusk. The first ever Founding FINE residency brought together freelancers, artists and cultural workers for a weekend shaped around the idea of a “brave space.” No schedule, no deliverables. Just rest, reflection, and the chance to be among people who get it.
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Momentum, Memory and the Road Ahead
We also caught The Gerry Jablonski Band mid-tour, mid-transformation, with new frontman Nicky Aiken now officially on board. We spoke while they were in the van heading down to London. What stood out most was the chemistry: the kind that builds only through miles, mutual respect and a shared sense of humour.
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And finally, we shared Laura Sherriffs’ reflection on The Tall Ships Collection—a thoughtful, ambitious piece of work that brings together textile design, seafaring history and personal memory in a way that feels considered, grounded and genuinely moving. Laura originally published this story in her own newsletter, and we got in touch to ask if we could share it with the POST community.
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Share What You’re Making
We’d love to feature more writing like this. If you’re working on something and already sharing it through a newsletter or blog, let us know. Or if you’ve got a piece in mind you’d like to write for POST, we’re always looking to share thoughtful work with the right readers.
Chris & Kevin xx
What's on in May
Dod Dow: Paintings of Aberdeen and the North East
Dod Dow’s journey as an artist began at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen and has grown into a career spanning over 25 years. Best known for his powerful sports portraiture, his work has struck a chord with many.
Now, with decades of experience behind him, Dod’s focus has shifted to a freer, more personal style. It’s a return to the joy of making art for its own sake—driven by instinct.
NESCol Photography Showcase Launch
This exhibition brings together work from photography students as they near the end of their academic year. It features a handpicked selection of their favourite shots, showing off what they’ve learned and loved.
With everything from portraits to landscapes, the show highlights a range of styles and techniques—from editing to studio work. It’s on display until 29 May.
Rich Hall: Chin Music
Rich Hall returns to Aberdeen with a brand-new show at the Tivoli Theatre this May. Armed with a guitar and a sharp tongue, he’s ready to deliver an evening of chaos, charm, and cutting observations.
Blending music, improv, and deadpan brilliance, it’s less a stand-up set and more a full-on comedy jam session. Quick-witted, unpredictable, and never short on laughs.
A Journey of Flight
This immersive dance piece draws on themes of migration, movement, and the pull of memory. Dancers weave through hanging sheets and shifting projections, tracing journeys shaped by change and longing.
As they shift between states of being, they return to where it all began—folding memories, place, and identity into the everyday ritual of hanging a shirt. Quiet, poetic, and deeply felt.
Opening Exhibition
After over three decades at Castlegate Frames, Graham is giving his Justice Street workshop a new lease of life as a gallery and arts studio. It’s a big change, but one rooted in the same creative spirit.
The first exhibition features work from a brilliant mix of artists. A fresh start for a well-known space, ready for its next chapter.
Wayword: Carrion Crow with Heather Parry
Wayword hosts the Aberdeen launch of Heather Parry’s new novel Carrion Crow—a dark, gothic tale exploring themes of motherhood, sexuality, and class with striking intensity.
Chaired by Professor Timothy C. Baker, the event promises thoughtful conversation and fresh insight into Parry’s haunting story. A great chance to dive into a gripping new release.
Andy Bell
Andy Bell is back on tour with Ten Crowns, his latest solo album, bringing a mix of new material, solo favourites, and classic Erasure tracks to the stage. This time, he’s joined by a full live band.
With Grammy-winning producer Dave Audé in the mix, it’s set to be a night full of energy, nostalgia, and bold new sounds from one of pop’s most iconic voices.
Tutti Choir Spring Concert
Tutti Choir’s Spring Concert takes place on 7 May at the Great Western Community Centre, with special guest Calum Huggan joining for the evening. It’s set to be a warm, uplifting night of music.
Tickets are £10 to book. Head along for a joyful celebration of community, song, and the start of spring.
RSNO: night-sky-blue
Nodoka Okisawa conducts a concert rich in mood and detail, featuring works by Debussy, Rachmaninov, Takemitsu, and Helen Grime. Trumpet soloist Håkan Hardenberger brings depth and finesse to the evening.
From dreamy melodies to darker, more introspective moments, this is a carefully crafted programme performed by world-class musicians. A night of subtlety, atmosphere, and masterful sound.
Gerry Jablonki Band
The Gerry Jablonski Band kick off 2025 with fresh energy and a new frontman. Long-time local favourite Nicky Aiken—vocal powerhouse and former Royal Marine Commando—now on lead vocals.
With years of touring behind them, this line-up blends gritty blues power with tight musical chemistry. Opening up the night is the Tommy Bentz Band.
Hello, Dolly!
Aberdeen College of Performing Arts presents a lively trip through 1890s New York filled with charm, wit, and show-stopping numbers. Dolly Gallagher Levi is the matchmaker who’s never far from a bit of mischief.
As she sets her sights on the cantankerous Horace Vandergelder, things spiral into joyful chaos. With big laughs, timeless songs, and plenty of heart, it’s a feel-good classic brought to life.
Andy Thom
Andy Thom is a 23-year-old singer-songwriter from Aberdeen, carving out a name with his warm blend of country and Americana. His sound draws from legends like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and The Band.
With a knack for storytelling and a growing list of sold-out shows, Andy is quickly becoming one to watch in Scotland’s music scene. Honest, heartfelt, and full of soul.
Before Stories EP Launch
Seas, Starry, Million Moons, and Bonnie Mutt take over The Blue Lamp for the Before Stories EP launch. A night that promises rich contrasts and shifting moods.
With everything from ambient soundscapes and intricate arrangements to spoken word and raw energy, this is a gig full of texture, surprises, and fresh creative sparks.
A Play, A Pie and A Pint: Nun of Your Business
Nun of Your Business is a quickfire comedy packed with mishaps, mistaken identities, and a convent full of surprises. When a petty thief takes refuge with the sisters of Oor Ladies of Dour Clare’s, things take a turn.
Between handcuffs, romantic chaos, and nuns who don’t quite play by the rules, it’s a wild ride of laughter and mayhem from start to finish.
Little Women
Anne-Marie Casey’s new take on Little Women brings a fresh voice to Louisa May Alcott’s much-loved story. Set during the Civil War, it follows the March sisters as they grow, dream, and find their way.
With heart, ambition, and resilience at its core, this adaptation captures the strength of sisterhood and the timelessness of their journey. A classic tale, newly told.
An Evening with Louis Theroux
An Evening with Louis Theroux turns the tables on one of documentary’s most curious minds. After thirty years spent interviewing others, he’s now the one in the spotlight.
With candid stories, sharp reflections, and a few unexpected moments, it’s a rare chance to hear directly from the man behind the mic. Curious minds welcome.
Dubinski
After tearing up the stage at the 2024 AGP Xmas Gig, band-of-brothers Dubinski return to Aberdeen with a live show at Drummonds. It’s all in celebration of their new album What Is Your Definition Of Happiness?
Known for their raw energy and tight sound, Dubinski bring serious presence to the stage. If you like your gigs loud, honest, and full of fire, this one’s for you.
Monsters of the Deep
Aberdeen Art Gallery’s new exhibition Monsters of the Deep: Science Fact or Fiction? takes you below the surface to explore how we’ve imagined the ocean over the centuries.
From krakens and selkies to megalodon teeth and narwhal skulls, it blends folklore with real marine specimens. A fascinating look at how myth, media, and science collide beneath the waves.
Up, Up & Away
Aberdeen University Dance Society takes the stage this May with a showcase full of energy, passion, and personal stories. Each piece reflects the dancers’ journey with AUDS, from first steps to final bows.
With a mix of styles and a strong sense of connection, this performance is a celebration of movement, community, and the joy of dancing together. A night to lift you up.
Fear and Fascination - A Gothic Exhibition
Enter a world of Gothic horror in the latest exhibition from University Collections. With eerie novels and chilling tales, it explores how fear has long captivated readers and sparked the imagination.
From iconic monsters to twisted villains, the exhibition delves into the dark themes that define the genre. A fascinating look at what frightens us, and why we keep turning the page.
Restless Natives
Restless Natives returns, this time as a stage musical with a new spark. Follow Ronnie and Will, two unlikely outlaws chasing adventure as they hold up tour buses and outwit the police.
This reimagined cult classic brings mischief, heart, and a rebellious spirit to the stage. A bold take on a much-loved Scottish story, packed with charm and cheek.
The East Pointers
The East Pointers bring their dancefloor-shaking mix of electro-trad and folk-pop to Aberdeen this May. Hailing from Prince Edward Island, cousins Koady and Tim Chaisson are part of a celebrated Canadian folk dynasty.
Known for getting crowds of all ages moving, their live shows blend traditional roots with modern energy and big hooks. A night of joyful noise you’ll want to be part of.
King Creosote: Any Storm in a Teacup
King Creosote heads back to the Tivoli with Any Storm in a Teacup, a fresh chapter following his 2024 Any Port in a Storm tour. It’s a mix of past and present, reimagined with care.
Blending modular synth, I DES tracks, and classic KC favourites, this show offers something for long-time fans and curious newcomers alike. A rich, layered night of sound and storytelling.
Copper Lungs
Copper Lungs are a rising force in indie rock-pop, stepping into a new chapter with a string of heartfelt, hook-filled tracks. Their latest releases—Younger Heart, Live Your Way, Falling, and Pieces of Me—showcase their evolving sound.
Blending vulnerability with sharp songwriting, the band draws on real-life experiences to create songs that feel both personal and relatable.
Tomasz Karolak
Tomasz Karolak takes the stage at the Lemon Tree with 50 and what?—a musical stand-up show packed with sharp stories and live rock tunes. It’s part comedy, part gig, and fully personal.
Reflecting on his life in acting and music, he shares a raw and funny look behind the curtain of showbiz. Honest, lively, and a little bit rock’n’roll.
Wayword: Paint with Movement
Join Outlines Collective for a hands-on workshop as part of Grampian Wellbeing Festival, where street art meets mindful movement. Learn spray painting techniques while exploring how body and mind work together through creative practice.
Open to ages 12 and up, with all materials provided. It’s outdoors, it’s messy, and it’s a chance to make bold art in the open air. Booking is essential.
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake returns to His Majesty’s Theatre with a striking new revival. This groundbreaking production famously replaced the traditional female corps with a fierce male ensemble, turning ballet on its head.
Still as thrilling and emotionally charged as ever, it’s a powerful mix of beauty, wit, and bold choreography. A modern classic that continues to wow audiences around the world.
Anything Goes
AOC Productions sets sail at the Tivoli this May with Anything Goes, a musical comedy packed with romance, chaos, and quick costume changes aboard the SS American. It’s a classic caper with plenty of laughs.
Featuring timeless Cole Porter hits like I Get a Kick Out of You and Anything Goes, this high-seas adventure comes with charm, mischief, and tunes you’ll be humming on the way home.
Lear
Lear arrives at the Lemon Tree in a bold reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic, directed by Orla O’Loughlin. With Ramesh Meyyappan’s powerful visual storytelling at its core, this is a fresh take on a familiar tragedy.
Stripped-back and emotionally raw, it explores madness, betrayal, and the painful unraveling of power with clarity and heart. A lean, arresting version of a timeless story.
Big Belmont Bash
The Big Belmont Bash returns with a day of free family fun right in the heart of the city. Kicking off at noon, it’s a lively celebration to mark the start of summer.
Belmont Street will be buzzing with workshops, games, live music, tombolas, and plenty of unexpected moments. It’s all about good times, local energy, and community spirit.
James Grant
James Grant takes to the Lemon Tree stage with his distinctive voice, masterful guitar playing, and songs full of depth and soul. Mixing solo work with Love & Money favourites, he covers plenty of ground.
From pop to folk, soul to blues, his music carries real emotional weight—delivered with warmth, honesty, and a good dose of dry humour. A set full of timeless moments.
Until next time...
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Until next month…
C&K 💛
Aberdeen’s cultural calendar is packed, and POST’s What’s On page gives you a snapshot of it all. From gigs and theatre to exhibitions and creative meet-ups, there’s loads to discover, whatever your taste.
Bold performances, thoughtful shows, unusual venues, and events that bring people together. It’s all going on, and we’re here to help you find what’s next.
