Aberdeen Jazz Festival strikes new note after loss of Blue Lamp venue

Organisers of one of Aberdeen’s most popular festivals say they have turned a challenge into an opportunity to spread music across the city after losing their main venue.

The Blue Lamp had been the hub of the city’s annual jazz festival for more than 20 years. But the popular venue closed its doors in December, dealing a major blow to the long-running event.

Despite the setback, this year’s festival is still going ahead.

Jazz musician Kimberley Tessa said: “It just seemed it was a hub for the music community and the jazz scene in Aberdeen, so it’s a sore loss because it’s such a central hub”.

Fellow musician Nuna Mutikani added: “It was devastating because my entire experience while being in Aberdeen has been in The Blue Lamp, so to hear it’s going is a strike in the heart for the young musician community”.

Organisers say the loss of the venue has encouraged them to find new spaces to host performances across the city.

Among the more unusual locations is the Victorian toilets in Union Terrace Gardens.

John Youngs from Jazz Scotland said: “It’s a beautiful tiled space which feels like you’ve stepped back in time. It’s gorgeous, and the tiles give it a very distinct acoustic.

“With candles, some nice backlighting, 50 soft chairs, a nice glass of wine, and some of the country’s best musicians sitting 20ft away from you singing some lovely jazz, it’s been a great Friday and Saturday night in there.”

Aberdeen’s 23rd annual jazz festival takes place from March 13 to 23.