Tucked away towards the harbours of Aberdeen, lies a haven for grassroots local music. Kraktoa’s Eruption Battle of the Bands competition is now in its eighth season and is always a highlight in the local live music calendar. Taking part has become a right of passage for musicians young and old, bringing much needed love and attention to the local scene.
It’s the final tonight. Let’s set the scene. Four bands left from over 40 competitors taking part in numerous heats and semi-finals throughout the year leading up to this night. 30 minutes each to give all they’ve got and 2K up for grabs. There was a nervous anticipation in the air and you could tell that all the bands could not wait to have their time on stage.
Catnip Chaos opened up proceedings with bags of attitude and toe-tapping tunes. Lead singer Nush brought a charming brashness to the set that was cool yet rough around the edges. Their sound was stacked with punk and rock influences reminding me of a modern-day X-Ray Spex.
It was easy to spot who was there to support them from the array of colourful light-up cat ears that adorned a large portion of the audience. Unapologetic from start to finish and a bold start to the evening.
Next up were Delirium who were fresh off their show at King Tut’s New Year’s Revolution. They fully had me hooked with their intricate time changes and atmospheric soundscapes. They brought layers upon layers of elements to enjoy with their technical prowess and complex understanding of rhythm and harmony.
Lead singer Cameron Dalgleish was equipped with a soaring Thom Yorke falsetto, beckoning the audience into more vulnerable and softer moments, yet could also contrast this with energetic and powerful vocals on their upbeat numbers. Make sure to check out their latest single Sisyphus. Definitely ones to watch.
Kaleidoscope brought the energy.
Kaleidoscope brought the fun.
Kaleidoscope brought the… kaleidoscopes?!
Yes you read that correctly, four kaleidoscopes for the four best dancers in the crowd. The stakes were never higher.
In all seriousness, Kaleidoscope had an infectious radiance from start to finish, delivering a tight and joyous performance with the audience in the palm of their hand. Music with a positive message which brought a smile to the faces of all who had the privilege to listen.
To close out the evening we had Flaxman, with the lead singer dressed head to toe in sequins; a costume most worthy of a Battle of the Bands final performance. Flaxman unleashed a dark and futuristic stomp in the last performance of the night. Certainly an acquired taste but this did not deter audience enjoyment who were drawn in by their haunting tracks.
ISHMAEL was so good we were treated to it twice.
Then came the 30 minute wait whilst the independent judges met at their “secret spot” to declare a winner. I couldn’t help but enjoy the intense music selections of the DJ from the theme from 28 Days Later, to Zeppelin’s Kashmir (reminiscent of X Factor Live Show Saturdays) all the way to the The Final Countdown just before the winners were announced. The fans and bands congregated by the stage waiting with bated breath for it finally to be revealed that the winners were….
Kaleidoscope!
A well deserved win with them delivering one of the tighter and more enjoyable performances of the evening. Kaleidoscope were ecstatic with their win with their money being put towards recording new material. ’This happened because of you guys. We love you all’.
If you liked the sound of any of the bands above, here are some upcoming dates in Aberdeen to look out for:
Friday 27th February – Kaleidoscope Supporting The Planet Hour @ Tunnels, Aberdeen
Saturday 4th April – Delirium Supporting Moody Moody @ Drummonds, Aberdeen
Friday 1st May – Kaleidoscope and Flaxman with Deary Me and We Are Animals @ Krakatoa, Aberdeen