Bitter taste as The Lemon Tree closes
Leading Scottish musicians yesterday paid tribute to a popular Scottish arts venue which has closed its doors after running in to financial difficulties.
Aberdeen's The Lemon Tree, which helped launch the careers of Idlewild, Franz Ferdinand and The Delgados, has ceased trading and gone into liquidation after several years of struggling for funds.
Upcoming events have been cancelled at the venue, which employs more than 50 full and part-time staff. It is not known if ticket holders will be able to get refunds.
The centre's board rejected an offer of financial aid from Aberdeen City Council, opting instead to close.
A statement read: "The board met and agreed unanimously that The Lemon Tree had no alternative but to cease trading with immediate effect. We regret the decision and the impact that there will inevitably be on staff and customers, but we are unable to continue trading when we do not have enough cash to meet our liabilities."
The Lemon Tree's future had been in jeopardy ever since it lost out on a £180,000 core grant from the Scottish Arts Council.
| ‘They had a really professional set-up and the staff really cared’ | |
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The blow meant it was forced to survive on private funding to continue with its acclaimed programme of music, dance and drama.
Emma Pollock, a singer- songwriter and founding member of The Delgados, said she was "shocked" by the news. She said: "Only a few months ago I played there with King Creosote, so I was really shocked when I heard because it has been one of the best venues in Scotland.
"The Lemon Tree knew how to treat performers. They had a really professional set-up and the staff really cared about putting on a good show."
Tribute was also payed by Jo Mango, one of the rising stars of the Scottish music scene, who recalls seeing some of her first gigs at The Lemon Tree, having been brought up in nearby Peterhead.
She said: "Some of the first bands who inspired me were acts I saw at The Lemon Tree.
"I remember going to a songwriting workshop there that was instrumental in my taking music more seriously.
"I've played there as a performer and it's a great size of venue - big enough but still small enough that you can get up close to the audience.
"Now that's gone, along with Dr Drake's, you have to wonder where is left in Aberdeen for bands now?"
Housed in the former St Katherine's Club, The Lemon Tree opened in April 1992, and by 2003 had attracted more than 100,000 visitors to a programme of music, theatre, dance, comedy, literature and educational projects.
Anne Begg, the Labour MP for Aberdeen South, said the closure was a "tragedy".
"This is Aberdeen's only mid-range arts venue and its sudden closure is going to leave a huge hole in the arts scene in Aberdeen," she said.
"It is a complete tragedy leaving many loyal followers with tickets for shows which will be cancelled, including primary school children hoping to see a puppet show who will find the doors firmly closed instead."
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Posted by: Archie, Argyll on 12:38am Thu 6 Dec 07
Why don't these so called top Scottish musicians get together and open a place then?
It seems they are great at accepting accolades but always want someone else to finance their playgrounds.
Why don't these so called top Scottish musicians get together and open a place then?
It seems they are great at accepting accolades but always want someone else to finance their playgrounds.
Posted by: Archie, Argyll on 12:50am Thu 6 Dec 07
Labours Anne Begg said,
"It is a complete tragedy leaving many loyal followers with tickets for shows which will be cancelled, including primary school children hoping to see a puppet show who will find the doors firmly closed instead."
Well maybe the council who must have raked in a small fortune in rates from this venue could reimburse them since they offered the proprietors aid to stay open?
It speaks volumes for the situation that that aid was rejected by the board of the venue.
"The centre's board rejected an offer of financial aid from Aberdeen City Council, opting instead to close."
"A statement read: "The board met and agreed unanimously that The Lemon Tree had no alternative but to cease trading with immediate effect. We regret the decision and the impact that there will inevitably be on staff and customers, but we are unable to continue trading when we do not have enough cash to meet our liabilities."
It must have been some offer from the council eh?
Labours Anne Begg said,
"It is a complete tragedy leaving many loyal followers with tickets for shows which will be cancelled, including primary school children hoping to see a puppet show who will find the doors firmly closed instead."
Well maybe the council who must have raked in a small fortune in rates from this venue could reimburse them since they offered the proprietors aid to stay open?
It speaks volumes for the situation that that aid was rejected by the board of the venue.
"The centre's board rejected an offer of financial aid from Aberdeen City Council, opting instead to close."
"A statement read: "The board met and agreed unanimously that The Lemon Tree had no alternative but to cease trading with immediate effect. We regret the decision and the impact that there will inevitably be on staff and customers, but we are unable to continue trading when we do not have enough cash to meet our liabilities."
It must have been some offer from the council eh?
Posted by: Archie, Argyll on 1:08am Thu 6 Dec 07
It just goes to show the folly of grant asistance for certain projects while others are excluded.
Surely a level playing field could be achieved by giving all arts venues a decent rates rebate due to the low financial turnover of music and arts venues except where a drinks licence is involved.
There aren't that many music venues in Scotland never mind Aberdeen that exist without a drinks licence. This drink licence really makes them glorified pubs and not in fact Arts venues, generally speaking.
This also speaks volumes for the so called artistic fraternity.
Where is the commitment to Art and Music here then???
Are we talking real Art and real Music or drunken jam sessions??
There is a difference.
It just goes to show the folly of grant asistance for certain projects while others are excluded.
Surely a level playing field could be achieved by giving all arts venues a decent rates rebate due to the low financial turnover of music and arts venues except where a drinks licence is involved.
There aren't that many music venues in Scotland never mind Aberdeen that exist without a drinks licence. This drink licence really makes them glorified pubs and not in fact Arts venues, generally speaking.
This also speaks volumes for the so called artistic fraternity.
Where is the commitment to Art and Music here then???
Are we talking real Art and real Music or drunken jam sessions??
There is a difference.
Posted by: ex Lemon Tree Employee, Aberdeen on 7:58am Thu 6 Dec 07
"The centre's board rejected an offer of financial aid from Aberdeen City Council"
You miss a very vital point. The council's only offer was a short term loan of £250k on the basis that each of the 10 board members personally put up a guarantee of £25k from their own pockets. The council simply did not make the reported second offer and the one that they did make was untennable
"The centre's board rejected an offer of financial aid from Aberdeen City Council"
You miss a very vital point. The council's only offer was a short term loan of £250k on the basis that each of the 10 board members personally put up a guarantee of £25k from their own pockets. The council simply did not make the reported second offer and the one that they did make was untennable
Posted by: daveofficer, aberdeen on 11:03am Thu 6 Dec 07
jo mango said "Now that's gone, along with Dr Drake's, you have to wonder where is left in Aberdeen for bands now?"
well there's still the tunnels, moshulu, drummonds, kef, cellar 35, musa, peacock visual arts and the moorings for smaller gigs while the music hall and the exhibition centre tackle the huge bands. moshulu is a similar size to the lemon tree.
it's a shame it's gone and there does seem to be more to it than initially it first seemed. a few staff members are saying that the council offer was completely unworkable and indeed the council had withdrawn all their funding beforehand prompting the situation in the first place. it could have been run better though.
aberdeen will miss the lemon tree(though there is a rearguard action fighting to save it as i type) but hopefully the building will be taken over and still used for arts events and maybe there will be a new community venue opened in it's place. who knows what the future will bring.
jo mango said "Now that's gone, along with Dr Drake's, you have to wonder where is left in Aberdeen for bands now?"
well there's still the tunnels, moshulu, drummonds, kef, cellar 35, musa, peacock visual arts and the moorings for smaller gigs while the music hall and the exhibition centre tackle the huge bands. moshulu is a similar size to the lemon tree.
it's a shame it's gone and there does seem to be more to it than initially it first seemed. a few staff members are saying that the council offer was completely unworkable and indeed the council had withdrawn all their funding beforehand prompting the situation in the first place. it could have been run better though.
aberdeen will miss the lemon tree(though there is a rearguard action fighting to save it as i type) but hopefully the building will be taken over and still used for arts events and maybe there will be a new community venue opened in it's place. who knows what the future will bring.
Posted by: MusicFan, Aberdeen on 11:34am Thu 6 Dec 07
There are major rumours going around that Kef is going to be turned into a Chinese restaurant... Drummonds are changing their policy on who can put on gigs in the coming year... and Moshulu has been taken over by the renowned Barfly (hence, we know who's gonna get all the gigs) Aberdeen is not in a good way when it comes down to local people being able to put on local bands.
However, although it's sad to see the end of the Lemon Tree, if it wasn't making money it would've had to close. I've been here for 4 years and go to lots of gigs, but only been to about 5 in the Lemon Tree. Their promotion of gigs was quite poor and only because I actively seek out gigs that are I knew about them, otherwise... I wouldn't have.
It was the place to see acts before they got huge... KT Tunstall, Mylo, Biffy Clyro, Bloc Party.... The list is endless. It's had an important role! Shame.
There are major rumours going around that Kef is going to be turned into a Chinese restaurant... Drummonds are changing their policy on who can put on gigs in the coming year... and Moshulu has been taken over by the renowned Barfly (hence, we know who's gonna get all the gigs) Aberdeen is not in a good way when it comes down to local people being able to put on local bands.
However, although it's sad to see the end of the Lemon Tree, if it wasn't making money it would've had to close. I've been here for 4 years and go to lots of gigs, but only been to about 5 in the Lemon Tree. Their promotion of gigs was quite poor and only because I actively seek out gigs that are I knew about them, otherwise... I wouldn't have.
It was the place to see acts before they got huge... KT Tunstall, Mylo, Biffy Clyro, Bloc Party.... The list is endless. It's had an important role! Shame.
Posted by: Los Angeles, Edinburgh on 12:43pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Archie Demonstrates Presbyterianism In Practice[quote]Why don't these so called top Scottish musicians get together and open a place then? It seems they are great at accepting accolades but always want someone else to finance their playgrounds.[/quote]
[bold]THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS[/bold]
There was a grashopper used to play music all day on the its violin while all the ants around it hurried and scurried to work, collecting seeds to store for the winter, and building their houses before the season past and the weather turned bad. the hopped and skipped to his music as they work, chattered and sometimes even danced.
Th summer came and went, autumn too, icicles appeared on the stream, and frost on the grass. Then came the cold and rain.
The grasshopper had nowhere to go. It was very cold and hungry. It knocked on the ants's doors asking for shelter and some food, but they all said, "Tough! You spent all bloody summer sitting on your fat ar*se playing your stupid fiddle, and didn't do a stroke of work to prepare for tomorrow. Go away.!"
The Scottish moral of this story is: You should always think of tomorrow and not indulge hedonistically in today.
Los Angeles' moral is: What a bunch of miserable tossers. The grasshopper entertained those ants all summer, providing joy and music in their lives, and as soon as things got bad they turned their backs on it and left it to starve.
[bold]Now, isn't that the story of the arts in our society? Well, isn't it?[/bold]
PS: This story should not be confused with the children's tale, The Very Hungry Caterpiller, which was about Labour Party ethics.
Archie Demonstrates Presbyterianism In Practice
Why don't these so called top Scottish musicians get together and open a place then? It seems they are great at accepting accolades but always want someone else to finance their playgrounds.
THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS
There was a grashopper used to play music all day on the its violin while all the ants around it hurried and scurried to work, collecting seeds to store for the winter, and building their houses before the season past and the weather turned bad. the hopped and skipped to his music as they work, chattered and sometimes even danced.
Th summer came and went, autumn too, icicles appeared on the stream, and frost on the grass. Then came the cold and rain.
The grasshopper had nowhere to go. It was very cold and hungry. It knocked on the ants's doors asking for shelter and some food, but they all said, "Tough! You spent all bloody summer sitting on your fat ar*se playing your stupid fiddle, and didn't do a stroke of work to prepare for tomorrow. Go away.!"
The Scottish moral of this story is: You should always think of tomorrow and not indulge hedonistically in today.
Los Angeles' moral is: What a bunch of miserable tossers. The grasshopper entertained those ants all summer, providing joy and music in their lives, and as soon as things got bad they turned their backs on it and left it to starve.
Now, isn't that the story of the arts in our society? Well, isn't it?
PS: This story should not be confused with the children's tale, The Very Hungry Caterpiller, which was about Labour Party ethics.
Posted by: Danny & Karen, Glasgow (was Aberdeen) on 1:40pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Myself and my girlfriend llived in Aberdeen for 2 years. We are both huge music fans in many ways. Venues need support from CUSTOMERS who pay the fee on the door and drink in the bar - thus supporting more bands to come to the venue. The Lemon Tree is a loss but it has been in decline for some time now.
If you are into music in any way seriously in Scotland, you must head to Glasgow
Myself and my girlfriend llived in Aberdeen for 2 years. We are both huge music fans in many ways. Venues need support from CUSTOMERS who pay the fee on the door and drink in the bar - thus supporting more bands to come to the venue. The Lemon Tree is a loss but it has been in decline for some time now.
If you are into music in any way seriously in Scotland, you must head to Glasgow
Posted by: mike tyers, aberdeen on 4:45pm Thu 6 Dec 07
The Lemon Tree was a completely unique venue, beacause it covered, theatre, dance, music, community involvement of all genres for senior citizens adults & children. Any forward thinking
country backs its creative arts with subsidy. None of the so called music venues can even match The Lemon Tree for variety of genres
& Aberdeen will be left with a LIMP arts scene. Yes there were problems but a small Central/Local subsidy covering the asperations of ordinary people should be made available, afterall
Scottish Opera has had MILLIONS chucked at its elitist audiences
who can afford the astonomical entrance charges anyway.
Surely The Lemon Tree & its wonderful model is worth preserving.
I sincerely hope some WHITE KNIGHT will emerge at the 12hr
The Lemon Tree was a completely unique venue, beacause it covered, theatre, dance, music, community involvement of all genres for senior citizens adults & children. Any forward thinking
country backs its creative arts with subsidy. None of the so called music venues can even match The Lemon Tree for variety of genres
& Aberdeen will be left with a LIMP arts scene. Yes there were problems but a small Central/Local subsidy covering the asperations of ordinary people should be made available, afterall
Scottish Opera has had MILLIONS chucked at its elitist audiences
who can afford the astonomical entrance charges anyway.
Surely The Lemon Tree & its wonderful model is worth preserving.
I sincerely hope some WHITE KNIGHT will emerge at the 12hr
Posted by: The Cat, International on 5:50pm Thu 6 Dec 07
This is the most terrible instalment in The Lemon Tree saga. I guess I'd like ot know [bold]What, this time, was the larger agenda at work that led toward the closure of The Lemon Tree?[/bold] In previous years that have passed very recently, the Lemon Tree suffered at the hands of ambitious local councillors who lacked the vision needed to turn around Aberdeen's dark and depressing cultural profile. There is much talent, commitment and energy for arts in all its guises in Aberdeen but unfortunately those in positions of power in the area prevent any new and risky work and practices from developing into anything significant and sucessfull. Aberdeen cant afford, at this stage, to loose the expertise and energy of the people who worked at and used The Lemon Tree. Aberdeen really needs and cultural and social centre. I hope that if The Lemon Tree remains closed, something new, engaging and dynamic grows in its place.
This is the most terrible instalment in The Lemon Tree saga. I guess I'd like ot know
What, this time, was the larger agenda at work that led toward the closure of The Lemon Tree? In previous years that have passed very recently, the Lemon Tree suffered at the hands of ambitious local councillors who lacked the vision needed to turn around Aberdeen's dark and depressing cultural profile. There is much talent, commitment and energy for arts in all its guises in Aberdeen but unfortunately those in positions of power in the area prevent any new and risky work and practices from developing into anything significant and sucessfull. Aberdeen cant afford, at this stage, to loose the expertise and energy of the people who worked at and used The Lemon Tree. Aberdeen really needs and cultural and social centre. I hope that if The Lemon Tree remains closed, something new, engaging and dynamic grows in its place.
Posted by: Archie, Argyll on 6:02pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Los Angeles 12:43pm.
I agree apart from the presbyterian bit.
I am a practicalist not a bible thumper.
I ran recording studios and rehearsal facilities for 12 years and charged very reasonable prices.
I also worked on average around 100 hours per week.
this is a presbyterian (conservative) estimate.
Your microcosm is witty and true if you forget the generalisation.
Where are the ants now?
Certainly most of them are indeed hedonists but I certainly would not tar all Musos and Arties as ants.
There were many very decent people who used Arch Studios which is where I worked self employed, and were it not for them we would not have lasted 1 year never mind 12.
The Arts & Music should not have to rely on grants for the simple reason certain people are more interested in the grants than the Art of Music making and painting Pictures etc.
Some ants are musos while some grasshoppers are hopless.
The e just spoils the effect.
All the Best from Grass Lover the Hopping Violinist and Archie the Hed.
Los Angeles 12:43pm.
I agree apart from the presbyterian bit.
I am a practicalist not a bible thumper.
I ran recording studios and rehearsal facilities for 12 years and charged very reasonable prices.
I also worked on average around 100 hours per week.
this is a presbyterian (conservative) estimate.
Your microcosm is witty and true if you forget the generalisation.
Where are the ants now?
Certainly most of them are indeed hedonists but I certainly would not tar all Musos and Arties as ants.
There were many very decent people who used Arch Studios which is where I worked self employed, and were it not for them we would not have lasted 1 year never mind 12.
The Arts & Music should not have to rely on grants for the simple reason certain people are more interested in the grants than the Art of Music making and painting Pictures etc.
Some ants are musos while some grasshoppers are hopless.
The e just spoils the effect.
All the Best from Grass Lover the Hopping Violinist and Archie the Hed.
Posted by: Archie, Argyll on 6:23pm Thu 6 Dec 07
PS.
Also when the grant is pulled, as in this case, the whole thing collapses.
Fair rates for Art & Music venues and services should be the way ahead, and they should not have to rely on alcohol sales in any way shape or form to survive.
Nor should they have to register as charities which is also open to abuse from the unscrupulous.
Sorry if I confused anyone a bit, but all musos etc are not "grasshoppers" either.
PS.
Also when the grant is pulled, as in this case, the whole thing collapses.
Fair rates for Art & Music venues and services should be the way ahead, and they should not have to rely on alcohol sales in any way shape or form to survive.
Nor should they have to register as charities which is also open to abuse from the unscrupulous.
Sorry if I confused anyone a bit, but all musos etc are not "grasshoppers" either.
Posted by: Los Angeles, Edinburgh on 6:59pm Thu 6 Dec 07
[quote]I agree apart from the presbyterian bit.[/quote]many thanks, archi. (I do know how to spell "caterpillar" but not how to typo, other than with two digits.) I think the Presbyterian work ethic squats heavier on our shoulders that we realise. The Scot's attitude that a job isn't a [italic]real[/italic] job unless it causes one to break sweat is wholly erroneous.
Fiddle and piano players, for example, may not be good at digging ditches but they do break sweat, work long hours, and are badly paid unless pop stars, in which case they are vastly overpaid, but still work their butts off. In all cases they lead a life more often than not away from home in order to earn a crust.
Even the most primitive tribe stopped to hear stories from the shaman, and created petroglyphs in rock faces to pass wisdom one generation to another. The arts, music especially, brings a whole host of benefits to the development of the human mind including mathematics ... but I have a feeling I am preaching to the educated, so I'll stop here.
One other point not unconnected with the arts; our education system doesn't teach us about pleasure. Perhaps that's why so many of our countrymen look miserable even on a sunny day.
LA
I agree apart from the presbyterian bit.
many thanks, archi. (I do know how to spell "caterpillar" but not how to typo, other than with two digits.) I think the Presbyterian work ethic squats heavier on our shoulders that we realise. The Scot's attitude that a job isn't a
real job unless it causes one to break sweat is wholly erroneous.
Fiddle and piano players, for example, may not be good at digging ditches but they do break sweat, work long hours, and are badly paid unless pop stars, in which case they are vastly overpaid, but still work their butts off. In all cases they lead a life more often than not away from home in order to earn a crust.
Even the most primitive tribe stopped to hear stories from the shaman, and created petroglyphs in rock faces to pass wisdom one generation to another. The arts, music especially, brings a whole host of benefits to the development of the human mind including mathematics ... but I have a feeling I am preaching to the educated, so I'll stop here.
One other point not unconnected with the arts; our education system doesn't teach us about pleasure. Perhaps that's why so many of our countrymen look miserable even on a sunny day.
LA
Posted by: Archie, Argyll on 8:02pm Thu 6 Dec 07
Cheers L A
Aye the "Scots" work ethic of working like a slave for washers and only counts as a real job if ye end up covered in keegch is as Scottish as the media in Scotland and promoted by likewise non-Scots who funnily enough end up stinking rich and smelling of garlic sausages.
I wonder why?
And it's no funny so why are they laughing? (all the way to the presbyterian bank}
They work ever so hard I'm sure and that's how they've got all that money.
But it isnae their money either so who's kiddin' who?
1 guess only please as we're tryin tae be economical here.
Cheers L A
Aye the "Scots" work ethic of working like a slave for washers and only counts as a real job if ye end up covered in keegch is as Scottish as the media in Scotland and promoted by likewise non-Scots who funnily enough end up stinking rich and smelling of garlic sausages.
I wonder why?
And it's no funny so why are they laughing? (all the way to the presbyterian bank}
They work ever so hard I'm sure and that's how they've got all that money.
But it isnae their money either so who's kiddin' who?
1 guess only please as we're tryin tae be economical here.
Posted by: Archie, Argyll on 8:21pm Thu 6 Dec 07
"Perhaps that's why so many of our countrymen look miserable even on a sunny day."
Perhaps it's a guilty conscience as they should be workin doon the mines and not swannin aboot in the sun.
"Perhaps that's why so many of our countrymen look miserable even on a sunny day."
Perhaps it's a guilty conscience as they should be workin doon the mines and not swannin aboot in the sun.
Posted by: ex Lemon Tree Employee, Aberdeen on 8:53am Fri 7 Dec 07
www.savethelemontree
.org
www.savethelemontree
.org
Posted by: Leesome, Glasgow on 9:08pm Fri 7 Dec 07
Having visited the Lemon Tree (early nineties) while touring and I'm shocked at its sudden closure. It was a great wee venue and the staff were all so friendly and helpful. Did the board see this arrival; time to take direct control and for the core staff members to be involved at mangement & board level, this work's at the Glasgow Pavilion and why not at the Lemon Tree.
Having visited the Lemon Tree (early nineties) while touring and I'm shocked at its sudden closure. It was a great wee venue and the staff were all so friendly and helpful. Did the board see this arrival; time to take direct control and for the core staff members to be involved at mangement & board level, this work's at the Glasgow Pavilion and why not at the Lemon Tree.
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