An Aberdeen recording studio, which has been praised for transforming the music scene in the north-east, will celebrate its twentieth birthday this week.
Tom Simmonds set up the facility in Captain Tom’s in 1997 when it was just two small rooms in Dee Street.
But, two decades later, he is now based at a much bigger site on Ann Street and has been praised for nurturing and encouraging a range of music stars, including Terry McDermott who starred in The Voice show in the United States.
To mark the occasion, several bands who have used the studio over the years will gather in the Lemon Tree on Saturday, May 6, for a night of entertainment.
The event will be hosted by Joe Johnston from Thrashist Regime and bands including Hot Mangu, The Lorelei, The Ruckus, Ray Brower and the Waccy Baccy Wookies will be performing.
Keith Allardyce, a member of The Lorelei, explained why he was looking forward to the night and what the studio contributed to the north-east music scene.
He said: “I was in the band before Captain Tom’s and there was very little space in Aberdeen for bands to get together.
“Captain Tom’s changed all that and Tom has created a music community by making a space for people to go to where they can meet other people doing the same thing.
“I would say the whole of the music scene in the north-east owes a lot to him.”
The 45-year-old added: “It should be a great night on Saturday, a lot of us will get the chance to see people we haven’t seen for years.
“The music will be great, I would encourage anyone in the city who is interest in music to come along and meet people – we’re a friendly bunch.
“The event will be a mixture of the what has happened in past, what is happening now and what there will be in the future.
The event will begin at 7pm and tickets are available on the Aberdeen Performing Arts website.
