Featured Gig Venue : Arctic Bar

Here's a new thing for inDundee.co.uk: featured gig venues! I thought it would be great to feature local live music venues on here - get the story behind them and hear more about them from the people who know them...

If there's enough interest, we'll feature a different venue every couple of months, then have a vote later in the year - get the "punter's choice". At the very least, you'll have some mighty fine recommendations for experiencing live music in Dundee. If you have suggestions for future features, let us know

First up: The Arctic Bar - recently coming alive as a gig venue with plenty gigs already under their belt and many more to come.

We contacted some local bands for their thoughts about The Arctic, plus I asked Wayne Dudley of DD Promotions a few questions:

Questions + Answers

Q1 - I've noticed The Arctic Bar is hosting a growing number of gigs these days, and generally gaining a higher profile - can you tell me the story behind that?
A - Certainly. i have been a huge live music fan for years and have been to many gigs in and around dundee ... it had always been a ambition of mine to tour with a band as i had heard hundreds of stories from my dad, aka 'Billy Bondage', about touring with Stiff Little Fingers in the 70s. So in April 2007 after seeing The Law play many times, i saw there was a niche in the market for merchandise. this led to me making a proposal to the band to become their merchandise manager ... spending the next few months touring with the band, going to festivals and having the time of my life. this experience along with the contacts i made within the music industry gave me the inspiration to look into music promotion.
After some terrible experiences with promoters on tour, i decided that if i was going to start music promoting i wanted my own promotions company to treat bands with respect. i was then informed that the arctic bar was opening under new management which provided me with the perfect opportunity to get the ball rolling. discussions were made with the management of the arctic bar and DD Pomotions was formed. initially there was of course some doubt from bands towards playing at a new unknown venue, but word has started to spread that the arctic bar is a great intimate venue thats 'bringing the music back to the people'.

Q2 - For punters, what can they expect at a typical Arctic night? eg: atmosphere, ambience, music, bar staff, etc ;-)
A - a fresh energetic rock n roll atmosphere where you can come and listen to great live bands and go a bit crazy without felling out of place. you will be served by friendly staff with excellent value drink prices. overall the arctic bar provides you with a nights entertainment like no other, that has to be experienced to be believed.

Q3 - For bands, how do they get themselves a slot?
A - Any band who wish to play at the arctic bar can contact wayne dudley @ myspace.com/ddpromotionsdundee

Q4 - What excites you about Dundee itself? What can you recommend inDundee?
A - From a music perspective i personally prefer smaller intimate venues so some of my favourite gigs have been at the westport bar, reading rooms and the viewfield hotel in arbroath. it all depends on what type of music you listen to. outside of music tannadice park home of the mighty dundee united is the place to be...

What the bands say...

Here's what a few local bands think of the Arctic Bar as a venue - and they should know: they've all played at least a couple of gigs there already, with more in the pipeline: get down and hear them...

Maxwell's Dead : "yea the arctic's pretty good. get a good laff and there seems to be some hype around it. as a venue for bands its improved as the promoter has bought new equipment for the bands with the money made from gigs which is good :) but i enjoy and i think punters do too as the venue isnt too big and the sounds not bad."

The Rebel Hearts : "... i honestly plan on playing there once a month at least for the near future. i love the place its small fair enough but it makes the atmosphere a hell of a lot better because it has no stage and the fans are right in your face ... totally rock n roll!"
"play there when you can!!"

The Scalies : "hey yeah its a cracking wee venue, as far as staff and that there all really helpful and that. The first gig we did there there was next to nobody there, but there's definitely bigger and bigger crowds of people going to the gigs there, cant see the back walls anymore. Best thing though is that unlike some bars/venues they dont charge festival prices for booze.....always a plus."
"small, fun, and cool, get it? ( arctic ) = cold :)"