Hey people........... it's been a while since we blogged but - hey – we've been busy!!

Well, we've got one more gig and a Hogmany party to go before 2008 comes to a close for Mermaid Rock and it's been a thunderous year for us. We've put Mermaid Rock on the map as Dundee's number one promoter for all things of a Classic Rock & Metal nature. We've put on the largest selection of '70's and '80's Classic Rock tribute bands that the city's ever seen in one year, as well as a whole host of young, up & coming and more established original bands. We've put on the city's largest independent Classic Rock festival, the 14 hour "Monsterz of Rock" event attended by just under 300 people, involving 12 bands including three of Scotland's finest tribute bands. We've put on a weekend double-header that was so poorly attended we made a note never to do this again in the middle of August (nothin' like honesty, huh!!!). But, above all, what we've done, we've achieved thanks to you – the fans – many of whom have supported the events from month to month, for which we salute you. Also thanks to Dave at Hustlers for allowing us free rein to do what we wanted.

So, we've got two more events to come – this coming weekend's Dundee debut of the much talked-about Full Metal Racket, touted as being one of the finest rock tribute bands in the whole of Scotland right now, with a full set covering a selection of the most incendiary rock tracks from the seventies and eighties. Suport comes from Glasgow metallers Syth, who we welcome back with much enthusiasm as the band had split up but elected to reform and, following several well received performances from them in the past in the city, this should be one storm force return. Opening up will be Fife's Starry Wisdom Cult, appearing by special request from Dave at the venue who had them on in concert last week and was absolutely blown away by the band, so we let him have a say in this (kind hearted to the last is Mermaid!!!) and the band appear this weekend, so it's gonna rock for sure. Not forgetting our Mermaid Rock DJ in the form of Andy H who'll be hammering records down to excellent effect.

Then, on December 13 comes what we've been calling everything from "Mini-Monsterz" to the "777 Xmas Rock-Fest" but which is essentially "Son Of Monsterz Of Rock", this time a 10 hour event with 7 bands – one cover and 6 originals – from 4pm to 2am, plus DJ Andy H and more. Full details are on the website and doors will be from 4pm so if you want to rock this Christmas, this is the event you have to attend. Price is a paltry £7 for the entire extravaganza, payable on the door, so you just can't afford to miss this one – Maiden Scotland (the UK's number one Iron Maiden tribute band) headline over Vantage Point, Attica Rage, Excellent Cadaver, Firebrand Super Rock & Core, each playing 40 minute sets apart from Maiden who'll be providing their full 90 minute spectacular. It's gonna be awesome!!

But that's not all...............

as a final thank you to everyone, on Hogmanay we 've got a rock disco. Not just any rock disco, though – this one's a 7 hour rock disco and it's free entry. Kicking off at 7pm with a four hour set from Mermaid's own Andy G, the Mermaid resident DJ Andy H then takes you through into the New Year with a brain-blasting three hour + set to well beyond 2am, if the beer lasts that long!! It's the place to be on Hogmanay, for sure.

Then, Mermaid will have a break for a month or so. We'll be back in 2009 with gigs that will include more original bands and tribute bands but with two festivals and who knows what else we'll come up with. We figured now that with so many great original bands out there, we've got enough of a good thing going to be able to feature more of them more often as we know that you trust and love what we're doing for Classic Rock & Metal in Dundee.

So, just keep watching – for now, Mermaid Rock's Marina (the real driving force of Mermaid Rock) and Andy G wish you a hard rockin' festive season and thanks to everyone for making 2008 so fantastic.

Well, our first post-"Monsterz of Rock" concert was another success. I was thinking that with the UK's leading Iron Maiden tribute band, Maiden Scotland, appearing at "Monsterz" only a month before, that you may not have wanted to see them again so soon. How wrong I was!! Enticed by the prospect of a full-length, over two hour set of Maiden classics, you turned out in droves and witnessed the band playing one seriously fiery set that saw one of the most enthusiastic audiences we've witnessed to date, headbanging, rocking and generally leaping about. Yet again, we partied with a classic metal and rock disco until 2am and you all pronounced it a night to remember – for which myself and Marina thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We want every Mermaid Rock gig to be a special event – something you'll look forward to attending and something you'll not forget once you went. To that end we've resisted calls for us to put more gigs on, simply because of our stated aim to make what we do unique and the best live rock & metal enjoyment on this level.

A lot of you have asked us at least to do a regular Saturday night rock disco, so we will consider that one, although that, too, would only be once a month if we thought it was what you wanted, so we'll see.

As you'll also see from the gig list for 2008, we've planned some really great concerts for you. Next up is Motorheadache, one of the UK's leading Motorhead tributes and that one's gonna be wild – June 7^th is the date for that. After that we've got the much anticipated return to Dundee of Ozzbest, the Ozzy Osbourne and his era Black Sabbath tribute band. Now I won't spoil this for you, but last year they just wowed the audience on all levels, musically and visually, so don't miss their return.

On a slightly more commercial but no less a rock vein, securing the services of the fantastic Status Quo tribute band Staid As Quo for October, is one we're really thrilled to have got – this one will be a ticket only event and we'll tell you more about that once tickets go on sale.

But it's not all about tribute bands by any means. We're currently looking as much as possible at bringing back the bands who played at "Monsterz" as well as seeking out new blood that fits in with our musical likes, so expect some cracking new support acts over the rest of the year. Speaking of red hot original acts, we've got a whole weekend of two nights of purely original bands in the middle of August, so along with all the others yet to be announced, just make sure that you don't miss out on Dollar Sent on Friday the 15th of August. If you've listened to their myspace tracks you'll have a glimpse of how on-fire a metal band can be, but seeing the trio live, is even more of an experience that will live with you for ages after, of that you can be certain.

Mermaid does what Mermaid does – and we only hope you like what we do, since your enjoyment is why we do it. Onwards and upwards – and thanks to all the bands and audiences out there for making it happen. We'll soon be thinking of 2009 - scary, huh!! But, for now, you really have gotta lose your mind in "Dundee – Rock City"

Final act of the event were Volts, Scotland’s top AC/DC tribute band and over a faultless 2 hour set, they provided the perfect AC/DC performance and I have to say that I love the vocals of the lead singer as much if not more than the original band singers, as he tends to deliver a more solid, slightly less high-register, less "throat-treading" performance that fitted each and every song to a tee. That they played a blinder from start to finish, that "Angus" provided the expected sea of all-time classic electric guitar riffs and leads, and that they had the entire audience on its feet and rocking along with them, was a justification of the high quality of the band’s performance and the huge enjoyment they convey in each and every audience in front of whom they play.

With DJ Andy H keeping the momentum and the atmosphere going before, between and after the bands had played, as he spun series after series of spellbinding Classic Rock tracks, the event proved to be a complete success from the points of view of all concerned. Marina practically got a standing ovation at the end, while people were coming up with mile-wide smiles and shaking our hands in congratulations. It really doesn’t come much better than this, but of course, this is just the beginning. But it put Mermaid Rock Promotions firmly on the map as an organiser of Classic Rock & Metal events that the audience out there can know and trust to be every bit the enjoyable night out that any rock fan could hope to have – and you can’t say fairer than that!

See you all in May................. for some more rock & metal!!!!

WE GIVE THANKS TO ALL THE BANDS THAT APPEARED IN OUR FIRST SEASON.

MARINA & ANDY

Friday the 13th - superstition says unlucky - this July, the only unlucky ones will be those who fail to attend the last "Sabotage" gig of the present series, and, indeed, the last "Sabotage" gig ever.

Back in January, Mermaid Rock Promotions was set up to promote original and tribute live bands playing heavy rock and metal in the "Classic" '70's/'80's style, the idea being that, with all gigs advertised in advance at a single venue, we'd resurrect the idea of the "heavy metal club night". Despite a few glitches along the way, and the odd low attendance, the fact remains that Marina and myself  have put on, in three months, the best single run of metal gigs that Dundee has seen for years. The quality of every set from every band playing has been absolutely top notch, with not a single band letting us or the audiences down in any way. The support coming from the venue, Dexters in Castle Street,  has been excellent and we can't thank them enough.

However, we do feel that we have perhaps restricted ourselves a bit too much with the style on which we set our hearts. As metal fans ourselves, we love a lot of  what we've heard from the bands joining our myspace site (thanks everyone) but have been unable to promote it due to our self imposed restrictions. So, now we've decided to keep Mermaid Rock Promotions going, widen our horizons and maybe open up to a few more of what's out there in the wide world of non-extreme metal and rock.

The result of this, of course, is that the "Sabotage" name is about to die - but not before we have one final gig - and that will be on Friday 13th at Dexters, as there's a four  band line up, the doors will open at 7.30pm with "Hennisi" being the first band on at 8.00pm, our special guests, will be playing their unique brew of rock, following this will be a 45 minute Classic Rock tribute set from "Mr Spider" around 8.45pm, a 35 minute set from "SAZ" at 9.40pm and the final act of the night is Dundee rock tribute act "Crawler" who will play a 90 minute set which takes us up to midnight.

Entry is free - but this is the important bit - it's a night to raise money for "Maggies" a local charity, who do such great work in our city and nationwide, so we'll be passing round a bucket in which we urge you to give what you can afford. All money raised on the night will be handed over to our local Maggies representative.

So, please witness a slice of history, as well as a gig that will be a rock gig to remember, and do something worthwhile to help those in need. Bring your friends - heck, bring your granny if you like - just be there - and be there early.

My final thanks go to the venue, DJ Andy for some excellent metal tracks played between bands that have won him rightful praise along the way from bands an audiences alike, and more thanks than I can ever give to my partner in this venture, Marina, without whom none of this would have been possible. Mermaid Rock will rise again on September the 8th when we bring you a sensational concert from "BON GIOVI" an international tribute act to "Bon Jovi"  as well as a sizzler of a gig also later the same month on the 22nd at Dexters we bring you our very own "MAIDEN SCOTLAND" who pay tribute to "IRON MAIDEN". For now, we look forward to seeing you on the 13th.

Andy G.