Forty years of memories from across the North-east of Scotland
It’s our birthday and we’re feeling nostalgic
Last updated 27th Jul 2021
It’s our ‘big’ birthday and we’re feeling nostalgic!
Northsound began broadcasting across the North-east on July 27th, 1981 before splitting into the two services we know today, Northsound 1 & Northsound 2 in 1995.
We thought we’d share with you a selection of our favourite memories of Northsound and life in the North-east over the past four decades.
Now, they say life begins at…
1. Northsound launches from studios on Aberdeen’s King's Gate.
Okay, we’re kicking this list off with the moment that started it all. The first moments of Northsound, broadcast live from our first ever studios at King's Gate in Aberdeen. The first voice on-air was that of Jo Buchan with the news ahead of the first Breakfast presenter, Bobby Hain.
2. Aberdeen Football Club lift the cup winner’s cup
11th May 1983. Aberdeen Football Club are about to make history in Gothenburg, it’s the story that needs no recap. Northsound carried the winning goal live.
3. Aberdeen’s bypass finally opens.
Now, where do we start with this one? Fifty years in the making… and wasn’t it worth it!? Aberdeen’s bypass, the APWR finally opened in 2019. The north-east even held a party for the new road!
4. Emeli Sande launches her first album in Aberdeen
Who’d have thought that Alford would become known worldwide as the home of one of the UK’s biggest artists?
Emeli Sandé launched her debut album, Our Version of Events, on 13th February 2012. On the 15th, Northsound 1 hosted a small, live, and intimate performance for lucky listeners and fans. She played 4 tracks from the new album and answered a few questions from audience
5. Discussing Scotland’s 1982 World Cup hopes
Throwback to one of the more adventurous programmes from the Northsound archive, ‘Pints of View’ – it was, as the name suggests, recorded in the pub with a pint.
On this occasion, Aberdeen and Scotland player, Willie Miller talks with Rob McLean about Scotland’s chances at the ’82 world cup. They weren’t far wrong…
6. Thousands parade for Celebrate Aberdeen
Aberdeen’s ‘Granite Mile’ has been home to many parades over the years – from the Torcher to the Bon Accord festival, in more recent years, Celebrate Aberdeen has taken over the stretch of road from Holburn to Castlegate.
Thousands have paraded to represent and celebrate the cities third sector, and it’s been a lot of fun too!
7. Aberdeen welcomes the Tall Ships in ‘97
You can’t think of Aberdeen in the 90s without thinking about the Tall Ships! They came, we celebrated, the sailed off. Those iconic scenes as thousands packed the Torry Battery to wave off the boats.
The Spice Girls were topping the charts, and boyband North & South were MASSIVE! (Remember them!?)
‘97s Tall Ships also saw ‘Free at the Quay’ with Northsound live from the quayside.
8. Roooney, Rooooney! Aberdeen lift the League Cup.
Need we say more? Listen to that moment, here.
9. Pride returns to Aberdeen
The first Pride event for over 10 years returned to Aberdeen in 2018 and has become a yearly fixture in the calendar since. Jeff and Lauren were proud to lead the parade along Union Street.
10. We reopened Amadeus during lockdown
What did lockdown bring? Parties, on your own, in your house. No problem! We reopened the legendary Aberdeen club, Amadeus!
Greigsy was one of the resident DJs at the beachfront club and took to the decks twice during the pandemic to relive the Amadeus years.
If you missed either show, you can listen back on Greigy’s mixcloud, here and here.
11. Offshore Europe opens the new TECA
The North-east received a shiny new entertainment venue in 2019, the P&J Live, or TECA. What better way to open a Granite city venue than with the bi-annual oil mecca, Offshore Europe.
…and for once, thanks to that shiny new bypass, the city didn’t grind to a complete halt.
12. Ed Sheeran performs exclusively for Northsound
He’s one of the words biggest music stars, and back in 2011 he played his first hit live for us at Northsound. It’s Ed Sheeran!
Live, intimate, and about to hit the big time. 20 lucky listeners got the chance to be there, were you one of them?
13. Union Square opens with a flash (mob!)
Northing says 2009 more than a Flash Mob, remember the craze? With the opening of Union Square you could suddenly walk between the railway and bus stations without getting wet! …and go shopping too.
14. Aberdeen rocks to biggest ever ‘Free’ gig
The ‘free’ concerts took place over many years, most memorably at Duthie Park. ‘Free at the Dee’ first took place in 2002, again in 2003 and then again in 2005 before moving to Hazlehead.
55,000 folk flooding through the gates for the final ‘Free at the Dee’.
Stars such as Hear'Say, Gareth Gates, Liberty X, Darius, Sugababes and Girls Aloud graced the stage.
15. Aberdeen lift the Coca-Cola cup
One photo. THAT strip! …can Stephen Glass do it again?
16. Jeff and Lauren launch their Breakfast show
We couldn’t have this list without a space for the early morning risers that are Jeff Diack and Lauren Mitchell, ‘Jeff and Lauren’ took over mornings just over four years ago and haven’t looked back.
It’s been a dream come true for the local duo …and who can forget their take on ‘Deen Spotting’!
17. Annie Lennox releases her first album – and it goes straight to Number 1
The year is 1992, the best-selling car is the Escort and Basic Instinct is the top film at the movies. Here on Northsound we were about to start playing some of the biggest hits from Aberdeen’s own, Annie Lennox!
Annie Lennox released the album Diva, and it went straight to Number 1! Since its release, the album has sold over 1.2 million copies and has been certified triple platinum!
18. Cormack Park opens for training
The story of Aberdeen’s new stadium and training facilities is one of many twists and turns, in fact, who knows where the next step will lead… Aberdeen Beach?
Fergie famously training the players along the beach, years of sharing facilities with local schools followed until in 2019, ‘Cormack Park’ opened its doors to the team.
Could this be the season the impact of the facilities filters through to results?
19. 'Amity II' became a household name
Jimmy Buchan and Amity II became household names across the UK thanks to the TV series ‘Trawlermen’. The series from 2006 had to have subtitles applied so that the wider country could understand fit a’bidy wis sayin, ken?
What a way to put the Blue Toon and the Broch on the map!
20. Stonehaven invents the Deep-Fried mars bar
Some say that Glasgow tries to claim this title. We all know the truth. Enough said!
21. Northsound 2 makes the digital switch
It’s our birthday, we’re allowed to talk about ourselves! The North-east is well familiar with making history, be that in sport or energy and in 2018, Northsound 2 became be the first Scottish commercial radio station to complete the switchover to digital.
1035AM fell silent as the focus turned to Digital Radio allowing us to provide fantastic broadcast quality and convenient listening on the move.
22. Aberdeen’s art gallery reopens after redevelopment
It’s one of the most iconic buildings in the Granite City, and it’s just reopened after a whopping 35m redevelopment… and we love it!
23. Rod Stewart brings curtain down on Aberdeen’s AECC
Ros Stewart’s MASSIVE outdoor gig at the AECC became one of the last gigs at the historic venue – it was a sell out and held in a specially constructed outdoor arena.
Rod became one of the last gigs as the curtain started to fall on the venue, ahead of the opening of TECA.
Indoors, the final gig was hosted by comedian Bill Bailey who invited the audience to take what they liked as they left the arena. We’re not sure the security team approved.
24. We said goodbye to the Bon Accord glass lifts!
Remember the water feature and glass lifts? We’re getting serious Throwback vibes remembering that the Bon Accord looked like before the 2009 facelift.
…and who can forget the food court too, Bon Appetit!
25. Newtonhill Pipe Band perform ‘Baby Shark’
Things that Jeff and Lauren have brought you since taking over the Breakfast show.
- Thousands on the Cash Register
- The Newtonhill Pipe band playing Baby Shark.
26. Ben Stokes awarded BBC Sports Personality of the Year at P&J Live
They said that the new TECA, or P&J Live would bring bigger gigs to the area, and they weren’t wrong. The biggest names in sport descended on Aberdeen in 2019 for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. Live on the telly!
Lewis Hamilton came close to the title, but it was Cricket’s night.
27. Peterhead Scottish Week reaches 59 and a half.
The annual Scottish Week in Peterhead has been taking place for six decades – that’s no mean feat!
With some COVID restrictions still in place, the decision was taken to refer to this year as their 59… and a half. The big SIX OH will take place next year… and we can’t wait.
Who doesn’t think of Scottish Week… and think of the Red Arrows?!
28. Gerry Cinnamon breaks gig record in Aberdeen
He’s a belter, a record belter! Gerry Cinnamon played one of the first gigs at the P&J Live and it was PHENOMENAL! …it also now holds the Scottish record for attendance at an indoor gig. What a claim!
29. Jeff and Lauren walk 50 miles from Peterhead to Stonehaven
There were tears, lots of tears. Since taking over the Breakfast show, Jeff and Lauren haven’t shied away from challenges. Their biggest? Walking the 50 miles from Peterhead to Stonehaven in 24hrs for Cash for Kids.
30. North-east Olympians see success at London 2012
The Tokyo Olympics have brought back all the vibes of summer 2012. From the Olympic torch relay and the Emeli Sande gig on the Castlegate, to the gold post boxes across the area, representing the gold medals of our wonderful North-east Olympian and Paralympians.
31. Travis frontman reopens Music Hall
It’s undoubtedly the most iconic of the area’s gig venues and it reopened with a bang in 2018 with Travis frontman, Fran Healy leading the 100-strong Music Hall Community Choir in a performance of the band's hit Sing
If you were there, you’ll never forget it. What a moment!
32. Pittodrie became home to the egg-shaped ball
Pittodrie turned to Rubgy in 2005! Scotland faced Barbarians in front of a near-capacity 20,228 crowd at Pittodrie. Standing watching Rugby at the North-east’s home of football was a strange feeling. But watching Scotland beat the Irish 38-7 made it all worthwhile.
Regardless of the ball, the winning feeling at Pittodrie will never get old.
33. Brewdog puts Ellon on the map
From a lockup in Fraserburgh to the multi-million-pound brewery in Ellon, Brewdog are a true North-east success story. It’s hard to believe that the flagship bar on the Gallowgate opened as recently as 2009.
Hold on, don’t Brewdog give you a free pint on your birthday if you’re a shareholder!? BIRTHDAY PINTS PLEASE!
34. The Shamen hit the top of the charts
Eezer Goode 'Eezer Goode He's Ebeneezer Goode! Formed in Aberdeen, the sound of mid 90s dance. The Shamen stormed it with Ebeneezer Goode, which has never been far from being heard on Northsound 1 since. TUNE!
35. Aberdeen’s Crown & Anchor becomes known worldwide
One of Aberdeen’s harbour bars become famous across the country when BBC’s ‘The Harbour’ hit our screens in 2012. The Crown and Anchor bar, and barmaid, Val become household names… and just like Trawlermen, the rest of the country needed subtitles to understand much of it.
Val went on to become known as Aberdeen’s very own ‘Peggy Mitchell’.
The pub closed in 2015 and became flats, that’s right, someone actually sleeps in the Crown and Anchor every night!
36. Paul Lawrie wins the Open
Find us a more iconic image than this. What a champ!
37. Union Terrace Gardens is redeveloped
The gardens deserve a place on this list, who doesn’t love them!? …and when they finally reopen later this year we can’t wait to spend an afternoon there in the sunshine.
39. The Script make buskers day
Who can forget this moment, when The Script decided to jump in their car and find a couple of Aberdeen buskers to join them on-stage at their Aberdeen gig. What a moment, and if you were there at the gig you’ll remember the reaction Shay and Chris received from the crowd.
40. Cove Rangers win promotion to the SPFL
More than deserving of a place on this list is the historic promotion of Cove Rangers to the SPFL. Beating Berwick Rangers in the League Two play-off. Back-to-back promotions and a rise to League One for the Aberdeen side puts them firmly in the history books for the North-east.
Listen back to our special ‘Blue’ Friday, marking the club’s historic promotion here.
…and there you have it. Just a selection of the big events and moments from the last forty years that we remember fondly here at Northsound. Here’s to the next forty!
Team Northsound x