March 2012
www.brumnotes.com music and lifestyle for the west midlands
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It’s time to get
Dancing! Dogs! Debauchery! Welcome to Birmingham’s most adventurous festival
ALSO INSIDE: Peace Wild Beasts DJ Format Hackney Colliery Band And more…
PLUS: A look ahead to the West Midlands’ newest music festival AND your comprehensive guide to nightlife and what’s on throughout March AND check out our new street style section — are you in? March 2012
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Doors 7.00pm unless stated â&#x20AC;˘ Venue box office opening hours: Mon-Fri 12pm-4pm, Sat 11am-4pm â&#x20AC;˘ No booking fee on cash transactions Brum Notes Magazine 5*$,&58&# $0 6, > 4&&5*$,&54 $0. > (*("/5*$ $0. > 5*$,&5."45&3 $0 6,
CONTENTS
Spector live, P23 Photo by Andy Hughes Brum Notes Magazine Unit 12 The Bond 180-182 Fazeley Street Digbeth Birmingham B5 5SE info@brumnotes.com 0121 224 7363 Advertising 0121 224 7363 advertising@brumnotes.com Distribution StickupMedia! 0121 224 7364 Editor Chris Moriarty Contributors Words: Amy Sumner, Jon Pritchard, Tom Pell, Andy Hughes, Lorraine Teare, Dave Barry, Joe Whitehouse, Sharon Kaur Pictures: Steve Gerrard, Jonathan Morgan, Andy Hughes, Charlotte Rose, Jade Sukiya. Cover photo by Linda Cooper Style editor: Jade Sukiya jade@brumnotes.com Design: Adam Williams, Henry Parker, Andy Aitken Connect Twitter: @BrumNotesMag Facebook: www.facebook.com/ BrumNotesMagazine Online: www.brumnotes.com
March 2012
Regulars News 4-5 Live Reviews 22-23 Style 24-25 Food & Drink 26 Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On 27-30 Music and Features Comedy: Mike Gunn & Sean Collins 8 Clubbing: DJ Format 9 Clubbing: Habit 10 Clubbing: PROspec & Shogun Audio 11 Festivals: Now We Are Weekender preview 12 Festivals: Fierce 2012 preview 14-15 Wild Beasts 17 Hackney Colliery Band 18-19 Peace 20-21
All content Š Brum Notes Magazine. Views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily Brum Notes Magazine. While all care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of content, Brum Notes Magazine will not be held liable for any errors or losses claimed to have been incurred by any errors. Advertising terms and conditions available on request. 3
NEW MIDLANDS RECORDING STUDIO PROVIDES THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS A professional-standard recording studio has opened in Walsall aimed at combining the best in analogue and digital recording techniques. Loud Noises Production Studio has unveiled its new home within JJM Studios, a well-established rehearsal, recording and music tuition complex located in Pool Street, off Birmingham Road on the outskirts of Walsall town centre and just 20 minutes from Birmingham. Loud Noises is run by industry professional Owen Davies who has worked with the likes of Keane, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Simple Minds, as well as carried out production and engineering duties for hundreds of new bands and artists. The facility boasts digital recording with analogue outboard equipment for a versatile recording set-up. To celebrate its new home Loud Noises is offering introductory rates throughout March of £20 per hour or £150 for an eight hour recording day. Visit www.loudnoisesproduction.co.uk for more details.
Dog is dead play surprise acoustic set in a birmingham pub
IN BRIEF
Last month’s cover stars Dog Is Dead performed an exclusive acoustic set for surprised punters at a city centre pub as they made their live debut in Birmingham. The Nottingham five-piece showcased their distinctive vocal harmonies during a strippeddown performance for Brum Notes Magazine during the afternoon of February 20 at The Victoria pub, ahead of their headline show that evening at the nearby O2 Academy 3. The unique set was enjoyed by an intimate huddle of onlookers inside the pub but also filmed by West Bromwichbased music video specialists Captured Music, with footage of the special fourtrack show available to watch online now. To enjoy exclusive footage from the show as well as photos from renowned photographer Steve Gerrard visit www.brumnotes.com or www.facebook. com/BrumNotesMagazine. For more information on live recording services see www. capturedmusic.com. To read about Dog Is Dead’s O2 Academy 3 show turn to the reviews section on P22-23.
Ocean Colour Scene frontman Simon Fowler will launch a new solo project with a live show in his home city. The Birmingham-born singer will perform in the intimate Studio room at The Glee Club on April 17. It will be the first in a series of live dates across the country to mark the release of his first solo album, a folk record entitled Merrymouth. Tickets for his Birmingham show are on sale now, priced £15.
THOUSANDS TO HIT STREETS FOR ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADE THIS MONTH The famous St Patrick’s Parade will return to Birmingham this month, despite fears over the future of the popular event. The parade itself, said to be the biggest of its kind in the country, will take place from midday on March 11 with thousands of revellers and scores of floats making their way through Digbeth. This year it will be led by members of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) with sport being a key theme to help celebrate the London Olympics. Earlier fears that the parade may have been in jeopardy were put to rest after a new committee was voted in back in January to run the event but organisers have already begun calls for more support from sponsors to ensure the celebrations continue in future years. An eight-day festival will also surround the parade with events taking place around Digbeth and elsewhere in Birmingham from March 9, through parade day on March 11, right up to St Patrick’s Day itself on March 17. Other entertainment during parade day will include St PatRocks with performances from live bands in the HMV Institute, while pubs and venues throughout Digbeth will open their doors and host entertainment throughout the day and into the night. Last year more than 85,000 people took to the streets of Digbeth and similar crowds are expected to turn out in force this month. The parade itself starts at midday on March 11 from Camp Hill and heads down through Digbeth High Street towards the Bullring and then back up through Digbeth. For more details visit www.stpatricksbirmingham.com. 4
Miles Perhower, former frontman of cult Birmingham band Miss Halliwell, will curate a brand new art and music event taking place in Digbeth this month. St Eel: The Show In The Mirror will take place on March 9 at the new Sticky Toffee Dance Studio under the railway arches in Lower Trinity Street. The night will feature live performances from Perhower, Greg Bird & Flamingo Flame, Bombers, The Gruber and Jerk Test, alongside art displays, paintings, projections, mystery objects and a fully licenced, real ale bar. Doors open at 7.30pm and tickets are £5 on the door and £4 for concessions. A series of cultural events inspired by the 2012 Olympics will launch in the West Midlands this month. The Cultural Olympiad is planned across the country as part of London 2012, with a host of activities taking place throughout Birmingham and the surrounding regions. The full programme will be officially announced by Jonathan Edwards in the city on March 13 but details of some of the cultural attractions have already been unveiled. Highlights include Music Nation, a weekend of live performances in Birmingham across the weekend of March 3 to 4, and a new digital art installation called Core, launching inside the Ironbridge Gorge Museum, Shropshire, on March 23. Brum Notes Magazine
the lines to headline first brum notes presents... show
SASHA TO help launch NIGHTCLUB
The Lines will headline the first in a brand new series of Brum Notes Magazine Presents... gigs showcasing the finest emerging talent from the Midlands and beyond. Wolverhampton’s latest guitar-wielding stars will play the O2 Academy 2 on May 5, as part of a co-headline tour alongside Manchester act The Rainband.
A brand new nightclub will open its doors in the heart of Digbeth this month after a long-established venue was given a new lease of life.
Also on the bill for the evening will be Birmingham indie rock outfits Black Market Empire and The British Kicks. It is the first show to be unveiled in a regular series of Brum Notes Magazine Presents… shows being planned, which will see us joining forces with the O2 Academy Birmingham to present the most exciting new musical talent from across the Midlands alongside the hottest touring acts and DJs.
The newly-named Gibb Street Warehouse will be unveiled on the site formerly known as Space 2 alongside The Custard Factory, with the opening night taking place on March 31 hosted by house heavyweights Defected. Club bosses insist the warehouse venue has been given more than just a makeover, with state-of-the-art technology and a brand new operations team also put in place. It will specialise in electronic music across various genres and aims to recreate the industrial, raw feel of Acid House warehouse parties. As well as the opening night with Defected, details have also been revealed for the return of clubbing superbrand Renaissance which will relaunch in style in the Second City to mark its 20th anniversary on Easter Sunday, April 8. R20: Renaissance’s 20th Anniversary Part One will be headlined by superstar DJ and Renaissance’s most famous resident Sasha. For more details visit www.facebook.com/ GibbStreetWarehouse.
The Lines have built a fiercely loyal and firm fanbase with their life-affirming brand of intelligent indie rock, regularly commanding sell-out crowds in their native West Midlands and have also previously adorned the cover of Brum Notes. After completing a year which saw the band embark on their first North American tour, being invited to tour with Peter Doherty and Ocean Colour Scene, and enjoy a second sold out show at the 1,100 capacity Wulfrun Hall in their home city of Wolverhampton, they have been recording new material and will release a new single in May as well as embarking on a co-headline tour with The Rainband across the country. Brum Notes Magazine presents The Lines live at the O2 Academy Birmingham on May 5. Tickets are on sale now from www.o2academybirmingham.co.uk. For more information join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BrumNotesMagazine.
NON PROFIT MUSIC REHEARSAL ROOM FLOODGATE STREET MUSIC COMPANY March 2012
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Brum Notes Magazine
March 2012
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THE ODD COUPLE MIKE GUNN and SEAN COLLINS bring their double headline show back to the West Midlands this month. After endless nights on the road together, Jon Pritchard finds out how well they really know each other.
“Oh god, I’m going to have to admit it was him aren’t I?” says Mike Gunn dourly, when asked whose idea it was to end their coheadline shows with a double act. In fact, Gunn’s replies are regularly dour, deadpan, and very British, quite a contrast to the ‘him’ in question, jolly Canadian comic Sean Collins. So how did the seemingly very different duo come to embark on a massive tour of Britain together? “It was after we did Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow,” explains Gunn. “He asked me if I’d like to go on tour with him and I said no, but eventually his positivity wore me down and I said yes.” Positivity is not something that sits well with Mike Gunn. After being addicted to heroin for 10 years, Mike went clean and sought out a replacement buzz in the form of comedy. “I did what any old junkie would do,” he says. “I went for the thing that would get my adrenalin going and put me in a place I didn’t want to be. I’m shy and so comedy was a good fit.” He admits that he has changed a lot since he took up comedy over 12 years ago, and the drug references have now disappeared from his act. “When I first got into comedy it was as a character comic. I was called the Funeral Director and told really deadpan jokes about death. “Now it’s a lot more observational. Occasionally the drug stuff could pop up when we’re doing our double act but I’ve cheered up a lot.”
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“It [the double act] probably works because of how different we are,” admits Mike. “He’s relentlessly positive and Canadian and says words like ‘awesome,’ and I’m English, downbeat and droll.” “What’s Mike’s favourite film? I have no idea.” Question Describe yourself in one word. Favourite comic?
Sean Collins Mike’s guess: Happy
Mike Gunn Sean’s guess: Miserable
Answer: Huge Mike’s guess: Richard Pryor
Answer: Tired Sean’s guess: Carrot Top
Favourite film?
Answer: Richard Pryor Mike’s guess: Slapshot
Answer: Daniel Kitson Sean’s guess: Dirty Dancing
Answer: Rocky
Answer: Apocalypse Now Sean’s guess: Anything
Favourite meal on tour?
Mike’s guess: Pasta
Favourite venue on tour?
Mike’s guess: Salford Lowry
Favourite thing to do on tour? SCORE
Answer: Pasta
Answer: Salford Lowry Mike’s guess: Nag me to get up Answer: Watch DVD’s 3/6
Answer: Nando’s Sean’s guess: Salford Lowry Answer: Salford Lowry Sean’s guess: Sleep Answer: Sleep 2/6
“Put down something really girly like Dirty Dancing, that will annoy him.” Sean Collins’ Canadian cackle rifles down the phone line as he sets about tackling the quiz questions about him and touring partner Mike Gunn.
After going through all the films his wife likes to watch he finally settles down to try and have a serious interview. Try being the main word, as he spends another 10 minutes thinking of girly films and rubbish comedians. The likeable character is constantly chatting, making jokes and generally goofing around and it seems his current co-headline tour with Gunn has reinvigorated his almost childish love for comedy. “This tour has motivated me again in a different way to usual, doing the circuit can get you into a bad habit of doing the same thing over and over. “This tour is pushing both of us and it’s great to have Mike around to bounce ideas off each other.” In stark contrast to Mike’s deadpan comedy, Sean loves telling stories and dragging them out with perfect pauses for comic effect. “I think because we’re both good at the styles we do, the show seems to work well,” he says. “It’s also a bit of a treat for the audience as they see two comedians with different styles at the top of their game, but then they also get to see us play around with it at the end as well.” The double act part of the show stems from an idea from his homeland where he and another act would get on stage at the end of a show and do a bit extra for the audience. “The comedy circuit is so competitive now I think it’s good to offer the audience three shows for the price of one.” Mike Gunn and Sean Collins: Still on the Roadshow, is live at The Public, West Bromwich, on March 2. Brum Notes Magazine
a winning format
Clubbing
Southampton-born DJ Format has come a long way since his early days of driving the tour bus for Jurassic 5, going on to establish himself as one of the most respected hip hop DJs and producers to come out of the UK. With a new critically acclaimed album out now and a raft of successful collaborations under his belt, he brings his new audio/visual live show to Birmingham this month. Chris Moriarty finds out more. “I would like to describe it as an ‘enhanced DJ set’ in so far as it is a live audio/visual show but there are no MCs involved so it’s slightly different to the idea of an out and out live show that people might expect,” explains DJ Format, “just non-stop good music that people can actually dance to if they’re not mesmerised by the visuals, just dance and enjoy themselves hopefully.” That set in question will be heading to the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath this month, when Format – real name Matt Ford – returns to the venue along with collaborator Simon Jones, with whom he also produces work under the name The Simonsound. They will be blending material from both projects, but hopefully with the same end result – to get people dancing. “I know that when people come to watch people’s shows the audience wants to hear the songs that they know and love and as an artist you’ve got to find the right balance between giving the people the songs they know and love and satisfying yourself that you are doing something new and original rather than just playing the old songs, so I thought it would be fun to do a mixture of the old songs that people hopefully know and love and the new album material and also some of the songs that we made together as The Simonsound. We’ve just got a really good balance of the three things I think.” The Brighton-based DJ will showcase some of his newest material plucked from latest album Statement of Intent, released at the end of February to much acclaim amongst the hip hop fraternity. “The buzz about it has been amazing and I was obviously very nervous that maybe I don’t have the big record label backing and it’s very difficult to get yourself heard now with everyone out there just putting their music out on the internet and so many people doing stuff, it is hard to get noticed. But luckily I think I’ve still got a good core of people out there who are waiting for this kind of music.” Format is no stranger to buzz about his music, having earned high praise from some of hip hop’s glitterati, as well as working with some of the biggest names around, not least Jurassic 5. His 2003 debut album Music For The Mature B-Boy featured guest appearances from members of J5, who he also supported on their UK tour, thrusting him into the spotlight in front of huge hip hop crowds up March 2012
and down the country. “Funnily enough I had a friend called Mick Blue Eyes who organised J5’s first UK tour and he just basically needed somebody to drive the tour bus and luckily offered it to me, so I basically got to drive around the country taking Chemist and Nu Mark to all the best record shops around in the UK back in 1998. There were a lot more record shops around then and we had a great time you know, a lot of friendships were made. So that’s really how the connection came about and I was then lucky enough to get Chali and Akil to do a couple of songs with me and the rest is history I guess.” Despite the boost this undoubtedly gave to his reputation, DJ Format insists he doesn’t have much time for mass market attempts at hip hop which just throw money at hiring big name MCs, without earning attention based on the quality of the music first. “Ultimately the idea of collaborating with big name MCs is not necessarily what I like to do, I kind of like the fact that I really made my name more with the work I did with [MC] Abdominal and that’s someone who came out of nowhere to a lot of people. It’s almost too easy sometimes to throw a load of money at big name MCs and get them involved in your project, but I like to think that I’ve worked with the people I’ve worked with because they’ve been the right people for the songs in question and luckily they’ve been into my music enough that they’ve done it for the music rather than the money.” The absence of MCs on this tour though has added a new dimension to his own role. “I’m not what I’d call a natural showman, I’m much happier playing in the background or, better yet, staying at home and just making music in the studio without seeing much daylight for a few days. The idea of somebody, an MC, with a big presence and a real kind of ability to sort of communicate and interact with the crowd, I think that’s really important, so I think that on this thing I’ve got with The Simonsound it’s really up to me to take hold of the mic and make sure that people are having a good time and just enjoying themselves and feel like they’re part of the show because I think that’s important.” DJ Format and The Simonsound live audio/visual set is at the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, on March 16. 9
Clubbing
habit of a lifetime Underground club night HABIT marks its fifth anniversary this month. We caught up with Andy Price, Mat Jones, Steve Thornton and James Roberts, the four-man team behind HABIT, to find out the secret of their ongoing success.
So, when you first launched the night, did you think you’d still be going strong five years on? Mat: I don’t think we could have even dreamt that. When we started Habit there had been loads of parties across Birmingham that launched, did OK but then within a few months had already folded. We wanted somewhere where we could play the music we love to a crowd of like-minded people so starting Habit felt right. And what are the basic principles behind the night, in terms of musical style and ethos? Steve: For us it’s always been about quality underground music, but not taking ourselves too seriously. It’s certainly not about chin stroking. Habit’s a place to come and party with your mates and leave having made new friends. The soundtrack is very much driven by house and disco but early doors you often get some eclectic treats that help to take people from the bar to the club. What sort of crowds do your nights tend to attract? James: We get all sorts of people, but everyone is always really up for a fun party, leave the attitude at the door and come and have a great laugh. Andy: We do have a very loyal core group of people who have been coming since we started and still come today. There are definitely a few loyal fans that have been to every single party. We love them. Mat: Many of our guest DJs started out as our clubbers who loved to come and dance, we’ve given lots of DJs their first ever club set. How did you pick the line-up for your fifth birthday show? Mat: We’ve had some great guests for our previous birthday parties but this year we decided to let our residents take over and celebrate five great years. James: Kicking things off are Tom Belte and Jack ‘Process’ Stokes, two boys with an amazingly eclectic record collection, they warm things up perfectly dropping anything from disco and deep house to broken beats, hip hop and even some dubstep. Steve: Then Andy, Mat and James take over, under their PJR Project moniker (their surnames are Price, Jones and Roberts). They tell me they’ve been working on a special ‘five years of Habit’ set.
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How has the Bull’s Head suited you as a home? Andy: When I first met Adam Regan I mentioned we were on the lookout for a venue and he’d just taken over the Bull’s Head so we went to check it out. We loved it instantly. They only had an 11pm licence for the first party but it was rammed all the same. James: For me it’s even better since the recent improvements. Upstairs feels even more club-like and the sound is fantastic. The perfect place for our party. Can you pick out some highlights from the past five years? Mat: There have been many, but Steve Lawler at the Hare & Hounds has to be the best. He’s a global legend so to get him to agree to come and play a 250-capacity venue in a suburb of his hometown was a privilege. Andy: The first time we had Spencer Parker for our second birthday at The Rainbow was pretty special too, as was when we hosted a room at the Electric Carnival with DJ Sneak headlining our room. James: And of course we had my favourite DJ Phil Weeks at the Hare & Hounds – amazing. What do you make of the independent club scene in Birmingham at the moment? Steve: Birmingham does seem to be on the up again, which is good news. FACE is doing well, TRML are opening a new venue in Digbeth soon too. The suburbs are as great as the city though. Moseley and Kings Heath continue to be great places to party, and the Jewellery Quarter is starting to get in on the act now with stuff happening at The Lord Clifden and The Rose Villa Tavern. What have you got in store for Habit for the next five years? Andy: Our focus for now is just continuing to put our hearts and souls into our regular Bull’s Head events, to make each one a great experience for those who come along. Steve: We’d love to think that we’ll still be here for another five years, that would be amazing. For us, we’ve always said we’ll keep this going for as long as people want to come and party with us. Habit - The 5th Birthday takes place at the Bull’s Head, Moseley on March 17. Entry is free before 10pm, £3 before 11, £4 after. Brum Notes Magazine
bass in the place
Clubbing
After 18 months of bringing exciting drum n bass nights to Birmingham, promoters PROspec are preparing for their biggest night yet as they host a Shogun Audio showcase night. PROspec founders Leon Grant and Matt Tilley tell us more. So for those who don’t know, what is PROSpec all about? Leon: PROspec is a forward-thinking drum n bass night run by myself and Matt which has been running for around 18 months at the Bull’s Head in Moseley and the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath. Our focus is all about the DJs we book, there are no gimmicks or fancy backdrops etc, it’s completely about getting the best drum n bass DJs around. There is no jump up/MCs either, we think Birmingham has enough of these types of nights already and we are trying to offer something different, plus it’s not what we’re about. Matt: Yeah, the music comes first, we book the artists we personally want to see as much as the punters do – that’s why we started it and it obviously works. PROspec is about the future, plain and simple. You must be pleased to have such a big line-up for the Shogun Audio night, especially as a relatively new promoter? Leon: It’s a dream to be hosting such a respected label, and they were nominated for label of the year last year. It is the perfect fit for PROspec as their releases and artists are exactly where we are at right now. For us to have the opportunity in such a short space of time I guess reflects how good every event has been over the past year-and-a-half. Matt: I think since doing the Goldie night at the Hare we feel that the standard needed to be kept high to be honest, so we couldn’t wait for the chance to get a date confirmed back there in conjunction with Shogun. It’s also quite nice be able to switch between the two venues, it’s cool to be able to offer people a chance to see such high calibre artists up close and personal at the Bull’s Head and then have scope to put on something a little more adventurous up the road. What have been the highlights so far? Leon: Every night has been a blinder to be honest, the atmosphere surprises us every March 2012
time. If we had to pick some out though, I would have to say Goldie dropping Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit as his last tune last year as everyone went mental. Being asked to host Arena 2 at the last ever night at the Q Club with Atomic Jam in January was also a proud moment as we used to go to the original jungle dos there back in the early 90s And what can people expect from the Shogun Audio night? Leon: For a start, it will sell out! We know people are travelling from all over the Midlands and beyond for this so it’s going to be a very special night. Expect the most upfront drum n bass around, with a great crowd without a hint of attitude. We have now also secured a Critical Records event in May, and Metalheadz in August which sees the return of the mighty Goldie so 2012 is looking like it’s going to be a great year for us. Matt: You can expect the finest drum n bass in town, a friendly crowd and a big queue down the stairs... PROspec presents the Shogun Audio Showcase, with Icicle, Alix Perez and Spectrasoul, at the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, on March 31.
Spectrasoul
Icicle
THE LINE-UP Leon and Matt give us the lowdown on the talent performing on the night: Alix Perez Perez is a producer and DJ who can take it anywhere, anything from musically inspired soulful melodies, to the edgier fast paced beats of sonically perfect dance floor rhythms. Since his debut album 1984, Alix Perez has become a household name within drum n bass and electronica. Expect a bassheavy set with plenty of forward-thinking tracks that which are testament to why this producer is so highly regarded. Spectrasoul Rumoured to be working on a debut album for Shogun, this duo can not be pigeonholed. Easily one of the most versatile production acts that drum n bass has seen to date. The pair from Brighton have had releases on many different labels, all the way from the deep end of the spectrum with their release on D-Bridge’s label Exit, to the more tech influenced sounds of Teebee’s label Subtitles. The guys can more than hold their weight behind the decks too. Expect a relentless assault of tracks that will hold your attention right till the last beat is drawn. Icicle Adequately nicknamed Mr Freeze, Icicle is a producer who can turn his hand to anything and create a masterpiece. Without any cliché, the most accurate way to describe Icicle’s sound would be ‘eerie’; the choice of samples and atmospheres along with precise drum programming in his tracks give an element of coldness to his sets. Enjoying the success of his debut album for Shogun, Icicle is showing the world that whenever he wants to switch tempos, he has the artillery on his hard drive to make a massive impact. This man takes no prisoners when he DJs. 11
Iconic arts centre The Public in West Bromwich will stage the Now We Are Weekender, a new two-day music festival across two stages, over the weekend of April 7 and 8, featuring live performances from more than 30 acts. The festival is being curated by London-based promoters Funny Looking Cat and boasts an eclectic line-up of innovative indie acts and local talent. Amy Sumner looks ahead to some of the highlights of the weekend.
Festivals
Art brut Art Brut is an art movement which is referred to as ‘outsider art’ in English terms – and it’s an apt choice of title, because this band are a right bunch of misfits. Since 2005 and in incendiary tongue-in-cheek tones, Art Brut have declared “Haven’t read the NME in so long/ Don’t know what genre we belong”, deliberately sidestepping the tick boxes and thereby ensuring that we are instantly compelled towards them. Art Brut are the band who made it OK to have hated every single song that became the talk of the schoolyard, and OK to have been picked last in PE time after time after time. With the almost Wilde-ean Eddie Argos at their helm, though a modern day version less the carnation and wearing quite a lot more corduroy, Art Brut are charismatic and observant and a hell of a lot of fun, and they promise to be one of, if not THE, highlight of the weekend. Art Brut headline Now We Are at on Saturday, April 7.
The bombergs
misty’s big adventure
Birmingham’s own The Bombergs have been steadily gaining momentum for the past six months. And now, with an album in the pipeline and a new drummer in tow, they’re sounding better than they ever have. Unafraid to name-check influences such as The Clash, The Libertines and Joy Division, and fresh from gigs both at home and in London, The Bombergs are playing the game more seriously than it’s been played in years and the resulting sound is delicious. Tighter than a leather jacket in a heatwave and with tunes more infectious than a student house kitchen, they are full of energy, full of rigour and well worth half an hour of your time.
Long running Birmingham experimentalists Misty’s Big Adventure know how to have a good time. With getting on for 10 albums’worth of their jazz, funk, ska punk-mix all beset by a vocal more deadpan than Jack Dee, this set up is one of performers as much as it is musicians. Also watch out for dancer Erotic Volvo’s relentless dancing and occasional beatbox additions. Misty’s Big Adventure are seasoned entertainers, make sure you’re there to enjoy them.
The Bombergs are live at Now We Are on Sunday, April 8.
Misty’s Big Adventure co-headline on Saturday, April 7.
the thyme machine Describing themselves as “Lo-fi Glam Rock with party poppers and a bubble machine”, there’s no prizes for guessing that Lancaster’s Thyme Machine are going to be pretty fun. And with a repertoire of songs including I Love the Supermarket, John the Dog and I Collect Batteries, there’s a wealth of the anecdotal, the entertaining and the just downright obscure to engage you. Meshing with Sunday top cats The Lovely Eggs in a pairing more twee than your grandma’s Sunday best, and proving that being in a band can be a bloody good laugh, The Thyme Machine are the sweethearts of Now We Are, and give ‘em the time, they’ll be yours too. The Thyme Machine are live on Saturday, April 8. Now We Are Weekender is on April 7 and 8 at The Public in West Bromwich. Day tickets £10, weekend tickets £15. Limited early bird weekend tickets are available for £10. Visit www.nowweare.co.uk. 12
Brum Notes Magazine
March 2012
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Festivals
Birmingham Gets Fierce The Brum Notes Guide To Fierce Festival 2012
Fierce Festival returns to Birmingham at the end of this month, blurring the boundaries between live art, performance, experimental music and downright decadent nights out. With a genre-bending lineup of international artists and performers descending on unique spaces across the city from March 29 to April 8, 2012 is set to be Fierce Festival’s most ambitious year yet. Spanning two weekends and multiple venues, there are plenty of mind-bending and ear-splitting attractions as well as some more placid installations to get your heads around, so we’ve picked out some of our highlights for you to look out for…
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SHABBA DABBA DAH Q Club, April 6, 9.30pm until late Taking over the legendary Q Club in Corporation Street, one of London’s most notoriously exuberant club nights comes to Birmingham for the first time. Shabba Dabba Dah is presented by Coventry-born socialite Daniel Lismore, dubbed by Vogue as “London’s most outrageous dresser.” For a Friday night with a difference get glammed up in your most outrageous garb and head on down – or if your outfit needs a spruce just turn up for a Fierce-style makeover with the festival’s own glam beauty parlour setting up inside the club. The night will see clubbing, fashion and art collide in devastating style. The best dressers may even find themselves captured on camera with a film being made on the night. Tickets are available now for £5 in advance or £7 on the door.
DACHSHUND UN Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, March 31, 1pm The sight of scores of sausage dogs perched on a scaled down replica of the UN offices is sure to be one of the most memorable images of Fierce 2012 and will help get the festival underway in typically barking mad style. Led by Australian artist Bennett Miller, the work will be making its debut appearance in the UK and anywhere outside of Australia for that matter, with dachshunds being
volunteered for the project from dog-owners across the Midlands. The pooches will play the parts of UN leaders in a mock meeting of the United Nations’ Commission on Human Rights during the project. Whether you want to take it as political satire, commentary on utopian aspirations of a universal system of justice, or simply enjoy the controlled chaos of dozens of slightly odd looking dogs all sat on benches, it is a sight not to be missed. Entry is free.
HOLY MOUNTAIN PARTY Club PST, Digbeth, March 31, 9pm until late A club night like no other in one of the city’s most esoteric nightspots. Taking inspiration from cult 1973 film Holy Mountain, the night is being curated by Birmingham artist Harminder Singh Judge and will feature live performance art in the twisted shape of contortionist and dancer Iona Kewney and a hotly-anticipated set from adventurous, Berlin-based techno musician and DJ Oni Ayhun, the mysterious alter-ego of Olof Dreijer, one half of Swedish electronic duo The Knife. Tickets are available now for £5 in advance or £7 on the door.
SECRET SHOW Birmingham city centre, April 5, 7.30pm Guests will hand over an evening of their life to Fierce and fellow Birmingham pioneering Brum Notes Magazine
Daniel Lismore (photo by Linda Cooper)
promoters Capsule for a night of mystery, intrigue and no doubt groundbreaking artistic experience and music. Ticket-holders who dare will arrange to be picked up from a location near to the city centre before being blindfolded and whisked away to a secret spot for a mysterious night of unforgettable adventure with unnamed musicians and artists. Judging by the previous work of Fierce and Capsule, you can expect it to be very memorable indeed. Tickets are available now for £15 or £55 for a group of four and must be booked in advance.
GROUPER: VIOLET REPLACEMENT
CURIOUS SOUNDS IN CURIOUS SPACES
Festival Hub at Vivid, Digbeth, March 30, 8pm until late Capsule once again get involved to bring a typically rare and innovative musical performance to Birmingham, this time from US artist Grouper, aka Liz Harris, utilising tape loops and field recordings to create a haunting atmosphere inside the Festival Hub at Vivid. Support comes from the industrial rave sounds of Diamond Catalog, plus a new audio-visual work by Swallows, inspired by Victorian séances. Tickets include free entry to the afterparty at Vivid featuring special guest DJs into the early hours. Tickets are available now for £8 in advance. Entry to the afterparty on its own is £2 on the door from 10.30pm.
Symphony Hall, April 7, 12pm to 5pm Partnering up with Symphony Hall which is marking its 21st anniversary, the renowned concert hall will throw open its doors and become a veritable laboratory of weird and wonderful noise-making equipment for a day of inspiring family entertainment. Visitors will get the chance to explore backstage areas not normally open to the public and also be able to ‘play’ the stairwells which will be transformed into a giant musical instrument. Other hands-on activities will include workshops and massparticipation exhibits, including the chance to build your own electronic instruments out of cardboard with the help of Juneau Projects, while Phil Minton’s Feral Choir will combine professional singers and members of the public to perform sounds beyond the traditional confines of singing. Hare & Hounds residents 8 Bit Lounge will transport their retro arcade games and Gameboy-inspired sounds to the Symphony Hall, while Soundkitchen will create a unique sonic tree covered in speakers playing music from a host of local artists. Entry is free.
TRACK Underneath Spaghetti Junction, March 31-April 1, 11am to 5pm For a unique outlook on Birmingham’s urban landscape, visitors will lie back and get whisked along a specially made track on horizontal platforms for a different visual and audio perspective of the city’s most iconic of road systems, Spaghetti Junction, gazing upwards at it from the underbelly of the motorway alongside rivers, canals and railways. Visitors can just turn up, booking is not required. Entry is free. March 2012
Fierce Fesival 2012 runs from March 29 to April 8. For the full programme visit www.wearefierce.org.
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Call of the Wild The effortlessly dreamy soundscapes served up on Wild Beasts’ third studio album Smother may not have catapulted them to the commercial success their sheer talent deserves, but it cemented their place as one of the most inventive and unique bands in Britain today. After a self-imposed break, the Kendal band are back on the road this month. Chris Moriarty catches up with drummer Chris Talbot ahead of their visit to Warwick University. “We finished our last tour and we decided to take a two month sabbatical basically because we just needed the time off from each other,” admits drummer Chris Talbot. “I think that it’s important you have time off when you’re living in each other’s pockets for the best part of six or seven months.” With the shift in buying habits of music fans in the digital age, touring is what puts bread on the table for most bands these days, so staying off the road for too long was never an option. Although the reality of a living out of a bus is perhaps not quite as glamorous as it may seem, as Chris explains. “You don’t get away from anything on a tour bus. You wake up smelling someone and go to bed smelling someone so it’s not the most pleasant environment. Everyone thinks it’s a lap of luxury but it’s just not, when you actually get on there it quickly becomes this little, grotty hellhole.” Still, it was a life that was attractive enough to tempt two of the band to quit university in Leeds where three of them were enrolled when they signed their first record deal six years ago. “The record deal came along when me and Hayden were midway through our second year; Tom had already been to uni a year longer so he was half way through his last year, he had three months to go so we waited for him but me and Hayden kind of looked at each other and when you’ve just been given a record company advance and the opportunity to become a professional musician you don’t really want to go back to university. I think the uni were actually quite March 2012
supportive, you’ve got to follow your dream at that point, they probably thought we were a little bit stupid — they probably still do — but we don’t mind.”
of previous Mercury-nominated effort Two Dancers. But despite the praise, Chris says as a “pop band” falling sales is still hard to take.
They will be making a return to university, of sorts anyway, this month with a show at Warwick University in Coventry; not that they will be spreading the message to drop out to all those impressionable students.
“When you record an album you’re kind of stuck in the moment and you think you’re writing a world-beating pop record, allconquering, we’ve thought that with pretty much every album we’ve ever released. So it does, it hurts, but looking back on it, in retrospect it’s quite a left turn of a record. I’m not saying we didn’t want to capitalise on the success we had with Two Dancers, we did, and I think in terms of the UK we still made in-roads but I think looking back on it we probably shouldn’t have given ourselves great commercial expectations. You always think that you’re writing some kind of big pop record when actually what you’re doing is quite intricate and perhaps not fit for the masses, but we don’t mind that.”
“I’m not advocating it but I think it’s important that we had an opportunity to explore a career path that we all wanted to. I don’t really want to talk about it as a career as it isn’t as scientific as that but I think when you’re given an opportunity you’ve got to grab the bull by the horns so to speak and I think that’s what we did.” While touring may be an essential part of their chosen career path, Chris admits it is the studio work which is still their greatest source of pride, despite their prowess as live performers. “I think the record is the thing that is going to stand the test of time, well hopefully, it will still be on the shelves in 20 or 30 years time. Obviously gigs create memories and they kind of ratify your position as a recording band so the two aspects go hand in hand but I think any band worth their salt would still say they would rather be in the studio than in the gig venue.” The critical response to their last album was as positive as you could imagine, although commercially it did not quite hit the heights
Masses or not, Wild Beasts are still a band that attract sell-out crowds and know how to entertain them – even if the schedule is intense. “This [tour] will be quite hard because it’s seven days straight, I don’t think we’ve done seven days on the bounce before. Your drum sticks quickly start tearing the skin off your fingers so that will be a problem after two or three days but Warwick won’t have that problem as it’s the first one.” Wild Beasts are live at Warwick University, Coventry, on March 11. For a chance to win a pair of tickets visit www.brumnotes.com 17
SHOWING THEIR BRASS
Blending everything from jazz, funk and Balkan beats through to ska, hip hop and full-on rock, Hackney Colliery Band are a true Pandora’s Box of musical delights. Not to mention the fact that they play everything entirely on brass instruments and drums. Chris Moriarty speaks to founder member Steve Pretty about life in one of the country’s most unique live acts. “There are plenty of disagreements and all that, but we’re all mates and respect our various strengths and weaknesses so we don’t normally have too many problems these days,” says band leader Steve Pretty, discussing the potential perils of helping to try and control a nine-strong band of musicians. “There’s nothing worse than having to walk on eggshells, so if there’s a problem, we try to deal with it straight away and don’t let people build up resentments.” So if the arguments aren’t a problem, perhaps the logistics of carting all those brass and percussion instruments around various venues and squeezing onto jazz club stages is slightly more troublesome? “Yeah, it can be quite a squeeze sometimes. We played at a great little venue in Oxford a couple of weeks ago and the ceiling was so low that our sousaphone player had to sit on a low stool, and we had to jump up and down a little bit more carefully than usual...” For those of us who had to look up exactly what a “sousaphone” is, it’s a type of tuba, the big curly one that wraps around the body and is popular with marching bands. Marching bands were part of the inspiration between Hackney Colliery Band (HCB for short) and the ability to turn up and play anywhere without necessarily having to plug in is all part of the fun. And it doesn’t mean they’re quiet either. 18
“It’s a mixed blessing having only acoustic instruments to be honest. On the one hand, we can’t be turned off! There are some venues where they have sound limiters built in which trip the PA if it gets too loud, but that needn’t stop our gig... But on the other hand, we prefer to play with full mics and amplification in bigger clubs, and as soon as we do that we have all the same problems that any band has, only we can’t turn down our amps, and the sound guys are
“Sound guys are often a bit confused when instead of synths and guitars we load in a metric ton of brass and two drummers.” often a bit confused when instead of synths and guitars we load in a metric ton of brass and two drummers. Whatever happens, it’s always loud, so hearing yourself when playing isn’t always easy. Or possible.” Formed in 2008 as ‘east London’s unique take on the brass band,’ HCB certainly know how to stand out from the crowd – and how to get a crowd on its feet as well. It is a melting pot of influences that has gone into the band’s formation, which is part of their attraction for audiences keen to see how
a brass band perform No Diggity or what dubstep played with a tuba and a bass drum sounds like. But the classic traditions of New Orleans marching bands are still upheld as well, just with their own Hackney take on things. “We’ve admired some of the bands coming out of the American brass band tradition for a while,” continues Steve. “A few of us went to see gigs by bands like the Youngblood Brass Band and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and decided that it was time for a British twist. We wanted to find a way of making that New Orleans style of raucous, energetic and euphoric brass music our own, so we started writing music with that kind of energy in mind. “There was a lot of enthusiasm from various musicians for getting the project off the ground, so tunes started coming in, we spent a while figuring out how to split the drum kit up so that it would work with two drummers, and eventually HCB was born. The idea with the name, of course, is that it links us back to the great British brass band tradition; those bands were kind of representative of their communities, and we try to represent the amazing diversity and energy of Hackney with our stuff.” It is through that diversity and energy and merging of genres that HCB hope they can open doors to people to embrace styles Brum Notes Magazine
of music which ordinarily they may not otherwise have sampled. The original tracks draw on a myriad of musical traditions while the covers help to showcase well known songs in a completely different light. “A lot of us come from a jazz background, and amazing though that scene is, it can be quite exclusive and introspective. First and foremost, we’re playing music that we love, but we definitely want to give people a ‘route into’ more challenging music that they might not otherwise listen to. It’s a cliché to say it, but in a world where we often seem to be surrounded by anodyne, over-processed, soulless music, there’s something quite satisfying about playing an entirely acoustic instrumental set of very diverse music and having a crowd jumping up and down the whole night. And if that sounds overly worthy, bear in mind that we also play Boom Boom Boom by the Outhere Brothers.” Of course, it doesn’t just take novelty covers to help people discover new styles of music and Steve agrees the traditional genre barriers seem to be becoming more and more blurred these days, particularly with younger listeners growing up with instant access to vast music collections through the internet. “The student crowd in particular seems to really ‘get’ us. I think it’s a really exciting time for music at the moment in many ways; streaming music services and things like that make it much easier for people to try stuff they wouldn’t normally listen to, and that definitely helps break down the divisions between genres that can strangle music so much. “[We attract] a nice mixture actually. Quite a lot of students and 20-somethings, a few hipsters who presume that because we’re from Hackney we’re hipsters too (incorrect) and quite a few older people who presume that because we’re called a Colliery Band, we’ll be playing themes from Brassed Off (incorrect). It’s great playing to a diverse crowd!” Perhaps surprisingly for a band drawing on such diverse influences, HCB have yet to perform in Birmingham, so their appearance at city centre jazz club The Yardbird this month will be their live debut in the Second City. “It’s HCB’s first visit to Brum. A couple of us went to Warwick University, though, so we have fond memories of checking out bands at The Yardbird. We’re looking forward to going back...” And for those who will be witnessing this 18-legged musical behemoth for the first time, Steve has his own unique way of explaining what to expect: “Imagine a Grimethorpe Colliery Band album produced by Kanye West. Now put that album (vinyl, naturally) in a blender. Add two parts Red Bull (other energy drinks are available), two parts absinthe (other semi-hallucinatory anachronistic alcohol is available). Shake by jumping up and down for an hour or so. Pour into a sousaphone, using a trumpet mouthpiece as a straw. Garnish with earplugs and a sweaty t-shirt.” Still confused? Well you’ll just have to turn up to work it out for yourself. Hackney Colliery Band are live at The Yardbird, Birmingham, on March 17. March 2012
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THE SECRET’S
The internet is such a forum that the mere But with just one song to sample, can touch of a button can provoke outrage, anyone really say they know what Peace amore and an assortment of powerful feeling. sound like yet? “I think that our songs are And the uploading of a track can trigger a quite similar to Primal Scream,” guitarist frenzy. It happened to Arctic Monkeys; it Doug offers. “Not in the sense that they’re happened to Gnarls Barkley; and now it’s indie-dance crossover or anything like that, happening to Peace, to exactly the same but you can definitely hear the acid house extent. Well, nearly. With just one demo influence in them.” available to listen to online, the Birmingham four-piece had been one of the city’s best “I’d describe it as grooving, dark, citrus kept secrets for quite some time, treating us shake — it’s strong but tender,” adds Harry, to live performances along the way of songs not altogether sincerely. “My writing is kind that you could not hear nigh on anywhere of eclectic though. Sometimes I’m very to else. That demo in question was called the point and there’s a lot of life experience Bblood and late last year that demo took in it. But at other times it’s escapism. And off. Now, with an ever increasing viral furore sometimes the two can crossover — like surrounding them, praise in national music Bblood which is both escapist and straight mags and the growing attention of industry forward. In terms of influences upon us as Birmingham four-piece PEACE have bigwigs, they head off on a full set of UK a band though, we’re fairly similar...” been one of the city’s best kept tour dates this month. Peace look set to take reality by storm. “Though we have some guilty pleasures,” musical secrets for months. But with interjects bassist Sam. Insert Spice Girls a growing fanbase, a nationwide “The Bblood demo — we made it into a video banter here. “We’re all definitely on the same tour and the attention of the national as a way of sending it to people, and it was page though,” he concludes. never intentionally going to be released,” music press it is set to be an exciting explains lead singer Harry of their internet “There’s a shared appreciation of Led few months ahead. AMY SUMNER success. ”We put it out in April last year and Zeppelin for instance,” name-checks it was floating around the internet for ages. drummer Dom. “We’re all massive Zep fans, finds out why it’s time for the world Then at the end of the year, people started though we’re not classic rock nerds. I like to give Peace a chance. raving about it.” The Cure, Echo & the Bunnymen, things like
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that. But there’s no direct intention behind these — it isn’t a case of ‘I like these bands so I’m going to sound like them.’ I think the bands you listen to invariably change the way that you play though.”
“We’re buzzing about all of the upcoming dates on the tour.” “I like techno, house, electronic — that sort of stuff as opposed to stuff with words in it,” continues Harry. “And The Rainbow is a paradise for that — it’s our favourite place to play and party because it’s all about the stuff that we like.” Now infamous in Birmingham for playing some of the best parties in town, Peace are closely associated with bands such as Troumaca and Swim Deep.
agrees Harry. “For example, Troumaca put on the nights at The Adam & Eve and a lot of these bands have played those, because we’re all friends.” “I think what makes it interesting though, is even though we’re all part of this scene, you can’t pair bands together as sounding alike, because none of us do. It’s just a shared vibe that runs through us,” concludes Sam. For a year or so now Peace have been biding their time, playing locally and at select shows in London. But now they’re ready to explode. “We’re buzzing about all of the upcoming dates on the tour,” enthuses Harry, “it’ll be really good to headline.”
“I mean, we’ve not consciously gone at it to write tracks,” interjects Sam, “but there will be a single out in early April called Follow. It’s going to be our first physical release and it’ll be on 7ins, but we’ll put it up online as soon as we can.” It seems as though, occasional darlings of London and long term lovers of Birmingham, Peace are now ready to take on the rest of the country. And with the seal of approval of countless music mags and blogs stamped all over Bblood and a cult-like internet attention from their public, it seems it’ll only take a run of successful shows to cement it. And if all goes to plan? “This time next year I’ll be in Miami,” answers Sam, quick as a flash.
“Yeah, until now we’ve only really been accidental headliners, when other bands “I’ll be here at The Rainbow,” retorts Harry, have dropped out,” bemoans Dom. “And it’ll matter of fact. “It’s FACE tonight.” “I guess we are part of a specific Birmingham be our first headline show at The Rainbow movement,” concedes Doug, “but that isn’t too which is pretty exciting, we love it here!” “Nah, I’d take Miami,” Doug admits. Miami it necessarily a calculated decision. This isn’t is then. World — watch out. a movement of bands grouped together And after that? because they sound the same, because Peace are live at The Rainbow as part of everyone is coming from a different place.” “After the tour there will be an EP,” reveals FACE Live on March 10. “It’s more a case of us all starting bands at the Doug. “Yes, we’ve written a lot of material,” same time, and all helping each other out,” Harry explains. Words by Amy Sumner
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live kaiser chiefs O2 Academy, Birmingham 12/02/12
Tonight saw the Kaiser Chiefs take to the 02 Academy as part of their first UK tour in two years – boy, doesn’t time fly? To say it was packed out would be an understatement, with fans squeezed into the touch-tight venue. And the Kaisers didn’t disappoint their loyal following as they launched into Everyday I Love You Less And Less. Ricky Wilson is the epitome of an energetic front man as he proved with a leap that would surely be of medal-winning
standard at this year’s Olympics. The band soon warmed up the crowd on what was an extremely cold night, with the pick of the songs being best-known hits Ruby, Never Miss A Beat and I Predict A Riot, plus a new song which definitely showed a new direction. Starts With Nothing was almost Joy Division-esque in the introduction which builds to a huge crescendo at the end. It will be interesting to see how these new songs and sounds go down with
their fans who clearly appreciate the more ‘sing-a-long’ aspects. Ricky Wilson kept the energy levels high as he clamberd onto the balcony to the amazement of the fans and shock of the security staff to sing Take My Temperature, before reemerging back on stage. If they continue the tour with this sort of display then it won’t be long before the Kaisers are leading the charge of guitar music back into the charts. Words and photo by Andy Hughes
Errors + Victories At Sea
the city tonight. Thanks for making the right choice,” states Errors frontman Steve Livingstone. It’s a choice that many of the crowd don’t get to see through to the end in an effort to catch their last trains after the delayed start, but it’s a choice that’s been rewarding nonetheless and, though for some people the headliner’s set was curtailed, it wasn’t really a case of missing out, as the real winners had stepped on stage at the start. Amy Sumner Photo by Jonathan Morgan
Ones whose Juno-tinted vocals against the snowstorm background are picture perfect. Today is a showcase of just how twee and charming indie-pop can be, and Ace Bushy Striptease close the event with a shambolic ruckus Los Campesinos would be proud of. The day is a complete triumph and shows exactly why we should be supporting the lovely people of the city who bring such fine music to us. Thank you Ace Bushy Striptease. Amy Sumner
Ace Bushy Striptease
The Glee Club, Birmingham
The Rainbow, Birmingham 12/02/2012
Tonight, cider is £3.90 a pint and those nice, big bottles of Bulmers have increased from three-pound-something the previous week to a mega £4.80. And so you’d be forgiven for expecting, at the very least, performances of the same top of the range calibre. And, after an hour’s delay owing to technical difficulties, Victories At Sea do not disappoint. Foals-esque in the vocals, but with an electro overtone creating a sound altogether more credible, Victories At Sea are arguably the highlight of the evening – the epic sounding Future Gold making it crystal clear just why this band are creating such waves both online and outside of their Errors home city. After a proficient performance from second support act Remember Remember, the headliners Errors take to the stage somewhat behind schedule. “There are a lot of things going on in 22
The Victoria, Birmingham
Michael Kiwanuka 14/02/12
04/02/2012
Good things come to those who support local music. Or so the saying goes. It’s something like that anyway, and this is a prime example. Ten bands grace the stage over the course of about eight hours at the packedout Victoria today, and within these are some fine performances indeed. Notable acts include Moustache of Insanity’s Game Boyunderpinned synth-pop and Standard Fare, whose bassist delivers a stellar acoustic performance of requests after the rest of the band are curtailed by the snow. If there’s one band from 10 to take home today though, it’s Norwich female two-piece The Middle
The spirit of St Valentine was in the air but not even a rogue smooch could be heard amongst the patient silence of the crowd at the always attentive Glee Club. The Staves opened proceedings, a trio of sisters, a drummer and bassist singing mostly in harmony, mostly as gentle as heaven. A charming bunch, they had the audience captivated throughout Mexico, I Try and a short, unnamed a cappella number that was possibly even the highlight of the whole night. Just lovely. For all the hype that has been heaped upon Michael Kiwanuka since he emerged as the BBC’s Sound Of 2012, he bounded out Brum Notes Magazine
onto the stage with a grin and a wave without a care in the world. Without his beard he’d look about 13 years old, but his voice is wrenched from a time long gone. I Get Along started with an encouraging rhythm section, but not until slower numbers Always Waiting and singles I’m Getting Ready and Home Again did he really shine. His warm, soulful husk was exposed through two songs on his own without his band, and then I Won’t Lie stole the show. David Ruffin, Otis Redding, Bill Withers – there’s a new boy in town. Tom Pell
NME Awards Tour 02 Academy, Birmingham 18/02/12
Opening NME’s genre-crossing showcase night was Azealia Banks, a feisty, stagecommanding rapper who managed to hype up the crowd with her mix of sharp beats and punchy lyrics. Tribes were next to follow, their music heavily laden with guitar melodies, smooth vocals and a strong Britpop influence. Launching into their singles Sappho and We Were Children, they played with energy and enthusiasm that the crowd finally reciprocated, and gave an insight into the talent that Tribes can show. Metronomy instantly set the atmosphere for their own set. A well-worked exhibition of light sequences helped them create the scene, ready for their barrage of electro. Combined with funk-style bass playing and rhythmic drum beats, their music is complex yet so simply engaging. Treating the crowd to songs from Nights Out and The English Riviera, they created big sounds and fun vibes, whipping the crowd into a dancing frenzy. Last but not least, headliners Two Door Cinema Club seemed at times overwhelmed by the crowd’s reaction. It’s not hard to see why the crowd loved them. Lilting vocals, catchy lyrics and intricate guitar work make their music bouncy and captivating. Working through their album Tourist History, songs such as Undercover Martyn and What You Know delighted the crowd for a mass sing-along, finally finishing on I Can Talk to round off the night perfectly. Lorraine Teare Photo by Metronomy Jonathan Morgan March 2012
Howler HMV Institute 05/02/12
When Howler stumble-strut on stage amid the hilarity of a ridiculous mock-motivational tune they wrote earlier (“do your best...just do your best”), Jordan Gatesmith is sporting a baseball cap and a zip-up hoodie, like some sort of rad-frat, Gap-ad spaz – and he is still the coolest person in the room by a mile. They can even get away with bonehead lyrics like... well, like all of them. Their songs are re-writes of the Jam, the Mary Chain, but with enough twist and ennui to pull it off with ease. Their shambolic behaviour is not just forgivable but essential, setting them apart from po-faced garage rock peers past and present, like The Strokes but with jokes. Julian... sorry, I mean Jordan zombie-promenades the stage. At one point they mock-play Smells Like Teen Spirit, like it’s the oldest classic they can conceive of. I expect the whole experience has a delicious and surreal feel for these five Minneapolis teenagers. The world is their playground, like five pups high on rider beer and beach sluts, howling at the moon – and it answering. Dave Barry
Forests The Flapper, Birmingham 18/02/12
A large crowd converged upon The Flapper for the orbital reincarnation of Shady Bard that is Forests. Lawrence Becko & co have whipped up a storm of interest in a short time under their new epithet and this was the second of a four date tour culminating with two shows in Sweden. Introductions aside, the evening was set alight with the opening three acts. Mitch & Murray provided warm melancholic harmonies, Eat Y’self Pretty, an electro shock wired through immediately catchy riffs, and finally Sunrise Over Europe, who hammered home an eight-song set leaving the crowd stunned and Forests a lot to live up to. This appeared no problem for the quintet who soared gracefully, glued together with quips from the ever-endearing Becko. Finishing on the anthemic Torch Song, Forests ensured they entered into their new musical venture without burning bridges gone by. The audience was captivated throughout and it’s easy to see why. They keep their integrity intact and still manage to exude confidence. In short, when the chance comes round again, make sure you’re there, it will be one decision you will not regret. Joe Whitehouse Photo by Charlotte Rose
Forests
Dog Is Dead O2 Academy 3, Birmingham 20/02/12
A soundtrack akin to that of a Spielberg film played the five-piece on stage, creating a bit of theatre before the opening lines of River Jordan echoed around the room. It started slow, then guitars, bass and drums slowly crept over Rob Milton’s vocal, the song took a minute to erupt into a full blown foot stomper after some choral harmonies. Young did the same job, a euphoric blast through childhood past, whilst new single Two Devils showed a band still maturing, capable of mixing hook after hook over the same four chords and some intelligent lead guitar from Paul Roberts. Their rock and roll moment arrived with an encore the crowd begged for, as Glockenspiel Song was saved for last. Trev got his saxophone out, Josh from keyboards ended up in the crowd, and the gut-wrenching outro lyrics, ‘We are a mess, we are failures, and we love it!’ rang clear on the drive home. Tom Pell
Spector The Rainbow, Birmingham 23/02/2012
With a lot of comparisons to The Vaccines flying around, anyone who had not already seen or heard of Spector could be forgiven for being a little sceptical about another one of 2012’s most hyped bands. Luckily, this time, they need not worry. Spector look to possess the rarest thing – the ability to fulfil their early promise. Fronted by former Ox.Lion.Eagle.Man and Les Incompetents singer Fred MacPherson, the five-piece are on imperious form as they blast through an eight-song set. With class, verve and substance they whistle through What You Wanted, Friday Night and Grey Shirt and Tie, with MacPherson bantering with the crowd for long periods in between. The band are focussed around frontman MacPherson and he has all the attributes of a quality frontman; style, wit, a comb for his hair but most importantly a solid voice. It looks like there is finally a band that has the style, brains, and the tunes, to live with the heavy burden of expectation. Jon Pritchard 23
MISS SELFRIDGE £39.00
STYLE
TOPSHOP £28.00
RIVER ISLAND £50.00 TOPSHOP £10.00 URBAN OUTFITTERS £45.00 ASOS £6.00
SPRING 2012 TREND
PASTELS
MISS SELFRIDGE £6.00
This spring sees two very comparative colour hues dominate the high street, both vivid colours and subtle pastels will pave the way to a fresh and exciting 2012.
H&M £29.99
TOPSHOP £22.00
RIVER ISLAND £35.00
OFFICE £60.00 REPUBLIC £30.00
ASOS £6.00
NEW LOOK £19.99 ASOS £4.50
REPUBLIC £18.00
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Brum Notes Magazine
RYAN, 22, SELF EMPLOYED ‘CHEMIST’ Ryan is wearing a hat from River Island, his top and trousers are from Physical Normal and his shoes are Kurt Geiger. Ryan considers himself to be his own fashion icon and thinks Disorder is the best clothing store in Birmingham.
ESTHER, 18, UNEMPLOYED Esther is wearing a charity shop t-shirt, a necklace from an antique shop and jeans from Primark. Her shoes are from Cow Vintage and her bag is from Topshop. Her fashion icons are usually men, particularly Axl Rose and her favourite Bimingham shop is Cow Vintage.
SHAY, 19, FASHION STUDENT Shay is wearing a hat from Bali, a shirt from All Saints, a jacket from Topman and trousers from Unique Wear. His socks are from TK Maxx and his shoes are Kohan. Shay doesn’t have a fashion icon and he is from London so hasn’t a clue about Brum shops.
ON THE STREET
SHAWNA, 19, FASHION STUDENT Shawna’s headband is from River Island, her earrings, bag and t-shirt are Primark. She’s wearing a jacket from New Look, trousers from ASOS and trainers from JD. Shawna says her current style icon is Azealia Banks and her favourite clothing store in Birmingham is The Candy Store.
March 2012
ALICE, 18, UNEMPLOYED Alice’s dress is from Topshop and both her bag and belt are vintage. She’s wearing a Casio watch and socks from Asda’s George. She doesn’t have a fashion icon but her favourite place to shop is eBay.
photos Jade Sukiya on-street hassling Sharon Kaur
MISHA, 19, ART & DESIGN STUDENT Misha is wearing a coat from Zara and a bag her nan won at the bingo. Her shorts are from Forever 21 and pumps are from Offspring in Selfridges. She doesn’t have any fashion icons, saying that if she likes it, she likes it and that’s it. Her favourite Birmingham store is Forever 21.
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FOOD + DRINK cocktail of the month: classics with a twist Inspiration for cocktails can come from many different places. Here at The Rose Villa Tavern we’re striving to deliver original cocktails and interesting twists on the classics and seeing what happens when the inspiration and knowledge of the drinks mix…some times it can produce some really interesting and delicious results. The first cocktail is my twist on a very popular classic, the Espresso Martini. Replacing the coffee liqueurs usually featuring in an Espresso Martini, I simply used a hazelnut liqueur and a chocolate liqueur for a sweeter, richer taste. The second is a creation of one of our talented members of staff Clair Powell. Named ‘Alex DeLarge’ after the character from A Clockwork Orange, it is a sophisticated blend with an orange theme. Don’t let this sweet and decadent drink fool you, as it is deviously delicious with a twisted character of it’s own – just like Alex himself.
Recipe: ‘The RVT Twist’ Espresso Martini Ingredients: 25ml Finlandia Vodka 25ml Espresso Coffee 20ml Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur) 20ml Cacao Brun (chocolate liqueur) 1 very small dash of gomme (sugar syrup) Directions: Shake all the ingredients over ice for a little longer than usual until the mix is light and foamy. Fine strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a few fresh coffee beans resting on the foam and enjoy.
Recipe: Alex DeLarge Ingredients: 37.5 ml Chase Marmalade Vodka 10ml Gran Marnier 10ml Butterscotch Schnapps 1 bar spoon of Dry Vermouth Directions: Simply stir all the ingredients over ice, serve in a chilled martini glass with an orange peel twist and, yet again, enjoy. By Anthony Gillick, assistant general manager, The Rose Villa Tavern, Jewellery Quarter, www.therosevillatavern.co.uk. 26
Brum Notes Magazine
WHAT’S ON
KEY TO LISTINGS: M = LIVE MUSIC CN = CLUB NIGHT C = COMEDY
BIRMINGHAM: O2 Academy, Horsefair, Bristol St B1, 0844 4772000; HMV Institute, High St, Digbeth B5, 0844 2485037; NIA, King Edwards Rd B1, 0121 7804141; LG Arena, NEC, Solihull B40, 0121 7804141; The Flapper, Kingston Row B1, 0121 2362421; The Victoria, John Bright St B1, 0121 6339439; Hare & Hounds, High St, Kings Heath B14, 0121 4442081; The Actress & Bishop, Ludgate Hill B3, 0121 2367426; The Sunflower Lounge, Smallbrook Queensway B5, 0121 6327656; Symphony Hall, Broad St B1, 0121 7803333; Town Hall, Victoria Sq B3, 0121 7803333; Kitchen Garden Cafe, York Road, Kings Heath B14, 0121 4434725; Alexandra Theatre, Station St B1, 0844 8472302; Bulls Head, St Marys Row, Moseley B13, 0121 2567777; Island Bar, Suffolk St B1, 0121 6325296; The Jam House, St Pauls Sq B3, 0121 2003030; The Asylum, Hampton St, Hockley B19, 0121 2331109; The Rainbow, High St, Digbeth B12, 0121 7728174; Adam & Eve, Bradford St, Digbeth B12, 0121 6931500; The Rose Villa Tavern, Warstone Lane, B18, 0121 2367910; The Yardbird, Paradise Place B3, 0121 2122524; The Glee Club, The Arcadian, Hurst St B5, 0871 4720400; MAC, Cannon Hill Park B12, 0121 4463232; Vudu, Corporation St B5, 0121 643 0859 ; The Crown, Station St B5, 0121 643 4265; Scruffy Murphys, The Priory Queensway B4, 0121 2362035; The Wagon & Horses, Adderley St, Digbeth B9, 0121 7721403; Highlight, Broad St B1, 08700 111 960; Birmingham Ballroom, Dale End B4, 0121 320 2820; WOLVERHAMPTON: Civic Hall/Wulfrun Hall, North St WV1, 0870 320 7000; The Slade Rooms, Broad St WV1, 0870 320 7000; Robin 2, Mount Pleasant, Bilston WV14, 01902 401211; WEST BROMWICH: The Public, New St B70, 0121 5337161; COVENTRY: Kasbah, Primrose Hill St, CV1, 024 76554473; Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, CV4, 024 7652 4524 M M M M M CN CN C C C M M M
Thursday, Mar 1 Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds The South
NIA O2 Academy 2
Birmingham
Jackpike
The Adam & Eve
Birmingham
Kim Richey
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Phantom Limb
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Manhattan Loft
The Victoria
Birmingham
Happy Cycling
Bull’s Head
Moseley
Jason Cook
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Rob Rouse
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Seann Walsh
Wulfrun Hall
Wolverhampton
Friday, Mar 2 Silver Seas
O2 Academy 3
Birmingham
Laura Marling
Symphony Hall
Birmingham
Barefoot Runners
Birmingham
Band Of Skulls
The Actress & Bishop The End @ The Ballroom The Library @ HMV Institute The Other Room @ The Ballroom Wulfrun Hall
Resonance
Club PST
Birmingham
Forward
The Rainbow
Birmingham
Father V Son
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Mosca
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Freestyle
Bull’s Head
Moseley
M
Inca Hoots
M
Melanie C
M
Masters in France
M CN CN CN CN CN
Birmingham
March 2012
C C C C M M M M M CN CN CN CN
Birmingham
CN
Birmingham
CN
Birmingham
CN CN CN C C
Wolverhampton
M
Want your gig or club night listed in our monthly guide? Send details to: info@brumnotes. com All details correct at time of going to press. Check with venues before setting out. While every effort will be made to ensure the accuracy of listings, Brum Notes Magazine will not be held liable for any errors or losses incurred from errors which may materialise.
Jason Cook
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Josh Widdicombe
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Mike Gunn & Sean Collins Billy Connolly
The Public
West Bromwich
Civic Hall
Wolverhampton
Saturday, Mar 3 Protest The Hero
O2 Academy 2
Birmingham
Page 44
O2 Academy 3
Birmingham
Cast Of Cheers
The Temple @ HMV Institute Hare & Hounds
Birmingham
The Phenomenal Handclap Band Paul Carrack
Kings Heath
Robin 2
Bilston
Passion
HMV Institute
Birmingham
Pyjama Party
The Adam & Eve
Birmingham
Uprawr
The Asylum
Birmingham
Drum & Bass Awards Cream Classics + Face Juqebox
The Ballroom
Birmingham
The Rainbow
Birmingham Birmingham
Subvert
The Rose Villa Tavern Wagon & Horses
Bruk Up!
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Bunka
Bull’s Head
Moseley
Jason Cook
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Billy Connolly
Civic Hall
Wolverhampton
Kitchen Garden Cafe
Birmingham
Sunday, Mar 4 North Sea Gas
Birmingham
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M C M
Mest
The Ballroom
Birmingham
The Boy With Tape On His Face Monday, Mar 5 Toy Horses
The Glee Club
Birmingham
M M C M M M M CN CN CN M M M M M M CN CN CN C C C C M M
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Bull’s Head
Moseley
Tuesday, Mar 6 Maverick Sabre
HMV Institute
Birmingham
Justin Furstenfeld
O2 Academy 2
Birmingham
Burn The Fleet
Birmingham
Alice Gold
The Actress & Bishop Hare & Hounds
Richie Kotzen
Robin 2
Bilston
Jon Richardson
Wulfrun Hall
Wolverhampton
M
Wednesday, Mar 7 Rise To Remain
O2 Academy 2
Birmingham Birmingham
Funeral Suits
The Library @ HMV Institute The Rainbow
Neil Ward
Bull’s Head
Moseley
Sideways
Island Bar
Birmingham
M M M M M M
Moschino Hoes Versace Hotties Clash of the Titans
The Victoria
Birmingham
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
HMV Institute
Birmingham
The Adam & Eve
Birmingham Birmingham
Gabrielle Aplin
The End @ The Ballroom The Rainbow
The Apples
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Vandaveer
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Sick
The Rainbow
Birmingham
Manhattan Loft
The Victoria
Birmingham
Fantastic Damage
Bull’s Head
Moseley
Oxjam comedy night
The Victoria
Birmingham
Henning Wehn
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Phil Nicol
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Nathan Caton
The Slade Rooms
Wolverhampton
Chiddy Bang
Thursday, Mar 8 Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings The Nerks Post Descartes
Friday, Mar 9 Boots Electric
Birmingham
Kings Heath
Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham
The Library @ HMV Institute Wulfrun Hall
Birmingham
CN CN This is Tmrw CN Highgrade feat
Air
Birmingham
Island Bar
Birmingham
The Rainbow
Birmingham
CN CN DJ Derek Phil Nicol C
The Victoria
Birmingham
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Kill Hannah The Presidents Of The USA Ernesto
Nicky Blackmarket Music for the People
M M
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M CN CN CN CN CN
Birmingham
O2 Academy 2
M
The Musgraves
The End @ The Ballroom The Glee Club
Rae Morris M Teeth of the Sea M CN Jam Jah Reggae
M M M
M
Saturday, Mar 10 The Stranglers The Emissaries
Wolverhampton
O2 Academy
Birmingham
The Actress & Bishop
Birmingham
Birmingham
The Answer
The End @ The Ballroom Wulfrun Hall
The Dark Sessions
Club PST
Birmingham
The Afterparty
The Adam & Eve
Birmingham
Uprawr
The Asylum
Birmingham
FACE + Shadow City
The Rainbow
Birmingham
Loose Joints
The Rose Villa Tavern The Victoria
Birmingham
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Bull’s Head
Moseley
CN Vertigo CN Absolut Reggae CN Cirque Du Swing Magique Soulfree
CN Phil Nicol C
The Glee Club
Birmingham
HMV Institute
Birmingham
O2 Academy 3
Birmingham
The Craicheads
The Adam & Eve
Birmingham
Lloyd Cole
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Stuart McCallum
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Bohemian Jukebox
Bull’s Head
Moseley
Wild Beasts
Warwick University The Rainbow
Coventry
Big Craic mk 2 Monday, Mar 12 3 Doors Down
M M C M M M M M M
O2 Academy
Birmingham
O2 Academy 3
Birmingham
Lianne La Havas
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Mark Lanegan
The Library @ HMV Institute Town Hall
Birmingham
Bull’s Head
Moseley
Tuesday, Mar 13 The Civil Wars
CN
Birmingham
HMV Institute
Birmingham
Florence & The Machine Joan Baez
LG Arena
Birmingham
Symphony Hall
Birmingham
Andy Kershaw
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Doug Stanhope
Wulfrun Hall
Wolverhampton
Wednesday, Mar 14 Black Stone Cherry
O2 Academy
Birmingham
Missing Andy
O2 Academy 3
Birmingham
Bigger Than Seattle
The Adam & Eve
Birmingham
The Felice Brothers
The Library @ HMV Institute The Rainbow
Birmingham
Bull’s Head
Moseley
Wulfrun Hall
Wolverhampton
Island Bar
Birmingham
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Thursday, Mar 15 Caro Emerald
Symphony Hall
Birmingham
Little Palm
The Adam & Eve
Birmingham
Alternative Dubstep Orchestra Manhattan Loft
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
The Victoria
Birmingham
Summer Camp Bethany Jean Conroy Killing Joke
M CN Sideways Rich Hall C M M M
Birmingham
Kassidy
Nanci Griffith M CN Jam Jah Reggae
M M
Birmingham
Sunday, Mar 11 Destroyers Of The Faith Max Raptor
CN The Sunday Club M M M M
Wolverhampton
Birmingham
Brum Notes Magazine
CN CN C C C M M M M M M CN CN CN CN
CDR
Bull’s Head
Moseley
Sick
The Rainbow
Birmingham
Chris Addison
Alexandra Theatre
Birmingham
Jarred Christmas
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Joe Lycett
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath Birmingham
Spring Offensive
The Ballroom
Birmingham
Shapes
The Rainbow
Birmingham
John Napier
Bull’s Head
Moseley
Pop Will Eat Itself
The Slade Rooms
Wolverhampton
Amon Amarth
Wulfrun Hall
Wolverhampton
Pub Tropicana
The Adam & Eve
Birmingham
We Love the DnB
The Rainbow
Birmingham
Live Forever
The Victoria
Birmingham
DJ Format & The Simonsound Freestyle
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Saturday, Mar 17 Follow the Fallen
M The Craicheads M The Duplicates M CN Ferry Corsten vs Markus Schulz The Afterparty
CN CN Uprawr
a
Moseley
The Glee Club
Birmingham
O2 Academy 3
Birmingham
The Adam & Eve
Birmingham
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Air
Birmingham
The Adam & Eve
Birmingham
The Asylum
Birmingham
Birmingham
CN CN Juqebox
The Rainbow
Birmingham
The Rose Villa Tavern The Victoria
Birmingham
Bull’s Head
Moseley
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Sunday, Mar 18 Nero
HMV Institute
Birmingham
Yashin
O2 Academy
Birmingham
The Milk
The Rainbow
Birmingham
The Maccabees
Civic Hall
Wolverhampton
Monday, Mar 19 The Safety Fire
O2 Academy 3
Birmingham
Savage Messiah
The Ballroom
Birmingham
Stiff Little Fingers
Robin 2
Bilston
Jam Jah Reggae
Bull’s Head
Moseley Birmingham
Enter Shikari
The End @ The Ballroom Civic Hall
Wednesday, Mar 21 The Fakulty
The Adam & Eve
Birmingham
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Bull’s Head
Moseley
Island Bar
Birmingham
CN Vertigo CN Habit 5th Birthday Jarred Christmas C
O2 Academy 2
Bull’s Head
The Ballroom
Day Takeover FACE + Viva Music
Friday, Mar 16 James Bourne
CN Jarred Christmas C
CN Vodbull St Patrick’s
M M M M M M M CN M M
Tuesday, Mar 20 Dead School
M Sound of Guns M Unicorn Abuse M CN Sideways
Birmingham
Wolverhampton
“coolest club night in Lond on” - iD magazine ts presen ... al iv st Fe Fierce n of ingham editio special Birm
Sh abba Dabba Dah FRIDAY 6 APRIL 9:30 pm - late £5 in advance/ £7 on the door
Holy y Commun mm ion
IMAGE:Linda Cooper
GOOD FRIDAY TURNED BAD: FABULOUS DRESS UP PARTY: TWISTED RELIGION
March 2012
THE Q CLUB LOFT SPACE 212 Corporation Street Birmingham, B4 6QB 18+ only w w w.wearefierce.org BOOK TICKETS bit.ly/fierce12shabba 0844 870 0000
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C M M M M CN CN C C C
Jimeoin Thursday, Mar 22 The Four Tops
Birmingham Birmingham
Liz Green
The End @ The Ballroom The Glee Club
Alex Winston
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Manhattan Loft
The Victoria
Birmingham
Sick
The Rainbow
Birmingham
Dan Nightingale
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Jimeoin
Town Hall
Birmingham
Elis James
The Slade Rooms
Wolverhampton
The Actress & Bishop The End @ The Ballroom The Rainbow
Birmingham
The Temple @ HMV Institute Hare & Hounds
Birmingham
Island Bar
Birmingham
The Rainbow Warehouse The Victoria
Birmingham
The Last Carnival
Friday, Mar 23 Splintertone
M
Zero Amigo
M M
The Chakras Touche Amore
Syleena Johnson M CN This is Tmrw CN Seedy Sonics
M M M M M CN CN CN CN
Beats by Numbers
Kings Heath
Birmingham Moseley Birmingham
M M M CN C C
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Steel Panther
O2 Academy
Birmingham
Bullets & Octane
The Ballroom
Birmingham
Sharks
The Rainbow
Birmingham
Wednesday, Mar 28 OFWGKTA
O2 Academy
Birmingham Birmingham
Get The Blessing
The Library @ HMV Institute Hare & Hounds
Sideways
Island Bar
Birmingham
Steve Hughes
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Pete Firman
The Slade Rooms
Wolverhampton
The Actress & Bishop The Adam & Eve
Birmingham
Birmingham
Inme
Thursday, Mar 29 Action Replay The Vibrators
M M M CN CN C C
Jack Bruce
The Temple @ HMV Institute Town Hall
Noah & The Whale
Civic Hall
Wolverhampton
The Producers
Robin 2
Bilston
Manhattan Loft
The Victoria
Birmingham
Sick
The Rainbow
Birmingham
Doc Brown
The Glee Club
Birmingham
Paul Sinha
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Friday, Mar 30 McFly
O2 Academy
Birmingham
Bowling For Soup
O2 Academy 2
Birmingham
The Night Shift
The Actress & Bishop The Adam & Eve
Birmingham
The End @ The Ballroom Vivid
Birmingham
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Robin 2
Bilston
The Rainbow
Birmingham
The Rose Villa Tavern The Victoria
Birmingham
Bull’s Head
Moseley
The Glee Club
Birmingham
The Actress & Bishop The Ballroom
Birmingham
The End @ The Ballroom Wulfrun Hall
Birmingham
Air
Birmingham
Club PST
Birmingham
Gatecrasher
Birmingham
Gibb Street Warehouse The Asylum
Birmingham
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Bull’s Head
Moseley
The Glee Club
Birmingham
M M M
Imperial Leisure
HMV Institute
Birmingham
Charlie Simpson
O2 Academy 2
Birmingham
The Tone Thieves
The Actress & Bishop The Ballroom
Birmingham
Birmingham
Atta Girl
The Rainbow Warehouse Island Bar
Shake it Out
The Adam & Eve
Birmingham
Uprawr
The Asylum
Birmingham
Juqebox
The Rose Villa Tavern The Victoria
Birmingham
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Hare & Hounds
Kings Heath
Bull’s Head
Moseley
The Glee Club
Birmingham
O2 Academy 3
Birmingham Birmingham
UFO M CN The Only Way is
Graveyard
The Actress & Bishop The Slade Rooms
Wolverhampton
CN
Paul Menel Band
Robin 2
Bilston
Discharge Los Campesinos!
Sunday, Mar 25 All The Young Ms Olivier Darling
M David Sylvian M CN Jam Jah Reggae Tuesday, Mar 27 Wiley
Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham
O2 Academy
Birmingham
Symphony Hall
Birmingham
Bull’s Head
Moseley
HMV Institute
Birmingham
Kings Heath
M M
Saturday, Mar 24 Jaguar Skills
Monday, Mar 26 Korn
30
Birmingham
The Glee Club
CN CN King Of The Beats Dan Nightingale C
M
Birmingham
Bull’s Head
Simon Munnery
M M M
M
Dan Nightingale
Sumthan The Nextmen
M M
Birmingham
Freestyle
CN DJ Royale CN Saturday Night
M M
Wolverhampton
NIA
M
CN CN C C
Wulfrun Hall
M M
The Cracked Actors
M
FIERCE FESTIVAL: Grouper Balkanic Eruption
KillTimers
M The Selecter M CN Hospitality CN Discographic
CN Out of Bounds CN Freestyle Doc Brown C M M M
Saturday, Mar 31 Shoot the Dead You Me At Six Wraith
Hardcore FIERCE FESTIVAL: Holy Mountain Party Eddie Halliwell
CN CN Defected
CN Uprawr CN PROspec presents Shogun Audio Move
CN Doc Brown C
Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham
Wolverhampton
Birmingham
Brum Notes Magazine
March 2012
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Brum Notes Magazine