Brum Notes Magazine December 2011

December November 2011 2011

www.brumnotes.com music and lifestyle for the west midlands

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Mixing it up with

Dutch Uncles

ALSO INSIDE: The Vaccines DJ Shadow Kate Walsh Gardens & Villa Silver Souvenirs Boat to Row PLUS: Brum Notes Christmas Party line-up revealed // Supersonic and Oxjam in pictures // AND Your comprehensive guide to what’s on in November December 2011

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Brum Notes Magazine

CONTENTS

Arctic Monkeys live, P20 Photo by Andy Hughes Brum Notes Magazine 120 The Greenhouse The Custard Factory Digbeth Birmingham B9 4AA info@brumnotes.com 0121 224 7363 Advertising 0121 224 7363 advertising@brumnotes.com Distribution StickupMedia!

0121 224 7364 Editor Chris Moriarty Contributors Words: Jon Pritchard, Tom Pell, Amy Sumner, Daron Billings, Lauren Partridge, Ellie Crean, Nic Toms, Ben Calvert Pictures: Wayne Fox, Andy Hughes, Andy Watson, Jonathan Morgan, Jade Sukiya, Linn Heidi Stokkedal Style editor: Jade Sukiya jade@brumnotes.com Design: Adam Williams, Andy Aitken, front cover by Lewes Herriot Connect Twitter: @BrumNotesMag Facebook: www.facebook.com/ BrumNotesMagazine Online: www.brumnotes.com

December 2011

Regulars News 4 Live Reviews 20-22 Food & Drink 23 Style - Christmas Gift Guide 24-25 What’s On 29-31 Music and Features The Twang New Year’s Eve in Birmingham Brum Notes Christmas Party Strangle Kojak Troumaca Smith & Burrows

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All content © 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.

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birmingham music lovers raise thousands for charities This year’s OxjamBrum Takeover raised more than £5,500 for charity, organisers have announced.

The musical extravaganza saw live performances from more than 25 of Birmingham’s best artists across seven different venues on October 15, with cash being raised through ticket sales and donations on the day. A further £200 was also raised for Oxjam last month with a sale of posters from the walls of Island Bar in Birmingham city centre, which has been given a fifth birthday makeover.

Meanwhile, another nightlife fundraiser also raked in a four figure sum for charity.

The Zombie Ball - Dance of the Dead was held at Birmingham Ballroom on October 29, with revellers donning Halloween outfits for a ghoulish club night which saw more than £1,400 collected for West Midlands homeless charity St Basils. Event organiser Jamie Chapman, aged 21, said it was a “great success.”

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR FUTURE STARS OF BASS FESTIVAL 2012

IN BRIEF

Applications are now being accepted for performers and artists looking to showcase their talents at the UK’s longest celebration of black music and art.

BASS (British Arts and Street Sounds) Festival returns to Birmingham next June with Jamaica as its theme for 2012 to mark both the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence, as well as the arrival of the Jamaican Olympic team, who will be based in the Second City.

BASS Festival organisers are now inviting applications for commissions for a broad range of work, including music, dance, art, spoken word and theatre. Previous work commissioned by the festival has included a grime theatre show at Birmingham Rep, a live show from Mercury-nominated Ghostpoet (pictured), a Young Black Designers fashion show at Mac and a hip hop celebration day.

The closing date for applications is January 13, 2012, with successful commissions being informed by January 23.

For the application form and more details visit www.punch-records.co.uk.

A new vintage clothing store has opened in Birmingham city centre to raise muchneeded funds for a homeless charity.

Forgotten Vintage, which claims to be the city’s first charitable vintage store, opened its doors last month in the iconic Great Western Arcade selling retro and vintage clothes and accessories in aid of SIFA Fireside and Reach the People.

The shop was launched with a day of acoustic performances from local bands on November 26.

NEW WRITING MASTERCLASSES LAUNCHED FOR BUDDING AUTHORS An award-winning independent publishing company in Birmingham is to launch a series of creative writing masterclasses for aspiring writers in the region.

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Tindal Street Press, the city’s most successful independent fiction publisher, has unveiled an education programme which will give new talent access to some of the UK’s best writers and writing tuition, starting next month.

Successful Tindal Street authors including Catherine O’Flynn, Clare Morrall and Gaynor Arnold will be among the writers making guest appearances, while prize-listed novelist Josie Barnard will run the 10-week courses at beginner and advanced levels.

Tindal Street publishing director Alan Mahar said: “We wanted to offer new and experienced regional writers the opportunity to develop their craft and learn a professional approach to fiction.”

Courses will take place over two evenings each week in Fazeley Studios, Digbeth, starting in January (www.tindalstreet.co.uk).

Two new exhibitions have launched at Digbeth art gallery Eastside Projects.

Painting Show, curated by Sophie van Hellermann, brings together a disparate collection of paintings from the past 30 years, ranging from the amateur work of footballer George Best to the computer influenced Chinese calligraphy of Zheng Guogu. Also on display at Eastside Projects in Heath Mill Lane is Corridor Plateau II by German artists Christian Freudenberger and Markus Karstie, which explores dark forces, shadows and anxiety. Both exhibitions run until February 25.

A new service has been launched in the West Midlands offering new and unsigned bands an affordable way to make a music video. Captured Music has opened its new base in West Bromwich complete with a live stage and dedicated filming area suitable for multi-camera shoots, with rates starting at just £80 for two hours of studio time. Captured Music, which also offers bands the chance to stream their gigs over the internet or have their own live shows filmed on location, is based on Varney Business Park in Spon Lane. Call 0121 500 5251 or for more details visit www.capturedmusic.com.

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NON PROFIT MUSIC REHEARSAL ROOM FLOODGATE STREET MUSIC COMPANY December 2011

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NO PLACE LIKE HOME

No band has emerged from Birmingham wearing their roots on their sleeves more proudly than The Twang in recent years. This month they return for a headline hometown Christmas show, alongside a packed line-up of some the city’s brightest talent specially selected by the band themselves. Jon Pritchard caught up with vocalist Phil Etheridge to hear his thoughts on new music and the Brummie ‘scene.’

“I’ve never been keen on the word “scene” to be honest,” insists The Twang’s Phil Etheridge, a band who know more than most what it is like for the music media to try and jump on geographical bandwagons. “There are people doing creative things everywhere and the next big thing is probably sat in his room reading this thinking: ‘knob head, I’m gonna smash it soon.’

currently under the Tory boys. All that makes for good music.”

“We always try and give support slots to Birmingham bands and there seems to be a few good bands around at the moment with the likes of Peace, Troumaca and Swim Deep.”

“As always there are some great bands around now like Wu Lyf, The Drums and then there’s some shit. That’s just how it is but it’s all just opinions. Some little grebo sat in Pigeon Park probably thinks Korn are better than the Beatles!”

Phil and his bandmates have always been proud of their roots, so his idea that Birmingham is the perfect place to write music in this current day and age could be a little biased, but who are we to argue?

“As I said there seems to be a few good bands around but I expect that, we’re the second city, a brilliantly diverse place and 6

As for the other music making waves at the moment, Phil is a down-to-earth Brummie and pulls no punches with his opinions, but he is realistic enough to recognise that they are just that — opinions, and it is the variety of opinions that keeps music interesting.

Continuing his assessment of new music and recent discoveries, it is the punchy, no-nonsense guitar pop of The Vaccines’ debut album What Did You Expect From The Vaccines, which he hails as his favourite record of the year. “Fair play to them for writing that. Little posh boys though ain’t they?

“I’ve been listening to The Kills a bit recently as my mate started working with them. I love it when I find a band I like that already have a few albums out. It happened with The National when they brought out Boxer and now I’d say they’re my favourite band of all time, if you can have one that is.”

WIth their third album due out next year, The Twang are well past the ‘new band’ tag themselves these days, but Phil insists it is always still a proud moment to take to the stage in their native city.

“It was always the dream to play the old Hummingbird as I’d watched so many good bands there and always stood in the same spot, always thinking we’re gonna be up there soon and it happened. To be fair it’s always quite an emotional gig for me with family and friends in the crowd. I’ve always just wanted Brum to be proud of us really.”

The Twang headline the O2 Academy, Birmingham, on December 20.

Brum Notes Magazine

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Sighing at a drunken Lenny Henry on Jools Holland, flicking over to see Australia’s premature fireworks and staring at your phone’s lack of vibration before trundling off to bed? On your own? At half 11? Wow, last year was ridonkulous. Fear not, though, intrepid fun forager, help is at hand, in the form of some of Birmingham’s favourite night spots, whatever your poison may be. Here’s our guide to some of the finest, funkiest and downright funnest ways to see in 2012 in the Second City. Although you’ll only end up singing Auld Lang Sine, shyly holding hands with Emma from work anyway.

Words by Tom Pell

The Yardbird Fancy a dance? The Yardbird will be keeping things soulful with two sets from sevenpiece Birmingham funksters, Sister Henry & The Prescriptions. To keep your hips a shakin’, a bit of Northern Soul comes in the form of Little Frankie & The Crawdaddys, then DJ Ade Betteridge will take you all the way through till 4am. And, you get a free mix CD. Not that that’s going to make it home, the state you’ll be in, you naughty blighters… £7 adv. From bar / wegottickets.com or £10 on the door.

More info: myspace.com/theyardbirdbirmingham

The hare and hounds Ten English pounds will buy you two cosy rooms of intimate entertainment at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath. Room one will house everything from soul and hip hop to latin and disco as Sam Redmore (Freestyle/ Leftfoot) controls the decks, whilst Free House (Tirk Records) will bring musical minimalism reminiscent of Hot Chip and The Pet Shop Boys. Take a step next door to find 8

house music in the form of Waifs & Strays and, fresh from a trip to Berlin’s underground fetish clubs, This Is Tmrw. Meanwhile, sister venue the Bull’s Head in nearby Moseley, will see Habit and Reverb going head to head with a dashing combo of classic and contemporary disco and house. £10 adv, theticketsellers.co.uk More info: hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk / bullsheadmoseley.co.uk

The VicToria / island bar Not one but FOUR dancefloors for you to cut some rug, across two of Brum’s finest drinking holes. Immense. If that sounds like your idea of fun, mix in Takin’ Care of Business, Tropical Hotdog and a rare live set from cult heroes Sunset Cinema Club in The Victoria, plus discerning disc jockeying from DJ Henry Evans and Education in Sound just across the street at Island.

Expect a laid back vibe with music and threads to suit those who still think dubstep is a typo. £8 adv, £10 after Xmas.

More info: thevictoriabirmingham.co.uk or bar-island.co.uk

PeoPle sTand TogeTher (PsT) Oi, over here… this place is members only, it must be good! In the heart of Digbeth, the jungle heads and reggae crowds will be out en masse at one of Birmingham’s most in-the-know clubs, which has just celebrated its first birthday. A fiver is a bargain to get in for a party hosted by the renowned Jibbering Sessions, just make sure you’re on the guestlist, or that ticket’ll be about as much use as texting your nan ‘Happy 2k12’ at midnight. £5 adv, Members only.

More info: pst-club.co.uk

ec-lecTriciTY aT hMV insTiTuTe For a more premium night out, (as the cheap tickets are already sold out) the HMV Institute has packed its walls so full of acts, the cheapest tickets are now a whopping £33.

But, it does gain you entry to a Chase & Status DJ Set, Annie Mac, Doorly, Micky Slim, Subzee-D and a bagful of local support DJs. If all of that doesn’t tickle your fancy, don some headphones and visit the silent disco, try the open decks, or stroll up to the balcony for a bit of the ol’ karaoke.

Brum Notes Magazine

£33, £38 VIP More info: theticketsellers.co.uk

ProPaganda aT The 02 acadeMY Cosmic fun is to be had at the 02 Academy with meteoric music, intergalactic adventure and, erm, oh, you get it — there some kind of a space theme going on. There’ll be the usual three rooms of indie, pop and dubstep to shake your glow sticks at, with an optional £20 VIP pass which gets you a queue jump, a glass of the sparkly stuff, and access to the balcony, laughing at all the peasants below who couldn’t stump up an extra tenner. Chumps. £20 VIP, £10 early bird More info: 02academybirmingham.co.uk

The FlaPPer If the forced festivities and two-hour queues aren’t your thing, head on over to one of Birmingham’s most popular independent music venues, The Flapper, for something a little bit more easy going. Expect a pub atmosphere upstairs and sweaty walls

December 2011

below, as low ceilings, good beer, DJs until 3am and cheap taxis home are on offer.

See New Year in as it was intended, slightly sleepy and highly intoxicated. £2 More info: theflapper.co.uk

The rose Villa TaVern Staff at the RVT will be suited and booted, serving refined cocktails to a backdrop of soul, funk and rock n roll in this most unique boozer. Although you lot can rock up in whatever — smart, casual or fancy dress and grab a raffle ticket on your way in to win bottles of champers to pop at midnight. And did we mention it was free entry, all night? Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, recession.

FREE More info: therosevillatavern.co.uk

uPrawr aT The asYluM Expect to wade through tattoos, piercings and an incomprehensible amount of straightened hair as Uprawr at the Aslyum beckons midnight ever nearer. Pop punk, dubstep and

hardcore tunes will be the order of the day, with no doubt fancy dress highly encouraged. If Southern Comfort is your drink of choice, then you’ll love it as they’re sponsoring the shindig — and it it’s not already then it soon will be after a SoCo-soaked (please, never call it SoCo) night surrounded by screens, glitter cannons, fairly likes and a very un-rocklike balloon drop. £10 or £12 with queue jump More info: theasylumvenue.co.uk

adaM and eVe Pub Tropicana! Drinks are fr...freshly made, and available at a competitive rate. Two party night juggernaughts, The Afterparty and Pub Tropicana, meet head to head to welcome in 2012 with Skankboy, Cassie-Philomena, New Jack City, SXCSTU and Joe Bridson corrupting your ear ‘oles with hip-hop, r’n’b and dancehall. You might even get some guilty pleasures thrown in. Chris De Burgh, as you’re asking. Get the tickets direct from the venue to save yo bad selves a booking charge. £5 More info: theadam.co.uk

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Brum Notes Magazine

December 2011

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THIS IS CHRSTMS This year the angel at the top of the tree will be Calories. Having been repeatedly touted as ‘next big things’, could 2012 finally be their year? Bassist and vocalist Pete Dixon tells us what’s on his wishlist.

What do you want for Christmas?

I think I’d like a good cash sum so I can take a month off, it wouldn’t have to be much, I reckon if my whole extended family chipped in just a little bit each from pocket money or whatever I could raise a grand.

What’s the best Christmas present you’ve ever had?

My Nan once knitted me and my brother matching blue and red cardigans with eagles on the back, I don’t remember if it was Christmas but we were pretty happy at the time.

What would be the best thing the band could get from Santa?

We hear Norway is lovely this time of year, all Christmas trees and snow and stuff. That wasn’t enough to convince Bryn Bowen though, he’s swapped the Scandinavian winter wonderland for good ol’ Brum and he’s bringing his brand new rock show with him.

What do you want for Christmas?

A promise that when I get back to Norway I can renew my work permit with ease.

What’s the best Christmas present you’ve ever had?

When I was five, me and my two older brothers got a split gift of a second hand Super Nintendo. Just a few weeks ago I was playing Sensible Soccer on it. That’s 19 years of performance, plus however long the person who owned it before us had it.

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The Brum Notes Christmas Party is back with a vengeance this month and we’ve teamed up with Birmingham’s finest pioneering promoters This is Tmrw to bring you our most exciting line-up of local talent yet. We’ll be snugly nestled upstairs at the city centre’s most festive boho boozer The Victoria on December 21 enjoying festive tipples and the not-so-soothing sounds of Brum’s own lo-fi noise making heroes Calories, as well as sets from rockabilly rascals The Cedar House Band, a rare appearance from Scandi-Brummie supergroup Bryn Bowen & The Shalfonts and frantic garage-punk duo Horrowshow, plus dancefloor-baiting tuneage from This is Tmrw DJs and a selection of other special guests on the decks. To get you in the mood, Jon Pritchard caught up with all four live acts to find out what they want to find down their stockings this year…

I think if their families took a leaf out of my book and contributed to ‘month off’ fund we could still have a laugh over January.

Are you getting each other presents?

The love we have as brothers is the gift of life to one another in every way at all times unsparing, unconditionally and forever. Amen.

How would you describe your music?

At the moment it kinda feels blissful to play.

I think we could really zone out if we weren’t careful, we’re pretty chilled out at the moment.

Do you have any big plans for next year, could 2012 be the year of Calories?

We’re going to be touring this year and we’re gonna record a couple of EPs or maybe another album. We’ve been “the next big thing” since the dawn of time and I think I’ve learned not to worry about what might happen and just roll with it.

What would be the best thing the band could get from Santa?

A great producer with awesome equipment who would love to record the band for free whenever we pleased, that would be great.

How would you describe your music?

Rock. Nearly all songs are guitars and drums.

Do you have any big plans for 2012?

Yeah! Greg from Flamingo Flame (who’s also playing bass for us) is planning on recording us in the new year, and then if it goes well we’ll put it out as an album. Plus, if we’re lucky we’ll do some kind of tour. We’re hoping that Ace Bushy Strip Tease will have us along. I live in Norway and me and some friends rent a classroom in what used to be a sixth form college so hopefully lots of recordings and other stuff will come out of that.

Brum Notes Magazine

The Cedar House Band have an intriguing sound and coupled with a sense of humour that would have The Griswold family in stitches, they are sure to have us rockin’ around the Christmas tree. Tom talks us through his Christmas list (which we will be checking twice).

Are you getting each other presents?

I doubt it. The last time we exchanged presents, Jake’s idea of a gift was a condom in an empty cigarette pack. Not exactly the gift that keeps on giving.

How would you describe your music?

Gene Vincent scoring a Jim Jarmusch film.

What do you want for Christmas?

Elvis to give me a private rendition of Silent Night. Santa can resurrect the dead, right?

Do you have any big plans for 2012?

Not really, just lots of small ones.

What’s the best Christmas present you’ve ever had?

When I was a kid I got one of those little plastic guitars with the buttons on that play the songs for you. It’s probably time I got a real guitar.

Could next year be the year of The Cedar House Band?

Hopefully, but according to the Chinese it’s the year of the Dragon, and there’s a lot more of them than there are of us. We’ll give it a good go though.

What would be the best thing the band could get from Santa?

A support slot with Showaddywaddy.

In the classic novel A Clockwork Orange, “horrorshow” is slang for something good or a good time, and these boys have that in abundance. They will also be releasing their debut EP, Worst Things First, at the party and will be giving it away for free on the night. How’s that for a bonus Christmas present? However, despite their generosity, it appears that the slightly unhinged spirit of A Clockwork Orange lives on in this rocking twosome.

What do you want for Christmas?

Luke: Smaller dicks…

Miles: But Christmas is for kids really innit.

What’s the best Christmas present you’ve ever had?

Luke: Modesty, a sense of self worth, the appreciation of the value of a pound, a decent up-bringing and a fucking lump of coal.

December 2011

What would be the best thing the band could get from Santa?

Both: A van.

Are you getting each other presents?

Both: Nah. How would you describe your music?

Both: As rude as Jude.

Do you have any big plans for 2012?

Miles: After the release of Worst Things First in Birmingham, we will show the rest of the country a real Horrorshow...

Could next year be the year of Horrorshow?

Miles: It could be...

Luke: Yes.

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strangle hold

Strangle Kojak probably don’t want this year to end. It started with a UK tour, took in an appearance at the IndigO2 Arena in London and this month they will be playing two hometown Christmas shows at the Birmingham’s O2 Academy 3, adding the second date after the first one sold out weeks in advance — not bad for a band who describe themselves as just “four lovely lads from Birmingham.” Jon Pritchard finds out what they have up their sleeves for 2012.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today as a band if it wasn’t for our fans in Birmingham.

We love you all, so you’d better be ready,” warns guitarist Ashley Neal ahead of Strangle Kojak’s two night run of headline shows at the O2 Academy 3. The gig promises an hour-long set, an hour-long DJ appearance and some more surprises which they are keeping under wraps for now. ‘Surprises’ seems to be the word of the day when Strangle Kojak discuss their future plans, with 2012 set to have even more in store than 2011.

“We’re keeping it all a secret for now,” says lead vocalist Omar Elkaseh. “We have some big plans lined up for next year, but all I can really say is we‘ll be out on the road and back in the studio.”

Topping 2011 might be a tough ask though, after a breakthrough year which has seen them picking up fans and plaudits aplenty with their energetic blend of rock, metal and dubstep, with some catchy pop choruses thrown in for good measure. So, what have been the highlights for them so far?

“It’s probably a toss up between two, purely based on energy,” says drummer Max. “Our gig at the HMV Institute in Birmingham 14

in September was amazing, Birmingham shows always are.

“The other one has to be playing the headline show at the O2 Arena in London [a guest appearance at the Surface Festival finals]; getting asked to be a special guest there was unbelievable. Going down on a double decker tour bus and then playing an amazing show was definitely one of our favourites.”

The band aren’t getting carried away though.

Despite their recent success, they’re keeping their feet firmly on the ground, and realise that without the fans they would have nothing to celebrate.

“I guess our aim is to put everything we have into this band, which we do,” bassist Sam Jones explains. “We play as hard as we can at every show, whether there are 20 people or 2,000 watching us. Seeing fans singing along at shows is unexplainable, so I guess our aim is to have fans walk away going, ‘Wooo, what a show,’ and enjoy every second with us. Not only while we’re on stage but from the second they buy a ticket.”

That desire to keep fans happy and give them as much joy as possible is commendable, as is their decision to give away both of their albums for free from their website, which is both a act of generosity but also a sign of the times for how new bands need to find new approaches for getting their music out there.

Max continues: “We have had the chance to play for our fans that come out to see us all over the country, making so many awesome friends and having crazy adventures along the way. I guess we are just lucky and will always appreciate every single person at all our shows.”

“Basically [it’s] just to get our music out there for everyone,” Ashley explains. “The music industry is changing so quickly these days, we’re just trying to get our music out there to as many people as possible so they can check it out and enjoy whenever they want.”

This mutual appreciation for their fans seems to be a consistent theme that runs through every aspect of the band and when stating their future aims, they invariably come back to pleasing the audience.

Strangle Kojak are live at the O2 Academy 3, Birmingham, on December 12 (sold out) and December 13.

Download new album D.I.Y(F)S for free at www.stranglekojak.com Brum Notes Magazine

PRESENTS

PRESENTS

FRIDAY 16TH DECEMBER AT THE FLAPPER

&U&I

SATURDAY 17TH DECEMBER AT THE FLAPPER

VICTORIES AT SEA VIGILANCE COMMITTEE / PANDAS & PEOPLE

SHAPES / THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE / CONQUISTADORS 18+

December 2011

£4 ADVANCE/£5 OTD

7:30PM DOORS

/ GREG BIRD & FLAMINGO FLAME 18+

£4 ADVANCE/£5 OTD

7:30PM DOORS

15

COMING ON STRONG

from this band though. Familiar faces to many for their various involvements in some of Birmingham’s most exciting artistic projects, before they were Troumaca, they were best known as Scarlet Harlots – same people, different sound. And they flourished in that outfit too.

“I think creatively we just got sick of it though,” reasons Sam, reflecting on their surprise ‘break-up’ last year. “Not sick exactly,” Tom is quick to clarify, “but we grew up. We really wanted to knuckle down and get better at making both music and art, and that wasn’t going to happen in that project. But Troumaca feels like a new thing out of the dark, for us, for the sound, the entire concept really. And compared to the Scarlets it’s a lot more honest and soul-felt, and probably more true to the structures and theory of pop music, although obviously it has that edge and that dub influence.”

After re-emerging with a new name and a new sound, Birmingham five-piece Troumaca have once again established themselves as one of the city’s most innovative acts. With a debut EP and UK tour on the way, the time has come to deliver their tropical soundscapes to a wider audience. Amy Sumner finds out more.

“Troumaca is a town in St Vincent and the Grenadines where Geoff’s [guitarist] family are from,” guitarist Tom Gregory explains over the table and under enquiry. “They moved here in the 60s. We wanted a name that was true and personal; but it’s also a faraway place – somewhere that we can escape to, if only in our heads.” It is a pertinent justification – Troumaca the band do indeed conjure up images of a faraway place, the sound of somewhere tropical.

“Tropical dub soul,” in their own words, and with a catalogue audibly encompassing diverse and inherently separate sounding influences, it is a surprisingly reflective tag.

“We’ve always been a band that draws from the music that we listen to,” reasons lead singer Sam Baylis, “and that’s been true of whatever project we’ve been working on.

Right now I feel like we’re drawing on the 16

more true and natural parts of music, and collectively we’re listening to a lot of Little Dragon and Wild Beasts. I think you can get a flavour of where we’re at musically in the mixtapes we make though.”

“We’re all listening to music all of the time,” agrees Tom, “but that’s not necessarily all relevant to what we’re doing within the band.

For instance I like a lot of grime and grime instrumentals, and a lot of that doesn’t come through in the sounds we create. However I self-produce most of the stuff that we do as Troumaca and so the production aspect of the grime that I listen to becomes relevant in that sense. It isn’t just music that influences us though – we’re very into art and film and parties – even just being with people and family is an inspiration.”

Diverse and far reaching influences have always been apparent in the sounds issuing

“It was a major jump,” admits Sam, “and it definitely wouldn’t have worked without the fan base we have. But I think as soon as people heard Troumaca, they kind of forgot the Scarlets.”

You see they’re kind of like a book, this band, not a novel but a scrapbook, full of textured collages and bits of pasta stuck down; and now the Scarlet Harlots pages are closed. But we’re not putting the book down – in fact it’s completely the opposite — Troumaca are receiving attention both inside and (gasp) outside of Birmingham.

And for good, though simple, reasoning: they’re interesting. Compared to the droll old landscape of four-piece guitar bands which have been clogging up the circuit, Troumaca are a breath of fresh air. With the similarly pioneering upbeat and natural vibes inherent in bands like Animal Collective, Troumaca are sketching an outline of experimental and natural sounding psychedelia, and colouring it in dub.

“I write about love, and loss, and regret,” explains Sam, “and then secret societies…but that’s because I try to colour my language with images to aid the listener’s experience. So I’ll reference priestesses and mystical figures, but at the same time I think what I’m talking about is very Brum Notes Magazine

universal. And that’s really what pop music is all about.”

“I think we’re always very conscious of what we’re writing about — Sam doesn’t just go off on a tangent,” offers Tom with a grin.

“Everything is relevant and reflects real relationships and real feelings. And I think in this project, we’ve just become a bit more refined as artists, and that’s the beauty.”

And there does appear to be a real beauty within what this band is producing; visually as well as aurally. Look at their artwork, watch them onstage, see their videos and it’s clear that they’re completely considered.

“I really think that the artwork and the presentation is part of the idea just as much as the music is – we’re not just playing tunes, we’re living something,” continues Tom. “I like the idea of loving a track you hear on the radio and then wanting to dig deeper and find out where the band are, why they’re doing it and what it means. So I think it all becomes part of a package.”

And part of a package is an apt metaphor, because if you look at bands these days, there’s not many who could boast

December 2011

“I really think that the artwork and the presentation is part of the idea just as much as the music is – we’re not just playing tunes, we’re living something” involvement in music, art and fashion; DJing, promotion and film.

“We have this website – MHVH [www.mhvh. co.uk],” explains Sam. “We run it together and it’s a kind of a creative and communitybased label, but it has a number of aims. It’s promotion and parties and club nights — nights such as Pub Tropicana, Elixir Social, Moschino Hoe Versace Hottie, all of which we’re involved with. And they all grow from there and facilitate what we’re doing, representing acts that we like and love.”

And there are some fantastic bands within that bracket. Because now, noticeably, acts are emerging from the city with a distinct look and a distinct sound — and it’s a sound that isn’t apparent anywhere else right now.

Fusing quirky indie with dance and with dub, bands such as Swim Deep, Peace and The Carpels are ensuring that Birmingham is grappling with a sound of its own.

And Troumaca are leading that by example.

“These bands are all interested in dance and electronic music and that’s where the similarities lie,” reasons Sam. “But within that, we’re all coming from different angles and have different approaches. We put on these parties as Troumaca, and the bands we choose to play them are chosen deliberately. These are the best bands in the area, both in terms of music and of temperament.”

“In that way we feel like we’re helping the scene by doing it” says Tom. “Birmingham has something and somebody should be doing something about that.”

Troumaca headline The Christmas Carnival at The Rainbow, Birmingham, on December 21.

Debut EP The Gems is released for free download on December 12 at www.troumaca.co.uk.

17

Christmas SPIRITs When Tom Smith from adopted Brummie gloom-rockers Editors teamed up with ex-Razorlight drummer Andy Burrows to record a Christmas album, it certainly came as something of a surprise. But this most unlikely of festive projects has turned out to be one of the most beautiful Christmas records of recent years.

Chris Moriarty finds out more.

“A lot of people were basically like, ‘ah ok, you’ve made a Christmas album, what the fuck are you thinking?’,” admits Editors frontman Tom Smith, acknowledging that there may be a fair few eyebrows raised at the prospect of his festive side project.

“Probably 99 per cent of songs and albums released for Christmas are a bit... well, not to my taste at least but then people who’ve actually listened to it realise that our record isn’t really a celebration of all things normally associated with Christmas, it’s quite a serious, wintery album.”

Tom admits it started off as “just a bit of fun” between himself and friend Andy Burrows - whose McCartney-esque vocals are perhaps the most surprising aspect for those who only know him as the Razorlight drummer who fell out with Johnny Borrell.

But the pair’s ‘bit of fun’ soon turned into a serious project, while the Christmas theme came about more by accident that design.

“To start with we didn’t know exactly what we were doing to be totally honest, we just wanted to work together as friends and we wanted to do something in the studio. We did a couple of covers and they kind of had this old fashioned, traditional feeling to them and that did remind us of kind of cold, winter evenings sat around the pub next to the fire and that kind of vibe. With that came the decision of what Christmas songs to cover and to be completely honest with you there are very few that we feel we could do and feel comfortable with, so we decided very early on if it’s going to be a record for Christmas and for winter then we need to write our own Christmas songs.”

The more conspicuous Christmas covers 18

“We decided very early on that if it’s going to be a record for Christmas and for winter then we need to write our own Christmas songs.” are limited to In the Bleak Midwinter and The Christmas Song, a gorgeous duet version with Agnes Obel, with the album bolstered by self-penned seasonal tunes as well as other covers which the pair felt captured the spirit of the season, including the likes of On and On by 90s indie saviours The Longpigs and 80s classic Wonderful Life by Black.

“I think they all have a certain cold and wintery vibe to them, I guess it’s about focusing on what Christmas is about to you really, to me it’s about being with your family, friends and in the pub with people you might not have seen for a year, talking about the year gone by and hoping that next year’s gonna be a better one and that kind of naive hope - it’s beautiful, and that kind of warm, drunken, alcoholic glow that goes with that time of year. We wanted the feel of the record to be reminiscent of that so it’s kind of about roaring fires rather than about, I don’t know, tinsel and jingle bells.”

While they are not going after a coveted Christmas number one spot with the record, with expectations dampened by the “tidal wave of bollocks that comes out this time of year,” Tom insists it is still a record to be proud of - and rightly so.

“I think we’ve made a really interesting, beautiful album and I think our single [When the Thames Froze] is as good a chance we’re ever going to have at writing

a Christmas song but I’m sure it will end up at like number 78 in the charts or lower but I think there’s something there so I’m quite excited to hear it on the radio and then, who knows?”

While it was in fact recorded during the summer in London, the more astute Birmingham music fans will notice the influence of Smith’s musically formative winters in the Midlands, referenced directly with a cover of cult Brummie band Delta’s Funny Looking Angels, which became the aptly-named title track too.

“The album that song is from is a record our manager Rob has played to death and since I’ve been in Birmingham really I’ve heard those songs a lot and it’s always been intriguing to me the fact that with all the amazing, amazing reviews that band got that it went wrong for whatever reason. The title, Funny Looking Angels, seemed to sum up what me and Andy were doing over those summer months in an attic in Hammersmith, two scruffy looking guys bashing away at a Christmassy, wintery record. But of course, there’s also a part of me that hopes more people go and listen to Delta because of it because that song is just an amazing song.”

Funny Looking Angels by Smith & Burrows is out now. Read more from Tom Smith, including plans for a new Editors album, at www.brumnotes.com.

Brum Notes Magazine

AUDIO

December 2011

online m arketing

19

live ARCTIC MONKEYS LG Arena, Birmingham November 4 It’s taken Alex Turner four albums, five years and six hairstyles to find his mojo with Arctic Monkeys, but at last he has found it.

The shy frontman came out of his shell as his band blasted out tracks that spanned their eventful musical lifetime.

From opener Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair, through to When The Sun Goes Down via Brianstorm, Turner was on top form. Chatting with the crowd, posing for photographers and striking pure 60s poses, he proved that Arctic Monkeys finally have the frontman they deserve.

Musically, they have always sounded fantastic live and the huge arena complemented

Gardens & Villa Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath November 9 There’s something of a theme going on tonight. Is I Cinema are delivering intermittent readings from The Observer’s Freshwater Fishes of the British Isles; Pandas & People are...well, less pandas than people admittedly, but flying the flag for our furry friends nonetheless; and Gardens & Villa are indulging in an array of shirts which would not look out of place in...yeah, a garden. So you’d be forgiven for thinking that you’d just walked into some sort of Biology social. And that’s not a complaint – everyone knows that a night isn’t worth its salt until it’s imparted at

20

them perfectly. Brick By Brick, Pretty Visitors and new b-side Evil Twin sounded as dark and brooding as intended, while Still Take You Home, The View From The Afternoon and The Hellcat Spangled Shalala maintained their poppy sheen.

As Turner strode back on stage with his brand new quiff and teddy boy look, he seemed more confident than ever. Suck It and See was the pre-cursor to an alternate live version of Mardy Bum before 505 ended the set and split opinion among many fans too slow for a final track, or a well-planned, emphatic crescendo, depending who you ask. Either way, everyone was glad to see least a little information on the common trout.

And the music’s good too, very good. Home grown support Is I Cinema and Pandas & People work alongside the headliners well; the former brooding and progressive, the latter a thoroughly more chirpy affair.

But it’s newcomers to the city (and, in fact, to the UK), Gardens & Villa, who are the real heroes of the hour. Having themselves described their sound as Galactic Fever in the past, the delivery of Human League and Depeche Mode-tinted New Wave against a backdrop of twinkling white lights tonight would leave you hard pressed to dispute that description. Particular highlights include Thorn Castles and Spacetime, performed, and duly received, with such enthusiasm that by the end of the night, the shirts are transparent, the moustaches are wilting, and the figures departing the stage are just a little bit wet.

Words by Amy Sumner Photo by Jonathan Morgan

Alex Turner finally show off his personality and dry wit on stage, instead of just in his lyrics.

Words by Jon Pritchard Photo by Andy Hughes

Neon Indian Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath November 17 ‘Chillwave.’ There I said it. For those of you that are still raving on about ‘nu-rave’ like a Klaxons fan in 2006, chillwave is the term that describes a group of artists that make lo-fi music using an array of synths, loops and samples circa 1982. Neon Indian, otherwise known as Alan Palomo, despite his unease with the phrase, undeniably channels that sound.

Joined on stage by his electronic ensemble of four, Palomo’s heavily filtered, insouciant vocals combined with a glittering synth hook, evoke wistful memories of 80s pop songs, while tracks littered with video game samples suggest that the crowd are just ‘hanging out’ in his bedroom. And that’s the problem, it’s just a little, well, ‘chilled’. The relentless, plodding rhythms and gloopy electronica become background fuzz, allowing the audience to descend into chatter.

After appearing to play out with the dirty funk of Ephemeral Artery, the room half empties and the band embarrassingly rush back on stage to play their encore Should Have Taken Acid With You. Words by Lauren Partridge Brum Notes Magazine

The Naked and Famous HMV Institute, Birmingham November 19 New Zealand’s The Naked and Famous have nailed perhaps the most important aspect to being a successful band – being brilliant live.

Ironically, they began with The Ends, but as soon as it started it was easy for the crowd to see they were in for a good night. It was quickly followed up by A Wolf In Geek’s Clothing and the euphoric Punching A Dream.

While on the album the euphoria is left to a couple of songs, as a live band, the uplifting feeling is captured throughout each and every track, with hairs on the backs of necks regularly standing to attention to salute the fantastic tunes.

A blinding set of strobes kept in time with the thumping electronic beats, while a whole rainbow of colours shone down on lead singers Alisa Xayalith and Thom Powers.

They ended first on the excellent Girls Like You, briefly leaving the heavily strobed stage before returning to blast out Serenade and the aptly-named Young Blood, before the fans exited with their young blood still racing.

Words by Jon Pritchard

Beady Eye O2 Academy, Birmingham November 14 When Beady Eye take to the stage it is immediately evident that Liam Gallagher isn’t happy. Of course he isn’t – he’s Liam Gallagher and you’d be a fool to expect anything different. After taking his iconic stance, the band storm through the first couple of songs including punchy single Four Letter Word after which Liam asks: “What’s the point in standing in the front row if you only know the words to the first song?” It’s a fair point, but also reveals how the band aren’t used to having to please a crowd with entirely new songs rather than a catalogue built up over 15 years.

Nevertheless, the music is good.

Really good.

They’ve maintained that classic British sound, incorporating Who-style riffs and drums yet there is a December 2011

Lana Del Rey HMV Institute, Birmingham November 17 Musical icon in the making or a hype-driven, pop-puppet cash machine for the music biz?

Tonight was one of the first chances in the UK to get up close and personal with the delightful Miss Del Rey and, well, suffice to say the haters will have to crawl back under their rocks and look for someone else to diss. The girl can sing. Capable of the kind of musical gymnastics that Kate Bush used to perform, tonight’s set showcased a selection of tracks from her new album ranging from, arguably the song of the year, Video Games, through to the David Lynchian, twisted love affair of Blue Jeans and on to the jazzier Million Dollar Man. subtle mix of other genres too. For example, Millionaire has country/folk undertones and a catchy chorus and then there’s The Roller, which is so Instant Karma it is instantly loved by the crowd. The Beat Goes On is anthemic, full of energy and incites the crowd. However the best song of the night is by far Sons of the Stage with which Beady Eye close their set. It is a psychedelic delight and already sounds like a rock classic that the band have been playing for years.

Words by Ellie Crean Photo by Andy Watson

At just 45 minutes it wasn’t the longest show ever but, like Lana herself, sometimes the best things really do come in small packages. Seemingly growing in confidence with each gig and breaking hearts wherever she goes, she’s as sexy as Jessica Rabbit and destined to become the kind of glamorous, old school star that she so clearly idolises.

Whether she goes on to conquer the world or ends up playing in a dive bar somewhere way, way off Sunset Boulevard, tonight’s gig will go down as something truly special.

Hoo-Rey for Hollywood!

Words by Daron Billings Photo by Wayne Fox

Wild Beasts HMV Institute, Birmingham November 10 “Birmingham’s a really romantic place,” claims vocalist Hayden Thorpe at the HMV Institute.

That’s endorsement indeed from the Byrons of the musical world, Wild Beasts. The Mercury nominees are touring latest album, Smother, the dark romanticism of which captivates the heaving audience from the outset with opening track Bed of Nails, a song that references Shelley and Shakespeare over shifting electronica. Moving swiftly onto We Still Got the Taste Dancin’ On Our Tongues, taken from album number two, it is a delicious romp through youth excess and casual sex. It seems that Wild Beasts love a bit of smut. And so do the crowd as they roar in appreciation to Hooting & Howling and The Fun Powder Plot. In Reach a Bit Further, the band take full advantage of their two vocalist line-up, with Tom Fleming’s smouldering voice conversing about relationship challenges with Thorpe’s soaring counter tenor.

Their flawless performance does not deviate from their records. But maybe this simplicity is at the heart of what makes this beast so hypnotising to watch.

Words by Lauren Partridge 21

Dutch Uncles Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath November 23

- and by the end of the set, wet - five-piece ensure that whatever may be going on outside of this room tonight, here is where it’s at.

Words by Amy Sumner Photo by Jonathan Morgan

Smashing Pumpkins O2 Academy, Birmingham November 19

There are lots of gigs in the musical outpost of Kings Heath tonight. Stealing Sheep at the Kitchen Garden Cafe across the road; Boat to Row launching their EP in the space next door; and in the smaller room at the Hare & Hounds, Dutch Uncles are back.

And so you needed to have picked wisely.

If you’re stood watching Pandas & People warm up for the aforementioned Manchester lads though, you’ve certainly made a wise choice. Both the Redditch-based youngsters and their Birmingham companions Corelli warm the room up to such an extent that more than a couple of coats are removed - an indicator of success by anyone’s standards.

But it’s when Dutch Uncles take to the stage that things really hot up. Racing through songs from both first and second albums (though only two from the former), and showcasing new song Fester, the energetic

It looks like Billy Corgan needs a hug. As he takes to the stage with a (Movember?) moustache and a slight stoop, peering through his eyebrows, he has the uncomfortable and apprehensive appearance of a mid-west American about to be put on trial.

Kicking off with new songs Quasar and Panopticon is a brave move. If the crowd is stood stock still for these new numbers, it stirs when it hears some familiar and unmistakable driving intro drums. As fans erupt into a bobbing mass, the band feed off this and with Billy’s unique growl-come-breathy voice now warmed up, we’re treated to a couple of energetic ol’ favourites in the form of Geek USA and Muzzle, as Smashing Pumpkins spring into life.

It’s a mammoth set and exhausting to watch.

Firm, song-based tunes that helped define grunge and stood the test of time are sandwiched in between chunks of extended, lyric-less, prog-rock guitar noodling from new album Oceania. This kind of approach probably works better nowhere more than

Tantrums Zombie Prom @ The Rainbow October 29 Elsewhere tonight, a snowstorm has caused millions to lose electricity across America, and Australia’s entire fleet of Qantas aeroplanes has been grounded due to ongoing industrial disputes. In Birmingham however, local legends Tantrums are playing their last ever gig. And by the size, the sound and the glint in the eyes of the crowd, it’s tricky to gauge which event causes more of a stir.

Tonight is an entirely wicked affair. In a good way - it’s Halloween weekend and the entire room is packed top to tail with creatures and characters from the darkest depths - and we’re not talking Oceana at 3.30am. We’ve got vampires, we’ve got Droogs and scariest of all we’ve got, erm, Henry the Hoover. But absolutely everyone is up for it.

The second that Tantrums take to the stage, the room pulsates like the heart you can see exploded over a chest if you incline your head just slightly. They’re energetic and they’re frenetic – a rollicking ball of energy from start to finish, which really is an accurate reflection of their time together. Tonight Tantrums play with a sense of urgency, not to get it over with, but to do the whole thing justice – they’ve been together for five years and tonight marks the finale of that, the crescendo. And so it’s entirely fitting that the stage dives are that much higher (indeed, one of them will go down in history), and the 22

in Birmingham - ‘The Home of Metal’ as Billy acknowledges on the rare occasion when he addresses the crowd - but even here they are chancing it. The show has the vibe of a body flat-lining then coming back to life repeatedly. Big peaks and deep troughs.

They hit the summit like champs though with an encore of Zero and Bullet With Butterfly Wings, all power chords and angst, redeeming themselves and leaving the audience a reminder of what this band are capable of at their best.

Words by Ben Calvert

Seekae Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath October 31 Support act Jake Bullit open with their forthcoming single One Thing Leads To Another and if your feet don’t start to move you must be a zombie inside. This is pop music at its finest. And then to Aussie electro kings Seekae with their only UK gig outside of London. They definitely change the evening’s tone; it’s still synth-heavy electro but there are no three minute pop songs here. The longer tracks still have their fun elements, looping back on themselves with playful twists. With a cinematic quality, they layer and mix their ambient tones with an experimental flair. Again the feet are moving but in a more profound way.

Words by Nic Toms

crowd surfs are that much longer – even if the set isn’t. And by the end, to say the crowd is eating out the palms of their hands is an understatement – they’d probably lick the...paint off their extravagantly decorated chests. And as the last chord is struck, marking the end of a very definite era not only in terms of the band, but in terms of the Birmingham musical landscape too, there’s an atmosphere in the room which, though emotive, is entirely celebratory. Tonight has been a buoyant celebration of a life rather than a subdued farewell.

Words by Amy Sumner Photo by Andy Watson

Brum Notes Magazine

FOOD + DRINK cocktail of the month: WINTER WARMERS Season’s Greetings, yes it is here again...already.

This month we at The Victoria thought we would bring you something slightly different to the usual hot drink offering of mulled wine, Irish coffees or hot chocolate - Winter Pimm’s.

Some of you may know Pimm’s for its summer cocktail with mint, citrus and strawberries using Pimm’s No 1, which is the gin-based Pimm’s developed in the 1840s. After the first Pimm’s came scotch that lent its name to No 2 cup, while No 3 used brandy, No 4 rum, No 5 rye whiskey and No 6 vodka. Of these sequels, the vodka cup and brandy (now called Winter) are the only ones still in production.

Recipe: WINTER PIMM’S SERVES 8-10 Ingredients: 1 bottle of Winter Pimm’s 1 litre apple juice 1 bottle (550ml) cider of your choice 4 shots of brandy – optional for those colder nights 4 shots of orange liqueur 8 cloves Peel of 1 grapefruit 2 sticks of cinnamon Brown sugar to your taste Directions: Warm slowly and gently, tasting as you go to make sure the sugar has dissolved and that you have the right balance. You can always play with the recipe to suit your own tastes as whiskey, rum and other spirits make great additions also.

Remember to strain out the cloves when serving.

Serve in a mug or glass with a handle as it should be served at tea temperature and garnish with a slice of grapefruit and apple.

Enjoy, responsibly of course.

By Julian Rose-Gibbs, general manager at The Victoria, John Bright Street, Birmingham. The Victoria hosts the Brum Notes & This is Tmrw Christmas Party on December 21. Entry is £3 on the door. For more events visit www.thevictoriabirmingham.co.uk.

December 2011

23

STYLE A style wishlist for the naughty and the nice...

FOR HIM

Harris tweed blazer TOPMAN £150

Fine-knit cardigan H&M £14.99

Check urban scarf BURTON £9

Red holdall RIVER ISLAND

Leather Stag Watch ASOS £25 24

Tan stitch urban belt BURTON £12

£60

Engraved stone ring ASOS £8

O’Hanion Mills Socks PACK OF 2 URBAN OUTFITTERS £14

Hudson “Osborne” chukka boot TOPMAN £125

Leopard Bow Tie FOREVER21 £7.40

Brum Notes Magazine

FOR HER Swatch punk watch SWATCH £38

Red & black bodycon dress MISS SELFRIDGE £39

Stone and spike cocoon ring TOPSHOP £14

Woven leather handbag MANGO £79.90 December 2011

Versace Leather dress H&M £179.99

Contrast trim doctors bag TOPSHOP £36

Black and camel dolly coat DOROTHY PERKINS £75

Spike stretch bracelet TOPSHOP £12.50

Floral stitch backpack FOREVER 21 £22.75

Leather lace-up boots MANGO £79.90

Claw inspired detail ring MISS SELFRIDGE £8.50

Jeffrey Campbell Lita platform OFFICE £120

Peace sign charm necklace URBAN OUTFITTERS £12

Versace Waistcoat H&M £139.99

Versace Leggings H&M £24.99

Leopard print cuff gloves RIVER ISLAND £28 25

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Brum Notes Magazine

December 2011

27

AN R B D E F RA EQ U N UI RB D N PM IS E EN HM W T U EN PG T RA DE

JJM Studios is a purpose built complex of six luxury, sound proofed rehearsal studios, professional recording studio and tuition services located in Walsall, West Midlands. At JJM Studios we always make sure you have the best possible rehearsal experience.

Room Specifications: 1 x Tama Superstar EFX 5 piece Shell Kit - Room 5 has a Tama Superstar Custom Hyper D Drum Shell Kit. 2 x Tama Roadpro cymbal stands 1 x Ashdown ABM Evo 3 C210-500 Combo and ABM 1x15 Cab - Rooms 2 and 5 have Ashdown ABM 500H Evo 3's and ABM 8x10 Cabs 1 x Marshall AVT 150H Stack or Marshall JCM2000 DSL100 Dual Super Lead 1 x Marshall MA50C (50 Watt all valve twin channel combo) 1 x Peavey Bandit 1 x Peavey XR8300 PA and 2 x Peavey UL-15 PA Speakers - Room 2 has 1 x Peavey XR800F PA and 2 x Impulse 1012 PA Speaker with subs 1 x Whiteboard in every room All rooms have dehumidifiers, fans, heating, bins, tables and chairs

FREE CYMBAL HIRE, EAR PLUGS AND TEA/COFFEE

A4

61

Your box will contain the following equipment: 2 x Shure SM58 2 x Neutrik XLR Leads 2 x Wing nuts 4 x Cymbal Felts 1 x Hi-Hat clutch

STUDIOS AVAILABLE FOR AS LITTLE AS ÂŁ8 PER HOUR

WALSALL TOWN CENTRE

B4151 From Sutton Coldfield

BR

OA DW AY N

A3

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BR

IDG

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TR E LS AR PE

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AD L RO GHIL SPRIN

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WE ARE HERE

POOL STREET

REET BATH ST SANDWELL STREET

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Tel: 01922 629700

20 Pool Street, Walsall WS1 2EN

admin@jjmstudios.co.uk

SUT TO

AM GH IN RM BI

A4031 From West Bromwich

BRAND NEW IN-HOUSE PRO-TOOLS RECORDING STUDIO

LOW ER R

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A34 From Birmingham and M6 Junction 7

For FREE membership and further details visit

www.jjmstudios.co.uk 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

Thursday, Dec 1 DJ Shadow

HMV Institute

Birmingham

I Spy Strangers

The Flapper

Birmingham

Fun House Living

The Yardbird

Birmingham

Alternative Dubstep Orchestra Sherrazi

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Bull’s Head

Moseley

The Victoria

Birmingham

The Wagon & Horses

Birmingham

M CN Manhattan Loft CN Substep presents M M M M M M M M M

Sanctuary Friday, Dec 2 Duran Duran

LG Arena

Birmingham

Twin Atlantic

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

Proud Mary

The End @ The Ballroom The Flapper

Birmingham

The Pretty Boy Massacre I Am The Avalanche The Temple @ HMV Institute The Cracked Actors The Wagon & Horses

Birmingham

Ashley Trigg

The Yardbird

Birmingham

Fursaxa

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Johnny Kowalski & The Sexy Weirdos Justin Berkovi

Bull’s Head

Moseley

Club PST

Birmingham

Island Bar

Birmingham

O2 Academy

Birmingham

The Other Room @ The Ballroom The Rainbow

Birmingham

CN CN This is Normal CN Propaganda CN Hummingbird CN

CN Hospitality

Reunion Elisabeth Troy

December 2011

Birmingham Birmingham

Birmingham

CN Hot Wax CN Norman Jay Mark Olver C M M M M 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.

The Rainbow Warehouse The Victoria

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Birmingham

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Saturday, Dec 3 Aloe Blacc

HMV Institute

Birmingham

Every Time I Die

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

Lulu Bett

The Actress & Bishop

Birmingham

XLR8

The Asylum

Birmingham

Code 46

Birmingham

M M M CN CN CN CN CN CN

Watchfires

The End @ The Ballroom The Flapper

DC Fontana

The Yardbird

Birmingham

The Lines

Wulfrun Hall

Wolverhampton

Black Drop

Club PST

Birmingham

On the Rocks

Island Bar

Birmingham

2.31 Afterparty

Rainbow Garden

Birmingham

Brothel Episode

Rainbow Warehouse

Birmingham

Roller Disco

The Ballroom

Birmingham

Guilty Pleasures

Birmingham

CN CN CN CN CN CN

Flashback

The Library @ HMV Institute The Q Club

FACE

The Rainbow

Birmingham

Vertigo

The Victoria

Birmingham

UPRAWR

The Asylum

Birmingham

Balkanic Eruption

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Reverb

Bull’s Head

Moseley

Birmingham

Birmingham

29

C M M M M C M M M M M C M M M CN CN CN C M M M M M M CN C C M M M M M M M M M CN CN CN CN CN CN CN C M 30

Mark Olver

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Sunday, Dec 4 Machine Head

NIA

Birmingham

BIGkids

The Yardbird

Birmingham

We Were Promised Jetpacks Panic Room

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Robin 2

Bilston

Patrick Monahan

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Monday, Dec 5 The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Grant Hart

The Library @ HMV Institute Hare & Hounds

Birmingham Kings Heath

Tuesday, Dec 6 Kasabian

NIA

Birmingham

Zebrahead

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

Matt Anderson

The Yardbird

Birmingham

Greg Davies

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Wednesday, Dec 7 Melody Groove

The Actress & Bishop

Birmingham

The Good Natured

The Rainbow

Birmingham

Husk

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Full Moon Big Wednesday MHVH

HMV Institute Snobs The Victoria

Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham

Ian Moore

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Thursday, Dec 8 Hawkwind

HMV Institute

Birmingham

Death In Vegas

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

Christian Kane

The Asylum

Birmingham

Napalm Death

Birmingham

Tom Hingley

The Library @ HMV Institute Hare & Hounds

Whitesnake

The Civic Hall

Wolverhampton

Fantastic Damage

Bull’s Head

Moseley

Ian Moore

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Josie Long

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Friday, Dec 9 Professor Green

O2 Academy

Birmingham

The Ordinary Boys

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

Circus Town

The Flapper

Birmingham

Malcolm Middleton

The Rainbow

Birmingham

Friday, Dec 31

The Yardbird

Birmingham

Barker & Moon

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Free School

Bull’s Head

Moseley

Kings Heath

Ocean Colour Scene Adam Ant

The Civic Hall Wulfrun Hall

Wolverhampton

Frat Party

HMV Institute

Birmingham

Hype

Rainbow Warehouse

Birmingham

Rag & Bone

Snobs

Birmingham

The Launchpad

Birmingham

M4TP

The Other Room @ The Ballroom The Victoria

Milkk

The Wagon & Horses

Birmingham

Ellis Dee

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Ian Moore

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Saturday, Dec 10 Dappy

HMV Institute

Birmingham

Wolverhampton

Birmingham

M M M

Example

O2 Academy

Birmingham

The Lemonheads

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

Blue Nation

Birmingham

M M

7 Days Later

The End @ The Ballroom The Flapper

Birmingham

M M CN CN CN CN CN CN

John J Presley

The Other Room @ The Ballroom The Wagon & Horses

Mostly Autumn

Robin 2

Bilston

2.31 Afterparty

Rainbow Garden

Birmingham

UPRAWR

The Asylum

Birmingham

FACE meets Uber

The Rainbow

Birmingham

Club A GoGo

The Victoria

Birmingham

Soulshake

The Yardbird

Birmingham

Thank You James Brown Viva Brazil

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Bull’s Head

Moseley

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Sunday, Dec 11 The Dogs Damour

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

The Sound

The Asylum

Birmingham

The Breaking Ties

The Flapper

Birmingham

Chris Tye

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Glass Robots

The Yardbird

Birmingham

Bohemian Jukebox

Bull’s Head

Moseley

Jo Enright

The Glee Club

Birmingham Birmingham

Antics

CN CN James Fierce Ian Moore C M M M M M M C

Birmingham

Birmingham

M

Monday, Dec 12 The Felice Brothers

M

White Lies

The Library @ HMV Institute The Civic Hall

Tuesday, Dec 13 Marillion

HMV Institute

Birmingham

The Yardbird

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Bull’s Head

Moseley

The Asylum

Birmingham

The Library @ HMV Institute Hare & Hounds

Birmingham

Bull’s Head

Moseley

Slade Rooms

Wolverhampton

Snobs

Birmingham

The Glee Club

Birmingham

LG Arena

Birmingham

Thursday, Dec 15 The Wonder Stuff

O2 Academy

Birmingham

Arcane Rage

The Actress & Bishop

Birmingham

Neil Morris

The Asylum

Birmingham

Heart In Hand

The Ballroom

Birmingham

Black Russian

The Flapper

Birmingham

Sevendaze

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Kate Rusby

The Civic Hall

Wolverhampton

Bloc

The End @ The Ballroom The Victoria

Birmingham

M Canoe M James Mccartney M CN Collective Beats M M M M

Wednesday, Dec 14 Crimson Joy 100 Monkeys Speak Up Freelance Mourners Bury Tomorrow

M CN Big Wednesday Tom Stade C Russell Howard C M M M M M M M CN

CN Manhattan Loft

Wolverhampton

Kings Heath

Birmingham

Brum Notes Magazine

CN Elixir Social Tom Stade C Howard Marks C M M M M M M CN CN

M CN CN CN CN CN CN C M M M M M M M C M M M M M CN C M

Birmingham

Slade Rooms

Wolverhampton

O2 Academy

Birmingham

Templeton Pek

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

Meltdown Fest

The Asylum

Birmingham

The Subways

The Ballroom

Birmingham

&U&I

The Flapper

Birmingham

Copious

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

This is Normal

Island Bar

Birmingham

Rockers Xmas Ball

The End @ The Ballroom Bull’s Head

Birmingham

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Saturday, Dec 17 Architects

HMV Institute

Birmingham

The Kooks

O2 Academy

Birmingham

Title Fight

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

Martyr De Mona

Birmingham

Victories At Sea

The End @ The Ballroom The Flapper

Godskitchen

Air

Birmingham

Panic!

HMV Institute

Birmingham

UPRAWR

The Asylum

Birmingham

FACE Xmas Party

The Rainbow

Birmingham

Om Unit

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Jam Hott

Bull’s Head

Moseley

Tom Stade

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Moseley

Birmingham

Sunday, Dec 18 Saint Jude

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

Poppy Tibetts

The Yardbird

Birmingham

Backwards

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Monday, Dec 19 The Bottom Line

The Actress & Bishop

Birmingham

M

Cheap Thrill

M M CN CN CN C

Birmingham

Tempting Rosie

The End @ The Ballroom The Yardbird

Jake Bullit

Bull’s Head

Moseley

The Beat Room

Island Bar

Birmingham

Beats by Numbers

The Victoria

Birmingham

Sugarfoot Stomp

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

John Fothergill

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Saturday, Dec 24 Misty’s Big Adventure On the Rocks

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Island Bar

Birmingham

The Asylum

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Bull’s Head

Moseley

CN CN Xmas Cracka CN FACE presents

Gatecrasher

Birmingham

Rainbow Warehouse

Birmingham

The Rainbow

Birmingham

CN CN Love The Life

The Victoria

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Tuesday, Dec 27 Stu Anderson

The Yardbird

Birmingham

Wednesday, Dec 28 Nurvrax Jam

The Yardbird

Birmingham

Bull’s Head

Moseley

Snobs

Birmingham

Thursday, Dec 29 Replay 45

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Friday, Dec 30 The Coyotes

The Actress & Bishop

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

The End @ The Ballroom Bull’s Head

Birmingham

Adam & Eve

Birmingham

Air

Birmingham

Club PST

Birmingham

Hennesseys

Birmingham

HMV Institute

Birmingham

Island Bar & The Victoria The Asylum

Birmingham

M

CN CN UPRAWR CN Ho Ho Ho Fidelity CN Xmas Eve Party Monday, Dec 26 The White Party

VIVA Music I Heart 80s and 90s

M

M Making Maisie M CN Big Wednesday M

M Long Grass Band M CN Dark Heart Disco CN Freestyle

Birmingham

Moseley

Tuesday, Dec 20 The Twang

O2 Academy

Birmingham

Jack Blackman

The Yardbird

Birmingham

Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel John Fothergill

Robin 2

Bilston

The Glee Club

Birmingham

CN CN Jibbering Sessions CN Hott Date & Enid

The Victoria

Birmingham

CN

The Bluebeat Arkestra Troumaca

The Yardbird

Birmingham

CN

The Rainbow

Birmingham

The Toy Hearts

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Birmingham

Cannons And Tanks

Bull’s Head

Moseley

Big Wednesday

Snobs

Birmingham

John Fothergill

The Glee Club

Birmingham

CN CN Valve Soundsystem The Ballroom The Old Crown CN Bigger Than Barry The Yardbird CN NYE Yardbird CN CN Freestyle & This Is

Vudu

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

CN Andy Robinson C

Bull’s Head

Moseley

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Wednesday, Dec 21 Calories

Thursday, Dec 22 The Dirty Old Hare & Hounds Folkers Psyche-Deli-Tronica Bull’s Head

CN CN Quantic (DJ Set) John Fothergill C M

Moseley

The Glee Club

Friday, Dec 16 Shed Seven

CN Guy Carlos Tom Stade C M M M M

Bull’s Head

Friday, Dec 23 Wrapped in Plastic

December 2011

Kings Heath Moseley

Bull’s Head

Moseley

The Glee Club

Birmingham

The Flapper

Birmingham

CN

Saturday, Dec 31 The Afterparty vs Pub Tropicana Godskitchen

Blight On Ec-Lectricity NYE Extravaganza New Years Eve at the Vic and Island UPRAWR

Session Subz NYE

Tmrw Habit Vs Reverb

Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham

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Brum Notes Magazine