Brum Notes Magazine - February issue

february 2010

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

incl u full des gi list ings g FEBRU for A p26- RY 30

HOT CHIP More than just a walk in the park plus!

CHINESE FOOD & DRINK SP ECIAL

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danny & the champions of the world 35 seconds f mr scruf h it w s n o carto

WIN FREE GIG tickets! p24

IES! PHIC GOOD L E D D E N WIN SIG

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Brum Notes Magazine: Issue 5, February 2010 Brum Notes Magazine The Moseley Exchange 149-153 Alcester Road Moseley Birmingham B13 8JP info@brumnotes.com To advertise contact: advertising@ brumnotes.com Editor: Sean O’Muir Contributors Words: Tom Pell, James Collins, Andy Roberts, Vyvian Raoul, Rommy Stelfox, Ross Cotton, Matt Higgs, Nancy Bennie Pictures: Steve Gerrard, Katja Ogrin, Jemma Dodd.

Design: Andy Aitken Website: Cellar Door 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. www.brumnotes.com Find us on Facebook.

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contents NEWS 4-6: Details on a brand new jazz festival for Brum, celebrations in Walsall and the chance to win exclusive signed Delphic prizes.

FEATURES 7: Mr Scruff Forget his music, we look at the renowned DJ’s penchant for a doodle.

8-9: 35 Seconds After being crowned Brum’s band of the decade, it seems all is not over for 35 Seconds.

10-11: Bombay Bicycle Club The trendy indie boys reveal

plans for an acoustic album and try to curry favour by threatening to play naked.

See what I did there? Curry favour? No? Never mind.

12-15: Hot Chip Geeky electro-popsters swap their synths for steel pans.

Kind of.

15-16: Danny & The Champions Acoustic troubadour cries over Bruce Springsteen, among other things.

FOOD & DRINK 18-19: Chinese special Celebrate the Year of the Tiger with our guide to Oriental

restaurants and some Chinese-themed drinks.

REVIEWS 20-21: Live Includes local hero Fyfe Dangerfield, more-than-justdancers OK Go and Malpas.

22-23: Records Verdict on the return of The Courteeners, plus top free tracks.

LISTINGS 26-30: Gig Guide Our biggest ever guide to gigs throughout January, plus our tips for the best shows and club nights.

page four

news FILM FEST UNPACKED NEXT MONTH An array of unique film screenings will unfold across warehouses, shops, bars and cinemas in Birmingham next month as the annual Flatpack Festival returns.

The renowned six-day event runs from March 23 to 28 showcasing

MUSO LIVES HIT THE BIG SCREEN

Films portraying the lives of two of music’s most engaging characters will be hitting the big screen in Wolverhampton this month.

The cinema at arts centre Light House in Fryer Street will screen Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll from February 12 to 18, the story of Ian Dury starring Andy Serkis as the punk legend.

The musical theme continues with Nowhere Boy, based on the true story of John Lennon’s youth, which runs from February 19 to 25.

animation, music documentaries, psychedelic films for kids, live soundtracks, puppets and a host of other oddities in weird and wonderful locations.

The festival, organised by city-based 7 Inch Cinema, will offer a platform for new filmmakers as

well as offering a programme of cult classics, silent cinema and archive material and a varied collection of talks and demonstrations.

Locations across Birmingham playing host to the festival will include warehouse spaces, art

galleries, a social club, a specially constructed cardboard cinema and the sites of some of the UK’s first Odeons designed in the 1930s.

The full programme is unveiled this month. Visit www.flatpackfestival.org. uk for details.

Michael Jackson will take centre stage as Walsall’s New Art Gallery kicks off its 10th anniversary celebrations.

The iconic waterside gallery launches an exhibition called PARTY! on February 12 to mark the decade since it opened its doors.

The celebratory exhibition will feature more than 2,000 balloons, 1,400 corks, a mirror ball made from sunglasses and a life-sized bronze statue of the late King of Pop. Standing just over two metres tall, the work, entitled Dangerous, was created by Chinese artist Yang Mian and reflects the Beijing and Chengdubased artist’s interest in American popular culture. It will be joined

by more than 50 other paintings, sculptures, photographs, prints and installations, including 2001 Turner Prize winner Martin Creed’s Half The Air In A Given Space, consisting of over 2,000 balloons inflated by

gallery staff and halffilling a room.

An official opening for PARTY! takes place on February 11 featuring music, cake and other entertainment.

The exhibition is free and runs until April 18.

BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR GALLERY

news

SAX IN THE PARK

A stellar cast of performers has been announced for Birmingham’s first open-air jazz festival which will be taking place in the city this summer.

Tickets go on sale this month for The Mostly Jazz Festival which will be set over two days from July 3 to 4 in the leafy surrounds of Moseley Park. It will feature the likes of Sun Ra Arkestra, Courtney Pine, Polar Bear, Led Bib and local jazz legend Andy Hamilton, who will be 92 when he takes to the stage with his band The Blue Notes.

The inaugural event will

be the only open-air, onesite festival of its kind in the UK exclusively dedicated to contemporary jazz, funk and soul.

Other confirmed artists include Quantic and his Combo Bárbaro, Cymande All-Stars, James Taylor Quartet, Portico Quartet and more.

The park is well set up for musical fun and frolics and already hosts the popular Moseley Folk Festival. In similar style, The Mostly Jazz Festival will have two stages side by side, with the second featuring emerging talent chosen by The Yardbird

BELGIUM RULES CUFF RETURNS

Belgium emerged as the destination of choice following the first ever European Festival Awards. The Heineken Open’er Festival in Poland took the title of Best Major Festival, but six of the remaining eight awards went to Belgian events.

The Prodigy were named best headline act, White Lies best newcomer, with Viva La Vida by Coldplay best festival anthem. and Birmingham Jazz.

There will also be films, artist talks, music workshops, dance performances, live comedy and

The annual Off The Cuff festival will return to The Flapper in Birmingham from July 23 to 25.

Headliners are yet to be announced but last year’s event featured the likes of Hot Club de Paris and Rolo Tomassi.

PLAYTIME

Butlins in Skegness will host a new festival from April 16-18. Playaway will include Noisettes and Calvin Harris. spoken word, as well as a big screen showing World Cup football.

Tickets are on sale from February 1.

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news

SCRATCH THE SURFACE

The hunt to find some of the hottest emerging talent in the Midlands gets underway this month as the Surface Unsigned Festival returns to the region.

Scores of local bands of various genres will be taking to the stage at The Flapper in Birmingham throughout the month as part of the first leg of the contest, with more than £60,000 of prizes up for grabs. Four bands progress from each heat based on a series of votes from audience members and industry judges. Visit www.surfaceunsigned.co.uk

for details.

ANOTHER LITTLE TANTRUM

DOUBLE DUTCH FOR THE LINES

Wolverhampton band The Lines will be making a triumphant return to their home city this month following a brief stint supporting indie legend Ian Brown overseas.

The hotly-tipped four-piece were due to perform two dates in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam on January 30 and 31, including a slot at Paradiso as part of a show headlined by the former Stone Roses singer.

Hailed by Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant as one of the best bands to come out of the Black Country in recent times, The Lines will perform a headline show at The Slade Rooms on February 12. Tickets are £5.

Velvet-voiced singer and pianist Anna Palmer, , has been signed up as the newest member of emerging post-prog indie rockers Tantrums.

Anna, better known as Little Palm, has carved out a reputation on Birmingham’s live scene for her sultry vocals and opened the Brum Notes Magazine Christmas Party in December.

It should be a busy few weeks for the Northfield band, who support Hot Club de Paris at The Rainbow on February 8 and release their debut EP on Bigger Than Barry Records on February 15.

WIN EXCLUSIVE SIGNED DELPHIC GOODIES It’s been a pretty hectic start to 2010 for Manchester indie-dance trio Delphic.

Last month’s Brum Notes Magazine cover stars hit the top 10 with the release of their debut album, were the first band to sell out Wolverhampton’s brand new Slade Rooms venue and have already announced details for another headline tour in March, including a show at Birmingham’s 02 Academy on March 14.

To celebrate their success, we’ve got five signed copies of their debut album to give away, alongside exclusive signed copies of their cover shoot for Brum Notes Magazine.

janu

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2010

www.brum notes.co music and life m style

DELPHIC

The sound of

for the west midl ands

the new deca

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To win, tell us: what is the name of Delphic’s debut album? plus!

Send answers to info@brumnotes.com by February 28.

Terms and conditions apply.

the ma cc

abees

the sunshine undergr ound

good

night

lenin

album s of the mo nth brum's best bands of the decade INCL UD FU LIST LL GIES IN G JANU GS FO P27- ARY R 30

free

tea and doodles with

mr scruff Superstar DJ, producer and record maker. Mr Scruff has many strings to his musical bow.

But as fans will know he has become almost as renowned for his obsession with tea and his keen eye for a doodle, both of which feature heavily at his live performances and club nights.

He’s taken his taste for tea even further

Mr Scruff plays a whopping six hour set at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath on February 19. Tickets sold out in two days so if you haven’t got one, it doesn’t look like you’ll be getting in.

with the launch of his own brand of tea bags and opening a cafe called Cup in his native Manchester, both of which are of course made unique by his trademark cartoon artwork.

Witty, as eclectic as his music and downright bizarre, here are some of his finest artistic offerings...

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SECOND COMING? After being voted Birmingham’s best band of the past decade in the Blue Whale Blog’s online poll, eyes and ears are once again on

35 SECONDS. We caught up with frontman Andrew Hickman who revealed we may not have seen the last of them.

How did it feel to be voted the best band of the decade? Surprised?

It was completely surprising, wonderfully touching and slightly surreal as I was alone in the Borneo jungle when I heard. It also made me a little bit sad. Assuming the poll is indeed representative of that scene’s taste, it’s a real shame that it didn’t quite happen if we were genuinely that well liked. Had we known this back then, maybe we would have tried harder!

As ‘band of the decade’ I think we were at a slight advantage in that we were around for most of that decade - although we were VERY shit for its first few years.

What’s going on with the band now, is it a permanent hiatus or any chance of a reunion?

This sounds clichéd, but we never split up. EMI set the ball rolling with an EP that we started to record but never got to finish. The producer is always calling saying we’re about to complete it, and if we get to then maybe the songs

will reignite interests. The chances are that it won’t be so mind-blowingly ahead of its time when it’s finally done though!

We did do a ‘reunion’ last Christmas and that was amazing. A couple of hundred people turned up and we collectively enjoyed it more than any other show because there was no pressure and we weren’t taking ourselves so fucking seriously. If anyone offers us a gig now that sounds interesting, practical and fun then I think we would probably do it.

offing for any of you?

Dan Guest plays drums in Shiny Metal Boxes. Danny has been working with Joe from Augustine and count Alan Moore as a fan (their tune was given away with his self produced magazine). I’ve been mucking around with a classical pianist and have also recently caused a huge stir on the 4am Manila karaoke scene. Bear is working on becoming a “minimalist techno” superstar, but will probably end up sounding like Sash crossed with Haddaway.

Are you all still in touch? No rock and roll style fallouts?

It’s virtually impossible to keep in touch with our 700 or so bass players – but the rest of us are probably on friendlier terms now than we ever were during the band. It was really tough, there were fist fights - specifically a karate chop to the back of a head.

You’ve relocated to London, how’s it going down there? Miss Brum?

I really miss the Brum music scene because it was genuinely a scene where everyone knew and socialised with each other. London is too big and doesn’t have that. The London “scene” is also full of toffs with Brigitte Nielsen haircuts who ride old pushbikes with baskets.

They seem to move to London with identikit bands as a career plan/fashion statement before the

What are you all up to now? Any other musical projects in the

page nine bikes and haircuts are inevitably ditched in favour of positions in corporate finance.

back of a van on the way to Dublin Castle after yet another bass player imploded and then meeting a couple who had driven from Stockholm to see us at the same (almost cancelled) show.

because I went to her house the day before and there was piss everywhere. But our biggest mistake was always going with profile rather than enthusiasm when deciding who to work with.

What are your best memories of gigging with 35 Seconds?

Getting to tour with my heroes The WonThis sounds clichéd Who would be your pick for band of the decade? der Stuff. Playing but we never split Unquestionably SunDudley JBs the day up.” set Cinema Club. They everyone got their were/are the best live band in town exam results and making good You attracted a lot of interest and and their album sounds, to my ears, were tipped to ‘break out’ into the friends with a stage invader. Playlike one of the greatest rock records mainstream. How close do you think ing and winning ‘best new band’ of the last few years. you were to that happening? at the Camden Crawl. Giving Hard to say. We got played on varicigarettes to the crowd in Sunderous Radio 1 shows, NME called us Any acts you would recommend to land the night before the smoking watch out for this year? “the future of rock” and we played ban, telling them it was the last at John Kennedy’s festival as one of I really wouldn’t know as I’m time they could smoke and enjoy far too bitter to listen to anyone his tips. The hardest thing to deal live music indoors - although we younger than me successfully makwith is that EMI set us up with a should have done it at the start of ing music. Dirty Ray and Josh T fairly big producer and we didn’t the gig, rather than towards the end because they seemed to like finish the tracks because I got ill on Pearson are older geezers who are doing brilliant things though. 35 the last day in the studio. I think us a lot more after that. Teaching Seconds maybe?

I can blame that on my mad nan, Greg Sunset the bass lines in the

“

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JOIN THE CLUB

A love affair with Birmingham, playing gigs while naked, and world domination - it’s all part of the psyche behind Bombay Bicycle Club.

Having only just played the city in December, two months after helping open the relocated O2 Academy, the post-punk popsters will be back at the same venue on February 11 as part of the prestigious NME Awards tour, alongside fellow indie darlings The Maccabees, The Big Pink and The Drums.

“We’re really looking forward to coming back to Birmingham,” explains drummer Suren De Saram.

“We did a short tour before Christmas and the Birmingham show was one of the best, the crowd was really up for it.

“Hopefully it will be the same this time.

“We might whip out our Jason Derulo cover especially, we don’t know.

“We’ve wanted to play naked for a long time as well but maybe it’s still too soon, you’ll just have to wait to find out.”

The band, who describe themselves as “indie/afromath,” had a very busy

2009. They released their critically acclaimed debut album I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose, sold out the London Garage for their album launch show and played a summer of standout festival performances.

Now into a new year with new aims, the band have their sights set high.

“Our aims are to record the second album and hopefully get it out by the end of the year and play some fun festivals in the summer,” continues Suren.

“We are about to go on the NME tour around the UK. After that we are going to do a short European tour, playing in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Holland and Belgium.

“We played in Japan at the end of last year and we’d love to go back there sometime as well as America. We want to play everywhere really.”

They added: “More immediately though, we’re putting the finishing touches to an acoustic album which we guess will come out sometime this year, maybe in the summer. We should also start recording our second album around March/April time so we’ve got quite a busy year ahead.”

• Words by Rommy Stelfox • Bombay Bicycle Club play at the O2 Academy, Birmingham, on February 11.

• To buy tickets visit www.brumnotes.com.

“

We’ve wanted to play naked for a long time as well but maybe it’s still too soon.”

Bombay Bicycle Club in action on the opening night of the O@ Academy in October. Pic by Katja Ogrin.

RED HOT Surely one of the most eagerly anticipated records of 2010, Hot Chip’s One Life Stand aims to make even the flightiest of fans swoon, court new admirers and cement a monogamous musical relationship with all who hear it.

With a list of influences so diverse

they might seemingly have been pulled out of a hat one late night in the studio, there’s certainly something for everyone.

UK funk and soul lines up alongside modern R&B, northern soul, gospel, golden age electronica and house and the band cite influential

artists as disparate as Prince and Theo Parish - but these are no uncomfortable bed-fellows; all are snuggled up, warm and cosy under the familiar duvet of Hot Chip’s trademark soaring emotional intensity. Hot Chip’s synth-bearing, percussion-beating and bass gui-

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They’re the geek-chic electronic hit-makers that everyone loves to love. Now HOT CHIP are back with a stunning new album and they mean business.

Brum Notes Magazine finds out why they aren’t giving up the kings of electro-pop crown without a fight. They’ve even brought steel pans.

Words by Vyvian Raoul.

tar-plucking multi-instrumentalist Owen Clarke gives us an idea of how it’ll all sound.

“There are 10 songs on the album and it’s more beat pop songs broadly speaking, but there’s also some flavours from pianos and house records and steel pans and

things like that,” Owen explains.

Did he say steel pans and pianos?

He certainly did and this new musical experience can instantly be felt on the title track of the album, One Life Stand, which will achieve its full release on February 1, the same day the album hits the

stores.

For all their musical moving on, however, every single member of Hot Chip still has a synthesizer up their sleeve. Whether they be lead guitar, lead vocals or, like Owen, bass, they’ve always got a synth on stand by. If the boys have got a

page fourteen

somewhat geeky reputation, that’s only compounded by their attention to detail when it comes to all things electronic - not hard to picture them getting excited about the newest Nord like your average boy-racer anticipates the arrival of some hot new ceramic disc brakes, or hornily poring over the pages of Max Moog Magazine. No bad thing when such obsessive aural tendencies result in, as in the case of 2006’s The Warning, Grammy award-winning music, and when, as Owen points out, everyone from traditional garage bands to grime artists are employing an electro beat these days anyway.

“I’m not really thinking about scenes or whether they’re reaching their epoch, zenith or decline but I think that people have become much more open minded to the use of electronic instruments and things like that in pop music, I think it’s fairly ubiquitous now,” he adds.

Doubtless pioneers of this new wave of New Wave, Hot Chip are far too smart to typecast themselves under any one scene.

Remaining free from labels and attempts at classification seem-

ingly leaves them a much greater freedom of musical movement.

“If someone asks what kind of music do you do, it’s usually like at passport control, we try not to get into too many particulars,” Owen continues. “But broadly speaking I’d say electronic pop.”

The consequent aural autonomy afforded them can best be seen in the background and around the fringes of One Life Stand. Beefing up the percussion section, Hot Chip have enlisted the talents of Fimber Bravo of Steel and Skin on the aforementioned steel pans and Charles Hayward of This Heat on drums. It’s interesting to see how these new elements will fit into the live show - this is, after all, primarily music for dancing too.

Owen teases us with what to expect when Hot Chip finally fulfil their on-stage destiny and give us our chance to dance.

“Well, just some interesting movements when we get on stage,” he says.

“It’s a big set up, we’ll have a drummer with us and we’re working on the percussion side of things.

page fifteen “Not quite sure yet, the exciting thing is that we’re still working on it. We’re in rehearsals now, just figuring out how to do all that stuff live for the next year.”

Ready for the floor? Just try and keep us off it.

• Hot Chip’s new album One Life Stand and the single of the same name are released on February 1.

• They play the O2 Academy, Birmingham, on February 20. For tickets visit www.brumnotes.com.

page sixteen

BRING ON THE CHAMPIONS Tear-jerking folk act DANNY & THE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD will be bearing their souls in Birmingham this month, supporting Irish star Fionn Regan.

Brum Notes Magazine finds out what makes Danny cry.

Back seducing our ears with more bittersweet folk melodies, Danny George Wilson and his Roald Dahl themed group of musicians Danny and The Champions of The World return with their sophomore effort, Streets Of Our Time.

Good job he wasn’t called James, as I don’t think as many people would have been up for being his Giant Peaches.

The record this time round sees such familiar faces as Garrow, Joe and Robin from Goldrush, Trevor Moss and Hannah Lou

plucked from Indigo Moss and Ian Mccutchen on drumming duty. “A lot of mates” says Danny, following on with his philosophy that he doesn’t “want to be in a band, I don’t want to rehearse, my only interest is in songs and parties”.

A breath of fresh air, frankly, as in an age of Autotune and Miley Cyrus it’s nice to hear people playing music for music’s sake.

“Rehearsing and tweaking stuff in studios, it doesn’t make anyone feel better and it doesn’t sound better so as far as I’m concerned, as long as the songs are great and

you’re aiming to move someone and be romantic about life in some way, then the shows should be a party.”

And why shouldn’t they be?

Everyone loves a random gig that you get invited to at three o’clock of an afternoon that turns out to be a cracker. And Danny and The Champions are trying to produce that time after time.

The record itself is tighter, without the jam elements of the live shows, leaving Danny seeking to produce a “really simple, really sentimental record about being in a band that sometimes it feels

talks to the crowd and he says, ‘This is like you’re doing the wrong thing by continuing to do it, but ultimately you for everyone back home who will one day hear this through the magic of don’t really have any choice because bootlegging’ and I think the romance that’s what’s coursing through your of the whole thing just set me off. Still veins.” would now I’m sure.”

With a growing songwriter’s reputaDanny says he tion of conjuring wouldn’t swap emotion, feeling Songs still his Champions, and, well, tears, it do make me as he couldn’t seems it’s not just cry. I guess wish to be with, us listeners whose they do eve“better musilips get a trembryone, but it’s lin’ at the sound not sad songs, cians, or betof a good tune. ter blokes and its songs that “Do you know make you feel girls.” Unless he could have The what? Songs still alive, or brilFaces. “I think do make me cry. liant.” they’re the band I guess they do I just, well, I everyone, but it’s just love them.” Well, Danny, you can’t not sad songs, its songs that make you have everything you want unfortufeel alive, or brilliant. nately, and these wildest dreams will “I think the first song that made me not come true. feel that was Thunder Road by Bruce You’d need to be called Charlie for Springsteen. It was probably off a that. 10:44 Page 1 bootleg fromA6about 1978, and Bruce Gem studio flyer:Layout 1 4/9/09

“

• Words by Tom Pell • Danny and the Champions of the World support Fionn Regan at The Rainbow, Digbeth, on March 2.

• To buy tickets visit www.brumnotes.com.

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food & drink go get em tiger...

You may still be recovering from the festive excesses but party time is upon us once again...

This month will see celebrations taking place across the West Midlands to mark the arrival of the Chinese Year of the Tiger.

Chinese New Year falls on February 14 as a double whammy with Valentine’s Day and will be marked in style with a huge festival in Birmingham’s Chinatown. To help you get into the party spirit we’ve cooked up a quickfire guide to a selection of Oriental and Eastern eateries where you can feed your animal appetite.

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

TOP TIP FOR the black country

THE BIG WOK Stourbridge Road, Lye

01384 893828

options and you’ll end up with one each of prawn toast, a spring roll, exceptional spare ribs and fruity chicken wings. Despite sounding like a ninja Teletubby, Kung Po Chicken is a cracking choice of main from the choices available and the small but sexy banana fritter is a perfect way to finish the meal. Half a

coke will do you for a drink, as the service is so quick you’re in and out before you

can say egg fried rice. Well worth a try.

TP

TOP TIP FOR A TIGHT bUDGET

a simple but charming aesthetic, the large windows enable people-watching as if in Soho.

A meal for two under £12 is easily achievable. I plumped for a king prawn in a ginger and spring onion sauce whilst my fellow diner gave the nod to the roast duck.

All dishes come with boiled rice or you can upgrade to fried rice or noodles for an extra 50p. Service was

speedy, portions were plenty, and most importantly they tasted good.

Points have to be deducted when the classic line “excuse me, there’s a hair in my food”, was uttered, but if you’re ever hungry in this end of town then this place gives you a good meal at good value.

Malaysian Delight. You’re alright.

JJ

Any Chinese restaurant which is brave enough to be open at 2 o’clock of a Wednesday afternoon when there is six inches of snow on the ground outside is definitely worth a try, and try we did, in particular the excellent £6.50 three course meal option available in the day. Go with a friend and mix it up with the starter

MALAYSIAN DELIGHT Ladywell Walk, Birmingham 0121 6223909

The roasted until crispy ducks hung in the windows (beaks, feet and all) of Chinatown’s restaurants are enough for parents escorting their kids to the panto to shout “just look straight ahead children”.

Malaysian Delight has

page nineteen

TOP TIP FOR a big appetite

tweeT AND SOUR

THE BIG WOK Wrottesley St, Birmingham 0121 6666800 When a restaurant puts starter dishes of varying bouncers on the door quality, with a strangely and makes you pay in gooey yuk sung but advance, it hardly makes deliciously tender satay for a relaxing atmosphere. chicken. As for the mains, Charmless staff and a there is everything you charmless interior add to can imagine from a Chithe feeling of apprehennese restaurant as well as sion about this infamous servings from Thai, Japacity centre canteen. nese and Indian cooking, But there’s a reason peoincluding teppanyaki and ple queue round the block sushi. Then there’s the and that is the food. Not desserts, help yourself to the quality, not the taste, ice cream or dip into the just the sheer quantity. chocolate fondue. It won’t For a tenner you can fill be winning any Michelin your plate as many times stars but it will certainly as you want. The bellyhelp you fill your spare busting array of food tyre. includes a vast number of JC

We asked our followers on good old Twitter to have their say on the best places to pick up some Oriental grub. Here’s a selection of the tastiest answers: @davidnikel “Wok and Roll Cafe on my road in the Jewellery Quarter. The name is awesome. Plus you can hire it for karaoke...” @JaceyD “Best Chinese restaurant in Brum = Wongs, Fleet St. Best takeaway = Jonny Wongs, Hagley Rd. Best cafe = Cafe Soya, Arcadian.” @furiouspigeon “Henry Wong’s Sunflower Chinese Restaurant in Northfield is fantastic.” @circus_town “Henrys and obviously The Big Wok!!” @nancybennie “you can’t go wrong with The Big Wok or Tin Tin’s Cantonese in Brindley Place folloW us on tWitter @BrumnotesMag

Drink of the Month

The Lychee Martini

WITH

Julian Rose-Gibbs from top Brum pub The Tsingtao dates back to 1903 and is by far the most popuVictoria introduces some Oriental flavour to help you mark Chinese New Year in style. lar beer in china. It is quite a malty lager with a slightly honeyed after-taste and has zero fat content which might explain why it is so popular with the young female drinkers. Wine is not massive in China with 70 per cent being imported from France, but their indigenous wine production is on the increase. Spirits are huge in China, last year the country consumed 3.7 billion litres, with Scotch whisky the biggest seller.

48 John Bright St Birmingham B1 1BN Cocktails have yet to kick off but here’s a Chinese-influenced favourite of mine, the Lychee Martini: • 40ml of Bombay Sapphire gin • 4 lychees, tinned or fresh • 15ml of juice from the tin or lychee liqueur • 10ml of fresh lime juice Mash lychees well in the bottom of a shaker, add other ingredients, shake vigorously with plenty of ice. Fine strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with a lychee on a cocktail stick - easy.

page twenty

live

FYFE DANGERFIELD The Glee Club, Birmingham Jan 18

Poor Fyfe Dangerfield.

On paper this was his night; debut solo album out today and a homecoming in the Glee Club, the audience all seated and expectant. This gig should have been the champagne against the bow of the good ship Fly Yellow Moon.

Any nerves were understandable therefore, as he tripped over the piano stool on his way onto stage before referencing

his inability to find his guitar lead - “I’m supposed to be cool”. But he still had to answer the question on everybody’s lips - can he cut it without the rest of the Guillemots?

The first two songs certainly did, managing to have all the trademark melancholy without being dreary, and it was all going so well when he swapped acoustic for electric for Faster Than

The Setting Sun. From here on in however, basically every song was plagued by technical problems.

But the boy is almost as humble as he is talented and has charm to spare; who could deny him some slack? What’s more, his voice alone can hold you hostage; he still has absolute pitch and that made the singles shine.

So his salvation was well

deserved - and earned with a ukulele encore.

The simplicity of the four-stringed instrument next to the soaring vocals of So Brand New was sublime and his redemption was made complete by finishing on a highly original version of Made Up Love Song #43; it sounded a little bit like a champagne bottle smashing…

Words: Vyvian Raoul Pic: Jemma Dodd

page twenty-one OK GO O2 Academy 3 Birmingham Jan 12

With the Academy 3 ringing - literally later on - with Californian Rock, the arctic conditions embracing Birmingham seemed far away.

Malpas open, a kaleidoscope of folk and electronica fronted by Ali M Forbes, a quintet that seems to be able to play every instrument under the sun and mould their sound into something quite special.

OK Go may have found the bulk of their fame via their viral videos for Here It Goes Again and Million Ways which are

VIVIAN GIRLS O2 Academy 3 Birmingham Jan 16

Fittingly described as “The Ronettes produced

by Kevin Shields”, surfy girly trio Vivian Girls confidently fill the Academy 3 with shrouds of shimmering noise-pop.

Formed in 2007, they have amassed an army of devotees through relentless touring and killer seven-inch releases and spring-boarded into the spotlight upon the release of their selftitled debut, which they delve into several times tonight.

both given well received airings tonight, but they proved that they have far more to give. Their set is brilliantly delivered proving to any who doubted that they are far more than one hit wonders. Church Bells are not usually a mainstay of the Academy but with nothing else other than their voices, What to do takes on a memorable whole new form. Tickertape and trippy videos added, Ok Go looked visually impressive. For any that haven’t checked out the band since their dancing on treadmills, now may well be the time to look again.

Words: Matt Higgs Pic: Jemma Dodd Blistering buzz saw guitar is chimed alongside Spector-inspired harmonies, showcased during a spine-tingling a cappella cover of The Chantel‘s He‘s Gone.

Proving that a lack of advanced instrument proficiency doesn’t necessarily equal monotony, they exert a wild, beautiful racket, defiantly making their simplicity a strength.

Vivian Girls are blinding sunshine in music form, melting the coldest of hearts with their cacophony of sugar-sweet singing and lo-fi punkitude.

Words: Nancy Bennie

Ali M Forbes / Boat To Row / Little Palm The Bulls Head Moseley Jan 13

Little Palm’s winding piano backed tales are pushing all the right buttons as we arrive, the swells of her jazzy chords and whirling vocals help to gently thaw our ears while the world goes by on the other side of the window. The added warmth of Michael King in his Boat To Row get-up cloaks us with an innocent cosiness.

His rapid, folky finger pickings and soothing

tone of voice is endearing without any danger of becoming too twee or cute, it’s rich and honest and has us gripped.

Ali M Forbes, goes it alone without full band Malpas, and strippedback, songs such as Lyon and Here Comes the Rain are just as absorbing with their floating melancholia. Under Her Sails is a phenomenal tune - or at least it usually is, as tonight percussionist Jim Macaulay somehow manages to dismantle the damn thing with his clumsy maracas.

Words: Andy Roberts

page twenty-two

records THE COURTEENERS Falcon (Polydor)

Nobody likes a kiss-ass.

Not too keen on showoffs either. Cocksure frontman Liam Fray comes across like both as he limbers up on

TOM MCRAE

unimaginatively-titled opening track The Opener, throwing in ingratiating platitudes to his home city of Manchester, reminding listeners he’s been off having an affair with the likes of LA and New York, and finishing off with a refrain of “my heart is here, here to stay,” which sounds painfully contrived to implore

Alphabet of Hurricanes (Cooking Vinyl)

There’s something quite annoying about Tom McRae but I just don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s his slightly whiney voice, or the fact that he seems to have been around for ages without his sound ever seeming to change. Maybe there’s a deep-rooted reason that I can’t put my finger on. It’s a shame as there are some

pleasant tracks and a few exceptional moments on his latest offering, not least plucky, ukulelebacked opener Still Love You. The cantina jazz-folk of A Is For shows off some new instruments and injects rare energy while Out of the Walls is as haunting as they come, showcasing his unique vocals. McRae may not be as fashionable as some of his contemporaries in the singer-songwriter fraternity but his longevity and craft would suggest he’s in it for the long haul.

JC

crowds of Mancunian men to sing along. Hohum. From then on this long-awaited followup fails to get going.

Fray’s distinctive vocals, storytelling style and penchant for a chirpy melody remain, but there is little that recaptures the wit of Not Nineteen Forever or the biting sass of What Took You So Long. There are attempts to add new dimensions, hinting at the orchestral tendencies of Elbow, with soundtrack pianos,

lashings of reverb and thumping drums most successfully uniting on the dramatic Cross My Heart and Hope to Fly. Baggy new single You Overdid It Doll is memorable enough but could easily be

by Reverend and the Makers. The Rest of the World Has Gone Home echoes Stephen Fretwell and Scratch Your Name Upon My Lips intrigues but fails to ignite a forgettable return.

SO

MODIFIED TOY ORCHESTRA Earth One

(Warm Circuit)

Ever wondered what the soundtrack to your childhood would be? Or felt the need to be young again? On Earth One, Modified Toy Orchestra, using circuit bent toys, have moved on from experimental noise to catchy melodies that’ll get the whole family humming along. Funfair for the Common Man

explores the possibilities of adults re-living their childhood, with sounds that hark back to old Atari and platform games. Quirky speech and noises accompany the mix, providing the perfect blend for a child’s birthday party. It’s hard to believe that the entire album contains no samples or traditional instruments, as the sounds achieved through toys are extremely profound and it takes a leap into a different direction.

RC

page twenty-three

ic!

FREE mus Everyone loves a freebie so we’ve decided to carry on serving you up perfect volleys of free songs to keep your ears entertained and your wallet intact.

But don’t thank us, thank those generous musicians who’ve grafted away for your listening pleasure. And if you like what you hear then please go out and buy their records for money or go to their live shows. Even musicians need to eat.

Dirty Projectors Ascending Melody

PAVEMENT Gold Soundz

SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO Cruel Intentions

www.dirtyprojectors.net

www.dominorecordco.com

www.rcrdlbl.com

Showcasing both sides of the ultra-cool, if a little difficult, Dirty Projectors.

Packaged as a ‘7inch download’ main track Ascending Melody is a complex and cumbersome wall of noise but second track Emblem of the World shows off their easier listening side and crafty harmonies.

With just a month to go until the most comprehensive chronicle of Pavement’s legendary career is released this free remastered track gives a perfect taster for the uninitiated for their punchy, droll, loose-around-theedges American indie.

For a real treat check out the Santa-themed video.

Pretend you’re in an episode of Skins with Heartbreak’s Slow Action Remix of this top notch Simian Mobile Disco track. It’s a sultry, sexy version of the original which keeps Beth Ditto’s soaring vocals at its core but adds an extra funky swagger. The chorus will linger for hours.

page twenty-four

win tickets SEND ALL ANSWERS TO INFO@BRUMNOTES.COM

MIDLAKE, Town Hall, Birmingham February 15

To win a pair of tickets, tell us: what year did Midlake release their debut album?

Answers by February 13.

Less MOR and more limitless than most psych-rock revivalists, Texan five piece Midlake prove their cross over credentials with the release of third album The Courage of Others this February, followed by a 14 date UK tour.

Signed to hip label Bella Union alongside Fleet Foxes and The Czars, Midlake’s 2004 debut album Bamnam and Silvercork led to comparisons with The Flaming Lips, while second release The Trials of Van Occupanther openly touted the classic folk-rock influences of Jethro Tull and Fleetwood Mac alongside shades of Radiohead and Kings of Leon.

With a collaboration with the Chemical Brothers under their belt and continuing support from high profile fan Jason ‘Earl Hickey’ Lee, Midlake’s cross-genre exploration makes them a definite one to watch for 2010.

FIRST AID KIT, GOODNIGHT LENIN, The Rainbow, Digbeth, February 22

Heartwarming modern folk from Scandinavian duo Klara and Johanna Söderberg who celebrate the release of their debut album The Big Black & Blue with a full UK tour.

Support will be provided by hotly tipped Birmingham boys Goodnight Lenin.

For a pair of tickets just tell us what country First Aid Kit hail from. Answers to reach us by February 20.

Capsule presents CLUSTER, Town Hall, Birmingham, February 11 They may look like they remember the advent of electricity, but what Dieter Mobius and Hans-Joachim Roedelius aka Cluster don’t have in youth, they have in kudos, influence and cult status.

In the early 1970s, whilst most of Europe dealt with fallout from the Swinging Sixties, Cluster built a studio in rural Germany to experiment with the dark language of

factory machinery and produce early electronica.

The duo’s output includes 16 albums on eight labels, collaborations with Eno and The Orb, thousands of remixes and three reformations over four decades, heavily influencing electronic music and every genre that followed, from ambient to techno to the bed-hopping crossover styles of The Rapture, LCD Soundsystem, Fuck Buttons et al.

Its no understatement to include the duo amongst the most important musical minds of the last 50 years.

VENICE AHOY, The Rainbow, Digbeth, February 27 New night Rainbow Live returns with a lineup of spiky indie-punk from Venice Ahoy, Your Biggest Fanclub and (Silver) Souvenirs.

To bag entry for two tell us where Venice Ahoy are from. Answers by Feb 25.

To grab two tickets, tell us who the main support act will be for Cluster at the Town Hall.

Answers by February 9.

Every Monday: ‘Broken Amp’ weekly acoustic evening hosted every Monday by the “inestimably lovely” Richie Chappell. Usually 3-4 acts. Free entry.

FEBRUARY LISTINGS:

Gig Listings

Thursday 4th: Kieran Lawrence + The James Lewis Band. Djs till 2am.

Friday 5th: Steve Ajao and The Blues Giants + DJ Dylan Gibbons.

Saturday 6th: John Vickery ‘Dirty Sessions’ album launch. DJs Tom Shorty (Bigger than Barry) + John Scullion. Free album to all attendees.

Wednesday 10th: Good Knives + Laughing in the Face Of + Big City Plan + Losing Streak Thursday 11th: Incoming presents: Cliché Guevara + Big Stone Culture + Mapatazi Bob Friday 12th: The Scooter Do- original DJs Tony Reynolds & Kev Richards. Northern Soul & Mod Classics, 60s to modern day.

Saturday 13th: ‘The Little Hut Club’ launch night with: Silvershores + The S.P.G + Barnsey + Mrs + The Other Woman’s Club DJing.

Sunday 14th: Sunday Xpress open poetry afternoon 4pm start. Punkybeats presents Big Stone Culture.

Friday 19th: Inner Terrestrials - London’s most havin’ it punk rock band.

Saturday 20th: Friendly Fire Music (full live band) Wednesday 24th: Chamber of Madness + Detralate + Master War Beast.

Friday 26th: Blues/Rock outfit Soldier Club night.

Saturday 27th: Mr Elephant presents (acts tba).

The Adam and Eve, Bradford St, Birmingham B12 0JD • 0121 693 1500

page twenty-six

gig guide THE REGION’S MOST COMPREHENSIVE MONTHLY GUIDE TO GIGS OF ALL SIZES

PICK OF THE MONTH:

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.

For latest information and ticket details visit: www.brumnotes.com.

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.

Be good kids.

GIGS 1. FANFARLO, Feb 10, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath Headline show following the release of one of the most critically acclaimed debuts of 2009.

Tickets £7, www.birminghampromoters.com.

2. THE DECLINING WINTER, Feb 13, Island Bar, Birmingham An evening of haunting post-rock and electronica from leftfield promoters Colour.

Tickets £5, on the door or at www.wearecolour.com.

3. THE SUNSHINE UNDERGROUND, Feb 13, Kasbah, Coventry Shropshire lads return at long last with their unique brand of dance-tinted indie rock (14+).

Tickets £11, www.seetickets.com.

4. BETH JEANS HOUGHTON, STORNAWAY, Feb 17, The Glee Club, Birmingham Twisted Folk present two of the hottest acts on the modern folk scene in an intimate setting.

Tickets £8.50 adv, www.glee.co.uk.

5. FINLEY QUAYE, Feb 20, The Rainbow, Digbeth Award-winning, eclectic reggae maverick returns with support from Burnside and Tempting Rosie.

Tickets £15 adv, www.birminghampromoters.com.

CLUB NIGHTS 1. WAX: ON Feb 6, Rainbow Warehouse Erol Alkan heads up a night of dubstep and electro.

Advance tickets £12.

2. BIGGER THAN BARRY Feb 13, The Allimo Warehouse rave with Joker, Joy Orbison and more.

Early bird £8/£10.

OTHER ENTERTAINMENT: This month sees the arrival of Chinese New Year and it will be marked in colourful fashion in Birmingham’s Chinatown area. Dragons, dancing, music, cultural displays and firecrackers will see in the Year of the Tiger on February 14 at The Arcadian off Hurst Street from 12.30pm to 6.30pm.

Visitors will also be able to browse a Chinese market set up in Hurst Street.

February 14 also marks Valentine’s Day which means a host of money-grabbing, romance-themed events at restaurants and venues around and about. But promoters Hott Date will be doing their best to avoid the schmaltz with their annual alternative party at The Rainbow, for swaggering singles and fun-loving couples.

Bargain hunters may also be able to find some vintage threads or last-minute gift ideas for the day by browsing the stalls at the BAR BOOT SALE taking place at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath on February 13 between 1pm and 5pm.

3. DRUM&BASS AWARDS Feb 27, Custard Factory Biggest D&B night around hosted

by Fabio & Grooverider.

Tickets £27.50/£60

BOOKING AHEAD FACE PRESENTS DERRICK CARTER March 20, The Rainbow £10, www.theticketsellers.co.uk

FIONN REGAN March 2, The Rainbow £8, www.seetickets.com

DELPHIC March 14, O2 Academy www.seetickets.com BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE

May 16, O2 Academy £12.50, www.ticketweb.co.uk.

MONDAY, FEB 1 Lacuna Coil, Dirty Little Rabbits, Dommin, 02 Academy, Birmingham Decapitated Kataklysm, Man Must Die, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham NANCY ELIZABETH, TARA, GEMMA QUARTERMAN, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath THE EX & BRASS UNBOUND, ZUN ZUN EGUI, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

MARTIN STEPHENSON FROM THE DAINTEES, Robin 2, Bilston

THURSDAY, FEB 4 Bonecrusher Festival ft The Black Dahlia Murder The Black Dahlia Murder, 3 Inches of Blood, Necrophobic, Obscura, The Faceless, Carnifex, Ingested, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham Etienne de TUESDAY, FEB 2 Crecy, 02 Academy, CBSO AN ALPINE Birmingham SYMPHONY, THE DEAFOUT, Symphony Hall, SOLDIER, KARMA Birmingham SUITE, THE RIMES, THESE NEW 02 Academy 3, PURITANS, Birmingham TRAILER TRASH CELEBRITY PIANO TRACYS, Hare & RECITAL: LANG Hounds, Kings Heath LANG, Symphony WEDNESDAY, FEB 3 Hall, Birmingham Liam Lever, SURFACE 02 Academy 3, UNSIGNED Birmingham FESTIVAL, The RAMMSTEIN, LG Flapper, Birmingham Arena, Birmingham KIERAN ELEPHANTS, The LAWRENCE, THE Flapper, Birmingham JAMES LEWIS DAN SMITH, LITTLE BAND, The Adam & PALM, NATHAN Eve, Digbeth BENNETT, Hare & PETER VON POEHL, Hounds, Kings Heath Hare & Hounds, Kings MALPAS, THIS Heath SINKING SHIP, NAZARETH, Robin 2, TINY CINEMA, Bulls Bilston Head, Moseley KATHRYN TICKELL

BAND, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry FRIDAY, FEB 5 Adam Green, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham TRANSATLANTIC SESSIONS, Symphony Hall, Birmingham JLS, LG Arena, Birmingham CALORIES, WILLIAM, YOUVES, The Victoria, Birmingham PAN & THE POETS, SEA FIELDS, SONS OF THE DESERT, FRAMED, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham DEAN JAMES, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham ENDLESS KNOT, The Ropewalk, Birmingham CORELLI, JUPITER ATE, Sound Bar, Birmingham STEVE AJAO & THE BLUES GIANTS, The Adam & Eve, Digbeth

JOHNNY FOREIGNER, ACE BUSHY STRIPTEASE, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath DAN WALSH, JAMES

SUMMERFIELD, ABIE BUDGEN, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath SATURDAY. FEB 6 Subculture presents the 7th Annual St Trinian’s, 02 Academy, Birmingham CBSO RUSSIAN MASTERS, Symphony Hall, Birmingham FIX MONDAY, ALL YOUR PEERS, SQUID BONES, The Flapper, Birmingham CAST AND CREW, BLACK HEART GENERATOR, KIDNAPPER BELL, The Victoria, Birmingham THE FALLEN DUKES, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham JOHN VICKERY (DIRTY SESSIONS ALBUM LAUNCH), The Adam & Eve, Digbeth KEITH LAWRENCE, FAT DIGESTER, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath FROM THE ASHES, VEILS, TOXIC FEDERATION, The Asylum, Hockley PUNISHMENT OF LUXURY, SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNIK, DEAD FILM STARS, Robin 2, Bilston SUNDAY, FEB 7 The Low Anthem,

David Ford, Brown Bird, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham BLACK DYKE BAND, Symphony Hall, Birmingham JUDY COLLINS, Town Hall, Birmingham JESCA HOOP, The Glee Club, Birmingham BLACKHEART, Robin 2, Bilston OCEAN COLOUR SCENE, Kasbah, Coventry MONDAY, FEB 8 HOT CLUB DE PARIS, TANTRUMS, (SILVER) SOUVENIRS, The Rainbow, Digbeth CHAOS ACOUSTIC CLUB, The Victoria, Birmingham MARIZA, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry TUESDAY, FEB 9 Lamb of God, Job For a Cowboy, August Burns Red, Between the Buried and Me, 02 Academy, Birmingham MASTER OF FRENCH ROMANTIC ORGAN MUSIC, Symphony Hall, Birmingham COBRA STARSHIP, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton THE SNOWY WHITE BLUES PROJECT,

Robin 2, Bilston WEDNESDAY, FEB 10 Vampire Weekend (Sold Out), 02 Academy, Birmingham Los Bastardos Finlandeses, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham YASMIN LEVY, Town Hall, Birmingham GOOD KNIVES, LAUGHING IN THE FACE OF, BIG CITY PLAN, LOSING STREAK, The Adam & Eve, Digbeth

FANFARLO, RACE HORSES, MR BONES & THE DREAMERS, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath ALEX MOIR, TARA CHINN, EMILY MUSIC, Bulls Head, Moseley FIGHTSTAR, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton THURSDAY, FEB 11 Shockwaves NME Awards Tour 2010 The Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Big Pink, The Drums, 02 Academy, Birmingham Twisted Wheel,

TURNER CODY, The Rainbow, Digbeth THE SIN KINGS, BLACK DOLLAR BILLS, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham THE VIRTUES, BOMBDOG, The CLUSTER, Sunflower Lounge, EINSTELLUNG, Town Birmingham Hall, Birmingham CONTEMPT, TC’s, WILLY VLAUTIN Selly Oak (OF RICHMOND THE LINES, The FONTAINE), The Slade Rooms, Victoria, Birmingham Wolverhampton DECORUM, The Actress & Bishop, SATURDAY, FEB 13 Birmingham Kelly Clarkson IAN KING BAND, (Sold Out), 02 The Glee Club, Academy, Birmingham Birmingham Imogen Heap, CLICHE GUEVARA, 02 Academy 2, BIG STONE Birmingham CULTURE, THE GILBERT MAPATAZI BOB, The & SULLITHON Adam & Eve, Digbeth 2010, Town Hall, DOLL & THE KICKS, Birmingham THE AMATEURS, THE SCHOLARS, THE LIGHTS, Hare & CHAPEL CLUB, THE Hounds, Kings Heath NAKED YOUTH, The PULLED APART Flapper, Birmingham

BY HORSES, THE TELESCOPES, The Slade Rooms, JESUS DELUXE, Wolverhampton EINSTELLUNG, The COLIN BLUNSTONE Victoria, Birmingham (THE ZOMBIES), Robin 2, Bilston 02 Academy 3, Birmingham

FRIDAY, FEB 12 Chipmunk, Daisy Dares You, Tinie Tempah, Skepta, 02 Academy, Birmingham BBC BIG BAND, Town Hall, Birmingham JAMES LEVY,

THE DECLINING WINTER, Island Bar, Birmingham SCARLET CARMINA, FEAR WITHOUT REASON, MILLION EMPIRE, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham

SILVERSHORES, THE SPG, BARNESY, MRS, The Adam & Eve, Digbeth THE NIGHTINGALES, The Little Civic, Wolverhampton THE SUNSHINE UNDERGROUND, Kasbah, Coventry EMPIRICAL, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry SUNDAY, FEB 14 Tinchy Stryder, 02 Academy, Birmingham CARMINA BURANA, Town Hall, Birmingham VALENTINE’S DAY AT THE MUSICALS, Symphony Hall, Birmingham BAND OF SKULLS, BLACK FANGS, BUTTERFLY FAN THE INFERNO, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath THE GROUNDHOGS, Robin 2, Bilston MONDAY, FEB 15 Cherry Poppin Daddies, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham THIS CITY, CITY HERO, KYOTO DRIVE, The Flapper, Birmingham FRANCIS DUNNERY, Kitchen Garden Cafe, Kings Heath

BOOTY LUV, Kasbah, Coventry TUESDAY, FEB 16 Yeasayer, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham MIDLAKE, Town Hall, Birmingham THE HEAVY, The Rainbow, Digbeth SONI-QUELLA, THESE MONSTERS, IO, The Flapper, Birmingham ALAN POWNALL, The Glee Club, Birmingham MASTODON, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton ANGRY VS THE BEAR, The Little Civic, Wolverhampton WEDNESDAY, FEB 17 Lostprophets, 02 Academy, Birmingham THE X FACTOR LIVE!, LG Arena, Birmingham

BETH JEANS HOUGHTON, STORNOWAY, The Glee Club, Birmingham

ANIMAL KINGDOM, SHADY BARD, EVERETT, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath YOUNG RUNAWAYS, Bulls Head, Moseley FEAR FACTORY, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton THURSDAY, FEB 18 Room 94, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham THE X FACTOR LIVE!, LG Arena, Birmingham ULTERIOR MOTIVE, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham SIX DAY RIOT, The Glee Club, Birmingham JOYOUS, The Little Civic, Wolverhampton FRIDAY, FEB 19 Europe, Diamond Head, 02 Academy, Birmingham THE X FACTOR LIVE!, LG Arena, Birmingham BATTLE FOR PRAGUE, BROKEN WITT REBELS, PITSELEH, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham XOVA, ELECTRIC ANIMALS, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham ERLAND & THE CARNIVAL, The Glee Club, Birmingham BLACK HEART

GENERATOR, The Ropewalk, Birmingham INNER TERRESTRIALS, The Adam & Eve, Digbeth MR SCRUFF (SOLD OUT), Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath LES WILSON & THE MIGHTY HOUSE ROCKERS, TC’s, Selly Oak CHESNEY HAWKES, The Little Civic, Wolverhampton WISHBONE ASH, Robin 2, Bilston SATURDAY, FEB 20 Hot Chip, 02 Academy, Birmingham STEVE REICH’S DRUMMING, Town Hall, Birmingham

FINLEY QUAYE, BURNSIDE, TEMPTING ROSIE, The Rainbow, Digbeth ACES HIGH, HOODOO FIFTIES, THE BLUEBEAT ARKESTRA, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham FRIENDLY FIRE MUSIC (FULL BAND), The Adam & Eve, Digbeth BAY CITY ROLLERS, Robin 2, Bilston

DETROIT SOCIAL CLUB, Kasbah, Coventry SUNDAY, FEB 21 Machine Head, Hatebreed, Bleeding Through, All Shall Perish, 02 Academy, Birmingham Owl City, Lights, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham Blonde Louis, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham KATHRYN WILLIAMS, The Glee Club, Birmingham THE SEAL CUB CLUBBING CLUB, THE SKYLINE, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath LIVE BOX WITH DAVID GREY, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath JANE TAYLOR, Kitchen Garden Cafe, Kings Heath UNDER BLACKENED SKIES, TERRORFORM, LEATHERPIG, THE LATE EIGHTIES, Robin 2, Bilston MONDAY, FEB 22 FIRST AID KIT, GOODNIGHT LENIN, The Rainbow, Digbeth SO MANY DYNAMOS, GREATEST HITS, The Flapper,

Birmingham PETER GREEN & FRIENDS, The Glee Club, Birmingham PAPER AEROPLANES, GEORGIA RUTH WILLIAMS, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath TUESDAY, FEB 23 RASE, KASSIDY, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath WEDNESDAY, FEB 24 CBSO CHOPIN 200, Symphony Hall, Birmingham TRIO VD, The Rainbow, Digbeth CHAMBER OF MADNESS, DETRALATE, MASTER WAR BEAST, The Adam & Eve, Digbeth BLACK MARKET EMPIRE, DANNY CONNORS & THE LADDERS, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath SENADEE, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath RIVERS PRESLEY SET, NATALIE FINDLAY, Bulls Head, Moseley OVERKILL, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton BIGELF, The Little Civic, Wolverhampton JON ALLEN, Robin 2, Bilston THURSDAY, FEB 25 Mika, 02 Academy, Birmingham

Kinn, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham EIGHT LEGS, THIS BEAUTIFUL THIEF, LAURA BOWEN, The Rainbow, Digbeth KING CHARLES, MALPAS, TOM PEEL, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath THE LARRY MILLER BAND, Robin 2, Bilston AFRICAN SOUL REBELS, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry FRIDAY, FEB 26 Reamonn, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham THE LATE EIGHTIES, SIXTY FIVE MILES, LITTLE HOLLYWOOD, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham RED LIGHT ROOM, BLUE NATION, DREAMERS NIGHTMARES, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham SEARCHING FOR SERAPHIM, The Ropewalk, Birmingham THE NICK BARRETT BAND, TC’s, Selly Oak KING HERMIT, Kasbah, Coventry SATURDAY, FEB 27 The Soft Pack, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN, Town

Hall, Birmingham OLD SCHOOL TIE, CHINA RED, The Flapper, Birmingham KILLING FIELDS OF ONTARIO, THE DIESELS, LOUTISH LOVER, DISTANT SIGNAL, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham VENICE AHOY, YOUR BIGGEST FANCLUB, (SILVER) SOUVENIRS, The Rainbow, Digbeth MR ELEPHANT PRESENTS (ACTS TBC), The Adam & Eve, Digbeth TWISTED WHEEL, Kasbah, Coventry SUNDAY, FEB 28 CELEBRITY PIANO RECITAL: EMANUEL AX, Town Hall, Birmingham

U.S. GIRLS, The Victoria, Birmingham HENRYS CHILDREN, YOUNG RUNAWAYS, BOMBDOG, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath FUTURES, MAX RAPTOR, HINGE, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath XPOSED PRESENTS, The Asylum, Hockley

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