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Brum Notes Magazine: Issue 9, June 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, Jeff Stuka, Richard Franks, James Sharp, Chloe Botting, Lyle Bignon, Neil Batistuta Pictures: Jason Sheldon, DRW-images, Aaron Andrews, Matt Murtagh, Gobinder Jhitta, Rory Barber Design: Ryan Killeen, Kris Jones, Andy Aitken Illustration: Kris Jones, Martin Wilkie Cover: Kris Jones 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
The Created in Birmingham Shop which closed its doors at the end of May. See News, p5.
Photo by Aaron Andrews
contents NEWS 4-5: Details of an old venue with a big money new look. FEATURES 6: Profile It’s Atta Girl in this month’s breakdown of Birmingham’s movers and shakers. 7: The Gaslight Anthem Even if you hadn’t heard of them until The Boss told you, it’s time to take notice of the New Jersey rockers. 8-9: Delays Southampton’s finest may not seem the most glamorous tag, but they carry it so well. 10-12: Foals This month’s cover stars don’t like old jokes, which is why
Yannis learned to sing. Or something like that. 13: Festival Survival Jeff Stuka teaches you how to handle the notorious summer festival, in a way in which only he can. 14: Festival Previews We look ahead to three of the finest festivals heading to Birmingham over these coming weeks. 15: Craig Charles The disc-spinning Corrie star shares his love of funk. 16-17: Off the Cuff special Three bands hoping to make a name for themselves with their latest incarnations. 18-19: World Cup Fever
We take pot-shots at some of football’s worst musical crimes, plus the best places to watch or avoid the action. REVIEWS 20-21: Live Marina & the Diamonds, Graham Coxon and more. 22: Records The verdict on The Drums. FOOD & DRINK 23: Cocktails England v USA, bar style! COMPETITIONS 24: Escape the footie with a £200 spa break or a night out. LISTINGS 28-31: Gig Guide The biggest and best guide to whats on where.
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news SOUL FOOD
Landmark Kings Heath pub and music venue the Hare & Hounds is once again serving up grub as part a unique new catering venture. The Soul Food Project has taken over the kitchen at the High Street venue in a bid to inject some spice into the city’s pub food scene. Dishes are inspired by southern America with sunburst salads, chilli infused chicken and New Orleans jambalaya. Food is served from Tuesday to Sunday.
KITCHEN NIGHTS
The Kitchen Garden Cafe in Kings Heath has reopened its restaurant in the evenings. It was temporarily closed at nights for a re-think but has relaunched offering a British-inspired ‘small plate menu’ following a consultation period with customers and diners.
WARWICKSHIRE VENUE NAMED BEST IN THE COUNTRY
T
he Assembly in Leamington Spa has been named the best music venue in the UK in the Music Week Awards. The 1,000 capacity nightspot, which has hosted the likes of The Enemy (pictured), Pendulum and The Cribs in recent months, saw off competition from nominees including The O2 Arena, The Shepherds Bush Empire, The O2 ABC in Glasgow and The Lexington, London, to pick up the award. The judges are thought to have focused on investment in front of house and
DIGBETH VENUE TO REOPEN A date has been set for the iconic Digbeth Institute to reopen as a mucic venue. The 100-year-old former church, previously known as the Sanctuary, has enjoyed a multi-million pound refurb - including £1.75m from
backstage facilities, with The Assembly’s renowned artists’ area going down well, with its Tammy Wynette cut-glass artdeco caravan, private bar and lots of toys for performers to enjoy. Venue spokesman Vas Stylianos said: “The news marks our commitment to providing an eclectic and varied programme of events which cater for diverse audiences alongside offering a beautiful, intimate setting in which to see current high-profile, international acts.” See www.leamingtonassembly.com.
Birmingham City Council - since its closure two years ago after being taken over by the HMV-owned Mama Group. It will be renamed the HMV Institute and will open its doors once again on September 17. The main auditorium will have a 1,500 capacity, while the former
Barfly space will accommodate smaller gigs for up to 600 and be re-named The Library, a reference to its original function as a children’s library. One of the first acts announced to play the revamped venue are early 80s veterans Heaven 17, who will perform on November 26.
news
SHOP SUCCESS FOR CITY CREATIVES
Photograph by Matt Murtagh
Bullring shop could return in the autumn after sales of £40,000
A shop set up in Birmingham city centre to
showcase the work of independent artists has closed its doors after racking up tens of thousands of pounds of sales. The Created in Birmingham store was given a temporary home in a prime spot in the Bullring shopping centre and has played host to live music, events and parties, as well as showcasing a variety of art, fashion, literature and other locally produced work. Shop manager Aaron Andrews said they had raised around £40,000 in sales, of which 75 per cent went directly to local artists.
“The shop has been received really well by all concerned,” he said. “We have had a huge response from artists, with around 320 suppliers very kindly trusting us to sell their work. We also had a great response from visitors and customers alike who filled our visitor book with nothing but positive comments.” He said organisers behind Created in Birmingham and the shop would now take some time to look into ways of making it more sustainable with a view to bringing it back. “Fingers crossed we will be back, bigger and better for the autumn,” he added.
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Jurassic 5 rapper heads for brum
Former Jurassic 5 star Chali 2Na will perform a one-off show in Birmingham this month alongside Los Angeles 10-piece funk favourites Breakestra. Chali, aka Charlie Stewart, was one of the brains behind the late 90s hip hop legends, who shot to fame with tracks such as the anthemic Concrete Schoolyard, before splitting three years ago. Now a solo artist, he will perform an hour’s set which is expected to include some classic Jurassic 5 material during the show at the Hare & Hounds on June 26. The night, part of the Leftfoot 10th anniversary celebrations, will also see a lengthy set from the ever-popular collective Breakestra. Tickets £12.50 in advance, from
www.theticketsellers.co.uk.
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profile ATTA GIRL WHAT: All female vocalist clubnight, with the aim of uninhibited fun, free of alienation. WHERE: Island Bar, second Saturday of every month. HIGHLIGHTS: Free mini and big zines, free vegan cake, badges and dancing. Will be DJing at Indietracks Festival. DETAILS: www.attagrrl.co.uk. Twitter @ATTA_grrl and
Exploring the people and places that make up Birmingham’s alternative underbelly. This month, ATTA GIRL, the all female vocalist club night with a keen eye for cartoons, free cake and a good knees-up.
So, how did Atta Girl come about? ATTA girl started not only because of not hearing the kind of post punk/ indie rock/ indie pop etc etc genres of music we wanted to hear but because of the lack of songs by women being played out and about. It became an on-going joke about how you were lucky if you heard a Blondie track if you went to an indie club! Blondie is great but there are several decades of female artists since then and we’ve proved that by filling a whole night with them. Have you ever played Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cindi Lauper? Yes! As well as playing politically right-on tracks by bands like Le Tigre, Sleater-Kinney and Riot Grrrl, shout fests which are lots of fun, we also throw in gems that people aren’t expecting because watching a whole room suddenly dance dramatically and sing along is heart warming. We started off steering clear away from anything that didn’t smack of empowerment but we lightened up as we realised people loved the concept and weren’t at all threatened by the night. We also play things like Club Action (the remix) by Yo Majesty, Fine As Fuck by Scream Club and Peaches. Lyrics that push our British politeness! But there’s nothing wrong with a bit of Kim Wilde. A little bird tells me it’s your birthday, how old are you and how are you celebrating? We’re one whole year old! ATTA girl party! 12th June upstairs at our home, Island Bar. We’ll have a birthday cake and lots of presents for everyone to say thanks for supporting us. If you arrive before 9.30pm there’s spirits + mixer for £2, but if you’re feeling extra naughty there’s a bespoke birthday cocktail for the night. What are your plans for the future? We’ve been asked to DJ at Indietracks Festival in July! We’re taking over the marquee after the bands until the close of the festival. We’d love to get a Lady Fest Birmingham going in the future, but we’d need a lot more people. Thanks to the support we’ve had, a Lady Fest is definitely on the cards. We’re also getting involved in setting up Birmingham’s first Zine Festival, keep an eye out in September. Read more at www.brumnotes.com
You know you’ve made it when you walk into a tattoo parlour and there’s someone getting one of your songs permanently etched onto their body. For The Gaslight Anthem bassist Alex Levine, who was getting his own geisha across his ribs touched up in his friend’s tattoo shop in hometown New Jersey when we caught up with him, it certainly ranks up there with the more surreal experiences of the last couple of years. “Stuff like that just blows you away,” admits Alex. “I’ve seen a lot of kids with our tattoos but never walked in to tattoo shop when someone is getting one done.” Not that the New Jersey punk n rollers have been short of experiences in the whirlwind three years since their debut album Sink or Swim was released. That was followed a year later by their major breakthrough The ‘59 Sound, with this month’s release of American Slang set to complete a prolific rate of three albums in three years. And their latest album marks a major leap forward for both band and fans alike. Written and recorded in the hectic surroundings of New York, singer Brian Fallon’s temporary adopted home, it is a more thoughtful sounding record but still reflects the energy of the city in which it was made – and it should go some way to shaking off their inadvertent tag of some kind of Bruce Springsteen tribute band. Their appearances alongside ‘The Boss’ at Glastonbury last year brought his influence sharply into focus
and while it is still undoubtedly there, American Slang shows off a more expansive approach to their rock roots. And it seems to have been completed a break-neck speed. “We’ve been home for the past five months, we were working on it for about one month and then got into the studio,” explains Alex. “It’s been pretty much ready to go since March, which I think the whole world knows since it got leaked. But that’s how we work, we write songs then record them as soon as possible. When you think about songs too much that’s when bad stuff starts to go awry.” While the band have always been adept at juggling life on the road with their studio commitments, Alex admits they made a conscious effort to take some time out at home as they prepared to work on the third record. “We needed that time to reflect on what’s happened to us in the past two years and to get back to basics. It is an indescribable feeling. I can’t really remember some of the stuff we’ve done because so much has happened, it’s been overwhelming for sure.” Taking the time to think through their approach to American Slang seems to have paid dividends and Alex is rightfully proud
of the end result – while the move from the Garden State to the Big Apple has also had an effect. “I feel like it [American Slang] is a step forward and I feel we’ve achieved what we set out to do, write a record we’re proud of and capitalise on what we’ve done with the last two records. “Wherever we record anything it really does shape things. Brian really is a product of his environment, he adapts to wherever he is. He writes whatever is around him and whatever he sees, whatever brings him any influence. “Him moving to Brooklyn and being part of the New York hustle and bustle definitely put a stamp on this record and all of us commuting back and forth from New Jersey to record in Manhattan. “There’s no place like New York there’s just a lot of people, subways, a lot of congestion all the time, it’s very in your face, whereas New Jersey is a lot more laid back. “I think it has had an impact, we somehow figured out how to make powerful songs without making them all extremely fast. “That’s kind of the same vibe as the Rolling Stones, we took a page from them. I had my record player when I was recording and I was spinning everything from David Bowie to The Clash to old Bob Dylan and an English band called The Sharks. They are a dope band and they will be opening a few shows for us.”
cooking on gas
•The Gaslight Anthem play the O2 Academy, Birmingham, on June 22. •American Slang is out on June 14.
Delays Expected
It hardly seems five minutes since Delays, a fresh-faced four piece from Southampton, were being touted as indie music’s latest great white hopes, with critically acclaimed debut Faded Seaside Glamour earning comparisons with the likes of Stone Roses. But incredible as it may seem, that was 2004, their relationship with Rough Trade hit rough tides and a couple of labels later they are now ready to unleash their fourth studio album in six years,which pretty much qualifies them as elder statesmen of the scene. Their self-financed release Star Tiger, Star Ariel, has seen them return to the iconic Rockfield Studios in Monmouth where they recorded their debut and reunited them with producer Duncan Lewis. The result is their most introspective, ethereal and sonically expansive record to date. Looking at a brief potted history of Delays, led by brothers Greg and Aaron Gilbert alongside bassist Colin Fox and drummer Rowly, it may be easy for some to write them off as indie also-rans. Having never quite scaled the heights expected, they have been through two almost-too-cool labels in Rough Trade and Fiction but have come out the other end smiling ahead of the release of their fourth full length album on Lookout Mountain Records, after a pretty prolific schedule of four albums in eight years. “I didn’t get to bed until 5am, so I felt like my head was stuck up my arse. I keep forgetting the tour doesn’t finish until June 8.” explains infectiously likeable synth maestro Aaron, ramming home the message in his own unique way that Delays are still enjoying the life of a touring rock band. Hardly the behaviour you might expect from four-album veterans. “I suppose we are [veterans] when you look at it like that,” he laughs.
“I think there’s not a lot we haven’t done, but that doesn’t mean to say we don’t still enjoy every minute of it. “An album every two years, predictable isn’t it? “The thing is, we’ve got so much stuff written already but every time we go to do a new album we just end up writing a load more stuff. Two years seems to be the format for us, but by the time you end up touring the album it seems to be how it ends up.” Many bands may have imploded before reaching this point, as it is fair to say Delays have experienced their fair share of dramas with record labels over the years. “Just a bit,” continues Aaron. “It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. We’ve never been bored in that respect. “We’ve encountered some interesting people along the way, shall we say. I don’t think that will ever change. There are always going to be arseholes in the music industry, that seems to be consistent. “When we first started I was less cynical and you think everyone you meet is your friend, but that is not true. But there are nice people out there as well.” After aking it upon themselves to get to work on their latest album last year, Aaron admits it gave them a great degree of freedom to write and record in the way they wanted to, a vital ingredient it would seem. “We didn’t have anyone from outside putting their oar in. Ultimately that is how it should be,” he says. “We kind of feel we know what we are doing and we should be able to make decisions ourselves and we were able to do that this time. “When we recorded it we were doing it off our own back, we put the money in, but we’re releasing it with our publishers who’ve been with us since the start, they are the one constant. It’s also the same producer and the same crew as the first album and a new engineer who is a wizard. It was nice to go back to the same place in Rockfield and just
bunk down and lose ourselves for a while.” Star Tiger, Star Ariel is a more personal, stripped back recording than some of their previous offerings and the band insist it is a lot more reflective on the comforts of their dockland home of Southampton, an approach which has helped their sound develop further. “We can’t sit around doing the same thing, we need to keep ourselves entertained and we can’t just plough the same field over and over again,” continues Aaron. “Definitely things have happened to us as people. We’ve been away so long we really appreciated being back. There’s something really beautiful with the really normal. It was the first time we had time to just go for drives and that sort of thing and look around. “We realised where we live is a pretty cool place.” That “pretty cool place” is hardly renowned for its musical pedigree, although it is also responsible for producing, as Aaron describes him, “the legend that is Craig David.” “He is so big now, I think he’s been pumping some iron. We’ll have to give him an arm wrestle,” he adds. Now that I would pay to see. Star Tiger, Star Ariel by Delays is out on June 21 on Lookout Mountain Records
Renowned football buff Aaron, who along with brother Greg was once on the books of Southampton’s bitter rivals Portsmouth FC as a youth, famously predicted outsiders Greece to win Euro 2004 weeks before the tournament kicked off, following that up with the more predictable shout that Spain would emerge victorious from Euro 2008. So how does he rate England’s chances in South Africa? “The obvious ones for the World Cup are Spain,” he says. “But I’ve got a feeling England are going to make it to the final. I’ve never been so hopeful, but I’m an optimistic person. The problem is if you take Rooney out of the equation.” So there you have it, England for the final – get excited, just not too excited.
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Foals “It wasn’t like people were going to kill each other but at the same time it wasn’t the easiest thing in the world to make this album.”
Foals “We didn’t want to be like the guy at the dinner party who tells the same joke over and over again and everybody has heard it loads of times before.”
As far as second album syndrome goes, it seems FOALS could have written the book on the subject. Rumours of band squabbles, walk-outs and more producers than a Mel Brooks movie may have all been slightly exaggerated in all the excitement about their highly anticipated follow-up to math-rock breakthrough debut Antidotes. But it was not without a fair dose of trouble and strife, yet Foals have managed to emerge victorious through it all bearing one of the finest albums of the year in the shape of Modern Life Forever. Now its time to enjoy it. Sean OMuir finds out more about their plans to bask in the glory of a glorious album. There isn’t much more any normal band can ask for with a new album than a wave of critical acclaim, a top 10 spot in the charts and summer of touring the finest festivals in the world. But normal isn’t a word that really applies to math-rock turned prog-punk pioneers Foals. The Oxford dropouts wrote their second album in their self-consciously pretentious title-bearing base the House of Supreme Mathematics, before recording it with ex-Clor man Luke Smith on production duty in Sweden. And all this with an air of ambivalence that suggests Foals are not seeking mass acceptance. Not that the new album is without its commecial crowd pleasers – Blue Blood and Miami are two of the most radio-friendly tracks they’ve ever made. So the string of five star reviews must have been a nice reward? “We’re pleasantly surprised,” states frontman Yannis Philippakis, with typical understatement. “I think always for any band the second album is difficult, there is almost a mythology around that sort of thing, but we’ve crossed over that. “We didn’t really have any thought for what sort of reviews we would be getting, we didn’t really know. “It is difficult to have any perspective on the record to know whether it is any good or not, but it is nice it has been received the way it has and we just want people to enjoy it.” If now is the time for fans to enjoy it, then media reports throughout its conception would suggest that enjoyment was not something which applied for the band when making it, even if some of those reports were somewhat overblown. “I think too much does get made of a lot of things, but that is kind of the game,” continues Yannis. “They [the problems] did get built up it. There are difficulties involved with the recording process but it is difficult for us to say whether they were blown up too much.
“It wasn’t like people were going to kill each other but at the same time it wasn’t the easiest thing in the world to make this album. “But it was worth it in the end.” As most listeners would quickly spot, Total Life Forever is a lot more than just Antidotes II. In fact, it takes a concentrated cupping of the ear to recognise that it is still the same Yannis behind the microphone, so much has his vocal range and style developed. But as well as that, the song structures and overall sense of proportion have moved on, replacing the choppy, stripped out rhythms with a more expansive sound - or as Yannis puts it they have worked on “filling in the spaces.” “Changing that [the vocal range] was fairly conscious, but the rest of everything else was quite a natural thing where we were filling in the different spaces and working with different things and different sounds. “It wasn’t as contrived as saying we had to do something different, it is more natural to produce something different. “It would have felt fake to recreate the previous sound and it is not interesting for us to do. It is like telling the same joke over and over again. We didn’t want to be like the guy at the dinner party who tells the same joke over and over again and everybody has heard it loads of times before.” Foals reward for their success is a relentless summer schedule including endless festivals across the UK, Europe and Australia, including what is sure to be one of the highlights of Glastonbury this month. So how do they enjoy the festival experience?
“Are we football fans? Yeah, some of us more than others,” says frontman Yannis, unconvincingly. “Right now on the bus the others are playing – what are you playing? - they are playing FIFA right now. “As for predictions – Spain from Jack [Bevan, drummer], Jimmy [Smith, guitarist] says Argentina, possibly because he looks a bit Argentinian today. I say England, obviously.” England for the World Cup. Tell em Yannis told ya.
“I love it,” Yannis insists. “It is unbridled hedonism. “A lot of the time it is just go and play, we never really went to many festivals before we were playing at them so we are not like super accustomed to the festival experience. “Sometimes we get to stay and have a good time. I hope we get to stay at Glastonbury, we played it two years ago but we had to leave straight after we played so it would be nice to see some of it. “We’re playing some other festivals in some really incredible places as well. We’ve never played in Australia before so we’re really excited about that.” So any sagely advice for festival goers this summer? “Take water and always have a lighter on a string.”
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we all know what we need to take, sun cream, wet wipes, a stupid hat, etc etc...But let bile-spitting blogger Jeff Stuka unveil his own unique take on surviving this summer’s musical gatherings. Excited about Glastonbury? Well, read this and you soon won’t be. Festivals! Festivals! Festivals! It’s that time of year again, when hundreds of thousands of us get stupidly excited about the prospect of a long weekend that invariably ends up with a bout of tinnitus or a bout of dysentery. Or both. Can’t wait, can you? I’m not sure about festivals. I’m pretty certain that I could recreate the experience in my back garden by sitting in a hole full of wet mud and pouring the occasional pint of piss over my head whilst hammering 20 gauge nails in my ear. And when that’s over, going for a six mile walk around the block, allowing the local scum enough time to finish lifting my tent and everything in it. But, it’s too late now. Spent June’s rent on a ticket, spent July’s on train fares and borrowed a sleeping bag from me nan. Nothing is going to stop me, not even if they change the line up to include Jamie Cullum and N-dubz. I’m wetting my pantyhose in excitement about the forthcoming three days of personal space invasion by 30,000 sweaty strangers and food so expensive, it would be cheaper if I ate diamond rings for breakfast. I’d better make my preparations. Got a few things sorted in advance. Had bionic eyes fitted. Gonna need that zoom vision when I’m three miles from the stage, stuck behind the sound scaffold, with any minute chance of viewing the Lego sized band obscured behind a sea of pricks waving flags. I’ve also been training homing pigeons. Let’s face it, if my phone isn’t nicked by some scabby little tealeaf within half an hour of arrival, the battery will die and I will be French Connection UK’d when I inevitably lose my nominated carer. Pigeons are the ideal lo-fi communications method for sending a message saying meet me at the Bedford Vans tent, cause I’m watching the Acker Bilk tribute band. I did think of training up a seagull to nick pasties from peoples hands and fly them back to me when I need a snack but common sense got the better of me.
Pigeons and seagulls do not get on. My DNA fingerprinting kit is packed for identifying which git threw the glass of steaming yellow bladder skank that will doubtless land on my head in the middle of Lady Gaga’s set. I have no qualms about calling a halt to proceedings and testing each and every mother in the field until I find the culprit. I’ve made myself a quantity of absorbent pants out of modified pampers. Have you seen the toilets at these places? Two days of queuing just to squat in a voting booth that looks and smells like a Herefordshire bull made an emergency pitstop after a vindaloo and nine pints of Stella. Not for me, thank you very much. I’ll stay exactly where I am and let nature take its course right there. And if Coldplay turn up I can always use them as a dirty protest. It’s also economic on my travel load as they double up as comfy pillows, though another dodgy burrito from that foodstall manned by the woman with five chins and no neck, whose night time skincare routine appears to involve smearing yesterday’s lard into her face, and I might find myself short on comfort by the final night. And I must remember not to stand next to the chronic masturbator this time. There he’ll be, with his eyes glued to that giant TV screen that’s supposed to be showing the band. Those camera men must be trained in the art of picking out every shameless exhibitionist who climbs aboard her boyfriend’s shoulders and whips out her jubblehops. By half nine, there’s no band action anymore, just a rapid flickbook of eyedirt to keep this onanist occupied. He should have had bionic eyes fitted like me then he wouldn’t have had to worry about going blind. So, I think that’s me ready. Hope these tips help you in your preparations. Enjoy yourself and I’ll see you on the other side, people. Jeff Stuka Read more of Jeff Stuka’s ramblings at www.eyesofdiesel.blogspot.com. Illustration By Martin Wilkie - www.martin-wilkie.co.uk
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Various venues across Birmingham throughout June. Full details at www.bassfestival.co.uk.
Moseley Park, Birmingham, July 3-4 Adult tickets: day £28.50; weekend £48.50; children 12-16 £15/£25; accompanied under 12s go free.
BASS Festival (British Arts and Street Sounds), is the UK’s only monthlong celebration of Black music and art and returns this month for its fifth consecutive year. With a theme of ‘DNA’, music, arts and performance events are programmed throughout June at venues including Mac, The Custard Factory and the Rep. Highlights include a UK premiere of an exhibition of political protest artwork at Devonshire House in Digbeth, Jah Shaka Sound System at the Rainbow Warehouse on June 25 and DNA: The Rave at Sence, led by DJs Jetza (pictured) and Felix Splashment.
The first ever Mostly Jazz Festival is the UK’s newest jazz festival and billed as the only, open air, one site event of its kind exclusively dedicated to contemporary jazz, funk and soul. A stellar line up has already been secured with the likes of Sun Ra Arkestra and Courtney Pine alongside leaders of the new wave of British talent such as Polar Bear, Led Bib and
Portico Quartet. Quantic (pictured) returns to his native Midlands with his Combo Barbaro and will also be spinning some tunes at the after party at the Hare & Hounds on the Saturday night (separate tickets needed), alongside actor and BBC 6 Music DJ Craig Charles, who is compering the first day of the festival. And don’t worry, there will be a big screen for the World Cup.
The Flapper, Kingston Row, Birmingham, July 23-25. Tickets: Friday £5 advance; Saturday or Sunday day £8; weekend tickets (Sat & Sun) £14; 3 day ticket £18. Full details at www.offthecuffbirmingham.co.uk.
saw them last year will attest. The sight of guitarist James Brown lying face up on the bar mid-solo, opening a tap and letting beer pour into his mouth was arguably the rock n roll stunt of the year, let alone the weekend. Acoustic performances from the likes of Brum Notes faves BOAT TO ROW and SHOES & SOCKS OFF should stave off the hangovers from the previous nights, before bands such as Tellison, BATS, Tall Ships, The Dead Lights, Victories at Sea, Malpas, Youves, Talons, Hold Your Horse Is and The James Cleaver Quintet ramp up the volume. Appearances from &U&I (formerly Blakfish, playing their first ever gig as a trio), Tangled Hair, MEN, Conquistadors, Adebisi Shank, Holy State, Bronze Medals and alt-indie champions Tubelord add to the bill with still more bands to be announced. Words by James Sharp.
Off the Cuff is doing what not too many people in Birmingham have done for years – enticing great bands to all day festivals that aren’t rubbish. This year’s showcase is nothing short of a dream line-up of alternative bands crammed into a weekend which promises to be bigger, better and - if possible - louder than last year’s affair. The recent announcement that 35 SECONDS will be a main act has all at Brum Notes smiling – we recently revealed how they had been voted most influential Brummie band of the decade in the Blue Whale Blog poll. Fuzzy surf alt-rockers CHAPEL CLUB headline the opening night, while equally appetite-whetting is Saturday headline act PULLED APART BY HORSES, as anyone who
soul man
•The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show, is on Saturdays 7-10pm on BBC 6 Music •He comperes the Mostly Jazz Festival on July 3 and will be DJing at the after party.
While he may be better known to some as Lister from Red Dwarf or the gobby cabbie from Corrie, Craig Charles is also a dab hand behind the decks. The BBC 6 Music DJ will be compering the first day of the Mostly Jazz Festival and promises to “tear the roof off” the after party. James Collins Photo courtesy of Dean Chalkley/BBC finds out more about the actor’s true passion. It is surely most people’s dream to make a living from what they love doing. But for actor-turned-DJ Craig Charles, he has managed it twice. A household name for his roles on screen, he has also been making a useful sideline by indulging his passion for funk and soul music, earning himself an altogether different fanbase. His long-running 6 Music show is one of the most listened to on the under-threat station, while his live DJ slots at clubs and festivals have earned rave reviews. And it seems he couldn’t be happier. “The DJing, that’s where my love lies,” says Craig. “We’re doing all the festivals this year. We’re headlining the WOW stage at Glastonbury and doing lots of others, it’s really exciting.” Most people might struggle to find the time, but for Craig playing the music that he loves to people who want to hear it is a blessing, not a chore. “It’s all kind of Saturdays really. I work 9-5 in my day job, which is Corrie, and of a night I DJ. “I’m just dead lucky, I’ve collected
records for years and years and I’m really lucky that my hobby has turned into an industry. “I’ve been doing my 6 Music show for nearly 10 years but I’ve only really been playing out for the last two. I just didn’t have the confidence really, before that. “The Sun, which hasn’t written a nice word about me since 1964, the year I was born, had me in the top five things at Glastonbury last year, which is incredible really. “I just love playing records. A lot of people who come to the shows know what to expect, a lot of the people listen to the radio show which has just grown and grown. It’s responsible for 10 per cent of the listenership for 6 Music, just our one radio show. “That is really nice so people generally know the music that I play. I would hate it if people thought I was just a guy off the telly who was playing a couple of records, it’s a bit more skilled than that.” Craig will have the honour of introducing a host of top acts on the opening day of the first ever Mostly
Jazz Festival, which comes to Moseley Park on July 3 and 4, warming up the crowd for the likes of Sun Ra Arkestra, Led Bib and Quantic and his Combo Barbaro. But he wouldn’t be drawn on who he is most looking forward to seeing – for fear of reprisals. “I can’t say who I’m most looking forward to, otherwise everyone else will be asking me why I didn’t mention them,” he says with a smile. “So I’m not mentioning anyone, they will all be brilliant!” But his job will not end there, as the funk-loving Liverpudlian will be joining the musical genius behind Quantic, Will Holland, and Birmingham’s own Sam Redmore, to provide the soundtrack to the festival’s official after party at the Hare & Hounds into the small hours of Saturday night. “We will tear the roof off,” he insists. “It’s jazz-based but just so funky, there will be The Horny Horns, James Brown’s backing band, that kind of thing. Lots of horns, lots of energy and I’m really looking forward to it – we will just tear the roof off.”
old faces, new noise
Words by James Sharp, photography by Rory Barber
With band break-ups and personnel changes, some stalwarts of the Birmingham music scene are going through an exciting period of change. Brum Notes Magazine met up with members of &U&I, Victories at Sea and Dead Lights to discuss the impact of this evolution. It’s the worst part of being in a band: the race against the clock. Most discerning musicians would rather slice off their own thumbs than become that band playing AC/DC covers into their 40s. The fruitless attempts of the likes of Ronnie Wood and Paul McCartney to recapture the magic of old are as sad as their faces are wrinkled. More tragic still is the demise of a band in its prime. Earlier this year, internet forums were ablaze
with excited rumours of a Refused reunion. Their split, just months after the release of seminal posthardcore album, The Shape of Punk to Come in 1998, has had fans chomping at the bit ever since in the hope they might reform. The UK independent scene has been plagued of late by such unheralded break-ups: the demise of brilliant math-rock four piece Colour, and of indie blues quintet Mr Derry, last year. Just last month, London-based William called it a day. Perhaps most surprising (for band and fans alike) was the mid-tour break-up of Birmingham hardcore legends Blakfish. “It’s probably the worst thing ever to happen to any of us,” says ex-Blakfish singer and guitarist Thom. “We had all these plans, and suddenly there was nothing to do except package t-shirts.” Thom’s despondency is understandable – Blakfish’s reputation for a relentless work ethic is well documented. After 10 years together
(the last four defined by increasingly intense gigging and recording schedules as well as growing success), the abrupt end must have felt like forced redundancy minus the payout. But the underground is evolving. From the ashes of these fallen bands rises a new vanguard of alternative acts ready to usher in a new unsigned era. One such fallen band is Mr Derry, whose edgy, blues driven sound was central to the indie scene a few years ago. Formed of ex-members Dave, Tom and Noel as well as new addition Josh, a more rounded, mature sound characterises their new incarnation, Dead Lights. “I suppose we started listening to more electronic, experimental music,” explains guitarist/vocalist Dave. “In Mr Derry, we realised we were making music we didn’t want to make, even though we all have similar tastes in bands.” More progressive leanings seem to
be the vogue. Thom, Wiz and Rich, formerly three quarters of Blakfish, describe their new project &U&I as such. “We’ve been told it’s like Blakfish, but darker,” says Thom, before Wiz chimes in with “I suppose it’s more… epic-y.” Wiz later concedes “epic-y” isn’t a word, but it’s not difficult to see where he’s coming from. More and more underground bands are producing richly ambitious soundscapes without the trappings of pretentiousness so commonly associated with ‘epic’ music. Embraced by bands like Talons and Shapes, this is a sound which has been gradually entering the consciousness of the independent scene and now looks set to take off.
page seventeen
“We’ve been told it’s like Blakfish, but darker,” Thom, &U&I Wiz attributes this to small venues’ increased acceptance of less conventional acts. “Ten years ago it was all ska-punk – Ten Men Jen, Farse – so we found it hard to fit in, but now there are more venues willing to take chances,” he says. “Smaller clubs are doing more to get experimental bands on. “Personally, I think The Flapper is the best venue for unsigned bands in the country right now.”
Tubelord and Adebisi Shank, the latter praised by Thom of &U&I as “the best band I’ve ever seen live.” “Last year’s festival was great,” says JP, who will be playing on the Friday ( July 23) with Victories at Sea alongside Dead Lights and Chapel Club. “It reminded me of [club night] Panic at the Sanctuary and The Barfly before it closed down – everybody was out. You just kept running into people you hadn’t seen for ages.” This sense of burgeoning community is what is currently driving the underground scene. Eschewing the standard format of all-day festivals (which, in Birmingham, used to be characterised by their distinct lack of character) Off The Cuff is a relentless showcase of one great act after another.
Victories at Sea frontman, JP, has witnessed this progression over The Flapper has undoubtedly years of active involvement in upped its game in its endless the Birmingham scene. “I don’t championing of independent acts. It’s an exciting time for music in think indie, post-punk bands in Following the success of last year’s Birmingham, underlined by the Liverpool or Manchester would Off The Cuff festival, this year’s eagerness of perished bands to roll necessarily get on with hardcore promises even bigger bands like bands like Blakfish,” he with the punches and Clockwise from top left: Dead Lights, &U&I, Victories at Sea says, “but in Birmingham start afresh to keep the there’s a mutual respect scene alive. The least you regardless of genre.” can do is indulge them. Brace yourselves for this Bassist Steve, expounding summer’s spontaneous a similar view to Dead musical combustion – Lights, explains that something tells us it’s bands are now more able going to be… well, epic. to express themselves, to make the music they All three bands play at the want, rather than that Off The Cuff festival which which people expect. runs from July 23 to 25 at The Flapper in Kingston This burgeoning Row, Birmingham city community is not centre. exclusive to Birmingham bands. There are now For more information on more independent bands Off The Cuff, go to www. than ever from all over offthecuffbirmingham.co.uk. the UK – the world, even For tickets visit www. – visiting Birmingham on wegottickets.com. their tour schedules.
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Aaaahhh, the World Cup. The nation united, the beautiful game on the telly everyday and... songs, godawful bloody songs. Thankfully the FA has decided against an official England anthem, although yet another re-hash of Three Lions and countless other lame attempts are still filtering through. Tom Pelll looks at some of the best and “Are we football fans? Yeah, some of us more than others,” worst - ok pretty much just worst - offenders says frontman Yannis, unconvincingly. from over the years... “Right now onOh thedear. busRuss, the Robbie, others are what are whatplaying are you–playing at? If, as wanted by many, you are going to re-record Three Lions, then at least chuck in you playing? - they playing right a neware verse or two,FIFA rather thannow. just bunging in a bizarre choir and slowing it down a bit before the chorus. They’ve not even tried. To call it karaoke would actually offensive to karaoke. Sorry, karaoke. “As for predictions – Spain from Jack [Bevan,bedrummer], But it’s not all their fault – the players themselves surely have to take some of the blame. We’ve seen, “...that tackle by Moore, Jimmy [Smith, guitarist] says Argentina, possibly because he looks a bit Argentinian today. I sayBobby England, obviously. ” Ah, beautiful! Makes you misty-eyed. But this lot?! What can they write when Lineker scored, belting the ball....’” about; Rob Green looking like an overgrown Dewey from Malcolm In The Middle, John Terry building Bridges with the wags or the England for the World Cup. Tell em Yannis told ya. general, day to day morals and backbone of Ashley Cole? Jeez. You try and rhyme something with, “metatarsal”. What is the stigma with football songs? People, lots of people, are good at writing songs. There’s loads of good ones. That one about the grapevine, or those steps going up to“Ittheis clouds - lovely songs. But the moment you pop ‘football’ in to the equation, we get this lot... “I love it,” Yannis insists. unbridled hedonism. “AEmbrace lot of the time–itWorld is just goAt andOur play, Feet we never really went to Isn’t the idea of a World Cup song to stir emotion, theare fansnot believe many festivals before we were playing at themmake so we like super accustomed to theto festival and give them something chant atexperience. half time in the pub? Someone
should have told Embrace, as they were the only ones still awake come
“Sometimes we get to stay and have a good time. I hope we get the end of their 2006 masterpiece. to stay at Glastonbury, we played it two years ago but we had to leave straight after we played so it would be nice to see some ofJohn it. Barnes and New Order – World In
Motion
“We’re playing some other festivals in some really incredible With aasnodwell. to co-writer Keith Allen, thisinisAustralia the best ofbefore a bad bunch. A places We’ve never played so we’re memorable little rap, sing-along chorus and brilliantly cheap video really excited about that.”
secures World In Motion’s place in England folklore.
So any sagely advice for festival goers this summer?
Antwater andandDec – We’re On The Ball” “Take always have a lighter on a string.
Pretty much the only proof the world has that the two Geordie munchkins aren’t effortlessly good at everything, this one sounded better on paper. And then, it sounded like two Geordie munchkins rerecording an old Arsenal song, and didn’t sound great.
K’Naan – Wavin’ Flag Despite being written by an Indian side dish, the official 2010 World Cup song for the tournament is actually quite fun. True, it’s not fit to lick Nessun Dorma’s boots, but it ties in with the colour and overall mentalness of South Africa with reckless abandon.
Chico – It’s England Time “Pass to Rooney, come on England play that footy, play it good and score it naughty, now the dream’s reality, so come on just score it for me’”. Actual nonsense. Imagine, World Cup Final, last minute, Rooney hits a 30 yard screamer and lifts up his shirt to reveal, ‘This one’s for you, Chico’ emblazoned on his vest.
Niki Evans – ‘We’re the Champion-nees’
Illustration by Kris Jones
Most possibly the song that made Chico think, “yeah, why not”, and definitely the worst football song that has ever been conceived. Aston Villa fan and X Factor reject Niki Evans tried to drum up support for the 2010 Carling Cup Final, but only succeeded in inventing a word. ‘Champion-nees?’ Yes, really. Youtube, now.
It’s the greatest spectacle on earth so may as well enjoy it. Or avoid it. Either way, here’s our tips for the best places to catch the action or steer clear altogether. When you’re not sat in front of that massive HD telly you just bought, that is. Just don’t forget to put it on the HD channel.
EMBRACE IT: Adam & Eve pub, Digbeth
Four big screens, speakers in the smoking yard, free half-time food in England games and special country-themed drinks promotions during all other matches. Plus DJs and bands afterwards.
The Victoria, John Bright St, Birmingham Big screen action upstairs with the usual array of great drinks. Free advance tickets for all England games to keep the riff-raff out.
The Plough, High Street, Harborne
Enjoy the action while tucking into possibly Birmingham’s best pub food. Plus the added bonus of a 50ins telly in the gorgeous garden.
O2 Academy, Horsefair, Birmingham
Perfect if you fancy big match atmosphere with no windows. Giant screen and big sound system, plus VIP areas and cheap beers.
The Public, New Street, West Bromwich
Free big screen action inside one of the region’s most eye-catching buildings. With football themed artwork on display and great beers.
The Rainbow, Digbeth
Big screens in the pub and the courtyard with free parties, BBQs and top DJs on match days. Billed as a chance to watch it away from the lager louts. Although beer is only £1.50.
The Flapper, Kingston Row, Birmingham
All the matches on the big screen, with a chance to chill out by the canal. Plus a summer menu served up until 9pm and DJs at weekends.
ESCAPE IT: The Glee Club, Birmingham
No big screens, no crowds of football fans, just the usual selection of fine comedy and fine music. Turn to p24 for your chance to win a free night out there.
Island Bar, Birmingham
Unlike its sister venues, no big screen action upstairs, or downstairs. Just cocktails, music and the usual packed calendar of events upstairs.
Centenary Square, Birmingham city centre You know that giant screen outside that’s cost more than £1m and hasn’t been switched on in two years? Well you can’t watch the football there in case people are naughty.
THE ADAM & EVE
Bradford St, Digbeth, Birmingham B12 0JD JUNE LISTINGS: Every Monday: ‘Broken Amp’, our weekly acoustic night showcasing local talent. E-mail brokenamp@live.co.uk for bookings. Wednesday 2nd: Access to Music Showcase with: Joyous + Sparky + Tony and Ben. Thursday 3rd: The Coronation Gypsies + The Carpels Friday 4th: Acoustic Who + The Modfather. Saturday 5th:’What you gonna play now?’Old skool, beats, bass and breaks ft Hodges (Mellow Yellow/Q Club),Beast Rave DJs & Enicma. Sunday 6th: BRMB Walkathon Party. Funk, soul and rare groove DJs all day. Wednesday 9th: The Little Hut Club presents 3 live bands. Cheap drink deals (Carlsberg £2, VS £2 and Sourz £1) Thursday 10th: ‘Incoming’: Cliché Guevara + Mr. Shankly Friday 11th: The Little Hut Club presents: World Cup Launch night with 3 live bands and DJs till 4am. Saturday 12th: FOOTY, 360 AND BEER. England Vs. USA, free half time food and as always everyone is welcome . ++THERE WILL BE NO DOOR CHARGE, COMPLETELY FREE EVENT++ To celebrate England’s victory we will keep the party going until the wee hours with the mighty 360 and DJs till 5am. Sunday 13th: Group C game Algeria Vs Slovenia 1.30pm. Cheap beer deals and free half time food. Followed by the cool sounds of The Enicma. Thursday 17th: ‘Eat It Up’ presents: The Bayonets + Dead Lights + Circle Circus + The Benwahs Friday 18th: England Vs Algeria 7.30pm followed by a The Jam DRC. Saturday 19th June: The Adam & Eve presents a night of scratchtastic funk, hip-hop and R&B with original Scratch Pervert DJ FIRST RATE, renowned Jazz Horn instrumentalist BRYAN CORBETT, PARADOX AKA THA USUAL SUSPECT MCing, chatting and spouting and The ENICMA on percussion. Aired live on Rhubarb Radio. Tickets £5 at www.theticketsellers.co.uk, . Sunday 20th June: Open Xpress poetry afternoon hosted by the infamous Big Bren. Real poetry and acoustics every month, 4pm start, free roast spuds too. Wednesday 23rd: England Vs. Slovenia 4pm. DJs till 2am . Thursday 24th: Slipstream and friends Friday 25th: tbc Saturday 26th: ‘Pressure Drop’ hosted by the up and coming 8 piece Ska outfit Tempting Rosie, for their EP release party. Support from Cellophane Flowers and others. Upcoming Events: July 9th: Whomanity presents Juggla Live. July 16th: An audience with HOWARD MARKS AKA MR. NICE. Tickets £7 at www.theticketsellers.co.uk. July 31st: Punk Picnic Warm Up All Dayer. August 27th: Citizen Fish! Support from Meat Hook and Waste of Organs. Tickets £5 at www.theticketsellers.co.uk. THE ADAM & EVE IS NOW ON TWITTER : theadamdigbeth www.theadam.co.uk, www.myspace.com/theadammusic Facebook: adam-eve, 0121 693 1500
live
MARINA & THE DIAMONDS The Glee Club Birmingham May 12
Resplendent in Disney print dungarees and glitzy high heels, Marina Lambrini Diamandis and band, aka Marina and the Diamonds, opened their UK tour in the intimate surroundings of Birmingham’s Glee Club, more than exceeding the hype generated by the release of debut album The Family Jewels. Storming on stage to perform in front of a capacity audience, the Welsh wonder set the tone early on with a searing and spiky version of Girls, Girls, Girls, before tearing through Seventeen and The Outsider, both full of growling vocals, punctuated by feral screams. Breathing life into tracks which sound a little saccharine on record seemed effortlessly easy for the 25 year old; Diamandis upped the ante further during chart smash I’m Not A Robot by donning a beekeeper hood a la Grace Jones and delivering a dance routine that could teach Peter Crouch a thing or two. Playing to her vocal strengths with 80s tastic Shampain and a moving solo performance of Golden Line, the short but spectacular set finished with a cracking cover of Katy Perry’s Starstruck 303. As they say in Abergavenny – tidy. Words by Lyle Bignon Photo by Jason Sheldon
ALKALINE TRIO O2 Academy Birmingham May 21
Twelve years in and faced by the black backdrop poster of a giant impaled bird behind ominous figures of messrs Skiba, Andriano and Grant – you know what you’re going to get with Alkaline Trio.
However, a copious seven studio album’s does lead to one hell of a fan-boy’s set list. Newbies This Addiction, Dine, Dine My Darling and Dead On The Floor? Check. Old timers favourites, Emma, Armageddon and Radio’? Double check. And you diehards; have a little go on My Friend Peter, Nose Over Tail and 97. Lovely.
As the ever eccentric Skiba fools around with the crowd, it is Andriano’s songwriting and vocals that continue to see the biggest leap forward, combining the most diverse melodies and lyrics of the newer songs. On the borderline ballad, I’m Fine they even throw the ol’ switcheroo, as Skiba plays drums,
Grant takes over on bass and Andriano tackles lead guitar, with the tempo suiting the now ageing crowd, resigned to singing away and feet tapping, with not a pogo jump in sight. New album, This Addiction may not win Trio many new fans, but the old guard just can’t seem to kick the habit. Words by Tom Pell
THE FALL O2 Academy 2 Birmingham May 11
THE GRAHAM COXON POWER ACOUSTIC ENSEMBLE Town Hall Birmingham May 15
A timid Graham Coxon strolls on stage with his 11-strong band and mutters. “Hello. You’ll have to remind me to introduce everyone later on, because there are too many members and I will forget,” he mumbles. Notable names included folk-icon Martin Carthy, Robyn Hitchcock and Graham Fox. Coxon opened the set with ‘Look into the Light’, the opening track to his newest album, The Spinning Top. The Power Ensemble gave a completely different insight to his music, alongside Radiohead visual artist Chris Hopewell directing video projections, bearing hindsight to the concept story of the album. This wasn’t a normal Graham Coxon concert. No, it was The Graham Coxon Power Acoustic Ensemble – which meant percussion harmonies and even dilruba instrumentals – but also meant showcasing the 2009 release for the last time with the Ensemble. Track three on the album, In the Morning held live annotations best described as impeccable, flawless, intuitional and absolute; an eight minute and 41 second period of genuine brilliance that sent shivers down the spine and warranted a deserved rapture of applause. Words by Richard Franks. Photo by Gobinder Jhitta.
Nearly three hours after the doors open Mark Smith saunters onto the stage grimacing at the crowd and belts out Slippy Floor, the first single off their latest and 28th album thus far, Your Future Our Clutter. As the only original member of the band still standing it becomes apparent very quickly that Smith runs things on stage and off, including the woman in his life who he repeatedly budges off her own keyboard throughout the performance. It also becomes pretty apparent that the other members of the band could be pretty much anyone and that essen-
KISS LG Arena Birmingham May 5
Photo by drw-images
tially Smith independently makes up The Fall regardless of who the others happen to be at the time. For someone who is perhaps naïve to the legacy of The Fall’s part in the post-punk movement, this gig is not an ideal place to start, This particular live performance might not do Mark Smith’s poetic talent justice in a way that listening to some of the older records might before he lost both his teeth and his mind. However, his stage presence and verbal diarrhoea give an insight into his stream of consciousness that gives The Fall something different and it is these glimpses of genius that help maintain their cult following. Words by Chloe Botting
page twenty-two
records CRYSTAL CASTLES
THE DRUMS
Crystal Castles (II)
The Drums
(Moshi Moshi/Island)
This debut has seemed a long time coming since last October’s Summertime! EP. But it was worth waiting for a spot-on summer record. Beautifully understated, woozy and adding
surfer cool and romantic reminiscence to their 80s English miserabilist vibe. Beginning with the familiar drawl of Best Friend, the similarity of choruses that follow threatens repetition but there is an effortless flow with the relentless Let’s Go Surfing, delicate Down By The Water and the robotic It Will All End In Tears. SO
(Fiction)
Never change a winning formula, so the saying goes. And for visionary electronic duo Crystal Castles, why would they? Their rush-released second LP is as haunting, often disconcerting and
relentlessly engaging as their acclaimed debut two years ago. The euphoric, melodic backdrop of Celestica adds a new sense of drama, Doe Deer maintains their taste for speed and discomforting screams, while Baptism is a violent mood swing of a rave. Crystal Castles will suck you in and spit you out through an absorbing electronic journey. JC
DELAYS
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM
GREG BIRD & FLAMINGO FLAME
(Lookout Mountain Records)
(SideOneDummy Records)
(Speech Fewapy Records)
Star Tiger Star Ariel
I’ve never seen much of Southampton, but this album sure makes it sound a beautiful place. Delays’ latest is an emotive reflection of returning to home comforts, with Greg Gilbert’s almost impossible falsetto sound given a delicate backdrop of epic melancholy. It is not without its energetic rock moments either. JC
American Slang
Just don’t mention Springsteen. Ok, so his emotional rock influence is still there, but also think 70s Dylan, The Rolling Stones and even a smattering of the Weezerstyle pop. It is a nostalgic record, filled with Brian Fallon’s penchant for life stories, but gleefully embellished with unapologetic guitar riffs and relentless energy. JC
Shruburbia (EP)
When music transcends all else that preoccupies your grey matter upon first hearing, you know you’ve got something special. This free download EP is an other-worldly synth-pop masterpiece, that takes you on a journey through one man’s record collection drawing on influences from Prince to the Cocteau Twins. NB
page twenty-three
food & drink
Island Bar 14-16 Suffolk Street Birmingham B1 1LT 0121 632 5296
a s u s v d n a l g n E
In anticipation of England’s World Cup opener against USA on June 12, Island Bar manager Matthew Marriott takes us through the only clash that really matters - cocktails!
America. Land of the free. England’s first opponents in South Africa. Responsible for many inventions that have enhanced our lives; toilet paper (1857), the swivel chair (1776), the vibrator (1869, steam powered!), the pop-up toaster (1919). The list goes on, but one of America’s biggest contributions to society must surely be the invention of the cocktail as we know it. The word cocktail was first defined in print in 1806 as “a stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters.” It was mid 19th century California where mixed drinks really started to take off. The gold rush brought miners from all backgrounds and they bought their native drinks with them, this resulted in a wide range of different products in the same place for the first time. The roaring 20s is perhaps the era most romantically linked to American cocktail history, this despite the fact that alcohol was illegal throughout this decade! Prohibition began in 1920 and lasted until 1933, although this did little to reduce the alcohol consumption in the USA. Cocktails found a much larger following through necessity. Much of the liquor available was of a very poor standard, it was illegally distilled with little regard for quality. Thus new and more flavourful cocktails were created in order to make the liquor more palatable.
One traditional American cocktail that is also great for the summer months is the Mint Julep. This strong, sweet and very cold concoction is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby.
Right, that’s the opposition dealt with, but I can’t leave without considering an English summer classic....
Mint Julep
Pimm’s Cup
50ml Bourbon (adjust according to cup/glass size) 6-8 mint leaves 1 tsp caster sugar (adjust to taste)
50ml Pimm’s No.1 (adjust according to cup/glass size) 150ml Lemonade For garnish: Mint leaves, sliced cucumber, orange and strawberry.
Add Bourbon and sugar to a julep cup (or a tall, Collins type glass is fine) and stir until sugar dissolves. Add mint leaves and pack cup with crushed ice. Using a long spoon stir vigorously so that the mint is evenly distributed through the drink. Top with more crushed ice and garnish with a couple of fresh mint sprigs placed right next to a straw or two.
Fill a tall glass with ice cubes, add garnish except mint leaf, top with lemonade and decorate with mint leaf. The garnish is key to this drink, you can really change the flavour by adding and/or swapping ingredients. The garnish here is as recommended by the manufacturers of Pimm’s. Apple and lemon are two examples that work very well.
y ion and subtlety narrowl The verdict? English tradit y. and simplicit defeats American strength
page twenty-four
COMPETITIONS>
escape the world cup in style!
If the thought of four weeks of football fills you with dread, then we’re giving you the chance to get away from it all with a free spa break for two at Ragdale Hall in Leicestershire worth nearly £200, or a free night out including dinner and drinks at Birmingham’s finest comedy venue, The Glee Club!
win a night out, dinner
&
drinks for two
Some things in life are guaranteed. Death, taxes, our national team losing on penalties and hilarious live comedy every weekend at The Glee Club Birmingham! With no big screens and no footy louts, just top class live comics on stage in one of the UK’s finest live comedy clubs, you can kiss goodbye to a month of inevitable disappointment by winning yourself entry for two to The Best In Live Stand-up Comedy on a Friday or Saturday night for the duration of the tournament in June and until July 10 at The Glee Club. And the good people at The Glee are also throwing in a meal for each person plus a bottle of house wine or a 4-pint pitcher of lager to share, valid for a Friday or Saturday of your choice until July 10. Win one of four pairs of tickets (including food & drink) by completing this sentence: “After the World Cup John Terry should…….” Those which make us laugh until a little bit of wee comes out win. Email your entries to duncan@glee.co.uk by no later than 12 noon, Wednesday June 16 with your choice of date. Winners will be contacted by email. Usual Glee Club Terms And Conditions apply. For full listings visit www.glee.co.uk.
win a world cup escape sp a break for t wo We’re offering World Cup WAGS the chance to win a day of pampering and relaxation for two in a footie-free sanctuary at the award-winning RAGDALE HALL, in Leicestershire, worth a whopping, £198 The World Cup Escape Day package includes: •Glam ‘n’ Gorgeous Manicure (40 minutes) •Three course healthy buffet lunch •A full size Leighton Denny nail polish to take home •A glass of pink bubbly and a sharing plate of tapas. •Use of all facilities and services
to win, tell us:
Arrival 10am, departure 7pm, worth £99 per person, available Monday to Friday during June or July.
what is the name of wayne rooney’s wife?
email answers to competitions@brumnotes.com by june
18.
(Terms and conditions apply)
for information on world cup escapes and other packages at ragdale hall, visit www.ragdalehall.co.uk.
in association with
Compering the festival
ry Jazz,
empora
ing Cont
Celebrat
Funk &
Soul
Also featuring The Fantastics!, Sara Colman, Moon Unit, Nick Pride & the Pimptones, The Chris Bowden Trio, The Getup, MC3, Groove Cartel, TG Collective Trio, Sister Henry & the Prescriptions, Beebe. Leftfoot 10th Anniversary DJ sets from DJ Dick, Sam Redmore & Adam Regan
page twenty-eight
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. BAND OF HORSES, June 14, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton Sweeping, modern take on Americana from bearded, alt-rock favourites. Tickets £13.50, www.wolvescivic.co.uk. 2. WE ARE SCIENTISTS, June 22, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton Loveable rogues return with their brand of punchy, thoughtful indie rock, with Chew Lips support. Tickets £12.50 , www.wolvescivic.co.uk. 3. BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE, June 26, O2 Academy 2, Birmingham Alt-indie cult heroes showcase material from latest album Forgiveness Rock Record. Tickets £13.50, www.ticketweb.co.uk. 4. BREAKESTRA, CHALI 2NA, June 26, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath Catch the voice of Jurassic 5 going it alone, as well as a 10-piece funk collective in one night. Tickets £12.50 advance, www.theticketsellers.co.uk. 5. THE FEATURES, June 29, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath Volcano-delayed American rockers out to prove they’re more than just Kings of Leon’s mates. Tickets £6, www.brumnotes.com. CLUB NIGHTS 1. atta girl June 12, Island Bar First birthday party for all female vocalist club night. With cake! Entry £1.
2. DIRRTYLUV OPENING PARTY June 13, Rainbow, Digbeth Daytime to nighttime BBQ & party in Courtyard and Cellar. Entry £5
3. STUPID UNDERGROUND June 19, Custard Factory Herald the Factory club’s new era in its spruced up new home. Free before 11.30pm, £10 after
BOOKING AHEAD FOR TICKETS AND UP-TO-THE-MINUTE LISTINGS VISIT:
MOSTLY JAZZ FESTIVAL
July 3-4, Moseley Park £various, www.mostlyjazz.co.uk. OFF THE CUFF FESTIVAL July 23-25, The Flapper £various, www.seetickets.com
SUPERSONIC FESTIVAL Oct 22-24, Custard Factory £75, www.seetickets.com
FOALS November 3, 02 Academy £14, www.ticketweb.co.uk
TUESDAY, JUNE 1 VILLAGERS, The Glee Club, Birmingham BLACK EYED PEAS, LG Arena, Birmingham FOUR YEAR STRONG, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton KASSIDY, O2 Academy3, Birmingham THE BOY WHO TRAPPED THE SUN, O2 Academy3, Birmingham CRIME IN STEREO, The Flapper, Birmingham WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2 CARNIFEX, O2 Academy3, Birmingham SPECTRES, Sound Bar, Birmingham THE EIGHTIES MATCHBOX B-LINE DISASTER, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath DEAR SUPERSTAR, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton THURSDAY, JUNE 3 ANDREW MAXWELL, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton JOHN FAIRHURST, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath ERIK TRUFFAZ & SLY JOHNSON, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath AGAINST ME, O2 Academy2, Birmingham
Band of Horses, June 14, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
FUTURE OF THE LEFT, The Rainbow, Digbeth TREY SONGZ, O2 Academy, Birmingham ONCE A WOLF, FURTHEST FROM ITHACA, Actress & Bishop, Birmingham THE CORONATION GYPSIES, THE CARPELS, The Adam & Eve, Digbeth FRIDAY, JUNE 4 EVERY AVENUE, OUT OF SIGHT, O2 Academy2, Birmingham TEMPLETON PEK, The Flapper, Birmingham CRUK FUNDRAISER, Island, Birmingham ON SCREEN HEROES, SHARP DARTS, Actress & Bishop, Birmingham THE SAND DUNES, CHAPTER VIII, SONS OF THE DESERT, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
BENJAMIN BRUNEL, The Glee Club, Birmingham UTAH SAINTS, The Rainbow, Digbeth SATURDAY, JUNE 5 MURDER BY DEATH, O2 Academy3, Birmingham SOUND OF CONFUSION, The Victoria, Birmingham DIAMOND BLAKK, SILENT JACK, SOUR MASH, Actress & Bishop, Birmingham PHOSPHORESCENT, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath MILES HUNT & ERICA NOCKALLS, The Glee Club, Birmingham SUNDAY, JUNE 6 JONAH MATRANGA, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath VANNA, O2 Academy3, Birmingham TWO SPOT GOBI, Sound Bar, Birmingham
MONDAY, JUNE 7 SKIN, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton JACKIE LEVEN, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath TEENAGE FANCLUB, O2 Academy, Birmingham JACK MCNEIL & CHARLIE HEYS, Kitchen Garden Cafe, Kings Heath TUESDAY, JUNE 8 LEONA LEWIS, LG Arena, Birmingham POWDERFINGER, O2 Academy2, Birmingham BOB EVANS, O2 Academy2, Birmingham RISE TO REMAIN, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9 PETE ROE, The Glee Club, Birmingham THE BLACK ATLANTIC, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath
JAY-Z, LG Arena, Birmingham SECOND CITY SOUL, Jam House, Birmingham THE LITTLE HUT CLUB PRESENTS, The Adam & Eve, Digbeth THURSDAY, JUNE 10 LEONA LEWIS, LG Arena, Birmingham BLESSURE GRAVE, The Flapper, Birmingham CHRIS BROWN, O2 Academy, Birmingham ANNA B SWEET, Island, Birmingham JAMES YUILL, Hare And Hounds, Kings Heath THE GLASS GODS, Actress & Bishop, Birmingham THE MISERABLE RICH, The Glee Club, Birmingham CLICHE GUEVARA, MR SHANKLY, The Adam & Eve, Digbeth
FRIDAY, JUNE 11 THE WOE BETIDES, The Flapper, Birmingham BRYN BOWEN & THE SHALFONTS, Island, Birmingham THE DIESELS, BROKEN WITT REBELS, JACKPIKE, Actress & Bishop, Birmingham THE LEAN YELLOWS, THE MILITANTS, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham SOLDIER, Sound Bar, Birmingham THE LITTLE HUT CLUB PRESENTS, The Adam & Eve, Digbeth
Symphony Hall, Birmingham EXIT CALM, The Little Civic, Wolverhampton
SATURDAY, JUNE 12 MU CAO, 4 STAR TREATMENT, Actress & Bishop, Birmingham
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16 TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton KEANE, O2 Academy, Birmingham JEFF KLEIN, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath
SUNDAY, JUNE 13 JENNI & BILLY, Kitchen Garden Cafe, Kings Heath KENNY ROGERS,
MONDAY, JUNE 14 BAND OF HORSES, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton CHAOS ACOUSTIC CLUB, The Victoria, Birmingham TUESDAY, JUNE 15 WHEATUS - 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR, O2 Academy2, Birmingham OLD SCHOOL TIE + MUCHUU, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath
We Are Scientists, June 22, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
THURSDAY, JUNE 17 RATT, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton LABAS, NOIR VENDETTA, Actress & Bishop, Birmingham THE BAYONETS, DEAD LIGHTS, CIRCLE CIRCUS, THE BENWAHS, The Adam & Eve, Digbeth FRIDAY, JUNE 18 THE HIP PRIESTS, THE FEDS, LOVEKATE KILLGEORGE, Old Wharf, Digbeth SHANA TOVA, SKELETONS, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath SATURDAY, JUNE 19 SUZANNE VEGA, Town Hall, Birmingham DOGS, The Flapper, Birmingham VOODOO SIX, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton GOOD QUESTION DEREK, Actress & Bishop, Birmingham THE DUPLICATES, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath SUNDAY, JUNE 20 DEATHSTARS, SYBREED, O2 Academy2, Birmingham FINLEY QUAYE, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath THE MOMERATHS, STEALING SHEEP, BIG HANDS BIG HEART, Kitchen Gar-
Chase Forest, Staffordshire BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE, O2 Academy2, Birmingham PAPER TIGERS, LAZY J, GAZ WAITE, Actress & Bishop, Birmingham TEMPTING ROSIE, CELLOPHANE FLOWERS, The Adam & Eve, Digbeth AKALA, Kasbah, Coventry SUNDAY, JUNE 27 TINIE TEMPAH, WILEY, The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton JESSE MALIN, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton The Features, June 29, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath
den Cafe, Kings Heath MONDAY, JUNE 21 ELVIS COSTELLO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham TUESDAY, JUNE 22 THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM, O2 Academy, Birmingham THROATS + LAVOTCHKIN, The Flapper, Birmingham JOHN ILLSLEY OF DIRE STRAITS, O2 Academy3, Birmingham LISSIE & ALAN POWNALL, The Glee Club, Birmingham WE ARE SCIEN-
TISTS, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23 AL GREEN AND MICHAEL MCDONALD, LG Arena, Birmingham THURSDAY, JUNE 24 PINK, Ricoh Arena, Coventry THE BRONX/MARIACHI EL BRONX, Kasbah, Coventry BIRTHRITE, TSURIS, Actress & Bishop, Birmingham FRIDAY, JUNE 25 SIMPLY RED, Cannock Chase Forest, Staffordshire
THE GET UP KIDS, O2 Academy2, Birmingham JESSE MALIN, O2 Academy3, Birmingham SCISSOR SISTERS, O2 Academy, Birmingham KILLER YOGI, SONI-QUELLA, Actress & Bishop, Birmingham CARLO, PANACEA DREAM, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham SATURDAY, JUNE 26 BREAKESTRA & CHALI 2NA, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath KEANE, Cannock
MONDAY, JUNE 28 BLONDIE, The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton TUESDAY, JUNE 29 THE FEATURES, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath ACOUSTIC SHOWCASE WITH BEN DRUMMOND, Jam House, Birmingham WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30 HOCKEY, O2 Academy2, Birmingham JELLYBEAN REBELLION, O2 Academy3, Birmingham UNICORN KID, The Flapper, Birmingham