Brum Notes Magazine - March issue

march 2010

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

free

incl u full des gi list ings g marc for h p2630

TANTRUMS

PLUS:

THE COURTEENERS • LOCAL NATIVES • THE DRUMS FULLENGLISH • BIGGER THAN BARRY•CLUBBING IN CROATIA • GUINNESS RECIPES

Upco min g Even t s!

@ The Asyl um ,

Bi r m i ngham , B19 3LS

15th March

£9 advanced ticket, £10 door, 18+!

20th March

£12.50 advanced ticket, £15 door, 18+!

@ The Robi n 2,

Bi l ston, WV14 7LJ

27th March

d ead f ilm st ar Wi l l cox

£15 advanced ticket, £17.50 door, 18+!

!!Appropriate ID is required for entry!!

Brum Notes Magazine: Issue 6, March 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: Caroline Beavon, James Collins, Vyvian Raoul, Rommy Stelfox, Jeremy Williams, Adam Page Pictures: Katja Ogrin, James Marston, Rhiannon Jones, Wayne Fox Cover design: Andy Aitken 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: The future of the Factory Club, plus details of our new, free monthly live music event.

FEATURES 6-7: Profile First in a monthly series, this time exploring inside Blue Whale Studios.

8: Local Natives Californian hot property bemoan the cold British winter.

9: Fullenglish Brummie hip-hop duo hungry for success.

10-11: The Courteeners Frontman Liam Fray on their

soaring hopes for second album Falcon.

12-13: The Drums Guess what? Frontman Jonathan Pierce likes The Smiths, as if you didn’t know.

14-15: Tantrums A gentle chat with Birmingham’s hippest band.

16-17: Bigger Than Barry Kings of the rave on their new record label.

REVIEWS 18-21: Live Includes pics of the NME tour, for those of you who were stuck in the queues.

22: Records

Verdict on new albums from Gorillaz, Laura Marling and The Shins side project.

FOOD & DRINK 23: Stout recipes It’s nearly St Patrick’s Day so you might as well at least pretend to like Guinness.

TRAVEL 24-25: Croatia The lowdown on the coolest dance festival in Europe.

LISTINGS 26-30: Gig Guide Your comprehensive guide to the month ahead.

page four

news FACTORY TO GO OUT WITH A BANG in The Custard Factory, but will close its doors as part of a ‘new direction’ for the landmark centre.

Bosses want to increase daytime trade at the renovated media and arts hub, with a move towards more office spaces, galleries and cafes.

Club nights will continue to be held at recently revamped Space 2, tucked under a railway arch next to the main Custard Factory building.

Promoters Eclectricity will host The End of an Era Weekender across Easter weekend to ensure

the venue signs off with a bang. Simian Mobile Disco will be among the acts providing a scintillating soundtrack on April 2, kicking off three consecutive nights of parties spread across the Factory Club and the traditional courtyard marquee.

West Bromwich-based Major Key Studios has launched a new production service for bands to star in their own music videos.

The recording studio, live music and video production company, based at The Public arts centre, already films and streams live gigs every Friday as part of its Captured night and is now offering a high quality music video production service for bands, performers and artists of all genres. Visit www.majorkeystudios.com.

If you’ve always dreamed of the glitz and glamour of television cop shows then you can now try your hand at turning detective at a unique interactive attraction in Birmingham.

Equally, if you’ve ever wondered what the most innovative use of a massive, empty bookshop is then you should be equally inspired, because CSI: The Experience has taken over the former Borders in the Bullring.

Inspired by the hit

television series, which has taken in CSI: Las Vegas, CSI: New York and CSI: Miami, visitors will be able to skulk through dark alleyways

investigating crime scenes and cracking cases.

Running until May 31, tickets are £9.75 or £7.

Details available from www.csibirmingham.co.uk.

LITTLE TWEET

ASIAN AWARDS

KEEP IT SPECIAL

PICTURE PERFECT

Digbeth’s iconic Factory Club will go out in style with a weekend-long closing party.

The club, formerly known as The Medicine Bar, has been a mainstay of Birmingham’s underground clubbing scene for more than 15 years at its base

VIDEO RECORDING OFFER FOR BANDS

Twitter-inspired fundraiser Brum Twestival returns on March 25. Poppy Red in The Arcadian will host a night of fun, food and drink.

Tickets are £5 in aid of Concern Worldwide. Follow @brumtwestival for details.

CRIME SCENE CAPERS IN BRUM

Birmingham-based TV channel Brit Asian TV will host its first ever Music Awards ceremony on May 2.

Some of the biggest names in Bhangra and British Asian music are expected at the Symphony Hall bash.

Fans of ska legends The Specials will be able to relive the 30th anniversary tour with a new DVD out this month. The live film was shot at Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall on November 10 by director Lindy Heymann.

A new photography exhibition will adorn the walls of The Moseley Exchange this month.

Launching on March 2, it will include images from Pete Ashton, Emily Quinton and Dan Burwood.

news

VIJAY TO LAUNCH FREE ACOUSTIC NIGHT Brum Notes Magazine is Vijay, described by NME teaming up with ultracool local label Speech Fewapy Recordings this month to bring you a night of top quality acoustic music at one of Birmingham’s finest gastro pubs - and best of all entry will be completely free!

The Plough in Harborne High Street will host The Plough Live on March 25, featuring a unique intimate performance from Vijay Kishore, one of the most stunning vocalists Birmingham has ever produced.

as “a Brummie Jeff Buckley singing the songs of Nina Simone,” will be supported by fellow acoustic troubadours Boat to Row and James Rea, while Speech Fewapy’s DJs will be keeping it laid back with a suitably chilled out soundtrack throughout the evening.

It’s fair to say Harborne has been starved of top quality live music events for some time, but The Plough Live will provide the perfect environment to enjoy some of Birmingham’s finest

is recruiting!

after a successful first six months, we are looking for the right people to help take us forward. for more details on all positions visit www.brumnotes.com/jobs.

• MEDIA SALES EXECUTIVES experience essential. flexible hours, generous financial package for the right candidates. should have knowledge and understanding of creative industries locally and nationally.

also reQuired: • STREET TEAM STAFF enthusiastic, reliable and charismatic people needed for distribution and promotion duties. Various hours available with a generous hourly rate.

• WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS contributors wanted with flair, creativity, style, imagination, enthusiasm and a passion for music.

musicians up close and personal. Entry is free and top quality nosh will be served throughout the evening, so get down

there early to secure your seat, or better still reserve your table by calling 0121 427 3678. Details on www.brumnotes.com.

page six sixteen

profile

Each month we will be profiling

the people and places that make up

Birmingham’s

underbelly.

alternative

First up, the newly relaunched Blue Whale Studios...

w e i v a h t i w m o ro

Nestled snugly within Digbeth’s creative heart of The Custard Factory, BLUE WHALE STUDIOS is fast becoming the recording space of choice for some of Birmingham’s hottest emerging talent.

With a spangly new 24 track valve mixing desk, a mixture of vintage gear and top notch digital recording equipment, not to mention stunning city views from the recording room, it’s easy to see why.

Add to that a relentless multi-media assault on the music scene including video production, a vibrant blog, radio show and regular podcast, as well as some ambitious plans, and it seems the future is blue...

“We’re really chuffed with our new valve desk, it sounds fantastic with its analogue warmth combined with our digital based recording system, running on Logic,” explains Blue Whale manager and promoter Andy Roberts.

Andy, an established blogger and talent spotter, is one of the latest additions to the Blue Whale crew, alongside owner Ben Hayes and producer Russ Tite, who is currently mixing demos for the forthcoming third album from radio faves The Kooks at the studios.

“It’s testament to how good the standard of

equipment we are using is, as well as Russ’s talents, that their tunes are being mixed down here,” continues Andy.

“However, it’s working with local artists that really excites us.”

The latest acts to get the BLUE WHALE STUDIOS WHAT: Recording studios, mixing and mastering services, video production, blog, radio show, podcast.

WHERE: The Custard Factory, Gibb St, Digbeth, Birmingham HIGHLIGHTS: 24 track TL Audio valve desk, old school Wurlitzer keyboard, views across the city.

DETAILS: Phone 0121 2471680 facebook.com/bluewhalestudios

Whale treatment have been Little Palm, for her forthcoming Bigger Than Barry Records release, Vijay Kishore, Goodnight Lenin and Boat to Row among others. Internet fiends are likely to have discovered the Blue

Whale blog, a vibrant showcase of the region’s musical happenings, alongside the Blue Whale TV YouTube channel, a Rhubarb Radio show and In The Belly podcast on Speech Fewapy radio.

“We’re quite altruistic

Inside the recording room

in our approach to the blog as we are passionate about Brum bands.

“We’ll review anything on the site as long as it’s happening in or around the city,” says Andy.

“We want it to be known how much we love Birmingham’s varied scene and have already established ourselves as an integral part of the local music community by providing a platform for bands to reach a wider audience. We have a number of outlets for our bands to get heard or seen outside of their usual circles and get a real satisfaction from pushing their music to people who may otherwise have not come across it before.

“The

plan is to set up our own label in the near future.”

The 24 track TL valve mixing desk

“I’m regularly contacted by major labels and publishers as to what is going on in Brum, so hopefully soon we’ll be able to help break our first mainstream act.

“The plan though is to set up our own label in the

near future,” he explains.

“We’re already talking to a couple of bands about physical releases and have our eyes closely fixed on a few other acts that show a lot of promise.

“I’m not naming any names though.

“It would be great to work with an act, take time to develop their sound with them in the studio and then release the record. We have the network and resources in place, we just need the right band.”

page six

LOCAL NATIVES

“I think we’re going to think long and hard about a European winter tour next year, I don’t know how you guys do it,” says vocalist and guitarist Taylor Rice.

“Our van literally froze a couple of times in Sweden, and I view it more as a toboggan than a motor vehicle after careening down the frozen freeways for the last month and a half. Life threatening driving conditions aside though, Europe in the winter is incredibly beautiful.”

More used to the sunsoaked surroundings of their native Los Angeles, the harmony-laden outfit have found a second home this side of the Atlantic after becoming hot property on British soil, releasing debut album Gorilla Manor in the UK three months before it

Californian five-piece Local Natives were one of the most sought-after picks of the 2009 SXSW festival.

Now a year on they are to return to Texas to mix it with the elder statesmen of heartfelt indie. But not before they’ve finished battling the European winter. appeared in the States.

“We released the album in the UK first only because of how fast the industry moved there for

in every decision we’ve made as a band.

“We had labels looking for a bit but took a lot of time in deciding which

us,” Taylor explains.

“After playing South

by Southwest (SXSW) it was a whirlwind and it’s been a little strange for us to have released the album abroad before releasing it in the US. “We’ve been deliberate

independents we felt would be best suited to partner with to pursue our vision. I think the fear about hype can be that people start to overlook the music and focus on the buzz.”

Despite being swept up

in a hectic post-Texas touring schedule, Taylor insists they are a “touring band” and love life on the road - and his advice for any aspiring bands offered the chance to play at SXSW? Take it.

“The experience is insane.

I remember playing our first show at noon on Wednesday and then frantically running with our amps and guitars to the next show down the street in 95 degree weather so we could make it in time. If you can get some shows booked, no matter where they are, then go and play.

NME first picked us up when we were playing in tiny store room at a bike shop which held about 40 people.”

• Local Natives play the O2 Academy 3, Birmingham, on March 3 and SXSW, Texas, March 18-20.

FULLENGLISH

page nine

Brummie hip-hop duo Fullenglish - aka Anthony Brown and Clive Hall - support beatbox star Killa Kela this month. We ‘ketchup’ with Anthony ahead of the show to find out more. Sorry.

So, spill the beans, what’s Fullenglish all about?

Fullenglish is about having fun and typical English culture. When we perform we want people to leave feeling they had a great time and can relate to our music.

Us hacks love pigeon-holing genres - how do you define your music?

Pop, electro, hip hop - I really don’t know how to define our music, we try not to pigeon-hole ourselves. Clive and I both produce our music and like to mix things up, we figure no-one listens to one style or genre of music, we like to mix it up and still keep to a trend at the same time.

Your songs are all about pretty ‘normal’ everyday things, is it important to keep it about what you know?

Yes definitely, I’m writing a script for a sitcom when I’m not producing or writing music and I’ve always been told its always best to write from experience, I like story-

well even though he is very modest about it. I think I may push for a mini battle on stage between him and Killa Kela and I’ll freestyle.

telling especially about events in my life - we’ve had many fans tell us they can relate to our track “School Days”. It always surprises us because I never think people listen to words that much, a great buzz though.

There’s a good splash of humour too, so are you funny in real life?

Some people think I’m funny, some people think I’m just strange or obscenely crude, comedy is

very subjective but yeah, I think I’m funny.

You’ve nailed some pretty good support slots, what’s been the highlight so far?

Our best gig hands down has to be our very first gig at The Rainbow in Birmingham supporting Scarlet Harlots and Tantrums. We were first on, no-one knew who we were, there was a huge crowd, my heart was pounding but when our first track played they went for it, someone even crowd surfed. Easily one of the best moments in my life.

Your show with Killa Kela should be quite a spectacle.

How do your beatboxing skills compare?

Clive can beatbox pretty

What are your plans and hopes for the future?

We want to hit the festivals this year and release our album too. We want to put Brum on the map and make an impact in the industry. We’ll see... watch this space.

We’re also starting a campaign called Graffiti for Haiti, where we get celebrities to graffiti a plain white tee to be auctioned off.

What’s your favourite part of a full English?

I’d have to say baked beans, everyone who knows me says I practically lived on baked beans and bread for like two years. The best place for a breakfast is still at home, or grandma’s house there’s just something about the way she does it.

• Fullenglish support Killa Kela at the O2 Academy 3, Birmingham, on March 12.

• Tickets available from www.brumnotes.com.

COURTING FAVOUR

Back in 2008, when The Courteeners released debut album St Jude, frontman Liam Fray was full of rock star swagger and bristled with cocky soundbites. Those big mouthed bon mots landed him frequent comparisons with north western contemporaries such as the Gallagher brothers or Ian Brown.

But writing that off as “lazy journalism”, Fray insists he’s not the moody 18-year-old who wrote the songs for their top five debut. Today, we meet an older and wiser 24-year-old, well travelled and ready to take on the world with the release of new album Falcon.

“It’s like we’ve almost skipped the second album and gone further,” explains Fray.

“People didn’t want to hear St Jude 2 and we don’t want to play it, we wanted to do something that would interest us.

“We love St Jude, it’s me, its our lives and we will always think of if like that, but for our own sanity we have to evolve.”

On its release in April 2008, St Jude pushed the band straight onto the festival and stadium circuit, rocketing around international events such as Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds and Japan’s Fuji Rocks, and supporting the likes of Kasabian and Stereophonics. They even picked up some high profile admirers along the way, including

Mancunian music legend Morrissey who invited them to support him in the US. With such a launch into the public eye, some bands would face their return with some trepidation. Not so The Courteeners, it seems. They’re still moving and determined to improve with each release, something of which Liam is rightly very proud.

“Its rare for bands to arrive fully formed,” he continues. “Look at The xx, they’ve make a sparse and sophisticated album, but they are fully formed, where can they go?

“We’ve got miles and miles to go.”

Liam agrees that there is a lot to listen to on this record, with layers and a real focus on the details and insists it was not something that was just left in the hands of the producer Ed Buller.

“It was laborious, a real

labour of love but I enjoyed doing it, getting a cymbal noise right, being bent over the studio desk ’til 4am in the morning,” he laughs.

In fact, the singer has also become such a lover of knob-twiddling, still brimming with confidence he could see himself producing the work of others in the future.

“It like hearing something and knowing it will sound great, but also being surprised by things, like how an acoustic track can end up bombastic - I’d need to take some (producing) courses though” he adds.

For now, however, it’s all about the live show, and Liam and co have a serious pledge to the fans heading to a Courteeners show.

“I’ve got no time for bands who turn up to shows fucked. People might have taken time off work to see the show.”

page eleven

• Words: Caroline Beavon.

• New album Falcon is out now on Polydor.

• The Courteeners play the O2 Academy, Birmingham, on March 20. For tickets visit www.brumnotes.com.

page twelve

everybody's banging on about...

S M U R THE D ivision, sing D y Jo e k li ce n a d nce The Strokes, si rs e rk an Pierce o Y th a w n e Jo N d n e a p y tm h n o st They’re the mo aught up with fr c e W s. stop-off in h r it u m to S s e h rd T a e w v A lo E d M at the recent N like The Cure an t se g in n erybody’s e v p e o g t n in a e h b p h m it iu w tr g UMS are copin following their R D E H T w o h st ju nd out Birmingham, to fi nd. favourite new ba The Drums live at the O2 Academy, Birmingham. Pic by James Marston.

page thirteen The NME tour has a reputation for being a bit of a party for the bands taking part, how’s it been for you?

It’s been a pretty surreal experience for us. It’s our first tour ever, so to go from playing small venues in NYC to 2 or 3,000 seater venues is really quite a leap. We wouldn’t do it if it didn’t feel right to us, though.

All the bands are getting along, I think. We all went out and partied after the show in Brighton.

No fist fights yet then.

Who would win out of all of those bands?

The Drums would beat anyone up. Easy. So far, it’s been cool.

What did you make of the response you got in Birmingham - apart from the fact that lots of people were still stuck in the queue to collect their tickets?

I feel bad that a lot of people bought tickets to see us, but didn’t get in in time. I think it’s pretty common for an opening band. By the end of our set it’s usually totally packed. Some nights its packed at the beginning of our set, which is great for us. Birmingham was one of my very favourite shows ever. Those kids were nuts!

There aren’t many ‘ones to watch’ lists this year that don’t include The Drums.

Does the pressure of the hype affect you or are you

able to just enjoy it?

We really are unaffected by it. I mean, for the most part, the pressure is off of us because our number one rule is to simply please ourselves.

If we started caring what people think, this whole thing would fall apart.

You’ve had your music featured in Skins which seems to be a surefire way of getting a lot of attention from British teens.

Have you seen the show?

I’ve heard the show is cool, but have not seen it. We didn’t know about this! Is this legal?

How important has the relationship been with Moshi Moshi? Was it important to sign up with a label with such a strong reputation for independent and innovative music?

They have been great from day one.

You know, they started

talking to us just a few months after forming the band. They are always ahead of the curve and it was very flattering having them give us that attention. They took a big risk on us.

You name The Smiths and Joy Division among your influences and there’s some Ian Curtis-style dance moves on stage and other similarities. How important have English bands like those mentioned been in shaping the sound and the style of your own band?

Most of the bands that changed our lives come from England, I think.

So to be playing over here and be embraced by so many is really a thrill to us. I think when you listen to The Smiths or The Wake your entire teenage existence, you can’t help but be influenced, even if you run the other way.

It’s looking like a pretty hectic touring schedule for you this year. How is life on the road for The Drums?

It’s only just begun. I hope I still love Adam, Jacob, and Connor at the end of this year. We don’t have any breaks at all really. I think we will be playing most of the UK festivals.

Looking forward to Muse, U2 and Stevie Wonder at Glastonbury then?

I don’t care for Muse or U2. Stevie Wonder would be interesting.

What can we expect from the debut album when it appears?

It’s a bit of a departure from the EP, a bit more serious. The darker side of The Drums...

Any final words of wisdom?

Keep it pure.

page fourteen

TANTRUMS GET READY FOR SOME ANGER MANAGEMENT The Northfield outfit are ready to unleash their genre-defying blend of frenetic, dirty dubstep and indie rock hooks with their debut EP. But whatever you call it, you certainly can’t ignore it. It’s time to pay attention to Tantrums.

From the watered down reggae of UB40, to the scintillating 2tone of The Specials or the ragga-bhangra of Apache Indian, the West Midlands has a tradition of melting its musical cultures with varying results.

But for plucky young upstarts Tantrums, mixing it up is a principle that stands them in good stead as they seek to impose their bass-loving marriage of dubstep dance and indie rock guitars on the masses. Indie-dance is hardly a new phenomenon, but the dirty deepness of the dancefloors that inspire the sounds of both Tantrums and fellow south Birmingham label-mates Scarlet Harlots, is drawn from the other end of the dance spectrum to the twinkling, 80s synthpop hybrids currently taking over the mainstream airwaves.

Tantrums, who met at Shenley Court School in the “green ghetto” of

Northfield and bonded through their mutual love of everything from “drum n bass to garage to the Sex Pistols,” seem to have been on many Midlands music commentators’ lips for an impressively long time, which considering more than half of the band aren’t even out of their teens yet, is not bad going.

With a slurry of impressive support slots under their collective belt they have not gone unnoticed among national tastemakers and now with their genre-blurring debut EP Champloo ready to be unleashed through newly-formed Bigger Than Barry Records, Tantrums are primed to become a full blown argument on the ears of anyone listening.

“We’re really happy with the EP,” explains picture boy bassist Josh. “It’s just taken a long time because of the money, basically, as we paid for it ourselves.

“If we’d have got it done

Pic by Rhiannon Jones

the first time round, that would have been better, but we weren’t happy with it so we went back and did it again and had to keep changing things, round but now it sounds really strong.

“It’s really energetic, it sounds a lot more energetic than all of our other things.

“We approached it in a different way, it was a bit more relaxed.

“We’ve always had an

idea of what it should sound like when we’ve gone in to record before, but this time we just went in and did what felt good. It seemed a lot more natural.”

The five-track EP was recorded at Sandhills Recording Studios in Liverpool’s Docklands near to where Sherlock Holmes was filmed, as Josh points out - after previously meeting and instantly connecting

page fifteen with producer Al Groves.

For fans who’ve caught Tantrums live there will be some familiar material but for everyone else, it should be a perfect introduction to their spiky, post-genre rock spirit and dance grooves.

“There’s a new song on there but because it’s the first release that we’ve done we wanted to get a lot of older things out there as well.

“It’s a springboard as we’ve got so many ideas of what we can do in the future and I’m really excited, especially with Anna on board.”

The Anna now on board is Anna Palmer, the band’s most recent recruit, who may be better known to some as velvet-voiced pianist Little Palm, now adding her distinctive vocals and keyboard skills to the band. And the teen songstress has already made quite an impression in her fledgling Tantrums career.

“We’ve only played a couple of gigs [with Anna] so far but it’s been really good fun. It was weird having another person on stage but it felt natural.

“I really like the whole boy-girl vocal thing, it just adds a nice extra layer to it,” explains Josh.

The release on Bigger Than Barry Records will also include the added bonus of some sureto-be-chaotic remixes, something else which

Pic by Rhiannon Jones

will be new territory for Tantrums, says Josh.

“We’ve always been interested in re-patching and re-working so it should be a lot of fun and I’m really looking forward to hearing some of the remixes.

“We’ve never written songs with that in mind so we’ve put little parts in there so there’s more to work with.”

And as well as their remixing credentials, Josh insists it was important to side with team Barry because of their local connections.

“It’s a massive thing to be on a local label,” he says. “If they came from London or Sheffield or somewhere else we would probably have said no because it wouldn’t have had the personality behind it.

“Nobody really gets it like Barry do. The label embodies the whole West Midlands thing, ska and 2 tone all happened here and we’ve

Pic by Wayne Fox

tried to marry those different cultures,” As for trying to label their own sound, Josh insists they just are happy to keep surprising people who listen.

“We played with The Twang, that was a good show and they asked for us to do it which was great, Bombay Bicycle Club was good and Hot Club de Paris as well.

But because they are all guitar based it is good to come on and show that we don’t just use guitars.

“We don’t like being called an indie band and we don’t listen to that much guitar music anyway,” Josh explains.

It is also this hybrid approach to their music which culminated in the name of their debut EP, apparently inspired by their love of a Japanese manga cartoon called Samurai Champloo.

“It means to mix up or shake it up in Japanese so we thought because of the way our music is mixing it up, we would call it that.

“It had a badass hip-hop soundtrack as well.”

• Tantrums play at The Rainbow, Digbeth, on March 5 and the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, on March 13.

• Champloo is out in April.

page sixteen

The forthcoming debut EP from bass-loving, guitar-wielding upstarts Tantrums will be released next month on Bigger Than Barry Records, the recently-launched label set up by the superlarge club promoters of the same name. We get the lowdown on Barry’s appetite for world domination.

Brum’s favourite underground ravers turned bona fide record label moguls at the back end of last year with a selection of free download-only mixtapes from the likes of resident DJ Shorterz and dubstep hopeful Enigma, winning the backing of the likes of Toddla T and Annie Mac. Since then more remixes have followed, included reworkings of A Secret by Scarlet Harlots and there’s more to follow this year, starting with the Tantrums EP, more releases from Harlots including live favourite Halcyon and a Barryfication of tracks by new Tantrums recruit and singer-songwriter Little Palm.

But in true Barry style, the plans don’t end there. In fact the ambitions are to be well and truly mammoth.

“We want to take over the world,” says Tom from Bigger Than Barry, aka Shorterz.

Josh from Tantrums with Sam and Tom from Bigger Than Barry

“We just want to get bigger and better so it’s a self-reliant entity.

“At the moment we are doing everything on a shoestring, doing favours for favours.”

Regulars at any Bigger Than Barry events

will know variety is the spice of the fat man’s life, with a soundtrack feeding on everything from house, breaks and electro through to dubstep, grime and indie, and the label’s approach is no different.

“The way the label is we don’t want to pigeon-hole ourselves to one sound.

“We represent what the Barry event is about, which is a wide variety. We don’t just do house, garage or indie we want to cater for a wide audience,” Tom says.

“It reflects what Barry has always been about

Pic by Rhiannon Jones

as well which is getting everyone to have a party,” adds Sam, fellow Barry crew member and frontman of Scarlet Harlots.

“We’re breaking a lot of unknown acts but we’re trying to get to

the point where we can work with established producers and get that big airplay on radio.

“A lot of our profile comes through the nights and a lot of the reputation was born out of that.

“We’ll be taking the record label over to Ibiza which is all good exposure and the first physical release should be coming out in the summer,” he says.

But despite the desire to fatten up Barry to go global, Tom and Sam insist it is important to keep the music rooted in Birmingham.

“We share a lot of love for local talent, with West Midlands and Birmingham-based producers coming through, it is a good platform,” says Tom. “We are doing it for the love.”

• The Bigger Than Barry Records Showcase takes place at The Rainbow, Digbeth, on March 5, with live performances from Scarlet Harlots and Tantrums and DJ sets from Enigma, Dub Melitia and Shorterz.

• For details visit www. biggerthanbarry.com

Gig Listings

page eighteen

live

GOODNIGHT LENIN The Rainbow Digbeth Feb 22

CLUSTER, EINSTELLUNG The Town Hall Birmingham Feb 11

Pic: Katja Ogrin

Armed with material from second album …

And The Rest Are Thunder, local act Einstellung find themselves at the illustrious hall in support of the underrated and massively influential krautrock legends Cluster, a show the band themselves described as “their Cup Final”. Facing an audience which was largely unaware of

the sonic assault it was about to experience, their repetitive, hypnotic sound combined with the immensity and drive of the darker side of rock captivated within minutes. From their opening riff to their closing drone and roar of exquisitely controlled feedback they played this show as if it were their last. This outstanding perform-

YEASAYER O2 Academy 2 Birmingham

band from Brooklyn, you immediately notice that two out of the three dudes across the front are dressed in jumpsuits, kind of like Ghostbusters on a false alarm call. Madder Red, Rome and Love Me Girl sound huge enough, but it’s when they reel out Ambling Alp that you whisper seductively to your friend, “hey, these guys are gonna go places”. Next single, O.N.E closes the set before

Feb 16

The band stroll on to a modest but impressive looking backdrop of neon green screens that silhouettes their synths and the buff body of bassist Ira. Opening with The Children, it’s clear the band know what they’re doing when it comes to production and instrumentation.

Anticipating an edgy

ance enhanced by the excellent acoustics was bursting with originality and avoided all clichés.

Their simple yet innovative sound certainly gained new fans and possibly left the gentle Germans waiting in the wings concerned as to how they would follow their commanding Powerkraut style.

Words: Chris Brumcast 2080 brings both the crowd and the encore to a climax. Exclaiming the audience to be their best ever in the UK, they can

Jangly guitars, lovely harmonies, checked shirts and a feeling that everything is going to be ok - what more could anyone want on a Monday night? Gaining something of a reputation as a tour de force, as well as being labelled with the dreaded “one to watch” tag, the band certainly don’t disappoint. Apart from the brilliantly structured pop/folk/rock songs, the thing most immediately apparent is how comfortable they look and at best they have the room swaying to the finest baroqueesque rock Birmingham has to offer.

Words: Rommy Stelfox expect a similar reception from many towns and cities across Europe.

Words: Jose Jones Pic: Katja Ogrin

page nineteen THE MACCABEES, BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB, THE BIG PINK, THE DRUMS O2 Academy Birmingham February 11

Pics: James Marston

FINLEY QUAYE The Rainbow Digbeth

deeper. Finley and his band are so primed these days that when someone shouts for Ultra Feb 20 Stimulation it is met with, “yes, Ultra!” - they Make it!

“Can you hear the voice?” launch straight into it and the skankin’ begins.

We certainly can Mr The more cynical might Quaye, and t’is irie fancy this frenzy was due indeed. The mouth is as much to the several moving but the sound spliffs he smoked during comes from somewhere

The NME Awards tour has understandably earned a reputation for defining future musical tastes and breaking new acts. It’s fair to say this line-up smacked of playing it safe, boasting three acts firmly established on the Radio One playlist and a fourth which has already been hyped to sell-out tour proportions. This isn’t a complaint of course - as the sell-out crowd proved it’s a winning formula.

What’s not a winning formula however is not sending tickets out on time and there was a large portion of that crowd left grumbling at being stuck in a ticket collection queue while his set as any summoning of the spirit.

Whilst it’s easy for the crowd to have a good time if those on stage are too, the downside of this excess of enjoyment was some slightly shaky moments, not least forgetting the words to his biggest hit from the 90s, Sunday Shining.

The Drums kicked off proceedings in breathtaking style with their carefully crafted melodies delivered through a winning blend of West coast surfer breeze, New York style and swagger and Mancunian miserablism. Some of the dance moves were lifted straight from the Ian Curtis school of how to dance and look slightly disturbed at the same time and the tunes owe much to similar influences. Up next The Big Pink barged their way into proceedings, breaking up the theme of structured, thoughtful indie pop with their brash cock-rock derivatives, although the epic BRMC-esque Velvet suggested there’s more to them than the tawdry Dominos. Geek chic delights Bombay Bicycle Club rattled through more songs than I realised they had, before The Maccabees appeared like the elder statesmen of indie to win the night.

Words: Sean O’Muir But then Finley is a bit like Becks; his right foot may be a bit hit or miss these days, he may even have lost a yard or so of pace, but you’d always be happy to have him lead your team out.

Just for the heart, which is always channelled like a lion…

Words: Vyvian Raoul

BETH JEANS HOUGHTON, STORNOWAY The Glee Club Birmingham Feb 17

Tonight was the Twisted Folk Tour and presumably by ‘Twisted’ the promoters mean not very folky at all, actually.

Beth Jeans Houghton came out first in a wig that put Lady Gaga’s previous night’s Brits barnet to shame, and a super sparkly spandex dress that would have beardy old men tutting into their stout.

Still, folk or freak, she has an immensely powerful voice – which comes on something like a slightly Geordie Dolores O’Riorden - to say nothing of sass by the bucketful. Backed up by her band, The Hooves of Destiny, we can say it’s cute.

BAND OF SKULLS Hare & Hounds Kings Heath Feb 14

Band Of Skulls are quickly becoming one of the most talked-about bands of 2010 and the trio boasting two lead singers are further proof that three-piece bands are becoming the new four-piece. Their set is filled with White Stripes-style riffs and great backing vocals from bassist Emma Richardson, which

Stornoway are less whiskey in the jar, more a nice cup of tea in the good china; the type of band you’d take home to your mom; who then wouldn’t stop asking for months afterwards, “how are those nice Stornoway boys?”

They made BBC’s Pick of 2010 shortlist and I imagine they’ll get lots of airtime - mainly on Radio 2. The boys clearly have bags of talent which is most obviously manifested when they go unplugged, stand in front of the monitors and sing their little hearts out. Two fingers up to autotune, this is showing your hand and laying your vocal chords on the line with swagger. It certainly has everyone’s attention and, after all, isn’t getting your story across what folk is all about?

Words: Vyvian Raoul complements Russell’s vocals perfectly, as best displayed on Patterns.

It’s raw-to-the-bone blues rock at its best.

Fires slows things down nicely and even mentions Romeo, which seems apt for Valentine’s Day. Cold Fame is the closest song to a ballad and the only song of their evening to pass the four-minute mark, but the set ends all too quickly after just the eight tracks.

Words: Adam Page

page twenty-two

records LAURA MARLING

I Speak Because I Can (EMI)

Laura Marling, the much over-looked, pretty blonde, silky voiced folkstress is back, but a little bit older, wiser and a brunette. Alas I Cannot

GORILLAZ

Swim, her 2007 debut, proved she could swim among Britain’s latest folk stars, but what prompted a three year wait to follow up her critically acclaimed debut? Though not having hit the ‘big time’ of mainstream success, Alas I Cannot Swim allowed Marling to claim international success and she has been on the road since.

I Speak Because I Can proves an ominous title.

What is it that Marling really wants to say?

Never truly finding a thorough line, Marling offers a collection of life musings. The words may not be profound, but the sound divine.

While she may not quite at the top of her game yet, Marling’s downbeat approach is growing into something truly memorable.

JW

BROKEN BELLS Broken Bells

Plastic Beach

(Columbia)

(Parlophone)

Don’t you just hate Damon Albarn? He’s like that good looking guy at school who was good at everything. And the girls liked him. And he was pretty cool so you quite liked him too. Well, he’s gone and done it again.

As if conquering last year by reminding us all he was in one of the best British bands of the past

Second album I Speak Because I Can picks up where the first left off but sees a mature Marling determined yet wistful in her life approach.

Having teamed up with American producer Ethan Johns, Marling stays true to her English folk roots. The simplistic strumming of Devil’s Spoke kicks off proceedings and sets the bar high. Gone is Little Miss Innocent, Marling has lived a little and her opinions need voicing.

20 years wasn’t enough, he’s kicked off the new decade with one of the best pop records of the year. Not that he didn’t have some help of course.

A stellar cast make up the cartoon band this time around, with appearances from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Gruff Rhys, Bobby Womack and De La Soul, taking us through a tour de force of hip-hop, disco, soul and pop all rolled into a coherent package.

Even ignoring the whole concept behind Gorillaz this record stands alone as a fine collection of songs.

So this is a Gnarls Barkley and The Shins side project right? So it must sound like The Shins and Gnarls Barkley jamming together right? Well, yes and no.

Trademark traits of both James Mercer’s distinctive vocals and Danger Mouse’s slick production values are both there but combine to almost

psychedelic effect.

It’s like the soundtrack to a dreamy world, in which a woozier version of The Shins are mocking you in song form, not least on the almost sinister refrain of The High Road. A dark edge underpins the record, alongside a greater sense of atmosphere, while engaging melodies lurch between melancholy and joy, with layer upon layer of soundscapes in the background which demand repeat listening.

A slow-burner perhaps but still a genuinely captivating record.

page twenty-three

food & drink St Patrick’s Day is almost upon us and for most people that only means one thing...

Drink of the Month WITH

sh “If I were to mention Iri t tha drink, I’d bet my house ht ug most people’s first tho s would be Guinness,” say l Matt Marriott, genera manager at Island Bar, l Birmingham’s rock ‘n’ rol cocktail joint. ut “Guinness is an Irish sto at d which has been brewe n St James’ Gate in Dubli since 1759. It has a bit le tersweet taste, some peop find it reminiscent of y espresso coffee, and a ver the of dark colour courtesy ce use of roasted barley. Sin in d 2005 all Guinness sol the UK has been brewed ct in Dublin and is the exa oss same beer as is sold acr Ireland. Contrary to its ureputation, Guinness act es ori ally contains fewer cal Go on, line your stomach...

8 19 beers – at BEEF, ONION & GUINNESS PIE than most s is actually less thi t pin r pe • 1.5Kg Shin Beef cut into 2ins cubes n skimmed milk too.”

• 2 medium onions peeled and sliced onions tha

• 1 tablespoon flour seasoned with salt and pepper • 1 pt Guinness • ½ pt beef stock • 1 pack ready roll puff pastry Place the cubed shin beef and the onion in a casserole dish and coat with the seasoned flour. Pour in Guinness and stock and bring to simmer gently on the hob. Cover with tightly fitting lid and place in an oven preheated to 140C for at least two and a half hours until beef is tender.

Cook pastry as per the pack instructions, cut into individual portions about 5ins by 5ins square.

Serve with creamy mashed potatoes and spring greens.

14-16 Suffolk Street Birmingham B1 1LT

The Black Velvet

“Undoubtedly the most famous Guinness cocktail,” explains Matt. “This lovely concoction was created at the Brooks Club, London, in 1861 to mourn the death of Prince Albert.”

• One part Guinness Draught (can is fine) • One part Champagne Half fill a champagne flute with Guinness.

Tilt the glass and SLOWLY pour the champagne down the side of the glass. If you pour too quickly the Guinness will explode into a giant head pouring out of your glass. A Poor Man’s Black Velvet is a similar drink that swaps the champagne for cider or perry - in this instance add the Guinness second.

Irish Milk Punch

“One of my favourite night caps is based on Irish whiskey and another Irish favourite, Baileys.”

• 50ml Baileys • 20ml Irish Whiskey • 200ml (approx) hot milk.

Add Baileys and Whiskey to a mug and fill with hot milk – don’t allow the milk to boil.

Stir well. For a decadent touch top with a sprinkling of chocolate powder or freshly grated nutmeg.

travel CROATIA: the secret’s out CROATIA’S GORGEOUS DALMATIAN COAST PLAYS HOST TO ONE OF EUROPE’S SEXIEST AND SLINKIEST UNDERGROUND DANCE FESTIVALS. BUT WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS MADE IN BIRMINGHAM? BRUM NOTES MAGAZINE GETS THE LOWDOWN ON THE GARDEN FESTIVAL. Pics by Turnmaster Tim

“Instead of getting soaked, queuing for toilets, queuing for overpriced drinks and crap food we can substitute relaxing under the pines, soaking up the sun or dancing in the sea.”

This is just one of many advantages of hosting a boutique dance event in a gorgeous coastal location, bathed in sunshine, explains Garden Festival founder Nick Colgan.

“The original plan was really to bring together all of the various groups of DJs, bands, promoters and music lovers from across the UK and Europe that we had been working with over many years in promotion and provide them with an

ideal sun-drenched setting for a holiday and festival combined.

“The intimate vibe of the festival is very important to us so after 2008 when we really did reach capacity we made the decision to contain the numbers to 2000 per week and spread

the festival over two weekends - what we call the Double Whammy,” Nick continues.

“We noticed that most festival-goers instead of coming just for the weekend were booking for seven to 10 days and were planning a holiday around the festival. So

the Double Whammy was really a natural extension of that.”

Running across the first two weeks of July and with the headline parties spread across two weekends, the festival also offers a full programme of events during the week giving people the chance to relax at a different pace, with boat parties, smaller club nights and beach BBQs. As Nick explains, from the moment you arrive there are opportunities to relax in the sun or carry on the party.

The relaxed timescale is also one of the festival’s strong points, giving clubbers the chance to explore the attractions

page twenty-five beyond the nightlife.

“During the course of a single day you can relax in the sun, swim in crystal clear waters, experience the famous boat parties, watch world class acts on the main stage and party until dawn in the nightclub. Also, the beautiful old village of Petrcane being only minutes from the music stages really becomes part of the festival site,” he says.

“Most people stay in the village and have the option to eat super fresh seafood at the local restaurants, so it gives the genuine feeling of a holiday experience with an extraordinary party going on just moments away.”

It certainly seems a change of scene for Nick who started his musical career in the urban environs of Birmingham, before going on to promote parties across South America and the USA, later returning to the Midlands to set up a production company alongside friends UB40 and continue promoting.

The sunshine of Croatia became a draw after a holiday in 2003 and the following year he moved with wife Charlotte and their family to open what was the country’s first outdoor lounge bar, The Garden Zadar.

After the success of providing UK dance music in a stunning location on the ancient city walls

overlooking a harbour, Nick began looking for a spot to hold a boutique festival and soon stumbled across a beachfront site on a pine tree-covered peninsula in the nearby village of Petrcane. With the help of friends Eddie and Gail O’Callaghan they set about renovating the 70s built venue ready for the first Garden Festival in 2006.

Now in its fifth year, the influence of Birmingham’s dance scene is still running heavy throughout the festival. Keen clubbers will spot some familiar names on the line-up, with the likes of Adam Shelton from Below and Leftfoot’s Adam Regan on the bill.

“Of course,we have always maintained close links with the Birmingham scene,” explains Brummie Nick.

“This year we’ve got our old mates Lee and Jock with the Discomendments posse and also the lads from The Rainbow, Adam and Lee, who have been

pushing the musical envelope with Below. Of course Leftfoot’s Adam Regan has long been a co-conspirator.

“We promote the music we both love and are determined to continue in that vein, but remember the underground is everywhere and we

always have guests come from all over the musicloving globe. This year will have crews from Zagreb, Ljubljana in Slovenia and Sofia in Bulgaria and are forging links with Berlin.

We are even looking forward to reconnecting

with California.”

Despite the international influence and the influx of 2,000 clubbers every year, Nick insists they are determined to keep things intimate and loyal to the village where they are based.

“We think its fair to say it has become an important and integral part of summer in Petrcane. Part of the reason we kept the capacity down was so the village would not become overwhelmed, and over five years living there we have built up a trust. Also many people are coming back year after year and have made good friends in the village. We are lucky to attract so many more mature music lovers who

have fallen in love with Petrcane and show it the respect it deserves.”

• The Garden Festival runs from July 2-12 with passes starting from £80.

• For details on travel visit www.thegardenfestival.eu

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. BIGGER THAN BARRY RECORDS SHOWCASE, Mar 5, The Rainbow, Digbeth Two of Birmingham’s finest, Scarlet Harlots and Tantrums provide the live soundtrack for late night fun alongside DJs including Shorterz and Enigma. Tickets £3, www.biggerthanbarry.com.

2. Grizzly Bear, Mar 12, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry Sonic melodies and boundless harmonies from Brooklyn band who produced one of the albums of the year in 2009. Tickets £16, www.warwickartscentre.co.uk.

3. MARLENA SHAW, Mar 19, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath Unique chance to see a legendary soul vocalist up close in an intimate performance.

Tickets £15 adv, www.theticketsellers.co.uk.

4. VIJAY KISHORE, Mar 25, The Plough, Harborne Quality live music returns to Harborne with one of Birmingham’s most talented singers.

Free entry, www.theploughharborne.co.uk.

5. KILL IT KID, Mar 29, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath Rootsy, heart-wrenching indie from Bath five-piece.

Tickets £5 adv, www.birminghampromoters.com.

CLUB NIGHTS 1. GLOW Mar 12, The Public, West Brom Indie-alternative mash up in unique Black Country arts centre.

Entry £5.

2. SESSION BIRMINGHAM Mar 13, Hare & Hounds Gavin & Stacey star Mat Horne brings his London club night on tour. Tickets £9/£10.

OTHER ENTERTAINMENT: All things ‘Oirish’ will be taking over Birmingham this month to mark St Patrick’s Day. Digbeth will stage its traditional parade on March 14 with the usual array of floats, music, live entertainment and street-side drinking. Sporadic outbreaks of violence may or may not be included.

Staying around Digbeth, some of the area’s most esteemed creative businesses will be showing off their wares with an open weekend from March 25 to 27 to mark the launch of We Are Eastside, a collaborative project aimed at promoting that part of the city, through a printed guide and blog at www.weareeastside.org. It will run alongside the annual FLATPACK FESTIVAL featuring film screenings at various venues from March 23 to 28. The fantasy realms of famed Moseley resident JRR Tolkien will be brought to life on stage in both Wolves and Birmingham. The Grand Theatre will host The Hobbit from March 9 to 13, before it moves to Brum’s Alexandra Theatre from March 30 to April 3. Cue lots of spurious claims like “Tolkien based that character on my great-grandad.”

3. SILENT NOIZE Mar 14, Rainbow Marquee Daytime silent disco in the street for St Patrick’s Day Parade.

Headsets £5 + £5 deposit.

BOOKING AHEAD UNKNOWN PLEASURES WITH PETER HOOK April 11, The Glee Club £15, www.glee.co.uk BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE

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

JAY-Z June 9, LG Arena £42.50, www.livenation.com

SEPULTURA July 17, Wulfrun Hall

£17.00, www.wolvescivic.co.uk

MONDAY, MAR 1 FIELD MUSIC, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham LOS CAMPESINOS, The Rainbow, Digbeth DIZZEE RASCAL (SOLD OUT), Civic Hall, Wolverhampton ARMS OF ATLAS, LE CARLA, AVENUE, Kasbah, Coventry

THURSDAY, MAR 4 ANGIE STONE, 02 Academy, Birmingham TSIEN, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham THE MISERABLE RICH, The Glee Club, Birmingham WOODEN BOX WITH A FISTFUL OF FIVERS, YOUNG RUNAWAYS, The Victoria, Birmingham LYNYRD SKYNYRD, TUESDAY, MAR 2 BLOOD RED SHOES, LG Arena, Birmingham 02 Academy 3 BARRY’S ATTUC, Birmingham NEIL WARD, IS I TOM MCRAE, CINEMA, Hare & The Glee Club, Hounds, Kings Heath Birmingham GIFT OF GAB, The FIONN REGAN, Rainbow Warehouse, CHRIS TYE, The Digbeth Rainbow, Digbeth THE CARPELS, The Rainbow, Digbeth WEDNESDAY, MAR 3 ANIMALS & LOCAL NATIVES, FRIENDS, THE 02 Academy 3, MOVE, Robin 2, Birmingham Bilston KABUKI, Island Bar, FRIDAY, MAR 5 Birmingham THE XX (SOLD COURTNEY OUT), 02 Academy 2, PINE, Town Hall, Birmingham Birmingham DIAMOND BLAKK, KATHERINE SIXDAYSOBER, The JENKINS, The NIA, Birmingham Actress & Bishop, Birmingham PATSY FULLER’S SPEAKEASY BLUES LOVEKATE KILLGEORGE, The BAND, G’s Bar & Sunflower Lounge, Diner, Birmingham Birmingham THE STACKS, THE SHARDS, The Bulls RONAN KEATING, The NIA, Birmingham Head, Moseley LADY GAGA, LG GIRLS, Hare & Arena, Birmingham Hounds, Kings Heath COCO MONTOYA, PAUL COWLEY, G’s Bar & Diner, Robin 2, Bilston Birmingham

NIGHT WORKER REVIVAL, JESUS DELUX, The Rainbow, Digbeth FIGURE ONE, The Flapper, Birmingham STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK, THE GARDENELLES, BENEATH THE OAK, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath CHINA CRISIS, Robin 2, Bilston THE IC1s, ISLAND THREE, WUD, The Public, West Bromwich VIJAY KISHORE, AL BRITTEN, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry POLARSETS, Kasbah, Coventry SATURDAY, MAR 6 HADOUKEN! (SOLD OUT), 02 Academy 2, Birmingham RAMONA, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham LOOCA, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham FAIRPORT CONVENTION, Town Hall, Birmingham STEREOPHONICS, The NIA, Birmingham NICK HARPER, VIJAY KISHORE, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath MUMFORD & SONS (SOLD OUT), Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton SHANA TOVA, ROB CARVALHO & THE EXTENDED FAMILY,

the Public, West Bromwich MARBLE SKYES, Kasbah, Coventry SUNDAY, MAR 7 HUSKY RESCUE, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham OBITUARY, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham 9BACH, THE RIVERS PRESLEY SET, CESILIA TRECAQUISTA, ROBOT 7, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham THE CRIMES, CLUB SMITH, THIS LOVE AFFAIR, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath HEAVENS BASEMENT, Little Civic, Wolverhampton MONDAY, MAR 8 LISA MITCHELL, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham CHAOS ACOUSTIC CLUB, The Victoria, Birmingham PETER ANDRE, Symphony Hall, Birmingham ERRORS, WINSCALE, THE SHOGUN’S DECAPITATOR, The Flapper, Birmingham ANGRY VS THE BEAR, Kasbah, Coventry TUESDAY, MAR 9 YOU ME AT SIX

(SOLD OUT), 02 Academy, Birmingham THE KISSAWAY TRAIL, KURRAN & THE WOLFNOTES, TRIPWIRES, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham TURIN BRAKES, The Glee Club, Birmingham CHRIS REA, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

2, Birmingham DYSPHORIA, FOX & THE MOON, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham A GENUINE FREAKSHOW, YOUNG RUNAWAYS, ANARCHIST COOKBOOK, The Rainbow, Digbeth COLVIN QUARMBY, Hare & Hounds, Kings WEDNESDAY, MAR 10 Heath HEAVENS NIK KERSHAW, BASEMENT, Little Civic, 02 Academy 3, Wolverhampton Birmingham EASTSTRIKEWEST, SCARLET CARMINA, Kasbah, Coventry THE LATE EIGHTIES, Island FRIDAY, MAR 12 Bar, Birmingham DAVE MATTHEWS CHRIS REA, BAND, 02 Academy, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Birmingham KILLA KELA, PETE HYDE & THE FULL ENGLISH, VEILLARDS, G’s Bar 02 Academy 3, & Diner, Birmingham Birmingham ATSUHIRO ITO, FRIGHTENED NICHOLAS BULLEN, RABBIT, AIRSHIP, WINDSCALE, Vivid, 02 Academy 2, Digbeth Birmingham SHANA TOVA, COHERE, The Actress CAJOLE CAJOLE, & Bishop, Birmingham SAVANT, THE NATIONS CARPELS, The Bulls WAITING, Head, Moseley SCULPTORS, ROGUE STATES, FRAMED, The Hare & Hounds, Kings Sunflower Lounge, Heath Birmingham RACE HORSE, NEWTON The Slade Rooms, FAULKNER, Wolverhampton Symphony Hall, Birmingham THURSDAY, MAR 11 THE CHICKENBONE SIENNA, 02 Academy BLUES BAND,

G’s Bar & Diner, Birmingham CAPSULE PRESENTS AUTECHRE, The Rainbow Warehouse, Digbeth MARK MORRISS, The Little Civic, Wolverhampton BIKE SHED EFFECT, AUTOMATIC INK, island 3, The Public, West Bromwich GRIZZLY BEAR, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry THE PARIS RIOTS, THE QUEUE, Kasbah, Coventry SATURDAY, MAR 13 THE STRANGLERS, 02 Academy, Birmingham GENERAL FIASCO, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham HEATHEN ZOO, PANACEA DREAM, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham SPOTLIGHT KID, SEA FIELDS, The Victoria, Birmingham THE NEAT, RIDING GIANTS, NEW ST ADVENTURE, The Rainbow, Digbeth I THEE LOTHARIO, 51 BREAKS, CORRELI, Sound Bar, Birmingham MIDNITE SOCIALITE, LIAM YOUNG, STATES OF EMOTION, TANTRUMS, Hare &

Hounds, Kings Heath THE HOLLIES, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton PAUL CARRACK, IAN PARKER, Robin 2, Bilston GENERAL, Kasbah, Coventry SUNDAY, MAR 14 A DAY TO REMEMBER, ARCHITECTS, YOUR DEMISE, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham DELPHIC, 02 Academy, Birmingham LUCY WAINWRIGHT ROCHE, The Glee Club, Birmingham KATATONIA, Little Civic, Wolverhampton CLAIRE MARTIN, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry MONDAY, MAR 15 CHRIS T-T, 02 Academy, Birmingham THE FOUR TOPS AND TEMPTATIONS, The NIA, Birmingham (HED)PE, THREAT SIGNAL, ATILLA, LEATHER PIG, The Asylum, Birmingham VIX N THE KIX, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath UNDEROATH, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton JOSCHO STEPHEN TRIO, Robin 2, Bilston KIDS LOVE LIES,

REDTRACK, Kasbah, Coventry

MAKERS, Kasbah, Coventry

TUESDAY, MAR 16 NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB, IS TROPICAL, TEETH, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham MONO, ROSE KEMP, The Asylum, Birmingham FOLKA MISERIA, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath THE BRUTE CHORUS, THE FILTHY HABITS, CAPITAL, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

THURSDAY, MAR 18 SKINDRED, FOREVER NEVER, CARS ON FIRE, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham BCU PROMOTIONS BAND NIGHT, Sound Bar, Birmingham DUB PISTOLS, XOVA, The Rainbow, Digbeth MARTYN JOSEPH, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath SILHOUETTES, Little Civic, Wolverhampton ALBERT LEE, HOGANS HEROES, Robin 2, Bilston

WEDNESDAY, MAR 17 TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB, CITADELS, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham AUDIO BULLYS, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham EVEN ATLAS, SICUM, BOMBDOG, FIREGOLD, Island Bar, Birmingham THE DUBLINERS, Town Hall, Birmingham BEN DRUMMOND, JO GODFREY, G’s Bar & Diner, Birmingham KIDS LOVE LIES, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath AYNSLEY LISTER BAND, Robin 2, Bilston REVEREND & THE

FRIDAY, MAR 19 HIM, DOMMIN, 02 Academy, Birmingham JAMES MCCARTNEY, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham THE LAMPLIGHTERS, IMOGEN’S KISS, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham WHERE, DINKY, THE GRAHAM PARSNIP LIQUIDISER TORTURE THINK TANK (REVIVAL), The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham FUCK YOUR HAIRCUT, Island Bar, Birmingham 50 CENT, LG Arena,

Birmingham TERRY CLARKE, G’s Bar & Diner, Birmingham TEN BEARS, The Asylum, Birmingham MARLENA SHAW, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath HAYSEED DIXIE, Robin 2, Bilston CHARLIE GRACIE, The Public, West Bromwich bite the kerb, tormented vision, The Public, West Bromwich THE CHAIRMEN, FORTUNE ROOKIE, I AM AUSTIN, Kasbah, Coventry SATURDAY, MAR 20 THE JOY FORMIDABLE, BADDIES, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham THE COURTEENERS, 02 Academy, Birmingham [SPUNGE], NEW RIOT, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham DREAMERS NIGHTMARES, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham THE BLACK APPLES, Island Bar, Birmingham THE SCHOOL, PAGAN WANDERER LU, FALLING & LAUGHING, The Victoria, Birmingham TIESTO, LG Arena,

Birmingham METAL ALL DAYER, Sound Bar, Birmingham GUN, THE VIRGINMARYS, HOLY RAGE, The Asylum, Birmingham RAFIKI JAZZ, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath DAVID RODIGAN, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath GLAMOUR OF THE KILL, Little Civic, Wolverhampton PORTICO QUARTET, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry MARK MORRISS, LLOYD MCGRATH, Kasbah, Coventry SUNDAY, MAR 21 FRANK TURNER, 02 Academy, Birmingham THE FREE LOVE CLUB, The Yardbird, Birmingham JOSH PYKE, EMMA POLLOCK, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath LIVE BOX WITH CHIMA ANYA, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath MONDAY, MAR 22 DIANA VICKERS, The Glee Club, Birmingham TOTAL CHAOS, WHO SHOT WHO, Sound Bar, Birmingham HITCHCOCK, Kasbah, Coventry

TUESDAY, MAR 23 ZEBRAHEAD, MC LARS, ORANGE, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham MAMAS GUN, ARABELLA, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham TRIVIUM, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton NICK HARPER, Robin 2, Bilston WEDNESDAY, MAR 24 PALOMA FAITH, LA SHARK, 02 Academy, Birmingham THE ARUSHA ACCORD, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham SNOOTY BOBS, BABY TWIN, Island Bar, Birmingham JETHRO TULL, Symphony Hall, Birmingham BARBARA DICKSON, Town Hall, Birmingham STEVE AJAO, G’s Bar & Diner, Birmingham GREATEST HITS, BOAT TO ROW, GET FRANK, A BULL, The Bulls Head, Moseley TROYKA, The Rainbow, Digbeth GEOFF FARINA & CHRIS BROKAW, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath THE SEARCHERS, Robin 2, Bilston TINIE TEMPAH, Kasbah, Coventry

THURSDAY, MAR 25 VIJAY KISHORE, The Plough, Harborne THE AUTOMATIC, WHITE BELT YELLOW TAG, PAGE 44, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham KING CHARLES, MALPAS, TOM PEEL, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath CAPTURE KENDAL, EASTSTRIKEWEST, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton KING PLEASURE & THE BISCUIT BOYS, Robin 2, Bilston FRIDAY, MAR 26 DAN LE SAC VS SCrOOBIUS PIP, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham RAVEN VANDELLE, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham SCIENCE WILL SAVE US, THE 4 JAYS, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham CHARLIE CAN’T SURF, Island Bar, Birmingham THE CLUB BOMB BIG FREE GIG, The Moseley Arms, Digbeth MOJO HOOKER, G’s Bar & Diner, Birmingham THE ABBOTS, OLD IONS, The Rainbow, Digbeth IDIOSYNC, The Flapper, Birmingham

YOU AND WHAT ARMY, Little Civic, Wolverhampton naomi alleyne, The Public, West Bromwich SATURDAY, MAR 27 ELLIE GOULDING (SOLD OUT), 02 Academy 2, Birmingham THE LAWRENCE ARMS, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham RED LIGHT ROOM, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham OWEN PALLET, MALPAS, The Rainbow Warehouse, Digbeth BLACK MARKET EMPIRE, The Rainbow, Digbeth TOYAH WILLCOX, Robin 2, Bilston MOMMA’S IN THE KITCHEN, Kasbah, Coventry SUNDAY, MAR 28 MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK, 02 Academy 2, Birmingham TIMOTHY B SCHMIT (THE EAGLES), The Glee Club, Birmingham PANIC ROOM, Robin 2, Bilston MONDAY, MAR 29 EMERY, 02 Academy 3, Birmingham MADINA LAKE, 02 Academy 2,

Birmingham KILL IT KID, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath IAN SIEGAL, Robin 2, Bilston LEIGH MARY STOKES, Kasbah, Coventry TUESDAY, MAR 30 EDITORS (SOLD OUT), 02 Academy, Birmingham THE BESNARD LAKES, WOLF PEOPLE, MR BONES & THE DREAMERS, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath WEDNESDAY, MAR 31 FLYLEAF (SOLD OUT), 02 Academy 2, Birmingham WALTER SCHREIFELS (RIVAL SCHOOLS), 02 Academy 3, Birmingham BLUE NATION, Island Bar, Birmingham PATSY FULLER’S SPEAKEASY BLUES BAND, G’s Bar & Diner, Birmingham NEIL WARD, CHRIS CLEVERLEY, The Bulls Head, Moseley WE HAVE BAND, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath ANDY MCKEE, Robin 2, Bilston

we want

fresh blood

We are looking for sharp eyed individuals to help us crack one of three cases. If you think you can handle it then come along to CSI: The Experience, Bullring. Strong minds and clear thinkers apply within!

Bullring, Birmingham

Now Open

A hands-on, hi-tech and completely immersive interactive entertainment experience that makes YOU the crime-cracker.

• THE UK PREMIERE •

0844 338 0338

csibirmingham.co.uk

Opening times: Mon-Sat 11am-8pm Sun 11am-5pm

Price: Adults £9.75 Children (up to 17 years old) £7.00 Concessions and group discounts available CSI: The Experience is fascinating and informative for children aged 12 and over. Please view the online interactive preview and determine whether the exhibit is suitable for individuals. Groups will receive 1 free place per 10.

Teachers go free with school groups.

For more info visit www.csibirmingham.co.uk or www.csiexhibit.com.

www.bcguk.com