Brum Notes Magazine - March 2011

march 2011

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

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Also inside: Fenech-Soler Frankie & The Heartstrings

Matthew Dear Martin Creed David Rotheray

Pram Odyssey Vinny and The Curse

Plus: Getting the party started with Craig Charles // Our guide to Birmingham’s Flatpack and Fierce Festivals // Your comprehensive What’s On Guide for March March 2011 February 2011

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Brum Notes Magazine

Brum Notes Magazine 120 The Greenhouse The Custard Factory Digbeth Birmingham B9 4AA

CONTENTS

Contact: info@brumnotes.com 0121 224 7363 Advertising: Rates start from £75.

Contact: 0121 224 7363 or advertising@brumnotes.com Distribution: StickupMedia! 0121 224 7364 Editor: Chris Moriarty Contributors Words: Tom Pell, Andy Roberts, Jon Pritchard, James Collins, Saima Razzaq, Ross Cotton, Shamrez Marawat, Lyle Bignon, Cassie-Philomena Smyth, Lorraine Teare, Gemma Harling Pictures: Andy Watson, Jade Sukiya, Richard Shakespeare Design: Sleepy.me.uk, Jade Sukiya, Andy Aitken All content © Brum Notes Magazine.

Views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily Brum Notes Magazine.

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REGULARS: NEWS LIVE REVIEWS CLUB PHOTOS FOOD & DRINK WHAT’S ON - your comprehensive guide to music, clubs and comedy across the West Midlands this month FEATURES: PLAYLIST: CRAIG CHARLES selects his party favourites MUSIC: ODYSSEY FESTIVAL GUIDE: FIERCE & FLATPACK FESTIVALS MUSIC: PRAM MUSIC: MARTIN CREED MUSIC: VINNY AND THE CURSE/ JOYOUS/ DAVID ROTHERAY MUSIC: MATTHEW DEAR MUSIC: FENECH-SOLER MUSIC: FRANKIE & THE HEARTSTRINGS MUSIC: GLASVEGAS

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.

Follow us on Twitter: @BrumNotesMag Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ BrumNotesMagazine www.brumnotes.com

March 2011

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PRODUCERS INVITED TO SHOW OFF THEIR REMIX SKILLS FOR NEW EP Electronic two-piece Waler are offering budding producers the chance to remix a track for a new EP to be released later this month.

The Solihull-based duo have joined forces with Birmingham label Speech Fewapy Records to launch the contest, which is aimed at new or established producers, giving them the chance to show off their talents with a new arrangement of track No Excuses.

The best submitted remixes will be selected to feature on the No Excuses – Remix EP and released on digital download and CD on May 2.

It follows the release of Waler’s debut LP Formulas last September and the pair, made up of John Napier and Vincent Gould, intend to continue the genre-spanning philosophy of the album with their remix EP. To remix No Excuses and be in with a chance of featuring on the EP, visit the dedicated mini-site at www.speechfewapy.com/walerremix.

There you will be able to hear the original track and download all the stems needed for the remix. Deadline for all submissions is 6pm on Friday, March 25.

METAL FINDS A NEW HOME IN WEST BROMWICH Bands across the Midlands are being offered the chance to win a free photoshoot as part of the Home of Metal open day this month.

The contest is open to unsigned acts, with the winners getting a series of portraits taken by Birmingham-based photographer Steve Gerrard who has previously worked with the likes of Radiohead, Metallica and Muse.

Those interested in entering are asked to describe in less than 200 words who their local West Midlands music hero is and why.

The photoshoot will take place on March 26, to coincide with the Home of Metal open day, taking place at The Public arts centre in West Bromwich.

masterclass between 11am and 2pm for aspiring music snappers, with a limited number of places available for advance booking on 0121 533 7161.

The striking pink and black venue will play host to fans of all ages throughout the day from 11am to 4pm, with people invited to bring along their memorabilia and stories to be recorded for the digital archive. Home Of Metal is looking for everything from concert tickets to photographs, badges, album covers, t-shirts and flyers relating to local heroes such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, Diamond Head, Magnum and Napalm Death.

Home of Metal is a project aimed at celebrating the musical heritage of Birmingham and the Black Country and the area’s role in shaping heavy metal music, creating an archive of memorabilia and memories and staging a series of events.

Steve Gerrard will also be hosting a free photography

To enter the band photoshoot competition send your answer along with the name of your band, location and contact number to beth@capsule.org.uk by March 14.

Visit www.homeofmetal.com for more information on the project.

BRUM NOTES MAGAZINE IS RECRUITING....

For details turn to p14.

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Brum Notes Magazine

SPENDING CUTS FORCE CLOSURE OF IKON EASTSIDE Modern art gallery Ikon Eastside will close next month due to cuts in public funding, bosses have announced.

The Digbeth-based exhibition space, an offshoot of modern art hub Ikon Gallery, will host a three day music festival from April 7-9 called Rites of Spring, which will be its last event before being forced to close its doors.

Ikon Eastside launched five years ago, taking over two disused industrial buildings before settling at a new home in Fazeley Street in 2008, offering a unique base for large-scale displays, exhibitions, videos and events.

It has hosted work by internationally recognised artists including Andy Warhol, Damián Ortega and Józef Robakowski, as well as providing a venue for cultural events and festivals including Supersonic, Flatpack and the International Dance Festival.

The main Ikon Gallery will remain open at its permanent home in Brindleyplace and bosses say the

IN BRIEF The Glee Club in Birmingham has been named the best comedy venue in the Midlands in a recent poll. The club, based in the Arcadian in Birmingham city centre, retained its title as Best Venue in the Midlands and East category for the third year running in the 10th annual Chortle Awards, voted for by visitors to leading comedy website Chortle.

A 250,000 sq ft John Lewis department store will be built in Birmingham as part of the redevelopment of New Street Station. The store will be built over four floors and is expected to create up to 900 jobs.

Free books are to be given out at a Balsall Heath pub as part of a worldwide reading campaign.

Birmingham Poetry Ultras will celebrate World Book Night on March 5 with an event at The Old Moseley Arms from 8pm, which will include giving away copies of Seamus Heaney’s New Selected Poems 1966-1987 on a first come first served basis. Other events are also planned in Birmingham to mark the night.

March 2011

current feasibility study into the proposed museum of contemporary art for Birmingham, Ikon Two, is also unaffected. Ikon is expected to maintain links with the Eastside district of Birmingham through site-specific events and through membership of the Eastside Contemporary Art Consortium, a group aimed at promoting cultural regeneration in the area.

Jonathan Watkins, Ikon director, said: “We are extremely saddened to be losing Ikon Eastside, but our commitment to bringing internationally recognised art to the city is unwavering. Looking to the future, our goal remains to create a permanent museum of contemporary art for Birmingham.”

Music festival Rites of Spring will feature artists such as Turner Prize winner Martin Creed, Modified Toy Orchestra and Epic45. For more information see p13.

ST PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATIONS TO TAKE OVER BIRMINGHAM Music, dancing and plenty of drinking will hit the streets of Birmingham with huge crowds set to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in the city.

More than 100,000 people are expected to join the traditional parade through Digbeth on Sunday, March 13, with many more events taking place as part of the Irish-inspired festival over the weekend. Live acts will be performing for free at the HMV Institute between midday and 6pm as part of the St Pat Rocks event, while family entertainment takes place at the Emerald Village being set up in the Custard Factory.

Live music will also be taking place in the Irish Centre and at Irish pubs and community centres around Digbeth and across Birmingham, while more celebrations are planned for March 17, the official day to celebrate Ireland’s patron saint.

Birmingham’s celebrations are heralded amongst the biggest in the world, with the mass parade on the Sunday among the highlights of a week-long festival. The parade itself starts at midday at Camp Hill, moving along Digbeth High Street towards Selfridges and the Bull Ring and back into Digbeth, featuring floats, pipe and drum bands, a historic vehicle procession and a host of community groups and displays, as well as a 1,000 balloon release.

For full details visit www. stpatricksbirmingham.com.

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MEXICAN WRESTLING SENSATIONS HEAD TO BRUM Mexican wrestling cabaret and burlesque troupe Lucha Britannia will unleash a twisted Easter party in Birmingham when they descend on the city for the first time next month.

The risqué spectacle, an underground favourite and award-winning blend of cabaret, costumes, comedy and danger, will be the headline attraction at the Hott Date Easter extravaganza, hosted at the HMV Institute

by Brummie party animals Chicks Dig Jerks on April 21.

Expect gravity-defying action and scream-inducing thrills and plenty of spandex, with hard-hitting Lucha Libre wrestling and no shortage of sass from neo burlesque beauties.

As well as Lucha Britannia in the main room, the other five rooms at the Digbeth venue will also be full to the brim with music and party antics, including live performances from Victories at Sea, Filthy Habits, The Traps, Bombers, High

Commissioners, Fever Fever and more, as well as DJ sets from the likes of Jocko Homo Soundsystem, Jordan Lott, Skankboy, ColdRice and Shorterz, as well as Panic! favourite Jamwar and his Kool Karaoke.

Dress code is wrestlers, fetish, burlesque and Mexican if you really fancy getting into the spirit of the occasion.

Early bird tickets for Easter Hott Date with Lucha Britannia are available until April 1, priced at £10.

Standard tickets cost £12 from April 2, or more on the door.

See www.chicksdigjerks.com for more details and further announcements or book tickets in advance at www.hmvtickets.com.

IN BRIEF

ROCKERS RETURN FOR BIG WEEKEND AT THE FLAPPER

Early bird tickets have been released for this year’s Global Gathering festival in Warwickshire. The annual dance music extravaganza heads to Long Marston Airfield in Stratford-upon-Avon from July 29 to 30 for its 11th year. Limited launch tickets are now available from £99 plus booking fee. More than 50,000 revellers are expected at the festival, organised by the team behind Birmingham clubbing giants Godskitchen.

Birmingham progressive rock outfit The Cape of Good Hope will play their first official comeback gig next month since announcing their return. The band, who abruptly split after touring the UK and Europe on the back of 2008 EP Arts & Crafts, have been added to the bill for a special weekend double-header taking place at The Flapper in Birmingham city centre. It will be their first appearance since a oneoff gig last Christmas and will be accompanied by a new EP called Sly Love With A Midnight Creeper.

Sunday daytime parties return to The Rainbow in Digbeth next month. Below takes over the pub and courtyard at the venue for the first time this year on Easter Sunday, April 24,from 3pm before introducing a brand new alfresco clubbing space for the next daytime event. Tickets at www.theticketsellers. co.uk/therainbowvenues.

Edgy promoters This is Tomorrow launch their first ever club night Ascension on Sunday, March 27, promising to join the dots between house, disco, future bass and techno. Takes place upstairs at Missing in Hurst Street, Birmingham.

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The canalside pub and live venue will host Till Death Do Us Party on April 1 and 2, featuring headline appearances from post-hardcore heroes &U&I on the Friday night and energetic punk troupe The James Cleaver Quintet the following night. Also taking to the stage over the weekend are Tangled Hair and Drawings, who join &U&I on the Friday night, while God Damn join reforming rockers The Cape of Good Hope on the bill on the Saturday. DJs and a late licence will also keep the party vibe going.

Tickets are £4 in advance per night or £7 for both nights and are available from www.seetickets.com.

Brum Notes Magazine

DRUM AND BASS AWARDS RETURN TO BIRMINGHAM FOR BIGGEST EVENT YET The national Drum and Bass Awards return to Birmingham this month for the fifth year in a row, with organisers promising to make it their biggest ever.

Votes have been cast across 30 categories including Best Drum and Bass DJ, Best Lyrical MC, Best Event of 2010 and Best Album. The impact of dubstep has also been recognised with the introduction of two new categories this year of Best Dubstep DJ and Best Dubstep Producer.

from the drum and bass world will also be performing on the night across two arenas, including DJ sets from Pendulum, Andy C, Chase and Status and Subfocus, as well as performances from Friction, Hype, Danny Byrd, Fabio & Grooverider and more. Some of the most hotlytipped emerging DnB talent will also be showing what they can do with live appearances at the awards.

Tickets are priced at ÂŁ35 plus booking fee, for details see www.theticketsellers.co.uk or for more information on the festival visit www.drumandbassawards.com.

The night takes place across The Custard Factory and Space 2 warehouse in Digbeth on March 5 and is expected to attract members of the drum and bass scene from across the globe. The night will also be filmed for Flava TV on Sky channel 367.

Hundreds were turned away at the door last year after the event sold out so advance purchase is advised for anyone who does not yet have a ticket.

The awards ceremony is to be hosted by the iconic drum and bass godfather Grooverider alongside Birmingham’s very own MC Biggie and the multi award winning MC Skibadee. Powering the Sound System at the Drum and Bass awards is the earth shattering Godzilla Sound System. Some of the biggest names

March 2011

Photo by www.club-pics.co.uk

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PLAYLIST:

Actor-turned-DJ Craig Charles brings his soul and funk-fuelled record collection back to the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath this month to headline Soul Food Project’s Mardi Gras party.

The BBC 6 Music presenter delves into his record box to share his top 10 tunes to really get the party started...

1. Funkanomics – Crosstown Shelter 2. Saravah Soul – Fire 3. James Brown (Regrooved) - Get Up Offa That Thing 4. Little Richard – Get Down With it 5. New Mastersounds – Make Me Proud 6. Bo Diddley – BoDiddlyitis 7. Prince Fatty - Insane in The Brain 8. Smoove & Turrell – In Deep 9. Lack Of Afro – The Outsider 10. Voices Of East Harlem – Run Shaker Life

The Soul Food Project Mardi Gras party takes place at the Hare & Hounds on March 5. A strictly limited number of tickets will be available on the door.

Presents

Erland & The Carnival myspace.com/carnival

"This is the sound of musicians on an extended honeymoon with each other, barely aware of the delight they instil in their listeners" - The Times WITH SUPPORT FROM

BEN CALVERT myspace.com/bencalvertmusic

Presents

The High Llamas WWW.highllamas.com

‘The High Llamas have written some of the most richly constructed and oddly affecting pop music since The Beach Boys’ – Signalto Noise WITH SUPPORT FROM

Malpas DJ Guy Carlos myspace.com/malpasmusic

(The Bee’S Tour DJ and member of Gorillaz Sound System)

THURSDAY 31ST MARCH

FRIDAY 6TH MAY

www.moseleyfolk.co.uk 8

www.moseleyfolk.co.uk

8PM TILL LATE, Adv Tickets £7 + £1 B/Fee (more on the door) Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

8PM TILL LATE, Adv Tickets £10 + £1 B/Fee (more on the door) Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

Brum Notes Magazine

ODYSSEY

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New York disco legends Odyssey are rolling back the years while bringing their iconic sound bang up to date with a new live tour and album to follow, working alongside visionary production duo and DJs Yam Who? Singer Steven Collazo reflects on their ongoing appeal. “The curious thing about our success here in the UK is that often, people know of the group, but can’t name one of our five top 10 hits,� says Steven. “It’s when we perform live and hit the crowd with one familiar hit song of ours after another, not to mention our more underground ‘rare grooves’ that we click with our audiences. What I take great pride in now is the new arrangements I’ve done on some of our classic material. The audience can still sing along to the songs they know, love, and remember whilst a whole new groove is going on underneath.�

With hits including Going Back To My Roots, Inside Out and Native New Yorker to their name Odyssey have plenty of success to reflect on, but Steven says it is flattering to see the interest in their music is still strong even since their 1980s hey day. “I never cease to be amazed by the mixture of modern and traditional tastes in music which even the average UK music listener has. To know that outfits like the good folks at Yam Who?, countless DJs, young artists, UK radio still admire, find inspiration from and continue to play Odyssey’s music is gratifying at the very least.

It’s more than any artist can ever truly hope for.�

Steven has now made England his home and admits their success here was greater than in their homeland, something he attributes to the more open minded approach to musical diversity among UK music fans. “When our first albums were released in the US, and for quite a while after, there was a reluctance by both record companies and US radio to encourage or endorse African American artists that performed any style of music other than what was considered the ‘typical’ genre for them. The British markets make no such distinctions. Y’all either like what an artist does or you don’t, regardless of who, what, or where they are.�

Odyssey are live at the Hare & Hounds, March 12.

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March 2011

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F/F/Festival season starts here// Two of the highlights of Birmingham’s cultural calendar return this month to kickstart an exciting few months of music, films, arts and performance, celebrating some of the most eclectic and adventurous local, national and international artistic talent in the most intriguing locations. Whether it’s clubbing in a disused steel factory, catching a movie on board a vintage 1960s cine bus, or watching a cello played with a saw, you’ll be able to try it all this month when Flatpack and Fierce festivals converge on the Second City.

Renowned film-focused programme Flatpack Festival runs alongside innovative arts showcase Fierce, with both festivals operating in and around the Digbeth area and other unique spaces, venues and pop-up spots across the city between March 22 and 27.

The Irrepressibles - Mirror Mirror Town Hall, Victoria Square, March 22 It may be one of the more conventional venues being used during Fierce, but there is certainly nothing conventional about The Irrepressibles, the rabble-rousing 10-piece orchestra taking to the stage at the Town Hall on March 22. Expect a scintillating blend of art pop, orchestral rebellion and eye-catching visuals.

Action Hero - Frontman Rainbow Warehouse, Adderley Street, Digbeth, March 24, 8pm Inspired by Japanese noise bands, performers Action Hero attempt to convey the darker side of living as a musical icon and the energy of an audience, through smoke, haze, stage dives and plenty of volume.

Dominic Johnson - Departure Trove, Newhall Street, March 25, 8pm Squeamish? You may want to look away if you find yourself in the audience for Dominic Johnson’s new performance, which includes him receiving a tattoo live on stage.

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Fierce Festival returns from March 22 to 27 after a two year break with a new creative team at the helm, led by Laura McDermott and Harun Morrison. The aim of the festival is to “reanimate” some of Birmingham’s more familiar encounters. Expect the unexpected. www.wearefierce.org

EXYST - Burning Ham Eastside Green, March 22-27 French architectural collective EXYST take a play on words to another level, transforming the empty Eastside Green near Curzon Street Station and Millennium Point with a Hollywood-inspired sculpture spelling out ‘Burning Ham’ in giant letters. Plus there will be a public feast on the land on Saturday night.

Human Salvage AE Harris, Northwood Street, Jewellery Quarter, March 25, 8.30pm-2am A late night of avant-garde music and performance co-curated by Dominic Johnson taking place in a former metal factory. DJs and live music will be joined by provocative performance artists mixing live art and cabaret.

Entry is free for ticket holders from Dominic Johnson’s earlier performance, or tickets for the club night are available for £9 (£6 concessions).

Brum Notes Magazine

Kicking off on March 23 until March 27, Flatpack has grown in international repute since it first popped up five years ago to take cinematic experiences out to daring destinations.

Expect screenings everywhere from the iconic century-old Electric Cinema to empty shops, disused warehouses and a restored 1960s cine bus. Blending all forms of film with multimedia performances and contributions from musical, film and artistic innovators around the world, Flatpack presents a feast for the senses with a real sense of adventure. www.flatpackfestival.org Pram - Shadow Shows Patrick Centre, Hippodrome, Hurst Street, March 23, 7pm Launch night gets under way in typically eerie style, with local cult heroes Pram unveiling their first UK performance of a creepy “experiment in surreal horror,” using projections and silhouettes to concoct fairy tale nightmares. Find out more over the page.

We Don’t Care About Music Anyway Ikon Eastside, Fazeley Street, Digbeth, March 24, 8pm It doesn’t get much more experimental than this. A film portrait of Japan’s experimental music scene will be followed by a live performance by Sakamoto Hiromichi armed with his cello as well as some saws and angle-grinders.

Digging for Gold Town Hall, Victoria Square, March 24, 7.30pm Silent cinema returns to the big screen with a showing of Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Junior, given a unique twist with live musical accompaniment from renowned organist Nigel Ogden and jazz pianist Alcyona Mick.

Paper Party VIVID, Heath Mill Lane, March 26, 9pm Late night antics, Flatpack style. Includes a performance from audio-visual duo Sculpture with a host of record decks, tape loops, cassettes, samples and lo-fi electronics at their disposal, plus Origamibiro perform live while animator David Wilson gets in on the act with a VJ set.

March 2011

Also coming up:

Fierce and Flatpack are just two of the plethora of cultural festivals taking place in Birmingham this year. Here are some more to look forward to: Eastern Electronic Festival 2011 Feb 28 - March 5, various venues, Birmingham Exhibitions, clubbing and musical performances celebrating progressive Asian music and multi-media art. www.easternelectronicfestival.co.uk Rites of Spring April 7 - 9, Ikon Eastside, Fazeley St, Digbeth Ikon’s first music festival features modern folk and electronica with an arty edge, including Modified Toy Orchestra, Fyfe Dangerfield and Martin Creed. See over for more info. www.ikon-gallery.co.uk Mostly Jazz Festival July 1-3, Moseley Park, Moseley Classic and contemporary jazz, plus modern soul and funk from the likes of Booker T, Pigbag and Gilles Peterson. www.mostlyjazz.co.uk BASS Festival June, various venues, Birmingham The UK’s only month-long celebration of black music and art, mixing new music, dance, spoken word and theatre and showcases the best emerging and established talent. www.punch-records.co.uk OFF THE CUFF July 22-24, The Flapper, Birmingham Leaning towards the heavier edge of indie, post-punk and rock, 2011 promises to be the biggest yet with an enlarged capacity following last year’s sell-out. www.www.offthecuffbirmingham.co.uk Supersonic Festival October 21-23, The Custard Factory, Digbeth Curated by avant-garde pioneers Capsule, brings the best in eclectic performers and musical visionaries to the Second City in a truly international event. www.supersonicfestival.com 11

Pram Soundtrack extraordinaires Pram open this year’s Flatpack Film Festival with their Film Ficciones collaboration entititled Shadow Shows. With a career spanning more than 20 years and genres ranging from hip hop to flamenco, the Birmingham five-piece have developed their own individual black and white, nightmarish, ghostly sounds crafted against sweet, heavenly trails of elegance. Ross Cotton caught up with multi-instrumentalists Matt Eaton, Laurence Hunt and Max Simpson to shed some light on their shadowy world.

“Its a great opportunity to present Shadow Shows in a formal theatrical setting, in what could be a template for a tour in 2012,” explains Matt, who has taken the idea to the next level, after previously piloting the show at Supersonic Festival in 2009 and Sclachtfest in 2010.

“Our mission was to devise a show for theatrical venues in the UK, and Flatpack presents us with the chance to do this for the first time,” he continues.

Adapting their show for the theatre has been no mean feat, with one of the tasks involving building a rotating, cylindrical wind machine for the night.

“It’s taken a couple of month to build as my weekend project,” reveals Laurence. “It’s origins lie within theatre as a sound effect prop, which I am led to believe can be traced back to the Baroque period.

“Alongside the wind machine there are also some other Foley-style sound effects that will be taking place live.”

Shadow Shows represents Pram’s latest collaboration with Scott Johnston’s alter ego Film Ficciones - a relationship which first began at Supersonic eight years ago - and combines film, animation, projections and silhouettes with Pram’s ghostly soundtrack to create a creepy world of nightmarish fairy tales.

So does their interest in the supernatural span from their own experiences?

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“I saw a ghost,” exclaims Laurence, “or a schnappsrelated hallucination. “[It was in] a small town in the deepest darkest Bavaria, where we did a lot of work on Shadow Shows, we were incredibly well looked after by some passionate people who took us to the Devil’s Bridge and plied us with local schnapps.”

Sprits - and spirits - aside, Pram’s creepy, Victorian folklore sound has also been influenced by a vast array of other musical artists, with the band always keen to explore new sources of inspiration.

“My current influences are 70s Bhangra, prepared piano and old UK hip hop”, explains Matt. “We’re always on the lookout for a new style.

“The best single thing for me in music is the first two hours, if you can get anywhere near that original idea in your head by the end, you’ve done pretty well.”

Laurence adds: “I’ve been experimenting with recording techniques and trying out new percussion gadgets like the ‘cow crusher’ which I won in a raffle at the national drum fair.

“The whole writing process is an exciting journey because things can happen by chance and completely change your initial perception of the final destination.”

Pram - Shadow Shows takes place at the Patrick Centre, at the Birmingham Hippodrome, as part of the Flatpack Festival on March 23.

Words by Ross Cotton Image taken from Shadow Shows, by Pram Brum Notes Magazine

Martin Creed Martin Creed may be better known to many as the Turner Prize-winning conceptual artist who scooped the prestigious if controversial art prize with a piece which featured an empty room with a light switching on and off. He also boasts a prolific career in the art world of sculptures, videos, performances and installations, but his creativity stretches beyond the walls of art galleries. He is also a musician who writes short, sharp, lo-fi snippets of post-punk and he will be showing off this string to his bow with a headline appearance at Ikon Gallery’s new music festival Rites of Spring next month. He talks to James Collins about the blurred edges between his music and art.

“Generally I don’t really like playing art galleries because they are a bit like brightly-lit toilets, I do prefer music venues where there is a bar and a bit more atmosphere in that way,” admits Martin Creed.

Luckily for him Ikon Gallery’s music festival takes place in the converted industrial warehouse space of Ikon Eastside and rest assured there will be a bar, as well as plenty of gig-going atmosphere, with an impressive line-up of contemporary musicians and emerging talent performing throughout the weekend.

For someone of his status in the art world, being labelled as an artist having a bit of a dabble with music is something of an inevitability. But for Creed, who has often featured sounds such as metronomes and door bells in his exhibition pieces, art and music are inextricably linked. Martin Creed the musician and Martin Creed the artist are one and the same.

“To me they are totally entwined or inseparable,” he explains. “These visual things, I wouldn’t call that art particularly anyway. Because it’s all things that I try to do and because you can’t look at something without listening to something, you can’t listen to something without looking at something, it feels like life is a big soup, you can’t separate things, so I don’t feel I can separate what I do.”

But he does admit that presenting art in a gallery where people generally look while removed from the artist, and performing music in front of an audience where the musician can gauge an instant reaction, are two different experiences. As an artist he is no stranger to the spectrum of differing reactions that artistic output can provoke - fellow artist Jacqueline Crofton pelted eggs at the walls of his Turner Prizewinning empty room a decade ago - but says the audience is a crucial ingredient in live performance.

“It is different to play music in front of people than it is

to put something in front of people and then go away.

If you are there doing the performing that’s a very different experience, you can see their reactions.”

So does that mean he is confident in his role of frontman when performing with his band?

“I wouldn’t use the word confident because I don’t think I know what I’m doing but I like trying to do it. I feel like you can find something out how you feel about things easier by going in front of people. If you stay in private you can kind of kid yourself about things, you can kid yourself that you are a little king in your little world.”

As for musical influences, while Martin says he does not set out to write in any particular style, he admits it is inevitable that the influence of people he listens to will seep out. The most obvious comparison which is often raised would seem to be to Talking Heads, but there is plenty more on his own musical playlists.

“I do love the Talking Heads and I’m a big fan of David Byrne,” he says. “The thing is I don’t try to make music like anything, I don’t want to try and make music like that, but I must be influenced by things. I was really into punk as I was growing up. I’ve also been quite into country and western music and in Scotland country and western was a big thing, Kenny Rogers and Johnny Cash, a lot of that is really quite simple, just two chords and that sort of thing.

“I also listen to a lot of classical music, or I have over the years. I grew up with classical music. Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson I love as well. I like listening to things that are different to what you think, it is all a matter of trying different things out.

“It’s as if you find yourself here in this world and it’s quite a difficult world to live in and it’s a matter of trying different things. And that’s what I feel like, I want to try and make some noises.”

Rites of Spring: Ikon Music Festival takes place at Ikon Eastside in Digbeth from April 7 to 9, headlined by Martin Creed, Fyfe Dangerfield and Modified Toy Orchestra.

Also performing during the weekend will be Epic45, Shady Bard, Is I Cinema, Lulu & the Lampshades, Boat to Row, Young Runaways, David Cunningham and more. Tickets cost £12 per night (£10 for students) or £30 (£27) for all three nights. For full line-up and to book see www.ikon-gallery.co.uk.

March 2011

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WE’RE RECRUITING We want talented, knowledgable and enthusiastic writers to join our team for an exciting period of expansion over the coming months.

We have a number of vacancies available including for paid part-time staff, voluntary contributors and unpaid internships. All posts are aimed at qualified, training or aspiring journalists.

CLUBBING EDITOR

LOCAL MUSIC EDITOR

Do you know your dubstep from your psychedelic crunk, breakbeat from Detroit house? Do you have your finger on the pulse of Birmingham’s hottest underground club nights, as well as the superstar DJs? Maybe you can even throw a few mixes together yourself, as well as being able to throw together a witty, concise and cutting edge round-up of the city’s clubbing scene on a regular basis. If so then we want to hear from you.

You’ll be paid a few shiny pennies for your troubles as well as gaining access to the finest clubs, festivals and venues. We’ll also set up with star name interviews and you’ll get a kick-ass job title for your CV and some lovely looking additions to your portfolio.

Forget sitting in the comfort of an arena, or flouncing around the VIP area at packed-out venues, we want someone who would be just as happy scouring half-empty live rooms in pubs across the region, getting back down to the nitty gritty in search of the next big thing. You’ll be prepared to venture out into the wind and rain any night of the week to run the rule over the Midlands’ wealth of unsigned talent and be able to spot those that stand out from the pack. As well as some pocket money from us, you’ll get fantastic exposure for your work - and you’re bound to have bands from around and about ploughing you with free beers. Plus you’ll find plenty of gig tickets and free music falling into your lap.

REVIEWS EDITOR

FOOD CRITIC

Have you got a passion for new and exciting music and can put it into words in an engaging and concise way? We want someone who can keep on top of the wealth of new releases out every week, sort the wheat from the chaff and keep up to date with the most important new records from emerging artists and established stars. You’ll get your pick of new albums, exclusive access to new music before it hits the charts and build up some great contacts in the music media industry.

Fancy yourself as the next AA Gill? Could you wax lyrical about anything from a takeaway kebab to a gourmet meal? Well if you can make it witty, intelligent, relevant and accurate then we’ll happily pick up the tab in exchange for your words of wisdom.

This position is open to qualified or training journalists with proven interest in or experience of writing restaurant reviews.

PLUS, REVIEWERS WANTED

We’re always on the lookout for fresh writing talent, people who can sum up the experience of a concert, club night or record in a couple of hundred choice words. Free tickets, advance copies of albums and club entry awaits those who’ve got what it takes.

If you’re interested send a 200 word review of a recent gig, club night or album along with any other relevant links or work samples to info@brumnotes.com info@brumnotes.com..

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Our distribution partner StickupMedia also has a vacancy for a part-time Distribution Manager. The role is generously paid with the potential to develop into a full-time post for the right candidate, as well as plenty of opportunities for overtime and additional work. The role initially involves three days a week daytime work and occasional evenings. Own transport is essential, as is a good knowledge of Birmingham and the surrounding areas. Previous promotional work is preferable 14

but most importantly the right candidate will be reliable, hard working, organised and able to work independently and use their own initiative.

For more information or to register your interest in any of the positions above email your details to info@brumnotes.com stating clearly in the subject header which position you are interested in.

Brum Notes Magazine

March 2011

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The Psychic Foot EP by Vinny & the Curse is released for digital download on March 7.

Having morphed from a one-man band to a three-piece, psychorockabilly powerhouse in little over a year, Vinny & The Curse have commanded growing crowds with their frenetic live shows. Now with their debut EP set for release this month, the Birmingham-based trio have got their eyes firmly set on success.

“I started off as a one-man band but never got as far as gigging,” explains frontman Scott Abbott.

“I bumped into Rich [Franklin] and he started off playing two drums standing up, Moe Tucker style. Then John [Presley] was hanging around at our gigs and started playing my guitar for some bits and I’d go off into the crowd, then he had his baritone guitar and now it’s full on bass and it’s pretty dirty and heavy.”

The story of Vinny & the Curse’s formation may be a relatively simple

VINNY & THE CURSE

one, but they are hoping that their stripped back sound of battered blues and retro-fuelled garage rock can propel them onto the next level.

A successful recording session at Voltalab Sound Studios, a unique converted mill in Rochdale, has given them a taste for more - and more importantly a debut EP that drips with smouldering, trashy rock and roll and leaves the band beaming with excited pride.

“Recording was so enjoyable,” recalls bassist John. “It was an

JOYOUS

old cotton mill, it was a beautiful setting. We slept on the floor of the control room, I could’ve spent another month in there,” he adds.

“I couldn’t have spent another minute in there,” counters frontman Scott. “He slept while I was recording with guitars on full.”

For the band, the unique space in which they recorded had a big impact on the raw power of their sound. “We had to have the drums played back through a PA as everything was so loud,” says Scott.

Indie five-piece Joyous recently left their native West Midlands in a bid to find success in London.

They return to Birmingham this month to support Crystal Fighters at the HMV Institute on March 23.

Jon Pritchard caught up with the band ahead of their homecoming appearance.

The band met at the tail end of 2008, brought together by a fondness for drinking in the same pub and toasted sandwiches. Not exactly a solid bond, but after living with each other for the past six months, it’s still standing firm.

“We’ve been so concentrated in London that we’ve neglected some of our friends. The gig is a great opportunity to show off our new songs to old faces,” says frontman Kieran McLoughlin.

For keyboardist Dan Findell the move to London was about more than just trying to make it big, it was to get an honest perspective on their songs.

“It seemed pretty important that we made a move away from the comfort of old friends and family to make sure that our songs get the attention that they deserve.”

Those songs recall the catchy choruses of classic indie bands as well as the understated soul of Foals and Cold War Kids. As for their own influences, typically there is a plethora, but right now James, Roy Orbison, and Aztec Camera top the list.

“Any song with a great chorus has a chance to be played in our living room,” says Dan, hailing the art of the chorus as a key component in their own material as well.

“Our songs are for people who still aren’t ashamed to sing along to the chorus,” adds Kieran.

Joyous support Crystal Fighters at the HMV Institute on March 23.

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Brum Notes Magazine

“But the drums sound immense.

Listening back it made me think we can be a fucking monster of a band.”

For anyone who has caught them live in recent months, it is difficult to disagree.

A growing excitement has greeted their gigs, as well as growing crowds.

“There seems quite a buzz around it when we play in Birmingham,” says John.

“I think it’s people just waiting to see if it goes wrong. It’s a train wreck waiting to happen,” he adds with a smile.

“When we’ve got enough songs we’ll get an album out,” explains Scott. “It’s not even been a year [as a three-piece], we’re still writing and still developing but it’s getting more and more exciting as it gets easier and easier.”

Scott says they are mindful of “oversaturating” Birmingham so will be limiting their appearances in the coming months to their own bi-monthly club night Creep Show (starting May 13 at The Victoria) and other select shows - but they are still keen to try and capitalise on any buzz.

“We’re open to try more or less anything but now we’re hoping to meet someone who can something out there and released properly, so we’re interested in meeting the right label and seeing what happens. It’s a very difficult thing to sell yourself without sounding like an egotistical twat, which is what you don’t want to do, but the way it’s grown initially we are excited about where it could go.”

DAVID ROTHERAY A concept folk album, based around the theme of British garden birds, doesn’t sound the most riveting of ideas does it? But David Rotheray, best known as a founding member and co-songwriter in multi-million selling band The Beautiful South, turned it into a delightful and delicately beautiful blend of shimmering, contemporary folk-pop.

Now as he prepares to take the album on the road for the first time, he’s more than happy to answer the most obvious question about his latest project.

“It’s been quite nice doing interviews really as it gives people something to ask about straight away,” he says, reacting to a question he must have heard innumerable times - why write an album about birds?

“It was kind of an accident really,” he explains. “When I was writing the album, quite a while ago now, it was the summer of 2008, I got ill. I had Ménière’s disease, which is when you get an infection in your ear, the part of your ear that controls your balance, and it’s like being seasick. You stand up and the room suddenly sways, so it’s hard to move about and do anything really. I was confined to the house for about three weeks, I was sat in a chair looking out into the garden, a bit like an old fella sat on the front porch.

“I had a wall chart free with the paper of garden birds and I was ticking them off and then I wrote a couple of songs that had bird names in, they had just crept into my head. I thought once I’d written two or three songs with birds in it might look a bit weird so I’ve either got to drop a couple or write another four or five to make it a theme, so I thought that was the more sensible option. They don’t all have birds in but most of them do.”

Rather than feeling forced to shoehorn in plenty of ornithological references, David insists sticking to a theme was actually quite liberating.

“It actually made it easier in a way. When you’re writing songs you have anything in the world to pick from but when you’ve got a theme you’ve got a limited number to pick from.

So in a way having limitations actually helps, as it focuses the mind.”

The other more unusual element to the album is that the man behind it doesn’t actually sing, instead collaborating with 10 different singers - limited to two for the tour.

“I can’t sing unfortunately, my life would be a lot easier if I could,” says David. “I do talk on stage and introduce the songs. I need to chat and introduce the songs, it’s not like when I was in the Beautiful South when everyone knew the songs, I have to make a bit more effort this time.”

David Rotheray plays at The Glee Club, Birmingham, on March 25. Tickets from www.glee.co.uk.

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Dear in the Limelight DJ, producer, songwriter, band frontman, remix mastermind, record label boss and all-round electronic music darling.

With four different aliases and innumerable influences, Matthew Dear is a hard man to define. Last year’s album Black City saw his appeal stretch beyond that of the dance music fraternity with the record hailed as a masterpiece by critics in both the DJ and indie music press. But he’s less concerned with labels and more concerned with making sure people enjoy themselves.

“It’s definitely more live,” he explains, pointing out the more obvious difference with his band dynamic compared to his usual studio or turntable antics.

“We have a live drummer, trumpet player, electronic elements involved as well. The album takes on a whole new life live.

Words: Chris Moriarty | Photo: Will Calcutt | Design: sleepy.me.uk

“Certain effects on the album are hard to transmit live because you don’t have that controlled environment but it’s a fun task.

It keeps it all fresh.”

While Black City may have brought him to the attention of a wider range of music fans, his back catalogue is already an impressive one, with four albums in seven years under his Matthew Dear moniker spanning house, funk and electro, as well as a prolific number of other production, writing and remixing credits. He wrote and co-produced debut single Hands Up For Detroit in 1999, his homage to Detroit house which later went on to provide the basis and vocal sample for Fedde Le Grand’s smash hit Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit in 2006. He has had remixes commissioned by the likes of The Chemical Brothers, The XX and Hot Chip, he is the co-founder and joint head of US-based label Ghostly International and its dancefloor offshoot Spectral Sound. And all of this while maintaining four aliases under which he performs, produces and records, Audion, False, Jabberjaw, and, of course, Matthew Dear — “each one has a different style of music I don’t think I could be happy without each one,” explains the multi-faceted musician.

So with such a varied musical output, where does he feel most at home, on stage or in the studio?

“I definitely feel more at home in the studio because it’s more controlled but the live experience, you can’t get that anywhere but on stage,” Matthew explains.

“The crowd and the energy, there are moments that you can’t get anywhere else.”

He admits there is also a different dynamic to a night when he is performing on stage with his band, to those nights when he is DJing in a club.

“You get those big clubs and DJs come in throughout the night but the attitude and the energy of the crowd is just to have a late night experience and let the club control you, but with a band on stage people come for a live concert and they expect more of a show, a one off night.”

True to form, Matthew certainly keeps himself busy on stage as well, taking the role of vocalist, but also controlling some of the computer equipment as well as his own vocal effects.

And all of that while learning to be a frontman in the traditional sense of the word as well, the centre of attention rather than being tucked behind a control desk or DJ booth.

“I enjoy that [being the frontman], it took some time but now it’s about getting creative and having as much fun as possible on stage.

“In terms of frontmen, I’m influenced by the classics really, David Byrne [Talking Heads], David Bowie, David Gahan [Depeche Mode] — the three Davids. David Gahan just has so much charisma, even today.”

If crossover is the buzz word for music these days then Matthew Dear is certainly leading by example and says he is excited to see the boundaries of genre definition melting away.

“I think there’s quite an interesting thing going on, that it’s more acceptable than it ever had been for these experiences to take place,” he says.

“I’ve been playing to clubs that have become a hybrid of dance and rock, there seems to be a commonality now and you get a lot of rock and band kids that just would to come out and have a good time and dance and the techno kids that are not scoffing at the idea of a guitar.”

So which one is Matthew Dear, a band kid or a techno kid?

“I think I’m stuck somewhere in the middle.”

Matthew Dear and his live band perform at the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, on March 17, presented by This is Tomorrow. Support comes from Mark E (Merc/ Spectral) and Jocko Homo DJs. 18

Brum Notes Magazine

March 2011

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Explo— ring the Soler System Having emerged victorious from the electronic-fuelled musical minefield that was 2010, Fenech-Soler’s brand of dirty electro and inspiring pop is set to catapult them into 2011 armed with lofty ambitions to soundtrack the British summer. Last year treated them well, this one is set to get even better, as Chris Moriarty finds out.

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Brum Notes Magazine

It’s 10.40pm Australian time and the four members of Northamptonshire’s finest electro-pop exports Fenech-Soler have just spent the day at the zoo or on Sydney’s beaches. Now they are just about to head out to catch Erykah Badu live. Not the sort of hectic schedule you normally associate with bands on tour, is it?

“On our days off they’ve given us things to do and planned activities for us, so it’s been a bit of a luxury,” explains bassist Dan Soler.

“We’ve had seven days off and they’ve been looking after us.

It’s good to be in one place for more than one day. I’ve not been surfing yet, I’ve not ventured to the beach but the other guys have and they said it was amazing. I went to the zoo instead, that’s more my thing. We’ve got some summer over here as well which is crazy coming from the English winter.”

It’s not exactly a holiday though, the band arrived down under to perform in Sydney, then Melborne the following night, with their time off sandwiched in between further dates up the coast as part of the multi-city Good Vibrations Festival. While not exactly star struck, Dan insists it has been a privilege to perform at such a prestigious festival not least because it’s given them the chance to meet some of their most admired contemporaries.

“We’ve been playing with some great bands at this festival, Friendly Fires, Miike Snow, Phoenix, it’s been great to meet those guys. It’s quite overwhelming in that respect. It’s been quite fun and it feels like things are ready to move forward out here [in Australia].

“None of us have ever been out here but I think we definitely hoped to, a lot of British bands do come out. It’s absolutely crazy to be out here and it’s completely different to what I thought.

It’s always great to be moving forward and doing things that are completely new, it’s always quite special. I know when we first went to America that will always stick with me and I think this will be the same.”

It would be easy to describe this as the pinnacle of a ‘whirlwind year’ (do emerging bands have their years described in any other way these days?), but it’s more than two years since Fenech-Soler first wooed industry insiders at Manchester’s In The City festival as mere teens, and Dan insists it is hard work that has landed them in the enviable position they now enjoy.

And enjoy it they will.

“With our band, it’s not been something that’s necessarily immediately blown up, so it’s not given us the expectations that we’re set to fail. Some bands are on a million different lists, but we’re lucky as we’ve grown organically and had to prove ourselves. We’ve not had anything handed to us, we weren’t on the BBC list, we’ve fought for everything we’ve had. We weren’t on the BBC playlist so we didn’t have that pressure but as we didn’t have that handed to us it’s brought us all closer together as a band.

“Greg at Radio 1 has been great, so have Fern, Annie Mac, Nick Grimshaw, they’ve all been so supportive and it’s cool to have the record out there and played by people like that.

There’s new fans at every show we do now and it’s constantly March 2011

growing like that. In the new year with Demons [their latest single] coming recently out as well it’s like now that the album is starting to grow. The album came out in September and was always out there but 2011 was where we really wanted to push on and getting the acclaim from people like it did has really helped. The UK tour is looking really good, Koko in London, Manchester and a few other shows have sold out and it’s feeling good that people want to come to the shows. We’re writing new stuff and feeling very positive.”

Fenech-Soler it seems are not resting on their laurels, working on new material in between tour dates. And while Dan insists their self-titled debut album still has a lot of life in it yet, they are already thinking ahead to the follow-up.

“I guess it’s very much in the ideas stage. It’s grown on from what we’ve been doing, we’ve bought new bits of equipment to play with and it’s very much experimental, keeping on the same concept but growing up with our sound really.

“There’s a level of confidence with it where we can explore different influences and we’re exploring different fields. The ideas are still sort of forming. It’s not going to be a million miles away from what we do, that’s not what we want and I don’t think that’s what people would want to hear. But I think although we’re constantly working on new stuff this album [their debut] has got a long way to go yet. We’ll be working on this album to the end of the year and touring it. We’ll be showcasing new material during the festival season then from that process will decide what’s going to be on the new album. But we’re still very much enjoying our debut album and it’s still very fresh to us.”

Future bookings are also piling up, with a busy schedule ahead once their antipodean adventures are over with, video shoots, touring and then the festival circuit beckons. And Dan says they’re determined to make their mark, with their summery brand of electro-pop perfectly suited to the feel good spirit that pervades many a field throughout the summer.

“I hope so, that’s what we’d like it to be anyway,” agrees Dan. “It’s feel-good music and hopefully we’ll achieve that at the festivals. I hope we’re the sort of band that have that festival anthem.

“I think live we like to take the tracks and start again with them in a sense. We extend them and try and make them flow in between each other. I think they come across maybe a bit heavier and distorted and maybe less friendly than they do on record.

We learn different aspects of the tracks and we kind of make them more aggressive live and have a bit of fun with them.

“We do like to make them different live just for personal enjoyment and I think a band that goes out and plays the same thing can get stale but on tour we do try and make it different.”

Fenech-Soler headline the HMV Institute in Digbeth, Birmingham, on March 26.

Debut album Fenech-Soler is available now.

Words: Chris Moriarty | Photo: John Wright | Design: sleepy.me.uk 21

Funtime Frankie

Having been heralded as one of Britain’s best live bands, foppish Sunderland boys Frankie & the Heartstrings have crystalised their punchy guitar-pop into an acclaimed debut album.

With sell-out shows and an ever-growing fanbase, frontman Frankie Francis is determined to enjoy every minute. And it certainly beats working for a living, as James Collins finds out.

Words: James Collins Photo (right): Ian West Design: sleepy.me.uk

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Frankie Francis sounds surprisingly perky considering it’s 11am the morning after a sell-out gig at Leeds’ Cockpit. He’s just checked out of their latest hotel but there’s not a hint of weariness in his voice. But then, that’s what he is — perky. Both on stage and off. It’s hard to find a review or indeed interview that doesn’t use the word ‘dandy’ to describe Frankie or his fellow Heartstrings and it would seem this bonhomie applies beyond just their fashion sense or flamboyant stage persona.

Not even the hotel-hopping gets him down; “that’s all part of the fun,” he insists.

But then Frankie and co have plenty of reasons to be cheerful. This time last year they were all working in “regular jobs” and now, as Frankie puts it without a hint of cyncism, they are “living the dream.”

Frankie speaks with a child-like excitement about the new experiences that are greeting them every day. Having built their reputation on live shows and built up a heady steam of anticipation for debut album Hunger, Frankie gleefully recognises that they are now “starting to get into people’s consciousness.”

But as well as this excitement at the position they now find themselves in, there is also an air of confidence. After all, you don’t sell out gigs and earn a record deal just by being a bit of a dandy on stage.

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“We’re not major label, we don’t have heavyweight management, I think we’re just there on merit,” Frankie explains. “We do a good live show and our record’s good. You’re only as good as your records at the end of the day.”

For Frankie, the band which bears his name represents his first outing as a frontman but one which he has taken to with a gusto which has earned plenty of admirers along the way. It is his on-stage charisma which has often dominated descriptions of their live shows.

“It’s nothing contrived or anything,” he insists. “I’ve never been in a band before so I don’t know how to do it any other way. It’s very honest, overall as a band we’re very honest. The songs are all true subject matters and I guess that comes across as well.

We’d never been in the studio but we certainly felt comfortable with Edwyn and Seb Lewlsey [Edwyn’s co-producer and engineer at West Heath] deserves a lot of credit as well. But it was such a nice atmosphere, Edwyn’s wife Grace and his son William were hanging around every day as well, it was just really good fun and they create such an environment that it feels so easy. They never try and change songs but they just suggest things to help our sound.”

That laid back theme runs right through the band’s set-up, giving them the freedom to find their own feet and their own sound. It’s an attitude which is underpinned by the DIY spirit with which their album has been released. Although signed to indie mainstays Wichita, the band were given free reign to create their own label on the Wichita imprint - hence PopSex Ltd was born, their outlet for anything and everything related to Frankie & the Heartstrings.

"Me and Michael always “We’re all very honest people said we wanted to play for and experiences in our own lives, relationship breakdowns, “What Wichita do is great. I Sunderland or be in a band. family, workmates, anything reknow they are an independally, that’s what goes into our label but they gave us such One of them has come true and ent songs. If there’s a theme to freedom and said to us, ‘just the album it would be love, set up your own label on ours,’ I guess there's still time for lust and heartbreak. That’s the which we did with PopoSex phrase we’ve been coining anyLtd and we have so much free the other one." way. Lusting after them, getting time to do what we want,” Frankthe girl and ultimately being left heartbroken.”

For the whole collective, recording and trying to transfer their live energy onto an album was yet another new experience.

“I think we just took a step back. We’re confident that we’re a good live band so it was a case of, ‘how can we get this on record without it sounding like a live record?’

“We thought about the running order and we planned what we would want on side one and on side two. We recorded it as if it was a 12-inch record and how it would play. I think it has worked, when people hear it back and give it time people can feel it.

“We’re very romantic, we want people to invest in the whole product, and we’re confident if they invest their time in it we’re giving them something special.

“We all love music and we’re all into vinyl and everything that goes with it. We all have huge record collections and we’re very very greedy for music, we want to convey that and for other people to feel the same.”

If the recording experience was a new one, it was made even more inspiring by the man who was at the production helm none other than indie-pop legend Edwyn Collins at the ex-Orange Juice frontman’s own West Heath Studios.

“Edwyn Collins was one of our heroes anyway, we’d always liked his bands. But his personality is an influence in itself, because of what he’s been through in his life, suffering a stroke and having to re-learn speech, how to walk and everything, it is just so inspiring.

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ie enthuses.

“We do podcasts, sell fanzines, we do all of that because we have so much time on our hands. We all had proper jobs before so it would be rude not to do all of that because we know how lucky we are.

“Up until April Michael [McKnight, guitar] was a teacher of naughty children, other Michael [Ross, guitar and keys] was an accountant, Dave [Harper, drums] was in social care, Dennis [Steven Dennis, bass] worked in H&M folding jumpers and I worked for Oxjam. So we all had pretty good jobs and we all took massive pay cuts to do this full time but you’ve got to take the chance as it is a dream really.

“We’re just looking towards the next gig, we’re not hoping for a number one record or anything like that, but if that happens it would be nice. But we’ve got this tour, then we tour the US, do the festivals and then a European tour. It is exciting, every day brings a new exciting time, we’re meeting new people all the time and we’ve still got that excitement - it’s a dream come true “Me and Michael always said we wanted to play for Sunderland or be in a band. One of them has come true and I guess there’s still time for the other one.”

Frankie & the Heartstrings headline the Topman CTRL tour, performing at The Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham, on March 8th, with support from Johnny Foreigner. Entry is free for students.

Debut album Hunger is out now.

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VIVA GLASVEGAS

Glasvegas have rarely been the sort of band to pull any punches and they’re coming back fighting. Guitarist Rab Allan tells Chris Moriarty why their long-awaited second album is their best work yet.

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Glasvegas are back, make no mistake. And it seems they mean business. For anyone who has heard new single Euphoria, Take My Hand, with its opening, impassioned words (“Hearbreak, I’m not holding your hand any more”) delivered in James Allan’s instantly recognisable Glasgow croon, followed by the reverb-soaked plucks of Rab Allan’s guitar, this distinctive combination was a clear signal of intent.

Their sound may be recognisable, but that is not to say some things haven’t changed.

Gone is the stand-up, limited thumping of ex-drummer Caroline McKay who shocked bandmates when she quit last year, eventually being replaced by the more accomplished Swede Jonna Lofgren. Renowned producer Flood, who boasts a long list of credits from U2 to Depeche Mode, was recruited to head up production duties on their new album EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\. Even enigmatic frontman James Allan has been ringing the changes, swapping his trademark black outfits for all white get-up and ditching his guitar on stage. Does that mean we can expect riotous rock antics, stage dives and outrageous dance moves now he has gone ‘hands-free’? Not exactly explains his cousin and guitar-wielding bandmate Rab. “No, he’s just cool as a cucumber. We were watching a Depeche Mode video the other day and the singer was running around, doing cartwheels, star jumps and all sorts. James just looked at me and said ‘I’m never going to do that.’”

For Rab, the most significant change that has come about since their self-imposed exile from the musical spotlight — the band are even better and enjoying it as much as ever.

“It’s great [to be back], I actually really missed it more than I thought I would. Because we’ve got a new drummer now so it all feels quite new and exciting, it feels like we’re going out and starting all over again,” he explains.

“I’m glad we took that time out, we took the year to make the record and we totally disappeared, didn’t do any gigs, didn’t do any interviews. We just wanted to go away and find ourselves I guess, spiritually,” he says with a chuckle.

“It was a conscious decision [to disappear]. If it was up to the record company they would’ve put the record out two months after we finished touring the first one but we just said to them, ‘look, do you want us to record a mediocre record or a fuckin’ great one?’”

Record companies may not hold the same sort of power when it comes to making those sort of decisions as in days gone by, when there was seemingly an endless pool of money at their disposal to throw at their acts. But Rab insists there is “a level of respect” between the band and their label Columbia when it comes to making career decisions. Although it sounds more like that respect involves Glasvegas making the decisions and their label going with it.

“When we signed on the dotted line [with Columbia] we said we would be doing things on our terms.”

Rab also insists they are not blind to the difficulties afflicting the record industry, as it is not just the musicians who are feeling the pinch, something which adds to the pressure of expectation to make a successful record.

“There’s no money, there’s no stability. I feel quite sorry for people working in record companies now as they’ve got to constantly watch their backs every day, every day people are getting sacked. We were conscious of that making the record, that if we made a shit record then people will get sacked.

“That’s why I can’t believe it when you have other bands on Columbia trying to be cool and make an arty second album, but people end up getting sacked because the band wanted to be a bit arty.”

Brum Notes Magazine

As far as Rab and his bandmates are concerned, there is no danger of their second album falling into the “shit” category and there is no shortage of confidence that the followup to the highly successful 2008 eponymous debut is an improvement.

“I think it is better than the first record, I think it’s better in quality in a lot of ways.

I was worried that I wasn’t going to think that, obviously because the first one had the success it did, not massive success, but people said really nice things about it.

“But this one has better songs, better arrangements, the music is better and the lyrics are better. Bands are always complaining about the second album being harder, but I don’t understand it. Songwriting is like anything else, the more you do it the better you should get.

“I’ve never understood why so many bands come back with a second record that is absolute garbage.”

It is frontman James Allan who has retained chief songwriting duties for album number two, albeit with a slightly more communal approach to gathering opinions on the new material from his bandmates. The album was written and demoed in Santa Monica during the first half of last year before being recorded in London with Flood, who was recruited on the back of his work on Violator by Depeche Mode, but it turned out he had already made clear his own desire to work with the band. And it proved a fruitful relationship.

“Some of the demos we’d recorded in Santa Monica, we couldn’t recapture the same vibe or the same feeling but Flood just said ‘fuck it, we’ll use some of the cuts from Santa Monica,’” Rab explains. “He doesn’t care how it sounds, so long as it’s got a vibe and a feeling.

He is confident and he doesn’t care, he says it is all about the album, he definitely brought something that was quite surprising. The level of confidence that me and Paul [Donoghue, bassist] gained as musicians from him was great as well, we are now much more confident musicians, it was that kind of thing that made such a difference.

“James still writes all the songs. I guess the difference is the first time round he would write the songs and then say ‘if there’s anything you can do that you think makes it better then we’ll try that otherwise we’ll stick with what I’ve got,’ which was always a good approach.

“But this time I think there was a bit more freedom, I was with James when he recorded the demos or we all were and he would ask us what we thought of things, so it was a bit

March 2011

more free from that point of view. But James is still the primary songwriter.”

In terms of the intensity of the subject matters, the gritty realities tackled and the pure emotion pouring out of every word, don’t expect any major changes there either. Despite the success James and co have enjoyed, his songwriting is still influenced very much by real life.

“Again, that is really the same as the first time round,” continues Rab. “He’s a perceptive person, he’s sees things on the news, or outside, he sees people and makes social observations I guess.

Sometimes it is personal but mostly it is things that are in his mind, which he has thought about at some point. Some of the things on the album, about feeling bad for being homesexual, domestic violence, suicide, it is just things that he has thought about.

“Some of the stuff is quite had-hitting. Daddy’s Gone was the one that people always talked about from the first album, that for a lot of people was quite hard but people could relate to — there’s quite a few Daddy’s Gones on this one as well.

“He doesn’t do it for that reason [to be hardhitting] but he just thinks he’s a songwriter he has to put himself out there.”

“It was a conscious decision to disappear. If it was up to the record company they would’ve put the record out two months after we finished touring the first one.”

Despite their temporary disappearance from the musical radar, Glasvegas have retained a loyal fanbase, sell-out shows are testament to that, but they also boast their own band of particularly hardcore fans, who have already given their own seal of approval to the new record.

“We did a little Scottish tour in January,” recalls Rab, “and there’s this little group that just follows us anywhere, they finish work then drive six hours to come and watch us play.

One night we invited them onto the tour bus to listen to the new album and they just sat there crying, they were just like, ‘wow, you’ve gone and done it again.’

“Even the record company — I like them and think they are great and they treat us really well — but even they are surprised at how good the new album is. The way music is right now, it’s not an album that many people could make, it is in your face.

Glasvegas play The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, on March 23, followed by the HMV Institute in Birmingham on May 7.

Second album EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\ is out on April 4.

Words: Chris Moriarty Design: sleepy.me.uk 25

live CRYSTAL CASTLES + Magnetic Man + Everything Everthing + The Vaccines O2 Academy, Birmingham February 12 If the NME Awards Tour is meant to be a benchmark for the future of music, then “the kids” seemed very happy.

Anyone out of their teens may have felt very old, but if sweat is the barometer of a good show then this was a killer. The line-up was everything it should be - innovative, varied, intriguing and energetic.

It can hardly be described as a glimpse of the future however, more a reflection of music’s recent direction and further confirmation from what is perceived as the indie kid’s music bible that electronic music is the dominant force among the youth of today.

The Vaccines were seemingly added to prove that straight-up guitar music still has its place and showed they are bona fide stars in the making with a polished, energetic and altogether distinguished performance that was as short, sharp and to the point as their songs. Their mingling with fans while the other acts took to the stage was further proof of their savvy approach to this whole fame thing.

As for Everything Everything (pic left), decked out in boiler suits that made them look like a poor man’s Ghostbusters tribute, despite delivering one of the most original albums of 2010, they seemed to lack a notch of power live, with the subtleties of their sound lost in their short set.

Someone certainly found the volume control for the remaining 26

acts. Next up Magnetic Man (pic below) - “I say ‘one’, you say ‘trick pony!’.” That’s not what they bellowed to the crowd, but it may as well have been. A live performance in the loosest sense of the word, with no sign of their myriad of guest vocalists, what was instead delivered was essentially a DJ set with a bounding MC to whip the crowd up. Simple tricks but the heaving mass lapped it up and Magnetic Man stole the show.

Headliners Crystal Castles (pic above) have a reputation for wild stage antics, and turning up menacingly waving her crutch, singer Alice Glass, raging like a wounded animal, did not disappoint, rolling out all the stages of her multiple personality stage persona. A cacophony of bass, strobe lights and a bundle of energy, but their thrashy electro tunes lacked the killer hooks and clarity of Magnetic Man before them.

And we don’t want to sound old and say it was too loud.

Oh come on, it was too loud. There, said it.

Words by James Collins Photos by Andy Watson - Drw-images Brum Notes Magazine

ESBEN & THE WITCH + Trophy Wife + (Silver) Souvenirs Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath February 8 Opening supports (Silver) Souvenirs show plenty of muscle with their artillery fire bass lines and cluster bombs of drum patterns. It’s like Bloc Party mixed with Jarhead as they motor through tunes bursting with testosterone and accelerating choruses that pin your face back with their G-force.

Diamonds closes the set with frontman Stephen Hutton savagely pounding a floor tom as if he was conducting an Amazonian death ritual. If you could peer into his mind, he probably envisions himself surrounded by flames, not behind microphones, but the shrunken skulls of Foals on spikes with their eyes, mouths and nostrils sewn shut. Thus their spirits can never avenge (Silver) Souvenirs for supercharging their math-rock shtick.

So the soothing womb-disco of Trophy Wife is much needed after that.

Their dark XX-like aesthetic is driven by a Wave Machines-style groove – and as powerful as it is, it’s strangely comforting. Take This Night channels such blissful vibes with its liquid guitar licks and entrancing calypso rhythm, you never want it to end.

Of course it has to, as the majority of the kooky crowd are here to have the bejebus frightened out of them by headliners Esben & The Witch.

They tear open the comfort zone that Trophy Wife created, shrieking and squealing their way through the kind of music that soundtracks dreams where you’re being chased by a man wearing a rubber mask with a phallus for a nose, but you can’t run because your legs have turned into worms.

Words by Andy Roberts

THE GO! TEAM HMV Institute, Birmingham February 10 For a band as extrovert and vibrant as The Go! Team, they’ve actually been surprisingly quiet since the accompanying tour to their 2004 album Thunder, Lightning, Strike. But years on, they’re back with their latest album Rolling Blackouts, and more energetic than ever.

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE LG Arena, Birmingham February 13 “Look Alive Sunshine,” the only words needed to prompt an upsurge of screams and pushing as the black curtain, hiding the New Jersey icons from the rock thirsty crowd, rippled to the floor.

My Chemical Romance, previously dubbed as an ‘emo’ band, blasted onto the LG Arena stage for their World Contamination tour following the release of their fourth album Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. The band, surrounded by an array of colourful lighting, showed that their dark image was a phase they were now past.

They managed to satisfy all stages of My Chemical Romance fans by playing tracks from all four of their albums, each attracting a different following.

Frontman Gerard Way demonstrated a vocal display more electrifying than his current hair colour; diversifying the soft, emotional notes of Cancer with the heavier Vampires Will Never Hurt You. Ray Toro blared out spine tingling guitar solos, accompanied by fellow guitarist Frank Iero; both playing to their peak, while Mikey Way struck a broody pose whilst strumming his bass for the duration of the gig.

It was clear from their passionate performance; My Chemical Romance will be back again for more.

Words by Gemma Harling Photo by Andy Watson - Drw-images

Opening with T.O.R.N.A.D.O. lead singer Ninja releases a torrent of punchy lyrics upon the crowd, barely stopping for breath before launching into another vigorously performed track. The energy in their songs is infectious, the crowd unable to watch without dancing along enthusiastically. A mix of free-styled lyrics and retro dance moves adds to the atmosphere, with the band members and crowd alike joyfully revelling in the whole vibrant performance.

Working their way through tracks from both albums, The Go! Team deliver dynamic renditions of Ladyflash and other old favourites, whilst proving that they’ve developed their music to even livelier heights with new tracks such as Apollo Throwdown. An animated and high-powered performance, definitely a band to see live.

Words by Lorraine Teare March 2011

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WHITE LIES HMV Institute, Birmingham February 14 Lead singer Harry McVeigh strode onto stage with the rest of the gang with The Funeral of Queen Mary from A Clockwork Orange playing over them. The smokefilled stage with backlight LEDs and roses on all mic stands amidst the decadent charms of the HMV Institute provided a scene fit for St Valentine himself.

Opening with A Place to Hide, a first album favourite, gave an insight into what was to come: a solid performance filled with familiar bass lines and strong lead vocals. Next up was a A Holy Ghost, taken from new album Ritual, which was the beginning of a pattern that consisted of an old track-new track sequence.

McVeigh gave a convincing performance as a frontman, clenching his fist and punching the air through a storming performance of To Lose My Life, while Death showed

JAMIE WOON + Jodi Ann Bickley Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath February 23 After a 14-mile trek from an eventual parallel parking space and the subsequent steps up to the ever-cosy top floor of the pub, the audience’s eardrums were firstly tickled by two girls called Jodi and Poppy. Poppy, finger picking an acoustic guitar and wistfully singing Adeleesque melodies, while Jodi spun delightfully humorous, pop culture-laden poems over the top. Sounds mental, but girls - you were brilliant. A real treat.

Such songwriting innovation set the scene for man of the moment Jamie Woon to burst onto the stage with some 28

White Lies at their epic and anthemic best, before striding off stage. They could easily have left it there but returned for the inevitable encore, delivering a sandwich of fan favourite Unfinished Business, a poor filling in the form of The Power and Glory - their weakest song of the night before closing with latest hit Bigger Than Us. White Lies proved they are more than capable of following a set formula with a consistency that has brought them success, but perhaps lack the edge of the bands who have influenced them. That said, they have achieved a lot in so little time and it is clear that their future is far from gloomy.

Words by Shamrez Marawat Photo by Andy Watson - Drw-images down-with-the-kids dubstep. And with a twist on folk yarn Wayfaring Stranger still riding high as his calling card, time was up to see how his own material, songs that will feature on his debut record, would fare.

Unfortunately, too many songs with muddled, middle of the road beats and wasteful lyrics clouded the room without a catchy hook in sight.

The consequent sound is 90s RnB with a twist, as if Boys II Men covered Robbie’s Rudebox. With a bored band acting as a glorified laptop, Woon is exposed as the star, the frontman; something he doesn’t seem ready for. “I ran before I walked,” he sings at one point, sadly, the only thing on the pulse in his entire set.

Words by Tom Pell Brum Notes Magazine

room could handle - it’s clear that his is a voice destined to ring out from the stage at arenas and stadiums in the not too distant future.

While listening to the darker tracks from debut album Palace, such as White Knight Position and Paper Thin, shades of Morrissey and Ian Curtis creep in. In this case it’s no bad thing, unlike bands like Delphic who wear such influences boldly and proudly on their sleeves and are defined by their musical ancestry, there is a sense that Chapel Club are doing their own thing and if other elements find their way in too...well, that’s just fine because they are here, now, rocking the shit out of a sweaty Birmingham boozer and that’s all that matters.

CHAPEL CLUB Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath February 13 It is easy to see the potential in this much hyped five-piece – not least how the charisma, magnetism and stage presence of frontman Lewis Bowman helps to drive the band. Hit by a couple of technical hitches early on, his crowd banter more than made up for lost time - and then there was his voice. Set against the wall of sound that is bassist Liam Arklie, drummer Rich Mitchell and guitarists Michael Hibbert and Alex Parry, Bowman’s sonorous and hypnotic vocals were far bigger than the

Naturally the biggest cheers of the night were for the 6 Music friendly tracks of Surfacing and All The Eastern Girls, which left a sweltering, sell-out audience wanting more from a band who, this time next year, will no doubt be playing to a few thousand people every night.

Words by Lyle Bignon Photo by Richard Shakespeare Shakeypix Images

ALTERNATIVE DUBSTEP ORCHESTRA Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath February 3 A mighty ensemble took to the stage; trumpeter, trombonist, double bassist, bongocero, DJ/turntablist, a random guy in a cap conducting and the charismatic lead vocalist, Mish Elle. This was clearly a highly anticipated gig and the Alternative Dubstep Orchestra did not disappoint.

The band eased in the crowd with smooth reggae openers and a few songs later were clearly into their dubstep groove. We’re suddenly hit with a storm of brassy horns, heavy bass lines, striking samples and punchy percussion, all entwined with Elle’s soulful vocals, resulting in the most satisfying anarchy.

But it all ended far too soon, and six songs later the crowd were left scratching their heads as to whether or not the set had finished, to which the charming Mish Elle later commented, “but we’ve only got six songs.”

Words by Saima Razzaq Photo by Richard Shakespeare March 2011

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Fierce Festival 22 - 27th March Birmingham

Live art. Collision. Hyperlocal. Supernow. www.wearefierce.org March 2011

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PANIC! Panic!, HMV Institute, Digbeth, Birmingham February 19 The once-legendary indie rave and clubnight has returned to Birmingham at the newly refurbished HMV Institute, sprucing up the same historic hall surroundings where a generation of indie kids spent their Saturday nights.

After a two-year hiatus Panic! is once again starting to draw in the crowds and is growing week-on-week. With star bands taking to the decks over the coming weeks, including The Mystery Jets on March 5 as well as the return of live bands in The Library during the night, this fortnightly celebration of alternative music is once again set to become a mainstay of Birmingham’s late night scene.

New additions have included the Kool Karaoke in the panoramic VIP room at the top of the venue, playing host to a variety of drunken wannabe rock star antics, while everything from drum n bass to party anthems to classic indie keeps the party going throughout the cavernous venue’s six rooms.

Panic! takes place on fortnightly Saturdays at the HMV Institute, Digbeth, with the next one on March 5.

Entry is free before 11pm.

Photos by Jack Snape

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FOOD + DRINK

Where are you going tonight?

The answer I would guess depends on many factors, whether or not it is the weekend, what you like to drink, whether you need to eat or if you are celebrating. The list is endless but surely there is something in our city to suit your needs – or is there?

Julian Rose-Gibbs, general manager of contemporary Birmingham pub The Victoria, shares his thoughts on the search for originality in what we drink, as well as where we drink.

What will be the next big thing to re-invigorate our drinking culture? And how long will it be before we see the end of bland beige and brown replicas of everything that has gone before?

It is unclear where the future lies but first let us tackle the existing problem of lack of originality. Now, large chain venues have always done great work in providing a cheaper drinks and food offering for the mass market.

These venues, however, are suffering. This could be because their clientele base has less expendable income or, as I suspect, they are bored of the generic.

On the opposite end of the scale we have many smaller independent venues that have opened over the last six months promising originality but in fact creating poorer copies of ideas seen in other cities. Thankfully some smaller venues have brought great ideas to Birmingham and prospered, thanks to thorough research, consultancy, recruitment and training, because originality will not carry you alone.

One particular bee in my bonnet surrounds token menus,

be it food or cocktails.

For example surely you cannot put cos lettuce, croutons, parmesan and dressing together and call it a Caesar salad if it does not contain either lardons or anchovies or both. And as for the Cosmopolitan containing only vodka, cranberry and a squeeze of lime do not get me started. I digress.

We need venues for all different occasions and different incomes mixed with variety, but more importantly we need evolution such as with the regeneration of the canals and the Bullring. Now if we can bring the dining and drinking culture up to par then we could truly be called the Second City Here is an original cocktail for you:

RECIPE: All in good Thyme Created by Ed Shawcross (The Victoria)

Ingredients: 40ml Chivas Regal Whisky 15ml White cacao 10ml Butterscotch schnapps 15ml lemon juice 1 Thyme sprig 3 dashes orange bitters

Directions: Shake and strain into a rocks glass Garnish with a thyme sprig next to straw Enjoy - responsibly of course

By Julian Rose-Gibbs, general manager at The Victoria, John Bright Street, Birmingham (pictured).

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REVIEW The Howard Arms Lower Green, Ilmington Warwickshire

Food:

Service:

Atmosphere:

Value:

Overall:

01608 682 226 It’s something of a blessing and for many a very under-used quirk of geography, that within an hour of Birmingham you can be deep in the countryside, seemingly far removed from the urban sprawl of the West Midlands. And the best thing about the countryside? Country pubs, that’s what. Roaring fires, real ales, tractors in the car park.

While many country pubs have been as badly hit as any in the ailing pub trade, the gastro-pub revolution of recent years has also added an extra opportunity for many country pubs to save themselves from obscurity and there are now a growing number of establishments on the fringes of the Midlands countryside making themselves worth that extra half hour in the car by serving up food inspired by the principles of fine dining or underpinned by an philosophy of fresh, local produce, all served up within the comfortable, characterful surroundings of the good ol’ country pub.

later moving up to the dining area for food to be served, tearing ourselves away from the hypnotic crackle of the fire.

The Howard Arms in Ilmington, Warwickshire - on the edge of the Cotswolds but less than an hour’s drive south of Birmingham - is certainly one of those pubs which has clearly moved to reinvent itself as a foodlovers destination as it is certainly not the sort of place you would stumble upon by chance. In fact, its remote location almost adds a sense of adventure, arriving as we did, in pitch, winter darkness. Overlooking a modest village green, there are no street lights to guide you in which means a good sat nav or a local taxi driver if travelling from nearby could be required to get you to the door. But once inside, we were met with that welcoming glow of a roaring fire set within a huge stone fireplace, as well as the sight of a well stocked bar boasting a fine selection of ales and some trendy bar snacks. Despite an exciting menu that would not seem out of place in a more formal restaurant - porcini mushroom gnocchi with truffled cream being one example - the relaxed atmosphere is enhanced as we settle into comfy pub chairs to place our orders before

The cod on crushed new potatoes was beautifully cooked, although the potatoes were a tad oily, the Gloucester Old Spot pork belly with spiced carrot puree and caramelised apples was a fully-flavoured take on a classic combination, while the apple crumble was the epitome of tasty comfort food. A quality meal in a special location, can’t say fairer than that.

If the menu demonstrates this gastro-pub’s ambitions, then the service needs to follow suit. One of the stand-out features on arrival was the wine menu, extensive and refreshingly categorised by flavours with introductory tasting notes. It’s a minor quibble, but for somewhere which has taken such care over the wine and food menu, it was a shame that this was not followed by advice or suggestions from the waiting staff, for either dishes or accompanying drinks. That said, the service was still friendly, polite and accommodating, but there is still scope for the restaurant staff to turn it up a notch to help turn this pub into the enhanced eating destination which the setting deserves.

FOOD BITES A beer and food matching event aimed specifically at women takes place at Birmingham’s Malmaison hotel this month. Warwickshire-based Purity Brewing Co will host the event on March 29, which will see a selection of specially selected bottled beers served alongside tapas dishes. Tickets must be booked in advance by calling Malmaison on 0121 246 5000.

City centre bar The Jekyll & Hyde has unveiled a new selection of speciality homemade pies as part of its new menu. The menu promises freshly made pies including The Desperate Dan, The Toff’s Pie and The Eurostar. Pie Society every Thursday offers the chance to try them with two pie and mash meals plus wine or beer for £20.

The summer Taste of Birmingham food festival has been axed after five years. Marketing Birmingham has exercised a break clause to pull the plug on the annual event in Cannon Hill Park, which has been criticised for its high ticket prices. It will be replaced by a new Birmingham food festival, earmarked for October and aimed at a wider market.

March 2011

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GIGS

WHAT’S ON Having subtly produced one of the albums of last year, Florida indie kids Surfer Blood bring their Shins-esque fuzzy pop-rock to the HMV Institute on March 3. Continuing the indie theme, The Boxer Rebellion unleash their own polished, chorus-driven material on the same venue on March 9. Blurring the lines between dance, tech and ethereal live pop, Matthew Dear takes over Venue 2 at the Hare & Hounds for a rare UK headline appearance on March 17. The first lady of Motown Mary Wilson of The Supremes headlines a night of legendary soul music at The Alexandra Theatre on March 20, while one of the best known voices in hip hop, Jurassic 5 MC Chali 2Na (pictured) returns to Birmingham with a full live show at the HMV Institute on March 18. Submotion Orchestra draw upon dubstep, soul, ambient electronica, jazz and dub, with a bass heavy live performance set for the Hare & Hounds on March 16. Support on the night comes in the form of Troumaca, made up of some familiar faces on the Birmingham scene under a new guise in what could be a performance to remember.

CLUBBING

San Francisco’s Claude VonStroke provides one of the headline attractions when weekly underground clubbing brand Face meets Cream Classics at The Rainbow on March 5. VonStroke promises to shake the foundations as Face guest DJ in the courtyard, alongside deep house Frenchman DJ Shonky.

Doubling up the party, Cream Classics boast a line-up of Danny Rampling, Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk, Graeme Park and more in the Powder Coating Factory space.

Bringing the underground to the masses, Jaguar Skills mashes up anything he likes with his unique variation on the mixtape, taking over the O2 Academy 2 on March 26 with his Revenge of the Ninja Tour.

Reggae’s leading authority David ‘Ram Jam’ Rodigan continues to tear up dancefloors wherever he goes and is teaming up with Friendly Fire Music for a soughtafter appearance at the Hare & Hounds on March 19.

Three of Birmingham’s most innovative clubbing promoters combine to bring a Hessle Audio special to the Hare & Hounds on March 25, with current darling of dubstep and tech DJs Ramadanman behind the decks.

Atomic Jam, one of the UK’s most respected techno nights, returns on March 26 at the HMV Institute with a special three-hour set from Detroit star name Jeff Mills, as well as a full line-up of techno DJs and a drum n bass room throughout the night and into the morning.

Pioneering live music promoters This is Tomorrow continue to break new ground with their first ever club night Ascension, taking over the micro-clubbing space upstairs at Missing in Hurst Street on March 27, promising to join the dots between house, disco, future bass and techno. Capacity is strictly limited so get their early to make the most of your Sunday night.

COMEDY

Comedy cult hero David Schneider (pictured right) heads up an intimate night of laughs with a rare stand-up appearance as part of Popcorn Comedy at The Victoria on March 17. Schneider is a familiar face to fans of hit shows such as Alan Partridge, The Day Today and Friday Night Armistice. Following the success of his last live tour Angelos Epithemiou, fresh from the latest series of Shooting Stars, returns with friends for a two-night stint at the HMV Institute on March 11 and 12, as well as a rescheduled date at the Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton on March 9. Canadian comic Tom Stade spent three years living in Bilston and is sure to show off his local knowledge when he takes to the stage at the Wulfrun Hall on March 15.

March 2011

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KEY TO LISTINGS: M = LIVE MUSIC CN = CLUB NIGHT C = COMEDY

VENUE DIRECTORY BIRMINGHAM: O2 Academy, Horsefair, Bristol St B1, 0844 4772000; HMV Institute, High St, Digbeth B5, 0844 2485037; NIA, King Edwards Rd B1, 0121 7804141; LG Arena, NEC, Solihull B40, 0121 7804141; The Flapper, Kingston Row B1, 0121 2362421; The Victoria, John Bright St B1, 0121 6339439; Sound Bar, Corporation St B4, 0121 2362220; Hare & Hounds, High St, Kings Heath B14, 0121 4442081; The Actress & Bishop, Ludgate Hill B3, 0121 2367426; The Sunflower Lounge, Smallbrook Queensway B5, 0121 6327656; Symphony Hall, Broad St B1, 0121 7803333; Town Hall, Victoria Sq B3, 0121 7803333; Kitchen Garden Cafe, York Road, Kings Heath B14, 0121 4434725; Alexandra Theatre, Station St B1, 0844 8472302; Bulls Head, St Marys Row, Moseley B13, 0121 2567777; Island Bar, Suffolk St B1, 0121 6325296; The Jam House, St Pauls Sq B3, 0121 2003030; The Asylum, Hampton St, Hockley B19, 0121 2331109; The Rainbow, High St, Digbeth B12, 0121 7728174; Adam & Eve, Bradford St, Digbeth B12, 0121 6931500; Poppyred, The Arcadian, Hurst St B5, 0121 6871200; The Yardbird, Paradise Place B3, 0121 2122524; The Glee Club, The Arcadian, Hurst St B5, 0871 4720400; MAC, Cannon Hill Park B12, 0121 4463232; Scruffy Murphys, The Priory Queensway B4, 0121 2362035; The Wagon & Horses, Adderley Street, Digbeth B9, 0121 772 1403; WOLVERHAMPTON: Civic Hall/Wulfrun Hall, North St WV1, 01902 552122; ; The Slade Rooms, Broad St WV1, 01902 552122; Alchemy Bar, North St WV1, 01902 711998; Robin 2, Mount Pleasant, Bilston WV14, 01902 401211; Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley St WV1, 01902 572090; WEST BROMWICH: The Public, New St B70, 0121 5337161; COVENTRY: Kasbah, Primrose Hill St, CV1, 024 76554473; Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, CV4, 024 76524524.

M M M M M M M M

Tuesday, Mar 1 The Elijah + Vidina + Fallacies + Virtues Mark Morriss (The Bluetones) Amy Can Flyy

Birmingham

M M M

Island Bar

Birmingham

O2 Academy

Birmingham

Black Russian + Kinn + Highrise + Firelight + More for Me Lighthouse Family

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

Symphony Hall The Flapper

Birmingham

The Library @ HMV Institute The Rainbow

Birmingham

The Temple @ HMV Institute Vertu

Birmingham

Sound Bar

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Kitchen Garden Cafe The Civic Hall

Kings Heath

The Robin

Bilston

Wolves

M

Island Bar

Birmingham

M M

Surface Festival

LG Arena

Birmingham

M

Wonderland

LG Arena

Birmingham

Ne-Yo + Trey Songz

NIA

Birmingham

Darwin Deez

The Library @ HMV Institute The Temple @ HMV Institute Hare & Hounds Red Lion Folk Club The Victoria

Birmingham

The Rub + Hardcore Jollies + Jellybean Rebellion Surfer Blood + Young Prisms + No Joy Jayme & Joe

Sound Bar

Birmingham

The Glee Club

Birmingham

M M

Fujiya & Miyagi

M

Jim Moray

CN Moschino Hoes

Versace Hotties Say Nada (Club)

CN Richard Herring: C

Christ On A Bike - The Second Coming Thursday, Mar 3

Birmingham

M M M

Kings Heath Kings Heath Birmingham

M M M M M

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.

Kt Tunstall

Kings Heath

Wednesday, Mar 2 Eux Autres + The Sweet Nothings + Fox Boyzone

All details correct at time of going to press.

Check with venues before setting out.

Acoustic Lounge

Hare & Hounds The Slade Rooms

Exlovers

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Sound Bar

Want your gig or club night listed in our monthly guide?

Send details to: info@brumnotes.com.

Beardyman

Members Only + Changing Places + Escape Avenue + Great White Sharks + The Nortons Seerauber Jenny Alternative Dubstep Orchestra + Velvet Texas Cannonball Traditional Song Session Plan B Trans-X

Birmingham

Birmingham

Birmingham

Kings Heath

Wolves

Brum Notes Magazine

CN Tiki Thursday Mystery Special C

Island Bar

Birmingham

The Glee Club

Birmingham

M M M M

O2 Academy

Birmingham

Fu Manchu

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

Tomorrow We’ll Trust

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

Corelli + Venkman + The Lieutenants + SixtyFours Lookimakemusic + Eat Y'Self Pretty + Sharp Darts + Shana Tova James Vincent McMorrow Motorcade + Heathen Zoo Acaustic Bost-in Brum with John Broclesby + Big Brendan Higgins Fickle Twin

The Actress & Bishop

Birmingham

The Flapper

Birmingham

Jo Bartlett + The Gentle Good + Panda Su + Frank Cougar Ed Byrne

M

M M M

M M M

Guest (sold out) Friday, Mar 4 All Time Low

CN Flavour CN Beats By Numbers CN Freestyle presents

C C M M M M M M M M M M M

Jam Jah Sound, Tangawizi + Hero No 7 Highlight Comedy

The Glee Club

Birmingham

The Sunflower Lounge The Wagon & Horses

Birmingham

Sound Bar

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Warwick Arts Centre The Rainbow

Coventry

The Victoria

Birmingham

Bulls Head

Moseley

Birmingham

Birmingham

The Glee Club

Birmingham

The Actress & Bishop

Birmingham

The Flapper

Birmingham

Paper Shapes + Middleman + Kidnapper Bell 51 Breaks

The Flapper

Birmingham

The Temple @ HMV Institute The Wagon & Horses

Birmingham

Unplug

Birmingham

Sound Bar

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds Wulfrun Hall

Kings Heath

Paul Carrack

The Robin

Bilston

Jamie Woon

Kasbah (Groovy Garden)

Coventry

Birmingham

Wolves

Back 2 Life Face meets Cream Classics Jocko Homo

CN CN The Funktion Room CN CN C C M M

M M M

M Highlight

March 2011

CN

Birmingham

Mystery Special Guest (sold out) Saturday, Mar 5 Butterfly Stone + Decorum + The Paraffin Brothers Middleman

Generic Eric + Mr Shankly + Damnbusters BlindFire + Ollie Rudge The Killermeters + J60 + The Towns After After Hours + Blood Moon Sirens Richard Herring

CN Dr. Jekyll's Potion -

M

(DnB/techno/electro) SFP present Mardi Gras with Craig Charles + live bands Deep presents Sounds From the Attic Highlight Comedy

C M M M

M M M M

Birmingham

The Victoria

Birmingham

The Wagon & Horses Hare & Hounds

Birmingham

Bulls Head

Moseley

Birmingham

Kings Heath

Highlight

Birmingham

Mystery Special Guest (sold out) Sunday, Mar 6 Example

The Glee Club

Birmingham

O2 Academy

Birmingham

Emma Scott Presents From The Get Go + The Midnight Club + False Pretence + Jet Pack Surface Festival

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

The Flapper

Birmingham

Flats

The Temple @ HMV Institute Unplug

Birmingham

Sound Bar

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds The Robin

Kings Heath

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

The Victoria

Birmingham

Wulfrun Hall

Wolves

HMV Institute

Birmingham

The Temple @ HMV Institute Kitchen Garden Cafe

Birmingham

Merchants of Menace + Avantine + Fortitude + A Hero At Heart + Shadows + Abercion + Eyes of the Raven DC Fontana + The Sound + The Boogaloos + Craig Lennon Jay Phelps

M Sons of Beaches CN 7 Inch Cinema pre-

C

The Jekyll & Hyde The Rainbow

Flatpack warm-up with short films + DJs Joe Lycett Tries His Best Sarah Millican Monday, Mar 7 The Decemberists Diagram Of The Heart Jack McNeil & Charlie Heys + Jess Morgan Tuesday, Mar 8 Royal Republic

Birmingham

Bilston

Kings Heath

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

Jack Savoretti

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows (D.R.U.G.S) Beardyman

The Temple @ HMV Institute

Birmingham

The Copper Rooms, Warwick Uni

Coventry

41

CN 8Bit Lounge - retro

M M M

games consoles + robotic electro DJs Wednesday, Mar 9 Bonecrusher Festival The Boxer Rebellion

M

Such Gold + Starters + Maycomb + Pick Your Weapon Wild Palms

M

Ben Sands

C

Milton Jones: Lion Whisperer (sold out) Laughing Cows: Shazia Mizra + Hattie Hayridge + Shelagh Martin Angelos Epithemiou & Friends Thursday, Mar 10 The Wombats

C

C M M M M M M M

M M M

M

M M M M M

42

Kings Heath

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

The Temple @ HMV Institute The Wagon & Horses

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds Red Lion Folk Club The Glee Club

Kings Heath

Kitchen Garden Cafe

Kings Heath

Wulfrun Hall

Wolves

Birmingham

Kings Heath Birmingham

HMV Institute

Birmingham

Acoustic Lounge

Island Bar

Birmingham

Dirty Minutes + Dutch Cousin Mike Dignam With Poppy Tibbetts Watain

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

The Flapper

Birmingham

The Library @ HMV Institute The Rainbow

Birmingham

The Victoria

Birmingham

The Lee Shore + The Working Projects + Illuminations Marc Malone + Vault of Eagles + The Jenkinsons + Imogen's Kiss Ray Butcher Admiral Fallow + Goodnight Lenin Moseley Village Band

M Epica CN Tiki Thursday Thursday Night Food C C

Hare & Hounds

& Comedy Special Lenny Henry

Friday, Mar 11 Save The Heavens + Silver Fracture + 2nd Side Made + Give Chase Highlight Comedy

Birmingham

Mike Posner

M

The Monicas + The MyWays + Rob Fellows Corsairs + Whatever Tomorrow Brings + Shay Kahala SSSSnakes + Dead Milkmen + Caves + Sauna Youth David Rovics

The Library @ HMV Institute The Sunflower Lounge

Birmingham

The Temple @ HMV Institute

Birmingham

The Wagon & Horses

Birmingham

The Wagon & Horses Unplug

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

CN CN Music for the People CN Under The Counter &

Subway City

Birmingham

The Victoria

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

CN

Bulls Head

Moseley

HMV Institute

Birmingham

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Dudley Town Hall

Dudley

The Actress & Bishop

Birmingham

The Flapper

Birmingham

The Library @ HMV Institute The Temple @ HMV Institute The Wagon & Horses

Birmingham

M M The Pretty Things CN Ec-Lectricity feat

Wulfrun Hall

Wolves

The Robin

Bilston

HMV Institute

Birmingham

CN

The Jekyll & Hyde The Rainbow

Birmingham

The Victoria

Birmingham

Sound Bar

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

M M M M M

C C C M

Broken Witt Rebels + Last Gasp The Big Ten Inch with The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band (live) + DJs Resurrection

Leftfoot present Om Unit Freestyle presents DJ Mylz, Roy Roastbeef + Phil Liburd (Charity Fundraiser) Angelos Epithemiou & Friends The Best In Live Stand-up Comedy Ed Byrne Saturday, Mar 12 Jackpike + Bolshie + Blemish + The Picture Liberty lies + Wilcox

Vertu

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds St Columba’s Church Hall The Robin

Kings Heath

M M

Moseley

M

Glamour Of The Kill

Bilston

Island Bar

Birmingham

M

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Devillish Presley + Zeitgeist Zero + Army of Skanks Rockin Berries

The Civic Hall

Wolves

Asylum 2

Birmingham

Highlight

Birmingham

El Torro + Cedar House Band + The Corsair Blancmange

Island Bar

Birmingham

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

One Ton Bullet

The Actress & Bishop The Flapper

Birmingham

Drongos For Europe

M

Birmingham

CN

Alabama 3

Rusko + Jack Beats + Modestep (live) Dr. Jekyll's Potion Cold Rice Face presents Renaissance Man + Dutch Settlers Funk Fusion

CN CN Zombie Club) CN Freestyle & Leftfoot present Odyssey (live)

Birmingham

Birmingham

Birmingham Birmingham

Birmingham

Brum Notes Magazine

CN The Head Club

C C C C M

M M M

M M M C M M

M M M M

M C M M M M M

present Dr Pepperspray + Pablo Sonic Terrorist + DK Roon Highlight Comedy Angelos Epithemiou & Friends The Best In Live Stand-up Comedy Simon Munnery Sunday, Mar 13 Emma Scott Presents On Screen Heroes + Just Morale + The Limelight + 4s A Crowd Caitlin Rose Maceo Parker Parade Day Show with Pan & the Poets + Dirty Old Folkers + Ben Calvert & The Swifts + Richard Burke Kinda Dukish Big Band My Ruin The Arcadian Kicks + No Americana THE XXXX Comedy Cabaret Monday, Mar 14 Cherry Ghost

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

M Highlight

Birmingham

HMV Institute

Birmingham

The Glee Club

Birmingham

The Slade Rooms

Wolves

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

The Glee Club

Birmingham

The Library @ HMV Institute The Moseley Arms

Birmingham Birmingham

Tascos Club

Stirchley

The Slade Rooms The Robin

Wolves

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Bilston

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

HMV Institute

Birmingham

Primal Scream

O2 Academy

Birmingham

Evarose + Calais (ex They Sink Ships) Pegasus Bridge + Faded Cadence + Calais + Evarose + All The Kings Men Shayne Ward

The Flapper

Birmingham

The Flapper

Birmingham

The Civic Hall

Wolves

Tom Stade

Wulfrun Hall

Wolves

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

The Library @ HMV Institute Sound Bar

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Skepta Roz Bruce + Ben Gunn + Markus Reeves Submotion Orchestra + Troumaca

March 2011

M C M

M M M

The Ian Siegal Band Ed Byrne Thursday, Mar 17 Fly By Nature + Looca + Second State + Cities We Sleep In Acoustic Lounge

Kitchen Garden Cafe Red Lion Folk Club The Robin

Kings Heath

Symphony Hall

Birmingham

HMV Institute

Birmingham

Kings Heath Bilston

Island Bar

Birmingham

LG Arena

Birmingham

Levellers + The Wonder Stuff The Maine

O2 Academy

Birmingham

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

Every Inch a King

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

Hannah Peel

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Black Russian + Dreamers Nightmares Dave Golding

The Rainbow

Birmingham

Vertu

Birmingham

Matthew Dear (live)

Hare & Hounds Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

CN Popcorn Comedy: C

Island Bar

Birmingham

The Victoria

Birmingham

C

The Glee Club

Birmingham

HMV Institute

Birmingham

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

The Actress & Bishop

Birmingham

The Flapper

Birmingham

The Library @ HMV Institute The Temple @ HMV Institute The Temple @ HMV Institute

Birmingham

Unplug

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Wulfrun Hall

Wolves

The Robin

Bilston

M M M M

M

M M M

M M

Birmingham

Storytelling Cafe: St Patrick’s Celebration Jacquie Oates

The Script

M M

Capsule present Woods + Spectrals + The Doozer Tuesday, Mar 15 Bruno Mars

Wednesday, Mar 16 Does It Offend You, Yeah?

Holy Grail + Revoker

M

M M

M M

M M

B.I.L.E. + Garfield Benjamin + Costis Kontos + Seb Merrick Tiki Thursday David Schneider Thursday Night Food & Comedy Special Friday, Mar 18 Silverstein Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Jake Bullit + Rosarsic + The Sharabangs + This Burning Age Bloom + Jaracandas + Open To Fire + The Bon Skies Chali 2Na O. Children & The Chapman Family Slim Fit Gym Kit + The Great Western + Façade + The Emissaries + Court Lane An Idle Mans Band + Charlie Can't Surf Endless Nameless present live music, theatre, visuals + poetry Sonata Arctica The Real Thing

Kings Heath

Birmingham Birmingham

43

M Napalm Death CN Only After Dark

Kasbah

Coventry

Sound Bar

Birmingham

CN Mimic present

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

M

CN

Bulls Head

Moseley

M M

Birmingham

(Club)

C C C M M M

M M M

M M M

Robert Dietz + Ben Nott + Backlight Freestyle & The Garden Festival present Crazy P (DJ Set), Paul Kaminski + Ascension DJs Highlight Comedy

The Glee Club

Birmingham

M M M

Warwick Arts Centre

Coventry

M

Saturday, Mar 19 The Stranglers

O2 Academy

Birmingham

Wilko Johnson

O2 Academy

Birmingham

Third Way Forward + Kyoto Drive + Empires + My Only Chance Revenant Dead

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

The Best In Live Stand-up Comedy Micky Flanagan

Dave Mcpherson (Inme) Dave McPherson (INME) + Patrick James + Howard James Kenny The Levi Roots Experience Toploader Dirtylaws + Those Brave Airmen + Joseph Hicklin Holy Grail + Revoker

M CN Dr. Jekyll's Potion CN

Hot Wax Face presents Air London Showcase Sweat

CN CN Entropy (trance + CN

hard house) KANYINI psy trance allnighter feat RE:CREATION live Pressure Drop (Club)

Highlight

High Fidelity: Dance Music for Smart People David Rodigan + Jam Jah Sound + Little Richie Habit 4th Birthday

CN CN Pritchard Vs Dainton (Dirty Sanchez) Live

C

44

Highlight Comedy

M M

Birmingham Birmingham

M M

The Flapper

Birmingham

M

The Library @ HMV Institute The Temple @ HMV Institute The Wagon & Horses

Birmingham

Kasbah

Coventry

The Jekyll & Hyde The Rainbow

Birmingham

The Victoria

Birmingham

The Wagon & Horses Unplug

Birmingham

Hounds

Birmingham Birmingham

M M M M M M M

Birmingham

Birmingham

Birmingham Kings Heath

M M M M M M

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Bulls Head

Moseley

Kasbah (Groovy Garden) Highlight

Coventry Birmingham

The Best In Live Stand-up Comedy Sunday, Mar 20 Mary Wilson Of The Supremes The Chariot

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Alexandra Theatre O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

Rubicava + Cats:For:Paris + Kidnapper Bell Emma's Imagination

The Flapper

Birmingham

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Emma's Imagination

The Glee Club

Birmingham

The Temple @ HMV Institute Hare & 91DB Hounds Max Gilkes + Joanne- Kitchen Garden Cafe Louise Parker Prince of Traditional Music Wales Session The Robin The Pineapple Thief

Birmingham

D:Ream

M CN Jibbering present

The Actress & Bishop The Flapper

Sound Bar CN CN Adam Green presents Hare &

CN

C

M M M M

Analogik Monday, Mar 21 Fireworks

Birmingham

Kings Heath Kings Heath Moseley Bilston

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

The Australian Pink Floyd Stiff Little Fingers

Symphony Hall The Robin 2

Birmingham

Tuesday, Mar 22 Taylor Swift

LG Arena

Birmingham

Elbow

NIA

Birmingham

Zodiac Mindwarp

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

Rumer + Phantom Limb Flashguns

Symphony Hall The Temple @ HMV Institute Town Hall

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Fierce Festival: The Irrepressibles Capsule present Seefeel + Dead Fader + Epic 45 Wednesday, Mar 23 Funeral For A Friend

Bilston

Birmingham Birmingham

O2 Academy

Birmingham

The Primitives

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

Flatpack Festival: Pram - Shadow Shows Scanners + Everyone Looks Famous Roddy Woomble (Idlewild) & Band Crystal Fighters + Joyous Damaged Gods

Patrick Centre (The Hippodrome) The Flapper

Birmingham

The Glee Club

Birmingham

The Temple @ HMV Institute Sound Bar

Birmingham

Capsule present Arboretum + Health & Efficiency Ewan McLenna + Suntrap Glasvegas

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Red Lion Folk Club The Slade Rooms

Kings Heath

Birmingham

Birmingham

Wolves

Brum Notes Magazine

M M M

M M M

M M M M

Thursday, Mar 24 Flatpack Festival: Sakamoto Hiromichi Acoustic Lounge

M M M M M M M M M

M M M

Birmingham

Island Bar

Birmingham

Obscure Pleasures + Elmo Sexwhistle + 2nd Side Made + No ID Cancer City + Kataleptic + Collison Process + Insolito Fierce Festival: Action Hero Flatpack Festival: Digging for Gold (silent cinema with live music accompaniment) The Toms

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

Vertu

Birmingham

Gundogs + Dandelion Killers + Zebedy Rays + Johnny Doom Micah Blue Smaldone + Cian Nugent Moseley Village Band

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

CN Tiki Thursday Mystery Special C M

Ikon Eastside

Guest (sold out) Friday, Mar 25 Beyond Dreams of Grandeur + No ID + Avant-Garde Dirty Knecks + nerve Centre + Zim Zim + The Persuit Westlife

The Flapper

Birmingham

The Rainbow Warehouse Town Hall

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

St Columba’s Church Hall Island Bar

Moseley

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Asylum 2

Birmingham

Birmingham

LG Arena

Birmingham

Syndicate Club Night

Sound Bar

Birmingham

Dirtyscore

The Actress & Bishop The Flapper

Birmingham

The Glee Club

Birmingham

The Library @ HMV Institute The Rainbow

Birmingham

The Temple @ HMV Institute

Birmingham

The Wagon & Horses

Birmingham

Unplug

Birmingham

Sound Bar

Birmingham

Live & Loud presents (tba) Escape Avenue + 4 Questions About What? + Black Bears + Oceans Ate Alaska + Lovebites Fuck Knuckles + Curb Crawl + Pine Barrens + Nasdaq Time of the Mouth + The British Kicks + Viva La Revolution The Arcadian Kicks + Pistola Kicks + Black Dollar Bills + Circus Town

March 2011

Bilston

AE Harris

Birmingham

CN CN What is House Music CN Hessle Audio:

Subway City

Birmingham

The Victoria

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds Bulls Head

Kings Heath

Human Salvage Resurrection

CN C C M M M M M M M

Birmingham

The Overtones

The Robin

Birmingham

Island Bar

Fiction Fight + Spoil Child Dave Rotheray

M Wishbone Ash CN Fierce Festival:

Birmingham

Birmingham

M M

Ramadanman Freestyle presents Sam Redmore + Tabla Maestro Mendi Highlight Comedy

Highlight

Birmingham

Mystery Special Guest (sold out) Saturday, Mar 26 Fenech-Soler

The Glee Club

Birmingham

HMV Institute

Birmingham

Enrique Iglesias

LG Arena

Birmingham

Lemar

LG Arena

Birmingham

Jaguar Skills

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

Warrior Soul

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

Heroica + Amoeba Teen Violet + For Eyes + Empires + Never Says the Storm + Losing Streak Enochian Theory

The Actress & Bishop The Flapper

Birmingham

The Rainbow

Birmingham

The Virginmarys

The Temple @ HMV Institute The Robin

Birmingham

HMV Institute

Birmingham

The Jekyll & Hyde The Victoria

Birmingham

The Wagon & Horses Vivid

Birmingham

Sound Bar

Birmingham

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Bulls Head

Moseley

Kasbah (Groovy Garden) Highlight

Coventry

Mystery Special Guest (sold out) Sunday, Mar 27 Manowar

The Glee Club

Birmingham

O2 Academy

Birmingham

Blackguard

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

M Julian Smith CN Atomic Jam CN Dr. Jekyll's Potion CN CN CN CN

CN CN CN CN C C M M

Moseley

Tic Tac Toe Thatched and Majored Raw 3rd Birthday Special Flatpack Festival: Paper Party Cracked Actors + Pieces Of H plus Punky Reggae Party (Club) Bobby Friction presents Friction Club Night Heducation present Soundwave Festival Launch Party Prospec presents Alix Perez Goldie Lookin Chain Highlight Comedy

Birmingham

Bilston

Birmingham

Birmingham

Birmingham

45

M

M M

M

M M M M

M M C M M M M M M C M M M M M

M C C

46

Adelaide + Go The Length + Lost on Campus + The Lion and The Wolf Jesca Hoop

The Flapper

Birmingham

C

The Glee Club

Birmingham

This Burning Age + Jackpike + Naked Remedy + Tin Soldiers + Lucid Uprising + The Crooked Empire + Catfish And The Bottlemen Sunday City Musicbox - live Rhubarb Radio broadcast (3pm -4pm) Sandi Thom

Sound Bar

Birmingham

M M M M M

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

The Robin

Bilston

O2 Academy

Birmingham

TV Smith & The Valentines Wild Moccasins + Swim Deep + Speech Fewapy DJs Tuesday, Mar 29 Crystal Stilts

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

The Victoria

Birmingham

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

Edwina Hayes

Robin 2

Wolves

Shazia Mirza: Multiple Choice Wednesday, Mar 30 Mcfly

The Glee Club

Birmingham

LG Arena

Birmingham

The King Blues

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

Mezzotonic

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

Surface Festival

The Flapper

Birmingham

The Crookes

The Temple @ HMV Institute Red Lion Folk Club

Birmingham

The Glee Club

Birmingham

Monday, Mar 28 Cee Lo Green

Norma Waterson + Martin Carthy + Chris Parkinson Terry Alderton Thursday, Mar 31 Westlife

M

Kings Heath

LG Arena

Birmingham

Saving Time + Sence + Take the Fall + The Stakout Tom & Steve

O2 Academy 3

Birmingham

Vertu

Birmingham

Erland & the Carnival + Ben Calvert & The Swifts Christian Cuff + Will Kevans + Emily Baker + Fiona Sally Miller The Sunshine Underground Micky Flanagan

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

Hare & Hounds

Kings Heath

The Slade Rooms Symphony Hall The Glee Club

Wolves

Thursday Night Food & Comedy Special

Chas N Dave Together Again - The Final Tour Friday, April 1 Strangle Kojak

Wulfrun Hall

Wolves

HMV Institute

Birmingham

The Undertones

O2 Academy 2

Birmingham

Jet Pack + False Pretence Carl Barat

The Actress & Bishop The Library @ HMV Institute The Temple @ HMV Institute

Birmingham

Wulfrun Hall

Wolves

HINGe + Blue Nation + Open to Fire + Pilot the Sky Kyuss Lives!

Birmingham Birmingham

To get your April gigs, comedy events or club nights included in this guide for free send details to info@brumnotes.com by March 15.

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March 2011

47

M P BR US R A I C O F ND T U ES S N E IT IO W IO N N AL SC HO OL

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

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STUDIOS AVAILABLE FOR AS LITTLE AS £8 PER HOUR FREE CYMBAL HIRE, EAR PLUGS AND TEA/COFFEE

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JJM Music School is a brand new facility based within JJM Studios that is committed to providing the highest level of teaching anywhere in the Midlands. All of our tutors are experienced professional musicians that specialise in teaching beginner, intermediate or advanced level students.

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