Brum Notes Magazine - October issue

october 09

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

free

fir

st e ver issu e!

THE RETURN OF

EDITORS

PLUS: THE TEMPER TRAP MUMFORD & SONS MANDO DIAO THE DESTROYERS THE BOXER REBELLION THE MACCABEES

ALSO INSIDE: FULL MIDLANDS GIG GUIDE FOR OCTOBER WIN FESTIVAL PASSES, GIG TICKETS, CDs

Sat 3rd Oct • £15 adv

Fri 16th Oct • £21.50adv

Mon 26th Oct • £18.50adv

Sat 3rd Oct • £6 adv

Fri 16th Oct • £12adv

Tues 27th Oct • £20adv

Jamie T

This City + Excerpts

Sat 3rd Oct • £10 adv 6pm – 10pm

BassHunter

Noah and the Whale Sat 17th Oct • £6adv

Girls

Babycakes UK Parties 2K9

Mon 19th Oct • £8adv

Sun 4th Oct • £6 adv

Brapp Pack Tour

General Fiasco Mon 5th Oct • £11 adv

Blue October US Mon 5th Oct • £7.50 adv

Wave Machines Tues 6th Oct • £13.50 adv

This Will Destroy You Mon 19th Oct • £11adv Tues 20th Oct • £15adv

Eastpak Antidote Tour 2009 Tues 20th Oct • £10.50adv

Brendan Brenson

Daniel Merriweather

Tues 20th Oct • £10adv

Weds 7th Oct • £8.50 adv

Wed 21st Oct • £26.50adv

The King Blues

Gary Moore

Weds 7th Oct • £6 adv

Wed 21st Oct • £9adv

Animal Kingdom

The Holloways

Thurs 8th Oct • £8 adv

Thurs 22nd Oct • £16.50adv

Fri 9th Oct • £8 adv 6.30pm - 10pm

Thurs 22nd Oct • £10adv

Sonic Boom Six

Does it Offend You, Yeah?

Sat 10th Oct • £15 adv

Fri 23rd Oct • £11.50adv

Sat 10th Oct • £6 adv

Fri 23rd Oct • £10adv

Lethal Bizzle

Black Stone Cherry Baddies

Mon 12th Oct • £10.50 adv

The Delays

Bowling For Soup

Noisettes

Charlie Winston

Go:Audio

Sat 24th Oct • £13adv

Tues 13th Oct • £16adv

Sat 24th Oct • £14adv

Enter Shikari

Tues 13th Oct • £6adv

Pheonix

Bring Me The Horizon

Dan Michaelson & the Coastguards

Sat 24th Oct • £7adv

Thurs 15th Oct • £22.50adv

My Passion

Bloc Party

Tommy Reilly Sat 24th Oct • £6.50adv

o2academybirmingham.co.uk

The Dead Weather Indigo Girls

Tues 27th Oct • £15adv

Billy Talent

Wed 28th Oct • £35adv

Maxwell

Wed 28th Oct • £12.50adv

The Rakes

Thurs 29th Oct • £14adv

Calvin Harris

Thurs 29th Oct • £15adv

Idlewild

Fri 30th Oct • £12.50adv

Fightstar

Sat 31st Oct • £12adv

Imperial Never Say Die! Tour 2009 Sun 1st Nov • £9adv

Passion Pit

Tues 3rd Nov • £8adv

Street Dogs

Wed 4th Nov • £13.50adv

Exit Calm

Thurs 5th Nov • £13.50adv

Puressence

Fri 6th Oct • £7adv

The Cheek

Fri 6th Oct • £12.50adv

Clutch

Sat 7th Oct • £9adv

The Airbourne Toxic Event The UK’s Biggest Indie Night Every Friday at O22 Academy Birmingham

Brum Notes Magazine: Issue 1, October 2009 Brum Notes Magazine The Moseley Exchange 149-153 Alcester Road Moseley Birmingham B13 8JP info@brumnotes.com To advertise contact: advertising@ brumnotes.com Editor: Sean O’Muir Contributors: Words: Matt Geary, Jeremy Diaper, Ben Russell, Chris Walker, James Collins, Lyle Bignon, Pictures: Katja Ogrin, Jason Sheldon, Adrian Burrows, Stefano Brivio.

Website: Cellar Door Design Design: Andy Aitken All content © Brum Notes Magazine. Views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily Brum Notes Magazine.

While all care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of content, Brum Notes Magazine will not be held liable for any errors or losses claimed to have been incurred by any errors. Advertising terms and conditions available on request. www.brumnotes.com Find us on Facebook.

Follow us on Twitter.

Read us in print.

Please mention Brum Notes Magazine when replying to adverts.

contents NEWS 4-9: Been wondering how many people bothered to set foot on the Birmingham city centre beach? Well, we’ll tell you. Plus some other random information and the chance to win some stuff.

FEATURES 9: The Boxer Rebellion Epic pioneers on releasing a real life CD. 10: The Maccabees.

Arty popsters promise some surprises.

11: Mando Diao plus Mumford & Sons.

Swedish garage rockers and

smooth talking folkers.

Not talking to each other, just sharing a page.

12: The Destroyers Poet frontman takes a break from buying bananas and fish from the market to talk up the new album.

14: The Temper Trap Aussie advert conquerors on the perils of getting out a guitar in confined spaces.

16: Editors They’re bored of being asked why they are so dark so we ask some equally boring questions about Birmingham.

And about the new album as well.

REVIEWS 20: Live Academy opening weekend special.

22: Records New albums from Editors, Jamie T, Mumford & Sons and more.

FOOD AND DRINK 24: Comfort Food Our tips on the best places to grab some hearty grub as the dark nights draw in.

LISTINGS 27: Gig Guide Your comprehensive guide to gigs throughout October.

page four

news

WELCOME to the very first issue of Brum Notes Magazine, your brand new free, monthly guide to music and lifestyle across Birmingham and the West Midlands.

Each month we’ll be aiming to bring you bang up to date with the latest musical happenings and other events worth knowing about around the region and beyond. You’ll get the most comprehensive monthly gig guide around covering gigs of all sizes, as well as reviews from the hottest live shows and the latest album releases, interviews with your favourite artists and some tasty competitions.

You can also expect a hearty helping of features on fashion, food and drink and any other worthwhile cultural goings-on.

We’ll be getting bigger and better each month so we want to hear from you about what you’d like to see in the pages of Brum Notes Magazine. You can drop us a line at info@brumnotes.com or find us on the usual social networking sites.

We also have a lovely new website at www.brumnotes.com where you can have your say and keep up to date with daily developments, find out how to get your hands on gig tickets and read some exclusive online features. Enjoy!

OCS PERFORM IN SELFRIDGES !

NO ONE STEALS ANY CLOTHES! Brummie stalwarts Ocean Colour Scene marked the opening of the city’s brand spanking new £5.5m O2 Academy in bizarre style by...er, playing in a clothes shop.

‘The Scene’ played an exclusive acoustic set in Selfridges as part of the launch party, before Editors officially opened the venue itself the following night.

The Academy has relocated to the former Dome nightclub building off Bristol Street and boasts colour changing urinals as well as a whopping new sound system and a host of other delights.

Turn to page 20 for coverage and pictures from the opening weekend, which also featured performances from The Twang and The Streets.

pic by Katja Ogrin

pic by Jason Sheldon

news

CAT STEVENS TO HIT THE ROAD AGAIN

Cat Stevens will play in Birmingham as part of his first tour in more than 30 years.

The star, now known as Yusuf Islam, will play at the NIA on November 23, as part of just a handful of dates.

The show will include material from his new musical Moonshadow.

See www.brumnotes. com for ticket information.

BRUM FUNNYFEST RETURNS Comics from far and wide will be descending on the West Midlands this month for the Birmingham Comedy Festival.

The annual gigglefest takes place at venues of all sizes across the city from October 2 to 11.

Highlights including award-winning Irish comic and minipiano wielding David

O’Doherty (pictured) at the Glee Club on October 9, while on October 3 The Electric Cinema will give

people a rare chance to watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail on the big screen.

Frank Carson, Rich Hall and Rob Brydon are among the more established acts appearing, while there will be a whole host of up-and-coming talent to check out and/or heckle.

Full details at www. bhamcomfest.co.uk.

LONDON FREEZE FESTIVAL: WIN TICKETS Still mourning the end of the festival season?

Well, stop crying into your pear cider because the winter festival season is nearly upon us.

And to celebrate we’ve got a pair of three day passes worth £170 for the FS04 Freeze Festival in London, featuring the finest in snowsports entertainment set against a stunning live soundtrack from the likes of Friendly Fires, Orbital and Calvin Harris.

We’re even throwing in two train tickets to get yourselves to London and back, thanks to those lovely people at Chiltern Railways.

The Freeze festival runs from October 30 to November 1 at London’s iconic Battersea Power Station and has plenty to get you dreaming of snow-covered slopes and steaming Glühwein.

Boasting a 32m snow jump, 500 tonnes of real snow and 200 ski and board competitors from acround the globe, Freeze is the UK’s biggest snowsports and music festival.

Away from the snow, there will be headline performances from Friendly Fires, Eagles of Death Metal and Orbital, as well as DJ sets from Pendulum and Calvin Harris.

For ticket details visit www.londonfreeze.com. See www.chilternrailways.co.uk to book advance travel to London from just £5.

TO WIN, TELL US: How many tonnes of real snow will be used at this year’s Freeze festival?

Email your answers to competitions@brumnotes.com with name, age and contact details by Oct 23.

page six Birmingham’s city centre beach attracted record numbers of visitors despite a stuttering summer in terms of weather.

According to council figures, more than 155,000 set foot on the sand in Chamberlain Square this summer, topping last year’s total of 141,000. My word.

news

Big future for Little Civic Popular Wolverhampton venue to be relocated

A

replacement for the muchmissed Little Civic is set to open in Wolverhampton this month.

A new home has been

And while we’re at it, more than 270,000 people attended events as part of this year’s ArtsFest, including a world-record breaking 857 people taking part in a mass Bhangra dance.

found for the smallest of the three Civic Hall venues, to replace the former base in North Street which closed its doors in June when the lease expired.

Bosses decided to seek an alternative space due to concerns over disability access and fire regulations.

The musical hotspot has instead been moved to what was formerly C4 on the corner of Broad Street and Fryer Street.

It is hoped the

Baggy indie legend Ian Brown will be returning to Birmingham this winter as he tours his latest record.

The shows will be the first following the release of his sixth studio album, My Way, on Fiction last week.

The ex-Stone Roses singer will be at the new O2 Academy in Birmingham on December 18.

Ticket details at www. brumnotes.com.

In other numbersrelated news, more than 600,000 clubbers have been through the doors of £5m superclub Gatecrasher since it opened its doors in Broad Street last September.

MONKEY BACK IN BUSINESS

new building will recreate the same cosy atmosphere while accommodating larger audiences of up to 550 people. It is expected to open on October 27.

Over the years, the Little Civic proved a worthy stomping ground for many local acts as well as various touring bands who later went on to enjoy huge success, including the likes of Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Arctic Monkeys

and Kasabian.

Civic Halls manager Mark Blackstock said: “It is much larger than North Street, giving us increased capacities of between 200 and 500 people which in turn means bigger and better acts along with more of the same.

“Relocating the Little Civic at C4 will bring our offer in line with our competitors in places like Birmingham and Manchester.”

WIN! SYMPHONY HALL TICKETS World music extraordinaires Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, will be at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on October 8 and we have a pair of tickets up for grabs for this special show.

Lucky winners can also get their hands on two copies of the Buena Vista Social Club at Carnegie Hall 2 CD album, so if you miss out on the gig, you can relive the atmosphere in your living room.

Orquesta features an extraordinary 13-piece line-up of stalwarts

direct from Havana.

To enter, just tell us which famous Cuban cocktail has white rum, lime and mint as its main ingredients?

Email your answer, name, age and contact details to competitions@ brumnotes.com by October 6.

page eight

news

IT’S SNOW TIME

CALL OF THE WILD Leeds-based indie popsters Wild Beasts will be bringing their haunting sounds to the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath this month.

Yorkshire songstress Blue Roses provides

support for an evening of ethereal, floaty goodness.

Tickets £8.50.

DOUBLE FOLKED

Alt-folk night Bohemian Jukebox is now thriving at two Brum venues. Check it out at the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, on the second Thursday of the month or at The Victoria in the city centre every fourth Thursday of the month.

GET CLASSICAL

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group kicks off its new season of stunning classical concerts on October 16.

Launch night includes a double concert showcasing exclusive new pieces. Details at www.bcmg.org.uk.

NEC M A H ING NOV BIRM OCT – 1 30TH

BOTAHE NEC AT

The annual British Ski and Board Show will be returning to the NEC from October 30 to November 1 in what will be its 21st year.

Visitors will be able to enjoy the gravity defying Big Air Freestyle display team, featuring Olympic and World Champions on Europe’s largest indoor ski ramp, while beginners can even try their luck with free skiing and snowboarding lessons.

There will of course be plenty of opportunities for you to get kitted out for the new season and check out the latest gear, gadgets and threads.

Advance tickets start at £4 but you can bag a bargain thanks to Brum Notes Magazine with the handy 2-for-1 voucher below. More details at www.britishskiandboardshow.co.uk.

1 R O 2 FET OFFER

che s vou i h K t f TICring a copykoet office

+ I SKRDING

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EVEN if you’re not lucky enough to make it to the London Freeze festival this month, you can still get in the mood for the slopes a little closer to home.

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BOXING CLEVER Unsigned but unbowed, THE BOXER REBELLION on their fight for survival and independence HAVING released their latest album without any label backing, The Boxer Rebellion have been hailed as indie heroes.

They caused a ministorm back in January when Union – then a digital-only release – was not officially recognised in the UK charts because it did not have a physical

counterpart. The fuss created by the band’s fans has been partly credited for a change in rules in this country.

“I feel like it’s pretty cool that they did it,” says US-born frontman Nathan Nicholson.

“I know we weren’t fully responsible but if we had a hand in it that’s good.”

Despite the change,

the band have now re-released the album in CD form, but have remained free from the shackles of a label deal.

“We had a few talks but nothing really seemed to suit for us so we just decided for the time being to do it ourselves. We’ve got a really good manager so it is kind of like we are working as a small label

anyway. We don’t have to answer to anyone and when we have a meeting it’s between the four of us and the manager.

“It will be interesting to see if it makes an impact.

“I don’t think we’ve led the way but I think this way will keep growing because it is becoming easier and easier.”

page ten

THE MACCABEES WITH one of the finest albums of the year and a string of festival triumphs under their collective belt, The Maccabees certainly have reason to celebrate.

Second-albumsyndrome clearly held no fears for the London-turnedBrighton boys who stormed back earlier this year with Wall of Arms, a fleshedout and brooding development on the indie art-pop of 2006

debut Colour It In. And as they prepare to hit the road for their biggest tour to date, the band are determined to enjoy it.

“The band is at a really great place at the moment,” says guitarist Hugo White.

“Reading and Leeds were amazing, we had such a good time.

“We were able to get our music out there to a whole different audience.

“We’ve even been offered a gig in Africa.

It’s part of the Lake of Stars festival in Malawi.

“It’s pretty bizarre but that’s one of the great things about being in a band, you get the opportunity to travel and do things you wouldn’t ever have the chance to do normally.”

Closer to home, Hugo promises audiences in England will be in for some “surprises.”

“These are some of the biggest shows that we have ever done and we’re all really excited.

“All the shows on this tour will be a kind of celebration of both our albums not just the new one, and we’ll be playing songs from them both.

“We’ll also be doing a few covers and may even have a few surprises up our sleeves but unfortunately I can’t say exactly what.”

•The Maccabees play Birmingham O2 Academy on October 1.

Visit www.brumnotes. com for ticket details and review.

page eleven

MANDO DIAO SWEDISH garage rockers Mando Diao are renowned for their dance floor-baiting live shows.

Now the firebrand fivepiece are hoping fifth album Give Me Fire! can capture that same energy.

“The record is slightly different this time, EVER wondered what it would be like to hear yourselves on the radio for the first time?

Well, it’s “vaguely comical” according to Mumford & Sons.

The banjo-wielding outfit are the latest to emerge from London’s “clique” of modern folk artists, following in the footsteps of friends including Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale.

Breakthrough track Little Lion Man, a precursor to debut album Sigh No More, has been championed on Radio 1, but was never intended as a single, according to double

more mainstream, a bit more danceable, if that is more mainstream, I don’t know,” says frontman Bjorn Dixgard.

“We are like a dance band when we go out and play. We want to create a good environment for having a good time

and drinking alcohol, or whatever people feel like.”

“You have a lot of really good bands in England and a lot of bands that do that same musical style that we do. The thing we add is some Swedish melodies, a bit of darkness and a lot of energy.

bassist Ted Dwane.

“We just wanted to send something out for radio but people seem to really be enjoying it,” he says.

“We come from a little clique of musicians in London, of people who don’t really see themselves as qualified to be doing what we are doing, we just like to sing songs and make noises.

“We are just in it for the love, I know everyone says that, but it is just vaguely comical that they want to play

us on the radio – but it’s great.”

“The music industry has been so rich and powerful for so long, telling people what to listen to. A lot of people generally don’t go out hunting for music, they just eat what they are fed.

“But now I think they are getting a bit more discerning. With so

“Touring Sweden is very different to every other country. If you go outside of Stockholm you play in front of five dogs and five alcoholics. We don’t tour too much over here.

“You miss your loved ones at home, but it’s two different worlds, you go into another dimension when you are on the road. Music is our passion and we couldn’t do anything else, we have no choice.

“We love it at the end of the day.”

•Give Me Fire! is out on October 5.

•Read the review on p22.

MUMFORD & SONS much electronic music around now, I think people are looking for something with a little more heart and a bit of a sing-song.”

•Sigh No More is out on October 5.

•See p22 for the review.

out

of

the

mouths

of

babel

Renowned for their chaotic live shows, 15-piece gypsy folk outfit The Destroyers have hit the studio to record their debut album. Just don’t try and describe it.

E

ver wondered what the bouquet of an incendiary device mixed with ‘sedition’ and ‘festival’ would smell like?

A live show by Birmingham’s own gypsy punk act The Destroyers could be the closest you’ll get to finding out.

Trying to bottle the essence of the genredodging musical firebrands, fresh from the release of debut album Out of Babel, is as daunting a task as

pic by Adrian Burrows

getting the Gallagher brothers together for a Hello! photoshoot.

“We do subvert the traditional notion of a band,” admits frontman Paul Murphy.

The ex-Songwriters Cafe proprietor and ranting punk poet tries to explain as he puts away a bag of bananas (“£1!”) and whole salmon (“£8!”) he has just purchased from the market.

“New vaudeville might be one way to describe us – but we’re

definitely the opposite of a shoegazing band.”

Described in equal measure by commentators as ‘insane’, ‘chaotic’ and ‘one of the most interesting acts the UK has seen in a long time’, The Destroyers, in Murphy’s own words “smoulder like a device in the corner,” likening their style, which takes in Klezmer, Mariachi, Balkan, Trad Irish, ska, gypsy jazz and punkpolka amongst other music, to “the new

Esperanto of music.”

“This year the status of The Destroyers has definitely gone up a notch, particularly within the festival circuit ” Murphy adds. “We played five shows in four days at Glastonbury and performed our first show at Sidmouth Folk Festival which says a lot about how we’ve been accepted by various music scenes. I came up through the traditional folk scene, back in the days where you weren’t allowed to play contemporary songs, or perform with a guitar. Much of that has changed now.”

The 15-piece band met at the infamous Speedwell Arts Centre (SAC) – a house in south Birmingham which hosted late night jam parties in a converted basement, attracting a diverse crowd of musicians and artists. It was at the SAC, amongst the jazz, graffiti and

dub, that a group of ex-Conservatoire graduates began playing up-tempo eastern European folk music together.

“It was a space free of constraints,” Murphy recalls. “A real melting pot of collaboration where music would be played at any time and reflected all that is Birmingham – easily the most culturally diverse place anywhere in the UK.” As the music stands, sheet music and other music school props began to disappear from the stages, The Destroyers moved forward through collaborations with artists such as Punjabi drumming sensations The Dhol Blasters and annual film festival promoters Flatpack.

Further kudos arrived with the production of Out of Babel by Gavin Monaghan from Wolverhampton’s Magic Garden studios, a producer known for

his work with the likes of Editors, The Twang, Scott Matthews and Ocean Colour Scene.

But despite Murphy’s heavy contribution to song-writing within the band, he insists The Destroyers are the total sum of their parts. “The individual and collective voice is paramount, as are the small creative clusters within the band and those key moments together before or after a show.

“Getting this first album out of the way took a while but now we’re already gathering ideas for the second album, it’s important we harness everyone’s passion during that process.

“The feeling of the first cellophane wrapped copy of Out of Babel in my hands was just wonderful.”

• Out of Babel is out now.

• The Destroyers play Birmingham Town Hall on October 11. words by Lyle Bignon

TEMPER, TEMP Antipodean epic rockers THE TEMPER TRAP on England, life on the road and that song .

I

f you have a television then the chances are you’ve heard The Temper Trap, even if you’ve never heard of them.

The soar-away anthem Sweet Disposition has become the unofficial soundtrack to the soggy summer, by virtue of its appearance on everything from football adverts to festival coverage montages.

The Aussie shoegazers have made England their second home, shacking up in a shared house in London six months ago before embarking on a gruelling touring schedule across Europe and the USA. But with business to attend to - and by business I mean playing to sell-out crowds around the country - it is rare they get a chance to sit around eating pizza and watching

Hollyoaks.

“It’s more like a base in between shows,” says guitarist Lorenzo Sillitto.

“It’s good to have a place where you can have some downtime.

“England has been really good to us since we got here and people are starting to embrace us by the amount of people coming to our shows.”

It’s not as if The Temper Trap upped sticks as things weren’t working out at home.

Sweet Disposition had catapulted them to new heights down under as well, with the euphoric atmosphere of the tune making it a favourite on Australian television and radio too.

“I don’t listen to the radio so I don’t hear it too much, I just feel sorry for everyone else having to hear it all the time. It was kind of flogged in Australia as

well, although I must say I love playing it. It’s getting used for AFL (Aussie rules football) back in Australia as well. We’re fans of both what we call soccer and AFL so it works for us.”

Lorenzo agrees the track has helped put them in what he calls a “very privileged” position.

“I’ve been to more places this year than I ever have in my life.

I’ve been to Japan, that was pretty awesome and Norway and all through Scandinavia which I didn’t really think we would be doing. We’ve been offered shows in India and China but we just haven’t got enough time to do them all at the moment.

We’ve still got a lot of commitments and things to do before this album is done.

“We’ve all got ideas [for new material] and

we’re starting to piece things together but I don’t know when the chance is that we will actually be able to get down and solidify it until maybe early next year, which seems a long time.

“We don’t have a tour bus where we can get together and play or write songs. I’ve bought a four track and I’ll start putting things down on that so I don’t forget them. We have a splitter van which is cosy for the five of us.

“We’re still not megastars yet so we have to do it on the cheap. It’s still cool, we’ve got DVDs, Wifi and read books and I’ve got a Sony PSP which keeps me entertained but you can’t really whip out a guitar or you’d probably whack someone in the face.”

•Conditions is out now.

•For pictures of their Hare & Hounds show see www.brumnotes.com.

PER

DARK KNIGHTS

Brum torch-bearers EDITORS are back. And they’ve brought some synthesisers.

Editors 2009: (l-r) Ed Lay, Tom Smith, Russell Leetch, Chris Urbanowicz.

It’s fair to say Editors have come a long way since their early days working the Midlands circuit.

Having met at Stafford University, the band relocated to Birmingham before ploughing their way around the city’s usual haunts.

It was their trademark sound of biting, delaysoaked guitars and brooding melodies which helped catapult them beyond Birmingham’s scene, but now they have returned with a third album and a bold new electronic sound.

The band’s only remaining Birmingham resident, drummer Ed Lay, recounts their reinvention.

What can people expect from the new album?

Unusual sounds and great melodies. We have really embraced new electronic instruments and vintage synths to give a synthetic soul to the entire album. Humans playing with machines.

How has your writing and recording process changed over the course of the three albums?

A lot of the parts to

page seventeen

this record were written individually, in our own space. But every track was initially recorded live, unlike most of our previous recordings. We wanted to get a groove and emotion that wasn’t possible to get if we simply recorded every instrument separately, layer upon layer.

Have you felt any extra pressures on the third album or have your previous successes given you more freedom to explore your sound?

None of us have felt uncomfortable with any pressure we may have been under. We all knew that we had to make a statement with this album, and we all had the confidence to experiment with all aspects of our music.

Mostly, we just had to go into the studio, work hard on a bunch of good songs, and have fun.

What will it be like heading out on the road again for a full tour?

I love getting settled into a tour. The promo shows, festivals and interviews we have been doing so far stop us from getting into a good rhythm, so I relish the opportunity to play better, night after night on a proper headline

tour.

Despite your success, you’ve avoided tabloidstyle attention - a conscious effort?

None of us are interested in any aspect of celebrity. That may sound a little naive, seeing as we need to

be heard on radio, seen in videos and photo shoots to further our careers. But we have always focused on our music when appearing in the media, and never flaunt ourselves for a quick snap from the paparazzi by doing something crude.

page eighteen

How did you feel being chosen to open the new Birmingham Academy?

We felt incredibly proud opening up what is not only an important venue for music in the city, but will be for the Midlands. We have played in all sorts of different venues in the city, and have always been really well supported since the early days, so were delighted to be given the opportunity to play our new material here first.

How fondly do you remember your early

MY MIDLANDS:

Editors drummer Ed Lay picks his favourite haunts:

Best place to buy records: Polar Bear, Kings Heath Favourite gig venue: Wolverhampton, Civic Hall Favourite clothes shop: A2, Ethel Street.

Best place for a curry: Kababish, Moseley Favourite bar : The Pat Kav, Moseley Favourite club: The Rainbow, Digbeth

last couple of years.

Anything they get involved in, I know I will appreciate and so should you.

What did you think about the demise of the Jug of Ale? Bit confused as to why See more possibly sarcastic tips at www.brumnotes.com. its still standing there? days in Stafford and as a Birmingham band. Russ and I DJ’d at the Birmingham? supposed last night We all met in Stafford, What do you make of ever of that place as but Birmingham gave the current Midlands a pub, and I still have us a great home when music scene, any bands the poster hanging we were starting out or artists we should look around my house. with the band, and the out for? rest of the band - all Maybe not a new • In This Light and On non residents now name, but I love the This Evening is out have a great time when stuff that Sunset October 12. they return. We are Cinema Club have •Editors play Wolves proud to be thought of produced over the Civic on October 25.

page twenty

academ

live

y open ing spe cial

EDITORS O2 Academy, Birmingham September 10

All hail! The sticky floors have gone!

There’s lots of fancy television screens and you can actually hear the bands!

There were lots of reasons to celebrate as adopted Brummies Editors took to the stage to blow away the smell of paint at the new £5.5m Academy.

Somehow, though,

things didn’t quite fall into place.

A strangely subdued crowd gave a mixed response to the airing of new material, which bravely showcased the band’s new electronic, synth-heavy sound.

If it felt like a learning curve for the new venue staff, it seemed similar for the band, with frontman Tom appearing apologetic and nervous at times.

Don’t worry, it was just a warm-up.

Sean O’Muir

page twenty-one

THE TWANG O2 Academy, Birmingham September 11

With an array of bands on in each of the three Academy rooms, The Twang had promised a festival atmosphere for the second night of the new venue.

What they got was more akin to a football crowd and The Twang volleyed back at them with glee.

Posturing and purposeful, frontman Phil Etheridge bound about the stage like every bit the rock star.

Earlier on in the evening, The Traps had got things underway, firing out solid balls of indie pop nearperfection, while THE STREETS September 12 Mike Skinner staggered onto the stage looking less like the Mike Skinner we know and more like the Mike Skinner we remember.

Clean shaven with a full head of hair, he launched into Let’s Push Things Forward.

Skinner and his long time singing partner Leo the Lion delivered a crowd pleasing set, favouring popular anthems.

Where Skinner truly excels is in his interaction with the audience.

He would embrace the crowd, pose for photos and speak on mobiles without missing his cues. He may have advertised forthcoming album Computers and the Blues as the darkest album he has ever done, however with the energy and ecstasy his performances deliver he’ll have to work on his sullenness.

Chris Walker

OCEAN COLOUR SCENE September 13

Cheers welcomed the band who opened with an enfilade of gunfire hits such as the The Riverboat Song, You’ve Got It Bad and The Circle. Frontman Simon Fowler, with his northern soul bellow, seemed on particular form throwing in a few Ziggy Stardust shapes to boot. On a night where passions were already bubbling

tucked away in the Academy 2, Subkicks were captivating.

But it was The Twang who the majority were there to see and the excitement boiled over as they eventually took to the stage, with over-priced beer flying about long before it prompted a rant from the frontman.

What The Twang lack in originality, they make up for in brazen, balls-out rock attitude.

Etheridge teased and toyed with the crowd at every opportunity, whipping up the atmosphere to create the sense of occasion that was sadly lacking from the Editors previously. Forgettable tunes, but a memorable night.

James Collins due to the day’s earlier derby match, a highlight was a rollicking performance of anti-war song ‘Profit In Peace’. Naturally, a few new tunes such as ‘Magic Carpet Days’ were thrown in to a somewhat conservative response.

The Day We Caught The Train ended the set in typical football terrace chant style with both crowd and Fowler ecstatically inebriated.

Matt Geary

page twenty-two

records EDITORS

In This Light And On This Evening (Kitchenware/Columbia)

Ooh, looky who’s got some synthesisers? I really didn’t expect to like this record. In fact I’d already half written

the review in my head, with lots of clichéd references to Editors jumping on the 80s synth bandwagon.

The press pack arrived with a slightly bizarre letter to the listener from frontman Tom Smith. At times it sounds like an apology, while elsewhere it is just a defiant

two-fingers to any predictable criticism for going ‘all electronic’.

Either way it smacks of someone who was really expecting some kind of backlash, admitting that “this album will alienate some Editors fans, it will split opinion... good.”

The slower tracks have never quite rung true on previous Editors albums but the layered, brooding

MUMFORD & SONS

JAMIE T

(Gentlemen of the Road/Island) and shimmering folk-pop sounds fresh, vibrant and uplifting.

Banjos and double bass may give the impression of a derivative novelty act, but together the If, as Mumford & Sons band mould delicious harmonies with bassist Ted claims, overpowering melodies. music fans are looking And as they planned, for something with a it just makes you want bit more heart, then to have a good old sing they can certainly find song. a sizeable chunk of it on this stunning debut. An almost perfect piece At times it is haunting, of modern folk, with tunes that linger long others euphoric, but their blend of old time, after you press stop. sepia-tinted bluegrass

(Virgin)

Sigh No More

atmosphere of album closer Walk the Fleet Road is a triumph, while single Papillon is unmistakably Editors, with its catchy hook and soar-away chorus.

They may have ditched the guitars, but they have retained the unerring sense of melody.

The constant buzz of electronic noises can grate but overall it is worth persevering.

Kings & Queens years with one of the most original records of recent times.

Witty and thoughtprovoking, it lurches between rampant energy and moments of mellow calm.

His obvious talent When Jamie T burst for weaving gritty onto the scene with tales is underpinned Mercury nominated debut Panic Prevention, by a strong musical tradition, plucking there was a feeling it influences from a was more style than variety of sources, be substance, with his it ska, punk, soul or rough London act straight-up rap. appearing little more A unique talent and a than a gimmick. special album.

But he has returned after two and a half

page twenty-three

THE DESTROYERS

MANDO DIAO

(Destruction Records)

(Universal)

Out of Babel

It’s like getting your own pop-up gypsyfolk-punk mash-up in a handy little pack.

The Destroyers are a band not to be missed playing live and this debut album attempts to capture that same

energy.

It certainly succeeds for the most part, with title track Out of Babel a stand-out highlight.

Paul Murphy’s twisted mythologies weave tales of intrigue over the top of a frantic cacophony of instruments.

Some of the instrumentals are more for the purists but a party record nonetheless.

THE BOXER REBELLION Union

(Self release)

The aptly named ‘Union’ is a fitting testament to the bands dedication and continual triumph over adversity, having released it without a label.

From the pounding tribal drums in the opening of Flashing Red Light Means Go through to the passion-

ate urgency of Evacuate, The Boxer Rebellion create a deeply brooding atmosphere which amalgamates OK Computer era Radiohead with the transcendent beauty of early Verve to create their own blend of guitar distorted indie.

It is a breathtaking combo of instantly memorable melodies and heart-wrenching falsetto gracefully floating above delaylayered soundscapes.

Jeremy Diaper

Give Me Fire!

It would be really dull to write a review about a Scandinavian guitar band that compared them to The Hives or Soulwax.

But even so, Mando Diao do sound a bit like both The Hives

and Soulwax. They sound a bit like Franz Ferdinand too, with some Stax soul thrown in.

Bjorn’s gruff-voiced bellowing adds real soul to the shameless melodies, while the pumping bass and sprinkling of brass keeps things interesting among some of the less adventurous pop-rock standards.

RICH BASFORD Valentine Court

Birmingham pianist Rich Batsford’s modular, ambient, minimalist style is a perfect accompaniment for candlelight relaxation.

Lyndall opens with his idiosyncratic touches carrying a wistful lament, announcing the tone of the album.

The joyous So Steve

rings of Steve Reich, whilst Sensawunda hints of Debussy brooding with undercurrents of emotion.

Valentine Court is a neo-classical piano record which follows its own vision and passion, combining unobtrusive, soothing textures and hypnotic, complex rhythms.

Meditative, unpretentious and reflective, it is an album which pays homage to its influences.

Matt Geary

page twenty-four

food & drink

As the nights draw in, we look at the best places to grab some good old-fashioned comfort food...

Mad O’Rourke’s Pie Factory Hurst Lane, Tipton 0121 557 1402

O

n a chilly autumn’s day you surely can’t get better than tucking into a nice, hot pie.

And what better place to try that than a pub calling itself the Pie Factory.

To say this is a Black Country institution would be an understatement and one visit is enough to show you why.

The term ‘proper pub’ is often bandied around these days and the Pie Factory plays up to that image, with saw dust on the floor and all manner of quirky boozer

memorabilia adorning the walls.

As for the food, it is not for the fainthearted.

The pies are more like bowls of hearty stew, topped with a puff pastry lid. Those who like a challenge surely have to tackle the Desperate Dan Cow Pie, complete with pastry horns.

It’s described as a meal in itself, with steak, kidney, veg and potatoes ladled in.

The pub is certainly not resting on its laurels either, with a range of other tasty sounding pies including jerk chicken, steak and Stilton and vegetable and ricotta.

Just leave some room before you go.

page twenty-five Urban Pie Bullring Shopping Centre, Birmingham 0121 643 0040

Canalside Cafe Gas Street, Birmingham 0121 248 7979 Quite possibly one of the city’s finest pubs and a real hidden gem. Fantastic range of warming bottled ales and the quirky cottage interior is a fantastic hideaway next to a roaring fire.

As for food, lashings of chilli con carne served with chunky bread or hearty vegetable soup would warm anyone on a wintery day, while the cakes and pastries are another treat.

An obvious choice perhaps, but for good reason.

Perfectly baked pies, with innovative flavours and cute presentation. It’s a perfect spot to escape the madness of the Bullring and huddle under the outdoor heaters. Bargain hunters will also find plenty of comfort in the sale prices after 5pm.

A grotesque fable for our times World Premiere Performances

BCMG

The thrilling Brothers Grimm tale of greed and come-uppance, with its age-old themes of transformation, ritual and revelation, told as you’ve never heard it before through dance, action and music alone.

www.bcmg.org.uk

Gold © by Wolfgang Tillmans – Courtesy of the artist and Maureen Paley, London

Sat 14 Nov 2009, 6pm & 8pm CBSO Centre, Berkley Street, Birmingham, B1 2LF In advance: £14 full price / £8 conc / £5 under 16s On the door: £15 full price / £9 conc / £6 under 16s Book online: www.bcmg.org.uk or by phone: 0121 767 4050

page twenty-seven

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

PICK OF THE MONTH:

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

Send details to: info@brumnotes.com All details correct at time of going to press.

Check with venues before setting out.

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

While every effort will be made to ensure the accuracy of listings, Brum Notes Magazine will not be held liable for any errors or losses incurred from errors which may materialise.

Be good kids.

GIGS 1. THE BLACK SEEDS, Oct 3, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath Reggae-tinged soul and funk fusion from platinum-selling New Zealand collective.

Tickets £10 adv, more info at www.jibbering.co.uk.

2. WILD BEASTS, Oct 4, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath Ethereal, offbeat indie pop from Leeds-based four pice, with support from Blue Roses.

Tickets £8.50 adv, available at www.seetickets.com.

3. EXAMPLE, Oct 8, The Rainbow, Digbeth Dysfunctional electro pop from the man behind summer smash hit Watch the Sun Come Up. 14+ show. Tickets £7 adv, www.seetickets.com.

4. OXJAM BIRMINGHAM, Oct 24, various venues More than 30 of the region’s hottest acts, across six venues. Look out for Subkicks at The Flapper.

Tickets £6, details at www.oxjambrum.org.uk.

5. EDITORS, Oct 25, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton Ok, this issue’s been a bit of an Editors love-in, but their tour should be in full flow by Oct 25.

Tickets £18.50. Book at www.wolvescivic.co.uk.

CLUB NIGHTS 1. ELECTRIC CITY Oct 17, Custard Factory Boutique autumn festival, with Groove Armada, Krafty Kuts , Utah Saints, DJ Hype & more.

2. SUPERSONIC VAGUE Fridays, Gatecrasher, Brum Rival indie, electro, alternative mash-up, after Propaganda’s move to the Academy.

OTHER ENTERTAINMENT: Catch some of the best artists and illustrators around battling it out at black ink on white board at SECRET WARS BIRMINGHAM. First couple of heats take place at The Rainbow on October 4 and 18 to select the final team members. Details at www.secretwars.co.uk.

Get in the Halloween spirit by catching the eerie silent movie special at Birmingham Town Hall, showing THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, 1925 version, on October 31 with prizes for fancy dress.

Tickets £15 from www.thsh.co.uk.

Drinks will be flying at the ISLAND BAR FLAIR CHALLENGE on October 11, claiming to be the biggest flair bartending competition the West Midlands has ever seen with competitors from all over. Doors 5pm, £2 entry.

Perrier Award-winning comic JEREMY HARDY will be at The Glee Club in Birmingham on Oct 28, while the hilarious MILTON JONES will bring the laughs to the Wulfrun Hall in Wolves on Oct 29.

3. HALLOWEEN FRIGHTNER Oct 31, Rainbow Warehouse Presented by Bigger Than Barry, complete with fancy dress and the usual badass tunes.

BOOKING AHEAD DIZZEE RASCAL March 31, Wolves Civic £20, www.wolvescivic.co.uk IAN BROWN Dec 18, O2 Academy £24, www.ticketweb.co.uk.

THE POGUES Dec 16, O2 Academy £29.50, www.ticketweb.co.uk.

FLAMING LIPS Nov 17, O2 Academy £20, www.ticketweb.co.uk.

THURSDAY OCT 1 THE MACCABEES, Academy, Birmingham CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS, Birmingham NIA AN EVENING WITH JOAN BAEZ, Symphony Hall, Birmingham MUNDY, The Glee Club, Birmingham ANDY HAMILTON AND THE BLUE NOTES, Bearwood Corks Club, Bearwood FLOOD OF RED, Civic Hall Bar, Wolverhampton FRIDAY OCT 2 ALL TIME LOW, Academy, Birmingham THE TOASTERS, Academy, Birmingham PROPAGANDA FT. EDITH BOWMAN DJ SET, Academy, Birmingham ZU, BEESTUNG LIPS, DAS BASTARD, The Rainbow, Digbeth KAID, CHRIS TYE, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham ODEMBA OK JAZZ ALL STARS, The Drum, Aston FRED ZEPPELIN, The Robin 2, Bilston SATURDAY OCT 3 BABYCAKES UK PARTIES 2K9, Academy, Birmingham JAMIE T, Academy, Birmingham THIS CITY & XCERTS, Academy, Birmingham

CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS, Birmingham NIA HANDEL’S MESSIAH

BY THE SIXTEEN CHOIR, Town Hall, Birmingham INME, The Asylum, Birmingham BLACK SEEDS, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath THE VOUCH, Sound Bar, Birmingham LOUTISH LOVER, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham UK GUNS N ROSES, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton HEY MONDAY, Civic Hall Bar, Wolverhampton TREVOR BURTON BAND, The Public, West Bromwich THE ZICO CHAIN, Kasbah, Coventry SUNDAY OCT 4 GENERAL FIASCO, Academy, Birmingham CLIFF RICHARD AND THE SHADOWS, Birmingham NIA JANE MCDONALD, Symphony Hall, Birmingham JOHN SMITH, The Glee Club, Birmingham WILD BEASTS, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath MONDAY OCT 5 BLUE OCTOBER US, Academy, Birmingham WAVE MACHINES, Academy, Birmingham DOLL & THE KICKS, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

SWASHBUCKLE, Civic Hall Bar, Wolverhampton CASIO KIDS, Kasbah, Coventry TUESDAY OCT 6 DANIEL MERRIWEATHER, Academy, Birmingham PAPA ROACH, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry WEDNESDAY OCT 7 THE KING BLUES, Academy, Birmingham ANIMAL KINGDOM, Academy, Birmingham RICHARD HAWLEY, Town Hall, Birmingham THE PARLOTONES, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath JOHNNY FOREIGNER, The Flapper, Birmingham THURSDAY OCT 8 LETHAL BIZZLE, Academy, Birmingham SUBKICKS, Academy, Birmingham ORQUESTA BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB, Symphony Hall, Birmingham EXAMPLE, The Rainbow, Digbeth SOUR MASH, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham STARLESS & BIBLE BLACK, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath BOBBY WELLINS WITH THE TONY RICHARDS TRIO, Bearwood Corks Club,

Bearwood THE CULT, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton FRIDAY OCT 9 SONIC BOOM SIX, Academy, Birmingham PROPAGANDA FT BLOC PARTY (DJ SET) + MAT HORNE, Academy, Birmingham OUTHOUSE RUHABI, CBSO Centre, Birmingham THE DRINK, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham DJ ROLANDO, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath DINKY, The Station, Kings Heath ACOUSTIC PROTOTYPE, The Public, West Bromwich THE BEAT, The Robin 2, Bilston SATURDAY OCT 10 BLACK STONE CHERRY, Academy, Birmingham BADDIES, Academy, Birmingham SOUND OF GUNS, The Flapper, Birmingham DISTANT SIGNAL, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham CINEPHONIC #3, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath NICK PRIDE & THE PIMPTONES, The Yardbird, Birmingham ERIC ROBERSON, The Drum, Aston SKINDRED, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton NME RADAR TOUR, Civic Hall Bar, Wolverhampton

DIZZY LIZZY, The Public, West Bromwich FLASHGUNS, Kasbah, Coventry SUNDAY OCT 11 THE DESTROYERS, THE TOY HEARTS, THE OLD DANCE SCHOOL, Town Hall, Birmingham KILL IT KID, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath BATTLE IN THE BOX, The Drum, Aston MONDAY OCT 12 GO:AUDIO, Academy, Birmingham KATE WALSH, The Glee Club, Birmingham ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton THE CHAPMAN FAMILY, Kasbah, Coventry TUESDAY OCT 13 ENTER SHIKARI, Academy, Birmingham DAN MICHAELSON AND THE COASTGUARDS, Academy, Birmingham ZERO 7, Town Hall, Birmingham NERINA PALLOT, The Glee Club, Birmingham WEDNESDAY OCT 14 TEITUR, The Glee Club, Birmingham THE SLITS, The Rainbow, Digbeth THURSDAY OCT 15 BLOC PARTY, Academy, Birmingham THE MISERABLE RICH, The Glee Club, Birmingham DIE! DIE! DIE!, Hare &

Hounds, Kings Heath ANDY HAMILTON & THE BLUE NOTES, Bearwood Corks Club, Bearwood THE ENID, The Robin 2, Bilston GAMMA FUNKULA, Kasbah, Coventry KINGS OF CONVENIENCE, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry FRIDAY OCT 16 BASSHUNTER BASS GENERATION LIVE 09, Academy, Birmingham NOAH AND THE WHALE, Academy, Birmingham LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham YT LIVE, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath THE MANHATTAN PROJECT, The Station, Kings Heath JODIE & THE JET PLANE, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham WHITE BELT YELLOW TAG, The Rainbow, Digbeth THE DRELLAS & THE DEAD CLASS, Civic Hall Bar, Wolverhampton SATURDAY OCT 17 DIZZEE RASCAL, Academy, Birmingham GIRLS, Academy, Birmingham MARY BLACK, Town Hall, Birmingham SULTANS OF PING, Hare & Hounds, Kings

Heath BABYHEAD, The Yardbird, Birmingham THE FALLEN DUKES, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham THE NOLANS, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton AN EVENING WITH SEAN CANNON, The Public, West Bromwich TOM HINGLEY, Kasbah, Coventry SUNDAY OCT 18 THE CHEEK, Academy, Birmingham TOM JONES, LG Arena, Birmingham FEMI TEMOWO, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath NEWTON FAULKNER, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry MONDAY OCT 19 THIS WILL DESTROY YOU, Academy, Birmingham THE BRAPP PACK TOUR FEATURING CHIPMUNK, IRONIK, KID BRITISH, MPHO,TINIE TEMPAH, EGYPT, MZ BRATT & AGGRO SANTO, Academy, Birmingham DAVID ESSEX, Symphony Hall, Birmingham THE FELICE BROTHERS, The Glee Club, Birmingham NINE BLACK ALPS, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath FRANZ FERDINAND, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton

IAN PARKER, The Robin 2, Bilston THE RIFLES, Kasbah, Coventry TUESDAY OCT 20 EASTPAK ANTIDOTE TOUR 2009, Academy, Birmingham BRENDAN BENSON, Academy, Birmingham DELAYS, Academy, Birmingham UNDERGROUND HEROES, The Flapper, Birmingham THE DEFILED & TED MAUL, Civic Hall Bar, Wolverhampton STIFF LITTLE FINGERS, The Robin 2, Bilston WEDNESDAY OCT 21 GARY MOORE, Academy, Birmingham THE HOLLOWAYS, Academy, Birmingham KID CANAVERAL, The Flapper, Birmingham ASAKUSA JINTA, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath THERAPY?, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton LOS CAMPESINOS!, Kasbah, Coventry THURSDAY OCT 22 DOES IT OFFEND YOU, YEAH?, Academy, Birmingham BOWLING FOR SOUP, Academy, Birmingham TERRORFORM, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham THOMAS DYBDAHL, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath

MARTIN TROTMAN, Bearwood Corks Club, Bearwood FRIDAY OCT 23 NOISETTES, Academy, Birmingham CHARLIE WINSTON, Academy, Birmingham PROPAGANDA FT THE FUTUREHEADS (DJ SET) + GREG JAMES DJ SET, Academy, Birmingham MORRISSEY, Symphony Hall, Birmingham GERSHWIN AND SOUL, Town Hall, Birmingham JOHNNY FLYNN, The Glee Club, Birmingham CITY HERO, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham iLIKETRAiNS, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath MAD PROFESSOR, The Drum, Aston THE YOUNG REPUBLIC, The Rainbow, Digbeth 3 DAFT MONKEYS, Civic Hall Bar, Wolverhampton DEVILDRIVER, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton SATURDAY OCT 24 BRING ME THE HORIZON, Academy, Birmingham PHOENIX, Academy, Birmingham MY PASSION, Academy, Birmingham SPANDAU BALLET, LG Arena, Birmingham DREADZONE, Hare &

Hounds, Kings Heath SYLOSIS, Civic Hall Bar, Wolverhampton THE PROCLAIMERS, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry SUNDAY OCT 25 TOMMY REILLY, Academy, Birmingham SPANDAU BALLET, LG Arena, Birmingham POLAR BEAR, The Glee Club, Birmingham MAPS, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath ROBERT MITCHELL & COREY MWAMBA, The Drum, Aston EDITORS, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton JEANIE BARTON, The Public, West Bromwich MONDAY OCT 26 THE DEAD WEATHER, Academy, Birmingham THE PROCLAIMERS, Symphony Hall, Birmingham JON ALLEN, The Glee Club, Birmingham THE TWILIGHT SAD, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath THE EIGHTIES MATCHBOX B-LINE DISASTER, Civic Hall Bar, Wolverhampton YOUR BIGGEST FANCLUB, Kasbah, Coventry TUESDAY OCT 27 INDIGO GIRLS, Academy, Birmingham BILLY TALENT, Academy, Birmingham GREEN DAY, LG Arena, Birmingham

ROACHFORD, The Glee Club, Birmingham OWEN TROMANS, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath JEREMY WALMSLEY, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath ZZ TOP, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton WEDNESDAY OCT 28 THE RAKES, Academy, Birmingham MAXWELL, Academy, Birmingham GREEN DAY, LG Arena, Birmingham THE NOLANS, NIA, Birmingham COLIN MACINTYRE, The Glee Club, Birmingham EVERYTHING EVERYTHING, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath AMON AMARTH, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton THURSDAY OCT 29 CALVIN HARRIS, Academy, Birmingham IDLEWILD, Academy, Birmingham THIS BEAUTIFUL THIEF, Academy, Birmingham INVASION, The Flapper, Birmingham JOE MORRIS, Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath MILOW, The Rainbow, Digbeth THE NOTEBENDERS, Bearwood Corks Club, Bearwood THE ZOMBIES, The Robin 2, Bilston THE UNTHANKS,

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry FRIDAY OCT 30 FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND, FIGHTSTAR, PLUS MORE, Academy, Birmingham PROPAGANDA FT JAMES BUCKLEY (THE INBETWEENERS), Academy, Birmingham PINK, NIA, Birmingham WISHBONE ASH, Town Hall, Birmingham DELPHIC, The Rainbow, Digbeth LITTLE BOOTS, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton ADE EDMONDSON & THE BAD SHEPHERDS, The Robin 2, Bilston SATURDAY OCT 31 THE IMPERIAL NEVER SAY DIE! TOUR 2009, Academy, Birmingham PINK, NIA, Birmingham JUST LIKE JIMMY, The Flapper, Birmingham GROOVE CARTEL, The Yardbird, Birmingham MAGNUM, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton REGGAE REPUBLIC, The Public, West Bromwich KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES, Kasbah, Coventry TINARIWEN, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry

Coming next month.. .

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For up-to-the mi nute news, more reviews, the latest info on g igs and new rele ases, or to buy tickets, mer chandise and oth er goodies, visit us at our fancy new websit e...

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