The Brummie

APRIL 2011

= KEEPING BIRMINGHAM VIBRANT BY SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS =

THE MAGAZINE MADE FOR THE PEOPLE OF BRUM BY THE PEOPLE OF BRUM

£2 OR FREE TO BRUMMIE CARD HOLDERS

BRUMMIE

ISSUE NO. 43

Take the road less travelled//

Photographer: Laura Williams Title: Take the road less travelled Location: Brum city centre

The Brummie Magazine Municipal Buildings Digbeth High Street Birmingham B11 2RT eyup@thebrummie.co.uk www.thebrummie.co.uk 0112 211313 Publisher: Blackdog Publishing Ltd Editor: Holly McAllister Copy Editor: Laura Lawrence Editorial: Rachael Market Designer: Laura Williams The Brummie Magazine is published quarterly in January, April, July and October by Brummie’s all over. Copyright The Brummie Campaign 2011. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited. The editor reserves the right to edit, shorten or modify any material submitted. The editor’s decision on all printed material is final The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of The Brummie Magazine or the Brummie editor.

Unsolicited material will be considered but cannot be returned. Printing: Birmingham Roche Ltd UK. Paper: Hello Matt 130g.

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EY-UP

BRUM-

MIE!

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Editor’s Letter//

Hey there Brummie! Welcome to the April issue of The Brummie magazine. Now I don’t know about you but I love this time of year, After all the drama of the New Year we’re now either in full swing resolutions wise or we’ve forgotten the unsuccessful ones. We’ve had glorious weather so far this year and after such a long, cold winter it’s really brightened up everyone’s spirits here in the Brummie Office. (Aka, Urban Village shopfloor after hours). So as a special treat for you we’ve teamed up with 5 local shops to bring you are biggest and best ever ‘Where’s Bex - the Tyrannosaurus Rex” competition. You could be in for the chance of winning over £500 of vouchers to spend at any of our five sponsors! So get your thinking caps on and find Bex! Also in this issue we have a huge feature on The Custard Factory, which is Birmingham’s new revolutionary arts quarter. We have also been lucky enough to have a chat and a cuppa with Birmingham’s own Louis Sidoli! Plus of course our regular alternative news stories, procrastination page and street style.

So thank you for picking up a copy of our great magazine and remember we rely fully on submissions from people like you for the content - that’s what makes this magazine so unique. It’s made by the real Brummie’s for the real Brummie’s!

Holly McAllister / Editor

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L

We believe in Birmingham

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MORE TREES THAN

AND MORE PARKS THAN ANY OTHER

EUROPEAN

CITY

THAN

CANALS VENICE PARIS

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MORE

US BRUMMIE'S ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO LIVE IN A CITY WITH ALL OF THE BENEFITS OF A CAPITAL AND WITH NONE OF THE DOWNSIDES. WE HAVE:

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One of the main reasons we love our city so much is because it’s vibrant. This is thanks to the individual people who live, work and play in the city every day, it is thanks to the local shops selling something a little bit different.

We all love supermarkets and shopping centres, they're convenient, they're easy, they're predictable. But imagine if that's all we had. Imagine if that's all any city had. We wouldn't be in Birmingham, we'd just be.

The Brummie is a campaign brought to you in collaboration with your fellow Brummie citizen's. Our aim is to keep Birmingham a vibrant city by supporting all things local. Sadly due to rising costs and large companies taking over, many local shops, pubs and venue's are having to close down. We can't let this happen, local shops input more money into the local economy, they provide us with unique products and just generally make the city a much richer place to live in. Variety is the spice of life after all.

This campaign fully relies on you and a few of our very generous sponsors. We have you budding journalists covering the most interesting stories around the city, local photographers supplying the stunning imagery you will see inside this magazine. We have designers, columnists, artists and many more volunteers to do little tasks such as distribution and events planning. It really is a magazine made for you, by you. So if you have any hidden talents and would like to see your work published then please don't hesitate to get in contact using one of the addressed below.

To submit photography: photography@thebrummie.co.uk To submit a news story: news@thebrummie.co.uk To submit a column/rant/blog post: column@thebrummie.co.uk Join our design team at: design@thebrummie.co.uk Or just to volunteer some of your time for us: volunteer@thebrummie.co.uk Alternatively, give us a call on: 0112 211313 Or send us a letter (we love these!):

The Brummie Magazine Municipal Buildings Digbeth High Street Birmingham B11 2RT

APRIL 2011

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CON-

TENTS

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8

12

14

16

26

34

ALTERNATIVE NEWS// Our top stories that we find most interesting/shocking/funny.

IN PICTURES// We take a closer look at the Bullring market.

STREET STYLE// You Brummie’s are a stylish lot, see who we’ve snapped this quarter.

BLOG// Columnist Sonny Wong takes us on a trip to Digbeth.

FASHION// This season it’s all about the grunge look.

LOCAL ARTIST// Louis Sidoli takes us for a peek inside his studio.

LOCAL VENUE// Take a look inside the revolutionary new arts and media quarter.

44

CALENDAR//

46

ANIMALS//

54

LOCAL MUSICIANS//

58

FIND BEX//

60

PROCRASTINATION//

What’s on in Brum over the next three months.

The new exhibition by artist Robert Davies.

We see what stuff The Wonder Stuff are made out of.

The Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Aiding procrastination for 20 years!

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ALTER-

NATIVE

NEWS

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TEA WITH A CORPSE

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have moved their growing brood into a Manhattan

Two British sisters have kept their dead mother’s body in a refrigerator for 10

hotel suite costing $100,000 a month, says the New York Post. The couple and their

years so they can sit with her every weekend, says the London Sun. Josephine

four children are now ensconced in a 6,000-square-foot suite at the ritzy Waldorf

and Valmai Lamas, 52 and 59, could not bear burying their mum, so they pay a

Towers, close to both the exclusive French school their son Maddox attends and

weekly fee to a local undertaker to keep her refrigerated. On Saturdays, they sit

the United Nations, where Jolie is a goodwill ambassador. The only drawback is

silently with the corpse. Their family says that despite the refrigeration, the body is

that Pitt’s laid-back personal style may conflict with the Towers’ dress code, which

deteriorating, and that it’s “high time” to accept that she’s dead. After 10 years, a

forbids guests from wearing “T-shirts, tank-tops, faded jeans, cutoffs, and casual

family member said, “it’s getting ridiculous.”

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BRANGELINA MOVES AGAIN

hats” when they emerge from their suites.

MEN NEED FREEDOM

A CHILD CALLED LIKE

Adulterers in France can now enlist professional help in deceiving their spouses. A

The ‘Like’ button on Facebook, as with YouTube’s ‘thumbs up’ feature, is there to

new agency, Alibila, provides clients with convincing cover stories for their trysts—

let users signal their approval of friends’ comments, status updates, photos, videos

calling their homes with fake emergencies, for example, or sending invitations to

and the like. And it turns out Lior and Vardit Adler like the ‘Like’ button itself so

imaginary out-of-town events. For an extra fee, the company will also arrange for

much they, like, named their little one after it. To me it is important to give my

hotel rooms and romantic gifts for the mistress. The company says its services will

children names that are not used anywhere else, at least not in Israel,’ Mr Adler

actually help maintain marriages, because men “need a little freedom.”

told German Press Agency DPA. Like joins the couple’s other two daughters Dvash (‘honey’ in Hebrew) and Pie. ‘If once people gave Biblical names and that was the icon, then today it’s one of the most famous icons in the world’.

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POODLE FROM THE SKY

DAREDEVIL JUMPS OFF CLIFF

The bedraggled miracle pooch shocked staff at a nursing home near Vancouver

The world-famous Chilean base-jumper is clearly crazy - but he also makes jaw-

when she showed up, badly injured but very much alive. She was imaginatively

dropping videos of his feats. His latest - a daredevil stunt among the most amazing

christened May after being turned over to animal charity SPCA at the beginning of

we’ve ever seen - saw Munoz take a chopper up into the Andes mountain range,

the month ( May, see?). The six-year-old dog - likely to have been a stray before her

ride his bike off a specially-constructed jump, and only open his parachute 200ft

sky-based adventure, according to officials - wasn’t wearing any identification tags

from the ground. Taking a head-mounted camera with him - but quite clearly

when she showed up and nobody has thus far come forward to claim her. The SPCA

leaving his sanity behind - the 37-year-old got some amazing shots as he hurtled

branch is now looking for donations towards the cost of extensive dental work for

off the cliff edge on his 450cc bike and plunged towards the ground.

the ‘little dog with the big heart’.

SHOW JUMPING BUNNY

PIG WITH TWO SNOUTS This little piggy was born with the deformity of having two functioning mouths.

jump as high as he can around specially designed rabbit race courses. The sport

Its owner, farmer Bai Xuejin said: ‘We knew something was different because her

sees little Snoopy leaping over a number of dressage style fences arranged at

head was so large we had to help when her mother gave birth. ‘I’ve been raising

different heights as well as taking part in long-jump and high-jump challenges.

pigs for 15 years and I’ve never seen anything like this before.’ The squealer could

Snoopy’s owner Claudia Fehlen says that the black and white rabbit can reach

not suckle its mother because of its unique facial figure, so Mr Xuejin had to raise

up to 60 centimetres high (about 2 feet). 23-year-old Miss Fehlen is very proud of

it by hand until it was old enough to eat solid food. ‘Both mouths function normally

Snoopy saying: ‘He has done well in tournaments. He came in second once, and

and so she eats and drinks through both of them which means she gets through a

third another time.’

lot more food than her brothers and sisters,’ he added.

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The very hoppy bunny, Snoopy from Jena, Germany, earns his carrots by trying to

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IN PIC8/9

PICTURES

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TURES

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Fresh from the market//

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Photography by Sarah Bennet//

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Three-piece Suit; Tom Saundra Tie; Shique

Top; Retrospect Skirt; Home Made

Coat; Pinkie’s Bag; Ooh La La Vintage

Poncho Coat; Vintage Finds Boots; Shoo

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Faux Fur Coat; Urban Village Sunglasses; Stacy Lee

Cape Coat; Mum’s Wardrobe Leather Trousers; Hockney’s

STREET

STYLE

Stripy Shirt; Ethel Kim Lace-up Boots; Shoo

Cape Coat; Ooh La La Vintage Satchel Bag; Oxfam

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Coat; Sophie Darling Shoes; Standard

All-in-one; Tribal Station Boots; PDSA

Shirt; Ooh La La Vintage Trousers; Urban Village

Fur Jacket; Urban Village Boots; Shoo

Dress; Sixty Six Shoes; Urban Village

Jacket; Sandy Jane Skirt; Bruckles

Scarf; Home Made Coat; Vintage Find

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Coat; Ethel Saints Dress; Starfish

Coat; Stance Strobe Bag; Sixty Six

Coat; Retrospect Bag; Hockney’s Skirt; Vintage Finds Shoes; Shoo

Trousers; Oxfam Bag; Vintage Finds

Coat; Hand Made Flower Jumpsuit; Scrambles

Polo Shirt; British Heart Foundation Black Skirt; Entice

Dress; Ethel Saints Shoes; Dolly

Jacket and Boots; Urban Village Satchel Bag; Oxfam

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BLOG

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A Weekend in Digbeth//

Come, come, Weekender – you've done your Cotswolds chintz, your boutique

and warehouses, and quirky options such as a bus tour of the original Odeon

Brighton, your elegant Edinburgh and languid Lakes. Admit it – what you want,

cinemas built in the city in the 20s and 30s. The Eastside's pièce de résistance is

in your heart of hearts, is a walk on the wild side. You want a proper day out in

the now famous Custard Factory. Loads of great stuff is clustered under its roof and

a real city with everything a metropolis can offer; but with canals and cranes

alongside its wharves, from Tindal Street Press to artists' studios, but on Saturday

and the kind of lost urban landscapes you can only find in post-industrial

mornings the Custard Factory (custardfactory.co.uk) plays host to Eastside's

wastelands. What you're crying out for is an away day to Birmingham.

meandering fleamarket. Browsing for pewter cigarette holders is thirsty work, and down the road sits the Old Crown, Birmingham's oldest pub. The OC is fittingly

With high-speed rail connections galore, much of the country is within a two-

lopsided, said to be haunted, and serves a terrific pint.

hour train ride of Brum these days. Get off at New Street, plod on down the I would start a tour of the area however at Manzil's, Eastside's finest curry house,

Birmingham's new cultural hub. Once known as Digbeth, this is Birmingham's

then turn left into Allison Street, where you're spoiled for choice for breakfast.

emerging Eastside, a warren of backstreets and re-born factories that makes

There's the Warehouse cafe for ace vegetarian scran, or the Eastside diner for a

for one of the UK's most surprising creative quarters.

fine grilled breakfast that pulls in truckers and posties as well as architects. From

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gently shelving Bullring past St Martin's church, and cross over Park Street into

here you'll head along Coventry Street, whose boozers have been revitalised as While Birmingham's civic centre may have shifted up the hill over the centuries,

backpackers' hostels and internet cafes, to the Custard Factory.

Eastside is where the city's story began. Dating back to medieval times, this has always been a hive of commerce and manufacture, with tanneries and

Then traipse around the barrio's galleries; Vivid, Ikon Eastside, Grand Union, the

foundries clustered around canals in the city of a thousand trades. These same

Lombard method and Project Pigeon are all within Digbeth's footfall, all showcasing

factories and goods yards are the fulcrum of a new Birmingham; galleries,

distinctive indigenous works.

apothecaries, vinyl stores, vintage clothes shops, clubs, restaurants.

There's just time for a frozen vodka in the Polish Club as you trudge back past iron I visited last March for the city's new annual Flatpack Festival, an idiosyncratic

bulwarks and bridges, desolate yet magnificent relics of Birmingham's industrial

and ultra-cool event that brings the area to life, embracing everything from

past. Eastside, while steeped in that clamour and grime, has dusted itself down

art in pigeon lofts to devoutly independent film art, music events in shops

and stepped back out with a raw new glamour.

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FASH-

ION

_SPRING 2011

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Spring 2011//

This Spring it’s all about the grungy festival inspired look. We’re loving layers which is perfect for those days where the weather can’t decide if it’s hot or cold.

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So check out the next few pages for some grunge style inspiration!

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Grey Top - £20 - Urban Village//

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Dress - £40 - Ooh La La Vintage//

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BOOTS // £25 // Jane Francis CARGO SHORTS // £40 // Vintage Feel T-SHIRT // £10 // Oxfam

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BOOTS // £25 // Jane Francis CARGO SHORTS // £40 // Vintage Feel T-SHIRT // £10 // Oxfam 1/2 APRIL 2011

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LOCAL

ARTIST

_LOUIS SIDOLI

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Mc Queen - Blue-Green. Medium: Original Silkscreen on Brushed Aluminium.

Image size: 40" x 40". Edition Size: 9

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History and Background//

As one of the most versatile and exciting artists working today, Louis Sidoli’s fusion of different artistic mediums and inspiring techniques demonstrates that he is a unique talent who likes to push the boundaries and challenge the concept of what art is, and what it can do.

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Coming from an artistic Anglo Italian family, Louis always loved to paint and draw.

But before his successful leap into life as a full time artist, he had a successful career in car design - working for well known brands such as BMW, Mini and Land Rover. Although his corporate days are now behind him, it was something that taught him the importance of artistic discipline, design and the processes involved.

Having long held the desire to do something more creative, Louis eventually decided to go it alone and the result was that within a year of leaving his job and inspired by the work of other artists, he had set up a workshop and a thriving business supplying high street chains and galleries with his popular glasswork. It was a tough decision to make but he had no regrets particularly as his first collection of fused-glass cityscape art of London and New York received critical acclaim and gave him the confidence to really start to evolve as an artist and experiment in an edgier and more adventurous way.

Most recently this has manifested itself in a series of colourful and clever 3D ‘lenticulars’ as well as his most powerful and dynamic collection ‘Most Wanted’ - a multi coloured rogues gallery from popular culture, which pays homage to Andy Warhol in style and ‘Sex Drugs and Rock n roll’ in content. The collection has already attracted several rock legends amongst it’s celebrity collectors.

Sidoli himself gained media notoriety during the 2010 general election when one of APRIL 2011

his political images resulted in him being ‘named and shamed’ in Parliament much to his delight. He loves to challenge the conventional view. “Its art doing what it does best - questioning and raising issues and I like that challenging, anarchic aspect of the medium.”

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I LIKE TO THINK OF THIS COLLECTION AS ANDY WARHOL ON STEROIDS.

“”

Ideas and Inspirations//

A very visual person who is always absorbing ideas, Sidoli is characteristically opinionated about what he likes. Too rebellious to be particularly interested in traditional forms of painting, he prefers to take references and inspiration from me, I store an image of it on my computer, so that I can go back to it at a later date.”

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the news and his immediate surroundings and influences. “When anything inspires

Sidoli grew up listening to David Bowie and it was a reference to Andy Warhol on the track of Bowie’s best selling 1971 ‘Hunky Dory’ album that first ignited his interest in Warhol and led him to discover more about his art and innovative techniques at a very early age. Warhol’s work was graphic in nature with photography at the core of his artistic practice, and those ground breaking 1960’s editions of high-contrast silkscreen portraits remain one of the main influences on Sidoli’s work. In ‘Most Wanted’ the grainy effect of a black and white photo is injected with life with a bright monochrome colour wash. “I like to think of this collection as Andy Warhol on steroids” laughs Sidoli.

Taking a series of twelve men who have fallen foul of the law, ranging from Al Capone to Al Pacino and from Kurt Cobain to Elvis, Sidoli has created a series of striking images which provide a fascinating historical archive of some of the most notorious and famous personalities of the twentieth century. What they all have in common (apart from a police record!) is a rebelliousness and eternal ‘coolness’ that is tangible, even in many cases after their death.

“I created the series of portraits using vintage mug-shots of iconic figures from contemporary culture, including gangsters, rock legends and Hollywood film stars” simply because they are great images. Each image has a story behind it, but the real appeal of these images is that everybody loves a bad boy!”

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explains Sidoli. The subjects I have chosen are either my personal favourites or

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LOCAL VENUE

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_CUSTARD FACTORY

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CUST Six hundred paces from the Bull Ring is The Custard Factory, Built 100 years

some free space in the building. Word

ago it is now home to a hive of young creative companies, galleries, fine artists,

got out, and by the end of summer

independent shops and terrific restaurants. One of Birmingham’s biggest nightclubs

1990, 60 to 70 artists of various

and a number of renowned live music venues are located here. All are part of a

disciplines had moved into what was

vigorous working community that knows how to party too.

fast becoming known as the Custard Factory.

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Developer Bennie Gray, who owns the Custard Factory, happened upon the building, while negotiating for another property in the city’s Jewellery Quarter. In

The Custard Factory, Birmingham’s

a trade off, he was offered the building he was initially seeking on the condition

revolutionary new arts and media

that he also bought a “pile of old rubbish” in Digbeth. This so-called pile of rubbish

quarter, is 800 paces from the Bull Ring.

turned out to be 200,000 square feet of buildings on the banks of the river Rae,

This 5-acre sprawl of riverside factories

erected in the 19th century by Alfred Bird, of Bird’s Eye Custard fame, in celebration

was built 100 years ago by Sir Alfred

of his knighthood.

Bird, the inventor of custard.

Gray himself admits that he had no idea what to do with the site, and had he not

At one time he had a thousand people

been approached by three young actors, the story may have been very different.

making the stuff. Some even say it

Following an impromptu performance of Hamlet by the three, Gray let them have

helped create the British Empire. But

affordable studios and offices are complemented by a theatre, café, antique

its mysterious appeal and the factories

shops, meeting rooms, dance studios, holistic therapy rooms, art galleries, bars

fell derelict.

and nightclubs.

We took it over in 1990. We began to

The second phase has seen the Custard Factory continue to grow, with Zellig adding

restore the buildings and announced

101 new offices, studios and galleries to the quarter. Our community becomes more

open house (and studio) to the best of

diverse every day, from fine dining restaurants to skate board ramps, creating a

Birmingham’s young creative talent.

dynamic, almost tribal community.

The rush to come in was overwhelming.

Since then a whole new inner city

‘Here and Now’ is the new amazing Pop-Up tour of art exhibitions from MilModa

neighbourhood has begun to emerge –

Art, offering a spectacular new selection of contemporary, original paintings of

intricate, fine grained and threaded by

quality and value of the highest calibre.

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by the early 1980s it had long since lost

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TARD green spaces, fountains and sculpture.

The award-winning first phase is now

The MilModa Art tour’s paintings are all for purchase, in the

home to a dynamic community of 500

Gallery LG03 of the Zelig Building, The Custard Factory on

artists and small creative enterprises,

Saturday 9th July to Sunday 10th July.

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“”

PRIOR TO COMING TO THE CUSTARD FACTORY, I SPENT A NUMBER OF YEARS ON THE DOLL. TO BE HONEST, IT WAS NO HOLIDAY. Dave Sanders // Urban Village

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DIREC-

TORY

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UNIQUE MODELS.

ALL THINGZ YOUNG.

Launched back in 1999 Unique Models continue to raise and maintain the standards of promotional modelling, with a boutique service, handpicked staff and training at our core. We are continually strengthening client rapport and build solid relationships with our models. The office team provide great support and event know-how as we know what it’s like on the frontline; illustrating the cubic capacity of this boot compared to that, sweet-talking the odd irritable exhibition goer and always capturing data with a smile.

‘All Thingz Young’ is your one stop shop for products for babies, children and the family. We aim to bring you great products that are not usually found on the high street, and at very friendly prices. ‘All Thingz Young’ was founded by two cousins as a result of them identifying that there was no one place to get specialist gifts for babies and children. We are also passionate about the environment and minimise our environmental impact. Come and see for yourself the extensive range of items we have for sale.

MILMODA ART. MilModa Art was created by Michelle Linger. She has over 20 years experience working in the art world and wanted to create a touring gallery that could be appreciated by people from all over the country at selective chosen venues. All the paintings are hand chosen to guarantee a quality product and will make your living space unique to you. They will also give the finishing touch to a room or office, whether it is a new build, renovation, or your own DIY home makeover this summer. Feel free to pop in anytime for a chat.

THE FRAMERS.

UNIQUE MODELS.

MARK CHADWICK.

The Framers was Established as one of the first business’s to emerge in the newly developed Custard Factory. We have moved, expanded and evolved over the years, now including Studio4 Galley and are currently one of the longest established tenants at the Custard Factory, and as we constantly evolve to meet our clients needs we’d like to think we’re still growing. The Framers is run by three partners with expertise in Picture Framing. We will treat you and your pictures with the care and attention you deserve.

Launched back in 1999 Unique Models continue to raise and maintain the standards of promotional modelling, with a boutique service, handpicked staff and training at our core. We are continually strengthening client rapport and build solid relationships with our models. The office team provide great support and event know-how as we know what it’s like on the frontline; illustrating the cubic capacity of this boot compared to that, sweet-talking the odd irritable exhibition goer and always capturing data with a smile.

My name is Mark Chadwick and I have been studying fine art at Birmingham City University since 2001 exploring a wide range of methods in painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and print. My main area of interest is in painting and my recent works have involved the process of making marks with tools and mechanical objects such as toy cars. I have completed my MA course in Fine Art where I exhibited in the Fine Art Show. Previous to that I obtained a BA, a HND, Foundation Art and A-Levels.

STEVE GERRARD.

HOBGOBLIN MUSIC.

INKYGOODNESS.

I’m a photographer who shoots weddings, portraits and bands. I have a crush on a gorgeous Canadian girl called Evelyne. I cleverly tricked her into marrying me. We made some little people called Elliott, Isaac & Jonas.

I love Daddies brown sauce, dark chocolate, Pearl Jam, scuba diving, direct flights, Jack Daniel’s but only with coke, countryside pubs, funky hotels, Alan Partridge, travelling in Asia, Evelyne’s chicken pasta, cando people, Bose noise-cancelling headphones and the perfect cup of tea.

Hobgoblin Music opened in July 2003, at Birmingham’s Custard Factory. The building contains a branch of the Turner Violins and woodwind specialists Wind-World. The Custard Factory is at the site of the factories once owned by Alfred Bird. (The custard guy). Over the last 15 years the once derelict site has been taken on by new owners, and now the Custard Factory houses music, art and drama studios, music and record shops, cafes and restaurants, and is also an extremely popular venue. So come on down and take a look!

Our Inkygoodness shop is open daily at the Vaad Gallery. We have a fantastic collection of prints, hand crafted zines and books, plush toys and tee’s on sale.

Inkygoodness are also selling limited edition Wonderland posters. Pop along any time between 11am – 4pm to check out our selection, and enjoy a stroll around the gallery too. You’ll find world class service, a friendly face and plenty of expertise. As long as you don’t mind our cheesy sense of humour, come on down and see for yourself all of the inky goodness we have.

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URBAN VILLAGE. Urban Village has been around for a long time and our new store and website show everything Vintage we have done over the years. We sell vintage clothing for Females & Males.

All the stock is A Graded, cleaned and ready to wear! We sell a split between Male & Female clothing from the 1940s up to the 1980s. We also sell Records, Artwork and any collectables we can get our hands on. You won’t find anywhere else like Urban Village, come along and see for yourself or take away our free catalogue.

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STITCH PERFECT. At Stitch Perfect we love all things related to knitting, crochet, spinning, sewing, needlework and contemporary craft. If you are curious about any or all of these subjects, or wish to develop existing skills, do come and join us at one of our classes. Our small classes emphasise hands-on learning and the pursuit of a thoroughly good time.

Materials are included for all our classes, so all you need to do is book and turn up! Or you could simply come along and have a browse around our fully stocked shop.

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FROCK ON VINTAGE. Frock On Vintage specialises in providing an extensive range of affordable, high quality and all-round fabulous items for all fun loving fashionistas!

It prides itself on offering customers an easier way of purchasing vintage fashion without having to sift through endless rails or even step out of the front door! All items are carefully hand selected and one-off so you can rest assured that your own individual style will always shine through! Come on down and have a chat with one of our friendly, experienced staff.

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CALENDER _APRIL 2011

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04

05

All Day - Fayre - STRAND HILL 9pm - Brian Mayne - TRIFE

11

7pm - Art Now 2 - M&A Home of Metal - APE BAR

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8pm - PONG! - 30 BLINKS 10pm - 90’s Night - VIVID

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25 All Day - Fayre - STRAND HILL 9pm - Brian Mayne - TRIFE

2pm - Wildflower Walk - DIG PARK

7pm - Art Now 2 - M&A Home of Metal - APE BAR

8pm - Entice - SENCE 9pm - Get Bent! - VIVID

20 8pm - Entice - SENCE 9pm - Get Bent! - VIVID

7-4 - Market - DIGBETH

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26 7pm - Art Now 2 - M&A Home of Metal - APE BAR

8pm - PONG! - 30 BLINKS 10pm - 90’s Night - VIVID

27 7-4 - Market - DIGBETH

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02 8pm - Entice - SENCE 9pm - Get Bent! - VIVID

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08

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8pm - Entice - SENCE 9pm - Get Bent! - VIVID

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All Day - Fayre - STRAND HILL 9pm - Brian Mayne - TRIFE

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All Day - Fayre - STRAND HILL 9pm - Brian Mayne - TRIFE

23 7-4 - Market - DIGBETH

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7pm - Art Now 2 - M&A Home of Metal - APE BAR

2pm - Wildflower Walk - DIG PARK

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7pm - Art Now 2 - M&A Home of Metal - APE BAR

8pm - Entice - SENCE 9pm - Get Bent! - VIVID

30 8pm - Entice - SENCE 9pm - Get Bent! - VIVID

7-4 - Market - DIGBETH

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2pm - Wildflower Walk - DIG PARK

16 7-4 - Market - DIGBETH

8pm - PONG! - 30 BLINKS 10pm - 90’s Night - VIVID

10 8pm - Entice - SENCE 9pm - Get Bent! - VIVID

2pm - Wildflower Walk - DIG PARK

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21

2-4 - Market - DIGBETH

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8pm - Entice - SENCE 9pm - Get Bent! - VIVID

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ANI-

MALS

_ROBERT DAVIES

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Smithers

2010 90x90cm

APRIL 2011

Ex battery hen on her first day out of the battery farm. Within two months she was fully feathered, healthy and foraging.

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Buttercup Aged 12. Originally from Devon has been at the Farm Animal Sanctuary for 6 years.

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2009 190x150cm

Buttercup Hereford Cross, aged 15. Was at the Farm Animal Sanctuary for 15 years since she was bought as a 7 day old sick calf who was at market for veal export. Died in 2009.

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2008 190x150cm

ISSUE 43

Exhibition// This exhibition, simply entitled ‘Animals’, is the acclaimed British artist Robert Davies‘ latest project. After moving away from London, where he has spent most of his adult life, to the beautiful countryside of Worcestershire, Davies, a life-long animal lover, got involved with the locally based Farm Animal Sanctuary. The sanctuary houses farm animals that have been sold or discarded due to ill health or poor productivity.

In his work Davies seeks to challenge the popular conception regarding animals used for food, next to preconceived ideas about celebrated animals, such as are held in high esteem and often given human characteristics when they are described – strong, brave, spirited, intelligent. The animals of food production are

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racehorses. Speaking on his website (robertdavies.uk.com) he says, “Racehorses

measured by their productivity and treated in a way that reflects this.”

Davies’ lifelike drawings are profound, and celebrate the beauty and strength of each animal in the collection. Joanna Lumley, the patron of Farm Animal Sanctuary, is passionate about Davies’ drawings and what they symbolise. Lumley said, “I love the way he draws the wool on a sheep’s back, the foot of a cow; I feel I would recognise each beast from its picture, so clearly realised are their expressions and deportment. By showing the animal alone on the page he allows us to look at it without distraction as a wonderful creature in its own right.”

This thought-provoking exhibition is open now at Wolverhampton Art Gallery until 11th June, and is completely free.

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Stan Commercial Christmas turkey living at the Farm Animal Sanctuary, was 2 when this drawing was made.

2009 106x120cm

Lisa Ex battery hen who arrived at my house with few feathers, no colour and in a poor state.

Now almost 3 she has regained her strength and her instincts to forage.

2010 90x90cm

ISSUE 43 I graduated from the London College of Printing in 1988. After working as a cycle courier in London I worked in a street hospital in Calcutta, India.

Subsequently I lived in a VW camper van for a year travelling throughout the United Kingdom taking photographs.

With the resulting series I was able to gain a place to do an MA at the Royal

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College of Art. Since then I’ve done some teaching and some visiting lectures in universities in the UK. Now I work full-time as an artist and in the last few years I’ve worked on a number of projects: large drawings of both racehorses and the animals of food production; making large abstracts of the night sky in the deserts of Iran & the US; with FIFA and the footballer Pele on their centenary project; with Richard Williams, chief sportswriter of the Guardian, on a book called ’90 minutes’ and with the BAR Honda Formula 1 team.

I work with the Pimlico Puffins, a charity that supports physically and mentally disadvantaged people who enjoy swimming. I am also involved with Offenham Cricket Club.

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I live and work in Offenham, Worcestershire

ISSUE 43

Dylan Thomas Trained at Ballydoyle, Dylan Thomas won the Irish Derby (2006), the King George (2007) and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2007).

2009 190x150cm

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LOCAL MUSICIANS

APRIL 2011

_THE WONDER STUFF

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ISSUE 43

ISSUE 43

and DVD” There’s been a change in the

on stage. Audiences can see, and are

is really someone else’s game.” With

rehearsing for a string of shows

ranks recently, with drummer Andres

sometimes visibly surprised, that we

such a good vibe in the camp some new

including their forthcoming support slot

Karu being replaced (amicably!) by Fuzz

are enjoying ourselves. A lot of it comes

material might be coming along soon.

with the Levellers. We managed to pin

Townshend, formerly of Pop Will Eat

down to the fact that we know what to

“I wouldn’t go holding your breath for

down Miles Hunt, lead singer with the

Itself and Bentley Rhythm Ace, making

avoid these days. The media, record

a new Wonder Stuff album. I’ve often

Stourbridge hit-makers, to tell us a bit

The Wonder Stuff a kind of Stourbridge

companies, music business in general

encouraged Malc Treece (our guitarist)

about what’s happening in his world at

super-group. “I guess that does make

. . . it all got in the way of us being a

to do some writing since we released

the moment.

us as close to a Stourbridge super-

good band. I love the independence we

our last album, Suspended by Stars,

group as has yet been achieved. We’ve

have these days.“I don’t like chasing

in 2005, but he’s either deaf or lost

been rehearsing with Fuzz recently and

fame, too many bullshitters to put up

interest. Either way I’m bored of asking.

The Wonder Stuff are usually a top-of-

The good news is that Erica [Nockalls,

the-bill band rather than support and it’s been quite a while since they took on that role. “While we were out on a US tour in 2005 we opened two shows for The Bravery. They were laughable, a really piss-poor version of The Killers – talk about not setting your sights very high! I have to add though, we are not ‘supporting’ the Levellers, we are ‘Special Guests’ – there’s a huge difference! I say that, of course, with my tongue firmly in my cheek. It’s going to be a grand tour, that’s for sure.”

A LOT OF IT COMES DOWN TO THE FACT THAT WE KNOW WHAT TO AVOID THESE DAYS. THE MEDIA, RECORD COMPANIES, MUSIC BUSINESS IN GENERAL . . . IT ALL GOT IN THE WAY OF US BEING A GOOD BAND. I LOVE THE INDEPENDENCE WE HAVE THESE DAYS.

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The Wonder Stuff have been busy

Wonder Stuff fiddle-player] and I will have an album of new material out at the tail end of the year. Before that Erica and I’ll be releasing a new live album, which we have just finished recording.”

The famously acerbic frontman has never been one to mince his words, particularly so when it comes to venting spleen over the music industry.

“Thankfully I know very little about

with. I can’t stand having my picture

what’s going on, and I honestly couldn’t

The band have already taken albums

would you expect! We even had Adam

taken either. I despise music industry

care less. I’d be happy to see major

The Eight-Legged Groove Machine and

Mole of PWEI drop by the studio today,

‘bashes’, or anyone that casually uses

labels put out to pasture. Most people

HUP out on the road, a trend that seems

although he wouldn’t be encouraged

the word ‘crazy’ to describe being

in the music business are chewing on

to be all the rage at the moment. This

into picking up a guitar. Fuzz is up for

busy, like most media imbeciles do.

bones they buried over a decade ago,

summer will mark the 20th anniversary

the present bunch of gigs that we have

I know exactly what it takes to be

more in most cases. Some new blood,

of Never Loved Elvis. “We will do

booked; after December . . . who knows?

‘successful’ and I just ain’t interested

with new ideas and no fear of risking

two shows in December to mark the

“These days I think we’re a better band

in it. I like hanging around with people

their comfort zone could only be a good

anniversary, one in Birmingham, one in

than we ever were, not just as players

who simply have a good tune to play

thing. But like I said, I couldn’t give a

London. We plan to film and record the

but as friends – and that goes a long

or sing, and that is it, the extent of

flying fuck about the music industry,

shows to release both as a live album

way to what mood we put across when

my hunger. The rest of the nonsense

and I never did.”

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the band is sounding great – what else

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FIND BEX

APRIL 2011

_THE TYRANNOSAURUS REX

ISSUE 43

Think you know where she is?

E-mail: findbex@thebrummie.co.uk

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Things To Do//

BLINK WILDLY AND THEN CLOSE YOUR EYES REALLY TIGHT FOR AN INTERESTING LIGHT SHOW. (Amusement Potential: 1-5 minutes) See a variety of blobs, stars and flashes. Try to make out shapes and see if your subconscious is trying to send you a message

PRO-

PRETEND YOU’RE A ROBOT. (Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes) Walk down the street with mechanical movements, adding ‘zzzzzt’ sounds with each motion. Pretending to have a motor broken in, say, your left hand can add at least 30 seconds more entertainment.

REPEAT THE SAME WORD OVER AND OVER UNTIL IT LOSES

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ITS MEANING.

CRAS-

(Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes) Pick a random word out of a magazine and say it aloud to yourself until it becomes a meaningless set of noises.

PINCH YOURSELF. (Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes) What is pain? Why is it unpleasant? There’s nothing physical about it - it’s all in your mind. Plus, after pinching yourself for awhile, boredom will seem nice next

TINA-

to being in pain.

TRY TO SWALLOW YOUR TONGUE. (Amusement Potential: 1-2 minutes) There’s not much to say about this one. It is possible, but really stupid.

STEP OFF A CURB WITH EYES SHUT, IMAGINE IT’S A CLIFF. (Amusement Potential: 2-5 minutes) To get any benefit out of this one, you have to have a good imagination. Don’t step

TION

off immediately, build up to the jump. Study the ravine below. Feel the winds at that altitude. Step off and...AHHHHHH!!!!!

TRY AND SOUND WELSH. (Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes) The key to sounding Welsh is to make sure that your voice goes up at the end of the sentence, so that everything sounds like a question. Throw in a superfluous ‘isn’t

APRIL 2011

it?’ At the end of everything you say and you’re halfway there. Isn’t it?

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Colour Me In//

Dot to Dot//

Sudoku//

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Cyanide and Happiness//

APRIL 2011