Birmingham Rocks!

The Filth & The Fury comes to Brum

2008-03-26T11:20:00.004Z

The Sex Pistols will play a gig at the Birmingham Academy on Wednesday June 11th as a warm-up for their forthcoming headline appearance at the Isle Of Wight festival.

The show will be the first time the band have played a gig in Birmingham in 32 years.

Tickets cost £37.50 and are limited to 6 per person. They go on sale Friday March 28th at 9am. Visit Ticketweb for tickets.

Seattle Legend Makes Rare UK Appearance In Birmingham

2008-03-18T11:19:00.010Z

Shawn Smith, the voice of bands such as Brad, Satchel and Pigeonhed makes a very rare appearance on these shores in May, stopping off at Birmingham's Medicine Bar on Tuesday May 6th.

Shawn’s new solo album, The Diamond Hand, will be released on April 1st and two other solo albums are being reissued in the coming months.

Voted by MOJO magazine as one of the Greatest Vocalists of All Time, SHAWN SMITH is a man of many disguises. He has been driving force behind the cult-rockers SATCHEL, the electro-funk of PIGEONHED, the laid back grooves of BRAD (with PEARL JAM’s Stone Gossard) and as a founding member of THE TWILIGHT SINGERS with Greg Dulli, declared “Seattle’s best kept secret”.

Smith’s vocals have been touted as everything from “yearning and idealistic” to his songs “languid beauties”. A charismatic vocal powerhouse, Shawn’s solo albums showcase his extraordinary voice and beautiful songs. “…deep-soul phrasing and Curtis-styled falsetto you might detect the qualities of Robert Wyatt, a grain akin to Lowell George or the kind of poise Marvin Gaye would have appreciated”. – Jim Irvin MOJO magazine.

As well as a critically acclaimed solo career SHAWN SMITH has toured and recorded as part of THE AFGHAN WHIGS and had songs featured in the global hit TV series THE SOPRANOS amongst many other major motion picture soundtracks.

Tickets: £11 Adv/Door & £9 Concessions (NUS/Unwaged)
Website: www.theticketsellers.co.uk
Box Office telephone: 0844 870 0000

Alan Partridge Rocks! aaah-haaaa

2008-03-12T16:14:00.003Z

The legend that is Alan Partridge will be coming to the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton on October 4th, with more dates rumoured to be added.

Steve Coogan brings his "Steve Coogan is Alan Partridge and Other Less Successful Characters" tour to the Midlands in a not-to-be-missed show featuring the characters that have made him a BAFTA and British Comedy Award winning Comedy Legend. His last live show played 200 performances and was seen by 350 000 people!

Tickets priced £32.50 will be available from Monday 17th March at Midland Box Office: 0870 320 7000 or online at www.wolvescivic.co.uk

The English Originals Folk Festival

2008-03-11T16:24:00.002Z

The English Originals Folk Festival presents a perfect weekend celebration of English music traditions over the weekend of 25-27 April at Town Hall and Symphony Hall Birmingham, paying tribute to a musical heritage passed down through centuries and generations.

With its sense of identity in representing the sounds of city and country, folk culture continues to have a universal influence on music and art in the 21st century and is currently enjoying a huge renaissance.

From 'one man Clash' Billy Bragg to the distinguished voices of experience in Daughters of Albion, the English Originals Folk Festival programme is packed with seasoned folk singer-songwriters and bright new talent in three unique concerts, free performances and events.

Featuring:

Billy Bragg, Norma Waterson, June Tabor, Martin Carthy, Seth Lakeman, Kathryn Williams, Tim Van Eyken, Chris Woods, Tunng, Sharron Krauss, Bishi, Lou Rhodes, Lisa Knapp, Little Sister and The Old Dance School.

Get tickets from the TOWN HALL & SYMPHONY HALL BOX OFFICE

Billy Bragg photo - Steve Gerrard

"Rockstar"s Return to Brum

2008-03-11T13:16:00.003Z

Nickelback have announced four massive shows in the UK this autumn including a date at Birmingham's NEC arena.

The Canadian band are currently enjoying success in both the UK singles and album charts with 'Rockstar' and its parent album 'All The Right Reasons'.

The four dates will be the band's last in the UK in support of 'All The Right Reasons', before they begin recording their sixth album in Canada early next year.

The dates are:

Manchester Evening News Arena (September 15)
Sheffield Arena (16)
Birmingham NEC (18)
London 02 Arena (19)

Tickets go on sale on Friday (March 14) at 9am.

Envy & Other Sins @ Bar Academy - 7 March 2008

2008-03-11T10:58:00.001Z

You may remember MobileAct Unsigned as T4's awful indie-X-Factor show with an amusing twist. The twist being that it managed to be more embarrassing for the presenters (hello Alex James, Jo Whiley and Simon Gavin) than for the acts involved. The eventual winners were the Birmingham-based Envy & Other Sins; a likeable quartet of Victoriana-clad gents and the evening's headliners... READ MORE…

Photo - Steve Gerrard

V Festival Sells Out!

2008-03-07T09:53:00.005Z

Tickets for this year's V Festival went on sale today (March 7) and sold out within a couple of hours.

Muse and The Verve are headlining the the festival, set to take place at Weston Patrk, Staffordshire on August 16 and 17.

Amy Winehouse, Kings of Leon, Kaiser Chiefs, The Prodigy, The Kooks, The Zutons, Girls Aloud, Ian Brown and Stereophonics are among other notable acts set to appear on the bill.

The line-up for V Festival so far is:

Muse
The Verve
Kings Of Leon
Stereophonics
Kaiser Chiefs
The Prodigy
Amy Winehouse
The Kooks
The Zutons
The Pigeon Detectives
Lenny Kravitz
Maximo Park
Ian Brown
The Chemical Brothers
The View
Newton Faulkner
The Pogues
The Charlatans
The Hoosiers
Reverend And The Makers
The Feeling
Alanis Morissette
Scouting For Girls
Duffy
Jamie T
Hot Chip
Girls Aloud
The Futureheads
Squeeze
The Twang
Sugababes
Travis
Amy MacDonald
The Courteeners
Shed Seven
The Rifles
Robyn
David Jordan
One Republic

For more information visit the V Festival Website

Metalcore Mayhem in the Midlands

2008-03-06T17:05:00.005Z

Midlands fans of extreme music are in for a treat on Friday 14th March as Seattle's HIMSA bring a sterling line-up of metalcore and death metal bands to Birmingham's Barfly.

Kicking off at 7pm the gig will feature A LIFE ONCE LOST, TOO PURE TO DIE and TED MAUL before HIMSA headline.

Tickets are just £10 and can be bought from the Barfly website.

Laura Marling @ The Glee Club - 5th March 2008

2008-03-06T17:01:00.001Z

I must admit to being more excited about this gig than I can remember having been for a while. I'm fully aware that the extent of my Laura Marling cheerleading risks becoming worthy of ridicule and in the back of my mind was the thought that I could be setting myself up for disappointment...READ MORE…

Photo - Lee Allen

Sum 41 + Reuben + Sound & Fury @ The Academy - 3rd March 2008

2008-03-05T18:46:00.002Z

It seems no matter how many darker, heavier, more politically charged albums they release, Sum 41 will always be thought of as a pop-punk band. This is no criticism however, as their bouncy riffs and energetic stage presence throughout the set are what makes tonight’s show so enjoyable... READ MORE…

Photo - Steve Gerrard

Kate Nash @ Wolves Civic Hall

2008-03-02T14:50:00.001Z

It’s been quite a week for Kate Nash. Not only was she awarded a Brit for best British female, but she also beat Amy Winehouse to the NME Best Solo Artist.
So it was a packed Wolverhampton Civic hall that greeted Miss Nash on Saturday night...READ MORE…

Photo - Bianca Barrett

Editors Win Over Arena Crowd

2008-03-01T18:57:00.001Z

Tonight was a truly special moment in Editors career so far, as singer Tom Smith put it, “this is the biggest thing we’ve ever done and its amazing that’s it's just a stone's throw away from where we are from”...
READ MORE…

Photo - Steve Gerrard

Levellers Competition

2008-02-29T16:03:00.002Z

Birmingham Rocks! have a pair of tickets to give away to see The Levellers at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall next Thursday, 6th March.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply tell us which English town the band hail from. Is it:

a. Bradford
b. Brighton
c. Bristol

Email your answer to bhammusic@googlemail.com

Competition closes 6pm on Monday 3rd March.

Sam Amidon in Coventry

2008-02-29T12:11:00.001Z

For 99.99% of the population, the name Sam Amidon means absolutely nothing. For some people sat in tonight’s audience, however, his “All Is Well” album is the best album of 2007... READ MORE…

Photo - Steve Gerrard

Coventry trio voted the best new act in the UK

2008-02-29T10:02:00.000Z

Coventry's indie heroes, The Enemy have won the Best New Band award at the Shockwaves NME Awards 2008.

The band picked up their award on Thursday from presenters, Faris Rotter from The Horrors and daughter of Rod, Kimberly Stewart.

The other nominees for the Best New Band award were Foals, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, The Pigeon Detectives and The Wombats.

Photo - Steve Gerrard

The Metros @ Bar Academy - 27th February 2008

2008-02-28T15:59:00.001Z

Wednesday night, February 27th, Bar Academy Birmingham . A young and excited crowd was in attendance, already buoyed by the support and looking on expectantly for the hotly tipped Metros... READ MORE…

Photo - Lee Allen

Hot Chip – Wolverhampton Wulfrun – 22/02/2008

2008-02-26T07:49:00.002Z

Friday nights are often electric after a boring mundane working week - its time for masses of people to cut lose and let their hair down. This Friday is certainly no different... READ MORE…

Photo - Lee Allen

Surface Unsigned

2008-02-24T07:57:00.003Z

This week sees the launch of the Surface Unsigned festival which aims to find the most exciting new artists currently doing the rounds.

Held at The Rainbow in Digbeth, the heats will run from March 2nd through 'til April 27th, with over 30 gigs playing host to 7 bands each night. The best 4 bands of the competition can expect to receive major exposure as well as endorsements and other prizes.

Check out the SURFACE UNSIGNED WEBSITE for more info.

Megadeth @ Birmingham Academy

2008-02-23T10:58:00.003Z

Celebrating 25 years in the business, Megadeth have become one of the mainstays of the metal genre. After being fired from Metallica, frontman Dave Mustaine has gone on to guarantee himself a place in the history books... READ MORE…

Photo - Steve Gerrard

Supersonic Festival 2008

2008-02-22T13:49:00.006Z

This year's Supersonic Festval will take place on 11th, 12th and 13th July at the Custard Factory in Digbeth, with additional activity around the area. Tickets will go on sale in mid March and will include weekend tickets as well as day tickets.

This year sees the return of some of the most popular names from previous Supersonics, in particular BATTLES, the then unheard of surprise hit of 2005's festival who make a triumphant return to headline, and in the grand tradition of Supersonic, a cult underground act playing their first ever show on European soil - This year the honour goes to HARVEY MILK, Athens Georgia's seismic sludge titans.

A truly International and eclectic affair, also already confirmed to appear are: EFTERKLANG, HARMONIA, NOXAGT, EARTH, WOODEN SHJIPS, THRONES, OXBOW, JUSTICE YELDHAM, DALEK, ORTHODOX, BLACK SUN, THE OWL SERVICE, MAX TUNDRA, MAGNETAPHONE, PCM, EINSTELLUNG and GUAPO. With many more acts to be announced.

For further information about the acts performing please check Capsule's website.

Levi’s® OnesToWatch® feat. Cut Off Your Hands @ The Barfly

2008-02-22T13:07:00.002Z

When you go to a gig you expect the loud music and the press of bodies to keep you nice and warm but last night it was even colder inside the Barfly than it was outside... READ MORE…

Photo - Lee Allen

Country Legend Comes To The Midlands

2008-02-22T12:00:00.006Z

Willie Nelson is one of those rare artists who have come to be defined by their sheer indefinableness. He has made a career out of defying expectation. Rebellious Outlaw fighting Nashville’s staid production-line sensibilities; Award-winning country legend; crooning pop mega-star; working man. An incessant road master playing to sold out crowds worldwide on his own terms. Country boy. Golf enthusiast. Movie star. He’s covered reggae, rock and gospel tunes.

He’s played with punkettes L7 and symphony orchestras. Emmylou Harris, who spent a lot of time across the mic from Willie, has said, “If America has a voice it is Willie Nelson’s.” His musical talents and personal style show his audience a larger than life “Every Man” whose easy demeanor and well-spring of honesty in his life and music makes us feel at home.

Willie Nelson plays Wolverhampton's Civic Hall on Monday 12th May.

Tickets priced £37.50 and £30.00 are available from Midland Box Office: 0870 320 7000 or online at www.wolvescivic.co.uk

Dillinger Escape Plan Review

2008-02-21T10:51:00.001Z

It’s a Wednesday night in Birmingham and Academy 2 has fallen into absolute chaos. The two security men down the front struggle to control... READ MORE…

Photo - Steve Gerrard

Medicine For St Pauls.

2008-02-20T21:00:00.000Z

Originally formed in 1968 in Stafford, Medicine Head will be performing in the unique setting of St Pauls Gallery in Northwood Street, just off St Pauls Square.

John Fiddler, founder member of the band will be performing acoustically for just 100 fans on February 29th.

Tickets are available via the Gallery on 0121 236 5800.

Jimmy Eat World @ Birmingham Academy - 19th February 2008

2008-02-20T14:57:00.000Z

Jimmy Eat World singer Jim Adkins is not your typical frontman of a multi-platinum selling punk rock band. If you didn't know better you'd happily believe... READ MORE…

Photo - Steve Gerrard