I hadn’t realised they were in any sort of trouble until I read Robin Valk’s post:

Last month, there was more bad news. Like many community stations, the eccentric but occasionally quite wonderful Rhubarb Radio is feeling the cold winds of recession. The current managerial team is bailing out; an intensive effort is being mounted to build a new and solid structure for the continued existence of the station.

The campaign to shore up Rhubarb Radio is being coordinated, from what I can tell, by some of the current DJs and contributors via a ‘Save Rhubarb Radio’ Facebook page. There have been a few meetings to work out what’s going to happen and things seen to be picking up pace, which is good.

However, from flicking through the FB page, there seems to be a short-term financial hurdle to be overcome. It looks like (put some clear info up somewhere you guys!) they’re need £600 sharpish and are after a few people to chip in £20. There’s a donate button on the Rhubarb Radio website.

There’s also a meeting at the Custard Factory tonight if you want to help out in any way, that’s at 7pm in the Orwell Room.

The line-ups for the individual days are up. Brumcast’s Little Chris is doing a three-part podcasty preview with episode 1 online here and there’s a Supersonic Spotify playlist too.

Volunteers are needed too – 12 hours work will get you a weekend wristband (over 18’s only). They’re also after any professional standard photographers who’d like to help with documenting the festival to get in touch. Info about both opportunities here.

It’s actually a little tricky to find out about local music around the city, I find. This is the stuff I know about, feel free to add other stuff in the comments.

News

Brum Notes is the website for the free, monthly music and lifestyle magazine (Nov issue out now, Oct one online here).

The Birmingham Post have news and reviews here and the Birmingham Mail do rock/pop news.

Fused Magazine‘s site does the odd bit of music news, as does the website for sister magazine Area.

Surge Music takes a wider, Midlands-wide view of things, with articles and lists of gigs, bands and venues.

Cul-de-Sac turned out to be a false dawn for this sort of thing, but may come back one day.

@birminghamlive and @brumpunks are good sources for concert info too.

Reviews

Birmingham Live is the obvious choice here – someone from their ranks of volunteer reviewers and photographers will be at a gig in Birmingham pretty much every evening. Steve Gerrard organises this one (Lee Allen and I have also chipped in occasionally).

The Hearing Aid is a blog by someone called The Baron who goes to an impressive number of local gigs.

The Birmingham Mail do gig reviews too.

Get-togethers

The Birmingham Music Network meets monthly at the Department of Technology, Engineering and the Environment (T.E.E.) at Millennium Point. Their website has a good range of resources too.

Audio

I’m on shakier ground here – which radio shows promote local talent There’s Brumcast on Rhubarb Radio and Introducing on BBC WM. I don’t know enough about the shows on New Style Radio, Aston FM or any others.

Are there any Birmingham-based mp3 blogs worth talking about?

Anything else?

Let me know in the comments. Just to be clear, we’re not looking for bands/venues/promoters to plug themselves but if that’s you, where do you look to get featured?

Oh, and see also Birmingham listings.

(pic – The Editors by Steve Gerrard from the opening night of the new Academy)

1. Tempting Rosie – Office Floors
2. The Garcia LX – Bedsit in Longton
3. The Daniels – Pennys Name
4. Timothy parkes – All The White Horses
5. Cult of wedge – dayglo disco sideshow
6. Shocked Elevator Family – Over the Brother
7. MPH _ Miss Halliwell – Vacuumusick
8. Calories – To encounter a deer
9. AFS Electronica – Mothers Day Part 2
10. Terrorform – Breathe your last breath
11. Lox Bourne. – Funk Jam
12. Fiasco – Hot Pants Holly
13. MPH _ Miss Halliwell – Amblecote
14. Daylight Daterape/BoyWonder – Such Great Heights
15. The Concept:MK – Wheres The Sanctuary
16. Junkyard Morning – Blame Yourself
17. Tonal Balance – Beakin’
18. Ashwood4 – The Last Bus Home
19. Distinct Radi0 – Celestial Mechanics
20. MPH _ Miss Halliwell – Bostin Fickle
21. Reluctant Heroes – One Time Bomb
22. The Crimes – I will see
23. The ME Band – When the Sky Comes Falling Dow

1. Sunset Cinema Club – Sunday BestCrash Repeat – Machine Code
2. Antoine Bones – Shinin Bright
3. The Madcaps – Fuck the Scene
4. Dirt Trak – Slide Break
5. Amberphonik – Amber
6. Assert – Anti-nazi
7. Man Over Board – shake it
8. The Scarlet Harlots – Light Finger
9. Programmed Cell Death – Journeys through the wasteland
10. Tom Peel – Creases And The Grooves
11. Suddenly, Phantoms! – Forming Bands
12. Old School Tie – Return of Noah
13. Once Bitten – Looking for answers
14. Bluefumes – Inside
15. Tantrums – Airport police
16. Busload Of Faith – The Gilded Cage of Fame
17. March of the Union – Natrix Natrix
18. The Scholars – This Heart’s Built To Break

1. Copter – Can’t Help It
2. Machine Boy – Jamie
3. Chapters – Fakes In Our Friends
4. Kramer Vs Kramer Vs Godzilla – Rukus
5. The Brascoes – First Impressions Of You
6. Gas – Microscopic
7. Suddenly, Phantoms! – A Second Year
8. Dalmatian Rex and the Eigentones – Octopus I love You
9. DIGO – On the money DIGO rmx feat. Kate Fletcher
10. Calories – A bear a bison
11. Wülfstabber – 7
12. Einstellung – Tot (version 2)
13. God Complex – Legions
14. Johnny Foreigner – Sometimes, In The Bullring
15. The Fores – Roll Of The Dice
16. Regiment XV – Reflections MP3
17. Cat Green Bike – Adventure Potential