We are all very excited to tell you about the return of the International Dance Festival Birmingham 2014! You will be able to experience a range of performances from ballet to large non-choreographed social dances. With so many brilliant performances to talk about, the following will just be a selection of my top picks for the … [Read more…]
Milque & Muhle is an independent record shop based in the Custard Factory, created by Nathan Warner and Ellena Donlon, Milque & Muhle serves as a shop which not only provides adventurous, underground vinyl and cassette, you will also find music fanzines, comics, presses and occasional art prints; with due course Milque & Muhle intend … [Read more…]
Oxjam Brum is back once again, with all proceeds donated directly to Oxfam. Oxjam Brum is a celebration of independents, with 40 artists, bands, performers and djs from across Birmingham taking to festival stages located in Frederick, Symphony Hall Café Bar, The Yardbird, Café Blend, Island Bar, The Victoria and the Sunflower Lounge. Plus Oxjam … [Read more…]
OxjamBrum have posted their own video of the The Boat That Oxjam Rocked, the canal-based gig they put on earlier this month. OxjamBrum’s next charity event is The Takeover 2011 on Saturday 15th October that puts bands in several city-centre venues throughout the day. I went to last year’s Takeover and it was excellent, so I … [Read more…]
As we prepare to bid farewell to Ikon Eastside ahead of it’s April closure, they’re gearing up for a rather special three night music festival, Rites of Spring, from 7 – 9 April. Celebrating the venue’s five year contribution to Birmingham’s cultural scene, the festival welcomes headliners Modified Toy Orchestra, Martin Creed and his band … [Read more…]
Andrew Dubber, Jon Cotton, Robin Valk, John Mostyn and Lisa Meyer were all kind enough to share their perspective and ideas for this post – I’ll publish their comments in full on my blog so none are wasted. I also drew, with permission, on the Birmingham Music Network’s recent 10 Questions survey. Unparalleled Riches The comments on the current state of … [Read more…]
Being a classical musician, I have often found that contemporary music is met with extreme unnecessary prejudice from most audiences, and even from the musicians themselves. However, we have come a long way since Arnold Schoenberg and his band of merry Serialist pranksters. We are lucky to live in city so diverse that there is … [Read more…]
10 Questions for Birmingham’s Independent Music Industry answered by Andy Derrick “4. In recent years, there has been a range of initiatives and projects designed to support the development of music in Birmingham. Can you list 5 projects or initiatives that you think have proved beneficial to the “Independent Music Industry?” No” Ladywood’s Got Talent … [Read more…]