Birmingham and Midlands Music

Below you will find links to promoters, artists and other resources all set out under various music categories. If you would like me to add you to anyone of these sections please contact me via myspace (link to the right)

Please feel free to use this page to find out what events are coming up in Birmingham.

Want to be on the Radio?

Do you want your band, night, or whatever else you might do as part of the West Midlands music scene to be featured on the radio?

Scratch Radio based at Birmingham City University is a community and Student run station and as of 2009 will be on the internet all year round.

A big part of the station is reflecting what goes on around the region in terms of music.

This will be done through various ways across the station but one of the things I'm involved in is a show the is all about highlighting West Midland artists, promoters, websites, podcasts, venues and whatever else makes up the West Midlands music scene.

If you want to find out more contact me at Justin.Stainton@scratchradio.co.uk.

Indie / Rock:

The following are links to promoters for various Indie/Rock events:

10 Lives
444 Club
ARC promotions
Birmingham New Music Scene
Bohemian Jukebox
Capsule
Chicks Dig Jerks
Coffee and Cake Club
Dirty Laundry Club
Flatout Promotions
(FL2) Freakin Legend Music Co-op
Hoo-Hah Promotions
Hott Date
Humbucker presents...
Indie-Go!
Mob Monday
Ondryland
Pinkmad Promotions
Platform Promotions
Robot Professor Promotions
Sound of Confusion
Stop Scratching
The Autumn Store
The Catapult Club
The Cool Catz Club
The Curates Egg
The Go! Club
The Other Womans Club
This is Tomorrow
Tropical Hotdog

Indie / Electro / Dance / Electronica:

The following are links to promoters for various Indie / Electro / Dance / Electronica events:

Bang! Bang!
Bangers and Mash
Bangers and Mash!
Bigger Than Barry
Chicks Dig Jerks
Connect Four
Digital Disco
Hott Date
Marmite Monopoly
Mosco::Disco
New Scotland Yard
Robot vs. Dinosaur
The Funtime Club
The Other Woman’s Club
The Temple

Punk / Metal / Hardcore / Experimental-Rock:

The following are links to promoters for various Punk / Metal / Hardcore / Experimental-Rock events

Burn the Jukebox
Capsule
It's Just Noise
Punk & Ska at Scruffys
Rehab Promotions
Second City Hardcore
Adders
Robot Professor Promotions

Rock 'n' Roll / Garage / Retro:

The following are links to promoters for various Rock'n' Roll / Garage / Retro events

Cold Rice
The Sugarfoot Stomp
Trashorama
Whyte Boots

Acoustic / Folk / Solo Artists:

The following are links to promoters for various Acoustic / Solo Artists events

Acoustic Brew UK
Acoustic Sundays
Bohemian Jukebox
The Secret Music Club
The Sunflower Sessions
Red Lion Folk Club
Rea River Roots

World / Roots Music:

The following are links to promoters for various World / Roots Music events

World Unlimited

Hip-Hop / Beats:

The following are links to promoters for various Hip-Hop / Beats events

Bangers and Mash
Bangers and Mash!
Bigger Than Barry
CDR
Open Beats
Scratch Club
Leftfoot (Adam Regan)

Funk / Soul / Jazz:

The following are links to promoters for various Funk / Soul / Jazz events

Funkbox
Birmingham Jazz
Foundation
Resonance Events

Reggae/ Ragga / Roots / Dancehall / Dub:

The following are links to promoters for various Reggae/ Ragga / Roots / Dancehall / Dub events

Friendly Fire
Jam Jah Sound
Jibbering Records

House / Techno / Dance:

The following are links to promoters for various House / Techno / Dance events

Below
Bumpty
Bunka
Cog
Disruptive Musik
E:volve
Liquid Fusion
Magnetik
Push Soundsystem
TRMNL
Turn It Up
Uber
Ultra+

Drum & Bass / Dubstep / Breaks / Grime / Bass:

The following are links to promoters for various Drum & Bass / Dubstep / Breaks / Grime / Bass events

Bang! Bang!
Bangers and Mash
Bangers and Mash!
Bigger Than Barry
Dirty Soul System
Magnetik
Masters of the Past
Night Movements
Spectrum
Tria Mera Promotions
Trigger
Urban Disturbance
What! Dubstep

Venues:

The following are links to various venues around Birmingham

Concrete
Costermongers
Custard Factory
Hare and Hounds
Scruffy Murphys
Sound Bar
The Adam and Eve
The Drum
The Flapper
The Island Bar
The Rainbow
The Yardbird
TRMNL
Woom
The Sunflower Lounge
The Bulls Head
The Swinging Sporran

Other resources for Birmingham/West Midlands based music:

Birmingham & West Midlands Gigs
Brum Beat
Brumcast
Cassette Magazine
Robo Cast Radio
Give a band a Hand

Coming up.....
Monday 27th October to....
Sunday 2nd November

Simple.... Just one page for all of this weeks gigs and events in Birmingham with links to audio!!

Down the right hand side of this page are links to all promoters myspaces featured on this blog as well as some of the other sites worth checking out for Birmingham Music.

Remember, if you're an artist or promoter and want to get your night/event featured on here there's instructions on how to do it further down this page.

You can also contact me or check out what certain promoters are doing via the CUB myspace. There's a link on the right of this page.

Coming Up ..... Tuesday 28th October
Jazz

Birmingham Jazz presents Sid Peacocks Surge.

Sid’s freewheeling, multi-inspirational Surge is on the loose again. Sid is an original and idiomatic influence on jazz Birmingham. So if you ask for no guarantees about what you may be letting yourself in for, then you should come and see this one. A great club venue. And no charge for entry!

Venue: The Jam House, 3-5 St Pauls Square, B3 1QU
Time: 8pm
Cost: £FREE
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/birminghamjazz2007
http://www.sidpeacock.com/
http://www.sidpeacock.blogspot.com/.

Coming Up ..... Tuesday 28th October
Electroacoustic_Folk Rock_Alternative_Metal

Humbucker promotions presents Tramps and Horses +Unique Destruction + Support

Tramps and Horses:

Tramps & Horses was born out of a desire to bring Vincent’s poetry to musical harmony. With Deed, the Irish singing storyteller as his muse they played their music around Manchester attracting the talents of Pete’s guitar playing. Tramps & Horses then created Enchanted Brave, a monthly musical night, where for 2 years they drew in their audience and plyed their trade. It was in this time Keith, the long haired Irish man with the fingers of a guitarist and the boots of a bassist arrived fresh from Seattle. also came the sweet addition of Anna, who having replied to an add in the Royal Northen College of Music, brought to the band the soothing sounds of the cello. Neil Fearenside, the rock solid rhythm god, was found in a field in Derby whilst they were looking for a lost guitar, completed the line up. Rising from the ashes of many an incarnation, Tramps & Horses are now a Manchester based band that blend 60s West Coast American style rock with more comtemporary influences to create a unique sound. They have enjoyed success such as BBC radio airplay, T.V. and festival appearances culminating in the recording of their album in a 18th century cottage in Wales. They are an exciting and unique band with an ever growing diverse fan base.

Unique Destruction: (from their myspace)

Unique destruction formed in early 2005, and the members consited of Ben, Richard, Zak and of course josh. After a year or so Josh unfortunately got the boot, so we had one less guitar and as many people will know. No Bass Player. We carried on making music for about 3 years without the bass, and when our first gig at the palace came. We found out that we REALLY NEEDED A BASS PLAYER. So we started looking for one, then, eventually after playing at the palace the second time, we found a bass. Dave. So now, the band is complete. NOW we can start making proper music, instead of the credited song ‘Desire’. We made two new songs straight away.’ Her Destruction’ and’ Critical Danger’. These went down well at our third gig at the palace. People said that it sounded LOADS better with the bass.We later recruited Myles to tighten the band with a excellent sound. We are known for our amazing solos, unique vocals, excellent drum beats and riveting bass rifts. We’re definitely a band for the future. so look out!

Venue: The Sound Bar, Corporation Street, City Centre, Opposite Aston Uni
Time: 8pm
Cost: £4 / £3 NUS
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/theiconspresentsoundbar
http://www.myspace.com/trampsandhorses
www.myspace.com/uniquedestructionband

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 29th October
Jazz_Rock_Jam Band

Birmingham Jazz present Partisans

Partisans are now celebrating their 10 year anniversary. Partisans is essentielly a quartet but they often collaborate & play gigs with special guests such as with the great US guitarist Wayne Krantz at Cheltenham Jazz Festival in 2003. Their visceral, groove-based sound combines bop lines with rock riffs and flowing melodies, bridging the gap between New York swing, rock and the US jam-band scene. Alongside Phil Robson and Julian Siegel, Partisans is Gene Calderazzo (drums) and Thad Kelly (bass).

The CD Max was released on the Babel Label in 2005. The band's second for the Babel label, this is the first new recording from the London based quartet for five years, following the release of the critically acclaimed Sourpuss in 2000. Comprising ten original tunes by guitarist Phil Robson and saxophonist Julian Siegel, the album includes their interpretations of David Bowie and Charlie Parker and a composition written specially for the band by guitarist Wayne Krantz. Max takes its name and inspiration from one of the greatest drummers of all time: Max Roach. The dynamic melody of the title track borrows its rhythm from Roach and mixes it with guitar, sax and trumpet lines and relentlessly driving bass and drums. One of the first of the new wave of UK jazz bands to be influenced as much by Jimi Hendrix as by Miles Davis or Sonny Rollins, Max also features guest appearances by Jim Watson (organ), Thebe Lipere (percussion) and Chris Batchelor (trumpet).

"One of the most exciting all star experimental groups in Jazz today"BBC Radio 3 Jazz Line-up.
"Its bad man!" Delfeayo Marsali

Venue: The Rainbow, Digbeth, B12 0LD
Time: 9.30pm
Cost: £3
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/birminghamjazz2007
http://www.myspace.com/thebandpartisans

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 29th October
Indie_NewWave_Alt.

This is Tommorrow present the last ever Flux with Throw me the Statue + Wave Machines + Dave Bang DJ Set

Venue: The Yardbird, Paradise Place, City Centre
Time: 8pm
Cost: £ FREE
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/thisistomorrowuk
http://www.myspace.com/throwmethestatue
www.myspace.com/mywavemachine
http://www.myspace.com/ilovebangbang

Coming Up ..... Thursday 30th October
Indie_Roots_Alternative_Acoustic



The Catapult Club presents The Lazy Lizards

Venue: The Hare and Hounds, High Street, Kings Heath
Time: 8pm
Cost: £4 adv, £5 on the door
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/thecatapultclub
www.myspace.com/thelazylizards

Coming Up ..... Friday 31st October
Indie_Rock_Blues

444 Club Halloween Special with The Allies (Last Ever Show) + Mr Derry +
The Jaays

Mr Derry:
Mr Derry are an award-winning 5-peice band from Birmingham, England, who have carved a place for themselves on the UK live music circuit as one of the 'must-see' bands. They’ve just added to their list of accolades by winning the coveted JD Set Unsigned in April 2008. Mr Derry blew-away the competition judged by a panel of industry experts, and won £5000 of equipment in the process, to help take them to the next level in their blossoming career.

As an in-demand live spectacle, promoters regularly book Mr Derry to warm up for some of the UK's biggest and brightest bands such as, The Twang, The Holloways, Good Shoes and The Metro Riots, and even the hottest US acts such as Juliette and the Licks –who hand-picked them to support her at the 02 Dome, NY rockers The Mooney Suzuki, and the highly revered Soledad Brothers. Mr Derry are also booked for their own headlining shows and club nights all over the country.

Having all grown up in the same street together, these energetic kids from the midlands have known each other forever. With their army of dedicated fans, Mr Derry's status is that of one of Birmingham and the UK’s best and most exciting live bands. They also turn their musical hands to DJing, and have DJ’d aftershows for the likes of Primal Scream, Jet, The View, The Enemy, The Klaxons NME and Dirty Pretty Things.

Proven well worthy of their 'Ultimate Live Band of the Year' title, the band's fanatical fanbase of 'Derriers' follow them all over the country. If you get to see them live -you'll know why. Mr Derry achieved an early mile-stone in their career by being featured finalists on Channel 4's prestigious 'Road to V' competition, fending-off 6000 other bands in the process –barely six months since they formed. From this, national coverage was achieved in publications including NME, Nuts and The Big Issue.

The band played a prestigious ‘In The City’ showcase in Manchester, and a single deal with taste-maker record label Worst Case Scenario followed, on which Double A side Single 'Goodnight' and 'Beasts and Pearls' was released to heaped critical praise. Radio play came in form of XFM and Kerrang! Playlists and multiple spins from Colin Murray, Steve Lamacq, Huw Stevens and even Terry Wogan! Physical copies sold out in their local HMV, Birmingham and they reached 30 in the official indie charts.

Building on this success, more exuberant live dates followed, and after causing a riot at Pontins Holiday Resort –complete with fire and policemen, at an All Tomorrow’s Parties festival, the band were picked up by new management. Mr Derry are now looking for an appropriate record deal, fully supported by WCS Records.

The Jaayz:
The Jaayz are on Facebook. Click the link above to iLike and become a fan! :)
Hello everyone. If you're reading this, thanks! We love you unconditionally! Here's a little bit of information about us and what makes us tick.
The Jaayz got together less than a year ago as four mates intent on having fun and bringing a touch of joy to a staid local music scene. The band has a shared appreciation for good songs and sounds and subsequently have different tastes in music from soul and funk to hip hop, rock and pop. These ecclectic influences have given them the opportunity to write songs that are difficult to nail down, but fit somewhere in between pop, indie and rock. Pindock?
The band write about the things that influence us all as human beings, from poverty to greed to the injustice and general frustrations of modern life. These are noticeable in crowd favourite Last Chance for Resistance and new song Short Cut Kids.

Venue: The Rainbow, Digbeth, B12 0LD
Time: 8pm – 4am
Cost: £5 adv / £4 NUS
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/kamikazeevents
http://www.myspace.com/thealliesuk
http://www.myspace.com/usualguy
www.myspace.com/mrderry

Coming Up ..... Friday 31st October
Indie_Ska_Rock_Alternative

444 Club present Geezer + Burnside + Understar + The Abbots

The Abbots:
Just as Cardiff says "all we wanna do is play our music to people who wanna listen, and have a good fuckin' laugh along the way" and in that sums up the agenda behind the band! The Abbots are a three man outfit with Chris Woodley blasting out strained Vocals, Bass and Occasional Lead Strummings, Tim (Cardiff) Jones on Lead/Rhythm Guitar (and all the high bits that sound fuckin' mint!), and the newest addition to the band is Chris Newman (yeah, another fuckin' Chris) who comes in on sticks to push the band forward. Undoubted influence comes from the Stone Roses, Hendrix, Oasis and a good stiff Brandy.

Venue: The Sound Bar, Corporation Street, City Centre, Opposite Aston Uni
Time: 8pm
Cost: £FREE ENTRY
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/kamikazeevents
www.myspace.com/thisisgeezer
http://www.myspace.com/burnsidebadboy
www.myspace.com/understarband
www.myspace.com/theabbots