Coming Up .....Wednesday 21st May
Acoustic_Rock_Blues
The Secret Music Club runs every Wednesday night at Nicole's, 18 Hall St, Hockley, Birmingham. B18 6BS (about midway between St Paul's Square and the Chamberlain Clock).It includes one or two featured acts each week, together with an open mic session which begins around 8.30pm. So: Bring instruments, voices, songs, poems...etc. Free pint for any performers
This week MyMateMark + Open Mic
Rock meets folk, meets blues, meets jazz...!!!
‘My Mate Mark’ represents the combined musical talents of Mark Whitmore and Mark Bennett. From the very first chance meeting at a pub ‘open-mic’, a whole sequence of uncanny coincidences have come to light that have just kind of indicated that this duo ‘was probably to be’.
The last song of Mark W played that first night was going to be the first of Mark B’s following set! (fittingly, that tune was the first thing they chose to look at as a duo! - and hardly surprisingly ‘Wild Wood’ was high up the shortlist of possible band names!!). Born the same year, just three months apart, they both have Irish cousins, both had the same bike as a child, both are ex-triathletes, and they even chose the same kitchen from Ikea (it turns out!). The fact they both happen to chose to use the same brand/colour/thickness of guitar pick almost goes without saying….. With the friendship that followed, some form of musical collaboration was inevitable.
And musically, although coming from two quite distinct musical directions, once the two elements are brought together the rapport is very obvious. MB’s bluesy/jazzy guitar style compliments MW’s powerful vocals and forms the core of what they do. The warm fat bluesy sound of MB’s acoustic finger-style blends wonderfully with the more open-stringed brighter often folkier sound of MW’s (often altered tuned) Yamaha. The two guitars work together wonderfully to create a rich multi-layered sound with much texture and depth. Add the vocals and it is a classic case of it all very definitely adding up to far more than the sum of the parts.
Venue: Nicoles, 18 Hall Street, Hockley, B18 6BS
Time: 8pm
Cost: FREE ENTRY
Links:
www.myspace.com/mymatemark Coming Up .....Wednesday 21st May
Indie_Ska_Rock_Alt
Platform Promotions present their Quids in night with 360 + Liner + The Heathers
360:
360 is made up of 8 musicians who have been together for quite a while, but have now been settled into their present incarnation for the last 2 years. They are a “live” band, bringing excitement to the stage and transmitting that to the audience, who never fail to pick it up and run with it for all they are worth. All their material is original – most of which is written by their guitar-playing singer Ross Lydon. First hearing is noted for the influence of reggae and ska to their music, but upon listening further, you quickly begin to realise that there is more. More melody, more catches and more rock.
In 2006 the band were voted Best Urban Band in Birmingham at the Birmingham Music Awards, and headlined at the popular Birmingham University Vale Festival. 360 have played at numerous festivals, including Shambala, Big Green Gathering, Beach Break Live and Eastern Haze. They have a loyal and large fan base in and around the Birmingham area, but it is obvious to anyone who hears or sees them that the time has now come for their music to be heard by more people, North, South, East and West......
Venue: The Cross, 147 Alcester Road, Moseley
Time: 8pm doors, Indie DJ’s to 11.30pm
Cost: £1
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/platform_promotions
http://www.myspace.com/360sound
http://www.myspace.com/linerband
http://www.myspace.com/theheathersuk Coming Up .....Wednesday 21st May
