Coming Up ..... Sunday 7th September
Acoustic_Folk_Alternative

Acoustic Brew present Daisy Chapman + Vad +Mike Bethel + Amber Talons & Boomshadow.

Venue: Atticus, Three Shires Oak Road, Bearwood
Time: 7pm
Cost: £FREE
Links:
http://www.acousticbrewuk.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/acousticbrewuk

Coming Up ..... Sunday 7th September
Alt-Rock_Experimental_New Wave

Robot Professor promotions present Everyone to the Anderson + Lebanons

Venue: Concrete (The old Boiler Room),The Big Peg, 120 Vyse Street, Jewellery Qtr
Time: 8pm
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/robotprofessor
http://www.myspace.com/everyonetotheanderson
http://www.myspace.com/thekidsthatmadeamerica

Coming Up ..... Sunday 7th September
Alt-Indie_Rock_Experimental_Electronica

It’s Just Noise presents Mimas (Denmark) + Calories + Great Eskimo Hoax + Little Dipper.

MIMAS (Denmark)
sublime and delicate indie-pop soundscapes recently signed to Big Scary Monsters
www.myspace.com/mimas

CALORIES
ex members of Distophia play refreshing, hook-laden indie-rock
www.myspace.com/caloriesband

GREAT ESKIMO HOAX
beautifully crafted indie-electronica
www.myspace.com/greateskimohoax

LITTLE DIPPER
www.myspace.com/littledipperlove

Venue: The Rainbow, 160 Digbeth High Street, Digbeth, B12 0LD
Time: 8pm
Cost: £5
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/itsjustnoise
www.myspace.com/mimas
www.myspace.com/caloriesband
www.myspace.com/greateskimohoax
www.myspace.com/littledipperlove

Coming Up ..... Sunday 7th September
Acoustic_Folk_Alternative_Pop

The Sunflower Sessions present Kommoncense + Laz Rogers + Austin Francis Connection + Elliot Hall + Hannah Harris

Venue: The Sunflower Lounge, Smallbrook Queensway, City Centre
Time: 7pm onwards
Cost: £1
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/sunflowersessions
http://www.myspace.com/kommoncense07
http://www.myspace.com/lazrogers
http://www.myspace.com/shambolichiphopbehaviour
http://www.myspace.com/elliothallmusic
http://www.myspace.com/hannahharris

WANT TO GUARANTEE THAT YOUR GIG OR NIGHT WILL APPEAR ON HERE?

If you’re a Band, Artist or Promoter and want to GUARANTEE that your Gig or Night appears on the Coming Up Birmingham Blog then you can do so by doing the following.

If you’ve not already done so, ADD ME as a friend on the Coming Up Birmingham Myspace
(link on top, right side of this page)

Then, send me a message through Myspace with the following information:

Date of your Event
Style of Music
Line-Up of Whose Playing
Any Additional Information about the Event
Links for any Myspace or Artist/Promoter Pages
Start/End Time and Cost
Any Images (Jpegs)

If I get this information I will guarantee to put your event on here. You can put as little or as much as you like, just look at some of this weeks entries for examples.

Coming Up ..... Sunday 6th July
Rock_Ambient_Soundscapes

Robot Professor presents Glissando + Her Name is Calla + Support

From the Glissando myspace:

“The basis of Glissando has always been built around Elly May Irving and Richard Knox. Previous years have been spent adding and subtracting members, playing shows here and there; some improvised, some not so. The duo have released a number of very limited edition CDR's on Gizeh and Loom, and last year gathered together a body of previous work to release 'Loves Are Like Empires', a wonderfully packaged CDR of old recordings, demos and live performances.

The path of Glissando to this point has often been a rocky one. Last year Elly and Richard's long term relationship broke down and Glissando's future was thrown into huge doubt. There was a lot of soul-searching to be done around that time but some light was found as a support slot to the wonderful Stars of the Lid was offered at the beautiful Holy Trinity Church in Leeds. This moment was too good to pass and the show was probably the best of the band's career to date. A corner was turned and Glissando's future suddenly looked a damn sight brighter. Plans were made to go and record in Leicester with Tom Morris (Her Name is Calla) and this period of enlightenment turned out to be 'With Our Arms Wide Open We March Towards the Burning Sea'. With help from some beautiful friends, what once seemed destined for failure now has limitless ambitions.

'With Our Arms Wide Open We March Towards the Burning Sea' is probably best listened to at night., I'm not trying to rule your life or anything - just a friendly nudge in the right direction. It has a dark, gentle heartbeat that opens up an atmosphere lost and bleak, but through Elly May's vocal there is always a sense of wonder, a thought that something otherworldly is occurring. There is an ambience to the record that throws it into the vein of some of the Kranky labels releases but it's more orchestral than that, there's more melody and a lyrical content that just seems to suck you in and hold you close. The closing lines of 'Floods' in which Elly May, Richard and Tom Morris (Her Name Is Calla) are all chanting "You were on fire as they ran to hold the flames, we did not see, so the water never came" is an album highlight, backed by Angharad Cooper's (Held By Hands) soaring violin it has a touch of the likes of Efterklang to it before fading to a shimmering drone section to finish.

Glissando's previous comparisons have been to such visionaries as Low and Rachel's, the later is more apparent in 'Always the Storm' which is almost classically based in its mood and ambience. As the record comes to a close 'Grekken' is another highlight as it's dark tones and an ending of "You made me kill myself" wrap around you. The added vocal of Dave Martin (iLiKETRAiNS) serves a haunting purpose and it throws you into an almost dream-like state before the album closer of 'Our Flags Wave and Our Arms Are Around Another's Shoulder's' lulls you back into that comfortable place that you know so well.

The fact that Glissando have pulled together to make a full-length record is important enough but hopefully creating something as beautiful and as endearing as this will mean just that little bit more.”

Her Name is Calla – some reviews on their music and new album:

"This extremely talented band, fundamentally experimental in nature, defies any attempt to describe them using only one set of adjectives.....I guess what I’m saying is this: Her Name Is Calla is a brilliant band with an even more brilliant future ahead of them. This album comes extremely recommended. 8/10"
The Silent Ballet

"...there can be no denying that Her Name Is Calla are one of the most daring, unconventional bands the UK has to offer right now. For that alone we should all be exceedingly thankful. 8/10"
Drowned in Sound

"This is a serious contender for the most affirming alternative rock release of the year, and at this stage one can only imagine and anticipate what the debut proper will sound like.9/10"
Drowned in Sound User Review

"The Heritage' opens as it means to go on claustrophobic, disconnected and disconcerting - it's bloody great...As post rock becomes something tired, dull and predictable, Her Name Is Calla have created something that could not only invigorate, but save the genre and give it it's 'Rebirth'. This album doesn't just hint at greatness, it brazenly wears it tattoo'd across its forehead."
Echoesanddust.com

Venue: Concrete, 120 Vyse Street, Jewellery Qtr
Time: 8pm
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/robotprofessor
http://www.myspace.com/glissando
http://www.myspace.com/hernameiscalla

Coming Up ..... Sunday 6th July
Acoustic

The Sunflower Sessions presents Dan Gallagher +Carousel Circus + Laura Ellement + Elliot Jack + The Rainbow Theory

Elliot Jack:
“Elliot Jack are a four piece who mix together loops, samples, guitars and occasional vocals to make a lovely melancholic warming sound. Their songs are beautiful enough to warm the heart of cadaver.
The lovely BBC have used their music on the uber-trendy Countryfile and elliot jack wrote the soundtrack for BBC short film 'Over the Edge'. You also may, or may not, have heard them BBC6Music.
elliot jack are proud to announce their lovely new album 'Stay away from lonely places' - it has eleven lovely tunes within it's lovely black [or sometimes grey] sleeve...”

Venue: The Sunflower Lounge, near New Street Station, City Centre
Time: 7pm
Cost: £1
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/sunflowersessions
http://www.myspace.com/elliotjack
www.myspace.com/ipretendtoplayguitar (Laura Ellement)

Coming Up ..... Sunday 6th July
Electronic_Pop

Electronic Pleasures presents a night of various electronic genres with The Audacity + Wonderful Life + Johnny Normal + Beats Per Minute

Johnny Normal:
“Johnny Normal creates a musical bag of 'Englishness' that finds its roots in pop, punk and electronic music from the 1980s onwards. Johnny's inspiration is drawn from the life he sees around him, the things people gloss over... everyday stuff like family, fried breakfast, relationships, fear, envelopes and being run over.”

Beats Per Minute:
“Fusing the electronica of Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Kraftwerk & Yazoo with the Pop sensibilities of Blondie, The Killers & New Order, Simon Owen & Rachel Arnison have fused together all that was great about 80's synth pop with modern hip hop & trance beats. .... The result is Beats Per Minute. After a chance meeting, Simon suggested collaborating with Rachel on cover versions, but realising that there was a creative spark between them, they started working on original songs. With Simon doing the music in his home based studio putting an interpretation onto Rachel's lyrics. They are half way through writing and recording their debut album and are looking for gigs.”

Venue: The Adam and Eve Pub, Digbeth
Time: 9pm starts
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/theadammusic
http://www.myspace.com/johnnynormalmusic
http://www.myspace.com/theaudacitykidder
http://www.myspace.com/wonderfullife1
http://www.myspace.com/beatsperminute2007

Coming Up .....Saturday 7th June
Hip Hop_Funk_Reggae_Jungle_Global Grooves



Jibbering Sessions present Smerins Anti Social Club (Live) + Me & You (Tru-Thoughts) + MC Xander (Live) + DJ Feva and Mr Muz (Munchbreak)

Room 1:

Smerins Anti-Social Club (Live)
Their brass heavy, Funked up, dubbed out live performances have been smashin’ festivals up and down the country

MC Xander (Live)
Probably the countrys most exciting beatboxer. Armed with only his voice, a mic and a few FX pedals, he constructs heavyweight tracks that have been wowing audiences all over. As a performer, Xander is in a class of his own and has recently supported Mobb Deep, DJ Craze and Newtown Faulker

The Jibbering DJ’s
Spinning the usual intoxicating cutting edge and vintage beats and treats!

Visuals by Keir

Room 2:

Me & You (Tru-Thoughts)
Robert Luis and TM Juke joined forces in 2005 and have been producing footstompin tunes under the Me & You moniker ever since. Their unique blend of sounds will take you on a journey through break beat, soul, dyubstep, broken beat, reggae and drum ‘n’ bass

DJ Feva and Mr Muz (Munchbreak)
A special set exploring the history of hip hop from two of Birminghams finest DJ’s and MC’s.

Venue: Hare and Hounds, High Street, Kings Heath
Time: 9pm – 2am
Cost: Adv £6 / £5 NUS, Door £8 / £7 NUS
Links:
http://www.jibbering.co.uk/
http://www.antisocialclub.co.uk/
www.myspace.com/mcxander
http://www.tru-thoughts.co.uk/

Coming Up .....Saturday 7th June
Indie_Rock_Electronica_Alternative



444 Club present The Rubikons + Prospect Lane + The Amateurs + Hasslebaink DJs

Venue: Sound Bar, Corporation Street (Sound Bar is at the bottom of Corporation Street opposite Aston Uni and opposite the Childrens Hospital)
Time: 8pm – 4am
Cost: FREE ENTRY!!
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/kamikazeevents
http://www.myspace.com/therubikons
http://www.myspace.com/prospectlane
http://www.myspace.com/theamateursuk
http://www.myspace.com/hasselbainkdjs
http://www.myspace.com/birminghamsoundbar

Coming Up .....Sunday 8th June
Post Rock_Post Metal



Robot Professor Promotions present Vessels + IO.

Vessels, described by Steve Lamac as "dynamic post-rock that stalks around your room, before launching itself through a window," are touring to support their new album 'White Devices and Open Spaces.' Supported by post-metal Birmingham rockers io, who recent EP received an 8/10 review in Rocksound, this is another intimate gig that's not to be missed.

Venue: Concrete, 120 Vyse Street, The Big Peg, Jewellery Qtr,
Time: Doors 8pm
Cost: £6
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/robotprofessor
www.myspace.com/vesselsband
www.myspace.com/weareio

Coming Up On.....Sunday 11th May
Post Rock, Alt, Electronica



Robot Professor Promotions presents MaybeSheWill + WorriedAboutSatan + Inertia Blooms + Cellar Doors.

Robot Professor Promotions are two blokes called Dave who put on the best unsigned post-rock/alternative/electronic bands they can find.

RPP are simply all about the music. We want to put shows on where fans can come together and enjoy the delights of what is often a neglected genre.

They aim not only to promote local talent, but also touring bands from around the country, who share the same passion for post/alternative rock as they do.

‘Cellardoor kick out a volatile mix of fluid, danceable post-rock and reverb-drenched, hammering riffs. The Birmingham based three-piece draw on influences as disparate as Battles and Russian Circles whilst honing a distinctive, uncompromising sound all of their own.’

Venue: Concrete (The Old Boiler Room),The Big Peg, 120 Vyse Street, Jewellery Qtr
Time: 8pm doors
Cost: £4

Links:
http://www.myspace.com/robotprofessor
http://www.myspace.com/maybeshewont
http://www.myspace.com/worriedaboutsatan
http://www.myspace.com/inertiablooms
http://www.myspace.com/cellardoorsound