Coming Up ..... Wednesday 8th October
Indie_New Wave_Post Punk_Alt.

This is Tomorrow present Flux w/ Johnny Foreigner + Sunset Cinema Club + Calories

Johnny Foreigner:

This is the ongoing interactive story of Johnny foreigner. there are 3 of us, we come from Birmingham, we don’t go out too much and we have a tendency to overcompensate. we write noisy pop songs for people what like the same bands as we do. last year we put out two 7" records on Laundrette Records. they both sold out and got played on the rah-dio and stuffs. we were pretty fucking proud. last summer we signed a proper record deal, with cone-tracts and everything, for Best Before Records. we recorded an eepee called arcs across the city at southern studios, it got mega good reviews from magazines we'd almost stopped buying and a lot more people started listening to us. we went to new york to make a proper album at the end of last year, you get to hear it in summer. so far this year we've mostly been living in a van with lea playing 5 shows a week and failing to eat healthily. we just got back from amsterdamn, there was multiple crowdsurfers but we lost our passports. we do what we can...

Venue: The Yardbird, Paradise Place, City Centre
Time: 8pm
Cost: £5
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/thisistomorrowuk
http://www.myspace.com/johnnyforeigner
http://www.myspace.com/sunsetcinemaclub
http://www.myspace.com/caloriesband

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 8th October
Acoustic_Folk_Indie

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 Sarah Jones + Open Mic

Venue: Nicoles, 18 Hall Street, Hockley, B18 6BS
Time: 8pm
Cost: £FREE ENTRY
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/secretmusicclub
http://www.myspace.com/sarahjonestoo
http://www.sarahjones.org.uk/

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 17th September
Punk_Alternative_Acoustic_Alternative



Go Club present Ghost Mice +Apologies, I Have None, Hawk and Animal

Venue: The Old Wharf, Oxford Street, Digbeth, B5 5NR
Time: 8pm
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/thegoclubmusic
http://www.myspace.com/ghostmice
http://www.myspace.com/apologiesihavenone

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 17th September
Acoustic_Indie_Power-pop_Alternative

Acoustic Brew present The Humdrum Express + Dan Mohr + Edward Smith

Venue: Katie Fitzgeralds, Enville Street, Stourbridge, DY8 3TB
Time: 8pm
Cost: £FREE
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/acousticbrewuk
http://www.myspace.com/thehumdrumexpress
http://www.myspace.com/edwardsmithmusic

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 17th September
Acoustic_Pop_Folk_Open Mic

The Secret Music Club Kings of Spain

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 Kings of Spain + Open Mic

Venue: Nicoles, 18 Hall Street, Hockley, B18 6BS
Time: 8pm
Cost: FREE ENTRY
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/secretmusicclub
http://www.myspace.com/thekingsofspainuk

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 30th July
Jazz



Jazz Club Summer Specials featuring the freshest live talent in the vibey atmosphere of The Rainbow for live music, BBQ and DJ support . The first Summer special is Wednesday 30th July featuring The Sub Ensemble, a band celebrated across the scene by the likes of Domu , Gilles Peterson and IG Culture. Led by Bass, player, producer and DJ Chris Mapp they have already received international acclaim with their recent EP release Faster than The Sun on Treble O.

Venue: The Rainbow, Digbeth, B12 0LD
Time: Doors 8pm, band on 9.30pm
Cost: £3
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/thesubensemble

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 30th July
Blues_Jazz_Acoustic



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 Ragtime Sam + Open Mic

Sam Redmore:

Sam Moore (AKA Ragtime Sam) is a English solo acoustic artist well practiced in a vast range of traditional and contemporary idioms. His influences draw heavily from the music of the 1920’s and 30’s in the Southern States of America. Sam has amassed a large repertoire of Ragtime and Delta Blues music from this period. The influence of such musicians as the Reverend Gary Davis, Blind Blake and Ry Cooder have remainded the backbone of Sam’s sound, also drawing on more contempary artists such as Bob Brozman and Cassandra Wilson. Sam has attempted to add his own modern spin on the way that blues and ragtime is played whilst maintaining a strong link with the musics roots. In addition to this Sam is also a skilled Flamenco guitarist with a Meticulous skill in playing in the 'Rumba', 'Bulerias', 'Solea', 'Malaguena' and 'Romance' stiles of this music. Sam is known for his passionate, heartfelt and eclectic live performances. Donning a full suit and sporting a trilby hat (a style reminiscent of Robert Johnson) Sam has been busy gigging throughout the UK as well as international performances in New York City, Chicago, Memphis and New Orleans (USA tour 2008) and in Paris (France tour 2007) since embarking on a solo career in early 2007.
In February 2008 Sam completed recording his debut album 'Reaching for the Blues' featuring eleven tracks that capture the essence of his music. The CD is now available on request from the Mostly Toast Productions Home page and will soon be downloadable from iTunes. As with his live performance the album demonstrates a wide range of styles and techniques and is a exciting blend of different examples of Ragtime and Blues. Featuring instrumentals and songs from such performers as Sam McGee and Blind Willi Johnson as well as a vast array of original compositions.

Venue: Nicoles, 18 Hall Street, Hockley, B18 6BS
Time: 8pm
Cost: FREE ENTRY
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/secretmusicclub
http://www.myspace.com/ragtimesam

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 30th July
Blues_Country_Rockabilly

This is Tomorrow presents curate Flux 2nd Edition with Swampmeat

Venue: The Yardbird, Paradise Place, City Centre
Time: 8pm
Cost: Usually around £3
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/thisistomorrowuk
http://www.myspace.com/danfinnemore

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 9th July
Acoustic_Indie_Alternative_Pop

The Secret Music Club present BRUNO + open mic session at their mid-week, weekly night. As always if you’re interested in the open mic session please bring along instruments, songs and poems.

Bruno:
Many years ago, Bruno used to front REACTION. Reaction was a four-piece Mod/Powerpop band from Burton on Trent. Although, never signed, they did get to support some great bands – Including THE JAM, SECRET AFFAIR, PURPLE HEARTS, FUN BOY THREE, DOLLY MIXTURES, THE QUESTIONS, BANANARAMA+ loads of others. More recently he has been seen performing on BBC TV, Central ITV and also heard on National & local Radio stations with a song called Forever England. www.forever-england.com.

Venue: Nicoles, 18 Hall Street, Hockley, B18 6BS
Time: from 8.30pm
Cost: £FREE
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/secretmusicclub
http://www.myspace.com/brunogallone2

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 2nd July
Indie_Electro



444 club presents The Presets + Deluka + Bang! Bang! DJ’s + New Scotland Yard DJ’s

Venue: The Rainbow, 160 High Street, Digbeth,
Time:
Cost: £6 adv, £8 on the door
Links:
www.myspace.com/thepresets
www.myspace.com/deluka
www.myspace.com/kamikazeeevents
www.myspace.com/ilovebangbang
www.myspace.com/newscotlandyard

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 2nd July
Indie_Alternative_Rock

Platform promotions present 95th Rifles + The Jaayz + Silent Riot

95th Rifles
“The Youthful quadrille known as the Ninety Fifth Rifles have been patrolling the streets of Birmingham in hopes of musical inspiration since there joint birthing in December a year or so gone. The musical search has been, on occasion, interrupted by philandering philanthropists and the odd drunken scoundrel. You may have noticed the moonlit faces of Sam ,Richard ,Lewis and Louis traipsing around the streets of Moseley and Kings Heath. (& HG!)”

From the Silent Riot myspace:
“We are Silent Riot, Silent Riot are four 'Indie Punksters' from Birmingham U.K (the mystical , magical litle town called Rubery!), who started in July '07, and are currently making their name throughout Birmingham and further afield. We love making dancable, upbeat tunes for all the kids to dance to and currently we and are gigging vigorously to win the hearts, ears and dancing bones of you, the cool people and ever increase our fanbase. Our influences come heavily from classic punk bands such as The Ramones as well as more modern sounds like Bloc Party and Editors. As well as writing and playing our own material, we have been known to wow the crowds with our interpretations of unusual covers such as S-Club 7 and B*witched. I say no more...”

Venue: The Flapper and Firkin
Time: 8pm
Cost: Quids in!!!
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/95thriflesmusic
http://www.myspace.com/usualguy (The Jaayz)
http://www.myspace.com/wearesilentriot
http://www.myspace.com/platform_promotions

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 2nd July
Acoustic_Indie_Alternative

The Secret Music Club present KIT + open mic session at the mid-week, weekly night. As always if you’re interested in the open mic session please bring along instruments, songs and poems.

Kit:
Singer/songwriter Kit has been playing guitar and songwriting for a few years now, but only recently started recording, and playing live, mainly around Coventry, Rugby, Leamington and Leicester so far - feel free to invite Kit to play further afield if you like the songs!

The music is lyric-driven, guitar-based, acoustic, varied, individual. Kit's songs and delivery have been compared to Kirsty McColl, Hazel O'Connor, Grace Slick, Billy Bragg, Michelle Shocked, June Tabor, Vivienne McAuliffe, Alanis Morissette, Nico, Chrissie Hynde, Dolores Riordan/The Cranberries, Skunk Anansie, The Pixies, Heartthrob and "Joy Division meets Ani DiFranco". Recent tracks Still and Suicide Note have been sampled by speedcore fiend Seneca, and Kit is currently working on a cross-genre collaboration with UK rapper Deep Impakt.

Venue: Nicoles, 18 Hall Street, Hockley, B18 6BS
Time: from 8.30pm
Cost: £FREE
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/secretmusicclub
http://www.myspace.com/kit_music

Coming Up .....Wednesday 4th June
Hardcore_Punk_Metal



Second City Promotions present Meltdown +50 Lions + Bitter End + Cold Snap + Ironclad. Some really good Hardcore from the States and Austrialia, as well here in the UK

Venue: The Newt (on the ramp into the Pallasades/New St Station)
Time: 7pm - 11pm latest
Cost: £7.50 adv from www. wegottickets. com
Links:
www.myspace.com/secondcityhardcore
www.myspace.com/meltdownisdestroying
www.myspace.com/50lions
www.myspace.com/bitterend
www.myspace.com/ironcladhc
www.myspace.com/coldsnaphc

Coming Up .....Wednesday 4th June
Indie_Pop_Acoustic_Folk



This is Tomorrow / Flux present Kate Goes + Honeytrap + Ben Calvert (Solo) + Richard Burke + Pram DJ set & Autumn Store DJ set

Venue: The Yardbird
Cost: £3 in
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/thisistomorrowuk
http://www.myspace.com/kategoes
http://www.myspace.com/honeytraponmyspace
http://www.myspace.com/bencalvertmusic
http://www.myspace.com/richardburke

Coming Up .....Wednesday 4th June
Rock_Metal_Gothic



Rehab present Awake by Design + Supanaut + Guests (TBC)

Venue: Costers, 5 Dalton Way, Birmingham B4 6AA
Time: 7pm – 12pm
Cost: FREE ENTRY but please contribute to the collection for the bands
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/rehab_brum
http://www.myspace.com/awakebydesign
http://www.myspace.com/supanaut

Coming Up .....Wednesday 4th June
Acoustic_Soul

The Secret Music Club present Kaid and their usual acoustic open mic opportunity to any budding musician.

Venue: Nicoles, 18 Hall Street, Hockley
Time: 8:30pm
Cost: FREE ENTRY and a pint for any performers
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/secretmusicclub
http://www.myspace.com/kaidhussain

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

http://www.myspace.com/secretmusicclub

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

Metal_Hardcore_Thrash_Progressive

Rehab present Black Fortress + Defiant True Blood + Sons of Chaos

UPDATE ON THIS: Black Fortress have cancelled – but the gig stills seems to be going ahead as I write this.

Check the Rehab link below to find out more

Venue: Costers, 5 Dalton Way, B4, City Centre
Time: 8pm - Midnight
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/rehab_brum
http://www.myspace.com/blackfortressmusic
http://www.myspace.com/defianttrueblood
http://www.myspace.com/sonsofchaos