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 ..... Wednesday 15th October
Indie_New Wave_Alt._Rock

This is Tomorrow present Yelps! + The Scarlet Harlots + The Traps

Venue: The Yardbird, Paradise Place, City Centre
Time: 8pm
Cost: £3
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/thisistomorrowuk
http://www.myspace.com/yelps
http://www.myspace.com/thescarletharlots
http://www.myspace.com/thetrapsofficial

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 15th October
Post/Math Rock_Noise Rock

It’s Just Noise presents Lite + 54-71 + Calvados

LITE (Japan, Transduction Records)
mind-bending post/math-rock instrumentalists return to the UK in support of new album 'Phantasia'. expect an emotional polyrhythmic jazz-rock guitar assault of epic proportions
Listen: www.myspace.com/liteband

54-71 (Japan, Transduction Records)
heralded as one of the most groundbreaking bands to ever come out of Japan, 54-71 blend distinctively stoic yet juicy beats, w/ hip hop, soul, funk, noise rock & intense blasts of rapping, which flip between thrilling tension & sly humour. recently produced by Steve Albini & toured with the likes of Battles & Deerhoof
Listen: www.myspace.com/fiftyfourseventyone

CALVADOS (UK)
Birmingham's finest purveyors of math rock mastery treat us to a very rare live performance
www.myspace.com/calvadosbeamtrio

Venue: The Factory Club, Gibb St, Digbeth, B9 4AA
Time: 8pm
Cost: £6 adv
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/itsjustnoise
www.myspace.com/liteband
www.myspace.com/fiftyfourseventyone
www.myspace.com/calvadosbeamtrio

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 15th October
Acoustic_Folk Rock_Folk

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 Elliot Hall + Open Mic

Elliot Hall:
if someone else will blow your trumpet for you the lease you can do is mic it up so here's a few things people have said.
"remember the first time you heard Tom Waits and you thought no bloody way? It's like that with Elliot Hall. All is shot through with a rare honesty. he is heroic and compelling" venue magazine
'A rough, gruff and tumble voice that pulls away at lyrics this good is the kind of daydream we need in England to reignite a spark for credible new songwriters' alex lee thompson, music journalist

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

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 ..... Saturday 27th September
Punk_Indie_Afro-beat_New Wave_Post Punk

This is Tomorrow present Flux w/ Hot Club de Paris + Sunset Cinema Club +The Situationists + Guest DJ’s and Matt Flux.

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

Coming Up ..... Saturday 27th September
Rock_Punk_Grunge_Alt._Experimental

The Go Club present The Clouds + Miss Halliwell +The Mallory Heart

The Clouds: (from their Myspace)
Good evening. A lot of bands enjoy life. A lot of bands want to create art. A lot of bands have integrity. We are not a band. If you stimulate us with food, wine or femininity, we will play instruments for you, but other than that, we are but men. If you want to penetrate us, please get deeper into this page and come all over us with your rock and roll emails. If you like the songs here, send us some money, because thats how it works in the real world, and when we're famous we will lick your gangrenous stumps with all our might.

The Mallory Heart:
The Mallory Heart are Nicole, Fi and Sarah based in Birmingham. Along with a drum machine, Nicole and Fi merged late 2006 through a mutual love of The Clash. Whilst marvelling at the greatness of local band Miss Halliwell and their drummer Sarah, Nicole and Fi quickly set about the business of recruiting Sarah into Mallory ranks and the rest, as the proverb goes, is history.

The Mallory Heart bring you a mixture of grunge and lo fi punk with a feminine, intellectual twist.

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

Coming Up ..... Saturday 27th September
Rock_Indie_Punk_Alternative

Rehab Promotions present Vegas Assault + Supanaut + Voodoo Johnson + Blinc 182

Vegas Assault:
They have been described as a powerful live entity in a town that has seemingly tried to extinguish all ways of putting across new and exciting live music. Determined not to fall to the same fate as many others, the self-proclaimed wrecking machine that is Vegas Assault have set about on a collision course to make something of themselves and prove any doubters wrong.

The four piece formed in the latter stages of 2006 and immediately provided themselves as an outlet for people who were sick of the normality of the local talent around these parts. Combining a modern edge with love and respect for bands that have influenced them since they were in single digits means that VA creates explosive and memorable performances for whoever wants to witness something heartfelt and real.

The band did not rush their entrance into the field of live music, instead deciding to hone their craft and make sure they were a well-oiled unit. That’s not to say they are now the finished product, far from it, but they are a product that is continually improving and impressing. Vegas Assault are a band who pride themselves on their live shows. They'll guarantee you a strong, serious musical showing mixed with a light, party and often comedic atmosphere that can appeal to a wide range of audiences.

Venue: The Swinging Sporran, Proiry Square, B4 7LL (Opp Forbidden Planet)
Time: 7pm – 11pm’ish
Cost: £3
Links:
www.myspace.com/rehab_brum
http://www.myspace.com/vegasassault
http://www.myspace.com/supanaut
http://www.myspace.com/voodoojohnson
http://www.myspace.com/blinc182tribute

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 17th September
Indie_Experimental_Ambient_Alternative

This is Tomorrow present Flux with Jonquil +This Town Needs Guns +
Great Eskimo Hoax

Venue: The Yardbird, Paradise Place, City Centre
Time: 8pm
Cost: £3
Links:
www.myspace.com/thisistomorrowuk
http://www.myspace.com/jonquiluk
http://www.myspace.com/greateskimohoax
http://www.myspace.com/thistownneedsguns

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 17th September
Americana_Folk_Punk

444 Club present Born Ruffians + Mr Bones and the Dreamers + The Black & Reds + Little Palm DJ Set

From the Born Ruffians myspace:

Toronto’s Born Ruffians – Luke Lalonde, Mitch DeRosier and Steve Hamelin. We are the next link in the evolutionary chain of contemporary pop music, mixing drums, bass, and electric guitar, an almost unheard of combination, with bits of harmonium, piano and plenty of “hootin and hollerin” to create a sound we call “the best we could come up with!”

Phrases like “highly anticipated” and “much hyped” are tossed around in the music press so frequently they have lost all meaning. But, the Toronto Star did write that about us, so with our debut full-length album coming out May 26th in Europe and the UK, let’s instead say it should be “highly hyped” and “not anticipated” because the anticipation will kill you to death.

The album, titled Red, Yellow, and Blue, is the follow-up to our starter self-titled EP released on XL recordings in 2006 amidst a slew of press and buzz, unfortunately about other bands. Red, Yellow, and Blue was produced by the hyper, over-caffeinated Rusty Santos, a boy genius from New York responsible for the recording and mixing of Animal Collective’s Sung Tongs.

Being a genetically advanced three-piece, originally from Midland, Ontario, we’ve already blazed through Canada and the USA three times in our white, five-seater, twice-robbed mini-van, leaving in our wake two clogged toilets and a clogged shower, one car accident involving a pregnant woman (the child is fine) and hopefully thousands of satisfied fans (at least if you add up everyone who has seen us, divide by the whiners and multiply by Jamie Lidell). We even have a membership to the Eagle’s Nest firing range in Austin, Texas which is pretty badass for three Canadians and by the time South by Southwest is through, we’ll be pretty good marksmen.
For our fourth trip to the UK we’re hooking up once again with our touring soul-mates Caribou for two weeks of shows, and we’ll hopefully be surfing in off momentum from our appearance on SKINS where we awkwardly yet effectively played ourselves (three geeky dorks amongst a plethora of sexy and stylish extras). Hopefully it will make us famous like 90210 did for the Flaming Lips.

So all in all now is our time. We made a timid splash with our EP, but we expect our new songs to make the musical equivalent of a cannonball that soaks your mum’s new perm while she’s barbecuing you sausages. (In Canada she’d be making us hot dogs, but we’re classy like that.)

Venue: The Rainbow Pub, Digbeth High Street, B12 0LD
Time: Doors 7.30pm
Cost: £6 adv
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/kamikazeevents
http://www.myspace.com/bornruffians
http://www.myspace.com/mrbonesandthedreamers
http://www.myspace.com/flyonalittlewing

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 17th September
Acoustic_Indie_Pop

444 Club present Gary Nock & Band + Tara

Gary Nock is an acoustic singer-songwriter hailing from the West Midlands originally. Gary moved south as a child and grew up in the sleepy seaside town of Dawlish in Devon. A late starter in music, Gary first picked up a guitar at 17 years old and caught the bug. After a few quick lessons from a friend he borrowed an old Nylon stringed Spanish Guitar and locked himself away in his bedroom, and much to the delight of his Father, began noisily strumming and singing his way through book after book of classic songwriters and groups, including The Beatles, The Kinks, Tracy Chapman, The Jam and Leonard Cohen to name but a few. He also taught himself to sing - "The greatest piece of advice i ever got was three words - 'practice, practice, practice' Simple really but so true".

After honing his skills in his humble abode Gary ventured out and began playing in public wherever he could, starting with little performances in the Pubs around Devon. Slowly gaining a reputation as a “great little singer” Gary started to write his own songs - “Obviously the first songs I wrote were complete rubbish” Gary chuckled “But I just loved that I was making something, I was creating something of my own about my own experiences, after the first one, I just couldn’t stop” This trend continued well into his 20’s and at the age of 24 he decided to move back to the city where he was Born (Birmingham) to try and make something of all the years of practice. Based in his old home town, Gary began touring the country singing and playing to all sorts of crowds all over Britain from Edinburgh to Brighton. Again slowly gaining a reputation, this time not just as a singer but as a great songwriter whose heartfelt and honest lyrics rang true with both the male and female members of his ever growing audience. “ I always admired a great love song, its something everyone can relate to and it’s something I have had a lot of experience with, though not always with great success! If you can sit and watch someone sing with real honest emotion and passion and truly believe what they’re saying, that is something pretty special.”

In December 2006 Gary met up with Peter McCamley (famous for signing the Spice Girls! Craig David, Sandi Thom and Jamie Scott amongst others) after going along to see Gary live several times in the months following Peter tells how impressed he was by Gary’s voice and song writing abilities “Raw and honest, pure talent” Says Peter. And unlike many “industry” people he had met along the way, Peter decided to put his money where his mouth was! Peter signed Gary to his publishing company, P and P Songs, in July 2007, since then Gary has been co-writing with various writers and producers from across the globe and also been fortunate enough to support some great acts along the way including,- Newton Faulkner, Ed Harcourt, Kate Walsh, Jamie Scott and Tina Dico as well as many others. He continues to tour up and down the country and is currently in and out of the studio recording his first EP release which will hopefully be out sooner rather than later. Meanwhile you can find some of his wonderful tunes on myspace

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

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 3rd September
Indie_Rock_Post-Punk_Alternative



444 Club presents StRANGtIME + ScreamSayonara + The Lowlifes

ScreamSayonara:

"ScreamSayonara are an energetic, dynamic three piece band from Birmingham (UK) whose influences are drawn together from many genres and eras to create the band's unique sound"

Venue: The Rainbow Pub, Digbeth High Street, B12 0LD
Time: 7pm
Cost: £5 / £3 NUS
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/kamikazeevents
http://www.myspace.com/strangetime
http://www.myspace.com/screamsayonaramusic

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 3rd September
Indie_Pop_Experimental_Progressive_Folk



This is Tomorrow presents Flux with Das Wanderlust + Ace Bushy Striptease + Bumblebees + Lime Chalks + Autumn Store DJ’s

Das Wanderlust:

Das Wanderlust are a three-piece based in north eastern England who, since the beginning of 2008, have consisted of Laura Susan Simmons (mostly singing and keyboards), Andrew Richard Elliott (mostly guitar and keyboards), and Wesley John Stephenson (mostly drums).
Work on their long-awaited debut album ‘Horses For Courses’ is now fully completed, the first single from which is scheduled for release on 6th October 2008. Ahead of themselves as usual, work on material for a second album is already well underway.
As a group Das Wanderlust enjoy confounding others’ expectations, and have been tirelessly contradicting themselves since their first live performance nearly four years ago. They abhor what they regard to be the artistic dishonesty and misplaced arrogance of many of their musical peers, and yet constantly worry that they fail to live up to their own high standards of integrity and lack of pretence. They find the smokescreen and mirrors of affectation employed by many other groups both hilarious and infuriating.
All of which is to say nothing of the music, which they themselves find it hard to classify beyond the deliberately vague self-applied term ‘wrong pop’. Critics seem similarly unable to agree on what they are, veering in opinion between structureless avant-garde experimentalism and super-melodic noise pop. The band, naturally, disagree with both schools of thought…
Artrocker
When was the last time you heard a band who made your head feel like it was going to burst open? When was the last time you went to see such a band live, only to discover that not only were they as wondrous and superlative as you’d hoped, but also more mystifying and more startlingly arresting than you’d expected? If you’ve ever heard Das Wanderlust’s records or seen them live, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about…
The Guardian
If John Peel were still walking this earth and muttering inanities to himself in the wee small hours about bedroom pop there's no doubt that Das Wanderlust would be held to the heart of the great man. Is that a chiming chorus of recorders? Is that a young woman in a pinafore dress shrieking her eyes out? Is that the sound of Kenicke being throttled in their sleep? Hell, yes…
NME
Das Wanderlust follow in the frolicsome tradition of post-riot grrrl popsters Bearsuit and Bis. Their weirdo witticisms have resulted in shed-loads of hype and tours with similarly minded comrades like Art Brut…
Plan B magazine
Screeching, stomping and wailing, their hyperactive school orchestra songs build a sugar rush that recalls the nausea of a waltzer ride, along with the syrupy splatter of messy shapes and bright colours… Music as comforting and sticky as an ice cream on a hot summers day...
Das Wanderlust have so far released two 7" singles and a demo EP. The first single, The Orange Shop, was named by BBC 6music's Marc Riley as his no.1 single of 2006, and reached no.14 in the annual festive fifty. They have recorded sessions for Huw Stephens at Maida Vale (BBC Radio 1), for Marc Riley in Manchester (BBC 6music), and for John Kennedy at XFM. They have performed at various UK & European festivals including the inaugral Latitude Festivals of 2006, and as the sole representatives of the BBC at Eurosonic Festival (NL) in 2007, which was accompanied by a half-hour live slot on Radio 1. They have toured with Maximo Park, Art Brut, Persil (NL), and many of their friends. They'll play for you too if you ask nicely.

The Bumblebees:

They are the bumblebees, a well-formed three-piece with enough audacity to play for half an hour. They have ambition. They have morals. They have fun.

They are self releasing their debut EP on 1st september

Venue: The Yardbird, Paradise Place, City Centre
Time: 8pm
Cost: £3
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/thisistomorrowuk
http://www.myspace.com/daswanderlust
http://www.myspace.com/acebushystriptease
http://www.myspace.com/thebumblebeesinfestya
http://www.myspace.com/limechalks

Coming Up ..... Saturday 6th September
Indie_Rock_Experimental_Progressive_Alt



This is Tomorrow presents the Island Bars 2nd Birthday with Wintermute + Minnaars + The Traps + Solomons + DJ Tommy Disco

Venue: The Island Bar, 14-16 Suffolk Street (Next to the Alexandra Theatre), B1 1LT
Time: Open from 5pm.
Cost: £FREE
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/thisistomorrowuk
http://www.myspace.com/wintermuteband
http://www.myspace.com/minnaars
http://www.myspace.com/thetrapsofficial

Coming Up ..... Saturday 6th September
Rock_Metal



Rehab Promotions presents Obsidian Rain + Supanaut +Sour Mash

Obsidian Rain:
born out of 80's rock and in the twilight of the millennium, under the influence of numerous bands such as Skid Row and Motley Crue! Obsidian rain was born. A volcanic explosion of old school rock and metal mixed with the elixir of modern day guitar riff's, molten lava vocals, boot stomping bass and drums that brings any venue alive.

Sour Mash:
Sour Mash, in its full line up of Shane Kiely: Drums, Dave Payne: Guitar, Ben Newbery: Bass and Adam Newbery: Vocals and Guitar, formed in September 2005. The aim was simply to play songs by bands which we all enjoyed and also to create songs of our own. Influences include Metallica, Iron Maiden, Foo Fighters, Motorhead, Black Sabbath and many more. After spending a few months preparing Sour Mash played its first gigs in early 2006. These include venues such as The Flapper and Firkin, Sheldon Marquee and Bar Academy (Bham), The Jailhouse and Oak (Coventry) and also gigs at local schools and colleges. These shows have been attended by larger crowds as our fan base has grown and many promoters have promised more dates in the future. We have committed some of our songs to tape. These are recorded and produced by the band and are available on our my space site

Venue: The Swinging Sporran, Priory Sq (opposite Forbidden Planet), B4 7LL
Time: Doors 7pm
Cost: £3
Links:
www.myspace.com/rehab_brum
http://www.myspace.com/obsidianrainpfr
http://www.myspace.com/supanaut
http://www.myspace.com/sourmashrock

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 6th August
Indie Pop_Punk_New Wave



This is Tomorrow present Look See Proof + The Gravity Crisis + Flashguns +
DJ Matt Flux

Look See Proof:

Look See Proof, five best friends from Hertfordshire who write music we feel like writing... despite what any journalist likes to claim. We've been together just over two years and continue to keep working hard, writing new songs and playing shows.

We used to work, but since last year have had the pleasure to quit work and although it can be a struggle financially at times, we're having a great time doing this so thankyou to anyone who has shown us support!

The Gravity Crisis:
Based on a firm belief that noisey guitar music can be as melodic as anything else around, the band formed in a sweaty old converted Birmingham factory in late 2006....... in the rainy Spring of 2008 the Gravity Crisis received plays from Radio 1's Zane Lowe, Huw Stephens and Colin Murray, 6music's Tom Robinson and Steve Lamacq within the same week, all due to a demo sent in by chance, that along wih successful supports with The Enemy and The Pigeon Detectives in 2007 the band are now happily going about their biz playing shows... come and get involved!

"Certainly the best demo to land on my desk this year"
Steve Lamacq - BBC6 Music

"Punchy, golden era indie choruses weave and then soar from a super heavyweight backing. TGC are a wrecking ball, riddled with pop hooks, that you'll want your face to be smashed in with over and over again"
THE FLY

"Like Graham Coxon if he'd been raised on Motorhead instead of the Kinks"
NME

"How the Midlands awakes! The Gravity Crisis will be in danger of kick starting an exciting scene. For once the NME hit the proverbial nail. Certainly this twin guitar four-piece fires along like a rock'n'roll McLusky or English and artrock Pixies. Perhaps a tad more straight ahead (but also hooky) than the post-punk from Leeds and the North East (Forward Russia and Dartz!) but equally abrasive and flat-out. No releases to date but lets hope Artrocker Club dates help change all that ! I'd almost be tempted to mention 'old school' ... as in Detroit Garage Rock, Scandinavian art-punk (International Noise Conspiracy stylee) and UK punk-pop (Mega City 4) - any way it's full-throttle.
ARTROCKER MAGAZINE

"An epidemic in the waiting"
MEDIA ASSASSIN

"Buzzcocks-y vocals with a hard, fast and dirty...oh so dirty...musical heart. The kind of band that make you want to buy a motorbike and drive across America drinking Jack Daniels and snorting Ajax (it cleans the sinuses a treat so I'm told). Ace!"
THE HEARING AID

"Loud enough to be heard in space"
BBC ONLINE

Venue: The Yardbird, Paradise Place, City Centre
Time: 8pm
Cost: £5
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/thisistomorrowuk
http://www.myspace.com/lookseeproof
http://www.myspace.com/thegravitycrisis
www.myspace.com/flashguns

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 6th August
Indie_Funk_Hip Hop_Soul_Club

The Funtime club is a midweek mash up of Indie + Ska + Funk + Hip Hop, Soul, Crunk, House, Electro and DnB

Venue: The Beach at The Rainbow, Adderley Street, Digbeth, B9 4ED
Time: 9.30pm till late
Cost: £5
Links:
www.myspace.com/thefuntimeclubuk
www.myspace.com/rainbowevents

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 16th July
Indie_Rock_Alternative_New Wave



This is Tommorrow / Flux presents Sunset Cinema Club + Second Smile + William + 4 or 5 Magicians + Gravity Crisis DJ’s.

Sunset Cinema Club:
SCC formed way back in 2001 when we named ourselves after a now defunct porn cinema in Birmingham. Our mission has always been to provide party music for geeks and grebos.
They also host a night called Tropical Hotdog.

Venue: The Yardbird, next to Paradise Forum, City Centre
Time: 8pm
Cost: £3
Links:
www.myspace.com/thisistomorrowuk
http://www.myspace.com/secondsmile
http://www.myspace.com/sunsetcinemaclub
http://www.myspace.com/4or5magicians
http://www.myspace.com/williamtheband

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 16th July
Indie_Alternative_Ska_Rock

Platform Promotions presents Darren Jones and The Up! + Geezer + Sharks + more tba.

Darren Jones and the Up!:
Darren Jones is a 23 year old singer/songwriter, musician. Armed with a passion for indie rock ‘n’soul music he began the writing as a home recording project but after some good response from listeners he decided to get a band together and Darren Jones & The UP! is the result. Four piece Indie, Rock 'n' soul outfit from leicestershire, taking influences from FREE, Ryan Adams, CCR, Steely Dan to name a few.

Venue: The Flapper and Firkin, Cambrian Wharf, City Centre
Time: 8pm
Cost: £1
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/platform_promotions
http://www.myspace.com/theup1
http://www.myspace.com/thisissharks
http://www.myspace.com/thisisgeezer

Coming Up ..... Wednesday 16th July
Indie_Electro_Mash-Up



The Funtime club is a midweek mash up of Indie + Ska + Funk + Hip Hop, Soul, Crunk, House, Electro and DnB

Venue: The Beach at The Rainbow, Adderley Street, Digbeth, B9 4ED
Time: 9.30pm till late
Cost: £5
Links:
www.myspace.com/thefuntimeclubuk
www.myspace.com/rainbowevents

Coming Up ..... Tuesday 17th June
Electronica_Experimental



Crash Repeat play the second round of the Surface Unsigned Festival..and they are after your votes

Crash Repeat are a two-piece live electro band. Often improvising, they bring together a range of techno and 80's synth influences alongside busy rhythms, eclectic drum loops and weird vocals. Smitt and Crossen met in 2003 at one of Birmingham’s many depressing admin offices. Between shuffling papers they decided to collaborate on some progressive dance tracks and worked together on and off whilst Crossen, a keyboard musician and would-be producer since the age of 12, also made music for independent films and produced music for other bands. Eventually, in January of 2005, they joined up on a more permanent basis with two other artists to form electro-funk band ‘Jamaha Fut’. After a short run Jamaha Fut broke up but Smitt and Crossen, encouraged by their new sound, continued to work together under the name Crash Repeat. Stu has come a long way since his first 8 track sequencer and now spends almost every free minute programming new loops and sounds into an array of synthesizers and processors. When not dancing to Breakbeat or Techno, Smitt writes lyrics linked closely to his interests outside of the band, bringing together seemingly random subject matter, including everything from comic books to politics. During live sets they keep a loose improvised feel to the proceedings, Crossen develops the beats, bleeps and rhythms from behind his equipment whilst Smitt leaps about, energized by the music, keeping the crowd on their toes. They’ve played together now in a few placed across the West Midlands, recently taking part in a ‘Battle of the Bands’. Now they’ve got their eyes fixed on the dance-floors of Birmingham and the Black Country, eager to play for those with an ear for non-commercial, unconventional electro-techno.

Venue: The Med Bar at the Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth
Time: 9pm
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/crashrepeat

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Coming Up .....Tuesday 17th June
Jazz_Latin_Blues



The Sub Ensemble + Sara Colman.

The Sub-Ensemble features Chris Mapp who is co-founder of jazz band Sugar Beats, half of production duo Unity (Record Kicks) and leader of the aforementioned Sub Ensemble.

SARA COLMAN started out on piano and was writing songs in her teens even before she studied music at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Her debut solo album “Spellbound” was original material and her writing and arranging skills have led to commissions for artist such as Black Voices. Sara was a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 “Sold on Song” songwriting competition. Her formidable talent is just emerging on the national scene and she was among the elite group of artists selected for the Jerwood series of Rising Star concerts at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival and in 2006 she was a recipient of one of the inaugural Birmingham Jazz Awards. Sara sings with Liane Carroll and Jacqui Dankworth in the trio The Passion.

Venue: The Jamhouse
Time: 8pm
Cost: £FREE
Links:
http://www.thesubensemble.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/thesubensemble
http://www.myspace.com/headandfeet (Chris Mapp)
http://www.myspace.com/saracolman

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Coming Up ..... Tuesday 17th June
Melodic_Pop_Indie

New Acoustic Brew event in association with One Night Stand presents the No Time Wasters

Venue: The Island Bar, 14 - 16 Suffolk Street, B1 1LT
Time: 8pm
Cost: £FREE
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/notimewasters
http://www.myspace.com/acousticbrewuk

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Coming Up ..... Wednesday 18th June
Melodic_New Wave_Indie

This is Tomorrow presents Flux at the Yardbird with Tubelord + Shana Tova + Little Dipper + Dinosaur Pile Up + New York Noise DJs

Venue: The Yardbird
Time: 8pm
Cost: £FREE
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/thisistomorrowuk
http://www.myspace.com/tubelord
http://www.myspace.com/shanatova
http://www.myspace.com/littledipperlove
http://www.myspace.com/dinosaurpileup

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 On.....Wednesday 30th April
Indie_Alt_Spazz Rock_Modern Blues



This is Tomorrow/Flux present Mr Derry + The Law + Creepy Morons + Sabotage left + Flux DJ’s at the Yardbird

Mr Derry (from Birmingham) Straight-up indie rock'n'roll with a hint of blues. A fast-paced bank getaway gone right. Picture the Kings of Leon in a fist-fight with The Kills, being cheered on by a husky Debbie Harry and you'll begin to get the picture...

Venue: The Yardbird, Paradise Place
Time: 8pm start
Cost: £3

Links:
http://www.myspace.com/thisistomorrowuk
http://www.myspace.com/creepymorons
http://www.myspace.com/mrderry
http://www.myspace.com/sabotageleft

Indie_Electro Tunes

WoodenShed Presents Indie Bands and Electro tunes every Wednesday at The Island Bar

Venue: The Island Bar
Time: 8pm
Cost: £3 (usually)

Links:
http://www.myspace.com/woodenshed

Coming Up On.....Sunday 4th May
Indie_Pop_Electronica_New Wave



Flux all dayer.
The line-up is Middleman + Esser + Scarlet Harlots + James Yuill + Alan Pownall + Pictures of You + Waler + Barnsey plus Beat DJ’s

Venue: The Yardbird, Paradise Place
Time: 3pm onwards
Cost: £5

Links:www.myspace.com/thisistomorrowuk

Coming Up On.....Sunday 4th May
Hardcore_Metal_Death

Half Time Rehearsal + Defiant True Blood + Feral Eve + Remain in Silence

Half Time Rehearsal are a Metal/Hardcore band hailing from Birmingham. Together for around 18 months now, they are making steady progress on the Hardcore scene having played with the likes of Hades Chariot, Lavondyss, Deadweight and A Dream Called Ocean (FR) to name a few.
Since a settled line up was announced, the music written has become a lot faster and technical with some bone crushingly heavy beatdowns but also including melodic choruses to boot.

These guys have also been progressing well in the Surface Unsigned Festival - this is what they had to say about HTR.

"A tight mix of Metal and Hardcore – they’ve got a sound that is at times almost progressive; with unconventional track structures and some well executed guitar work giving their music a distinctively innovative quality, while Jon’s excellent vocal and some strong percussion bring some real energy into the mix. It was a strong performance all-around from a band with some great material, an intense stage presence and some real potential." - SURFACE UNSIGNED.

Venue: The Hollybush, Cradley Heath
Time: 8pm onwards
Cost: £3/£4 (usually)

Links:
http://www.myspace.com/halftimerehearsal
http://www.myspace.com/defianttrueblood
http://www.myspace.com/feraleve
http://www.myspace.com/remaininsilence

Coming Up On.....Wednesday 16th April
Indie_New Wave



This is Tomorrow present Flux with Old Skool Tie, Tired Irie, The Situationists and Pictures Paint Words + DJ’s in between and afterwards.

Taking place at the Yardbird, Paradise Place, City Centre. Starts at 8pm onto 1am. £4 in.