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June 7, 2015July 17, 2018

BPREVIEW: A Pigeon on a Branch Reflecting on Existence @ mac, 7/8th June ‘15

The final film in Swedish director Roy Andersson‘s ‘Living Trilogy’, A Pigeon on a Branch Reflecting on Existence, is being screened at mac Birmingham on Sunday 7th June & Monday 8th June.

Screenings start at 8pm on Sunday and 7pm on Monday, with tickets priced from £7.50 – for further info & online booking, click here

A Pigeon on a Branch Reflecting on Existence was premiered in 2014 at The Venice Film Festival, where it was awarded the prestigious Golden Lion award for best film. From October the same year, the film was further released through cinemas across the world – premiering in Andersson’s native Sweden at the Stockholm International Film Festival on November 9^th 2014.

Described as a dark-comedy, the film takes a look at what it means to be human through Andersson’s own obscure and surreal observations of the human condition.

The film’s title was inspired by the painting ‘Hunters in The Snow’ by Pieter Brugel; Andersson said that he imagined the birds in the painting looking down on the people below and wonder what they are doing. He was further quoted as saying “(it is a) different way of saying ‘what are we actually doing’, that’s what the movie is about.”

Mostly set in modern day Sweden, A Pigeon on a Branch Reflecting on Existence follows two business partners who constantly argue – both suffering from chronic depression, exacerbated by the people they encounter whilst fruitlessly trying to sell novelty items door to door.

Unnervingly split between reality and fantasy, Andersson purposely uses a cast of unknown actors to portray the film’s grey, soulless and often anonymous characters – each telling a story that doesn’t necessarily have a specific narrative.

Roy Andersson‘s unique way of storytelling has been met with high critical acclaim. With review aggregator site, Metacritic, scoring the film 89%, A Pigeon on a Branch Reflecting on Existence has been described as “excruciatingly funny and streaked with coal black humour” by Time Out magazine, and “one of the strangest films you’ll see this (or any) year…” by Total Film.

Preceded by Songs from the Second Floor (2000) and You, the Living (2007), A Pigeon on a Branch Reflecting on Existence is the third and final film in Andersson’s ‘The Living Trilogy’ – concluding the Studio 24 founder’s personal vision on what defines us as a unique, yet detached species.

A Pigeon on a Branch Reflecting on Existence – official trailer

A Pigeon on a Branch Reflecting on Existence is screened at mac Birmingham on Sunday 7^th June & Monday 8^th June. For further info & online bookings, visit http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/a-pigeon-on-a-branch-reflecting-on-existence/

For more on Roy Andersson, visit http://www.royandersson.com/

For more from mac Birmingham, including full cinema and event listings, visit http://macbirmingham.co.uk/

June 4, 2015June 4, 2015

BPREVIEW: Sic’Nis + Midnight Magpie, Karl Monroe @ Hare & Hounds, 5th June ‘15

Birds of Paradise bring their music showcase back to the Hare & Hounds, presenting Sic’Nis on Friday 5^th June – with live support from Midnight Magpie & Karl Monroe, plus Will Itsasecret (DJ).

Doors open at 8:30pm with entrance at £3 – for further info & online tickets, click here

Sic’Nis is somewhat of a stalwart on the Birmingham scene; tough, together and dedicated to her music, there are much worse role models for the women of this city. And the men, for that matter.

An acronym for ‘Succeeding Impossible Circumstances Needs Impossible Strength’, Sic’Nis has been a testament to her name – involving herself deeply in the local scene, through her own music and promoting others though city based & Internet radio shows.

Recognised by her melodic Hip-Hop flow, Dancehall/Soul vocals, alongside considered and socially astute lyrics, Sic’Nis first came to Birmingham Review’s attention at The Flyover Show 2012.

Her debut EP, The Prequel, had been released the previous year (featuring the bass heavy ‘B C Heavy’ underground hit) and the young artist from Handsworth was a proud face of both the area and the Soweto Kinch founded event.

Featuring as lyricist on various subsequent projects, including Juice String & Jeremy Sylvester’s ‘A Wah Do Dem’ in 2012 and Alaska MC’s ‘What You Want’ in 2013, Sic’Nis also went on to build an increasing reputation for her live shows – earning support spots with acts including Ghostface Killah and Akala.

In 2014, Sic’Nis released her ‘Where I Stand’ single, featuring fellow Birmingham artist/vocalist Adante.

‘Where I Stand’ – Sic’Nis, featuring Adante

Having previously supported Antelope at the last Birds of Paradise showcase, Sic’Nis will be joined by a full band for her returning, headline set.

Birds of Paradise present Sic’Nis + Midnight Magpie, Karl Monroe, Will Itsasecret at the Hare & Hounds (Kings Heath) on Friday 5^th June. For further gig info & tickets, visit http://hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk/event-listings/event/?eventID=10036573

For more from Sic’Nis, visit http://www.sicnis.com/

For further listing from the Hare & Hounds, visit http://hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk/event-listings/

June 4, 2015June 5, 2015

ED’S PICK: Lunar Festival @ Umberslade Estate, 5th to 7th June ‘15

Lunar Festival returns to Umberslade Park & Farm Estate this weekend, with the site open from 10am on Friday 5^th until to 7^th June.

A three day affair, with daily tickets for £39 (advance) & £45 (otd) or a weekend pass for £89 & £100 (otd), Lunar is enjoying its fourth festival summer this year – with acts from Wilko Johnson to the Bootleg Beatles on the main stage.

There’s even a limited place homage to Nick Drake, where two score ‘Lunarees’ (…trademark Birmingham Review) will be taken off site for a secluded listen to Bryter Layter – the sophomore album from the man who’s partly the reason we’re all here this weekend.

But never fear, there’s plenty more to keep you occupied for 72 hours; we’ve even highlighted a few below:

Friday 5^th June / Modulate presents Higher Intelligence Agency

Once you’ve arrived, found your friends, claimed that sweet camping spot (just far/near enough to everything necessary) and started perhaps earlier than you thought you might, why not keep Modulate in mind.

Coming back to a Birmingham crowd, in what could only induce tears and laughter from a few of us, Mr Bobby Bird will be playing live Higher Intelligence Agency tracks as part of an evening from the ex-Oscillate (well 2/3 of them) audio/visual collective. Modulate will no doubt make the closing hours of Lunar Day One suitably blissful, with enough sensory tickling to keep even the hardest hit amongst us safe and sound (or at least occupied). But if you want to see en masse middle aged Ambient Techno memory lane… this might well be worth a look.

For more on Modulate at Lunar Festival, visit http://lunarfestival.co.uk/line-up/modulate-presents-higher-intelligence-agency/

For more on Modulate, visit http://www.modulate.org.uk/

For more from Higher Intelligence Agency, visit https://higherintelligenceagency.wordpress.com/

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Saturday 6^th June / Trembling Bells & Mike Heron

A lot to get excited about on Saturday (just finger stroll the line up) but a particular point of interest on the bill is Trembling Bells & Mike Heron. Having collaborated with the Incredible String Band founder on a previous 2011 tour, The Bells & Mike Heron are coming to Lunar Festival as part of their ‘The Circle is Unbroken’ UK endeavour – performing tracks from the first four, now reissued, Incredible String Band albums.

Although you could say this about a few faces on the Saturday line up, this will be a chance to see so serious calibre on stage. Either of these acts would be worth a look/listen in their own right, but have formed a musical partnership that seems to be confidently evolving.

For more on Trembling Bells & Mike Heron at Lunar Festival, visit http://lunarfestival.co.uk/line-up/mike-heron-trembling-bells/

For more on Trembling Bells, visit http://www.tremblingbells.com/

For more on Mike Heron, visit http://www.mikeheron.co.uk/

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Sunday 7^th June / BBC Radiophonic Workshop

With childlike excitement, Sunday afternoon sees the BBC Radiophonic Workshop perform live on the Lunar main stage. Formed by old members of the BBC’s sound effect unit at Maida Vale, the Radiophonic Workshop have been behind some of the most memorable music to grace our airwaves – from The Goon Show to Doctor Who, via the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Blake’s 7.

Touring a live show since 2009, today’s line up began with former Workshop composers Roger Limb, Paddy Kingsland and Peter Howell, alongside archivist Mark Ayres – coming together for a special concert at the Roundhouse in 2008. Pioneering techniques and approaches that will have underpinned so much of modern Electronica, including a fair number on the rest of the Lunar bill, the BBC Radiophonic Workshop are a seminal ensemble who helped carve out a part of contemporary culture. Plus how cool would it be to see the Doctor Who theme tune played live..?

For more on the BBC Radiophonic Workshop at Lunar Festival, visit http://lunarfestival.co.uk/line-up/bbc-radiophonic-workshop/

For more on the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, visit http://theradiophonicworkshop.co.uk/

Lunar Festival comes to the Umberslade Park & Farm Estate, from 5^th to 7^th June. Tickets are still available– priced at £42 per day (advance) or a weekend pass for £94 (advance).

For further information, and online tickets, visit http://lunarfestival.co.uk/

June 4, 2015June 4, 2015

BPREVIEW: Dub Pistols @ The Oobleck, 5th June ’15

The Dub Pistols bring their nationwide ‘The Return of The Pistoleros’ tour to The Oobleck, at Alfie Birds in Digbeth, on Friday 5th June 2015. Tickets are priced at £12 (advance) with doors open from 7pm.

Based in London, the Dub Pistols are a transatlantic Electronica group originally formed in 1996. With founding members Barry Ashworth and Jason O’Bryan already having a history in club promoting and sound producing respectively, the Dub Pistols started with a firm involvement in the Electro/Dub scene.

Over the subsequent years the Dub Pistols grew into a fuller band, recruiting the Brooklyn based lyricist T.K. Lawrence, guitarist John King and DJ Stix (aka Steve Hunt). The band’s latest member, drummer Jack Cowens, joined the Dub Pistols in 2008.

Following a couple of single releases in 1998, the Dub Pistols release their debut album, Point Blank, on A&M records the same year. Despite being received with generally favourable reviews, the group left A&M to release their second album, Six Million Ways to Live, through Distinctive Records (UK) and Geffen (US).

Moving to Rob Da Bank’s Sunday Best label for their third album, Speakers & Tweeters, the Dub Pistols would go on to release a total of six studio albums – with their latest, The Return of the Pistoleros, released on Sunday Best in June 2015.The Dub Pistols also released a remix album, called Rehash, in 2011.

Regulars on the international festival scene, and collaborating with artists such as Blade, Rodney P, Horace Andy and the Specials’ lead singer Terry Hall, the Dub Pistols have grafted through a near two decade career of fluctuating highs, lows, contracts and labels.

Fervently autonomous, in an interview with Clash magazine in 2010 Ashworth openly addressed the idea that the Dub Pistols have never swayed to one particular genre. Quoted as saying “The whole point of the Dub Pistols, from the name down to everything else, was that you couldn’t categorise it and it couldn’t be pigeonholed…”

Ashworth has also made reference to the Big Beat scene that they arguably helped build, in both the UK and US, but were washed over with by the success of artists like Fatboy Slim.

In a 2012 interview with the American EDM website crossfadr.com, Barry Ashworth said: “there was a big backlash to that (Big Beat) in the UK once Fatboy Slim had blown up and we were lucky enough to fu*k off to America and spend four years touring. By the time we got back to the UK everyone had forgot about the tag and we managed to get on with being a band if you like rather than being a sound.”

June 2015 saw Dub Pistols release their 6th studio album, The Return of the Pistoleros, alongside a nationwide tour to promote the LP.

The Return of the Pistoleros is named in honour of the nickname, ‘pistoleros’, given to their ever faithful fans – with a supporting tour set to return the Dub Pistols’ unruly and energtic mix of Dub, Ska and Hip-Hop to a number of UK venues and festivals. Birmingham get’s its turn, at The Oobleck, on Friday 5th June.

Dub Pistols come to The Oobleck at Alfie Birds in Digbeth, on Friday 5th June 2015 – as part of their ‘Return of The Pistoleros’ tour. For more information and tickets, visit http://theoobleck.co.uk/event/dub-pistols/

For more on the Dub Pistols, visit http://dubpistolsmusic.co.uk/

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For further listing from The Oobleck, visit http://theoobleck.co.uk/

For more on Alfie Birds, visit http://alfiebirds.co.uk/

June 2, 2015June 2, 2015

REVIEW: Richie Ramone @ The Oobleck, 28th May ‘15

Words by Helen Knott / Pics by Ella Carman

It’s funny how certain bands attract a hardcore following of loyal fans: The Manics, Sabbath, One Direction… the Ramones.

And tonight, Birmingham’s Ramones fans can’t possibly pass up an opportunity like this – an evening in the company of Richie Ramone, the legendary drummer who re-energised the group in the mid-80s.

The first support band, Idol Dead, haven’t quite built up a similar fanbase yet; I think there are about eight of us in the room while they play. Still, to their credit, they don’t let the small crowd put them off.

Their lead singer, Polly, struts and postures like he is headlining Wembley Stadium – climbing speaker stacks and generally acting like an out-and-out rock god.

The music is an always-entertaining series of Guns ‘n’ Roses loving Classic Rock songs, solid and well constructed. It’s a testament to their charm that Idol Dead are able to get the limited crowd to participate enthusiastically in the final tracks’ call and response finale.

Venrez are fronted by Hollywood producer Steven Venrez and have bagged an impressive array of support slots in the last few years, opening for artists such as Slash and Alice Cooper. The venue has filled up a little by the time they take to the stage, but things still feel (and more importantly sound) rather echoey and cavernous.

I don’t know if it’s the lack of people, or the fact that the band is normally a five piece rather than tonight’s four piece, but Venrez sound really muddy. There is very little in the way of bass or treble from the guitars, or melody from the vocalist.

Early on in the performance there is an enjoyably long drone section that makes me think that Venrez might present an interesting and contemporary take on 70s rock. The rest of the set proves I’m mistaken.

Still, we’re all here to see Richie. Richie is the only Ramones drummer who also sang lead vocals and wrote songs for the group, with his most famous Ramones tracks including ‘Somebody Put Something in My Drink’, ‘Smash You’ and ‘I’m Not Jesus’.

As soon as he appears on stage and reaches out to the audience, “I want to touch you”, we know we’re in the presence of a bona fide rock star. Songs come fast, hard and heavy, as Richie and his frenetic band blast us with an almost continuous onslaught of primitive two-minute Punk songs.

Richie, still an impressively fast and talented drummer, alternates between the drum kit and the front of the stage throughout. The set includes a mixture of Ramones songs (including the famous ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’) and material from Richie’s 2013 solo album, Entitled.

This is crowd-pleasing stuff and you can spot the hardcore fans a mile away, typically on their own, wearing their black t-shirts and blue jeans and looking ecstatically happy. I find myself envying them and their almost spiritual experience.

But by the end, old and new fans alike are beaten into submission. And Richie Ramone leaves, as suddenly as he arrived, with an audience hungry for more.

For more on Richie Ramone, visit http://www.richieramone.com/

For more from The Oobleck, visit http://theoobleck.co.uk/