Category: BPreviews

Jim Noir comes to The Sunflower on Saturday 22^nd November, with support from Glitches + Mike Moloney. Tickets are priced at £10 with doors opening at 7:30pm – presented by Birmingham Promoters.

Manchester multi-instrumentalist, Jim Noir, has been banging his psychedelic Pop/Rock drums since 2004.

His debut studio album, Tower of Love, came out at the end of 2005 on My Dad Records (Manchester, UK) to generally positive reviews – the BBC calling it ‘the debut of the year’ and Drowned in Sound ‘a tasty entrée’.

Not to be outdone (or waste a 50cent metaphor) the BBC further added ‘…a swirling ethereal wonder to soundtrack your dreams and underscore your fantasies.’ Indeed.

A collaboration of his previous three EPs, with some cheeky new numbers thrown in for good measure, Noir’s debut gained pretty ubiquitous comparisons to The Beta Band. His latest and fourth studio album, the syntax mischievous Finnish Line, is also garnering comparisons from another, arguably better known, band beginning prefix/‘B’ – following its release earlier this month.

“Alcohol. Life. Death. Aliens; in that order I think,” reveals Jim Noir – of the album’s themes which, even by his standards, are particularly off-kilter. “It’s a roam around what I was thinking at a slightly hard point in my life. I stopped drinking for two months and had a moment of clarity.

A couple of songs are about Manchester and how weird it is. A couple about myself, girls, how I like to think aliens are just laughing at us and the futility of it all, and a couple about mortality and how, when, if, and why anyone should worry about it.”

Out on the road throughout November, Jim Noir is touring Finnish Line in venues from Glasgow to Brighton, with Saturday’s gig at The Sunflower Lounge marking the halfway cusp.

Self produced and self professed ‘altogether fuller, finer, and downright dandy’, Finnish Line is a hard album to dislike, full of cheeky Pop melodies and wah wahs of yesteryear. Plus the video of the lead single, ‘The Broadway Jets’, has a spandex clad ‘trio of ninja tadpole versions of himself (Jim Noir) who wreak havoc on the house whilst he’s asleep.’ Viddy below:

‘The Broadway Jets’ by Jim Noir, click here

Jim Noir plays at The Sunflower Lounge on Saturday 22^nd November. For further info & tickets, visit https://birminghampromoters.ticketabc.com/events/jim-noir/

For more on Jim Noir, visit http://www.jimnoir.com/ 

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For more form The Sunflower Lounge, visit http://www.thesunflowerlounge.com/ 

For more from Birmingham Promoters, visit http://birminghampromoters.com/

Above pic taken from Schizophrenic City – courtesy of Katie Foulkes

Schizophrenic City launches at Worcester Arts Workshop today, on display from Mon 17^th Nov until Monday 1^st Dec.

An exhibition from photographer Katie Foulkes, using multi-exposure, Schizophrenic City is a series of twelve images from Amsterdam “essentially trying to capture the different elements of being in a big city, the many opposing facets, such as day and night, tourist or local.”

Originally inspired by a Stompin’ on Spiders song of the same name, Katie decided to expand her focus into an exhibition when she “came back from Amsterdam, with much more than was needed for the video. It was such a mad place, and I had a lot of architectural shots that I wanted show – you see so much when you stop and look up.”

Katie Foulkes, aka KFD Photography, has been a professional photographer for the past two years.

Starting out taking shots of events and live music, and having worked several times for Birmingham Review, Katie is using Schizophrenic City to expand her portfolio into subjects including architecture.

Having studied Interior Architecture at UWIC, Schizophrenic City is the realisation of two compelling interests for Katie Foulkes – bringing the focus of her academic life into her subsequent work as a photographer.

“I learnt a lot of the theoretical side (of architecture) at university, such as design and history – having been introduced to photography at Hereford College beforehand,” says Katie, “but photography is where my energies focused once completing my degree. Now I’ve become more proficient and technically aware I wanted to go back to my roots in, and passion for, architecture – to have my cake and eat it.”

Images from Schizophrenic City series will also appear in the music video, of the same name, for Worcester based ‘purveyors of ‘New Tradition’ Blues’ – Stompin’ On Spiders.

A special one off gig will be performed by Stompin’ On Spiders at Worcester Arts Workshop on November 22^nd – entry is £4 on the door, with the event starting at 8:45pm.

For more on Katie Foulkes, visit http://www.kfdphotography.co.uk/

For more on Worcester Arts Workshop, visit http://worcesterartsworkshop.org.uk/

The Goon Show comes to The Old Joint Stock tonight (Fri 3^rd Oct) and tomorrow night (Sat 10^th Oct), as part of the opening programme for the Birmingham Comedy Festival.

Doors open at 7:30pm with tickets priced at £10.

Performing ‘Phantom Head Shaver of Brighton’ and ‘The Canal’, The Old Joint Stock Theatre Company secured rights from the Milligan estate to recreate the two 30min episodes, first recorded for the BBC in 1954.

The Goons – Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe & Michael Bentine, were prominent post WWII comedians and writers, specialising in irreverent and ‘off the wall’ sketches.

The Goon Show (nee Crazy People) was first commissioned by the BBC for the BBC Home Service (nee Radio 4) in 1951, running regularly across the wider station until 1960.

With almost immediate success, The Goon Show’s listening figures rose significantly throughout its inaugural the series – compelling an initially (and in some pockets, continuously) reticent BCC to commission a second series.

Despite serious disruption by cast members, with Bentine leaving the show and Spike Milligan’s increasing battle with mental health issues,  series two cemented The Goon Show’s success and led to a further eight commissions – with the BBC series finally ceasing production in 1960.

The Goon’s longstanding principle characters, including Major Dennis Bloodnok, Eccles, Bluebottle, Minnie Bannister & Henry Crun, alongside Secombe’s idiotic straight man, Neddie Seagoon, have long outlived their initial BBC broadcasts – with artistic contemporaries, across the years, citing them as an influence or inspiration.

Commenting on issues of race, class, colonialism and art fraud (The Fake Neddie Seagoon), Milligan’s scripts were steeped in edgy social commentary – delivered from the shadows of post WWII austerity measures, national social reform and the dissolution of the British Empire.

As far as cornerstones of modern British comedy go, The Goon Show is arguably one of the most revered. And funny.

The Goon Show comes to The Old Joint Stock on Temple Row West (by St Philip’s Cathedral – City Centre) on Fri 3^rd Oct and Sat 10^th Oct – performing episodes ‘Phantom Head Shaver of Brighton’ and ‘The Canal’, as part of the Birmingham Comedy Festival.

For further info & tickets, visit http://www.oldjointstock.co.uk/whats-on/the-goon-show

For more on the Birmingham Comedy Festival, visit http://www.bhamcomfest.co.uk/

The Jungle Brothers come to the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath on Weds Oct 1^st, with support from Juice Aleem – alongside DJ sets from E Double D & Sam Redmore. Doors open at 8pm, tickets are 17.50 advance (MOTD)

Presented by Freestyle, The Jungle Brothers coming to Birmingham marks the welcome return of Sam Redmore’s eclectic showcase event after its summer hiatus.

A Hip Hop headline act that legitimately hold a place in the genre’s evolution, the Oct 1^st booking is also another bright feather in the Hare & Hounds‘ plumage – a venue that has seen acts from Roy Ayres to Frank Skinner perform on its main stage.

Releasing their debut album – Straight Out the Jungle, in 1988, The Jungle Brothers helped turn the face of US Hip Hop in a new direction.

Surrounded by Chuck D’s verbose political attacks and N.W.A’s arguable glorification of South Central violence, The Jungle Brothers began carving an approach that would see artists like Del la Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and Guru progress and develop.

Embracing elements of Jazz and House music, Straight Out the Jungle was produced by Todd Terry – marking a cross over from Hip Hop to Dance that would evolve the genre further still. The album’s final 1988 single release, ‘I’ll House You’, piqued the interest of Warner Brothers, who would go on to release The Jungle Brothers’ second LP, Done by the Forces of Nature, in 1989.

Alongside the rise of independent labels such as Def Jam and Tommy Boy, this attention began an interest from the music majors in the growing Hip Hop subculture that would, in many ways, define the industry to come. Just ask Kanye (or not).

A long cry from the humble Electro of the late 80’s, The Jungle Brothers are back in the UK for an 11 date tour – coming to the Hare & Hounds on Weds Oct 1^st. For a quick reminder, click here or on the link below:

‘I’ll House You’ (1988) / The Jungle Brothers

The Jungle Brothers come to the Hare & Hounds (Kings Heath) on Weds 1^st October, presented by Freestyle. For further info & tickets, visit http://hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk/event-listings/event/?eventID=10032100

For more on The Jungle Brothers, visit http://www.junglebrothers4life.com/

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For more on Freestyle, visit https://www.facebook.com/freestylebirmingham

For further listings form the Hare & Hounds, visit http://hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk

Words by Ed King – follow him @EdKing2210 / Pics provided by Project SoundLounge

Project SoundLounge kicks off its three day festival tonight (Fri 8^th – Sun 10^thAug), promoting free concerts on a series of stages in & around the Birmingham Town Hall.

Starting with a four bill line up at the Town Hall, the first night of Project SoundLounge Festival 2014 presents a mix of live music, dance and performance.

Soul is high on the agenda, with local ensemble Antelope and solo artist Lumi HD both performing, alongside the seasoned Jazz/Blues/Gospel pianist Emmanuel Waldron.

The Forgotten Fairgound will also perform their twelve artist collaboration (nine musicians, three dancers) which explores ‘the theme of childhood imagination’. All gigs are free, with the Town Hall doors opening at 7pm.

But what is the Project SoundLounge Festival? The website tells us it ‘is an innovative and ambitious project model that places young people at the centre of the organisation’ – working with THSH to give them ‘the skills to shape and brand the youth programme (at THSH) whilst developing their skills as cultural leaders.’

So that’s a lot of boxes ticked.

The reality, the part of this that will give these ‘young people’ any real ‘skills as cultural leaders’ in the commercial world of music, the one that stands on its own two feet, is the line up – and that’s what attracted Birmingham Review’s attention in the first place. A bill so solid, in fact, that the free element initially passed us by. Project SoundLounge Festival 2014 just merited attention.

“The aim of the festival is to showcase Birmingham’s freshest emerging music talent of all genres,” explains the Project SoundLounge Festival team, “whilst giving young creatives the opportunity to programme, produce and promote a real music festival.” Plus they get to toy around with the Town Hall, not a bad stage to cut your promotional teeth on. But who’s the audience?

“We want to give the young people of Birmingham a chance to get involved with our city’s music scene and discover bands they might not have otherwise heard, which is why we were keen to make it a free event, so that everyone can just come along and listen to the amazing talent Birmingham has to offer.”

If someone mentions age again I might just give up; it’s a good line up, one that arguably justifies the event hyperbole or even a door charge. But with a team of nine (or seven, depending on which part of the website you read) all pitching in, and more than a few musicians knocking around this fair city, was it difficult to tie down the programme?

“Programming for the festival began with all team members proposing 10-15 local artists of different genres each, who they would like to see perform. We ended up with a database of much more than 15 artists each, so the three members heading up programming then took responsibility to whittle it down, find out artist availability, and shape a suitable and varied programme for the festival.” Ah democracy… Were there genre squabbles, a touch of plutonic nepotism? Was this lesson one?

“As a team, we are all interested in different genres of music, and were keen that the festival should reflect this diversity.” ARRGGHHH, NOT THE ‘D’ WORD… “We decided each day should therefore have a particular genre in mind; we planned for Friday to be jazz and soul, Saturday to be an eclectic carnival theme, and Sunday to be jazz and folk.”

And, to us at least, it’s a respectable representation; were the festival team happy with the end programme?  “On the whole, we’ve managed to deliver a programme relatively true to this initial idea – of course, the programming team did experience some difficulties here with artist availability, but it was all part of the learning experience for us.” The joys of diary juggling; there’s lesson one.

But the Project SoundLounge Festival has something to tempt the acts they approach – namely the Town Hall stage, or the very visible city centre locations they are hosting the Saturday shows in; exposure, and how to pitch it. So there’s lesson two.

Performing at the Town Hall tonight are Antelope – an eight piece ensemble playing across genres from D’n’B to Jazz, with a touch of ‘Midland’s Soul’; music to “get people up and moving” explains singer, Taan Parisse.

“We were approached by two of the Project SoundLounge team asking us take part and we were all over it,” continues Parisse. “We have a few pals who were involved in the festival last year that had a blast so being asked to headline this Friday is great. We haven’t played in Birmingham for a while; (tonight) we’ll be playing some tracks off both our 1st and 2nd EP’s as well as some tracks we haven’t showcased in Brum yet.”

Also on tonight’s Town Hall bill is Lumi HD, a Birmingham based Soul singer who “played at Sound Lounge Festival last year at the Symphony Hall Foyer, loved it and fortunately was invited back this year.”  Any changes in approach, now that you’re performing in the Town Hall? “I’ll be playing with the full(ish) band – which I love to do – a mix of tunes from my current EP, covers and fresh unheard songs of mine. It’s all quite ambient, at times moody, but should hopefully be a solid set.”

So far so good, with a respectable array of acts to cover the remaining weekend. Performing in the REP Theatre mezzanine, on Saturday afternoon – from 4pm onwards, is Hansu-Tori; a five piece Jazz ensemble with ‘a sound cleverly composed and layered with keys, trumpet, electronics, alto sax, bass and drums.’

Headed by pianist David Grey, a man who’s earned his musical stripes, Hansu-Tori “think the festival will showcase the high calibre music that’s coming out of the city. I hope it will encourage people to seek out vibrant new artists and support the live music that’s happening around them.”

And what can we expect from the quintet on Saturday? “We’ll be performing material from out new album ‘An Improvised Escape’ due for release in September.” Plugged like a professional; to get familiar with some more from David Grey, click on the links for a Birmingham Review of The Dark Red Room album and gig supporting Shabaha Hutchings & the Son of Kemet.

But to close the three day festival, Sunday reclaims the Town Hall stage with another four act line up; not a bad Sunday night gig for any local artist. “I’m pretty sure that we applied to play last year’s festival,” explains Rosie from The Mourning Suns – who make up ¼ of the final show, “and have been asked back for 2014.”

“We will be performing a set of our own songs,” continues Rosie, “mostly songs that will be featured on our album – to hopefully come out in October, but we might throw in a new one or two.

A few of us, including me, haven’t played at Birmingham Town Hall yet, and we are just thrilled to be doing so. Also, this show happens to be the last of our Summer tour shows, so I think our performance will have a nice vibe about it.”

And as for the Project SoundLounge Festival, which is now in its second year? “I hope it grows and grows, it’s a great thing for musicians in Birmingham.”

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Project SoundLounge Festival ’14 starts at the Town Hall tonight, continuing across various venues throughout the weekend (Fri 8^th – Sun 10^th August). All gigs are free – for further information, visit http://www.thsh.co.uk/event/project-soundlounge/

For more on Project SoundLounge, visit http://projectsoundlounge.co.uk/

For more from the Tonw & Symphony Halls, visit http://www.thsh.co.uk/ 

 

 

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Project SoundLounge Festival ’14 / Full line up – with links (where possible)

Town Hall, Friday 8 August, 7pm
Antelope
Emmanuel Waldron
The Forgotten Fairground
Lumi HD

Brindleyplace, Saturday 9 August, 1pm
Lobster
Beat Root
.44 Pistol

The Rep, Mezzanine, Saturday 9 August, 4pm
Hansu-Tori
Dantanna
Deaf Inspector

Town Hall, Sunday 10 August, 4pm
Boat to Row
Bonfire Radicals
The Mourning Suns
Tom Walker Trio