Category: BR Content

Words by Ed King / Pics by Carlie-Ann Hare

It’s like being punched in the face, a feeling I am all too familiar with; heavy, brash and an odd way to say hello. But at least we know the gig’s started.

Hannah Trigwell opens her set off the back of a very loud kick drum; one that startles most of the room outside the mixing console. Playing five consecutive dates across the UK, with a full band in tow, tonight is the first gig of her debut headline tour and a comfortable crowd has dodged the January rain to come and wish her well. Having built up a large fan base from online posts and performances, there is a cozy camaraderie in the Academy 3. I’m standing next to somebody’s mum and dad.

‘Give it Up’ fades out and Hannah asks “how are you Birmingham?”; a dangerous question in this city and one I’ve seen unanswered by a stadium of Brummies. But her professional segue gains a reassuring response, and the Leeds born singer/songwriter moves deftly into track number two, ‘You’.

Hannah Trigwell’s debut single, ‘Headrush’, is up next, and gets greeted with a resounding cheer of recognition; before an homage to Drake’s double platinum selling ‘Hold On, We’re Going Home’, minus Ebony Day.

Hannah Trigwell is a solid songwriter, with each original track showing subtle melody and the simple pleasure of an intrinsically, good, song. Something many more seasoned musicians never achieve. But the band around her seems to be fighting for prominence, speared by a precocious guitarist with a reverb/flange addiction; I’m often distracted by a disjointed delivery. Although as ‘Numbers’ catches its stride (and almost exactly as I write ‘disjointed’ into my notebook) there evolves some unity on stage, as if the four well rehearsed musicians momentarily stop stressing, and just play together. During the crescendo they feel like a band.

The title track from Hannah’s debut 3 Peace Records EP, Pieces, reminds me of Jewel and just how much Ms Trigwell can sing. It’s quite beautiful, especially live. But as she moves straight into ‘Another Broken Heart’ I start to feel the friction again, and catch an arguably deflated look jumping quickly off stage.

What happens next is much more empowering. After a potentially nervous, hopefully earnest, plea for feedback, the main set’s penultimate track begins with a tough, biting intro.

Plotted, low vocals make a clean stance on stage, building to a determined chorus; Hannah Trigwell looks strong and sounds stronger. There’s a darker feel, but one that’s supported by a considered maturity – and although I can’t make out the lyrics I get the impression they’re pertinent; to the writer, to the singer, and to the audience if they want them to be. As ‘Rectify’ gets the hearty applause it deserves, I relax in the aftermath of a track she owns start to finish.

Hannah Trigwell ends her set with ‘Hurricane’ and a two track encore – another new track, ‘Tightrope’, and the seemingly ubiquitous cover of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’. But it’s ‘Rectify’ I leave to room remembering most.

A sample of things to come..? I certain hope so. And I don’t mind having my head knocked back if it going to sound like this.

For more on Hannah Trigwell, including full tour dates and links to her Pieces EP, visit http://www.hannahtrigwell.com

For further listings at the O2 Academy Birmingham, visit http://www.o2academybirmingham.co.uk

Hannah Trigwell comes to the O2 Academy Birmingham on Wednesday 15^th Jan, performing in the city centre venue’s Academy 3 room.

Kicking off her first headline tour in Birmingham, Ms Trigwell is back on the road to showcase new material – songs that will get their first live outing on at O2 Academy Birmingham show on Jan 15^th.

Rising to notoriety through a succession of YouTube videos, including both selected covers and original material, Hannah Trigwell has built a solid online following – with her website reporting ‘over 6 million views and (gains) over 10,000 hits per day.’ Not bad for an artist who cut their teeth busking on the streets of Leeds.

Alongside a series of prolific covers, it was Hannah Trigwell’s original material that caught the attention of US band, Boyce Avenue – who subsequently invited Ms Trigwell to support them at UK dates on their Autumn 2010 tour. She joined Boyce Avenue again during the UK leg of their 2011 European tour, and signed to the band’s independent label, 3 Peace Records, the following year.

Pieces, Hannah Trigwell’s third EP and first release on 3 Peace Records, was released in October 2013; including a mix of remastered early material alongside new recordings. A separate new track, ‘Tightrope’, was also made available as a limited release digital download.

Feeling “really ready for it; excited, but very prepared”, Hannah Trigwell’s set on Jan 15^th will include a mix of established material, new tracks and selected covers. Ms Trigwell will also be accompanied by a full band throughout her headline tour, who despite being “just four of us, including me, (we) make quite a big sound.”

Hannah Trigwell will also be supported across the tour by Elissa Franceschi and Etham Basden, the later replacing Paighton who recently disbanded.

**Birmingham Review caught up with Hannah Trigwell on the run up to her O2 Academy gig, and the start of her first headline tour. Read the full interview tomorrow – 14.01.14**

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Hannah Trigwell plays the O2 Academy 3 on Weds 15^th Jan. For further information and tickets, visit http://www.o2academybirmingham.co.uk/event/59317/hannah-trigwell-tickets

For more on Hannah Trigwell, including links to digital purchases of her Pieces EP and other material, visit http://www.hannahtrigwell.com

As the ticking clock to 2014 get louder… and LOUder… and LOUDER, we’ve cherry picked a few of our favourite venues to see what they’re bringing to the New Year’s Eve bun fight.

Plus we’re running a 10 WORD NEW YEAR’S EVE REVIEW competition for all of the events featured, where you can win tickets to a multitude of Birmingham venues. Check out our Paid for Content page & Support Our Stories for more info.

So with a short overview, appropriate links, and a note from our Editor – here is a Birmingham Preview of New Year’s Eve 2013/4:

Ort Café

Offering a ‘Fantasy New Year’s Eve Party’, Balsall Heath based Ort Café is finishing the year with a live show from Free School – the Birmingham based purveyors of ‘sunny Balearic sounds of summer and the icy kosmiche sounds of winter’. Fancy dress is optional, with Free School potentially performing behind ‘masks of lamb’.

Price: £8 advance

Times: 9pm onwards

Link: http://ortcafe.co.uk/?p=3748

Ed’s note… One of Birmingham’s more encouraging venues with one of Birmingham’s more encouraging acts playing; all in all, Ort Café’s NYE bash is very… I’ve been a big fan of what Ort Café are up to and Birmingham Review has seen some cracking gigs there in 2013 – Daisy Chapman & Rhiannon Mair being a personal highlight. One to keep watching in 2014

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Cherry Reds (Kings Heath)

Adopting the almost ubiquitous ‘Speakeasy’ approach, Cherry Reds (Kings Heath) are committing a serious act of event altruism by holding a free party this New Year’s Eve. Cosy, compact & considered, Cherry Reds has been a welcome alternative to the York Street blossom of recent years – but you’ll probably have to get there early to squeeze yourself in on NYE.

 Price: Free

Times: Open from 10am – 1am

Link: http://www.cherryreds.com/events.html

Ed’s note… There’s a lot to like about Cherry Reds (Kings Heath); from the beer to the burgers it’s a cracking little place to spend some time/money. Not sure how it’ll fare with a New Year’s Eve rush though, and the possible drunk overspill from its well attended neighbor; but the free entry NYE offer deserves a nod of approval

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The Victoria / Island Bar

Bitters ‘n’ Twisted have tied their John Bright/Suffolk St venues together for a double whammy New Year’s Eve. With a mix of music from Northern Soul, Motown, Disco & Rock to ‘ferocious funk and guerrilla groove’, whatever the latter may turn out to be. One very reasonably priced ticket allows you to jump between the two neighbouring venues.

 Price: £8 advance / £10 on the door

Times: 9pm – 3am

Link: http://www.thevictoriabirmingham.co.uk/#/new-years-eve

 Ed’s note… Steadily marching through Birmingham, Bitters ‘n’ Twisted have been breathing life into old dogs for a few years now; with a very sexy array of venues in their current portfolio. But The Victoria is one of my favourites, and the NYE door price would be acceptable for just the John Bright St venue. But with two more floors of parties at the Island Bar thrown in for a tenner or under, we salute you.  

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The Church

Another free party, this time from The Church in Hockey (Great Hampton St). Soul Food Soundsytem will be bringing a ‘mix of funk, soul, hip-hop and New Orleans magic’ to the JQ New Year’s table, plus the occasional roof top roast chestnut.

Price: Free

Times: Undisclosed

Link: http://www.churchjq.co.uk/events/new-years-eve-2/

Ed’s note… Worth it for the Whiskey cocktails alone. The Church is another favourite of mine; with a solid kitchen, gregarious staff and a lavish cocktail menu. Especially the Whiskey ones. And although they could probably have charged and comfortably got away with it, they’re opening their NYE doors for free.

Did I mention the Whiskey cocktails..?

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The Glee Club

Offering only comedy on New Year’s Eve, The Glee Club has sold out its Main Room party but is extending into the Studio Room for extra capacity. Comedians Andy Robinson, Ian Coppinger, Romesh Ranganathan & Andrew Lawrence will all be performing stand up in both rooms – but for a decreased ticket price in the smaller Studio. Food is only available in the Main Room.

Price: £20 Studio Room

Times: 8:30pm until close

Link: http://www.glee.co.uk/birmingham-comedy#birmingham-new-years-eve-comedy

Ed’s note… Gigs at The Glee Club are a joy to review. Markus Sargeant has built a cracking music programme, bringing acts & artists that you wouldn’t see elsewhere in Birmingham. Or perhaps you just wouldn’t want to. Some of my most memorable reports have been from The Glee Club, and although Birmingham Review hasn’t delved into their comedy offerings yet…

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For more details on our 10 WORD NEW YEAR’S EVE REVIEW competition, visit our Paid for Content page & Support Our Stories.

Happy New Year from all at Birmingham Review

Words by Althea Patterson, pics by Carlie-Ann Hare

Well this is ridiculous fun…

Straight-laced amateurs move closely and nervously, while the more serious dancers sway and bop with gracious ease; shaming all us who sit and gawp.

Tattooed rockabillies Jive and Lindy-Hop to beautiful Swing music. Gig posters for Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington adorn the walls. Is this really 2013 Kings Heath, or a Capone controlled Speakeasy in 30’s Chicago?

Whatever it is, it’s brought out an eclectic mix of folk; from hippies, rockers, too-cool-for-school wannabes and the simply curious, wondering what the hell is going on. I sup my beer and embrace the madness.

The dancers continue to move with ease and style, perfecting routines that would make a surefooted cat look clumsy; an absolute delight. My cohorts and I sit watch with respect and a twinge of envy.

In the first of two rooms, I was in the one for the dancers and shakers. And it’s a refreshing change to slip between centuries; from Singapore Sling to Sex on The beach in a heartbeat.

In the second room – what a contrast. My neck cricks at the speed of the spin. Faux Flappers writhe between hip hoppers, Electric Swing Circus slap the stage with their infectious exuberant eclecticism; with influences as diverse as Bjork, Erykah Badu, Janelle Monae and the Spice Girls.

Electric Swing Circus’ leading lady, Laura Louise, dons a Santa-esque red dress trimmed with faux ermine to belt out a confident set. A lady who says she’s a natural extrovert, I fall in love with her stage presence.

And the band are kicking down the door of change in music for 2014; declaring they want to “bring something spectacularly fresh to pop music”. I hope they do; as go home at 3am, listening to their deliciously infectious eponymous debut album, I still have oodles of energy.

A great night; I loved the dancing, the 40’s seamed stockings, zoot suits, and gusto from the passionate people both partaking and observing.

Thank you Hot Club de Swing, have a spectacular Christmas, and more please.

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For more on Hot Club de Swing, visit https://www.facebook.com/hotclubdeswing

For more on Electric Swing Circus, visit http://www.electricswingcircus.com/

For more on the Swingamajig festival, visit http://swingamajig.co.uk/

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For more gigs at the Hare & Hounds, visit http://hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk/event-listings