Ed’s… (end of festivals) Highlights, Aug ’12

August, the most musically moribund month of the year.

The last ‘summer’ month of festival bills, every artist worth a cover charge is holed up in a camper van green room or VIP marquee (a beer tent with chairs, to the lay person).

Seriously, check the listings. Who? Huh? Why? I thought they were dead..? It’s pitiful; a despondent byproduct of Festival Republic’s monotonous takeover.

But luckily for us, a couple of bright sparks decided THIS was the month to do something special; to bring a bulging bevy bag of brilliance (it exists) to the bleak seats of Birmingham.

And whilst one perches on the zenith of the fiscal rainbow, the other is free. So like Lisa Simpson’s cooking ‘it all balances out’.

The Flyover Show 2012 

Underneath the Hockley Flyover, Aug 18th

Literally what it says it is; a big sound system party underneath the Hockley Flyover. Which, if you’re not au fait with the underpasses of Birmingham, is the ‘forgotten space’ in the middle of the Hockley Circus roundabout – joining Soho Road and Great Hampton St.

And before you groan under the weight of another ‘creative urban endeavour’, this little beauty has been running consecutively for the past 5 years. And it rocks. My official descriptive.

Previous Flyover Shows have seen Ms Dynamite, Bashy, and last year’s headliners – Akala and Goldie, all play FOR FREE at this very special occasion.

This year’s event celebrates the cultural contributions of Jamaica to Britain throughout its programme”; which means MAXI PRIEST is headlining, alongside Janet Kay (of ‘Silly Games’ fame), Steel Pulse founder – Basil Gabbidon, Julian Joseph, Wordsworth MC (popping over from Brooklyn), and the man whose idea it was in the first place, Soweto Kinch.

Local support comes from the Deci4life, RTKAL and Lady Leshurr – the Brummie contingent of the 367 Crew and a frighteningly fast lyricist. Keep your eye on her.

The Flyover Show 2012 takes place on Sat Aug 18th, underneath the Hockley Flyover – at the bottom of Soho Road and Great Hampton St.

Running from 12noon until 9pm, it’s totally free to attend.

For full details check out www.theflyovershow.com or their Facebook page www.facebook.com/theflyovershow

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Moseley Folk Festival 2012

Moseley Park, Aug 31st to Sept 2nd

They said it would never happen; now 6 years old, the Moseley Folk Festival is arguably the best annual event in the postcode. Possibly the city.

Beautifully decorated, dutifully attended, stocked to the hilt with overpriced food and drink – it’s a

proper festival festival; held over three days in the picturesque setting that was many a Moseleyite first drunken playground. Something’s never change.

Now held across two stages, this year’s lineup headlines Echo & the Bunnymen, Roy Harper and Steeleye Span; with Guillemots, The Destroyers, Goodnight Lenin, Lanterns on the Lake and the phenomenally understated Rachel Sermanni (if you don’t know, learn – http://www.rachelsermanni.net)

Tickets are a little pricey, between £28.50 – £79 (single day – weekend), but when it’s got a 2,000 capacity limit you’ll be guaranteed a place to sit. Worth every shekel.

Full details at http://www.moseleyfolk.co.uk

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And outside all that outside, there is an indoor alternative – Kimbra is playing at The Glee Club on Aug 29th.

Most recognised in the UK as Gotye’s whispy female vocalist on ‘Somebody I Used to Know’, Kimbra is a big noise in New Zealand and worth a tenner to check out.

Plus Carina Round’s new album, the lustrously titled ‘Tigermending’, has a July/August UK release; info and online sales at http://carinaround.com

You can follow Ed King at www.twitter.com/edking2210