Ed’s… Highlights, June ‘12

Full of bright colours, loud laughter and sunsh… well colours and laughter, B’HAM PRIDE 2012 kicks of the month with a glorious musical kitsch fest.

Running over two days and various venues, all in and around Southside, most fun is to be had at The Nightingale – where a plastic fantastic Saturday 2nd line up proffers; The Saturdays, Kerry Katona, Scootch, Stooshe and Baby D. Sunday’s a touch more respectable, with disco & funky house heads; Lonnie Gordon, Sash, Angie Brown and Livin’ Joy, followed by some dubious girl power from The Cheeky Girls and Sonia. And one for the boys… Scott Mills. Hardly seems fair now does it?

Check out www.birminghampride.com for full details, including the full break down of DJs appearing in the Chic dance arena; although at the time of writing it was just Judge Jules on the listings.

Plus for the gay-straight-bi curious-smart-casual’s of House yesteryear, Tin Tins Club – Re Union is taking over The Rooftop with Chad Lewis, Mark Jarman, James Dean, DJ Gail, Pete Graham and more (Sun 3rd). Thank god it’s a Bank Holiday.

Elsewhere in t’city; Shabaka Hutchings and Sons of Kemet & David Grey’s Greyish Quartet (H&H, Weds 6th), Maximo Park (Glee Club, Weds 6th), The Musgraves (BBallroom, Fri 8th), Lucy Wainwright Roache (H&H, Weds 13th), Raghu Dixit (Town Hall, Weds 13th), Sam Sparro (O2 Academy, Thurs 14th), Elton John ( LG Arena, Fri 15th), Cara Luft (Kitchen Garden Café, Tues 19th), Omar (Jam House, Thurs 21st), Kate Nash (Glee Club, Sun 24th), Carly Connor (H&H, Tues 26th), Alanis Morrisette (O2 Academy, Tues 26th), Editors (HMV Institute, Tues 26th & Weds 27th), Nas (HMV Institute, Thurs 28th) and Marina & the Diamonds (HMV Institute, Fri 29th).

With a special, non-sardines-listing mention, to Below’s 7th Birthday (Rainbow Venues, Sun 3rd). Three quarters of a decade old, the boys who built the (post Med Bar) face of Digbeth are ‘avin it large – out on the street for 12 hours with; Bloody Mary, Jordan Peak, Alex Arnout, Jane Fitz, Adam Shelton and more.

And for anyone wanting an earlier night out this month, check out Boyce Avenue with support from Tyler Hilton (O2 Academy, Sat 16th); but leave before Boyce Avenue, who sound like the bastard child of Gary Barlow and Savage Garden. Otherwise it’s a rare chance to see a Hotel Cafe stalwart in Brum. More singing than dancing.

N.B. Ingrid Michaelson was also due to support Boyce Avenue, but has recently cancelled her UK gigs. For further info click on her name, or visit http://www.ingridmichaelson.com

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