MUSIC -

Music is at the heart of Birmingham Review, it’s a core part of our passion and editorial focus. We love this city’s music scene and will report on and review it with nothing but over the table honesty.

Read our MUSIC pages here. And if you have a gig coming up, a release coming out, or you’re simply part of the local music scene with something to say, then get in touch with our editor: jaz@birminghamreview.net

Supersonic Festival 2023: A weekend with the weird and wonderful – Sunday 3 September

Words by Ray Vincent-Mills / Pics by Alice Needham, Connor Pope, and Andrew Roberts It’s the last day of Supersonic Festival 2023, and I yawn my way into the art gallery Eastside Projects – where ...
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Supersonic Festival 2023: A weekend with the weird and wonderful – Saturday 2 September

Words by Ray Vincent-Mills / Pics by Alice Needham and Connor Pope It’s the second day at Supersonic Festival and activists Decolonise Fest take over the roof with infectious fusions and a zine making table, ...
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Supersonic Festival 2023: A weekend with the weird and wonderful – Friday 1 September

Words by Ray Vincent-Mills / Pics by Israr Ahmed It’s Friday afternoon, and it’s the first day of Supersonic Festival – with a special appearance from the sun. Someone in line tells me his day ...
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Brian Lightning creates movie magic at ‘Frankie’ single release show at The Night Owl

Words by Sophie Hack / Pics by Connor Pope On the weekend summer turned up fashionably late, The Night Owl in Digbeth became home to a long, hot, American summer; walls dripping with psych and ...
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Neurosis’ Steve Von Till leads a meditative evening of psych drone at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Writer Emily Doyle / Photographer Alice Needham On 5 August, the team behind Supersonic Festival brought Steve Von Till of Neurosis back to Birmingham, with Shropshire folk-experimentalists Haress supporting. It’s not the first time the ...
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Insurgent and Santù represent the second city’s rock and heavy metal scene at Birmingham Festival 2023

Pics by Nevaeh Anning Birmingham Festival 2023 took over Centenary Square from 28 July to 6 August, showcasing arts, music, sports, and culture from across the second city – in a ‘joyous, fun and heartfelt ...
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SANITY Releases Summertime Staple, ‘Late Night’ – out from 30 June

Words by Jasmine Khan / Profile pics by Connor Pope Starting out as a grime artist, cutting her teeth in the school playgrounds of Stockland Green, local MC and hip hop artist, SANITY, is releasing ...
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Weird On Purpose At The Hare And Hounds 31.05.23

Writer David Evans / Photographer Emily Doyle “I’m Brian Lightning and this is my shoe,” says a tall, denim-eyebrowed character with slicked-back hair, as they toss a Cuban heeled boot up into the air. It ...
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Osees Return To Force At The Crossing 26/05/23

Writer Mark Roberts / Photographer Connor Pope The Crossing is a weird venue, a perfectly constructed live music room inside of South & City College Birmingham. The sound and the lighting are amazing with a ...
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High Key 1st Birthday Rave At The Rainbow Pub 19/05/23

Writer Beth Exley / Photographer Connor Pope I’ve not been on a big night out in a long time. Full-time work has zapped my energy and I've been feeling like I don’t have much to ...
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Black Country, New Road Live At The Crossing 12/05/23

Writer David Evans / Photographer Joe Marchant Not far from the actual New Road in the Black Country, Dudley, I’m stood amongst a sold-out, heavily mulleted, Birmingham crowd at The Crossing. We are tightly packed ...
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Sofar Sounds Fills Moseley Road Baths 30/03/23

Writer Megan Treacy / Photographer Emily Doyle Over a century ago, Moseley Road Baths opened to provide Balsall Heath residents a place to swim; tonight, the gala pool is drained of water but submerged in ...
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Sofar Sounds’ International Women Day Gig Curated By Madi Saskia 08/03/23

Writer & Photographer Maddie Cottam-Allan It’s International Women’s day and a nasty blizzard has struck Birmingham this Wednesday. I’m at a Sofar Sounds gig curated by the immensely talented Madi Saskia. The venue is a ...
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Loyle Carner’s Sold Out ‘Hugo’ Tour At O2 Academy Featuring Activist Athian Akec 08/03/23

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Andrew Roberts It’s snowing and Loyle Carner’s in Brum town. After a 20 minute wait for a photo pass, myself and photographer Andrew Roberts finally come through for Carner’s sold ...
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Gay Panic At Hare And Hounds: Lynks With Support From Gag Salon & VLURE 02/02/23

Writer Sadie Barnett / Photographer Emily Doyle The audience is dressed to the nines as I enter the Hare and Hounds on Thursday 2 March. It’s rare to see an audience at this venue - ...
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New Digbeth Metal Venue Devil’s Dog Opening Night With Oceans Ate Alaska 24/02/23

Words Victoria Lane / Photography Erin Connolley “Birmingham, get ready for the apocalypse” were the first words that alerted the general public to the existence of a new metal venue in Birmingham, Devil’s Dog. This ...
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The Future Sound Project The Sunflower Lounge Takeover Weekend – Day Two 19/02/23

Writer Megan Treacy / Photographer Ewan Williamson The Sunflower stage is reawakened on day two of The Future Sound Project Takeover by Midlands band A Week Full Of Mondays, who are greeted by a brimming ...
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The Future Sound Project The Sunflower Lounge Takeover Weekend – Day One 18/02/23

Writer Megan Treacy / Photographer Ewan Williamson Kicking off The Future Sound Project’s takeover weekend at The Sunflower Lounge this Saturday is Josh McQueen, a multi-instrumentalist from Birmingham, and his band. Taking a matter-of-fact approach ...
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Bilk With Support From Postman & KIDS At Mama Roux’s 15/02/23

Writer Ray Vincent-Mills / Photographer Nevaeh Anning I walk past someone with a ‘No bollocks just rock and roll’ t-shirt with Bilk’s signature slapdash snail logo on it and expectations are set. This show at ...
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Cuffs & Punky Supports Headline At The Victoria 15/02/23

Writer Yasmyn Nettle / Photographer Mx Neffy The Victoria is a corner pub found next to The Alexandra theatre in the centre of Birmingham. Upstairs there’s a well equipped cosy gig room with its own ...
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Kaleidoscope’s 5th Birthday With Headliner Fitzroy Holt At The Night Owl 10.02.23

Writer Ray Vincent-Mills / Photographer Joe Marchant It’s Friday night, which is uncharacteristic for a Kaleidoscope, and The Night Owl oozes with creativity from every crevice. Kaleidoscope, a music night incorporated with an arts fair, ...
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BBC Radio 6’s Steve Lamacq Brings Grove To Hare & Hounds For Independent Venue Week

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Ewan Williamson It’s heavy at the Hare and Hounds on Tuesday 31 January, and freeing my limbs might be just what I need to brush off the end of my ...
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Sofar Sounds Returns To Centrala In Digbeth 26/01/23

Writer Megan Treacy / Photographer Erin Connolly In Birmingham centre the streets are nearly vacant this Thursday night, but in Digbeth Centrala is comfortably full. Tonight’s location for this sold out Sofar Sounds event, Centrala, ...
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‘The Most Enthusiastic Crowd We’ve Ever Had’: Big Joanie With Support From GHUM At Hare & Hounds 12/01/23

Writer Sadie Barnett / Photographer Sam Aves As I enter Venue One at Hare and Hounds, the crowd is full of anticipation. This gem of a venue in Kings Heath is known for its eclectic ...
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M9’s First Headline Show At The Sunflower Lounge 20/12/2022

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photography Andrew Roberts The Sunny is a bit busier than I’ve come to expect on Tuesday evenings. As I walk down the narrow steps into M9’s first headline gig I can ...
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The Nature Centre’s Not A Christmas Gig At Hare & Hounds 19/12/22

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Connor Pope The Hare and Hounds Venue One is bustling with anticipation at 9:30pm on the Monday before Christmas. I struggle to push my way through bodies on the dance ...
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Johnny Foreigner’s Homecoming Show At Hare And Hounds Is A Festive Treat 17/12/22

Writer and photographer Emily Doyle It’s a nightmare getting out of town at rush hour on the last Saturday before Christmas. However, when you’ve been assured that Birmingham’s indie-rock elders Johnny Foreigner have a very ...
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Blossoms at O2 Academy Birmingham 29/11/2022

Writer Laura Mills / Photographer Ewan Williamson As I enter the O2 Academy the atmosphere is booming after tonight's England victory defeating Wales with a score of 3-0. No support for tonight's show, just the ...
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Episode 1 From >THEM. Collective More Than Meets Expectations 23/11/22

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Joe Marchant Following our interview, the >THEM. collective have set expectations high for their first event, Episode 1. It’s set to a mix of DJ’s with a sprinkling of live ...
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Wet Leg On Their Debut Album Tour Wet Leg At A Very Wet O2 Institute 21/11/22

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Connor Pope To say Isle of Wight indie rock band Wet Leg have come up quickly is quite the understatement. With their first single ‘Chaise Longue’ released in 2021 ...
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Sea Girls At O2 Academy Birmingham With Support From Lauran Hibberd 18/11/2022

Writer Laura Mills / Photography Erin Connolly As I step out of my Uber it’s instantly clear this is a sold out date because heaps of fans are already waiting eagerly outside the O2 Academy ...
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A.A. Williams With Support From Karin Park At The Hare & Hounds 15/11/22

Writer Mark Roberts / Photographer Ewan Williams It’s a rainy Tuesday November night and I’m walking into the Hare and Hounds for a gig put on by Supersonic Festival. As I enter the room, the ...
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Mungo’s Hi-Fi & Young Culture Sound Mash Up The Hare & Hounds 11/11/2022

Writer & Photographer Connor Pope As I open the door to Venue 1, or rather as I’m let in by the Hare and Hounds security, the room lets out a booming bass sound. It’s still ...
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It’s Not “Just The Same Old Cabbage”: Expanded Line-Up Lends Nightingales A Fresh Edge At The Castle & Falcon 13/11/2022

Writer & Photographer Emily Doyle Nightingales have bubbled to the surface of the Birmingham consciousness in recent years. Since the pandemic-clouded release of King Rocker, a so-called “anti-rockumentary” about the band written by Stewart Lee ...
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The Hunna With Support From Lucy Deakin & Kid Kapichi At The Mill 05/11/22

Writer Laura Mills / Photographer Connor Pope It’s my debut review at The Mill in Digbeth on 5 November. As I’m walking in, this smell hits me straight away. It’s familiar - it’s the smell ...
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Birmingham Embraces South London’s Ayrtn For The First Time At Mama Roux’s 02/11/2022

Writer Sadie Barnett / Photographer Connor Pope On Wednesday 2 November, Digbeth’s Mama Roux’s is full-to-bursting for South London native Ayrtn. The aptly named Most Awesome Tour Ever marks his first ever show in Birmingham ...
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Léonore Boulanger Brings Parisian Avant-Garde Jazz To The Edge On 21 October

Writer & Photographer Emily Doyle On Friday 21 October audiences are welcomed into The Edge, a former boiled sweet warehouse tucked away in Cheapside. A fire roars in an empty oil drum outside, the ...
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Future Days Returns To Digbeth With A Full Programme Of The Finest In Alternative Rock 15/10/22

Writer & Photographer Emily Doyle Birmingham’s best promoter knows how to put on a show, delivering eight hours of tempting riffs on 15 October. In the words of openers Wiiince, “what else would you be ...
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The Amazons With Support From The Novus At O2 Institute Birmingham 15/10/2022

Writer Laura Mills / Photographer Connor Pope I stare up looking at the bright lights beaming off the O2 Institute Birmingham, but not for too long ‘cos it’s chucking it down. There are loud noises ...
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Soul Sessions Headlines Collective Sleep At The Night Owl On 12 October

Writer Mirab Kay / Photographer Connor Pope Soul Sessions, I’m back. On the evening of Wednesday 12 October, after a long day at Uni I am ready for my bed. So, I am praying to ...
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Emily Abdy Curates ’Vox’ Headlining Blue Ruth At The Hare & Hounds 12/10/2022

Writer Henry Hanssen / Photographer Ewan Williamson The Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath ditches the rock and roll guitars on Wednesday 12 October, and becomes home to a showcase of artists who are doing ...
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Alfie Dean Quartet Takes Over Jazz Sundays At The Ruin 09/10/22

Writer Henry Hanssen / Photographer Reece Downton The Ruin in Digbeth continues its rated series of monthly gigs, which aim to display the vibrant and ever-expanding Birmingham jazz scene, with Alfie Dean and his quartet ...
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Jockstrap At Hare & Hounds With Support From Babymorocco 04/10/2022

Writer Beth Exley / Photographer Ewan Williamson I’ve been looking forward to tonight for months. Jockstrap’s debut album, I Love You Jennifer B, has been my personal soundtrack since it came out in September. Every ...
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Night Beats With Support From You Said Strange At Hare & Hounds 18/09/22

Writer Mark Roberts / Photographer Connor Pope As I walk into the Hare and Hounds on Sunday evening, I am disappointed to see I am the third person to enter, but it’s unsurprising considering the ...
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Svirgo19 Has A Point To Prove With Anti-Love Track ‘On & Off’ – Released 16 September

Writer Sadie Barnett / Photographer 2wothousand3hree Hailing from Sheffield, Samuel Virgo - known by his artist moniker Svirgo19 - also has plenty of links with Birmingham. His family originally settled in Birmingham when moving from ...
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Dave Sear Releases Jazz Album – I Always Thought My Thoughts Were Me – 9 September 2022

Writer Henry Hanssen / Photographer Chris Neophytou If you’ve been around the Birmingham jazz scene long enough, chances are you will have encountered a stylishly-bearded, beanie-wearing trombone player by the name of Dave Sear. Over ...
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The Howlers At The Sunflower Lounge With Support From The Masses + Flake 07/09/22

Writer Laura Mills / Photographer Ewan Williamson We’re back at The Sunflower Lounge again and as per it’s busy outside with the air reeking of cigarettes. Straight to the bar for a cheeky tipple because ...
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Big Riffs Abound At Hare & Hounds With Sappho, Spits Milk and Knife Crime 03.09.22

Writer and photographer Emily Doyle This summer, Camberwell noise-rockers Part Chimp announced their autumn 2022 tour, kicking off at the good old Hare & Hounds. Sappho and Spits Milk were announced as support. A few ...
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Amplify Sounds Takeover At Hockley Social Club 02/09/22

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Maddie Cottom-Allan The food at Hockley Social club is pretty excellent at the moment. Maddie and I eagerly tuck into creamy vegan Thai curry and spicy cauliflower poutine with masala ...
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The Handsome Family Bring A Creepy Slice Of Albuquerque To The Hare 30 August

Writer and photographer Emily Doyle As festival season draws to a close, the listings at the Hare and Hounds look more tempting than ever. Nestled amongst Total Luck’s single release party, Die Das Der’s bank ...
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Lime Cordiale At O2 Institute Birmingham With Support From Leoniden 31/08/22

Writer Laura Mills / Photographer Dominic Mould I touch down in Digbeth, arriving at O2 Institute to go through a dated corridor just before the double doors. I can already hear some big sound vibrating ...
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Steel Pulse Founder Basil Gabbidon Leads Trojan Records Bank Holiday Celebration At The Jam House

Writer Mark Roberts / Photographer Connor Pope Trojan Records is world renowned for its powerhouse roster of reggae legends. From Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry to Desmond Dekker, Toots & The Maytals to Bob Marley and The ...
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Punks Bad Girlfriend Introduce New Drummer And Chat City Culture

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Connor Pope “It was a £20 round,” says Connor as he returns from the bar at Cherry Reds. Ouch I think, before remembering that he owes me (and probably everyone ...
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Demarae Is Out Of This World: Multiverse 25/08/2022

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Maddie Cottom-Allan C.F.C Studio, on the corner of Thomas and Pool Street, isn’t a space I’ve visited before. As Maddie and I pull up, the woman at the door has ...
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Czafari. Releases New Alt-Indie Track ‘Make-Up’ On 22 August

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Tyra-Elise Harris/ Artwork Lily Longringg Singer-Songwriter (and DJ) Czafari., 24, is a local, up and coming, alternative soul musician, hailing from Tipton in the West Midlands. Although she put out ...
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WITCH Cause Havoc At The Hare & Hounds 19/8/2022

Writer Billy Beale / Photographer Emily Doyle Covering WITCH, one feels a heavy responsibility. In their 1970s heyday, they were one of the biggest and best known acts of the zamrock genre. The current iteration ...
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Alice Lily Headlines At The Sunflower Lounge 16/08/2022

Writer Laura Mills / Photographer Ewan Williamson I’m walking down the street on Smallbrook Queensway and it’s a bit rammed outside The Sunflower Lounge. Punters are packed around the front ready for a night filled ...
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An All-You-Can-Eat Feast At The ColdRice House Party – Fazeley Park 30/7/2022

Writer Billy Beale / Photographer Emily Doyle If you find yourself in Digbeth under a moonless night, on the wind you might hear a harmonica played in anger. That’s when Black Mekon make their visitation, ...
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Indigo Marshall & 93:00 Collective Own Birmingham 2022 Victoria Square Stage On 31 July

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Alice Needham Following her performance at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on 28 July, I’m keen to keep up with Indigo Marshall. It’s a hot Sunday which means ...
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Bass, beats, BIMM, and DnB bangers at MADE Festival 2022

Writer Mark Roberts / Photographer Jessica Whitty MADE Festival started out in 2014 and in its eight-year run it’s gone from strength to strength. This year MADE moved from Digbeth to Wolverhampton’s Dunstall Park increasing ...
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Post-Apocalyptic Brass With Diddy Sweg At Hare & Hounds 21/07/2022

Writer Reece Greenfield / Photographer Connor Pope I’ll try, but I am pretty sure I’m incapable of saying anything critical about Diddy Sweg’s performance on Thursday 21 July at the Hare and Hounds. As we ...
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Decolonise Fest Supports Supersonic Line Up: In Conversation With Stephanie Phillips

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Jack James Decolonise Fest, a collective of London based “activists, militant community organisers, musicians and artists”, debuted outside of their home city at Supersonic Festival this year. Curating a variety ...
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Supersonic Festival Takes Over Digbeth: Sunday 10 July

Writers Mark Roberts & Richard Bari / Photographer Jack James The Sunday 10 July of Supersonic Festival starts for me (Mark) at 1pm at Centrala for a talk on The Art of Collaboration, unfortunately something ...
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Supersonic Festival Takes Over Digbeth: Saturday 9 July

Writers Mark Roberts & Richard Bari / Photographer Jack James After eating some food and arriving far too early (or late) on Saturday 9 July to collect my wristband at the Supersonic Festival box office, ...
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Supersonic Festival Takes Over Digbeth: Friday 8 July

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Jack James It’s 8 July and we (photographer Jack James and I) are so ready for Supersonic Festival that we arrive at 7SVN on Upper Trinity Street before doors. It’s ...
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Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival Brings Serious Summer Grooves From 8-10 July

Writer Reece Greenfield / Photographer Maddie Cottam-Allan Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival has once again proven itself as one of the highlights of the Brummie summer. The festival boasts ‘Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul ...
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Leah Wlcx Charms With Poetic Compositions On 6 July At Muthers Studio

Writer Mirab Kay / Photographer Krish Thakur The audience are dancing and screaming - before Leah has even introduced herself. As soon as I enter the event room at Muthers on this sweaty evening in ...
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Comast’s ‘Separate’ Is A Tense Darker Addition To The Brum Techno Scene

Writer Harry Croxford / Photographer The Lazer Show Off the back of his recent EP release (entitled Sleep) Comast – real name Charlie Thomas – shares another track indicating a sonic migration towards darker, trance-inspired ...
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Metz Jnr Debuts The Sun Album At Hare & Hounds 26/06/2022

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Ella Carman It’s a sunny, relatively windy Sunday on York Road in Kings Heath as I rock up to my first ever album launch. The event is set to celebrate ...
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Toni Chills In The Sweltering Heat Of 17 June At Muthers Studio

Writer Mirab Kay / Photographer Alice Needham It seems Toni and the band have picked the hottest day of the year so far to showcase their setlist brimming with attitude. Though the set starts rather ...
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Brum Review Goes Baroque: A Night With The Artisans Of Fantasy

Writer Reece Greenfield / Photographer Connor Pope On Wednesday 15 June, I had the pleasure of attending ‘Stylus Phantasticus’ a night of 17th century music presented by Musica d’Outrora, a three piece chamber ensemble made ...
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TV Girl With Support From Sidney Gish At The Mill 13 June

Writer Mark Roberts / Photographer Connor Pope As I walk into The Mill on Lower Trinity Street I am taken aback. Most of the people in this venue could be half my age. I double ...
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Dälek’s Barbed Poetics & Holy Scum’s Wall Of Sound Live At Supersonic 11 June

Writer Harry Croxford / Photographer Connor Pope Cutting through electrical fog with acerbic and pointed poetry, Dälek triumphs with a wrathful and critical tour-de-force on the Birmingham stopover on their UK tour. Supported by friends ...
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Tom Ford Headlines Lysergic Lounge At Nortons On 9 June

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Connor Pope Lysergic Lounge must be one of the most dynamic music events happening in Digbeth at the moment. Nortons, the new-ish, ‘not like another Irish bar’, is not an ...
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Billy Rowlatt Live At Roberto’s Beer And Tasting Club 06/06/22

Writer Henry Hanssen / Photographer Celcio Santos The hip and exciting sounds of fresh jazz can now be heard all through the Custard Factory in Digbeth every other Tuesday. Roberto’s Bar and Tasting Club has ...
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PleasePrettyLea Releases Alt-Ballad ‘Burden’ On 3 June

Writer Jasmine Khan / Images taken from ‘Burden’ video PleasePrettyLea is no newcomer to the Birmingham music scene having featured in BABMAG, as well as played staple venues like Centrala and the Hare and ...
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Anita Quinn Leads Band And Audience In Song At The Sunflower Lounge On 31 May

Writer Mirab Kay / Photographer Hassan Ul-Haq What a night of powerful, female talent tonight has turned out to be. Preceding the Black Irish rapper Anita Quinn at The Sunflower Lounge are two local female ...
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Minor Formula Presents Synchro City At The Kingsway 28/05/22

Writer Sannah Yousaf / Photographer Ewan Williamson As soon as you enter The Kingsway you catch the good vibes. The room is filled with electric energy that rubs off on you straight away - from ...
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Jam Jah Sound At The Station 23.05.22

Words by Reece Greenfield On Monday night, Mark and I decided to take a stroll down to Jam Jah, at the Station in King’s Heath. Upon arrival we assessed our surroundings, sat down with pints ...
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Donny Benét Schmoozes At Hare And Hounds 20/05/2022

Writer Harry Croxford / Photographer Erin Connolly Performing at Hare and Hounds and supported by fellow Aussies, Greatest Hits, Donny Benét’s return to the UK is a triumphant expression of a libidinal, schmoozy, extravagance that ...
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Exile on Trinity Street At The Night Owl on 15 May

Writer Richard Bari / Photographer Sian Dixon 12 May 1972, Exile on Main Street hits the shelves. Critically panned and widely misunderstood, the decadent yet unassuming double-LP settles into the charts and awaits its turn ...
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The Unique Experience At Hockley Social Club On 13 May

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Hassan Ul-Haq My hand is stamped with an adorable martini illustration and I’m struggling to find a seat at The Unique Experience. Hockley Social Club’s got a nice buzz going ...
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Soul Sessions Present Skye Morrissey At The Night Owl On 11 May

Writer Mirab Kay / Photographer Ewan Williamson “We love you Skye!” bellows the crowd during the first few minutes of her set, a reflection of the familiarity and connection that buzzes throughout The Night Owl ...
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Seeking A New Journey Into Post-Punk Intensity? Consider Your Prayers Answered With Baudelaire

Writer Reece Greenfield / Images supplied by Baudelaire After having seen the Black Country pioneers Baudelaire perform live before, I expected their debut single ‘Prayers’ to be electrifying. However, upon hearing the driving rhythm section ...
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Osees Return To Birmingham To Kick Off European Tour 07/05/22

Writer Emily Doyle / Photographer Rob Hadley Indie Images Exactly six months after a sell out show at the exact same venue, Osees (formerly Oh Sees, Thee Oh Sees, The Ohsees, Orange County Sound, OCS, ...
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Myles Newman Is The King Of The Hill At Kaleidoscope On 5 May

Writer Richard Bari / Photographer Miren Harris Kaleidoscope locked, loaded, and hit the mark once again. The local promoters behind the monthly free event curated another wild night with a packed house, and a line-up ...
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Andy Panayi Quartet Live At The Warehouse Café 04/05/22

Writer Henry Hanssen / Photographer Connor Pope The dark and rainy springtime in Birmingham is slowly but surely ending. Overcast and subdued evenings of sitting inside the pub, wrapped in your favorite scarf and coat, ...
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Dorcha Keep Birmingham Weird With Alt-Pop Epic ‘Bruiser’

Writer Emily Doyle / Photographer Sam Wood - cover art supplied by Dorcha Sometimes acts feel the need to dredge up a song from their back catalogue over and over. It might be a fan ...
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Xhosa Cole Presents Jazz At Grosvenor On Bank Holiday Sunday

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Connor Pope I’ve not been to Handsworth for a gig before, and I’m not prone to moving much on Bank Holiday Sundays; but I’d travel pretty much anywhere to listen ...
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Katherine Priddy’s ‘Eurydice’: An Ephemeral Look At The Greek Gods

Writer Mark Roberts / Photographs supplied by Katherine Priddy Katherine Priddy has been an under-appreciated gem in the Birmingham music scene for a long while, but following her 2021 album The Eternal Rocks Beneath, no ...
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MØTE Do Indie Grooves At The Sunflower Lounge On 29 April

Writer Tabitha Green / Photographer Erin Connolly “I want to channel the artists of the 70s who were all about performance, you know?” MØTE frontman Alex tells me when I ask about his musical inspirations. The ...
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Erbium Records: Unity in Electronic Diversity

Writer Harry Croxford / Artwork supplied by Erbium Records Ambitious and experimental, with a vision that brings together both sound and image, newfound Birmingham/London electronic music label Erbium Records is an excellent addition to the ...
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Primeval Rhythms – Protomartyr at Hare & Hounds 25.04.22

Writer by Billy Beale / Photographer Rob Hadley Indie Images When Iggy Pop speaks, the wise shut up and listen. I first heard the name Protomartyr growled by Mr Pop on his BBC 6 Music ...
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Kathryn Williams at the Kitchen Garden Café 24.04

Writer and photographer Ed King I wouldn’t necessarily describe myself as a ‘Kathryn Williams superfan’, but I championed her Mercury Music nominated album Little Black Numbers before it made the shortlist. Her soft declarations, personal ...
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Brain Food Support King Khan and The Shrines At Hare & Hounds on 22 April

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Ewan Williamson It’s a pretty late start time of 9pm for hard to place psych band Brain Food at the Hare and Hounds on Saturday night; but the late evening ...
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Brum Locals Fitzroy Holt Support Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard at Mama Roux’s on 420

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer Erin Connelly It’s been a while since I’ve been to Mama Roux’s for a gig. They’ve swapped the decadent décor for a cleaner aesthetic that gives the venue more breathing ...
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Expect Good Things From RnB Rising Star Indigo Marshall

Writer Sannah Yousaf / Photographer BRYCE Rising R&B star Indigo Marshall has been on the Birmingham music scene for a few years now, making an impression on its residents with her classic take on RnB ...
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Pale World And An Apparition Ruin Bank Holiday Monday With Headliner Chalk Hands At Centrala

Writer Emily Doyle / Photographer Alice Needham As the Easter bank holiday weekend draws to a close, a select crowd of discerning listeners gather at Centrala. Local noisemonger Joe Parkes, a.k.a. Pale World, stands with ...
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Saxophonist Rachael Cohen Talks Birmingham Jazz Culture And Music Education

Writer Henry Hanssen / Photographer Hassan Ul-Haq It is a sun-kissed evening in Birmingham late March and The Warehouse Café jazz sessions in Digbeth welcomes Royal Birmingham Conservatoire alumnus and formidable alto saxophonist, Rachael Cohen, ...
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We Speak To Danny C From Swampmeat Family Band About Working With Third Man Records and the future of Swampmeat

Writer Mark Roberts / Photographer Maddie Cottam-Allan As I walk into The Night Owl ready to meet Danny C from Swampmeat Family Band at a fundraising gig, the vibe can only be described as familiar ...
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Maria Grapsa Transports Us To A Jazz Dreamland At The Ruin

Writer Mirab Kay / Photographer Alice Needham The Ruin, on Floodgate Street, is a cosy little inn recently provided a home to some notable jazz talent, and will continue to do so on the second ...
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Birmingham Coop Promoters Delivers On Its Promise Of An Intergalactic Gig Experience

Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographers Maddie Cottam-Allan & Emily Doyle This Saturday just gone, Hare and Hounds hosted Birmingham Coop Promoters (BCOOPP) first event: The Fully Automated Luxury Space Communist Party. Full disclosure, this is ...
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Tuesday Jazz Nights At The Spotted Dog

Writer Henry Hanssen Since its humble beginning in 2011, Tuesday night jazz at the Spotted Dog in Digbeth have become a staple on the Birmingham jazz scene, attracting an audience just as diverse as the ...
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Mdou Moctar: Psychedelic Tishoumaren Rock

Writer Harry Croxford / Photographer Rob Hadley – Indie Images Presented by the folks over at This is Tmrw and Hare and Hounds on Friday, Mdou Moctar are electric in their rapturous repurposing of tracks ...
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Looking back on International Women’s Day: Rosie Tee is Officially Brum’s Björk

Writer Emily Doyle / Photography Taylor Wright Last month Rosie Tee headlined the Hare & Hounds International Women’s Day Celebration, with Support from Echo Juliet, Lara Jones and Japes. Rosie Tee, is in fact an ...
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Melt-Banana Mesmerise Crowds at Hare and Hounds

Writer Tabitha Green / Photographer Ewan Williamson Following Tokyo noise rock duo Melt-Banana’s first Peel Session in late 1999, John Peel described the performance as “Just mesmerising, absolutely astonishing." As I witness the pair in ...
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