As Christmas and New Year’s Eve loom like a spectre, the Birmingham entertainment bun fight begins once again. Venues and promoters scrap for enough acorns to survive until spring, artists and DJs carry wince inducing price tags, whilst the city tries to decide which over priced ticket to regret buying. Grumble, moan, moan. Don’t you just love Christmas.
To help merry your way, the Birmingham Review did a last minute shop for all Birmingham’s Yuletide music. We cast out our nets and this is the cream of what came back, the flotsam and jetsam you’ll have to find on your own. All ticket prices are at standard rate without booking fee, unless stated otherwise:
The Rainbow
It’s all about FACE on Adderley Street this Christmas. The Crimbo knees up is on Dec 18th with LA’s Lee Foss at the techno helm. Then its hands in pockets until Boxing Day when from a land down under, Sonny Fodera, comes to town with some good ol’ jackin’ house cheer. New Year’s Eve sees the mighty Hardcore Til’ I Die meet Hardcore Heaven for The Winter Gathering, with Darren Styles, Hixxy, Brisk and Joey Riot joined by basket of others.
Info/tickets at: www.therainbowvenues.co.uk / www.faceevent.co.uk
NYE Tickets: The Winter Gathering – standard £31.50 / Early bird & VIP available
You tell me: “FACE is Brum’s best mate because we’re not just about great music but also a buzzin’ social vibe which we’re proud of.”
Hare & Hounds
Christmas Eve sees the slightly barnpot 8 piece Misty’s Big Adventure play upstairs, whilst the rest of the venue opens up to a tinsel tastic free party with local DJs and the Soul Food Project. On Boxing Day Jock Lee and Justin Bond will be giving some Teenage Kicks for a mere handful of sheckles (£3), allowing just enough time to recover for a Chicks Dig Jerks, Reverb and Habit extravaganza on New Year’s Eve. All for a tenner, gaw’d bless us everyone.
Info/tickets at: www.hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk / www.theticketsellers.co.uk
NYE Tickets: £10 advance
You tell me: “It’s all about the suburbs at Christmas. No finer places than Moseley & Kings Heath.”
The Jam House – Sensibly sabbatical over Christmas, The Jam House puts all its eggs in a New Year’s Eve basket for a sumptuous serving of live music from Dino Baptiste and The Subterraneans. Other festive treats include Ben Drummond’s Acoustic Sessions on Dec 28th and Basil Gabbidion with Reggae Rocks’ Winter Chill on 29th.
Info/Tickets at: www.thejamehouse.com
NYE Tickets: £35 entry, £100 entry & food
You tell me: “We believe we are the best live music venue in the city offering “the best Christmas party ever!”
Factory Club
Dec 11th – Fatman D’s Birthday Bash with Nicky Blackmarket (£18.50)
Boxing Day – Xmas Cracker with Mc Bassman, Nutcracka & Escape (£10)
NYE – One Nation & Raveology present The Ultimate Countdown, with Friction, Hazard, Hype, & Danny Byrd (£30)
HMV Institute
Xmas Eve – The Cult Club, 9 rooms from Indie to Dubstep and back round to Reggae (£4)
Boxing Day – Electric City presents Sven Vath, extended set (£22)
NYE – Eclectricity New Year’s Extravaganzazazazaaa, Chase & Status (DJ set), Fake Blood, Caspa, Goldie and more (Early bird £22)
NIA
Dec 18th – Jools Holland & his Rythym and Blues Orchestra (£32.50)
Dec 21st – Bootleg Beatles (£23.50)
Dec 23rd – Jakes & Elwood’s Christmas Party (£25)
Symphony Hall
Xmas Eve – Christmas Classics (£12-31.50)
Dec 28th – Four Seasons by candlelight (£12-31.50)
Dec 28th – John Williams Greatest Movie Music (£12-35.50)
NYE – Evening Gala (£17.50-43.50)
02 Academy
Dec 23rd – Kinn, False Pretence, Casino Zone & The Great Western (£5)
NYE – Propaganda’s New Year’s Eve Carnival (£10)
Godskitchen @ Air
Dec 18th – Eddie Halliwell, Aly & Fila, Paul Thomas (£16.50)
NYE – Gareth Emery, Marcel Woods, Tall Paul, Alistair Whitehead (£25)
Gatecrasher, Broad Street
Boxing Day – Trevor Nelson (£14)
NYE – Mark Ronson (DJ Set), Sidney Samson, Oliver Lang (£35)
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.