Aatish Ramchurn Archives

December 20, 2017

BPREVIEW: The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17

On Thursday 21st December, Sonic Gun Concerts present indie/pop act The Sunset Beach Hut at Mama Roux’s in Digbeth, with support from Quinn, Junior Weeb and Miss World. Doors open from 7pm, with tickets priced at £6.60 (inc bf) – for direct gig info and links to online ticket sales, click here.

Sonic Gun Concerts showcase their penultimate gig of 2017 with The Sunset Beach Hut headlining an evening of emerging talent within the West Midlands indie/alternative scene.

Starting the evening will be acoustic duo, Miss World. Having made their online debut in September this year Miss World are the night’s new kids on the block, albeit one who have already had a headline performance at the O2 Institute in October. With the promise of a mix of their own material and “classic bangers”, it will be interesting to see what has so quickly captured the interest of local promoters.

Next up are Junior Weeb, an indie/alternative quartet from Droitwich who have previously shared stages with Muncie Girls and The Americas, as well as being part of the line up at this year’s Worcester Music Festival. Junior Weeb were also in Baddies Boogie Top 20 Tracks of 2016, playing as the headlining act for the local indie promoter’s 2nd Magic Garden Records Night at the O2 Institute 3. So, a busy 18 months then. And with the promise of new material being recorded, Junior Weeb are likely to have a few fresh songs to add into their now seasoned set and should be an exciting addition to the lineup.

Described in our Birmingham Review of their September gig with Semantics as looking ‘like a fresher’s party at five in the morning’ but ‘with languid melodies disguised by fast paced distortion and an unashamed rock outlook on life’, the main support comes from Quinn – who will performing tracks from their debut EP, Seems Fine. Gaining acclaim with their ‘superstar in the making’ frontman Sam Lambeth, Quinn are band that offer a show that ‘sparkles from head to toe’ so let’s see how they shine on 21^st December.

Having spent 2017 billed in The Catapult Club lineups, and supporting La Dharma at The Flapper in August, Benjamin Thomas, Aphra Smith and Matty George – otherwise known as The Sunset Beach Hut – are our headliners, with their unique blend of lo-fi, indie/pop.

It’s been a steady year for the Shrewsbury based trio, focusing on new material and recording with a few performances keeping their live set polished – a move that seems to be paying off as the band move from support to headliner, as well as recently having BBC Introducing airplay.

The Sunset Beach Hut come across as a band that are dedicated but cautious and it will be interesting to see how much they ‘let go’ in a live setting. Although, personally, I’m also hoping to establish if their name is a reference to the surreal 90’s US soap opera. Guess we’ll find out at Mama Roux’s.

On Thursday 21st December, Sonic Gun Concerts present The Sunset Beach Hut at Mama Roux – with support from Miss World, Junior Weeb, Quinn. For direct event info and links to online ticket sales, click here.

For more from The Sunset Beach Hut, visit www.thesunsetbeachhut.wixsite.com/sunsetbeachhut

For more from Quinn, visit www.facebook.com/quinnrocks

For more from Junior Weeb, visit www.soundcloud.com/juniorweeb

For more from Miss World, visit www.facebook.com/misswworldband

For more on Mama Roux’s, venue details and further event listings, visit www.facebook.com/mamarouxs

For more from Sonic Gun Concerts, visit www.facebook.com/sonicgunconcerts

October 9, 2017October 8, 2017

THE GALLERY: New Found Glory @ O2 Academy 30.09.17

Words & pics by Aatish Ramchurn

The thing with the days now getting shorter is that the moment it starts turning dark, you feel like you’re running late.

At least, that’s how I felt as I was making my way to the O2 Academy – heading out to see long-time pop punk band, New Found Glory, as they arrive in Birmingham for their 20 Years of Pop Punk tour. Turns out I wasn’t late at all, but rather ten minutes early.

Each date of New Found Glory’s UK 20 Years of Pop Punk tour features tracks from two of their nine albums, plus songs from their new album, Makes Me Sick.

Birmingham’s set list would include tracks from Sticks and Stones and the self titled New Found Glory, albums which contained the more popular songs that propelled them to fame in the early 2000s.

Opening the night is Eastbourne’s five-piece, ROAM – the only support act. Soon to be releasing their second album on Hopeless Records, Great Height & Nosedives, ROAM grace the stage with an energetic set of heavy, pop punk anthems, at times encouraging circle pits. Judging from the people singing at the front ROAM have been built quite a fanbase in Birmingham and, after this set, have probably gained some new ones.

On to New Found Glory, who began their career as a quintet until guitarist Steve Klein left the band in 2014. The stage darkens, and the ‘Happy Anniversary’ melody from an episode of The Flintstones plays before they storm onto the stage, opening with ‘Understatement’.

I’m fairly certain that from the start there were four photographers in the photo pit. But that number appears to have doubled about one minute later, as if we have multiplied like Mr. Meeseeks from Rick and Morty. All of us are scrambling across the photo pit as Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka and Chad Gilbert pace across the stage, showing no signs of ever slowing down.

As well as having to watch myself not bumping into other photographers, security has to look after the flurry of oncoming crowd surfers. I guess the ‘No Crowdsurfing’ sign, usually seen in both the O2 Institute and O2 Academy, is being ignored for tonight. Needless to say, this was probably the most intense photo pit experiences I’ve had (or so I thought before KRS-One).

Although the 20 Years of Pop Punk wasn’t a sell out show tonight there is still a decent turn out, with voices from the front to the back of the room singing along in pop punk unity to ’My Friends Over You’ at the end of the set. But New Found Glory’s night in Birmingham didn’t end at the O2 Academy, as they made a brief appearance at Subside, in Digbeth, to play DJ set and take photos with some of their fans.

New Found Glory @ O2 Academy 30.09.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

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ROAM – supporting New Found Glory @ O2 Academy 30.09.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

October 9, 2017October 8, 2017

THE GALLERY: KRS-One @ Hawker Yard 01.10.19

Words & pics by Aatish Ramchurn

Hip hop veteran, KRS-One, arrives in Birmingham to close his six date UK tour, for what’s been described as an exclusive and ‘intimate’ show at Hawker Yard.

When it comes to gigs, I’ve always taken the term ‘intimate’ to mean ‘artist playing in smaller setting than they normally would’. But as I look at Hawker Yard for the first time – with it’s tiny, wooden stage and tented roof covering a pebble-floored area no bigger than a local pub – I realise that intimate, in this case, really does mean intimate.

The evening has been warming up with DJs from the monthly Feel the Vibe nights at Hawker Yard, with kids break dancing in the middle of the floor, reminiscent of hip hop in the 1980s, only with a boombox missing.

(It would have been great to have had some photos of the break dancers, but I did not bring my flash with me and the environment was way too dark to capture anything. In fact, I was feeling like this whole night was going to be a challenge, in terms of lighting)

The live sets start at around 9pm – kicking off with Omen, then followed up by Maxi Zee from Germany. They had 15 minutes of stage time each, but it was enough time for both acts to make an impression on the Hawker Yard crowd. At this point in the night, I had enough room by the stage to take photographs, but the moment Trademark Blud came on stage I knew that things would get even more difficult for me when KRS-One shows up.

Trademark Blud, supported by his beat maker and DJ, Tricksta, captivates minds with his hard hitting, politically conscious brand of hip hop. I restrict my photography by retreating away from the stage as more people are towards it. Whilst watching Trademark Blud rapping frenetically, I strategise just how I’m going to take photos of KRS-One in a closed setting like this.

The moment Trademark Blud leaves the stage, I make my way forwards and occupy the small gap left between the audience and the front of stage by squatting there. This spot is mine. And whilst I may make this sound uncomfortable, the truth is that it feels very relaxed; Hawker Yard just has a really friendly vibe, much like a community where you are simply made to feel welcome.

The man of the night, KRS-One, takes to the stage. Wildly glaring at the audience, and looking to make this a big night as Birmingham is the city he is closing his UK tour with. I take as many shots as I can before he even begins his first song, as I know it’s going to get rowdy as the night progresses.

KRS-One points to the area I’m occupying and says “It’s empty here” encouraging the audience to move closer to him, which they do with little hesitation. I spring up like a meerkat to avoid being trampled on, but I’m very much stuck in between people, all with their phones held high, capturing the moment that they were all standing right next to KRS-One.

I’m smiling throughout all this, mainly because I’ve never had this experience as a photographer; as if the low light wasn’t challenging enough, try getting any clear shots of an artist when squeezed in between so many fervent fans.

Wanting to get a few more crowd shots I retreat from the front, checking at the images at the back of my camera to make sure I’m happy with what I’ve got, as once I’m out there will be no return. And I had expected ‘Sound of Da Police’ (taken from KRS-One’s first album, Return of the Boom Bap) to be left until last, but fortunately for me it wasn’t so I could take my leave from the front after that.

But the whole idea of being a concert photographer is capturing these moments as they are. And that’s what these photos from KRS-One at Hawker Yard represent – a night where there is no stage, or status barrier between artist and audience, but one where a venue is simply united by hip hop.

KRS-One @ Hawker Yard 01.10.19 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

For more on KRS-One, visit www.krs-one.com

For more on Trademark Blud, visit www.trademarkblud.bandcamp.com

For more on Tricksta, visit www.facebook.com/TRICKSTA

For more on Hawker Yard, including full event listings, visit www.hawkeryard.com

For more on Mostly Jazz, including full event listings and online ticket sales, visit www.mostlyjazz.co.uk

September 28, 2017

BPREVIEW: KRS-One @ Hawker Yard 01.10.19

Words by Aatish Ramchurn

On Sunday 1st October 2017, KRS-One and DJ Predetor Pr!me come to Hawker Yard in Birmingham – with main support from Trademark Blud, Tricksta, Maxi Zee and Omen. Also on the night will be sets from DJ Jam Fu, DJ 6’5, Dek One and DJ Silence.

Doors at Hawker Yard open at 6pm. Early bird tickets are priced at £12.50, with standard release tickets priced at £15 – as presented by Mostly Jazz and Break Mission. For direct event info and links to online ticket sales, click here.

With a career spanning over three decades, Lawrence ‘Kris’ Parker, better known to the world as KRS-One, will be bringing his current six date tour of the UK to a close when he comes to Hawker Yard on Sunday 1st October.

Having kicked off at The Jazz Cafe in London on 23^rd Sept, KRS-One will be moving out to mainland Europe for several dates across October, before returning to the UK for a final showcase/lecture at The Moustache Bar in London as part of Black History Month.

Since his last visit to Birmingham at the O2 Institute last year, KRS-One released his latest album, The World Is MIND, in May 2017 – out through R.A.M.P. Agency. Parker‘s 13^th solo album (19 including those released under Boogie Down Productions) The World Is MIND marks a career in hip hop spanning over 35 years, one that began in earnest with the release of Criminal Minded in 1987.

Pushing on with Boogie Down Productions after the fatal shooting of Scott La Rock, before going solo in the early 90s, KRS-One is often cited as one of the more influential figures in the hip hop scene. Evolving his style, moving away from the more hardcore and gangster rap, incorporating elements of Jamaican dancehall, KRS-One has also been politically active and community focused since the late 80’s.

Following the death of DJ Scott La Rock (who had been mediating between a local gang and the third member of Boogie Down Productions, D Nice) KRS-One formed the Stop the Violence Movement in 1989, aiming to challenge the aggression and internal feuds within the hip hop community.

On Sunday 1^st October, KRS-One and DJ Predetor Pr!me will be headlining a night of hip hop and breaks at Hawker Yard – hosted by Mostly Jazz and break dance crew, Break Mission.

The night will start from 6pm, where resident DJs of Feel the Vibe (a monthly event at Hawker Yard) in association with Break Mission will warm up the event, before support acts Maxi Zee, Trademark Blud, Tricksta and Omen hit the stage. For direct gig info and link to online ticket sales, click here.

‘Show Respect’ / KRS-One

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KRS-One @ Hawker Yard 01.10.17 (official trailer)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPKLe2rS3Rk

For more on KRS-One, visit www.krs-one.com

For more on Hawker Yard, including full event listings, visit www.hawkeryard.com

For more on Mostly Jazz, including full event listings and online ticket sales, visit www.mostlyjazz.co.uk

For more on Break Mission, visit www.breakmission.org

September 27, 2017September 27, 2017

BPREVIEW: New Found Glory @ O2 Academy 30.09.17

Words by Aatish Ramchurn

On Saturday 30th September 2017, New Found Glory come to the O2 Academy in Birmingham as part of their extensive, international 20 Years of Pop Punk tour. Support for New Found Glory comes from Eastbourne pop-punk band, ROAM.

The tour is presented by SJM Concerts/Gigs and Tours with tickets priced at £25.30, inclusive of booking fee. Doors open at O2 Academy from 7pm. For direct event info and online tickets from Gigs and Tours, click here.

A self explanatory, yet hard to believe, title for their tour, New Found Glory kick off the UK leg of their global 20 Years of Pop Punk Tour in Glasgow on 27th Sept, arriving at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Saturday 30th September – just one year after playing at last year’s Slam Dunk festival at the Genting Arena.

New Found Glory formed as a quintet in 1997, in Coral Springs, Florida. They signed their first record deal with Drive Thru Records and released From The Screen To Your Stereo in March 2000 – an EP consisting of covers from movie soundtracks, including Bryan Adams’ ‘Everything I Do (I Do It For You)’.

Alongside the likes of Blink 182 and Sum 41, New Found Glory cemented their place as one of the leading pop punk bands in the early 2000s with songs such as ‘Hit or Miss’, even finding their way into the American Pie soundtracks.

2014, however, saw one of their long standing members, Steve Klein, leave the band due to creative differences. The band were due to replace Klein but opted to carry on as quartet, consisting of vocalist (and Quentin Tarantino lookalike) Jordan Pundik, lead guitarist and former Shai Hulud vocalist Chad Gilbert, bassist Ian Grushka, and drummer Cyrus Bolooki.

Having released their ninth studio album, Makes Me Sick, earlier this year on Hopeless Records, New Found Glory will have plenty of material (20 years worth, in fact) to keep both their longstanding and new fans in Birmingham celebrating their long career as a pop punk band.

‘Sound of Two Voices’ – New Found Glory

For more on New Found Glory, visit www.newfoundglory.com

For more on ROAM, visit www.roamuk.bandcamp.com

For more from O2 Academy, Birmingham, including full event listings and online ticket sales, visit www.academymusicgroup.com/o2academybirmingham/academybirmingham

For more from SJM Concerts/Gig and Tours, visit www.gigsandtours.com