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April 11, 2016

BPREVIEW: Hans Zimmer @ Barclaycard Arena 12.04.16

On Tuesday 12 April, Hans Zimmer performs at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham – as promoted by Harvey Goldsmith. At the time of writing tickets for this event have sold out, but for direct information from The Ticket Factory, click here.

There’s no doubting Hans Zimmer’s credentials as one of Hollywood’s major composers, with a career spanning over 150 films including The Lion King (for which he won an Oscar in 1994), Ridley Scott’s Gladiator and the recently released Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice. To the modern movie-goer he’s arguably best known for his work scoring the films of Christopher Nolan, including Inception, The Dark Knight Trilogy and Interstellar.

Having spent his childhood fixated on music, Zimmer played keyboard with a number of bands in the ‘70s, including Trevor Horn’s The Buggles, even making a brief appearance in the video of The Buggles’ 1979 hit ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’. Zimmer worked his way across Europe as a jobbing musician, before eventually washing up in Hollywood. Hell, he’s even worked with The Damned.

Even in childhood, with his father an engineer, the Frankfurt born Zimmer would experiment with music and musical instruments, fixing odds and ends onto his piano to achieve a different, experimental sound. His noodling with electronic music still continues to this day and it will certainly be interesting to see how this translates on stage when Zimmer, along with his 70+ travelling minstrels, comes to Birmingham with over four decades of back catalogue to borrow from.

Performing with the likes of Lebo M (from the aforementioned Lion King), Mike Einziger from Incubus, as well as a possible appearance Johnny Marr (whom Zimmer has previously worked with on Inception and The Amazing Spider-man 2) it would seem that those fortunate enough to be going will be witness to a rather eclectic, diverse set.

Given that this is one of few UK dates on Zimmer’s first ever tour, many have already grabbed the opportunity to catch one of Hollywood’s most renowned contemporary composers – with the concert selling out.

But to keep track of updates & info direct from The Ticket Factory, Barclaycard Arena’s official online outlet, click here.

For more on Hans Zimmer, visit http://www.hans-zimmer.com/

For more from the Barclaycard Arena, visit http://www.barclaycardarena.co.uk/

April 8, 2016

BPREVIEW: Mike Carey signing @ Waterstones – City Centre (High St) 09.04.16

Words by Olly MacNamee

On Saturday 9^th April at 6.30pm, graphic novelist & author Mike Carey (X-Men, Lucifer) comes to Birmingham’s High Street branch of Waterstones – signing to sign copies of his latest novel, Fellside.

The Mike Carey signing (or M R Carey as he is known as a prose writer) is a free event, organised in conjunction with The Birmingham Comics Festival. For direct info from Waterstones, click here

Carey’s writing career has seen him writing for Marvel (Fantastic Four, The X-Men), Rebellion (2000AD) and DC Comics offshoot Vertigo (Lucifer – now a FOX TV series). Amongst the comic book fans of this world, he’s something of a name.

Carey is much more than a comic book writer though and has also found the time to forge a successful career as an author – hence this signing of Fellside, a thriller set in a maximum security prison on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors.

Carey’s most notable prose work to date is arguably his 2014 novel The Girl With All The Gifts, which is currently being adapted into the film She Who Brings Gifts, starring Glen Close, Gemma Arterton and Paddy Considine. The film was partly filmed in the mean streets of Birmingham itself last summer, when a portion of Brum’s streets were turned into a facsimile of a dystopian future.

Arguably, Carey is as well known as an author as he is a comic book creator – and probably about to become even better known once She Who Brings Gifts hits cinemas later this year. I will always fondly remember the time I met Neil Gamain on his tour for his novel American Gods, back in the day. It’s doubtful I would ever get such a chance again, and this signing could be a similar one-off opportunity to meet Mike Carey.

The M R Carey signing a free event, but it will be ticketed and I’d make sure you book before venturing into town.

Having made his name as a comic book writer, I expect this will be more intense than your average signing – with plenty of comic book fans ready in the wings with arms full of things to be signed. You may find yourselves standing in a slower moving queue than expected.

Either drop into Waterstones or phone and reserve your ticket on 0121 633 4353. Alternatively, you can tweet your request to @waterstonesbham

For more information, visit https://www.waterstones.com/events/meet-m-r-carey/birmingham-high-street

For more on Mike Carey / M R Carey, visit http://mikeandpeter.com/

April 4, 2016

BPREVIEW: Swingamajig 2016 @ Rainbow Venues 01.05.16

Words & pics (from Swingamjig 2015) by Ed King

It’s that time again. Spring has sprung, the chocolate chicks have hatched, and that fantastic festival crocus is popping up in flyers and on Facebook.

Swingamajig 2016 is four weeks away – time to get your glad rags out, dust down your feather boas, and dress up for some fine & dandy debauchery. 1^stMay people…

Moving to the Rainbow Venues, this year’s Swingamajig is the biggest festival yet – cramming ‘over 4,000 of the UK’s best dressed ladies & gents’ into the sprawling Digbeth events complex.

Curated by Electric Swing Circus & Kambe Events, Swingamajig 2016 has 6 stages on offer, ‘packing a massive program of music and performance’ into its new home – with Balkan Beatbox as the main event headliner, alongside a bevy of the bold and beautiful from Burlesque, ‘electro swing, bassline, gypsy, punk, balkan, folk, jazz, rockabilly and rock and roll.’

There’s also a tie in this year to the International Dance Festival Birmingham, with a few artist crossovers and Stomp Stomp – a day of ‘lindy hop and authentic solo jazz workshops’ at The Night Owl on Saturday 30^th April. For more on Stomp Stomp, click here.

But trying to define Swingamajig, or to slot it neatly into one event pigeon hole or another, is a foolhardy endevour – as Birmingham Review found out for the first time at last year’s festival (…shame on us).

Try not to think of Swingamajig in terms or genres, just imagine a masquerade ball exploding like a glitter filled piñata inside a cabaret circus big top, with all the fire crew dressed by Mr Ben and Dita Von Tease after a mouthful of mushrooms. So hopefully that clears that up a bit.

And if a burlesque tinged psychedelic 70’s children’s TV metaphor isn’t crystal enough for you, have a look at our BREVIEW of Swingamajig 2015 – click here

So then… down to brass tacks. Swingamajig 2016 – who’s on, where, and for how much? As previously stated, this year’s festival headliners are Balkan Beatbox – who will be in The Big Top Main Stage at some point after dark.

Next on the live line up are The Destroyers – a local ‘MegaFolk’ ensemble who are as addictive as fun is legally allowed to be (in fact, they may not be legal. Defra are getting back to us), with the band that started it all, Electric Swing Circus, having their rightful place of prominence. Another first, I popped my ESC cherry last year and they are all sorts of awesome.

There’s more on stage show from The Tootsie Rollers, Jack Rabbit Slim, Swingrowers, Tankus the Henge, The Carny Villains, The Rin Tins (again, particularly awesome), Barbarella’s Bang Bang, The After Hours Quintet and Jim Wynn Swing Orchestra – with DJ sets coming from JFB, C@ in the H@, The Chicken Brothers (another stand out set from Swingamajig 2015), Aries, Tallulah Goodtimes, Jenova Collective, and the man with possibly the best biog in history – Father Funk.

Outside all the audio, there’s visual treats with Cabaret from Dr Andrew Szydlo, Sasha Khron, Jon Udry, Those Two Magicians, Rose Rokoko and Brothers Swag. With Burlesque from Kitty Bang Bang, Rubyyy Jones, Eliza DeLite, Peggy De Lune & Equador the Wizard – alongside a site worth of games, sideshows, food stalls and general nice-nice-naughtiness to keep you safe and occupied. Well, occupied.

Click on the highlighted links to get a bit more background on all the above. Or for a wider SELLSELLSELL, have a butcher’s at this little number – you might even win something:

Swingamajig 2016

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Birmingham Review @ Swingamajig 2016

Birmingham Review is absurdly excited to say we will also be at Swingamajig 2016, with an army of well dressed reporters gathering words & pics for a special Birmingham Review @ Swingamajig 2016 souvenir brochure. You know those glossy keepsakes you get from a West End musical… kind of like one of those, but with a bit more show.

So look out for us near The Big Top Main Stage – we’ll be selling food & drink at the Birmingham Review Chai Stall, with a whole play pen of stuff to dig your fingers into as well. Come & say hi, drink some chai, dance around like a deranged demon child in drag, and scrawl your inner most secrets on the Birmingham Review Chalk Board of Thought. We promise not to tell.

Birmingham Review will also have photographers at our stand taking some souvenir snaps to email out you (free, gratis) after the event – with the first to pre-order a copy of Birmingham Review @ Swingamajig 2016 getting their pics included in the souvenir brochure, should they so desire.

See you at Swingamajig 2016.

Swingamajig 2016 comes the Rainbow Venues in Digbeth on May 1^st – running from 2pm until 6am. Tickets are priced at £22/£25/£30. For direct festival info, including online ticket sales, visit http://swingamajig.co.uk/

For more from the Rainbow Venues, visit http://therainbowvenues.co.uk/

April 4, 2016April 4, 2016

BPREVIEW: The Birmingham Comics Festival @ Edgbaston Cricket Stadium 23.04.16

Words by Olly MacNamee

On Saturday 23 April, The Birmingham Comics Festival comes to Edgbaston Cricket Stadium. And now in its second year, the guys behind The Birmingham Comics Festival have a grand plan for the future of the event – building on the success of the 2015 event and spreading their wings and influence across the whole city. No longer just a comic-con but a full blown festival, a number of satellite events have been scheduled to spread the word and grow the event.

They clearly want to leave an endemic mark on the city for years to come. And in making many of these events free to all, they are certainly thinking beyond the capitalist confines of simply profiteering, but at bolstering and sustaining the thriving comic book culture within the city that has always been here, though subsiding, like Batman, in the shadows in recent years.

The main event itself, The Birmingham Comics Festival, runs from 9am (for Early Bird ticket holders, or 11am for everyone else), over two halls. You will be able to take it all in, with one hall having a firm focus on comic book creators and comic book exhibitors and vendors, and the other showcasing other exhibitors of sci-fi, cosplay, gaming and the like.

Along with these more established names, there will be the chance to delve into the vast and varied world of indie publishing, with several comics launching at the festival. Having covered cons for nearly three years now as a roving reporter of geek culture, and a self-confessed aficionado, more and more I find I am drawn to these indie titles and the diversity they offer in terms of storytelling and subject matter. For me, these cons are about finding those hidden gems, or stumbling upon tomorrow’s Neil Gaiman or Amanda Connner.

So have a sneak peak at a few new titles ahead of publication: Steve Tanner from Time Bomb Comics, will be debuting his Flintlock comic, set in the 18th Century, Planet Jimbot will launch their new comic, Samurai, as will local first timers, Joe Krawec and Angus Medford with their book, Blood. There are, of course, far more than these names to salivate over, so why not take a look at the complete list – click here.

And, if your love for pop culture is not simply as a devourer of the four coloured page, there are other sights to see across the day, with one of the big pulls guaranteed to be the chance to have your photo taken with The Tumbler, from the much-loved Christopher Nolan helmed Batman trilogy. Originally touted as a ticket only opportunity, it was soon realised that demand was far too large to ignore. You can’t say they haven’t listened to their fans, at least.

There’s plenty to do, and that’s before the panels have been announced, which will run throughout the day and will probably take on a diverse range of themes if last year’s panels on superheroes and films, women creators in comics and a panel on 2000AD, are the litmus test to go by.

Oh, and there will be cosplayers too. There’s always cosplayers. They bring an added element of fun and frollicks to the whole day. Why not get dressed up yourself and join the party.

Tickets are still available, and many of the events leading up to the big day are free.

For a full list of satellite events, click here – with a few highlights below.

Laydeez Do Comics @ The Victoria 04.04.16

Admission: free / 7.30pm

A regular meet up with guest speakers of the female variety (but not exclusively) sharing their passion for comics and their own work within the field. This time round guest speakers will be artist Verity Glass (cover artist for Titans Comics’ Dr Who as well as IDW’s Independence Day comic series), Coventry-based cartoonist and illustrator Caroline Parker and Birmingham writer and editor Paul H Birch.

For more info, visit http://www.thevictoriabirmingham.co.uk/

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Quiz Night @ The Victoria 06.04.16

Admission: free / 6.30pm

Again at The Victoria Theatre Bar, and supported by Nostalgia and Comics, Birmingham’s longest running comic book emporium, is the return of the intensely competitive Quiz Night. The winner gets to walk away with an original piece of artwork especially commissioned by one of the big name artists present at the festival. Last year’s lucky winner took away an original Hulk drawn by Mark Buckingham (Vertigo’s Fables) and inked by Mark Farmer (who I will always associate with his partnership alongside artist Alan Davis on Marvel’s Captain Britain).

For more info, visit http://www.thevictoriabirmingham.co.uk/

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Mike Carey signing @ Waterstones – City Centre (High St) 09.04.16

Admission: free / 6pm

Mike Carey, or rather M R Carey when wearing his author’s hat, is in town and signing his new novel Fellside at Waterstones on the High Street. Expect a range of fans there for his novels (The Girl With All The Gifts is about to be released as a major movie adaptation starring Glen Close and Gemma Arterton) and his comic work (Lucifer, Fantastic Four and X Men).

For more info, visit https://www.waterstones.com/events/meet-m-r-carey/birmingham-high-street

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Creating Comics workshops @ mac April

Two courses, two different demographics.

Firstly, there is the child friendly Creating Comics workshop, on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th April at mac (11am – 1pm) aimed at children aged between 8 – 14. And, if they can talk their parents into it, an hour later at 2pm, there will be a screening of The Iron Giant to round off a busy day.

Then, there is the more intense adults’ course, starting on April 15th and running every Friday (7.30pm – 9.30pm) for 13 weeks costing £120/£96 with concessions. Both are hosted by Chris Hamilton.

mac is a popular venue for the middle classes of Moseley and beyond, so be warned, if you want a place get in there quickly otherwise you may be disappointed.

For more info, visit https://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/creating-comics-sc217/

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Drink & Draw @ Edwardian Tea Rooms, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery 22.04.16

Admission: free / 6.30pm

Hosts Simon Myers and Nigel Hopkins return to the Edwardian Tea Rooms in the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, providing the theme and the pens, pencils and paper. Expect a comic book related theme I imagine. A huge number of willing participants turned up last time (I’m talking HUNDREDS of people) and there are already over 600 people showing interest in this one. A hugely popular evening and a great setting too.

For more info, visit http://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag/whats-on/edwardian-tea-rooms-late-drink-and-draw

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The Birmingham Comics Festival comes to Edgbaston Cricket Stadium on Saturday 23rd April, running from 9am-6pm.

Tickets are priced between £10-£25 (advance), for direct info &online ticket sales, visit http://www.thecomicfestival.com

April 1, 2016April 1, 2016

FEATURE: Beta Birmingham Street Art Treasure Hunt @ City Centre 23.04.16

Words & pics by Ed King / Artwork by Void One

Birmingham is full of ideas. The city of a thousand social enterprise starts ups is never quiet for long, as a maelstrom of rhetoric fills the coffee shops and square foot homes from home of the city’s eager creatives. God knows I’m one. Birmingham Review was one. Most of my portfolio started at the end of a pot of filter coffee. And as the wheat, chaff and Arts Council do their merry little dance, the city’s event programmes and flyers stands ebb and flow, and ebb again.

(I should at this point apologise for all the ‘lost’ features we’ve never published, or the pages of our website that are not yet online. Watch out for our Lost Review anthology – coming out both in print and online.)

Birmingham Review first interviewed Harley Davies, founder of Beta Birmingham and Beta Test Records, back in May 2013 – after the home grown label released its stonkingly solid album of mash up and homage, Council Pop. The cream of a precarious crop, Council Pop grabbed me as a local release benchmark worth writing about, with the man behind as someone to keep in the ‘Safe Senders’ list.

But often simplicity shines through; simplicity, alongside the graft and address book it takes to deliver a project. Oh yeah, tenacity helps as well. And cash. And time.

So with at least three of those foundations in place, Harley Davies had another idea – one that taps into our city’s desire for art, free stuff and a mad dash around the city. No, not another riot-by-twitter – something all together more creative and constructive. And following on from the beautifully curated The Big Hoot project, it’s planning to “celebrate our vibrant art community, framed by some of the city’s most iconic, intriguing and even notorious locations.” Go on…

On Saturday 23^rd April, armed with a treasure map and mobile broadband, the Beta Birmingham Street Art Treasure Hunt will be swooping across the city centre. And it’s exactly what it sounds like. Let the numbers come, the pirate metaphors flow, and the slow loafer hipsters beware… the Captain’s got a canvas to catch.

Beta Birmingham is a local record label. And if you’ve never heard of a treasure hunt before, it’s where you hunt for treasure. Moving on. Beta Birmingham are using the streets of Birmingham city centre for their fast grab endeavour, hiding over 30 pieces of original art from a range of genre and artists. So far we’ve been told about illustration, photography and all sorts of mediums on canvas.

But with ‘why’ hovering on one shoulder, let’s quickly look at ‘how’. And again, the idea is simple. At 12noon on Saturday 23^rd April, Beta Birmingham will release a map via their website and social media channels – showing a series of locations across the city centre where they have hidden ‘X Marks the Spot’ signs. Tried and tested, even Enid Blyton children can pick this one up.

Then once a successful ‘player’ finds an ‘X’, they take the ubiquitous selfie (apparently now the world’s new form of colloquial transaction) post it onto the Beta Birmingham Street Art Treasure Hunt Facebook page, and tootle down to The Custard Factory Street Art Treasure Hunt HQ to collect their loot. Kind of like Thomas Crown meets Treasure Island, with a bit of Gumball Rally thrown in. Or Battle Royale, if you’re really ‘passionate’ about your art.

The ‘why’ is a little more colourful, no pun, and Birmingham Review will be following this story with an interview from Harley Davies – letting them man behind the project explain it in his own words.

But for now, I’ll throw in a starter for ten. According to the initial press release, the Beta Birmingham Street Art Treasure Hunt is being held to “celebrate” the city’s “vibrant art community” – whilst also being a showcase for “artists who may not have exhibited before to showcase their work alongside some of Birmingham’s more recognised and infamous characters”. Sounds like a solid grant application.

But what arguably makes this project stand out, alongside the unashamed variety of art being presented and the veracity of Beta Birmingham’s previous endevours, is a big fat ‘F’ word. Fun.

“I can’t give too much away at this stage,” says Harley Davies, as Birmingham Review catches him for a greedy pre-interview soundbite, “but we’re hiding the Xs in some iconic, intriguing and even notorious places. There’s original work from a range of this city’s artists and infamous characters; we wanted the treasure map to be just as colourful and just as exciting. You should see this as a friendly day time mad dash, a pedestrian Gumball Rally style race for hidden art treasure.

And everywhere is accessible – free to get to and open to all ages. It was important that everyone could be involved in the event at every stage. The Street Art Treasure Hunt map will show players places in the city centre they might never have seen before, but would love to discover. There are places with food and drink in there too, but a packed lunch and trainers might not be a bad idea.”

And if it all sounds like too much of a foot based commitment, you can always head down The Custard Factory Street Art Treasure Hunt HQ on 23^rd April and have a look at some of the pieces – as they wait patiently for their new owners to come and collect them. The ‘HQ’ is at the back of the lake, next to The Mockingbird Theatre & Bar – so it all goes horribly Pete Tong, and you find nowt on your hunt, you can still be a graciously sore loser. Or a full and tipsy one, at least.

But right now I’m off to sharpen my cutlass.

The Beta Birmingham Street Art Treasure Hunt will take place across the city centre, from 12noon on Saturday 23^rd April – with the supporting selected pieces on display at The Custard Factory from 10am.

All aspects of the Beta Birmingham Street Art Treasure Hunt are free and open to all ages. For more information, visit www.betabirmingham.co.uk

Or visit the Beta Birmingham Street Art Treasure Hunt Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/864333440332012/permalink/904617286303627/