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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

February 16, 2016

BPREVIEW: Fat White Family @ O2 Institute 20.02.16

Words by Helen Knott

On Saturday 20 February, Fat White Family perform at the O2 Institute in Digbeth – as presented by SJM Concerts.

Doors open at 6pm, with tickets priced at £12 (advance). For direct gig info & online ticket sales, click here.

Fat White Family’s gig at the O2 Institute in Birmingham is the first of an eleven date UK tour – in support of their second album, Songs for Our Mothers, which was released on 22 January through Fat Possum/Without Consent.

Formed in a South London squat back in 2012, Fat White Family have gained notoriety as one of the most raw and wild bands on the live scene. Onstage arguments and nudity, riding a donkey into a venue, pig’s heads in the crowd… it’s all the stuff of legend.

But while they haven’t quite managed to capture the energy of their live shows in either their latest album, or their 2013 debut Champagne Holocaust, there is more going on with Fat White Family than just wanton debauchery. Incorporating lo-fi, psych and post-punk styles, Songs for Our Mothers doesn’t shy away from the difficult subjects. In fact, it covers themes of fascism, serial killers and racism in a manner that revels in crossing the boundaries of good taste.

So are Fat White Family “members of an emergent underclass of literate but degenerate squatters” (Paul Lester – The Guardian) with something important to say about modern Britain? Or are they merely “raw-assed rabble rock as dark, deviant and disgusting as the ’70s” (Mark Beaumont – NME).

Either way, if Elton John is referencing them to show he’s still relevant (and he is) it’s probably not long before they cross over into the wider public’s consciousness. So catch Fat White Family before they go supernova. Or, just as likely, before they self-combust.

Released in December 2015, ‘Whitest Boy on the Beach’ was the first taster from Songs for Our Mothers. Check it out – click on the image/link below:

‘Whitest Boy on the Beach’ by Fat White Family

Fat White Family perform at the O2 Institute on Saturday 20 February, as presented by SJM Concerts. For direct gig info & online tickets, visit http://o2institutebirmingham.co.uk/listings/upcoming-events/29011/fat-white-family/

For more on Fat White Family, visit https://fatwhitefamily.bandcamp.com

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For more from the O2 Institute, visit http://o2institutebirmingham.co.uk/

For more events from SJM Concerts, visit http://www.gigsandtours.com/