BPREVIEW: Lady Gaga @ Arena Birmingham 31.01.18 / Genting Arena 01.02.18

Lady Gaga @ Arena Birmingham 31.01.18 / Genting Arena 01.02.18

Words by Eleanor Sutcliffe

After being forced to postpone the European leg of her tour due to a battle with fibromyalgia, Lady Gaga will be performing at Arena Birmingham on the 31st of January and again at the Genting Arena on the 1st February.

Tickets to both arena shows are priced at £48.50 (+ fees), as presented by Live Nation UK. For direct gig info, including venue details and online ticket sales, for Lady Gaga at Arena Birmingham on 31st January, click here. For Lady Gaga at the Genting Arena on 1st February, click here.

**Tickets for the originally scheduled Lada Gaga shows at the Genting Arena (12th Oct ’17) at Arena Birmingham (15th Oct ’17) can be transferred to the new dates. According to the venues’ websites, ‘if you cannot make the new date, refunds can be obtained at your point of purchase for a limited period’.**

Touring the UK following the release of her fifth studio album, Joanne, Lady Gaga is hitting the ground running in 2018. And why wouldn’t she? As one of the best-selling music artists of all time, Lady Gaga is set to make even more waves this year having signed a residency to perform at the MGM Park Theater in Las Vegas, as well as staring as the female lead in Bradley Cooper’s remake of A Star Is Born.

A pop icon whose dramatic flair and provocative, outspoken performances have made her one of the most influential stars on the planet at the moment, Lady Gaga‘s numerous accolades include three Brit awards, six Grammy awards and more Guinness World Records than you could shake a stick at.

Unlike many current mainstream artists, Lady Gaga’s performances are about more than just music. Her penchant for unconventional shows that defy social norms have made her one of the most respected female pop stars on the circuit. Lady Gaga has not only managed to elevate music performance to a new level – but she has merged it with fine art to create not just a show but a spectacle.

Even off stage, she has no boundaries; from her meat dress which dominated headlines in 2010, right through to her David Bowie inspired ensemble donned for the 2016 Grammy Awards, Lady Gaga is consistently reinventing herself and her music.

Lady Gaga has come a long way from the electropop tracks she released on her debut album, The Fame. Although tracks such as ‘Bad Romance’ and ‘Just Dance’ will always be seen as cult classics, the singer and songwriter has flirted with numerous genres over the years, including jazz, country and pop. And yet she still manages to incorporate her signature style into each track, distilling it down to a sound that is unmistakably Lady Gaga.

With her latest album receiving critical acclaim across the board, I can’t wait to see what Lady Gaga will bring to the stage as she kicks off the UK leg of her Joanne World Tour in Birmingham at the end of this month.

‘Joanne’ – Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga performs at Arena Birmingham on the 31st of January and at the Genting Arena on the 1st February. For direct gig info on the Arena Birmingham show click here – for direct info on the Genting Arena gig, click here.

For more on Lady Gaga, visit www.ladygaga.com

For more from Arena Birmingham including full event listings and online ticket sales, visit www.arenabham.co.uk

For more from the Genting Arena, including full event listings on online ticket sales, visit www.gentingarena.co.uk

For more from Live Nation UK, including all national tours, events and online ticket sales, visit www.livenation.co.uk

BPREVIEW: The Hunna @ O2 Academy 11.01.18

Words by Molly Forsyth

The Hunna will be stopping in Birmingham as part of their second major UK tour on Thursday 11th January, performing at the O2 Academy. Support comes from Coasts and Night Riots.

Doors open at 7pm and the tickets are priced at £24.15 excluding booking fees – as presented by High Tide Recordings and Academy Music Group. For direct gig info, including venue details and online ticket sales, click here.

**There are limited tickets remaining for The Hunna’s O2 Academy Birmingham show at time of writing, so fans should act quickly to enjoy the band before bigger venues beckon.**

The Hertfordshire four-piece will be gracing the O2 Academy stage in support of their upcoming sophomore album, Dare, set for release in May 2018. Boasting a potent blend of Instagram-friendly swagger, hometown pride, and riffs with the lick and spit of ‘noughties’ indie spirit that many considered long gone, The Hunna look set to take 2018 by storm and build on their current success.

The Hunna @ O2 Academy 11.01.18Upon the release of their debut single, ‘Bonfire’, in 2015, the band have enjoyed a rapid rise to popularity within the UK indie scene, charting in the UK Top 20 with their 2016 debut album, 100. They have become firm festival favourites along their journey – opened shirts, scuffed Dr Martens and bed-headed charm standing out against the preened, Athleisure look of their contemporary male acts. With their live show integral to their growth thus far, The Hunna could be further set to trouble international waters with their second release.

Joining The Hunna will be their High Tide label-mates Coasts. The Bristol based alternative outfit err on the cooler, minimalist side of indie rock, with comparisons to established acts such as Foals and Two Door Cinema Club. Earning major exposure thanks to BBC Radio 1 and E4’s Made In Chelsea putting 2014 single ‘Oceans’ on rotation, Coasts are playing in support of their second release, This Life Vol. 1. The band have already embarked on their own solo tour and are another name to look out for in the coming years.

Alongside Coasts, The Hunna will also be joined by US rockers Night Riots. Bringing the post-punk sound up to date for this generation, the Californian five-piece are more likely to show you the West Coast dusk rather than its famed sunshine. Still basking in the glow of reviews for second album, Love Gloom, in 2016, the band have steadily developed their reputation for a rapturous live show, notable for their emotive hooks and hypnotic basslines. Not to leave out, of course, their hints of modern power-pop vigour at the core of songs such as ‘Contagious’ and ‘Fangs’.

With a trio of acts that are each building a strong reputation for good live shows and memorable performances, the 11th January at the O2 Academy in Birmingham looks set to be all killer, no filler.

‘Dare’ – The Hunna

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NiUO4BaweQ

For more on The Hunna visit www.thehunna.com 

For more on Coasts, visit www.coastscoastscoasts.tumblr.com

For more on Night Riots, visit www.nightriots.com

For more from High Tide Recordings, visit www.hightiderecordings.com

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

BPREVIEW: Playback @ mac 07-24.01.18

Playback @ mac 07-24.01.18

Words by Ashleigh Goodwin

It often feels like there is a momentary hush over the city as we pick ourselves up off 2017’s floor and stumble into 2018. We could spend this transitional time recovering from the short-lived break, however mac is offering an alternative – welcoming in the New Year with Playback, ‘an interactive exhibition showcasing over 200 short films made by young artist filmmakers from across the country’.

Playback runs in mac’s First Floor Gallery from 7th to 24th January, open 11am-5pm from Tuesdays to Sundays. Admission to Playback is free. For direct  info, including venue details and the wider facilities available at mac, click here.

Playback is a joint initiative funded by Arts Council England and the exhibition’s creator, Random Acts – a Channel 4 spawned endevour which launched in March 2017 at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. Playback aims to shine a spotlight on new work by providing support, funding and exhibition opportunities to ‘young artist filmmakers from across the country’. With some of these ‘remarkable and award-winning shorts’ being made within ‘in and around Birmingham’, Playback promises visitors ‘the chance to see the people, places and creativity of your city onscreen.’

The exhibition allows you to explore the bodies of work at your own pace, using interactive touch screens, and features genres including spoken word, comedy and drama. As mac’s website states, the films being exhibited at Playback ‘span a range of art forms and topics – from krumping and parkour dance shorts, to an animated tale of teenage love that unearths our desire to be as cool as the zines we read.’

Birmingham’s prominence continues to grow around the many aspects of film, with the city seeing an influx of location shooting on its streets as well as increasing ties to organisations such as the British Film Institute and Marv Films. Added to this, the number of ways to access film in Birmingham has grown significantly within the past few years, with cinemas such as The Electric, The Mockingbird and Everyman supporting independent, current and cult productions through their programmes. Events such as the Flatpack Film Festival and the Birmingham Film Festival have become annual platforms for filmmakers, often bolstered by a rolling calendar of events to celebrate and support initiative new works, such as those programmed by Flatpack: Assemble.

Playback has the potential to fit nicely between these established city operators, by providing support to independent artists with the ‘festival feel’ offered by the variety and quantity of pieces exhibited. It could be that Playback’s ‘USP’ is that it allows a more open and customer driven experience as you are free to examine whatever you choose, whenever you choose.

As well as its exhibition at mac’s First Floor Gallery this January, Playback is being toured throughout England in ‘major galleries, libraries and multi-arts venues’ – culminating with the Playback Festival 2018, to be held at the Institute of Contemporary Arts from 21st to 25th March ‘18.

Additionally, there are multiple Playback events to be held at mac Birmingham throughout January – including animation, film making workshops, and a live spoken word event.

Playback – coming to mac’s First Floor Gallery 04-24.01.18

For more on Playback at mac, visit www.macbirmingham.co.uk/exhibition/playback

To view a list of all the Playback dates across the UK, visit www.ica.art/ica-off-site/touring-exhibitions/playback/about-playback-touring-exhibition-association-random-acts

For more from mac, including full event listings and online ticket sales, visit www.macbirmingham.co.uk

BPREVIEW: Paramore @ Genting Arena 14.01.17

BPREVIEW: Paramore @ Genting Arena 14.01.17

Words by Ed King / Pic courtesy of SJM Concerts

On Sunday 14th January, Paramore come to the Genting Arena in Birmingham – performing one of only five dates on their UK tour, with support from Philadelphia’s mewithoutYou.

Doors for the Genting Arena open at 6pm, with mewithoutYou on stage at 7:30pm and Paramore kicking off their headline set at 8:45pm. Standard tickets are priced between £34.24 – £48.93 (inc fees) depending on positioning within the arena.

Amplify Hospitality tickets are also available for £135 (inc fees) which offer a variety of perks – including VIP check in, access to the private lounge, alongside complimentary drinks and dinner. As promoted by SJM Concerts, for full gig details on Paramore at the Genting Arena and links to all available tickets, click here.

*At the time of writing no more standing tickets were available. Extra arena tickets have been released by the promoters, but this gig is looking like a sell out so you might want to move a little quicker than usual.*

Paramore have been on the road with their new album, After Laughter, since summer last year – playing six UK and Ireland dates in 2017, including one night at the Royal Albert Hall (…just, imagine, that one). The Tennessee now trio then embarked on an extensive Tour Two of North America and Canada, from September to October, before confirming their Tour Three return to Europe with gigs in Spain, France and the UK from 7th to 20th Jan. To stay up to date with all Paramore tour details, direct from the band, click here.

Released in May 2017, via the Warner subsidiary – Fueled by Ramen, After Laughter is the fifth studio album from Paramore.  After Laughter also sees the return of Zac Farro, one of the band’s original members, who announced in Feb 2017 that he was back with Paramore to record and tour their new album.

Once again produced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen and Taylor York (who worked together on the band’s previous and eponymous album) After Laughter has received widespread acclaim from fans and the music press alike, with Rolling Stone surmising it as ‘a gorgeously produced, hook-studded record with cocked-eyebrow trepidation adding a jittery edge.’ Indeed, it is the bittersweet lyrics from Hayley Williams that seem to be gathering the most attention from After Laughter, with some uncomfortable scars seemingly part of the creative force behind the band’s latest LP. And after a quick Google search through some bizarrely bitter statements and retrospective foot stamping, you can understand why.

But for the fans it’s business as usual, with renewed fervor at Zac Farro’s return and a sell out show zeal supporting Paramore’s latest road trip. After Laughter’s lead single, ‘Hard Times’, reached No6 on the Billboard Hot Rock Charts across the pond and was officially certified ‘Silver’ by British Recorded Music Industry (that’s selling over 200k copies, to you and me).

Subsequent singles ‘Told You So’ and ‘Fake Happy’ both beat a Billboard Hot Rock Top 40, whilst the album itself climbed even higher – reaching No1 on the same US chart and No4 on the UK’s Official Album Chart.

So it seems you can’t keep a good thing down after all, no matter how publicly some corners of the world might try to – ‘and I bet everybody here is just as insincere’. Well, quite.

‘Fake Happy’ – Paramore 

Paramore come to the Genting Arena on Sunday 14th January, with support from MewithoutYou – as presented by SJM Concerts/Gigs and Tours. For direct event info and online ticket sales, click here. 

For more from Paramore, visit www.paramore.net 

For more from mewithoutYou, visit www.mewithoutyou.com 

For more on the Genting Arena, venue details and further event listings, visit www.gentingarena.co.uk

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

ED’S PICK: January 2018

Words by Ed King

January 1st… no finer day to cross off the calendar. But as the world crawls out of bed with hangovers and resolutions, Birmingham’s events diary looks forward to a pretty vibrant January. It seems the ‘quiet month’ is not so dormant this year. Which is a good thing, right? I mean, who needs to stay in and save money? Food and heating are for quitters.

Some pretty big gigs happening this month, with the rock powerhouse that is Paramore (ain’t alliteration ace) coming to the Genting Arena on Jan 14th. Tickets may be sold out by the time I finish this sentence, so you’d better act rápido por favor (just finished watching Narcos) if you want to catch them tour their fifth album, After Laughter, through the second city. On the Lord’s Day as well… dios nos perdone.

On the smaller stages in Birmingham, Surprise You’re Dead are tearing the city in two on 24th Jan – as Ohio’s metalcore Miss May I come to Mamma Roux’s, whilst London’s pop punksters The Bottom Line are joined by Nottingham’s Lacey at The Asylum. In fact, overall it’s quite a strong start to 2018 from SYD as the Birmingham’s stalwart rock/punk promoters are also bringing Dead! to The Flapper on 31st Jan and The Bronx to Mama Roux’s on 17th Jan – although The Bronx gig has already sold out so check the relevant corners of t’interweb for returns.

Elsewhere in the land of live gigs, we have the rising stars Riscas headlining an uber line up at The Sunflower Lounge on 19th Jan – with Spilt Milk Society, Candid and The Real Cool all in support. If this gig doesn’t sell out then I will 1) buy a hat, 2) eat my hat, 3) buy another hat. 2018 is set to be a big year for Riscas, we reckon, so catch them when and where you can. Then The Hunna return to the O2 Academy on 11th Jan, whilst Setting Son Records present Average Sex and Semantics (one of our faves) at the Hare & Hounds on 24th Jan.

Hot on the heels of their recent triumphant homecoming, KIOKO headline a stellar line up of local acts at The Crossing on 26th Jan – with Namiwa Jazz, Zara Sykes, VITAL, Elektric, and revered local poet Kurly all performing as part of the Love Music Hate Racism event at the Milk Street venue. Trish Clowes presents her latest album, My Iris, with a new ensemble of the same name at Eastside Jazz Club on 25th Jan. Whilst those somewhat silent psychedelics, Moon Duo, come back to the Hare & Hounds on 30th Jan courtesy of This Is Tmrw. Then there’s the gig I’m throwing my metaphor in the ring for – This is the Kit showcase their new album, Moonshine Freeze, at The Glee Club on 24th Jan.

January also sees a strong line up of comedy in the city, kicking off with Tina T’urner Tea Lady Steamy Bingo at The Old Joint Stock on 5th Jan. Tracey Collins will be bringing her ‘camp alter ego’ back to The Old Joint Stock in March, so if you miss your numbers this time around you can always try again in spring.

Stand up also starts strong at The Glee Club, with Andy Zaltzman bringing his Satirist for Hire tour to The Arcadian Centre venue on 19th Jan – a week before Fern Brady’s debut Suffer Fools tour lands there on 26th Jan. Quick tip, if either of these stand ups ask you to email in suggestions or comments… don’t. Or at least don’t sign your name. Or sit in the front row. You have been warned. Whilst over at the Town Hall, Ed Byrne brings his Spoiler Alert tour to Birmingham on 27th Jan – a room big enough for some safe anonymity, for the audience at least.

Theatre stamps a reassuringly eclectic foot down on the first month of 2018, with Outer Circle Arts presenting The Death Show at The Rep Door on 26th and 27th Jan. Whilst a stone’s throw behind them in Hockley, Blue Orange Theatre present The Late Marilyn Monroe – running from 30th Jan to 3rd Feb. Then over at The Patrick Centre is the somewhat less self-explanatory Translunar Paradise  – Ad Infinitum’s unspoken story ‘of life, death and enduring love’, presented at the Hurst Street venue for one night only on 31st Jan.

Saint Petersburg Classic Ballet present Swan Lake, also for one night only, at the Symphony Hall on 7th Jan. Whilst The Mockingbird continues to its mission to save The Custard Factory from the cultural abyss with a double screening of Clerks and the documentary behind Silent Bob’s directorial debut, Shooting Clerks, on 19th Jan. There will also be a Q&Q with the latter’s director, Christopher Downie, and some cast members at 9pm.

For more film, mac hosts Playback from 7th to 24th Jan – a touring and ‘interactive exhibition’ of over 200 short films from ‘krumping and parkour dance shorts, to an animated tale of teenage love that unearths our desire to be as cool as the zines we read’. Held in the arts centre’s First Floor Gallery, with free admission, Playback carries a Tubbs and Edward local angle too, as ‘some of the films were originally made in and around Birmingham, where young people based in the Midlands were given the support and funding to create a short film.’

Then rounding off Birmingham’s cultural cache for the New Year, The Chefs’ Forum present their ‘Pay What You Can’ lunch at University College Birmingham on 15th Jan – a networking, trade and showcase event with four courses from some of the city’s top restaurants. Having launched its Midlands’ agenda at UCB back in February this… sorry, last year, The Chefs’ Forum is hosting their Jan ‘18 lunch to raise funds and awareness for its Educational Foundation which supports young chefs across the UK.

And with Louisa Ellis (The Wilderness), Mark Walsh (Opus Restaurant), Luke Tipping and Leo Kattou (Simpsons) and Olivier Briault (The Edgbaston Boutique Hotel) all chipping in a course, it should do just that. Although, the non-fixed donation approach is gratefully received in mid January.

Now if I can just find an energy provider with the same approach…

**Also straddling this month and the next are the two rescheduled Lady Gaga concerts, as the uber-star kicks off the UK leg of her Joanna World Tour at Arena Birmingham on 31st January before returning to play the Genting Arena on 1st February. Tickets to both arena shows are priced at £48.50 (+ fees), as presented by Live Nation UK.

In memoriam of her paternal auntie and namesake, Lady Gaga’s latest song, album and tour appear as personal an affair as you can offer when delivering it to millions of strangers. A curious dichotomy, but one Birmingham will get to see on stage first as the Live Nation machine sets down in our city before anywhere else in the UK. Kudos.

And with tickets being transferred from the previous dates in October 2017, it’s fair to say there may be a bit of a bun fight to get in to these gigs. No doubt it’ll be worth a few scuffed elbows though, but even if ‘I’m never going to know you now, I’m gonna love you any how’. OX Joanne.

For direct gig info, including venue details and online ticket sales, for Lady Gaga at Arena Birmingham on 31st January, click here. For Lady Gaga at the Genting Arena on 1st February, click here.’

Tickets for the originally scheduled Lada Gaga shows at the Genting Arena (12th Oct ’17) at Arena Birmingham (15th Oct ’17) can be transferred to the new dates. According to the venues’ websites, ‘if you cannot make the new date, refunds can be obtained at your point of purchase for a limited period’.**

Playback @ mac 7th to 24th Jan

For more on any of the events listed here, click on the highlighted hyperlink. 

Ed King is Editor-in-Chief of Review Publishing, which issues both the Birmingham Review and Birmingham Preview titles.