Eleanor Sutcliffe Archives - Page 10 of 11 -

January 4, 2018

BPREVIEW: Paramore @ Genting Arena 14.01.17

Words by Ed King / Pic courtesy of SJM Concerts

On Sunday 14^th 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 7^th to 20^th 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 14^th 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

December 28, 2017December 28, 2017

THE GALLERY: Magic Lantern Festival @ Kings Heath Park – until 01.01.18

Words by Ed King / Pics Eleanor Sutcliffe

Open every day up to and including New Year’s Day, the Magic Lantern Festival is on display across Kings Heath Park – featuring a winter wonderland of structural illuminations, statues and fantastical storyscapes.

Suitable for adults, families and children of all ages, the Magic Lantern Festival in Kings Heath Park is accessible from 5pm to 10pm, with the last entry scheduled at 8:45pm. Tickets range from £5.50 to £14.85 (+bf) with concessions for groups, families and children under 16 years old – for direct event info, including online ticket sales, click here.

Returning to Birmingham for its second year, the Magic Lantern Festival has come back to the second city alongside concurrent displays in London, Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow. Not to be confused with the ‘illuminated trail’ at the Botanical Gardens, the Magic Lantern Festival in Kings Heath Park presents ‘a spectacular fusion of dual culture, vibrant colours and artistic sculptures’ from a soaring phoenix to polar bears, flamingos and reindeer, all nestled in between elaborate and ‘hand crafted’ sculptures. Sounds like a press release, right?

I wasn’t sure what to believe either, having walked past the illuminated event several times throughout December – casting assumptions and assertions from the detached viewpoint of Avenue Road. The cynic in me thought it “all looks a little Disney”, so when I was invited to get a bit more up close and personal I enlisted the help of a friend and her seven year old daughter. If anyone is going to cut through the chintz, it’ll be them.

Plus, they had survived a rain drenched Botanical Garden’s display in 2016 so would be a useful yardstick; all it would cost me would be a trio of hot chocolates and one “flashing spinny thing” from the stalls at the entrance. A relative small price to pay for objective journalism.

We arrive at bang on 7pm, with Kings Heath Park already showing a healthy throng of customers. There’s a small queue underneath the bright Chinese gateway, one that makes the adults feel reassured but is still short enough for the child in our group to not notice. A trick Alton Towers has failed consistently to pull off on many a Hallmark holiday.

Led by the seven year old, we race (literally… and I lose) to the bright castle that is one of the first displays as you enter the park. Sparkling blue turrets sit across an impressively expansive fairytale structure, as I take a closer look at the Walt inspired illumination I have seen before from the road. This is where the cynic in me stops. It’s beautiful. I wouldn’t decorate my house in the same way, but against the pitch black of the park it shines triumphant, surrounded by a sporadic sea of toad stalls, orchids and lilies. As the seven year old goads me into another race across the grass, to more 2D illuminations of a Birmingham cityscape, facades and industrial icons (well, cogs) I stand somewhat aware my jaw has dropped. I honestly didn’t think it would look this good.

But it gets better. The aforementioned 2D displays aside, which both figuratively and literally pale in comparison to the 3D illuminations across the rest of the park, the Magic Lantern Festival is just that. Magic. Scenes depicting all you would expect from a Christmas display – including reindeer, polar bears, as well as the red and white St Nick – dot themselves around other elaborate illuminations with a more Eastern flavour.

As our panel of three start to score each display (think Strictly…) it becomes a tie between the huge phoenix rising from the flames to the beautiful temple of lilies. Although the family of reindeer and flamingos come in a close second. But all along the ‘lantern trail’ are colourful scenes of animals, flowers and the occasional mermaid or dwarf that each stand out with individual merit. OK, so it’s a little Disney.

And the layout, which I thought might be too disparate across the somewhat flat plateau that is the top of Kings Heath Park, works perfectly, with just enough space between each illumination and “a chance to really get up close to them, to walk around them and see them from all sides,” which I am informed was lacking a similar event last year at the Botanical Gardens.

At the end of the trail, we stop of at the small fun fair on the concrete car park near the parks’ Avenue Road entrance and successfully manage to distract our group’s youngest away from the Santa’s Grotto with a well placed inverted bungee. Nothing too dramatic or expensive, but a welcome addition to the main event.

And with the world’s friendliest event security (’tis a time for miracles) happy to let us wander about or even backtrack a little, we wind our leisurely way back to the entrance and some offensively priced hot chocolate – an overall score of 8.5 and “much better than last year at the Botanical Gardens” as the official result. Now, where’s that illuminated toy tout gone.

Magic Lantern Festival @ Kings Heath Park / Eleanor Sutcliffe – Birmingham Review

The Magic Lantern Festival runs daily in Kings Heath Park until 1^st January 2018, accessible from 5pm. For more on the Magic Lantern Festival in Birmingham, including online ticket sales, visit www.magicallantern.uk/magical-lantern-festival-birmingham

For more on Kings Heath Park, visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/kingsheathpark

December 1, 2017

THE GALLERY: Enter Shikari @ Arena Birmingham 24.11.17

Words & pics by Eleanor Sutcliffe

The last time I saw Enter Shikari, I was young, drunk (sorry mum) and throwing myself around a circle pit in Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse. Since then I like to think I’ve grown up a bit, but their politically charged music is something I’ve never managed to get out of my head. So when I heard they’d be playing in Arena Birmingham, I knew there was no way I could afford to miss it.

First up was Newport born and bred Astroid Boys. I’m kicking myself for not seeing these guys earlier on the local circuit as they were absolutely brilliant. Their mashup of grime and punk music looks awful on paper and yet these guys manage to pull it off flawlessly in real life.

Tracks such as ‘Foreigners’ off their latest album, Broke, had the crowd bouncing and dancing along like it was no one’s business. Their sound is fresh and exciting – like nothing I’ve heard of late. These guys are sure to go far and securing a tour supporting Enter Shikari is just the beginning of it.

Next, was Lower than Atlantis. Ignore everything you read about these guys delivering lackluster shows, because they were on fire this evening.

Mike Duce’s responsibilities are taken up with rhythm guitar and vocals, so granted he may not be the most energetic front man but their set was polished to perfection. Varied enough to give the crowd a taste of their newer material from their most recent album, Safe In Sound, but still delivering on the older material that fans fell in love with such as ‘Here We Go’ and ‘English Kids in America’.

And finally, Enter Shikari. Although I knew how much they had invested in the visual aspect of the show nothing could have prepared me for the theatrical lengths they had gone to. A large screen flickered above the stage, displaying a flight radar that synced with a quadraphonic sound system which surrounded the room. The sound of low flying aircraft echoed around Arena Birmingham to a buzzing telegram explaining a mission to the crowd. The atmosphere was intoxicating, with the build up causing furor amongst the audience.

Bursting on to the title track of their latest album, The Spark, Enter Shikari proceeded to deliver what I consider to be the best show I’ve seen this year. Their energy was dazzling, with every band member cavorting across the stage to a mass of strobe lighting and smoke. Tracks such as ‘Undercover Agents’ were announced by Rou hitting them into a typewriter which was projected onto the large screen above.

Enter Shikari’s theatrical capabilities knew no bounds for the evening, with every single song being an individual show in itself. And my God, did the crowd love it… From the frenzy inducing tracks such as ‘The Last Garrison’ to Rou’s distilled and heartbreaking rendition of ‘Airfield’, the Arena Birmingham audience could be heard (and seen) screaming along to every verse and chorus.

It’s always an odd experience watching a band who mean so much to a group of people. Settling myself on the balcony, I took a moment to watch the crowd – it was unlike anything I’d seen before. They were not reaching out to grab the band members, they were holding their friends hands and singing and dancing in groups.

It’s refreshing to see a band with such politically charged music also mean so much to a group of people. I never wanted this show to end. Enter Shikari, I salute you. You’ve blown me away, yet again.

Enter Shikari @ Arena Birmingham 24.11.17 / Eleanor Sutcliffe – Birmingham Review

For more on Enter Shikari, visit www.entershikari.com

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Lower the Atlantis – supporting Enter Shikari @ Arena Birmingham 24.11.17 / Eleanor Sutcliffe – Birmingham Review

For more on Lower the Atlantis, visit www.lowerthanatlantis.co

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Astroid Boys – supporting Enter Shikari @ Arena Birmingham 24.11.17 / Eleanor Sutcliffe – Birmingham Review

For more on Astroid Boys, visit www.astroid-boys.com

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

For more from DHP Family, including all national tours and venues, visit www.dhpfamily.com

November 29, 2017

THE GALLERY: PVRIS @ O2 Academy Birmingham 23.11.17

Words & pics by Eleanor Sutcliffe

I doubt I’ve ever seen O2 Academy this busy. As we are filed into the venue, I’m truly surprised and slightly overwhelmed at the number of people who’ve come to see PVRIS tonight. In hindsight, this shouldn’t have been surprising – with frequent airplay on Radio 1, they’ve become a staple in the alternative rock scene and are gaining more and more fans by the minute.

First up was Tyne, a 19-year-old chill pop artist hailing from Cambridge. She set the bar exceedingly high for the evening – if you’re a fan of the likes of Lorde, Halsey and Gabrielle Aplin, then you’ll love her stuff. Tracks like ‘Crawl’ and ‘Girly’ crept under my skin and had me yearning to hear more, while her cover of Bring Me Horizon’s ‘Avalanche’ was executed to soul splitting perfection.

Tyne has the ability to combine meaningful lyrics with electronic rhythms without beating the life out of it like so many other artists do. She’s clearly destined for great things; I’d highly recommend catching her at a show and giving her a listen.

The next act couldn’t have been further from the last. COIN owned the stage for the next thirty minutes or so, belting out track after track of indie pop perfection. Their energy was intoxicating as singer, Chase Lawrence, cavorted across the stage, jumping on and off the drum kit to thrash out melodies on the synthesizers. The crowd adored it, dancing along to the summery beats of tracks like ‘Talk Too Much’. If the Arctic Monkeys and Circa Waves were to have a lovechild, then Nashville based COIN would be the result.

Then, finally… PVRIS. I’d heard mixed views of their live performances from friends and through work, and was really hoping for a show I could rave about for hours on end.

And to an extent, I could. Visually, the setup was stunning – strobe lights lit the stage while large screens projected flickering flames and embers as Lynn went to town on hits such as ‘St Patrick’ and ‘My House’. PVRIS’s setlist was varied enough to have a taste of their newer material from their latest release, All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell, while still recalling back to tracks from White Noise.

However, Lynn’s gospel-like voice seemed to struggle at times against the heavy crescendo of guitar and drums from bandmates Alex and Brian. And although many members of the crowd were happy dancing at the front, I’d have enjoyed the show much more if I was sat up in the balcony of O2 Academy.

PVRIS more than made up for these few flaws, as I truly am nitpicking here. Their interaction with the crowd was heartfelt and genuine too, with Lynn exclaiming how, apart from at festivals, this was the largest crowd they had ever played to.

PVRIS @ O2 Academy Birmingham 23.11.17 / Eleanor Sutcliffe – Birmingham Review

For more on PVRIS, visit www.pvris.com

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COIN – supporting PVRIS @ O2 Academy Birmingham 23.11.17 / Eleanor Sutcliffe – Birmingham Review

For more on COIN, visit www.thisiscoin.com

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Tyne – supporting PVRIS @ O2 Academy Birmingham 23.11.17 / Eleanor Sutcliffe – Birmingham Review

For more on Tyne, visit www.officialtyne.com

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

November 21, 2017November 21, 2017

BPREVIEW: Enter Shikari @ Arena Birmingham 24.11.17

Words by Eleanor Sutcliffe

Enter Shikari will be performing on the 24^th of November at Arena Birmingham, coming to the city as part of their European tour – before heading off to North America in the New Year.

Tickets are priced at £31.98 (inc booking fee) as presented by DHP Family. For direct gig info, including venue details and online tickets sales, click here.

Enter Shikari sure have been busy this year. Following their previous, sold out, European tour they performed a number of shows across the UK in celebration of the 10 year anniversary of Take to the Skies – including a high profile show at this year’s Slam Dunk festival. The band also released their latest album, The Spark, in September – proceeded by their single ‘Live Outside’ in August. Well received by their fans, and dubbed by NME as ‘a Biffy Clyro style crossover classic’, Enter Shikari’s newest release is taking the alternative music scene somewhat by storm.

And why not. Enter Shikari’s angsty, emotional lyrics and uniquely heavy, electronic sound have always hit home with fans, but never as much as now. With Brexit looming, Enter Shikari’s politically-fuelled lyrics have become a lifeline to fans who are struggling to cope with these tumulus times.

Tracks such as ‘Take My Country Back’ scream lines such as “Now look what we’ve done to ourselves, We’ve really gone and fucked it this time”, proclaiming unity as being the best option for the country. For a generation who feel that politically their views are lost and ignored, tracks and lyrics such as these hit home.

And whilst Take to the Skies has always been seen as the Enter Shikari’s masterpiece, it may be time for The Spark to take its place. This tour has been long awaited by fans, and is set to be a sell out across the UK.

Support comes from alternative rock band Lower Than Atlantis, and punk rock-turned-grime band Astroid Boys.

‘Take My Country Back’ – Enter Shikari (recorded at Paste Studios, New York)

Enter Shikari perform at Arena Birmingham on Friday 24th November, with support from Lower Than Atlantis and Astroid Boys – as presented by DHP Family. For direct gig info, including venue details and online tickets sales, click here.

For more on Enter Shikari, visit www.entershikari.com

For more on Lower Than Atlantis, visit www.lowerthanatlantis.co

For more on Astroid Boys, visit www.astroid-boys.com

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

For more from DHP Family, including their national portfolio of tours and venues, visit www.dhpfamily.com