THE GALLERY: The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17

The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

 

 

 

Words & pics by Aatish Ramchurn

There’s something of a relaxed atmosphere on this mild, winter solstice night in Birmingham, which sets the tone for my final visit of 2017 to Mama Roux’s.

In the past year I have become well acquainted with this homely, decorated venue, and experienced a variety of gigs here. Some were sold out and I could barely move; with others I had more freedom to roam around.

Tonight’s gig is the latter. So much so, I believe it is quietest I have ever seen Mama Roux’s. You’d have thought that a headline gig from Shrewsbury’s The Sunset Beach Hut with some local luminaries in support – as presented by Sonic Gun Concerts – would be a little more full of festive cheer. But I guess you can’t expect too much of a crowd for a line up of emerging bands, especially with Christmas Day just around the corner. It seems each act tonight has rely on the support of their friends and family.

Miss World – supporting The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham ReviewKicking off proceedings are Miss World, an acoustic duo that make some of us feel a little nostalgic with their stripped-down covers of 90s pop and RnB songs, along with a couple of Christmas songs because, why not? It’s Christmas after all. They’re an extremely talented duo and could well be one to watch out for – especially if they start producing more of their own material, something I’m sure Miss World are more than capable of.

With just a small amount of people watching Miss World, I have a virtually empty floor to roam around and take photos on, that is until Junior Weeb appear on stage. A recorded audio track of ‘Tony the Tiger’ introduces the band with many of their fans and friends now filling up the floor.Junior Weeb – supporting The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review This leaves me doing my usual crouching at the front, but the floor isn’t so busy that I have worry about me being in anybody’s way, and neither is anyone really in mine. I think crouching at the front of stage is something I’m so accustomed to it’s become of a photographic habit.

I remember seeing Junior Weeb over a year ago at The Rainbow, supporting Muncie Girls. Back then their style was a little more shoegaze, but they are a different band tonight. Much more of their set is filled with funky numbers and groovy baselines, so it is virtually impossible not to dance.

Quinn – supporting The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham ReviewBut as Junior Weeb leave the stage, so does their audience. The venue is now virtually empty again and I’m wondering what’s left for Quinn when they show up next. Turns out, they have their very own audience too. I’m not even sure where some of these people were before; I’ve been here almost two hours, and throughout that time I’ve not seen any of these faces. Maybe Quinn’s frontman, Sam Lambeth, made them magically appear somehow.

Quinn’s sound is very reminiscent of early 90s indie, with Lambeth vibrant on stage. After performing tracks from their debut EP, Seems FineThe Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham ReviewQuinn end their set keeping to Christmas tradition with a cover of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas Time’.

As with Junior Weeb earlier, Quinn’s audience exit the room as the band do – leaving a barely there audience for The Sunset Beach Hut to perform in front of. I admire the headliner’s spirit to still play with passion, despite the lack of people, especially after having to travel from Shrewsbury.

It’s a shame that people don’t stick around to check out other bands who aren’t their friends, but such is the way, I guess. Although, an emptier floor does mean easier pictures for me to take.

Overall, it was great to see The Sunset Beach Hut tonight – performing alongside other young, talented acts emerging from the West Midlands. I hope they all gain more support as they and grow in 2018.

 

 

 

The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

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

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Quinn – supporting The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

Quinn – supporting The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

Quinn – supporting The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

Quinn – supporting The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

For more on Quinn, visit www.soundcloud.com/quinn

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Junior Weeb – supporting The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

Junior Weeb – supporting The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

Junior Weeb – supporting The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review Junior Weeb – supporting The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

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

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Miss World – supporting The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

Miss World – supporting The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

Miss World – supporting The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham Review

Miss World – supporting The Sunset Beach Hut @ Mama Roux’s 21.12.17 / Aatish Ramchurn – Birmingham ReviewFor more on Miss World, visit www.facebook.com/misswworldband

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

For more from Mama Roux’s, including full event listings and online ticket sales, visit www.facebook.com/mamarouxs

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

Words by  Aatish Ramchurn

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 21st 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