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April 20, 2017April 20, 2017

THE GALLERY: You Me At Six @ O2 Academy (B’ham) 10.04.17

From the queues of fans snaking around the O2 Academy in all directions, it’s clear to see that You Me At Six still have a dedicated fan base. Groups of youngsters, decked in band hoodies and Vans trainers, sit on the ground eating takeaway pizzas that have been delivered to the queue. I get chatting with a group of girls who have been queuing since 12:30pm – an impressive feat, considering that doors weren’t scheduled to open until 7pm.

Security work as quickly as they can to usher everyone inside, and it isn’t long before people are jostling for space in the 3000 capacity venue. I’m interested to see how the night’s first band, Black Foxxes, stand up to the packed crowd; they had played The Rainbow a few months beforehand, so this was a definite leap for the Exeter based trio.

Although seemingly cramped at the front of the stage due to You Me At Six’s piles of gear behind them, Black Foxxes still managed to open strong despite a number of technical mishaps – in all my life I’ve never seen a guitar tech work as quick as theirs did to repair Mark Holley’s broken string.

It was refreshing to see a band who had truly started out small and worked their way to the top with such fierce determination as these guys, and it simply shone through their music. Black Foxxes’ depressive rock flirted expertly with soulful melodies, descending at times to tones so inexplicably raw I felt they could be carving out their own genre.

Next were Tonight Alive – one of the few mainstream alternative rock bands to be female fronted. Jenna McDougal is seen as a rebelling goddess by much of the band’s female fanbase, and played on this by cavorting across the stage in a pair of white angel wings. The hit and miss sound was made up for by the band’s theatrics, while the lighting was simple superb. Although I’m not a huge fan of the Tonight Alive’s latest releases, they went down just as well with the crowd as their older heavier material.

When You Me At Six took to the stage, I was scared the crowd barrier may snap from the thousands of people who surged forward. Kicking off with their latest single, ‘Night People’, the band went on to deliver one of the most astounding sets I think I’ve ever seen.

Cycling through some of their better known hits such as ‘Underdog’ and ‘Save It For The Bedroom’, with some of their newer material thrown in, it was clear to see that these boys won’t be slowing down any time soon.

Plus if you’re a true lover of good sound then it’s worth seeing You Me At Six play live just to listen to their technician’s mix – as true to the albums as you could possibly get. Complimented by an incredibly designed light show, it made for an impressive looking and sounding production.

Josh Franceschi interacted with the sold out O2 Academy crowd on a truly intimate level, preaching the band’s beliefs of equality and love for all. And finishing with the track ‘Room to Breathe’, from their No1 album Cavalier Youth, it’s clear to see that You Me At Six are still working hard – paving their way on the alternative rock scene.

Check out some of Eleanor Sutcliffe’s pics from You Me At Six, Tonight Alive and Black Foxxes at the O2 Academy (B’ham) below, or click the relevant links for the Full Flickr of Pics.

You Me At Six @ O2 Academy (B’ham) 10.04.17 / Eleanor Sutcliffe – Brmingham Review

For more on You Me at Six, visit www.youmeatsix.co.uk

Tonight Alive – supporting You Me At Six @ O2 Academy (B’ham) 10.04.17 / Eleanor Sutcliffe – Birmingham Review

For more on Tonight Alive, visit www.tonightaliveofficial.com

Black Foxxes – supporting You Me At Six @ O2 Academy (B’ham) 10.04.17 / Eleanor Sutcliffe – Birmingham Review

For more on Black Foxxes, visit www.blackfoxxes.com
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For more from the O2 Academy (B’ham), including full event listing and online ticket sales, visit www.academymusicgroup.com/o2institutebirmingham

For more from Kilimanjaro Live, visit www.kilimanjarolive.co.uk

February 16, 2016

THE GALLERY: Gabrielle Aplin @ O2 Institute 14.02.16

Words by Ed King / Pics by Harry Mills

On Sunday 14^th February, Gabrielle Aplin brought her Light Up the Dark UK Tour to the O2 Institute, with support from Hannah Grace + Lewis Watson – as presented by Birmingham Promoters.

Harry Mills was there to shoot a Birmingham Review for THE GALLERY. To check out the Full Flickr of Pics, click here or on the relevant links.

Gabrielle Aplin rose to the surface off the back of her YouTube audience. But having learnt her way around a label whilst studying at Bath College, contributing to their in- house BA1 Records, Aplin swiftly set up her own imprint – Never Fade Records, releasing her five track debut Acoustic EP in 2010.

Since then Gabrielle Aplin has released all her material through Never Fade, alongside a (still current) deal with Parlophone from 2013 onwards. Never Fade now also represents a wider roster of artists, including Bite the Buffalo, Saint Raymond (who further signed to Asylum) and Hannah Grace.

So the girl’s got talent, tenacity and her own label; Gabrielle Aplin is an arguably healthier benchmark for the X Factor generation. She’s also now two albums into her career, having crossed the musical River Styx with Light Up the Dark in September 2015. And her sound seems to be confidently evolving – with the ballad based six string laments of her debut LP, English Rain, being given a comfortable back seat to her sophomore’s punchier, full band approach.

And it is that album/approach which Ms Aplin brought to a Birmingham stage, namely the O2 Institute, on 14^th February. And whilst it was only Ed King, tip toes, warm Red Stripe and a rollerball pen giving Gabrielle Aplin’s last gig in the city a Birmingham Review, this time around we’ve gone all-out-images.

Check out Harry Mill’s Birmingham Review of Gabrielle Aplin @ O2 Institute 14.02.16 – as featured in THE GALLERY. There are some sample shots from the gig below, but for the Full Flickr of Pics click here or on the relevant links.

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Gabrielle Aplin @ O2 Institute 14.02.16 / By Harry Mills – Birmingham Review

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Lewis Watson – supporting Gabrielle Aplin @ O2 Institute 14.02.16 / By Harry Mills – Birmingham Review

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Hannah Grace – supporting Gabrielle Aplin @ O2 Institute 14.02.16 / By Harry Mills – Birmingham Review

For more on Gabrielle Aplin, visit http://gabrielleaplin.co.uk/

For more on Never Fade Records, visit http://neverfaderecords.com/

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

For more form Birmingham Promoters, visit http://birminghampromoters.com/

February 13, 2016February 13, 2016

BPREVIEW: Gabrielle Aplin @ O2 Institute 14.02.16

Words by Ed King

On Sunday 14^th February, Gabrielle Aplin brings her Light Up the Dark UK Tour to the O2 Institute – with support from home grown label mate, Hannah Grace + Warner’s new prodigal son, Lewis Watson.

Doors open at 7:30pm with tickets priced at £16.50 – as presented by Birmingham Promoters.

N.B Gabrielle Aplin has retained her record label, Never Fade Records, since her debut self release in 2010. The label has also been developing a wider roster of artists since 2013, including Hannah Grace and Saint Raymond – who both appear on Aplin’s 2016 Light Up the Dark UK Tour. For more on Never Fade Records, click here.

Gabrielle Alpin caught the crest of a YouTube tidal wave back in 2010 – you know, the way people could before certain ‘decisions to protect the artist’ were made by the online broadcaster. Just think… where would Jay Z or Chris Martin be without such a courageous artistic line in the sand.

But Ms Aplin was much more than just an ego on a small screen, having explored two ends of the Pop/Folk production spectrum with her first two self-released EPs, Aplin’s Home EP (Jan 2011) was a solid and self effacing 5 track declaration. Cue some well deserved online sales, supporting national airplay and knock knock… Parlophone signed Gabrielle Aplin, releasing her debut single with the major, ‘Please Don’t Say You Love Me’, in Feb 2012. Aplin‘s debut album, English Rain, was released in December the same year.

Birmingham Review eventually got to see Gabrielle Aplin about a year after the Parlophone machine started whirring, watching her take over the Institute’s main room on a Monday. Not an easy room on the crappiest of weekdays. Read Ed King’s Birmingham Review of Gabrielle Aplin @ Birmingham Institute 14.03.13 here. I think my favourite line is ‘….makes me imagine Mumford & Sons on meth.’

Now the Wiltshire born, Bath schooled (on and off a record label) singer/songwriter is back in Birmingham, and back at the Institute. And having been sans snapper the last time Gabrielle Aplin came to town, this time Harry Mills will be throwing DSLRs around the Digbeth venue – shooting a Birmingham Review to go into THE GALLERY. So if a picture tells a thousand words, you might be up late.

Gabrielle Aplin released her sophomore album, Light Up the Dark, in September 2015. Stop, look & listen to the album’s lead single/title track below:

‘Light Up the Dark’ by Gabrielle Aplin

Gabrielle Aplin comes to the O2 Institute (B’ham) on Sunday 14^th February – with support from Hannah Grace and Lewis Watson. For direct gig info & online sales, visit http://birminghampromoters.com/2016/02/02/gabrielle-aplin-lewis-watson-hannah-grace-in-bham/

For more on Gabrielle Aplin, visit http://gabrielleaplin.co.uk/

For more on Never Fade Records, visit http://neverfaderecords.com/

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

For more from Birmingham Promoters, visit http://birminghampromoters.com/

January 28, 2016

BPREVIEW: Mayday Parade @ O2 Institute 29.01.16

Words by Ed King

On Friday 29^th January, Mayday Parade perform at the O2 Institute in Digbeth – as presented by SJM Concerts/Gigs & Tours.

Doors open at 7pm, with tickets priced at £16 (advance). For direct gig info & online ticket sales, click here.

Back in the UK & mainland Europe as part of their Black Lines Tour, Mayday Parade are on the global road promoting their new album of the same name. Released in October 2015, Black Lines was produced by Mike Sapone at Dreamland Studios in Woodstock, upstate New York.

Available now through Fearless Records, Black Lines is the fifth studio album to come from the Florida based band – with all their LPs being released through Bob Becker’s home grown Punk/Rock imprint.

Formed in 2005, Mayday Parade released their debut EP, Tales Told by Dead Friends, in June 2006. Initially self releasing the six track debut, Mayday Parade built a strong following from their brash distorted guitar riffs, rolling drums and energetic Pop/Punk – reportedly selling their debut EP in the thousands (or even tens of thousands, according to some sources) to festival goers across North America, following the Warped Tour in 2006.

Signing to Fearless Records in August 2006, and re-issuing their Tales Told by Dead Friends EP in November the same year, Mayday Parade would start working on their debut album whilst on the road with their debut EP.

Changing front man from their original singer, Jason Lancaster, to Derek Saunders in March 2007, it wouldn’t be until July 2007 that A Lesson in Romantics was eventually released – featuring lead vocals from both front men, with Lancaster also credited for ‘guitar on all songs.’ Derek Saunders has remained Mayday Parade’s lead singer and front man across the bands decade long active career.

Released in July 2015, ‘Keep in Mind, Transmogrification is a New Technology’ was the lead single from Black Lines. Mayday Parade further released ‘Letting Go’ as the follow up single, in October the same year – have a stop, look, listen, below:

‘Letting Go’ by Mayday Parade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsbdHOuv0X0

Mayday Parade perform at the O2 Institute on Friday 29^th January, as presented by SJM Concerts. For direct gig info & online tickets, visit http://o2institutebirmingham.co.uk/listings/upcoming-events/24741/mayday-parade-3/

For more on Mayday Parade, visit http://maydayparade.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/