Janice Graham Band headline Playhard launch, Birmingham 18 Feb 2012

Rock/Pop

18th February 2012; PLAYHARD launch

Janice Graham Band, The Rimes, The Traitors Club, The Tone Thieves, The Gazelles 

8pm to midnight  / 14+ Event / £5 Entry

The End, Birmingham Ballroom, 51 Dale End, B4 7LS http://theend-birmingham.co.uk/

Playhard gigs present an amazing selection of the best acts in new music in association with The Catapult Club and DP Management.

Janice Graham Band : http://janicegrahamband.com/

“Manc act cause an absolute riot on stage at This Feeling” (“Big In 2012”) The Sun. 

"Band are seriously good. Music and politics mix." (Manchester Evening News)

Also playing HMV Next Big Things 2012 and recommended highly to catch up close a.s.a.p. 

JGB are coming to a much bigger stage soon (stop press thats just come true, they are also now confirmed to support The Inspiral Carpets on tour in March). “The  effect is simply riotous – like The Specials for a new generation.” (Music News). 

Celebratory at this show! New single, ‘No Money Honey’ ( 20th February) and debut (concept!) album, ‘Its Not Me’ (27th February). "The sound of a band in full experimental flow - there's much to enjoy " (ArtRocker) Catch them this time round. You’ll swear you were there either way. 

“They are much much more than just another bunch of mancunian council house riff-raff, they’ve got attitude aplenty and hearts full of soul” Mani (Stone Roses)  

The Rimes : http://therimes.co.uk 

“Not genre fuelled, but music driven.’

This pride of the Midlands outfit are on the rise courtesy of their  Sixties tinged power pop and fervent fan base packing out venues and creating an early buzz. 

The Traitors Club : https://www.facebook.com/thetraitorsclub

“We are The Traitors Club, a  London foursome - hot off the back of jam sessions with Doctor Who and breakfast with Black Sabbath, - showcasing our new material wherever we can” 

The Tone Thieves : http://thetonethieves.wordpress.com/

A local quartet who play funky soulful rock and have just completed recording for their latest album which is celebrated at this show. 

The Gazelles : 

A Wolverhampton outfit. who pull out the stops to deliver a tight performance influenced by classic alternative Britrock from the likes of Kasabian and The Stone Roses - with added guitar layers and urgency.

PLAYHARD (Minx Media TV and Rocklands, united) rock’n’roll events mix cool bands, hot DJs, media/industry scouts and a party atmosphere, where IT is AT! http://twitter.com/playhardgigs New young writers, film makers and photographers are positively encouraged to get involved with supporting the thrills.

Birmingham is No.19 in New York Times’ list of 45 Places to Go in 2012. The End is where names like Libertines, Amy Winehouse, The Killers, Scissor Sisters, Death From Above 1979, Editors, The Twang etc played on their way to headier heights. You know what to do...

18 Feb 14+ rock n roll show Playhard! @brumballroom @JaniceGrahamBnd @the_rimes @TheTraitorsClub @thetonethieves https://facebook.com/events/219916571429283/

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The MOBO free Tour 2012

The MOBO Organisation & Urban Development present

In association with PRS for Music Foundation and Arts Council of England

By arrangement with SJM Concerts

FIRST NAMES ANNOUNCED ARE LADY LESHURR AND CLEMENT MARFO & THE FRONTLINE WITH MORE NAMES TO COME EARLY 2012        

INDUSTRY TAKEOVER TO PROVIDE FREE WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS ACROSS THE UK MOBO UNSUNG COMPETITION LAUNCHES TO UNEARTH REGIONAL TALENT

MOBO.

Urban Development and PRS for Music Foundation are bringing in the New Year early with the announcement of The MOBO Tour 2012.

This free tour is set to travel to eight cities across the UK, offering audiences the opportunity to see some of 2012’s freshest, new, emerging talent on stage and attend industry workshops and seminars (via Industry Takeover @ MOBO Academy). It’s also a chance for undiscovered talent right across the country to get involved in the MOBO Unsung competition. Thanks to funding from Arts Council England and PRS for Music Foundation all of this will be provided for FREE.

Kicking off on February 22 in Birmingham, the tour will travel across the country and bring together the best of the UK’s new Urban talent. The first names to be announced are breakthrough MC Lady Leshurr (tipped to do big things in 2012 by RWD Magazine and Itunes) and MTV Brand New pick for 2012, seven piece hip-hop-rock collective Clement Marfo & The Frontline. A further five names will be confirmed in the New Year.

In addition to bringing the pick of 2012’s most hotly tipped talent to a city near you, The MOBO Tour is also creating the opportunity for brand new, undiscovered talent to win the chance to perform on stage through MOBO Unsung. This nationwide competition is open to enter NOW and all would-be performers need to do to get started is upload a video of themselves performing to YouTube and email the link, embed code and details of which region they live in, to mobounsung@mobo.com.

Entries will be hosted on www.mobo.com/mobotourfor the public to view and a judging panel of industry experts will then select a winner from each UK region, who will take the stage as part of the tour in their local area.

A team of radio DJs will select the MOBO Unsung winner from the 8 regional finalists. This winner will then join an on-line ‘Battle Of The Bands’ competition where they will compete against other newcomers put forward by established artists (but more on this to follow!) with a public vote to select the ultimate ‘battle’ winner.

To further support talent in all areas of the music industry, The MOBO Tour 2012 (with thanks to Urban Development’s ‘Industry Takeover’) will provide workshops and seminars in cities on the day of the show. Industry experts from well respected organisations including SB.TV, RWD Magazine, PRS for Music Foundation, SJM Concerts, artists on the MOBO Tour and more will all be sharing their insider industry knowledge, answering questions and offering advice to audiences across the country. And all for FREE.

The MOBO Tour, seminars, workshops and Unsung competition highlights all partners’ efforts to support, guide and nurture new and developing talent across the UK.

CATCH THE TOUR, SEMINARS, AND WORKSHOPS ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:

                       GIG VENUE                            INDUSTRY TAKEOVER         CITY

Feb 22         Library HMV Institute           MAC                                Birmingham

Feb 23          Manchester Academy 3       N/A                                 Manchester

Feb 24          O₂ Academy2                     Venue TBC                       Liverpool

Feb 25          The Garage                       The Mitchell Library             Glasgow

Feb 27           O₂ Academy2                     The Sage                         Newcastle

Feb 28           O₂ Academy2                     Watershed                       Bristol

Feb 29           O₂ Academy2                     Red Bull Studios                 Islington

March 1         Waterfront                        N/A                                 Norwich

TO APPLY FOR YOUR FREE TICKET FOR THE MOBO TOUR OR INDUSTRY TAKEOVER VISIT:

www.mobo.com/mobotour

TO ENTER THE MOBO UNSUNG COMPETITION PLEASE EMAIL ENTRIES TO: mobounsung@mobo.com

ENTRIES FOR THE COMPETITION MUST BE RECEIVED BY 15^TH JANUARY TO BE ELIGIBLE. PLEASE STATE YOUR NEAREST MOBO TOUR CITY WITH YOUR ENTRY.

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Fakta back with a brand new posse cut titled Mainstream

Birmingham based recording artist Fakta follows on from his online smash 'Reppin' with a brand new posse cut titled 'Mainstream'.

Renowned for his clinical lyrical ability and unique style from an early age, Fakta has spent many years honing his abilities within the UK underground, with key releases including 'Lokd Behind Bars' and the critically acclaimed 'I Need Management 2' mixtape. These notable releases received support from the likes of BBC 1xtra, UK Overstood, Channel AKA and Media Massacre, a trend which looks set to continue with Fakta's forthcoming releases. Additionally, the Midlands MC has performed extensively both in the UK and abroad, where he performed at Short Circuit (the largest beach party in Jamaica), and has also supported international superstars Vybez Kartel, Bobby Valentino and Rick Ross.
 
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Follow Fakta on Twitter: @Fakta1

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Spectacular Polar comes to Birmingham Symphony Hall

Spectacular Movie Polar comes to Birmingham Symphony Hall

Birmingham set for big freeze this December as snow-tastic classical spectacular drifts into city.

World Class Service Ltd and Town Hall & Symphony Hall Birmingham are delighted to announce two special performances of the super-cool classical spectacular Polar, at Birmingham Symphony Hall at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Wed 21 December.

A stunning portrait of the world’s frozen kingdoms, Polar combines stunning HD footage from the world’s best natural history film makers with a unique live score arranged by renowned conducer and orchestrator John Harle, which will be performed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

This truly mesmerising concert experience takes the audience on a magical journey to the Arctic and Antarctic regions of our planet,  featuring previously unseen footage, shown on an immense 32 feet wide, HD screen raised above the orchestra and a score specially arranged and conducted by John Harle. The music includes original work from Harle as well as special arrangements of some of the most well known pieces of the world’s most famous composers including Mozart, Stravinsky, Rautavaara, Purcell, Tchaikovsky and Sibelius.

Conductor John Harle said: "Words like epic, poetic and dramatic spring to mind when imagining the vastness of the Polar Regions. In this journey through the landscapes and animal life of Arctica and Antarctica we've married music of equal scale and descriptive power to these great wonders of our world. With the lyrical music of Mozart and Tchaikovsky marrying rhythm, melody and harmony to unforgettable and never-before-seen footage of polar bears, penguins, beluga whales, and Sibelius's symphonic power matching the colossal scale of these icy, remote landscapes. Polar is an ode to these mysterious and monumental regions of the world that will move you with its stunning imagery and music".

Those fortunate enough to catch Polar will watch the mighty polar bears, the haunting beluga and beautiful humpback whales, see the white blizzards, dazzling blue oceans and vast wilderness of the poles come alive on the huge screen raised above the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Andrew Glester, Producer and Director of Polar said: ‘’Polar is the perfect pre-Christmas treat that the whole family can come along and enjoy. The films used in Polar capture the dazzling beauty of these remote and fragile places and you can’t fail to be mesmerised as you take in this epic experience. We’re delighted to be working with John Harle and the mighty City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to bring you this wonderful production, which is already attracting international interest.”

Film Maker Doug Allan said: “The audience will be excited, touched and inspired by the images on a big screen, and the music with no commentary will reach into their emotions at a personal level, leaving them with a heightened awareness of the beauty yet fragility of the Polar Regions. I’d like to think that the connection that we all have to the natural world – the one which however is so easily subsumed in our “normal” lives - will be reaffirmed and reawakened. Let’s all touch the planet more sensitively and responsibly”.

Take a look at some of Doug Allan’s enchanting Polar footage set to the beautiful music of Sibelius by clicking http://bit.ly/oEC980

This ultimate winter time family treat is the perfect event with which to start your festive celebrations this December. Celebrating and inspiring a love for these increasingly fragile and stunning places.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

Polar

Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Date: Wed 21 December

Times: 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Tickets: Matinee £9.50-£32.50 and Evening £12.50 - £39.50

How to book: In person at Symphony Hall Box Office, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EA, alternatively, call 0121 780 3333 or click www.thsh.co.uk

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Levellers to support The Wonder Stuff O2 Academy Birmingham

Thursday 15^th December – O₂ Academy Birmingham 

Following The Wonder Stuff’s support on their headline tour earlier this year, Levellers confirm that they are to return the favour and are announced as special guests for the band’s forthcoming show at O₂ Academy Birmingham on Thursday 15^th December.  

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of its original release, The Wonder Stuff will perform their album “Never Loved Elvis”, in its entirety, at just two special shows, Birmingham and also at London’s O₂ Shepherds Bush Empire on Friday 16th December. 

Following the announcement, The Wonder Stuff’s frontman, Miles Hunt said; “Having had a wonderful time on the road earlier this year as the special guests of Levellers, on their 'Levelling The Land' tour, we are happy to announce that they are returning the favour and will be joining The Wonder Stuff at our O₂ Academy Birmingham show, celebrating the 20th anniversary of our 'Never Loved Elvis' album. It's gonna be a beautiful night!”

“Never Loved Elvis” was the band’s third album, released in 1991. It produced four hit singles, including ‘Welcome To The Cheap Seats’ featuring Kirsty MacColl, ‘Caught In My Shadow’, Sleep Alone and the band’s first top 5 hit with ‘The Size Of A Cow’. 

That same year, The Wonder Stuff staged their very own open-air event, The Big Day Out, to coincide with the album’s release at Walsall’s 22,000 capacity Bescot Stadium. The event's name was inspired by hit television show ‘Vic Reeves’ Big Night Out’ and Vic Reeves himself compered the day’s events. Vic would later ask the band to be his backing band on 'Dizzy', a track he was recording for an album that he planned to release later in the year - upon its release in October 1991, the track reached Number 1 in the Official UK Singles Charts. 

The Wonder Stuff’s line-up is original members Miles Hunt (vocals/ rhythm guitar) and Malc Treece (guitar/ vocals) with Erica Nockalls (violins), Mark McCarthy (Bass) and Fuzz Townsend of Pop Will Eat Itself (Drums). 

Album Tracklisting

      Side 1             Side 2   

1. Mission Drive     1.      Inertia
2. Play      2.      Maybe
3. False Start     3.     Grotesque
4. Welcome To The Cheap Seats  4.     Here Comes Everyone
5. The Size Of A Cow    5.     Caught In My Shadow
6. Sleep Alone     6.     38 Line Poem
7. Donation

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Wheatus to play UK Shows

 

 

Academy Events presents

Wheatus

Tuesday 27^th September– O₂ Academy2 Liverpool

Saturday 1^st October – O₂ Academy2 Birmingham

Thursday 6^th October – O₂ Academy Islington

 

Box office: ticketweb.co.uk or 0844 477 2000

Wednesday 29^th June 2011; Wheatus make a return to the UK this autumn following an epic 2010 which saw the band commemorate their 10^th Anniversary with a headline UK tour. The Northport, New York-based group have confirmed three headline UK dates for September and October at O₂ Academy venues in Liverpool, Birmingham and London. 

The success of last year has continued in 2011, as the band saw a resurgence of interest in their defining single Teenage Dirtbag. In March this year the song which featured in the movie Loser and reached the Number 2 spot in 2000, climbed back up the iTunes chart and re-entered the Top 40. News of the song’s unexpected return hit the headlines and the band became a trending topic on Twitter.

Inimitable front man Brendan B. Brown commented on the upcoming live shows;

We'll be doing an all request set again and I am looking back and thinking, "WOW…we have close to 60 songs to learn…has it really been 15 years since I started doing this?!?"

In their career to date, Wheatus have released four studio albums and more recently the two part EP, Pop Songs & Death, which is available as a pick-your-price download at http://wheatus.com. 

Their cover of Erasure’s A Little Respect secured them Top 5 status, with their brilliant re-working of the track peaking at Number 3 in the UK charts.

Wheatus are: Brendan B. Brown (Vocals and Guitar), Matthew Milligan (Bass), Ken Flagg (Keyboards), Kevin Garcia (Drums), Gabrielle Aimée (Back-up Vocals), Delaney Gibson (Back-up Vocals)

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Sharon Corr Debut 'Dream Of You' UK Solo Tour

Sharon Corr has announced her first UK tour following the release of her highly acclaimed debut solo album, ‘Dream Of You’ (September 2010), with headline dates in London,  Liverpool, Birmingham this August, following her performance at the Isle of Wight Festival in June.

Her new record is a collection of beautifully crafted, melodic pop gems recorded in Dublin last year. Sharon worked with an eclectic range of renowned traditional musicians including Davy Spillane, Máirtín O’Connor and Gerry O’Connor.

The album also features a thrilling collaboration with the legendary Jeff Beck on the haunting traditional track ‘Mna Na hÉireann’. Sharon was determined that her violin should continue to play a central role. “It was important for me to keep the Irish influence and the violin because that’s what I’m known for” she says, “but I wanted to explore the violin in a wider context”.

Renowned across the globe as the violinist, songwriter and backing vocalist with her siblings The Corrs; Sharon enjoyed enormous success, with 35 million album sales, sold out worldwide stadium tours and a string of number 1 singles and albums.

Following her 15 year career with The Corrs and the birth of her two children, Sharon returns to the stage taking the lead on vocals with an album of fresh songs without forgetting her Irish roots.  She will of course be performing some of the hits she wrote for The Corrs like ‘Radio’ and ‘So Young’.

"I'm delighted the songs from my new album have been so well loved! Now I'm thrilled to be touring "Dreaming Of You" and looking forward to playing the songs live for you!"(Sharon Corr)

If the hits she wrote for The Corrs were her songs of innocence – or at least, of youth – these are the songs of experience. ”People tend to think you’re a singer-songwriter, or a violinist, or a pop group, or a rock musician,” says Sharon. ”I’m actually a lot of different things and I’ve no intention of denying any one of them. You get all of me on this album!” 

Monday 22nd August 2011 – O2 Academy Liverpool2
Tuesday 23rd August 2011 – O2 Academy Birmingham2
Wednesday 24th August 2011 – O2 Academy Islington

£12.50 adv £15 adv (London)

0844 477 2000 ticketweb.co.uk - on sale Friday 3rd June 2011 @ 9am

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