Monthly Archives: April 2010

What ‘culture’ do you do?

Brum is, as you’ll no doubt be aware, is bidding to be UK City of Culture 2013. The final bid has to be in in May and getting a full picture of what culture is for Birmingham is and important part of it. We’ve already had Cliff Richard and heavy metal ballet suggested — but what do people actually get up to? One idea to capture that is to let everyone contribute to a one day celebration of all Birmingham’s cultural activity. For 24 hours from midday on Friday 23rd April to midday on Saturday 24th anyone can blog anything cultural they’re doing on the bid website (it’ll be at http://birminghamculture.org/blog) — you contribute via email. Anything sent to blog@birminghamculture.org will make the site — pictures video or audio included. I think this is the opportunity to show all that stuff that’s going on that doesn’t usually get publicity — culture is a pretty wide thing; are you watching football and singing? In a book club, out doing some parkour? All three at the same time? From the grottiest punk gig to the, er,  soppiest punk gig, it’d be good if someone was there and recording it in some...

Read more »

Anyone got photos of 70s/80s Brum venues?

A plea from Jez: I’m making a film about Reggae, Punk and Bhangra in Birmingham around how communities and individuals express themselves through music. I received a small amount of funding for this with a condition I used 75% (roughly 45 mins) of archive material. The completed film will be shown as part of the re-opening of the Midlands Arts Centre from May- Sept which expected to attract 20,000+ visitors. It is a non-commercial film and is part of the Birmingham Popular Music Archive http://birminghammusicarchive.co.uk. I really need some visuals of the following venues from the 70′s/80′s: Fighting Cocks, Rebeccas, Cedar Club, Hare & Hounds, Santa Rosa/Rialto, Elite cinema Handsworth, Star Club, Red Lion Balsall Heath, International Small Heath, Odean New St,Locarno, Romulus, Jug of Ale,Mermaid I don’t have money to pay for use but would obviously give you a full credit/thanks. I’m on an incredibly tight deadline now (I was let down on getting some images of the above hence the urgent nature) so it would be hugely appreciated if you can help that you get jpgs to me before Wednesday of this week! Thanks in advance Jez Collins Birmingham Popular Music Archive

Read more »

Martineau 10 – the fight continues : Spaghetti Gazetti

I don't know too much of the background to this article by Pete Millington about the fight to save the Martineau Centre but it's a campaign worth keeping an eye on.

Read more »

Paul Tait Talks to Joys and Sorrows

Blues legend on playing for the club you support and staying true to your area and friends: "I always went drinking in rougher pubs. I couldn’t be one of those footballers who drunk champagne and drove in a posh car. I drove a battered up Rover and drunk in rough pubs. It’s who I am."

Read more »

Frank's Blue Heaven

Frank Skinner's little seen sitcom — set very much in West Brom — is now all on You Tube, properly from Channel 4.

Read more »

Birmingham Has No Music Scene

Birmingham Has No Music Scene says Jeff Stuka and is all the better for it.

Read more »

“Look you f..king idiot”

A fantastic slice of the 70s, John Mostyn on how he spent a morning in the Jewellery Quarter getting a Sex Pistols tour cancelled all around him.

Read more »

Supersonic Festival 2010 – announced for October

Yes, in fact 22 – 24 October at the Custard Factory. Tickets are now on sale — you don't need to line-up details, but some are here:

Read more »

The Saturday Matinées – Scene Not Heard

Local promoters trying something different — gigs on a Saturday afternoon. Open age, easy to get to and hopefully free. First one on May 1st.

Read more »

BiNS is mostly by Jon Bounds a Birmingham based social web consultant, producer and writer., You can hire him to work on your social web campaigns or anything really—he's not fussy. Follow him on twitter or drop him an email.

There's also the odd bit of stuff from Danny Smith.

Feel free to send us anything you're interested in - or think we might be.

@onBirmingham – Breaking Brum News on Twitter