what’s on

Fat Freddy’s Bloke

American cartoonist and underground comix artist Gilbert Shelton is going to be in Brum on Friday November 13th at Nostalgia & Comics. He’s the bloke who did The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers (which is being made into a stop motion film), and the spin off series Fat Freddy’s Cat. He has also contributed to Wonder Wart-Hog, Not Quite Dead, and is also well known in some circles for his cover art to The Grateful Dead’s 1978 album Shakedown Street. Knockabout Comics have just published The Fat Freddy’s Cat Omnibus and they also have The Freak Brothers Omnibus available., and Nostalgia & Comics is welcoming Gilbert to sign both books between 4.00 & 5.30. It’s at 14 –16 Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham, B5 4EN. For further details: 0121 643 0143 or noscomic@noscomic.plus.com

Bear in front (of Millennium Point)

The safest way to avoid the cloying car-crash of Children in Need on BBC One might just be to get out to the local CiN event at Millennium Point. There you’re guaranteed not to witness newsreaders “getting into the spirit of it”, but instead see (this year at least) legendary bhangra artist Malkit Singh and ascending star Jaz Dhami head the star studded line up for the ‘Pudsey Does Bhangra’ appeal show. It’s on 6pm to 11pm on Friday 20th November at Millennium Point, and — while you should no-doubt have your donation hat on — it’s free.

Sometimes one gives up and churns the PR: “The best of Birmingham’s musical talent will come together on Saturday 24th October to fight poverty through music when OxjamBrum takes over six city centre venues for a fabulous day and night of live music. The Flapper, Prince of Wales, The Victoria, Island Bar, Sunflower Lounge, and Birmingham’s newest bar, The Basement will showcase new music at its finest from 2pm-11pm, with 40 bands and 15 DJs set to play the event. Headliners Dinosaur Pile-Up will come straight from their European tour with The Pixies and local folk-pop singer Deborah Hodgson – who launched her debut EP at The Isle of Wight Festival earlier this year – will also play.” Tickets are available through www.wegottickets.com – £6 with 60p booking fee, half of which goes directly to Oxfam.

Harry Palmer: Oneself, a bedroom and a pulsating unit

Besides unexpected in-situ encounters that stimulate criticism, my journey as an eccentric archaeologist continues to present contradictions and hypocrisy. This is not surprising. Curiously a recent doppelganger experience occurred in which I was identified by several people as being someone else…. Either way, I was delighted to have had such a number of simultaneous (mis)representations and encounters. It must have been at least ten years ago when I approached a person as mistaken identity. It made me question my motives and reasons for making snap observations mixed with rash excitement. Judgements have no absolute hold on what appears to be the truth of course….. This leads me nicely onto the latest eccentric investigation into The Darknosis Project, a project that takes place as part of a mythological environment at The Edge starting this Friday for one week. The imminent PhD Show (Pete Hadfield, Harry Palmer and Diane Taylor) – have spent several months formulating vintage accounts of socio – environmental and biological ancestor hood in which previous incantations of lost tribes and civilisations have shaped our current condition as humans (and the PhD show). Myths, of course, are not merely roamers or absolute fact – they are stories which...

I didn’t go to any of the ArtsFest events this weekend, busy, tired and didn’t have the energy for trying to hunt for the bits I’d enjoy. I did walk through it on Saturday at about three though, and it was rammed and people seemed to be enjoying it a lot (the weather no doubt helped bring out the crowds). Even stuffed rabbits had a good time. I think I’ve worked out why ArtsFest makes some people mad and uncomfortable with supporting it. Some is due to the supposed chaos behind the scenes, some to the haphazard promotion, but for me at least it’s the name. Some of what was on offer wasn’t “art” — some was craft, some was participatory science, some were information stalls about local charities or groups… some was Blues Brothers tribute acts (okay that’s just be being snobbish). All interesting, potentially popular, valuable to the community, but not art. Could we all get behind it more, feel more a part of it, if we weren’t told it was “art”? Couldn’t it be “Britain’s Biggest Community Festival”. Giving people a reason to feel proud, make it Brum people and orgs only, no parachuting in “headline...

This weekend Birmingham is going to be even more of a hive of cultural activity. It’s the annual Arts Festival. Beginning this afternoon and running until Sunday night Birmingham is host to more events than you can shake a stick at; dance, films, arts, comedy, music, theatre. There will be something for everyone – and it’s all FREE! It’s also the last few days for the Monarch Beach (yes, Birmingham even has it’s own beach!) which is holding lots of music and dance events on their stage. The weather is going to be great this weekend, so grab a deckchair and a drink and enjoy. You can find the beach on Chamberlain Square next to the library. It’s going to be a fabulous weekend. You will be spoiled for choice. Have fun! :)

There doesn’t seem to be an excuse to spend any time in your own house this week: On Wednesday you can have a drink with internet types at The Anchor, or pop along to The Edge and hack to your hearts content with the fizzPOPpers. On Friday, the Twitter mafia will be very upset if you don’t get to the Arcadian and “tweet up” (bleeding hell) at Twestival. It’s raising money for the YMCA, so expect more village people references than is healthy. The whole weekend is covered by ArtsFest — but we need recommendations for anything worth going to during that. If you’re not all classical fireworks fantasia’d out by Saturday evening, them you could do a lot worse than pop along to the Irish Centre where Rhubarb Radio are hosting an afterparty — will all the more danceable DJs as well as live acts fresh from ArtsFest.

ArtsFest – What to do?

I’ll no doubt do another long an rambling post on “what should be done” with ArtsFest (next weekend chappies) as a whole, but here I want you to collectively tell me what I should go see. You see, the problem with ArtsFest is that it’s BIG (the “biggest” – not the best – free arts festival in the UK) and not particularly structured — I think curated is the word we’re dancing round. It’s also mostly full of people doing their thang for nowt, so there aren’t many (any almost) names you will have heard of. So it’s impossible (especially on paper) to get a good idea of what’s worth seeing. But here’s my plan — the vast majority of artists are Brummies, so by the rules of networks someone here must know almost all of them (or know someone, who knows etc…). And let’s face it, we know when our mates are any good. Don’t expect you to say anyone you know personally isn’t worth seeing (if you can’t say anything nice), but if they are then tell us all here in the comments. The Big Paws is going to send studio dogsbody Dylan to report on what you tell...

Oxfam aren’t all about helping people in the developing world, they’re also on a mission to save Birmingham from the pan pipes. On the 28th August for OxjamBrum’s ‘Big Busk’ to raise money the council has turned over all its ‘busk stops’. “Eight of the city’s home-grown musicians will busk at the following locations: Centenary Square: at the end of the raised flower bed and in front of the REP Victoria Square: in front of the phoenix statue which is to the left of the fountain New Street: outside Pertemps and to the right of the main door New Street: outside HSBC bank Edgbaston Street: in front of the side elevation of Wagamama’s Edgbaston Street: between New Look and Sports World High Street: in between phone box and circular advertising column in front of Thornton’s and HMV Cherry Street: near Temple Row and in front of the cash machines which are at a raised level” Big-Chief-Busks-With-Recoder, won’t be featuring. I don’t think. More details and info about other stuff that’s happening over at the OxjamBrum website.

Page 3 of 15

« 1 2 3 4 5 … 15 »

Recent Comments

Archives

what’s on

Fat Freddy’s Bloke

Bear in front (of Millennium Point)

Jam

Harry Palmer: Oneself, a bedroom and a pulsating unit

Is it Art?

Friday Photo by Karen Strunks

Get out.

ArtsFest – What to do?

Pan pipe moods

Get more Brum:

Is Brum Happy?

Birmingham's emotional wellbeing* on Thursday 17th of May 2012 08:52: 55.4 % (average)