links for 2009-02-08 Iron Man Records – Mark Badger collects all the links to answer Birmingham Music Network’s Gigbeth question: ‘another failure or another success? Was it both?’
I was hoping to hear all the stories, read up on the reviews and look at the pictures but to be honest there hasn’t been much to look at. Perhaps I havent looked very far. Was it a another failure or another success, how do you define failure, how do you define success? Was it a failure and also a success? How was Gigbeth for you? What impact has Gigbeth had?
Memories of 4Talent @ Gigbeth – Catherine Bray’s mostly postitive thoughts on what was a job bloody well done by her, but with food for thought about Barfly on Digbeth High Street (which she’s added a very important edit comment to below – please be a bab and read):
‘The attitude of one of the older Barfly venue managers sucked. He kept referring to one of the acts as “fucking hippies”, and compared their violins to cats having sex or something, and was just generally a bit of a tool, pre-event. I’m guessing here, but he seemed to be vaguely of the opinion that if you weren’t an established pull-the-punters-in outfit then you probably weren’t worthy of playing the venue.’
For a venue that markets itself as ’supporting the world’s best new music by filling its venues with the stars of tomorrow’, giving out that impression is not good.
Lost in Space 2 – ‘The cream of the Custard’s crop is set to grace the Vaad Gallery later this month, thanks to Bryn Tranter and his gang. And with Christmas looming into view now with alarming rapidity, why not pop inside for a natter and a chance to invest in some vibrant, original art? Highly recommended.’
Jane Austen’s Emma at Custard Factory Theatre, February 2009 – ‘Having developed an outstanding reputation for unique and atmospheric adaptations, Heartbreak Productions are delighted to announce their winter tour of Emma: a brand new adaptation of the heart-warming, engaging and charming Jane Austen classic…Live music, dance and audience interaction will abound as – from the engaging yet exasperating Emma to the sympathetic yet quintessential bore, Miss Bates – the multi-talented cast recreate the rich and varied personalities of some of the most vibrant characters from English literature and bring them vividly to life.’ For further information, contact Nicci Selby – 01926 430307 or email: nicci@heartbreakproductions.co.uk.
pkgem’s fanart – Adventures in Salt-Shaking… – Members of The Guillemots fan forum go to see them in action at Gigbeth but neither they nor the band leave particularly pleased with the results. ‘The crowd was more a “something to do at the weekend” casual festival crowd than a Guillemot fan crowd. There was quite a number of fans and other considerate people there but they we were all drowned out by the kind of people for whom you just wonder why they bother?’ Possibly the type of problems that arise when you have such a diverse festival?
4Talent Gigbeth stage round-up | 4Talent magazine – Ian Ravenscroft rounds up the 4Talent acts on Saturday night’s Gigbeth and gives much deserved acclaim to organiser Catherine Bray: ‘artistic innovation won a minor victory that night in the tiny Dragon Bar.’ He’s also posted some great photos from the Hot Monocles gig on Friday on his Flickr account.
Pete Ashton’s Gigbeth set on Flickr – Pete Ashton’s photos, mainly from the 4Talent gig so including Iain Woods, Rich Batsford and Einstellung.
Dave Piper – the photographer’s pics from the Gigbeth conference and gigs.
Rhubarb Radio’s Gigbeth & Drop Beats Marathon – their extensive coverage of the Gigbeth weekend. The Station Manager lost the keys, perhaps he was a bit tired? Tough – sleep is for wimps!
Catnip’s Gigbeth band review – Julia Gilbert reviews the bands she saw at Gigbeth over the weekend, which included Iain Woods, Kano, Young Knives, Rich Batsford, The Keyboard Choir and the Sugarhill Gang.
Birmingham It’s Not Shit’s Jon Bounds has blogged prolifically whilst I’ve nursed hangovers. He’s done a Gigbeth Links Round-up, saving me a job, including tweets, Flickr photos and the listen again option on Rhubarb Radio for those that couldn’t make it. On Friday he went to see the Young Knives and on Saturday he declared Thingamigoops can only get better after capturing Pete Ashton’s bleep-tastic performance on film and seeing the melodic Rich Batsford, obnoxious Iain Woods, enthusiastic Musical Youth, crap Kano and old Sugarhill Gang.
Bobbie Jane at the Gigbeth Conference – Bobbie went to the conference in a posh hotel and blogged about what she learnt before the ‘messy VIP party’, which I wish I’d been invited to!
Gigbeth, it’s some gigs, in Digbeth – It is! And I’ll be there with bells on! I can’t wait. Like Jon Bounds, I’m looking forward to seeing the 4Talent line-up and The Destroyers. If you’re a fan of The Destroyers, catch Mama Matrix at The Rainbow tomorrow night, who are in the front bar as part of the Consider It Done Gigbeth Fringe event. I remember seeing them years ago when they were ‘Mama Matrix and The Destroyers’. Not sure why they split into two, but both bands are still of a similar, mental vein.
Another Byte Of Banality: S.A.D Blog Entry – Poor, depressed Midge. Perhaps he’s coming down with this cold that’s working its way around Digbeth. Yes, I like to break the big local news – there’s a cold going around Digbeth. All the dancers at ACE dance and music are coughing away, including my flatmate. This does not bode well for my big Gigbeth weekend and I’m not happy about it!
Custard Factory – Punch announce BASS09 theme: Inspired by Africa and Africans – ‘The aim of this year’s theme is celebrate and explore Africa’s influence on the arts scene. Working with mainstream and grassroots organisations, we will also be encouraging a broad range of audiences to participate in and experience the global impact of African cultural expression.’
Catnip on Gigbeth: urban music festival or urban myth? – ‘You won’t get chance to see a load of up and coming artists that you’re excited about having heard them a lot on music radio recently, over one weekend in the same city. You’ll see a hotchpotch of whatever acts the promoters, that are lumped together under the umbrella of “Gigbeth”, (probably) already had booked for that night anyway, a few local bands and a couple of token acts provided by Gigbeth themselves….It could be so great, it’s got a great name, a great home (Birmingham) with some great venues, but it’s got no cohesion and a severe lack of decent acts.’
Screen Media Lab – Have a building round here. Or something. Read Dave Harte’s comment, which has the right links and info after I posted an out of date link. Whoopsie.
The First Gigbeth Fringe – A while back Gigbeth hit the headlines with claims to being bigger than the Edinburgh Fringe. Well now it’s so big it’s got its very own fringe, announced by Claire Burgess. ‘It’s a free event on Friday 7th November at The Rainbow in Digbeth. The line up is a mixture of everything from Gypsy Punk to a live looper.’
WIN: Tickets to Gigbeth festival 2008 – 4 Talent Magazine give you not one, but two chances to win tickets for the Gigbeth Festival, which kicks off this week.
Digbeth coach station plan on track – ‘Work began today on a £15 million world-class coach station in Digbeth’ says the Birmingham Mail. You hear that? WORLD CLASS. We’re a lucky bunch.
Lost in S.P.A.C.E. video – If you missed the exhibition ‘Bryn has produced a short film showcasing the art on display during the Lost In S.P.A.C.E. group show from artists based at the Custard Factory that ran in the Gallery at the end of October.’
