Written by Nicky Getgood on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 ( Start discussion )
Tags: secret wars, the rainbow
Just been sent a message saying that this free Secret Wars party at The Rainbow this Friday 23rd July at 9:00pm – 4:00am is ‘GONNA BE SIK’.
Written by Nicky Getgood on Thursday, June 10th, 2010 ( 2 responses )
Tags: Ammo Talwar, Andrew Dubber, bass festival, Bruce Lee, Bulgaria, Cheapside, City of Culture, Custard Factory, Fight The Power, Friction Arts, Jah Shaka, Lee Griffiths, ounch records, Paradox, Paul Murphy, Raycho Stanev, Sandra Hall, simon walker, The Edge, The Great Excursion, the rainbow, zellig
A hard day at the office
Last Wednesday saw the launch of the Bass Festival with the opening of Punch Records’ exhibition Fight The Power, of global protest and propaganda art.
Fight The Power is on until the end of June at the newly opened Zellig, the Custard Factory, so you can get a good look at the building’s new sculpture too. Elsewhere online is a slideshow of photos from the Fight Power exhibition launch and a film of the launch’s opening speeches and Ammo Talwar’s tour of the exhibition by Andrew Dubber.
Simon, Sandra and Raycho fighting the power. And each other.
Fight The Power got Simon Walker, Sandra Hall (Friction Arts) and Bulgarian Artist Raycho Stanev in an outspoken mood, which worked well for the following night’s critical debate at The Edge based around the issues stemming from Raycho’s installation The Great Excursion.
Paradox, Raycho, Sandra and Lee at the Critical Debate
I was a little late in joining it, but the critical debate was a lively and much-needed discussion which explored issues around ethnic, cultutal and class identity and how these can affect our own personal identities. Paradox really hit the nail on the head when she quoted Bruce Lee: “I’m a citizen of this planet.”
Birmingham’s City of Culture bid also entered the discussion, with people musing on how it can be truly multicultural rather than what Paul Murphy calls, “The 3 S’s: steel bands, saris and samosas.”
It was an incredibly special evening (which Friction Arts have written a more in-depth post about), which makes it all the more sickening that it ended with The Edge getting broken into after everyone had gone home. As Lee has wisely said, ‘Peace and love to the burglar, hope the karmic burden was worth it!’
Raycho Stanev and his beautiful technical assistant Annie have returned to Bulgaria, but his installation The Great Excursion, about his childhood memories of the expulsion of over 360,000 Bulgarian Turks from his country in 1989 under the socialist regime, is staying at The Edge, Cheapside until 19th June. Raycho’s very personal and touching work is well worth a visit to learn about a particularly sinister yet little-known episode in Bulgarian history that will make you reflect upon attitudes towards race, ethnicity and cultural differences in the UK today.
Punch Records’ Bass Festival is on into early July, with events and gigs all over Birmingham. The next Digbeth highlight is ‘spiritual messenger’ Jah Shaka’s gig at The Rainbow on Sat 25th June.
Written by Nicky Getgood on Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 ( Start discussion )
Tags: kent davis, the rainbow
They’ve had their Noise Abatement trials and tribulations of late but there’s no holding The Rainbow back. No way. They’re carrying onwards and upwards, expanding their empire with ‘a slew of new venues which will further transform the area and the truly unique experience for those that use them’.
The Rainbow pub and The Rainbow warehouse will soon be joined by the following:
‘May 2010 sees the start our most ambitious period of metamorphosis yet. How do you get more underground than The Rainbow? – only one way – turn the cellar into a venue. The Cellar Door (opening May 28 2010) – is under the very floorboards of the The Rainbow itself. The original Rainbow now consists of Bar, Courtyard and Cellar each delivering a specific flavour to the overall taste of this unique venue.’
‘The Rainbow Warehouse has hosted some legendary nights and provided the springboard for some maverick and massively successful brands. Anyone who promotes here has relished the sense of decadence that comes with partying under the arches or the frisson of danger provided by the imposing industrial ironwork throughout the interior. There is only one place left to go UP. Launching in July 2010 The Mezzanine will ensure Summer Daytime parties will be going to new levels as The Rainbow Warehouse installs an innovative take on The Zoo Project and DC10, and allows for open air partying on tiered levels.’
‘The Arena is at the Opposite end of Adderley Street. Bringing massed ranks of more Victorian railway arches under the over-reaching curve of The Rainbow’s embrace – The Arena is set to witness musical mayhem and battles reminiscent of The Coliseum – whose amphitheatre architecture it mimics. This massive site alone can cater for a capacity of 5000.’
‘New Era. New Sounds. No Bounds.’ As Rainbow landlord Kent Davis says.
Written by Nicky Getgood on Thursday, April 1st, 2010 ( 2 responses )
Tags: 7inch cinema, belbury youth club, burning, Capsule, citizensheep, Clark, flatpack, ghost box, Health & Efficiency, hugh cooney, ian francis, Ikon Eastside, Julian House, little chris, michael grimes, mogwai, Moon Wiring Club, penda's fen, pip mcknight, Plasticine Party, stuart braithwaite, synth eastwood, the archers, the rainbow, the secret of kells, Vivid, Winter Sun Wavelength
Synth Eastwood's take on The Archers
I’m hopefully getting a guest post on Flatpack from one of the film festival’s hard-working volunteers, but I thought I’d offer a little round-up of what were my Flatpack picks.
On Friday I went to see those crazy Synth Eastwood lads at The Rainbow Warehouse. As soon as Michael and I entered warehouse we were taken to one side and photographed three times. These photos were made into animated images which became part of the visuals later that night, pretty much all of the audience got to see themselves on the big screen.
Soon after getting papped we found the boy in the box. It seems Hugh Cooney was taking a break from being a big bird man to draw his interpretation of audience members’ suggestions posted to him through a slit in the box, on a PC in Paint with his work in progress being projected onto the wall opposite. Above is what he made of Micheal’s suggestion to ‘Listen to The Archers on a Sunday, the theme tune’s better’. I’m not even going to begin to describe his depiction of my Grandad in his old chip shop, my mum reads this. But I got a signed and framed print-out to take home, which was nice.
The music from the likes of Health & Efficiency, Clark and the Synth Eastwood Band was great, but I found the visuals even more impressive. The shots of famous film scenes cutting to a green figure striking the same poses really blew me away, it must have taken them so long to film and cut that together. The Synth Eastwood people said that they were keen to make new friends in Birmingham so I made sure to have a bit of a chat with them and can confirm they are as lovely as they are clever and stark staring mad.
Saturday was taken up with We Are Eastside’s East Stride, which really warrants its own dedicated post so please be patient.
In the evening I went to Ikon Eastside for Flatpack and Capsule’s screening of Burning, a film of Mogwai’s residency at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. I really enjoyed immersing myself in Burning, it was beautifully shot. Because I’m well hopeless when it comes to music it’s pretty much the first time I’ve sat down and listened to Mogwai, and I liked a lot – definitely a download for all those springtime canalside bike rides I have planned. It also meant I got to see Brumcast’s Little Chris in the flesh and he did a brilliant job of a friendly, relaxed interview with Mogwai’s Stuart Braithwaite.
After Mogwai was the Plasticine Party at VIVID, which was a lively affair of extremely rude and/or cute plasticine shapes, great live and DJ’d music, drinking and dancing. Unfortunately I had far too much fun to make it to The Secret of Kells the next day, but I did manage to get it together in time for Belbury Youth Club’s Ghost Box at VIVID.
It was an evening screening of old adverts and TV dramas that ranged from the spooky to the just plain strange, such as the philosophical, homo-erotic Penda’s Fen. I couldn’t work out what the hell was going on, if I’m honest but found it interesting all the same. The big slab of victoria sponge cake helped.
After Julian House’s Winter Sun Wavelength a little later we were treated to a special live performance of Moon Wiring Club weaving some musical magic along to visuals made up from the strange, strange things we’d watched earlier. It was chilled, lovely and the perfect wind-down to end a brilliant Flatpack film festival. Well done to Ian and Pip and all rest of the Flatpack crew!
Written by Nicky Getgood on Monday, March 29th, 2010 ( Start discussion )
Tags: cashpoint, digbeth court, digbeth high street, the rainbow, zafar majid
I recently had a little chat with Zafar Majid, the man behind the new Digbeth Court development currently under construction next to The Rainbow on Digbeth High Street. The development grew out of Zafar’s search for a new home for his telecommunications company Alphatalk. Alphatalk will occupy a small section of the building, with the rest being available as serviced offices and workshops for small businesses and some retail units on the ground floor.
As a Digbeth resident I’m particularly excited about Zafar’s plans for a good convenience store in the development! Zafar also said he will endevour to get a cashpoint on the premises. If you think you might be interested in renting a space in Digbeth Court call Zafar on 0845 021 2000.
Written by Nicky Getgood on Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 ( Start discussion )
Tags: belbury youth club, ben waddington, Capsule, Eastside Projects, feast of fools, flatpack festival, Friction Arts, ghost box, Ikon Eastside, more canals than venice, pixie sixer, rhubarb east, The Edge, the rainbow, the secret of kells, Vivid, we are eastside
My, my I’ve a busy weekend in store, what with the Flatpack Festival and We Are Eastside launch and all. I’d better make a list of all the things I’ve bought tickets for or promised myself I’d see, just so’s I don’t miss anything. Now, let me see….
On Friday I’ve got a ticket for Synth Eastwood’s Fast Forward Show at The Rainbow, which ‘has 27 heads, is part-Irish part-English part-French, eats loud repetitive beats, projects wobbly animations and wants to meet new friends in Birmingham’. I’m really looking forward it, but sad I’ll be missing the Feast of Fools at The Edge.
I’ve got a Saturday afternoon stroll planned with local historian Ben Waddington’s East Stride. Word on the street is there will be industrial heritage, creative insight and a dash of Duran Duran. I’m hoping I’ve enough time after that to peak through Eastside Projects’ curtains and visit the new Rhubarb East Gallery before an evening of ‘films, music and chit chat with Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai‘ at Ikon Eastside.
On Sunday I’m set to discover the Secret of Kells at The Electric Cinema before getting well and truly spooked by Belbury Youth Club’s Ghost Box at VIVID. I bought the ticket without really knowing what’s in store, but it’s okay because Pixie Sixer’s found out for me and it’s looking well good.
I’ll hopefully see some of you over my jam-packed weekend!
Written by Nicky Getgood on Monday, March 15th, 2010 ( Start discussion )
Tags: bbc, flatpack festival, inside out, irish centre, John Tighe, katrice horsley, old crown, paul long, philip donnellan, plongy, spotteddog, st patricks festival, synth eastwood, the electric, the rainbow, the secret of kells
Those of you who missed the special screening of the Philip Donnellan piece on BBC1′s Inside Out on 8th March, which featured interviews with Filum fans at the Spotted Dog who’d just watched his documentary film The Irishmen, you can watch it again in the YouTube film above – sorry the sound is a little out.
Fans of Irish film might like to go along to the Spotted Dog tomorrow evening for an Irish Film Night from 6pm onwards as part of St Patrick’s Festival Birmingham. Landlord John Tighe is screening Everlasting Piece, The Informer and Dancing at Lughnasa. I can’t make this one because I’ll be chatting about Patrick McCabe at the St Patrick’s Literary Festival at The Old Crown Inn from 7pm. Go along to hear all about the darkly comic McCabe, poetical W B Yeats, avant-guarde Samuel Beckett, and modernist James Joyce.
Fans of Irish culture might also like to see the Irish storyteller Katrice Horsley weave her magic at The Irish Centre, 7pm this Weds 17th March (St Patrick’s Day), again as part of St Patrick’s Festival Birmingham. Irish film fans in particular would do well to check out the Flatpack Festival in Birmingham later this month. Highlights include:
Synth Eastwood’s Fast Forward Show on Fri 26th March, when Dublin collective Synth Eastwood will host a night of live music, animation and interactivity at The Rainbow.
The Secret of Kells at The Electric Cinema on Sun 28th March, ‘a stunning animation about how the Book of Kells was completed and survived to become one of Ireland’s national treasures.’
Written by Nicky Getgood on Thursday, February 11th, 2010 ( Start discussion )
Tags: custardfactory, factoryclub, links, space2, the rainbow, toblog
With forums and facebook groups bemoaing the Factory Club’s move from the main Custard Factory to the nearby Space2, Factory Club felt the need to make an official announcement. It is not The End, but ‘a new beginning’.
The Factory Events team, have decided to focus their energy on financing the redevelopment and complete refurbishment of some exciting new spaces within the Custard Factory, to include the 1500 capacity Space 2 warehouse, two large adjoining railway arches and a new, never used before ‘secret room’. These new spaces will herald a wave of bigger and bolder club events organised by some of the most successful promoters in the business.
Meanwhile The Rainbow is set to expand and take over some more Digbeth spaces, I recently received this Facebook message from the Friends of The Rainbow facebook group:
The Rainbow is expanding it’s venues. We are recruiting…We feel that Digbeth is in need of a little bit more. We have been scouring the city for more hidden gems and have found some jaw dropping spaces some intimate some not. There is a certain criteria for the spaces to fit in with our plans but what we have added to the triangle exceeds our expectations. They will wet your appetite some for many years to come.
We Are Eastside – arts and culture Birmingham Post: Digbeth articles
