If you are stuck for something to do this fine Birmingham evening then why not get yourselves down to The White Swan for some fantastic jazz courtesy of the Kieron McIntosh Quintet?
Its a great atmosphere with cheap food and drinks but best of all its free. Having checked out the Big Band Christmas evening in December we heartily recommend getting down there and enjoying the friendly band and crowd. For the muso's out there you can bring your instruments and take part in the jam session after the show!
Check it out on Grosvenor Street West, just off Broad Street opposite Gatecrasher, there will be more Red Stripe than you can shake your Barbour at...
Here is one to watch out for on the first Friday back of term, bought to you courtesy of some of the local lads from 1210, ladies and gents it's Seedy Sonics II!!! Get your arses down there for some quality music and quality vibes...
Rainbow Garden on the first friday of term (21/1/2011 @ 10:00pm)
Same deal as last time, quality intelligent underground dance music, brilliant sound system, £4 entry price, £2 drinks.... and all out rave atmosphere!
Back in the rainbow garden again with its funktion-one sound system and newly added heating and cover; it is also being kept open for an extra hour as no-one wants to leave at 3...
For those of you who didn't check it out last time, this is a definite must!! Great independent student night throwing out some excellent music and fantastic DJ talent, support your student brethren and get groovy for a bargain price.
Miss it and we'll hunt you down and set a llama loose on your Aunt, yeah you heard us...
Audio-Freq has long stated our aim to bring to you the best alternative scene that the 2nd city has to offer and as part of our resurgent campaign we are starting up a Local DJ's Profile section.
How can I be involved? we hear you cry...
Simple...
Just get us a 20/30min mix with a 200 word bio telling us who you are, what you play and where we can catch you along with your Best & Worst Part of Brum and we'll get you up on the site, it really is that simple! So come on lets get the locals some 'effin promo!!!
Send your stuff to afreaq@gmail.com and keep peeled for some exposure on the best talent you didn't know we had...
We hope you have all noticed our new look and we have the wonderful Sarah to thank for our shiny new visage! Let us know what you think and stay peeled for more posts!
P.s. sorry we've been a bit lax of late, essays are the achillies heel of AUDIO-FREq!
What a fantastic little night was had at Space2 on Saturday when the leg-end-dairy Booka Shade played to a packed out venue that went nuts for the massive tech-lectro tunes that the Shade threw into the teeming mass of mentalists. Also to be heard was the amazing Technasia, who has been a staple favourite on the Techno scene and Joris Voorn, a madman from Rotterdam who's exploded over the past year or two. All of this was bought to your ears via the lovely chaps at Eclectricity!
Booka Shade rocked out with a hugely impressive live set playing on electronic drums, fiddling dials, cranking levers (a bit like the musical version of Willy Wonka). Sensing massive-ness from the crowd, who were baying for bass, Booka stayed on for a 3rd encore and played well past their original 1 hour set times bringing you not only great sounds but value for money. The price was quite steep at £20 a ticket, for those who weren't quick enough on the draw to get student/early-bird tickets, however its hard to put a price on seeing such a stalwart classic as Booka Shade and when backed up by Technasia & Joris Voorn you really can't complain (so don't try).
If you aren't familiar with Booka Shade they hail from Germania and were forged in the dark heart of the Frankfurt electronic scene. This duo has managed to play to 10,000 people in the 2nd largest tent in Europe at Global Gathering, get one of their productions into pretty much every DJ's collection, collaborate with M.A.N.D.Y. to form Get Physical Records and perform with such vitality that it's hard not to fall in love with their roguish good lucks.
Joris Voorn has had a huge year also making him possible the hottest act on the underground house & tech scene! Releasing his first record on Keynote it attracted attention from huge names, including the late John Peel. Having destroyed pretty much any venue/festival you can think of his Birmingham debut was something very very special.
All in all, an excellent night for those into underground electro and techno, also excellent for those who were yet to be exposed to the malevolent music that made us weep with joy!
One of the best nights to be had in town went down at the Rainbow Warehouse last night (9 hours ago ish) with the rather shamelessly logo-emblazoned, but equally rather shamelessly awesome, Rizla re-crafted event. Wasn't quite sure what to expect when Audio-Freq checked it out but we were blown away.
First thing - as many free Rizla's as you can stuff your dirty pockets with.
Second thing - AMAZINGLY KICK ASS MUSIC
Third thing - so clearly been run at a loss for PR that nobody really gives a shit whether anyone pays...
The venue. alas, as so often is the case in Birmingham, didn't pack out much but was so full of delectably ravey people dancing like Germans that it was probably a good shout giving us all more elbow room. Which was important as this was a strictly electro/techno/disco vibe so no dub-dub-step was heard all evening. The line-up was massive with Mystery Jets, Simian Mobile Disco, MJ Cole, Le Corps Mince de Francoise and some local talent mixed in for good measure (all of whom got a rather cheerful nudge in the direction of checking out Audio-Freq, so if you have give us a comment, don't be shy, we're actually not as weird as we came across last night whilst stalking you all like prey...)
Massive shout outs must be thrown in the direction of MJ Cole, who definitely bore the brunt of our over-zealous dancing and, naturally, Simian, who looked as if they hadn't showered since 2 years ago and rounded up the excellent evening for the select group of people still "pepped" up enough to dance at 5am.
Look towards the next event and hopefully we shall see more people getting dialled in to this schema of techno-babbling gooch-dribbling brilliance. Naturally, keep it locked on to Audio-Freq for previews and a special article on the Rizla Re-Crafted competition-type thing where the best local B-town producers can get promo from this behemoth of a company simply by remixing a Mystery Jets song.
Special mention must go to the guy standing at the railings dancing like he was 5 years old and just seen Power Rangers/Teletubbies for the first time (delete as appropriate to age group). At first we weren't sure if he was trying to hump the artists from the barrier, but it soon became clear that he was just having a smashing time and all sense of rhythm, composure, self-respect had evaporated. Exceptional effort! If you know ravey-man, or are him, get in touch..
....we'd like to take you for a drink and then home for dinner with our mums.
Here at AUDIO-FREq we have been thinking what we most like in a night out; good vibes, stunning music, chatty crowd, great venue but most of all cheap! We 'aint afraid to say it, we 'aint ashamed to be it and we will hold our dirty, smelly mits in the air and shout, WE'RE POOR AND WE'RE PROUD!
So to help out our fellow Birmingham brethren, we've gotten hold of a couple of free tickets see the AMAZING Zero 7 this Friday night, all you have to do it comment on this post or our facebook page telling us why you best deserve the tickets and to come down to a great live music venue in Birmingham, The Hare & Hounds !!!!!
"With 3 consecutive Gold-selling albums and countless appearances on compilations and at festivals worldwide, Zero 7 are a household name. Their latest release, “Record” is a collection of favourites past and present, which also includes a disc of remixes- some previously issued, some brand new commissions- from luminaries such as Carl Craig, Metronomy, Photek, Joker and Madlib. This is a rare chance to hear the music that continues to inspire them. And in support we are delighted to welcome No Fakin’s Kwinzola and the deceptively slender, Lenny from Openmindedpeople / Organic. "
The winner will be notified by 12pm Friday by email so make sure you give us your address. See you there...
For those of you less blessed in the writing department you can purchase tickets from here.
So...... GET COMMENTING BIATTCHES! AND MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS!
AUDIO-FREq
Now, if there is one night in Birmingham that deserves your respect, it has to be the fantabulous Drop Beats Not Bombs. And Audio-Freq turned out to get the lowdown on what was happening last Saturday...
I will have to begin with a small disclaimer - we were a little concerned at Audio-Freq that the loss of certain aspects of the Custard Factory to commercial developers would have a bit of a detrimental effect on the layout of this year's 'Drop Beats' street festival spectacular. We could not be more wrong...
Spanning not only the Custard Factory, Boxxed and Space 2, but also out all over the streets of Digbeth, the 'Drop Beats' crew served an unmissable smorgasbord of music and underground culture fresh from Brumtown. 10 music arenas, kicking out all sorts: D&B, Dubstep, Techno, Minimal, Electro and a sneaky bit of Dancehall here and there, kept the throngs of hyped up boys and girls dancing into the early hours of the morning. An extra special mention must go to the University of Birmingham 1210 Society, who smashed out set after back-to-back set up in the Medicine Bar, where the atmosphere was jumping and the people sweaty.
And to keep everyone entertained whilst wandering from stage to stage, the whole of the Boxxed arena was section off for a fantastic display of graffiti art, from which the heady fumes of tinned paint crept out over the crowd (Audio-Freq has to admit it spent more than a fair few minutes sniffing the air, trying to get a quick buzz). We have to say, it was a bit of a shame not to see some stages inside Boxxed, due to the great quality Function 1 soundsystem they use on most of their nights, but you cant win them all! Incidently, Boxxed do some FANTASTIC stuff in Brum, so check them out here...
All in all then? Abso-bloody-lutely brilliant. Another corker from Drop Beats Not Bombs. We have to admit, there is nothing better than rolling out into the streets of Digbeth at 6.30am, Red Stripe in hand, shit-eating grin on face, and realising not only have you had the best night you've had in a long time, but that the money you spent doing so went to a good cause.
You may have noticed our new fancy logo! We are currently in the process of updating our logo and layout so stay tuned to the blog for more modernity. The logo is currently under development but this is a sneak preview of what we are working towards in conjunction with our good graphical friend Mr. O! Many thanks in advance for all his hard work and effort!
Audio-Freq here bringing you a round up of last weekends big night at the Custard Factory, which of course was BIGGER THAN BARRY - Audio-Freq was there in force to check out the vibes.
The night marked a slight change from the staple Barry fave, The Warehouse @ The Rainbow complex, and brought two rooms of tunes from the underground world of bass music. First thing to say about the evening was the crowd was superb! Many many people checking out this night and some great craic to be had amongst the cornucopia of eclectic people, all dressed in a wide range of costumes getting their moves on.
Those of us who attended enjoyed the evening but felt that it was somewhat lack-lustre when put up against the other Barry nights we've regularly attended. Something just didn't quite gel in the massive venue of Space2 and it didn't get that packed. Not for want of people, it just felt a little bit spaced out and a bit too large a venue for us to get a sweat on. Also the music was good, but took a while to warm up, there's not really any excuse to be hearing massive tunes from LAST year when we are in the prime-time for new releases. Having said that though later in the evening some CLASS acts were to be found, SHY-FX, DONEAO & HUDSON MOHAWKE to name but a few...
Overall , a cracking night from some of the best Brum is offering at the mo'
AUDIO-FREq are so excited we are positively wetting ourselves this week! The reason: our exclusive interview with Dan le Sac & Scroobius Pip!
We met the ground-breaking musical duo a couple of weeks ago before their Birmingham date on their ongoing UK tour. They invited us to interview them pre-soundcheck at the lovely new HMV Institute in Digbeth, and my oh my, did we have fun!
We talked to them both about their summer of festivals, the driving forces behind their work, their inspirations and animal combat! So without further ado ( i.e. enough of this rubbish, where's the interview?!?) here is our interview with the ever lovely Dan le Sac & Scroobius Pip!!!!
Not familiar with Dan and Pip? Where have you been!?! Here is the first release from their second album called 'Sick Tonight' from the album entitled 'The Logic of Chance'. Enjoy.....OR ELSE
Woah Nelly, its a big one tonight! Massive dancehall vibes will be getting thrown down courtesy of HEATWAVE & STICKY two massive acts guaranteed to whip the huge crowd at the Rainbow into a frenzy!
THE HEATWAVE
Founded by Gabriel Myddelton in 2003 it was initially just a club night. It has now morphed into DJ sets, live shows, productions, remixes, mixes, compilations, radio shows and journalism that have taken them around the globe once or twice. This is definitely not to be missed.
"Amazing party DJs. I'm a big fan" ROB DA BANK
"The Heatwave have been impressing and dazzling large, happy audiences with their energy and innovation" THE GUARDIAN
"Jubilant homegrown dancehall you need in your life" FACT
"The Heatwave have been at the forefront of dancehall in London since they burst onto the scene in 2003" TIME OUT
CHECK THEM OUT>>> http://www.theheatwave.co.uk/
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His productions were smashing dancefloors way back in the year 2000. Although this was a looooong time ago those tracks are just as relevant today as his new stuff.
A lot of this happens at University. In fact, more often than not, TOO much of this happens at University. Sometimes it seems like it is the ONLY thing that happens at University.
This is all well and good. In fact, AUDIO-FREq positively encourages hedonistic behaviour of all varieties. But there may come a time when the cheeky pre-lecture 'Snakey-B' in the Goose just wont cut it anymore. Then what happens?!?
Ladies and Gents, fear not! Birmingham boasts a formidable array of opportunities for the casual alcoholic. From chic cafes to bustling city bars, a veritable cornucopia of establishments awaits you.
And without further ado, we are proud to present two of our city faves; The Victoria and Island Bar.
The Vic' is a cracking little pub, tucked away just off Suffolk street. Sleepy boozer by day, this place really comes alive after 10pm, especially on weekends, where you can find Birmingham’s bright young(ish) things schmoozing and drinking into the early hours. A fantastic selection of well priced drinks, as well as some great affordable cocktails means that even the most discerning punter leaves with a (tipsy) smile on their face. The vibe in the pub is great, with the Brummie multitudes spreading through the pubs many rooms, and spilling out the back door onto the street. Expect swing and soul music blasted through tinny speakers and be prepared to cotch on the floor because seating is a tad scarce, but if its atmosphere and a relaxed vibe you are after, then look no further than The Vic. ***** http://www.thevictoriabirmingham.co.uk/ *****
Oh Island Bar. How you have wooed us with your £3.50 cocktails from 5-8pm every day of the week. The Island Bar is one of those quite special little places. You can be guarenteed brilliant drinks from start to finish at great prices, but the joys of this establishment dont end there, oh no! Weekly open mic nights, DJ's at the weekends, eco-friendly surroundings and speciality cocktails every day are all the rage at this place. And don’t forget the friendly atmosphere! No stuffiness here, just "good ole' fashioned fun ya'll", set to a soundtrack of classic music.
****www.bar-island.co.uk****
The best part is that both of these lovely places are but a piss-heads crawl from New St. Station, so it’s easy to stagger your merry way home at the end of a night.
Mos Eisley- a shit hole of a space port in Star Wars.
Moseley- an absolute gem of a place in Brum town.
Here at Audio-Freq we pride ourselves on offering people an alternative glimpse of what Birmingham has to offer, and we've got a beaut! Tonight sees another edition of the eclectic night Jam Jah, where you can expect to hear anything reggae, dub, dancehall, all mixed in with live MC's and DJ's.
Hosted at the always hospitable Bulls Head, tonight will no doubt see a conglomeration of Rasta-Bohemian peoples getting their skank on. Hosted in the upstairs of a trendy little pub with top drinks and a great vibe created by great people, you need to check this out!
For those of you who are less familiar with this area of town, Moseley is home to trendy wine bars, doss-house pubs, exceptional music and a bare minimum of weekend lad-led violence. (I've been drinking there since 15 and never seen a single fight!). Check out this mecca of alternative life, all set in an Brooklyn-esque village not 10 minutes from Selly Oak. Just don't all go at once or you may spoil it...
Ruddy hell was there a good time to be had last Tuesday evening at Birmingham's newest student night, Joker. Audio-Freq was there in force to check out the evening of debauchery being thrown our way, suffice to say we overindulged. Massive tunes and a great vibe was to be had by all, although the huge three room venue did take time to pack out, it was, by midnight, a veritable sound orgy, with dubstep and electro in the courtyard, driving the crowd into a frenzy, whilst liquid dnb and tech went down in the cellar.
Joker looks set to be a strong contender for the Naked Lunch revellers to do what they know best, dance on stages whilst acting completely insane. It was however refreshing to see a new raft of faces checking out some of the best raucous Birmingham has to offer. Well done Joker!!!
