What's On In Brum? - Your guide to what's on in Birmingham?

NYE @ the Custard Factory

This is quite simply, one of the biggest New Years Eve parties in the country.

Considered by many to be the most current and high profile NYE show ever at the Custard Factory, this line up is simply the crème-de-la-crème of electronic music.

Headlining in the lakeside marquee are the awesome 2manydjs, a firm favourite at the Custard Factory – in fact they sold more tickets for their last show in Birmingham than they did anywhere else in the country.

2manydjs changed the face of dance music with the release of their first compilation album back in 2003. Their albums and remixes cross the borders between indie, Rock’n’Roll, R&B, and turn it all into one big rave. Expect Dolly Parton rubbing shoulders with Destiny’s Child, ZZ Top blending into The Klaxons and massive recent remixes of MGMT and The Chemical Brothers.
2manyDJs are the biggest name in electronic music. Everybody wants them on their remixes. Everybody wants them on their flyers. And we’ve got them on New Years Eve!

We’re also proud to present Simian Mobile Disco in the Marquee for what is going to be the biggest night of the year. Since the massive success of ‘We Are Your Friends’ they’ve cemented themselves as the new stars of the electro scene, smashing up dance floors around the world with a sublime mix of their own remixes and massive floor fillers.

Simian Mobile Disco are without doubt one of the hottest names at the moment, and they’ll be dancing behind the decks just as hard as the crowd in front of them. When they played here earlier this year, they pulled in over 3000 people, so they can’t wait to play again on NYE.

Meanwhile, in the Factory Club, Stupid Underground will be taking control. Stupid Underground have become renowned for putting on some of the biggest free parties the city has ever seen and are fronted by resident DJ Get Carter. The Plump DJs blend of storming broken beats will force the dance floor into submission. They’ve played at Custard several times now and have become solid Factory favourites.  This year has been a good one for The Plumps, having picked up ‘Best Producer’ and ‘Best Single’ at the International Breakbeat awards, but they’ll be leaving those on the mantelpiece at home. The only thing on their mind will be blowing the crowd out of their minds.

The third room of music will take place in a space that even Custard Factory diehards may be unaware of known as The Gallery. Deuce Soundsystem hosted this fresh warehouse space for The Factory 13th Birthday back in November and they will be back in there again on New Years Eve only this time they will be joined by new kids on the block “We’re Not Famous”. Expect underground house & minimal techno with some fidget and bassline house thrown in for good measure.

There will also be a street shut down with cocktail bars & food stalls. Extra seating will be available in The Kitchen and The Old Library.

Finally if you really want to live it up there are a limited number of VIP tickets available for just £45. This will gain you access to the exclusive VIP area which will have a private bar & comfortable seating. This will also be where the DJs will be hanging out before and after their sets.

WEDNESDAY 31ST DECEMBER 2008/09
CUSTARD FACTORY
GIBB STREET
DIGBETH
BIRMINGHAM
B9 4AA

TIMES: 9PM-6AM
INFO: 07852 178 159
EMAIL: steve@factoryevents.co.uk

TICKET PRICES:
EARLY BIRDS £25 / £20 NUS
GENERAL TICKETS £32.50 / £27.50 NUS
MORE ON THE DOOR
VIP TICKETS £45
INCLUDES QUEUE JUMP ENTRANCE,
EXCLUSIVE AREA WITH PRIVATE BAR, COMFY SEATING AND AMBIENT LIGHTING

CREDIT CARD HOTLINE 0844 870 0000
ONLINE TICKETS: www.theticketsellers.co.uk
OUTLETS:
SWORDFISH RECORDS 0121 633 4859
OLD SKOOL DAZE (SELLY OAK) 0121 472 0777
JIBBERING RECORDS (MOSELEY) 0121 449 4551
SMOKIN VINYL (ERDINGTON) 0121 373 7051

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www.factoryevents.co.uk

Sunday evening rock legend Tony Iommi was awarded his star on Birmingham’s answer to the walk of fame, broad street’s walk of stars. Despite horrendous weather conditions, fans gathered to see the deputy lord mayor Randal Brew award Iommi his star. The founding member of legendary rock band Black Sabbath is quoted as saying “It’s great – it’s really an honour – I’m really proud of it … I was shocked! It’s so nice to have things like that! I’ve got one out in LA but I’m not from LA – It’s so nice being recognised in your home town”. Still remaining grounded and close to his roots this Grammy award winner continues to live in Aston where he grew up. Despite being such an idol to many people across the world (myself included), Iommi is very  down to earth and humbling.

Words and Photography : © Crystal Hughes

UltraExcentric Warehouse & Garden Rave Ft. Paolo Mojo, Fergie, Tim Sheridan, Deepgroove, Gavyn Mytchell, Ben Nott @Rainbow Warehouse Nov 22- Bham 9-6am

This is the big one…

If you have not yet been to the Rainbow Warehouse then this is a must, the venue is amazing and this line up is the biggest we have done in a long time, this will be mental…

Ultra+ & Excentric present

“ULTRAEXCENTRIC”
A spectacular event of mammoth proportions!

(more…)

Scratch Club present Dj Qbert, 13th September, Rainbow Warehouse

DJ Qbert is a legend amongst the scratch fraternity, and hardly suprising since he is a 4x world DMC champion. He is a member of the DJ hall of fame and an ex-member of the invisibl skratch picklz, alongside Mixmaster Mike of the Beastie Boys.

The last time we saw Dj Qbert in Birmingham was back in 2005 at the Medicine Bar (we have the pics to prove it, see below!), so its about time we saw a return and this time to the all new Rainbow Warehouse.

Dj Qbert is only making two UK appearances this year, with the other being at the mighty Fabric in London, so Birmingham should be feeling mighty proud and lucky to be playing host.

You can go view the event here on woib and buy tickets

Support acts on the night include:

Automaton (satamile records)
Dj Switch (3x UK DMC Champion - see here for my review and photos)
mc xander (live shamanic beatbox explorer)
the mc mash clan (braindrop, london)

This really is going to be a fantastic night of world class scratching ad general turntable madness (did I mention Qbert uses his own unique design of turntable?) - and with these sort of world class perfomances few and far bwteen, we suggest you bag yourself a ticket quick, as we reckon this ones gonna be kicking off with people hanging from the rafters.

Tom Horton

Project X Presents, the Birmingham based creative network will present their fourth and latest event in a brand new location in central Birmingham on Sept 13 2008.

The Digital Dystopia performance will further develop and explore the group’s remarkable “Omnimedia Experience” format - in which audiences enter a strange and custom designed wonderland of sound, light and interaction for an unforgettable evening of enchantment.

The main body of the event takes place in one special room - in which the audience is surrounded by three stages housing a seamless procession of music and spoken word - all carefully sequenced by the group and woven into a continual mix of sound.  The musical effect becomes greater than the sum of each special part as each contributes to the whole, like a unique opera show written in collaboration by the collective mind of a variety of talented performers.

Visual screens will envelop the room, manned by a team comprising some of the most talented visual artists and VJs in the region, each producing work specific to the event and the music.

A separate room offers a change of pace and the chance for the audience to engage further with the event, interacting with giant toy-like installations offering a fun, different and tactile experience.

Dancers and physical theatre performers will lead the audience on a journey of discovery to confront the possibilities of a dystopian future:

Are ID cards, ubiquitous CCTV surveillance and mass addiction to television and the Internet all omens of a future society controlled by fear and strangled by bureaucracy?

Project X Presents is an independent network of creative individuals, artist lead and dedicated to the development of creativity and expression. have an abundance of experience between them, not least the delivery of three previous event, at the Epic Skate Park, Rainbow Warehouse and Concrete.

Project X Presents events are engaging and entertaining. The unique collaborations between performers, artists, technicians and musicians they entail result in a joyous sense of occasion and celebratory atmosphere - one of the many attractions of the shows.

You can’t bottle it - but you can be part of it!

In keeping with our previous work, this project will birth an entirely new venue on the Birmingham scene - more details to follow very soon!

20th August 2008 Emerica visit Ideal Skateshop

Ideal Skateshop has found a new home at the custard factory, complete with its own mini ramp!

On Wednesday 20th August, some of the UK and Euro Emerica Team dropped in for a session on the ramps, joinen by a fair few locals. Here are some pics.

The ramps are run on a members only voluntary sort of basis, anyone wanting to skate is asked to pay a membership fee. A few quid in the pot everytime you turn up and you are free to skate away.

Ideal is open 10.30 am - 6.00 pm Monday through to Saturday and 12 Noon - 4.00 pm Sundays. But as they say on their website: “these times are not rules. just guidance. Please don’t grumble if we are a little late. we’re not the bank of England, we are a skateboard shop…Thanks”

Jibbering records has got something of a unique sale on at the moment.

The hotter the weather is, the more you get off your music!

Whatever the temperature is [in celcius!] on the thermometer at the point of sale, is the % discount you get off your music - 25 degrees celcius would equate to a discount of 25%, and if we have a freak heatwave of 100 degrees they’ll be giving away free (albeit probably slightly melted) music!

Jibbering is located at 136 Alcester Road, Moseley - and specialises in Funk, Hip Hop, Reggae, Dub Step and Global Grooves.

The sale will run until the end of August!

We went along to the launch at Brindley Place, where top chefs Surachet Patpun, Aktar Islam and Chris Duffy from Thai Edge, Lasan, and Falini cooked up a storm on a BBQ in front of Thai Edge. Each prepared a dish, whilst explaining to the gathered crowds not only the ingredients and recipe, but also the reasons behind their choice and combinations. It was all very much in the style of any good television cookery programme.

Celebrity chef Atul Kochhar was present to have a taste and judge between the three prepared dishes - although when it came down to making a decision as to a winner he was diplomatically vague, saying that they were all fantastic.

I was a personal fan of Chris Duffy’s Sea Bass, not least because there was a decent amount of it to go round for tasting - though be wary of bones, as they are sharp enough to pierce your lip.

Now in its third consecutive year, Taste of Birmingham will celebrate the very best cuisine the Midlands’ offers in the beautiful surroundings of Cannon Hill Park, from Thursday 10th July to Sunday 13th July 2008. Get down there and get involved with food.

Words / Photos : Tom Horton

As the sun continues to beat down across the region, Birmingham’s leading chefs and restaurateurs have revealed what they love most about summer, and the delicious seasonal dishes they have in store for visitors to this year’s Taste of Birmingham.
Andreas Antona (Simpsons), Raj Rana (Itihaas) and David Colcombe (Opus) toast a Taste of Summer
Now in its third consecutive year, Taste of Birmingham will celebrate the very best cuisine the Midlands’ offers in the beautiful surroundings of Cannon Hill Park, from Thursday 10th July to Sunday 13th July 2008.

Celebrity chefs Anthony Worrall Thompson and Aldo Zilli will be preparing mouth-watering menus alongside a host of the region’s leading restaurants, including Itihaas, Opus and Simpsons.

Chef David Cocombe from Opus said:
“Everybody looks forward to summer. For me, it’s all about enjoying quality seasonal produce and the occasional long lazy brunch. With any luck, we might even be in for some good English strawberries this year.”

Restaurateur, Raj Rana, from Itihaas, added:
“Customers are noticeably happier when the sun starts to shine! For us, summer can be a really hectic time as we cater for up to 3,000 wedding guests every weekend, but I always look forward to picnics, barbeques and eating outside.”

Andreas Antona, Chef Patron at the Michelin-starred Simpsons said:
“In England we are lucky to enjoy four distinct seasons, and the fresh produce that comes with them. At this time of year I look forward to spring lamb, beautiful Evesham asparagus and soft berries. Summer for me means plenty of sun and lots of golf. Even Chefs are happier in summer!”

All three restaurants have revealed the signature dishes that they will be preparing for visitors to this year’s Taste of Birmingham. From the Opus kitchen, guests can enjoy flaked free-range ham hock with potato salad, braised heel of Scottish beef and a Black Forest Martini.

Itihaas will be cooking up a salmon, goats cheese and spicy onion samosa, roast Tandoori quails with sea salt and black pepper potatoes and truffle-infused rice, followed by a reduced Gazara Tart with pistachio and coconut kulfi.

Simpson’s will be preparing melon soup with crab, braised pork cheek with polenta and Eton Mess.

Other leading restaurants taking part in Taste of Birmingham this year include Lasan, Aria at the Hyatt, Hotel du Vin, Malmaison, The Oriental, Fillini, Thai Edge and La Becasse.

Over 20,000 visitors are expected to enjoy a Taste of Birmingham this summer, sampling local cheeses, meat and fruits at the special Taste Kitchen with Sainsbury’s, meeting local producers at the delicious.magazine Producer’s Market and experiencing the Lavazza Aroma Zone, including the Barista-led Aroma Theatre.

Tickets start from £12 and can be bought from the box office 0871 230 5581 or through the website www.channel4.com/taste