Area Culture Guide

Area Culture Guide – MAY edition

kerryfused — Mon, 06 May 2013 11:41:12 +0000

Check out the latest edition of AREA CULTURE GUIDE featuring art, music, fashion & shopping, comedy plus the opportunity to win tickets to over 30 festivals. Click here to see the digital edition or pick up your copy from outlets around the West Midlands.

ART
Findings – Colmore District
The Nature of the Beast – New Art Gallery, Walsall
Francois Morellet – Ikon Gallery

MUSIC
Laura Mvula – Glee Club
Reggae City Festival – Rainbow
Troumaca
The Who – LG Arena
Evil Alien

FEATURES
Your guide to getting in to festivals for free
WIN Festival tickets

COMEDY
John Shuttleworth – Wulfrun Hall

FASHION & SHOPPING
Festival must haves

COMPETITIONS
Win Verbatim Festival Essentials
Win a Ted Baker Watch
Win tickets to see An Evening of Burlesque
Win tickets to the BBC Good Food Show

Win a pair of tickets to Bearded Theory Festival

kerryfused — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:12:17 +0000

Bearded Theory’s (17-19 May) main stage hosts an extensive number of major artists including New Model Army, Reverend and the Makers and Stourbridge’s finest Ned’s Atomic Dustbin.

Saturday’s billing is topped by the legendary Asian Dub Foundation. Joining them are Seth Lakeman, Macka B, The Quireboys, Ruts DC, Citizen Fish, AHAB and Zombie Met Girl.

Levellers will close the festival in style on the Sunday night. They are joined on the bill by Stiff Little Fingers, The Farm, Goldblade, Ezio, New Groove Formation, and The Lancashire Hotpots. A great way to spend 3 magical days watching over 100 high quality bands for little more than the price of a major gig or sports event ticket.

How to enter

Which Birmingham festival will you be able to see Soul II Soul live this year?

Send your answer along with your name, address and date of birth to competitions [@] fusedmagazine.com. Please put ‘BEARDED’ in the subject box.

Deadline for entry is 30th April 2013 at 12noon.
Bearded Theory, Kedleston Road, Derby
beardedtheory.co.uk | @beardedtheory

WIN TICKETS TO SEE BON JOVI ON THE ‘BECAUSE WE CAN’ TOUR

kerryfused — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:15:51 +0000

The best just got bigger…. Bringing rock ‘n’ roll back to the people, Bon Jovi will hit the road in 2013 to fill stadiums and arenas worldwide with “BON JOVI Because We Can – The Tour.” Blazing a trail across the globe Bon Jovi’s tour kicked off in North America in February and is traveling throughout Europe, the Far East, Africa, Latin America and Australia. The band’s return to the road in 2013 will cap an incredible run which has secured Bon Jovi’s status as the essential live rock band – having performed more than 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 35 million fans and earning the #1 grossing worldwide tour twice in just three years.

“Because We Can – The Tour” debuts songs from new album What About Now, which came out last month, loading even more ammunition into the band’s huge arsenal of hits including “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” “It’s My Life,” and many more.

With one of the greatest catalogues of songs in the history of rock n’ roll, Bon Jovi has sold more than 125 million albums and racked up a stellar list of career highlights.

And in the spirit of bringing the music to the people that matter, everyone can experience one of the best live bands on the planet in summer 2013. Tickets in the UK range from just £12.50 up to £125 (plus booking fees) for dates up and down the country.

“The band insisted on ticket prices for the Because We Can Tour that enabled all to attend,” says UK Tour Promoter Rob Hallett, of AEG Live, “giving everyone the opportunity to witness the greatest rock n roll band in the world! Ordinary fans have been priced out of live music in recent years and we hope this goes some way toward redressing the balance. After all, rock n roll always was and always should be the music of the people. And that means everyone.”

ENTER

We have a pair of tickets to give away to the Birmingham Villa Park date on the 9th June. To win just tell us what is the name of the lead singer?

Send your answer along with your name, address and date of birth to competitions [@] fusedmagazine.com. Deadline for entry is Friday 31st May.

UK Tour Dates:
June 2013
8th – Manchester Etihad Stadium
9th – Birmingham Villa Park
12th – Cardiff City Stadium
13th – Sunderland Stadium of Light

Isle Of Wight Festival:
Sunday June 16 – Bon Jovi headline
Tickets available from Ticketmaster http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk

July 2013
3rd – Glasgow Hampden Park
Tickets on sale at: Tickets go on sale Friday November 2nd, 2012 at 9am at http://www.aeglive.co.uk

Barclaycard British Summer Time:
5th – Bon Jovi headline
Tickets for Bon Jovi go on sale 9am Friday 1st February at http://www.bstlondon.com

Win tickets to see Il Divo & Katherine Jenkins

kerryfused — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 17:39:14 +0000

Operatic pop superstars Il Divo – Spanish baritone Carlos Marin, French vox populi Sebastien Izambard, US tenor David Miller, Swiss tenor Urs Buhler – and Welsh mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins are coming to the LG Arena in Birmingham on Sat 13th April and you can be there courtesy of Area.

It’s the first time these two classical heavyweights have joined forces. Il Divo say: “We are very excited to have finally started the tour with Katherine. She sings and looks like an angel. It is a very beautiful show, we are so proud of it and look forward to seeing you all there.”

As well as performing songs from their stunning greatest hits set, the guys will also sing duets together with Katherine on songs including ‘Nella Fantasia’, ‘Somewhere’ and ‘Music of the Night’.

Katherine says: “After nearly a decade of knowing each other, months of discussion & days of rehearsals, it felt amazing to finally be sharing the stage with Il Divo and the show with our fans across Europe. The tour is off to a great start and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone!”

The spectacular light show has been designed by Brian Burke – who directed Il Divo’s Wicked Game tour and who has also been Creative director for a diverse range of artists from Elton John to Emeli Sandi.

ENTER

To be in with a chance of winning the tickets, just tell us from what musical does the song ‘Music of the Night’ appear in?

Send your answer along with your name, address and date of birth, putting Il Divo in the subject box, to competitions [@] fusedmagazine.com.

Deadline for entry is the 8th April and the winner of the pair of tickets will be notified on the 9th April.

Metropolis: Reflections on the modern city @BM_AG

kerryfused — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:08:40 +0000

Ever since early hunter-gatherer tribes first sought the protection and benefits of settlements –beginning with Uruk, Eridu, Ur and Çatalhöyük – towns and cities the world over have offered a rich source of fascination and inspiration for artists of all disciplines.

The Mesopotamians documented the beliefs of their society through obelisks, reliefs and statues. The Indus Valley civilization used their skills in pottery, painting and sculpture to depict their flourishing trading community. The Greeks and Romans gave the world architecture, music and literature amongst the other forms of art and expression born and nurtured in vast ancient cities.

The representation of densely populated areas and the imcomprehensible number of lives, interactions and happenings contained within cities is obviously a significant part of art today, whether through the awe-inspiring and instantly recognisable photograph Lunch atop a Skyscraper, the fearful expressionism of Fritz Lang’s 1927 film Metropolis, L.S. Lowry’s scenes of industrial life in the North of England or the Chicago house music derivatives produced from ghetto culture clashes.

It is from the multi-faceted theme of the metropolis that a major new exhibition in Birmingham takes its cue, presenting a collection of thirty-five contemporary works in a variety of media including photography, video and paintings.

Visions of modern cities and urban life by internationally-recognised artists including Miao Xiaochun, Zhang Enli, Grazia Toderi and Beat Streuli will go on display during a three month residency at Gas Hall, thanks to BMAG, Walsall’s New Art Gallery, Walsall and Ikon Gallery, all part of the £1 million Art Fund International Prize.
Birmingham’s own Ladywood district, Pallasades shopping centre and mix of buildings old and new around St Martin’s Square will sit side by side with illustrations of metropolitan Beijing, eerie snapshots of modern India and the ‘forgotten’ banlieues of Paris.

Video courtesy of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

Metropolis: Reflections on the modern city  
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
23 March – 23 June 
www.bmag.org.uk

Words: Lyle Bignon

David Hancock: Cosplay until 1st June @WolvArtGallery

kerryfused — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:04:44 +0000

The work of Manchester based artist David Hancock focuses on youth subcultures and in this latest solo exhibition he focuses on the world of ‘Cosplay’. Short for ‘costume play’ the relative recent craze is one that people have adopted to dress up as characters from various computer games, comic books and films.

For this exhibition Hancock has chosen to render his subjects using photo realistic style water colour portraits. Even though the theme of Hancock’s work is modern, his style has its roots firmly based in the Pre-Raphaelites with signifiers taken from various historical sources. Particular focus is given over to the intentional real appearance of each Cosplayer and the intricate details present on their costumes. This has enabled him to capture both the personality of the sitter and their costumed alter ego at the same time.

For this exhibition Hancock has not only immersed himself in the culture of Cosplay but has especially created pieces featuring Midland based Cosplayers in various locations around the city of Wolverhampton. Hancock is interested in examining the world of escapist fantasy which Cosplaying allows its participants to enter and by using the city as a back drop he is able to show how Cosplayers transform the ordinary world around us into a realm of fantasy.

Words: Stephanie Potter

David Hancock: Cosplay
Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield Street, WV1 1DU
01902 552055
Admission free
www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk
Until 1 June

Birmingham Rep at 100

kerryfused — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:03:45 +0000

In February Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company celebrated its 100th birthday. The dramatic century was marked with a gala performance of Philip Pullman’s I Was A Rat! Following is a celebratory programme of exhibitions, activity days, guided backstage tours, an audio history project and a new website REP100.org which will make the company’s remarkable archives available to the public for the first time.

REP100 – Behind The Scenes Tours 
Until 30 March 
The Old Rep was The Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s original home; funded and managed by Sir Barry Jackson. These backstage tours will provide a fascinating insight into the early days of the company – when producing and performing twenty or more plays in repertoire was quite normal. Stand in the wings and sit in the Green Room while The REP’s guides interpret both the building and the REP100 exhibition. Free of charge. Places must be booked in advance.

Heather Gardner  
A version of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler by Robin French
Until- 28 March 
It’s September 1962. Beautiful socialite Heather returns from her honeymoon to her dream home in Edgbaston where Neville Chamberlain once lived – but nothing is turning out as planned. Heather soon finds herself on a spiral of self-destruction, caught between her old flame Alec Lambart and the clutches of the predatory solicitor Peregrine Brand. There can be only one outcome.
Directed by Mike Bradwell.
Tickets: £8 to £28, with concessions available.

REP100 Weekender
 23 & 24 March
The REP100 weekender will be devoted to a series of talks and discussions on the REP’s achievements and significant influence on the development of British theatre over the last century.

REP100 – Hidden Histories 
Until 30 March
Interactive, theatrical and vivid, experience the Old Rep’s stories bursting to life. Try on costumes, write your own press report, and help get the theatre ready for its first ever performance. Lots of activities for all ages. Free of charge. Places must be booked in advance.  The new REP on Broad Street, a talk by Graham Winteringham 30 March, 1pm Architect of the theatre on Broad Street, Graham Winteringham tells the fascinating story of being commissioned to design a new and democratic repertory theatre – to reflect the physicality of the Old Rep, but to seat an audience of 900 seats! Learn more about his award-winning design.
Free of charge. Places must be booked in advance.

REP100 – The Quiet Pioneer 
30 March, 4pm 
The Quiet Pioneer is a documentary about Sir Barry Jackson, the founder of Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company, giving an insight into his life and work in Birmingham, Stratford and Malvern. A special screening in association with Flatpack Festival, for more information visit flatpackfestival.org.uk.
Free of charge. Places must be booked in advance.

Bicycle Basket Bazaar – bicycles, creativity and good cheer

kerryfused — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:47:48 +0000

This is a super-cute idea and it’s happening at this year’s Faltpack; “The Ministry of Cycles and POD Projects present a unique array of retailers, all cramming their wares into bike-baskets and pannier-racks.”

With just 25 bike stands available people can hire a space – here are the details:
-Bring your own bike £5
-Six bikes to hire at £10 each (including stand)

If you’d like to book a ‘stall’ write to BBB [@] 7inch.org.uk before 22 March.

For the stringent but necessary Bicycle Basket Bazaar Rules go to the events Facebook page here.

The Bazaar is part of Flatpack’s free Cyclomania event

The Custard Factory
Gibb Street, Digbeth, Birmingham
30th March
11am-4pm

@ikongallery 15 years in Brindleyplace

kerryfused — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:27:49 +0000

It’s hard to recall the derelict space of Birmingham’s Brindleyplace compared to the destination it is now. Packed with offices and eateries it is home to one of the city’s favourite venues, Ikon Gallery and has become the must-visit place when aiming to impress friends from out of town. To celebrate 15 years since opening its doors to the public in its new home in Oozells Street School, Ikon presents 2 events to take you back in time and look at the history of the area.

Brindleyplace: A Changing Landscape
FREE TALK: Thursday 21 March, 5.30-6.30pm
Exactly 15 years to the day it first opened its doors to the public in Oozells Street School, Ikon hosts an event to reflect on the redevelopment of Brindleyplace. Chaired by Ikon’s Deputy Director, Debbie Kermode, speakers include historian Dr Chris Upton and Gary Taylor, Executive Director, Altitude Real Estate.

Walking Tour of Brindleyplace
FREE EVENT: Saturday 23 March, 12-1pm
Dr Chris Upton leads an informal walk exploring Brindleyplace, looking at the social history of the area and its contemporary focus on business and leisure.
Places are limited and should be reserved by calling Ikon on 0121 248 0708.

Thrift Radiates Happiness

kerryfused — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:58:56 +0000

The imposing structure of the Birmingham Municipal Bank on Broad Street has stood overlooking the city as new buildings have emerged all around. Venues, bars, restaurants, hotels and office blocks have all sprung up around it over the years whilst the bank has sat redundant and unloved, until now.

For those with a love of architecture, civic buildings, unused structures and art, Thrift Radiates Happiness helps bring it all together.

The historic Grade II listed landmark is set to open its doors to the public for the first time in ten years when it plays host to a captivating four day contemporary arts exposition showcasing a creative programme of drawings, images, sound and light, video and music from local, national and international artists.

The showcase event is the result of an arts and business collaboration between Birmingham based gallery TROVE, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Birmingham Architectural Association (BAA), Birmingham City Council and global architect practice Aedas.

At the launch event on the 14th March (5-8pm) attendees will be invited to ‘invest’ £2 in a key. The randomly selected key will open a safety deposit box which will contain a limited edition art print.

A public debate will be held on Friday 15 March (5.30pm-7pm) on the subject of ‘Design Culture Birmingham’. The Birmingham Architectural Association together with RIBA will host a panel that brings together architecture, art, local government and the heritage sector discussing the benefit of ‘design culture’. The event will look at the common benefits of a well-designed and well-preserved built environment, as well as a vibrant cultural offer for cities and their inhabitants.

Thrift Radiates Happiness
Municipal Bank, Broad Street, Birmingham
thriftradiateshappiness.com
15-17 March, 12-6pm