AREA GUIDE > NEW CULTURE EDITION

For the third year in a row we have teamed up with New Art West Midlands to present a special culture edition of Area Guide.

Featuring a wealth of new graduate talent New Art WM chooses the best of the graduate shows to present 4 unique curated exhibitions of work that focuses on cross-art forms. This year the exhibitions, which start this month, will take place at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, mac birmingham, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and Herbert Museum & Art Gallery, Coventry.

This edition also features upcoming exhibitions, festivals and cultural events taking place from now until May.

Read the edition online here or pick up an issue at the venues mentioned above.

REVIEW: Orbital, 9.12.12 @o2academybham

Anticipations heighten in the darkened Birmingham Academy, as hums break through the silence, preparing for the on course of a rave revival. Four torch lights slowly push forwards into focus – the duo’s iconic headlamp glasses – overwhelming the intoxicated people in front of me, who were already bobbing effortlessly to the continual introductory tones.

December Gigs Coming Up

Gigs coming up this month… inc: Mumford & Sons, Cerys by Candlelight, The Black Keys, The Hives….

Mistys Big Adventure 18.11.11

“And we start with a minute of noise”,  says lead singer Grandmaster Gareth, who clearly sets the theme for the rest of the night.
Total insanity. But tonight, it seemed like a gradual sort of insanity, easing those unfamiliar, fresh pairs of ears and eyes into the madness, which enhanced after every track. Though, it wasn’t just Misty’s who oozed in oddity, their cult like fans were just as to blame, if not more.

Review: Battles 27.6.11

Fresh from the dizzy heights of Glastonbury, Battles return to Birmingham for a much anticipated experience. After receiving mixed responses from their latest album, expectations were a little unhinged, yet it wasn’t long before a wealth of rapture hit all four walls of the venue in clear-cut impact.

Review: Broken Amp 27th June

The Adam & Eve is surprisingly tastefully decorated, if a little sparse. It’s clear from the sweat tides on the wallpaper and lack of chairs that the venue is used to being full. Like all good boozers the tables appear clean but are sticky to touch. 

REVIEW: MATMOS – mac, 15.5.11

Cluttered with wires and gadgets, the mac’s more ‘relaxed’ seated theatre had no time to prepare for the hysterical onset of spine-shivering lunacy. Making most people question their own sanity, John Wiese’s chaotic, industrial intensities examined the characteristics of a video nasty soundtrack, delving deeper into the grime of extreme distress.

Record Store Day 2011

This Saturday is Record Store Day 2011, and to mark this annual celebration, Speech Fewapy records are gonna be holding two special in-store afternoon gigs. Head to Swordfish Records (Temple Street, Birmingham) or Polar Bear Records (York Road, Kings Heath) or both! and grab a space in the crowd for an absolute treat of a line-up.

Rich Batsford – Mindfulmess

Moseley-born musician Rich Batsford is releasing his first album of songs, entitled Mindfulmess, following on from last year’s Valentine Court. And to celebrate Rich will be performing at the mac on Saturday 11th June.

Guillemots Secret Gigs

Birmingham, 10th April
London, 18th April
Manchester, 20th April
Glasgow, 21st April

After something of a hiatus – it’s now more than three years since Red, their last album (though bandleader Fyfe Dangerfield has released a solo record in the interim) – Guillemots are back with their third.