A Crime Night In

Had a very odd evening last night.  A Crime Night In at Birmingham Library, with Mark Billingham, Martin Waites and Andrew Taylor, was a lovely evening. All three read from their new books, talked about their own writing process and told anecdotes.  They took questions from the audience and there seemed to be a lot of budding authors out there as a lot of the questions were about publishing and research. At the end of the evening they sat and signed books. I bought Mark Billingham's new book and got him to sign it.

I have to admit to having read none of their books and although I'd heard of Mark Billingham I had no idea what the others were like.  Each took their turn at the podium with Mark reciting emails he'd received from fans.  It was very funny.

The night hadn't started well.  Clare and I arrived in Birmingham early. We needed to collect the tickets and decided we would do that before heading for the pub.  We made our way to Centenary Square and as we rounded the corner at the side of the Council House we were confronted by a police cordon.  The library, which was a few yards in front of us, was sealed off.  Another cordon stretched along the other side and another along the side of the Town Hall. The whole of Paradise Forum was closed. We approached an officer and asked if we would be able to get to the library.  He said no and that the cordon could be gone in 20 minutes or 8 hours.  He asked why we needed to go there and we told him we were there for a crime night.  I think he smiled.  He wouldn't tell us the nature of the incident but said that on the plus side we were not gong to be late as it wasn't taking place.  We retired to the pub to sit it out.

We sat in Bennett's and tried to find out what was going on.  Clare ordered food while I phoned my parents to see if there was anything on the news.  We tried all the local news websites. Nothing.  The only thing that mentioned anything was On Birmingham via Twitter.  Eventually my Dad called, Midlands Today had reported a man threatening to jump off a bridge in Birmingham City Centre. The police had closed the place off so he had no audience to play up to.

After about an our or so in the pub we headed back up.  The cordon was still in place but this time a small crowd had appeared.  They looked like a crime writing crowd and so we meandered over.  Across Centenary Square was Mark Billingham and the other authors.  We went over and Mark said the evening had been cancelled.  As soon as he said it a library official arrived and said that it was going ahead.  Mark looked concerned. A lot of people had either left or not arrived due to the traffic, his Mom included.

A brief consultation with the other authors and then it was announced that it would be going ahead.  The group were gathered up and marched around the back of the Library, into Paradise Forum and through a service entrance and the into the building.  We were, in effect, in the middle of the cordon. Police and security were the only people around.  Although there did seem to be people eating in restaurants in the middle of the cordoned off area? As we walked in I noticed a man lying on the floor with an oxygen mask on and a coat over his legs.  A woman sat over him.  There was no explanation and  I wondered if this was our would be suicide victim.

Having collected the tickets we were offered a glass of wine or orange juice and then took our seats in the auditorium.

The evening past quickly, and when it was over, staff announced we would be led out in groups as the cordon was still in place. We asked a member of staff if the man was OK and she said he was still there. It turns out that the man with the oxygen mask was a separate incident, the second that day!

Birmingham was still gridlocked. Luckily we had come into town by train so we walked back to the station and headed home.  It was an odd evening which I really enjoyed but I can't help thinking that whilst we were drinking wine and having a nice time there was a man a few hundred yards from us standing on a bridge, wanting to end it all.

Whilst writing this, Clare has phoned to say the man has spent the night on the bridge and is still threatening to jump.  The cordon is still in place.

That Was England

Last night I watched the final episode of This Is England.  I had been really looking forward to the series and even raved about the first episode on this blog.  However, by the second episode I started to feel as if I was missing something.The back drop, clothes, music and characters are all perfect but it just fell a little flat.

I'm not sure what I was expecting but it seemed the storyline had run out of steam and at times the acting seemed wooden.  It's a shame because when the cast are on form it's great. Last night's episode  proved that, particularly the scenes with Woody and Milky. 

World Cup 86 provides the back drop and the series ends with Maradonna's "Hand of God" goal. Combo's return was neatly tied up but how and why he stumbled into Shaun's house in the first place is still a mystery. It seems that Shaun and Smell are together and Woody and Lol are back on track.

Shane Meadows has said that if there are to be any more then it will be done at 4 year intervals. Despite my criticism it was good to have the gang back on the screen and for that I say "Roll on Italia '90".

Along the Toe Path

Despite it being late September the weather has meant that it still felt like summer, albeit summer in it's final days.  Today though had a definite autumnal feel.  Despite the blue skies and sunshine there was a chill in the air and was actually quite cold when the disappeared behind a cloud.

The original plan had been to walk from Knowle to Warwick but when push came to shove we made it to Hatton Locks and although I was still up for continuing the last 3.5 miles one of our friends decided they had walked far enough.

The day started with the usual Morrison's veggie breakfast before meeting friends at 10.00am.  We got onto the canal at Knowle and ambled along the tow path.  It was a lovely day and the canal was very busy. We fussed dogs and I got chatting to a narrow boat owner with two springer spaniels.

When we got to Shrewley my friend pointed out that the sign for the post office (attached to a bridge) had spelt tow path with an e (toe path).

We arrived at Hatton Locks four hours after we set off (well, I did say we ambled).  At the Lock's cafe we had a drink and I had a roast vegetable and blue cheese toasted sandwich. We sat outside in the sunshine.

We headed back to the train station and as we arrived the train was pulling in. We headed home.

It was nice to be out in the sunshine despite the chill in the air.  Although the leaves on the trees are still green they are now starting to turn. I'm not ready for winter and have to make the most of the sunshine before it disappears!

A Site Of No Special Interest - A Brief History Of The Rea Garden

Yesterday I popped into Solihull to meet a couple of mates for a few drinks.  As I'd got there early I decided to pop along to Solihull Library to check out A Site Of No Special Interest. It's a small exhibition which shows a derelict space in Digbeth being transformed by a goup of artists. I had picked up invitations for the opening night but couldn't make it.

Situated adjacent to the River Rea and close to the Custard Factory, the previously burnt out factory space had been sealed off for more than 15 years and nature had turned it into an overgrown wilderness.

However, in autumn 2007 the site was re-entered and developed by artist group Behind Closed Doors for their inaugural project The Secret Garden.

The site was subsequently renamed The Rea Garden and has since hosted a varied Artist in Residence program, both supported by Arts Council England and National Lottery.

This exhibition is part archive and visual history of the changes to the site over the past three years, and part a document of the creative process and the art work it has hosted - some of which will be on display in the gallery.

It's not a large exhibition but it has some great pieces.  My favourite being by Graham Dunning (the current Artist in Residence).  Consisting of 3 turntables, each with a revolving record.  You are invited to play the records either individually or all together.

Although small I found I lost about 30 minutes. Next time I'm in Digbeth I will be checking out The Rea Garden.

The exhibition at Solihull runs until 9th October.

Stereogum's 40 Best New Bands of 2010 Free Download

Here's  a great compilation. Posted on Stereogum.com at the start of the month it features 40 new bands from this year.

Although some of these bands may have been around for a bit they have all come through in 2010. You might not like them all but I'm sure you
will find something of interest.

Side A

Side B

Here Comes The Pope!

The Catholic Church has, in 2010, a lot of issues to deal with.  Child abuse, the role of women in the Church and apathy towards religion as a whole. The person charged with leading them through these tough times was in Birmingham today and I was there to see him.

Organised religion is not for me.  I do not belong to any church or group and am happy the way I am.  The reason I decided to go and stand on the Hagley Road, along with thousands of others, was to witness a piece of history.

Pope Benedict XVI is, to some, a controversial figure. Outspoken, he has been criticised for his views and the way he has dealt with some of the issues facing the Catholic Church. He has been on a 4 day state visit to the UK. This in itself has proved controversial as it is the taxpayer who has had to pick up the bill.

He was in Birmingham  today to beatify Cardinal Newman a 19th century clergyman who converted to Catholicism. Following a public mass in Cofton Park he headed to Birmingham Oratory (founded by Cardinal Newman) and I managed to get a spot a couple of hundred yards down the road.

A wait of about 2 hours followed by a bit of jostling from latecomers and then the Pope Mobile came into view. It came to a halt just up the road and the Pope got out and headed for the crowd before going into The Oratory. Fifteen minutes later and he was out. The Pope Mobile had been replaced by a BMW and he drove past us on his way the Catholic Seminary of Oscott.

Once he had passed we headed back towards the city centre and then home.  The atmosphere of the day had been quiet and subdued. It was only when the Pope arrived that the crowd become animated. 

I'm glad I got to see him albeit from a distance. Whatever your view of The Pope and the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI will go down in history and when he visited Birmingham I can say I was there.

I've Read It In Books

I've just finished a great book.  Head On by Julian Cope.  It tells the story of his time with The Teardrop Explodes.  Formed in Liverpool from members of the punk scene. It charts their rise and inevitable demise over a period of six years. In band fighting, jealousy and drugs, lots of drugs all play their part. 

Julian writes well and you are sucked into the story.  Sometimes funny, sometimes sad and sometimes just maddening.  You don't need to be a fan to enjoy this but if you have an interest in bands on the road then this book is for you.

It's a few years old now (I picked up my copy in a charity shop) but I'm sure it would be easy enough to track down. It 's definitely well worth it.

Jane Taylor at The Kitchen Garden Cafe

I must admit this gig would have completely passed me by if it hadn't been for a couple of friends inviting me along.  I was not, up until last night, familiar with Jane or her work but thanks to my friends I had a great night and I can't wait to see Jane perform live again.

Having been at the Kitchen Garden Cafe less than a week ago where Kath Bloom performed to a about ten people it was great to see a good crowd last night.  We managed to find some seats not on the front row (front row means you are practically sitting with the microphone between your legs) and waited.

First up was a singer songwriter from Birmingham.  He did introduce himself but I cannot remember his name.  Although his songs were well formed and he performed them adequately I could not connect.  This may be because there was little interaction with the audience (other than to say he was moving to France and had a place in Snowdonia) or because he looked as though he did not want to be there and rushed through a short set of about four songs before leaving the stage.  

A short break and it was time for Jane. I warmed to her instantly. Jane, Rob (percussion and ukulele) and Robin (double bass and keyboards) have a great chemistry on stage. They joked amongst themselves but did not exclude the audience. It made the  gig feel relaxed and informal.

As I am still not up to speed with her work I could not tell you the set list but her songwriting and her voice draw you in.  Sometimes fragile, sometimes powerful as she sung, a million and one comparisons came to mind. Tori Amos, Harriet Wheeler of The Sundays and even Nina Simone on the odd occasion. However, this is a disservice to Jane. Rather than compare her to others what I should say is that she can hold her own with any of the great female singers you care to mention.

As usual the evening passed far too quickly. I left with a smile on my face and a resolution to learn more about her work. Next time she plays Birmingham I will be first in the queue!

Check out her website here.

Darren Hayman - Calling Out Your Name Again Free Download

What a nice way to start the weekend. A Darren Hayman and Emmy The Great duet. Calling Out Your Name Again is released next month on Fortuna Pop.

It's a great tune and I am looking forward to the album release although I believe he is already selling it at his gigs.

You can watch the video and download the track here.

A Quiet Night In

Having spent the previous four nights watching bands last night was a quiet night in front of the TV.  First we had the football and then what the continuity announcer said was "one of the must see TV events of the year" This Is England 86.

England's Euro2012 qualifying campaign is off to a good start.  Two wins out of two and top of the group.  I missed their opening match against Bulgaria as I was at Moseley but last night I sat down to watch them beat Switzerland 3-1.

A strong England performance with Wayne Rooney, Adam Johnson and Darren Bent (his first goal for England) on the score sheet.

Theo Walcott was injured in the move that lead to the first goal and had to be taken to hospital. Jermaine Defoe was also stretchered off as the game went on.

With England in the driving seat at 2-0 and Switzerland down to 10 men, after Lichtsteiner was sent off for a second bookable offence, a fantastic strike by Shaqiri gave Switzerland a fighting chance before Darren Bent sealed England's victory.

A good England performance but nothing more than what we should expect given the opposition. 

After a short break it was time to settle down for This Is England 86.  The new Channel 4 mini series that reintroduces us to the characters of the 2006 film This Is England.

If you've not seen the original film it centres around a young lad called Shaun who falls in with a group of skinheads.  When an older skinhead, Combo, returns following a prison sentence he takes Shaun under his wing.  Combo is a racist and eventually attacks the only black skinhead in the group. Shaun becomes disillusioned with Combo and walks away from the group following the attack.

It is here where last night started.  The series catches up with Shaun and the group 3 years later.  The first episode was mainly an introduction of the characters with Shaun running into his former friends and girlfriend following a trip to the hospital.

The show is what I would expect from Shane Meadows. The bleak Yorkshire landscape, the clothes and the music all blend to give a great snapshot of life in the mid 80s.

The hour flew by and the disappointment of having to wait a whole week before the next episode is something I haven't felt  for a long time.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable night in.

Kath Bloom at The Kitchen Garden Cafe

I had a great time last night at the Kitchen Garden Cafe.  A couple of friends and myself popped along to see Kath Bloom. She is probably best known for the song Come Here which features in the 1995 film Before Sunrise. 

On a wet Monday night she, along with Brad and Jessica aka This Frontier Needs Heroes, performed to a group of about 11 people in the intimate surroundings of The Kitchen Garden Cafe. I was lucky to be a part of that group. 

Dressed in a red baggy cardigan and with her long grey hair and glasses she took the stage. It took her a couple of attempts to plug in her guitar. Her fragile appearance and meek demeanour made me wonder what sort of a night I was in for but as soon as she started to sing I knew I was witnessing something special. She has an amazing voice and as she sings you can see the years disappear. 

The evening started with This Frontier Needs Heroes aka Brad and Jessica. A brother and sister duo from New York. I have to admit to not knowing them prior to last night but they have some great songs and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for them in the future.  After a couple of songs Kath took the stage. She played a few songs before Brad and Jessica joined her on stage for a few more.  This is how the evening went. First Brad and Jessica and then Kath and then all three.

The end of the show came all too quickly and having bought CDs by both acts we hung about.  Kath came over and thanked us for coming and signed the CDs.  She asked if we knew of her prior to the gig and my friend mentioned Before Sunrise.  Kath said that if she had asked then she would have played Come Here.  My friend asked.  Despite the fact that the sound man had already started dismantling the equipment Kath took the stage and performed Come Here, dedicating it to my friend.  It was a great way to end a fantastic evening.

The Kitchen Garden is a great place for live music and over the last few years have had some great nights there and seen some great bands.  It's a shame that last night there was such a small turn out for such a big talent. Kath Bloom and This Frontier Needs Heroes will be playing at End Of The Road in Dorset this weekend.  If you are going, you should check them out.

Check out their Myspace pages here.

Kath Bloom

This Frontier Needs Heroes

The Kitchen Garden Cafe

Moseley Folk Festival Day 3

Sunday morning and despite the BBC saying it would be dry with sunny intervals I woke up to grey cloud which turned to rain.  It rained for most of the morning but despite this we headed off toward Moseley Park. It was quieter than the previous 2 days and I wondered if the weather had played a part or whether the line up had put people off.

Whatever the reason they missed some great acts. The highlight of the afternoon was The Destroyers. A great live act!  If their music doesn't get you up and dancing, or at least tapping your feet, then you may as well save your money and not bother going to any live music events.

Lunasa and Urban Folk Quartet also played great sets.

As the evening progressed The Unthanks took the stage.  I am not sure what I feel about them.  They have some great songs and I love the clog dancing but sometimes I find their shows a bit slow.  They were well received by the crowd who had moved to the front.

Cut a Shine had a large contingent of the crowd square dancing.  A great spectacle and something I'd not seen at Moseley before.

Then came the headline act.  The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.  Not only were they great musicians but also very funny.  Highlights were their version of Anarchy in The UK and Theme from Shaft. Brilliant!

All in all another great festival. The weekend flew by! I am already looking forward to next year!

Moseley Folk Festival Day 2

Saturday brought a slight drop in temperature and the odd spot of rain. It also brought Johnny Flynn. Despite only knowing a couple of his tunes I'd been looking forward to his set and was right to do so. He performed some great songs although he didn't play any of the songs I know.

High Llamas lost me. I'm not sure what I was expecting but I came away feeling slightly underwhelmed.  The Low Anthem, on the other hand, were great. Their American indie folk went down a storm with the Moseley crowd.

I enjoyed Goodnight Lenin but without a doubt Donovan was the highlight of the day.  A fantastic set that provided pretty much hit after hit.  Catch The Wind, Colours, Hurdy Gurdy Man, Sunshine Superman, Jennifer Juniper and so on.  Having left the stage after Mellow Yellow he returned for a great version of Atlantis. The crowd wanted more but unfortunately that was to be the end.

In all a mixed day both weather and music wise and a few problems with the sound but a great way to end the second night.

Moseley Folk Festival Day 1

Yesterday was the first day of Moseley Folk Festival and what a good day it was!  The sun was shining and everyone was in good spirits.

The line up looked good with Erland and the Carnival, Fyfe Dangerfield, Turin Brakes, Divine Comedy and Beth Jeans Houghton and not one disappointed.

They all performed great sets.  Beth Jeans Houghton's show turned out to be fantastic after a slow start. A fantastic version of Nightswimmer sealed it for me.

Fyfe Dangerfield played a great set as did Turin Brakes and Erland and The Carnival.

Neil Hannon (Divine Comedy) was brilliant. I have no real knowledge of his back catalogue but after last night I intend to rectify that.  Although he lost me during one or two songs ( a touch too quiet) I really enjoyed the show and I will definitely go and see him again.

Today we have Donovan, High Llamas and The Low Anthem.  If they are as good as the bands yesterday I'm in for another great day!