A neat day for film-types at the MAC on November 3rd when Terence Davies introduces his films Distant Voices, Still Lives and The House Of Mirth along with an audience Q&A run by Roger Shannon.
It all runs from 2-7pm and a combined ticket for the whole thing costs £8. More details on the MAC site.
Substrakt has posted an update of their activities which includes the announcement of the new Jibbering website for the Moseley-based record shop and cafe.
The latter has been keenly anticipated in these parts as Jibbering is an interesting and vital force on the local music scene, something which until now hadn’t been reflected online. The site now opens up all their activities to view including their regular events (frequently at the Hare and Hounds but also all over the place) and services like equipment hire and event management. And, of course, the record shop itself. If you were wondering how an indie music store can survive these days this is a good model to watch.
Some bits of the site are still being padded out, as you’d expect for something that will evolve and grow over time, including the Gallery section but I picked up a flyer the other day informing that Sami Green is the current exhibitee with a show running from Nov 1st to Dec 5th. I don’t know exactly what’ll be exhibited (and, more importantly, for sale) but she does these wonderful sculptures:
Paperjam reports that Taylor John’s House has won the best live venue Godiva Award. Taylor John’s is in Coventry, so outside the remit of this blog, but from what I hear they’re doing good work worthy of support in difficult circumstances. So if you find yourself there do check them out.
Digital Central’s Music Box is complete. A three booklet series of resources and advice for the music industry it’ll be distributed to delegates at the Gigbeth conference or you can get a copy direct from DC. There are also PDFs available to download from these links:
Box 1: Making Money out of Music.
Box 2: 20 things you must know about music online.
Box 3: Music Matters – a regional profile.
The MAC has gotten an £800,000 grant for a new studio theatre, according to The Stirrer, which will be the new home for Sampad amongst others.
A bit of local web buzz for Careless Talk, the new novel by Michael Richardson published by Tindal Street. Birmingham Words gave notice of the launch (which I missed telling you about – sorry), BiNS has a review and The Stirrer has a video interview:
The Birmingham Post’s interview with designer Michael Wolff (who did a very interesting Q&A at the Plus festival) appeared online on Monday. The hook is his opinions on Birmingham’s branding which he describes as “like a bus stop without the details of the bus service”. The article goes on to get responses from Debra Davis at the council and Dave Hodgson from Marketing Birmingham.
An irregular but always enlightening trawl of the Birmingham Flickr pool.
from ambientbuzzsaw
from Stephen D Harper
from nikonmule
from suselstahl
I’m liking the Audiences Central news feed as it ably covers the sort of city and funding related stuff that’s important but which I don’t want to clog this blog up with. If it’s not already on your daily reading list subscribe now.
Four reviews (so far) of Birmingham Opera‘s La Traviata in the national press. The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Independent all pronounce it a good thing. The Times, however, not so impressed. (Who knew opera critics could be such bitches!)
I also found a nice Guardian piece on the 10 teenagers who took part in the opera with no prior experience as part of BOC’s legendary outreach program.
Noted: Script – “the West Midlands agency for dramatic writers”. They give advice, run workshops and are based in the Custard Factory.
Improvise and Socialise is a “participatory Improvisation Skills workshop” being run as part of Gigbeth on Thursday, November 1st from 9:00pm at the Old Library in the Custard Factory. The only details I can find online are on Facebook (that link should work if you’re registered) but here’s the blurb and contact details.
The ideal opportunity to meet other music leaders and musicians informally, whilst learning new or improving on existing improvisation skills. Models can be taken away and used in sessions with young people.
You will need to bring your own instrument, preferably acoustic, although there will be some amplification available if required (enquire for more details). All instruments, voices and musical styles welcomed – the more diverse the better.
For further details contact Kate Adams on 0121 236 7978 or west-midlands@musicleader.net.If you could drop me an email stating what instrument/voice you will be bringing, that would help the proceedings.
Reality Estate took place last night at Five Ways. It was, well, I found it rather indescribable. I think the highlight for me was standing in the middle of the estate while the singers moved around me. But I’m at a loss to put the experience into words. They don’t seem worthy enough.
Well done to Lee and Sandra and the huge team involved. A magnificent achievement on so many levels. Birmingham should be proud.
Those three photos are by myself. More are trickling onto Flickr and given the number of cameras around I’m sure videos will be appearing on the Reality Estate site once everyone’s recovered.
Most importantly I understand this is just the start of a whole year of work with the Five Ways estate. The organizers are keen that this isn’t just a blink and you miss it community arts project. They’re in the for the long haul.
Marc Reck went to the International Mask Festival and tells all. His blog is turning into a pretty good place for cultural reports these days.
