Archive for March, 2011

Scroobius Pip has just confirmed his new club night WeAreLizards for May! Tickets are now on sale, more details here: http://hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk/2011/03/28/wearelizards/

His nights always sell out so be quick. In the meantime you can watch a video of how to draw a lizard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWX7dnw0oNg

Or if that’s too exciting for you, dan le sac VS scroobius pip “Thou Shalt always Kill”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoN6XfyQsr4&feature=fvw

Don’t forget to subscribe to our mailing list on the website, facebook and twitter feed!

Monday & Wednesday – Back Bar quiz – Lots of prizes to be won!

Monday

Freestyle & Jibbering presents: THE SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA

The magnificent Souljazz Orchestra return to Birmingham this evening for a very special show at the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath. Taking in funk, soul, afro, jazz and latin rhythms, expect an explosive show that’s sure to raise the roof. Full details here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=193387610684187 You’d be a fool to miss out!

Thursday

Moseley Folk’s Lunar Society presents: Erland & The Carnival + Special Guests

One of our Moseley Folk 2010 favourites and officially the loudest band of the festival, Erland & The Carnival will be returning to Birmingham surrounding the release of their forthcoming second album – Nightingale. We can’t wait!

World Unlimited presents: The Lost Highways Tour with Christian Cuff/Will Kevans/Emily Baker

Christian Cuff – from Maine USA, as a songwriter and performer, Cuff is larger than life, deeper by far than the mainstream, a source of quirky, vital lyricism and roiling, emotional darkness…  The time to see Christian Cuff in concert is now, while you can afford the tickets

Friday

The Source presents: The Source 1st Birthday – Frank De Wulf / Mark Archer – for his 1st old skool set in the UK for nearly 20 years, the godfather of the Belgian scene and one of its most respected producers, Frank De Wulf! Add to this a DJ set from Mark Archer, one half of chartbusting rave nutters – Altern 8 and you got the recipe for probably the best Source party yet!

Saturday

SumoSoundSystem presents: Reggae & Bass ARIES & VYTOL Birthday Bash

Aries & Vytols joint birthday bash. A Party night laced with reggae influenced rhytms,vocals and beats across array of musical genres and styles drenched in Sumo good vibes.

Soul Food Project presents: Soul Food Saturdays!

Every Saturday Soul Food Project will be throwing open the doors to the back lounge at The Hare and Hounds, sprucing up the room  and easing you into the weekend with the sweetest soul music and deepest raw funk soundtrack in B14 and beyond.

Sunday

Nu Century Arts presents: Zara Sykes / Moy Moy

You could say she is a ‘thoughtful rebel’, rapping and rhyming since the age of 10 and clearly having no intention of slowing down. Resident rapper at L.I.M.E. (Ladies in Music and Entertainment), a collective of female artists creating a platform for female musicians to be heard, Sykes is also the host of her own show, Snakebyte, which tours the city.

Capsule presents: Earth / Lori Goldston

Earth are an American drone band based in Seattle, Washington, formed in 1990. Although they have played various styles of music, they are best known as pioneers of a minimalistic, long and repetitive form of heavy music known as drone. To a lesser extent their sound is referred to as doom metal. Earth, however, have little to do with metal in their current sound.

Soul Food Project presents: Roasts ‘n’ Records

Great Food. Great Music. Great Vibes. DJ Andrew Dubber will be manning the soundsystem for an afternoon of Bossa Nova, Jazz, Blue Note, Spiritual and beyond. Soul Food will be on hand to provide the best Sunday dinners in B14…Think Cajun Beefs, Warming Butternut Squash, Sticky, sweet hams, Crunchy Pork Belly and beyond…..

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR 2011:

FRANK DE WULF / EARTH & LORI GOLDSTON / ALTERNATIVE DUBSTEP ORCHESTRA / KUTMAH / BALKANIC ERUPTION – ROMA DAY / NORMAN JAY & UNITED VIBRATIONS / THE XCERTS / TIPPA IRIE (LIVE) / REGIS / AGNES OBEL / BREAKTHRU – SOUL:UTION / EVIL ALIEN / BLOOD CEREMONY & GHOST / WEDLOCK / GREG WILSON / DAEDELUS / FRANKIE AND THE HEARTSTRINGS / DIE!DIE!DIE! / MIMIC- SASCHA DIVE (COCOON) / THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION / OUI LOVE PROJECT / THREE TRAPPED TIGGERS / WOLF GANG / PARTS & LABOR / EMERALDS / CULTS / GENTLEMENS DUB CLUB / SOUND OF GUNS / THE MOONS

To get cheaper tickets in advance buy online:

https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/buy_tickets/venues/?id=685

Come say Hi!

xH&Hx

Scroob is bringing his club night WE.ARE.LIZARDS to our little Venue … more details will be posted, but for now here is a nice poster and a few words from the man himself…

what you can clubbers expect from your clubnight WE.ARE.LIZARDS ?

Everything they have ever dreamt of! Of course! I dont know really, the aim is just for it to be a real mixture. Its not a Hip Hop night. Its not an Indie night. Its not a dance night. The instructions I’m giving the DJs and myself is just to play stuff that sounds amazing in a club. Big songs, obscure songs, anything that makes you pleased to be hearing it through a big sound system.

What is your earliest musical memory?

Thats tough. I remember buying the Last Action Hero soundtrack and, as stupid and irrelevant as that sounds, skimming through and listening to AC/DC then Cypress Hill. Thats a pretty decent range!

What was your first clubbing experience?

The early days of going to clubs was ALL about cheap booze on the way there and spending very little money. We used to send one person in to our local club (the Pink Toothbrush) then get them to open the fire doors at the back to let the rest in. My key move was, stepping in then standing their looking shocked as the security came running. Others would leg it into the crowd and often get caught. I would play the role of shocked bystander.

What was your first ever gig you went to?

I can never remember which one ws first as, in the same week, i went to see Offspring at Brixton Academy (Ignition/Smash era…NOT “Pretty Fly for a White Guy” era…) and the Rolling Stones at wembley. Two very different shows but both absolutely amazing.

What was the last gig you went to?

Damn I havent been to any recently (other than shows and festivals we are playing). I went to see Sage Francis and B Dolan a couple of times on their last UK run and they were AMAZING. Getting the crowds going insane with just a CD player and a mic. True showmen.

Who would be in your fantasy band?

Drew Barrymore, Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson… oh… fantasy as in any MUSICIANS together? Right… well Id sling Prince and Bruce Springsteen both on guitar with Kate Bush and Cyndi Lauper switching between backing and main vocals. Matt Freeman from Rancid on bass and this guy called Jamire Williams on drums. He plays with an amazing Trumpet player called Christian Scott. Hell lets sling Christian in the line up while we are at it….

If you could go back in time what musical figure would you like to meet?

Well, when i was growing up and i got really into Jimi Hendrix i was always stunned that he had once played in Grays (small town near to my smaller town) so I think i would pick Jimi as it would have been a local visit.

What are your top five tracks of all time?

Thats impossible. For now, off the top of my head, I will go with

John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman – Lush Life

Rancid – Ruby Soho

Billy Bragg – New England

Minor Threat – In my Eyes

Eric B & Rakim – Microphone Fiend

Which new artists are making the right noises out there?

So many. Sound of Rum are amazing me on a regular basis. Josh Weller has been tearing it up for a while now and is just getting better and better. Aloosh look like they have big things ahead of them. And B Dolan and P.O.S are both making big waves in the underground Hip Hop scene in America. Oooh but those Odd Future kids (Tyler the Creator, Earl Sweatshirt, etc) are doing AMAZING stuff right now. Crazy young, crazy offensive but REAL good.

Why should people come to your clubnight?

Fuck ‘em. They dont have to. It’s a tiny venue. We will be well busy anyway. I just wanna hear all this music on a better system than my living room.

(new answer forced out by the promoters and venue) – I just think its going to be a real good mix of sounds that hopefully pulls in a equally mixed crowd who can all enjoy it! Each night will have a killer live act kicking things off aswell.

Another great week ahead here at the Hare & Hounds! We still have tickets left for Bigger Than Barry, Elixir & Leftfoot presents: HESSLE AUDIO – RAMADANMAN, this Friday so make sure you get your tickets for cheaper from: https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/buy_tickets/venues/?id=685

Soul Food Project have also started their Soul Food Saturdays, check it out… it’s on Saturday believe it or not!

Don’t forget to subscribe to our mailing list on the website, facebook and twitter feed!

Monday & Wednesday – Back Bar quiz – Lots of prizes to be won!

Tuesday

Capsule presents: Seefeel / Dead Fader / Epic45

Before the electro-infused indie and post-rock of today, there was Seefeel. They provided a bridge between the electronic nouveau and indie-rock; being ultimately instrumental in opening up the parallel reality of electronic music to the more adventurous members of the indie scene.

Wednesday

Capsule presents: Arbouretum / Health & Efficiency

We’ve been wanting these guys back in Brum ever since their storming Supersonic set in 2009 – and here they are touring their new album The Gathering. The sweeping, atmospheric textures of the first record soon gave way to a more visceral, elemental approach.  Amplifiers were turned up, drums were hit harder, and songs crescendoed into spiraling, noise-soaked climaxes on the second full-length, Rites of Uncovering.

Thursday

World Unlimited presents: Michah Blue Smaldone / Cian Nugent

Ears ringing from a once thriving New England punk scene where he was a founding member of the political punk band The Pinkerton Thugs , Micah withdrew and emerged a few years later with solo releases which incorporate a wide variety of influences from country blues  to neo-traditional folk music  With the encouragement of Maine’s super-group Cerberus Shoal, Micah released his first solo recording “Some Sweet Day” in the spring of 2003.

Kranked Promotions presents: Gundogs / Dandelion Killers / Zebedy Rays

Gundogs are one of Birmingham’s brightest bands with an ever-increasing fan-base throughout the UK. In a culture of music defined by the sale of sonic snake-oil to a youth crying out for a new standard, Gundogs present themselves as the antidote…

Friday

Bigger Than Barry, Elixir & Leftfoot presents: HESSLE AUDIO – RAMADANMAN – Taking the original spirit of dubstep and running with it, one of the hottest new labels in electronic music today, Hessle Audio are cementing their influence on both dubstep and techno’s DJing fraternities. In this Hessle Audio special, we introduce to the musical stylings of  DJS & Producers Ramadanman (Pearson Sound), Pangaea and Ben UFO…

Stop For The Drop presents: Sounds From Across The Spectrum

It’s that weekend shuffle time again folks, as ‘Stop For The Drop’ returns to the hare. Join us as we dig deep into the dancefloor box to bring you the finest in northern / modern / crossover soul / rare groove / reggae / ska / deep disco / funk / latin /balearic/ boogie. Basically soulful, shufflin’ sounds from across the spectrum.

Saturday

Heducation presents: Soundwave Festival Launch Party

Heducation, “Birmingham’s number one hip hop and breaks night” was born in Birmingham in 2001. Ten years and 400 events later, the team is preparing to rock the shores of Croatia as part of the annual Soundwave Festival. In celebration, Heducation are hosting the Midlands launch party for the festival, with special guest DJ, Mark Rae – the head of Fat City Record Store, Grand Central Records and Yesking Records.

Bobby Friction presents: FRICTION – A Night of World Music V’s Dubstep & Drum+Bass

A night of Dubstep mashed up with world music from Asia, Africa, Jamaica & The Middle East.  This month we welcome Celt Islam, the worlds finest purveyor of Sufi- Dubstep who mashes up Middle Eastern, Asiatic & Sufi music with BIG dub vibes.  Expect Dub Reggae, Dubstep and hypnotic sounds for B-Line meditation.  He’s joined by regulars Bobby Friction, Bamboo Clart & The Lone Ranger who between them will lay down Dubstep & Drum & Bass from South Asia, South London & South Birmingham.

Soul Food Project presents: Soul Food Saturdays!

Every Saturday Soul Food Project will be throwing open the doors to the back lounge at The Hare and Hounds, sprucing up the room  and easing you into the weekend with the sweetest soul music and deepest raw funk soundtrack in B14 and beyond.

http://hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk/2011/03/16/soul-food-saturdays/

Sunday

Soul Food Project presents: Roasts ‘n’ Records

Great Food. Great Music. Great Vibes. DJ Andrew Dubber will be manning the soundsystem for an afternoon of Bossa Nova, Jazz, Blue Note, Spiritual and beyond. Soul Food will be on hand to provide the best Sunday dinners in B14…Think Cajun Beefs, Warming Butternut Squash, Sticky, sweet hams, Crunchy Pork Belly and beyond…..

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR 2011:

SEEFEEL / ARBOURETUM / GUNDOGS / RAMADANMAN / MARK RAE / THE SOUL JAZZ ORCHESTRA / FRANK DE WULF / EARTH & LORI GOLDSTON / KUTMAH / BALKANIC ERUPTION – ROMA DAY / NORMAN JAY & UNITED VIBRATIONS / THE XCERTS / TIPPA IRIE (LIVE) / REGIS / AGNES OBEL / BREAKTHRU – SOUL:UTION / BLOOD CEREMONY & GHOST / WEDLOCK / DAEDELUS / FRANKIE AND THE HEARTSTRINGS / DIE!DIE!DIE! / MIMIC- SASCHA DIVE (COCOON) / THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION / OUI LOVE PROJECT / THREE TRAPPED TIGGERS / PARTS & LABOR / EMERALDS / CULTS / GENTLEMENS DUB CLUB / SOUND OF GUNS

To get cheaper tickets in advance buy online:

https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/buy_tickets/venues/?id=685

Come say Hi!

xH&Hx

Tonight we are lucky to be hosting Jam Jah Monday (Usually at Bull’s Head) Birmingham’s hardest working reggae promoters… make sure you come down and make them feel welcome as they kick off our week here at the Hare & Hounds.

We also have Buy 2 get 1 Free offer for Matthew Dear which has now been moved into the bigger Venue, so don’t worry anyone who thought it was sold out, there’s more tickets available!!

For our ticket offers visit: https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/buy_tickets/venues/?id=685

Don’t forget to subscribe to our mailing list on the website, facebook and twitter feed!

Monday & Wednesday – Back Bar quiz – Lots of prizes to be won!

Monday

Jam Jah Mondays Weekly Reggae Session!

Birmingham’s hardest working reggae promoters Jam Jah host a weekly Monday session upstairs from 9pm. 7 years in the making it has clearly established itself as the best night for reggae enthusiasts old and new. http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=187869524576822

Capsule presents: Woods / Spectrals / The Doozer

WOODS are primarily the duo of Jeremy Earl (owner of Fuck It Tapes and Woodsist) and Jarvis Taveniere (Meneguar and Wooden Wand), and aided live by friends G. Lucas Crane on tape effects and Kevin Morby…A distinctive blend of spooky campfire folk, lo-fi rock, homemade tape collages, and other noisy interludes, all anchored by deceptively sturdy melodies…

Wednesday

Bigger Than Barry & Leftfoot presents: Submotion Orchestra

rapidly built up a reputation as one of the most interesting and original projects emerging from the UK today. Drawing upon dubstep, soul, ambient electronica, jazz and dub, music is unique. Earth-shaking bass and drums combine with lush keyboard and trumpet textures to create the perfect bed for the fragile beauty of Ruby Wood’s vocals, and the celestial effects of sound designer Ruckspin.

Thursday

This is Tmrw presents: Matthew Dear (Live Band) – released one of the best records of 2010 in ‘Black City’, putting him in the same league as the likes of Four Tet and Caribou. Not forgetting his remixes last year, including his re rub of The XX’s – VCR and his live show which has left jaws touching the floor. Only two solo dates whilst Matthew travels the country supporting Interpol…This is seriously not a show to be missed…

SOUNDkitchen Balkan Fusion presents: BiLE / Garfield Benjamin / Costis Kontos / Seb Merrick / Balkanic Eruption – live performance from Klezmer violinist Fouad Ibrahim followed by a live interactive set between Fouad and BiLE (Birmingham Laptop Ensemble).   Garfield Benjamin will perform a live laptop set pushing sound to it’s extremes and Costis Kontos will be combining a unique mix of electroacoustic, electronica and Balkan music. The evening will end with promoter and DJ Seb Merrick who will offer us a risky mix of turbofolk toons and Balkan floor fillers

Friday

mimic presents: ROBERT DIETZ -CADENZA & Cecille – Frankfurt

Dietz is a firm favourite in clubs around the globe, classic house forms the basis for Robert’s hypnotic, sexy  take on electronic music. Preferring to have richness and emotional texture in his tunes rather than simply follow a trend coupled with his superb sense of what it takes to make a club explode, his productions showcase this and also lead to a packed DJ schedule.

Endless Nameless presents: The Fall, The Rise / Soni~Quella / This Happy Breed

Live music and DJ’s

Saturday

George Powell & Friendly Fire Sessions presents: David Rodigan / Jam Jah Sound / Little Richie

After the massive success of last year’s event, George Powell and Friendly Fire Music team up again to bring to you the inimitable David “Ram Jam” Rodigan for a strictly reggae event in the intimate setting of the Hare and Hound’s monthly Friendly Fire Sessions.

Sunday

Jibbering presents: Analogik (Live)

Hailing from Denmark, Analogik are a truly unique band that we have been trying to book for years now. So it is with great pleasure and huge excitement that we finally bring them to The Hare and Hounds for only their second ever UK date! Impossible to pigeon hole, Analogik have been mashing up polka, jazz, gypsy, hip hop, swing, ska and electronic music since 2003 and have released four awesome albums.

Soul Food Project presents: Roasts ‘n’ Records

Great Food. Great Music. Great Vibes. DJ Andrew Dubber will be manning the soundsystem for an afternoon of Bossa Nova, Jazz, Blue Note, Spiritual and beyond. Soul Food will be on hand to provide the best Sunday dinners in B14…Think Cajun Beefs, Warming Butternut Squash, Sticky, sweet hams, Crunchy Pork Belly and beyond…..

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR 2011:

WOODS / SUBMOTION ORCHESTRA / MATTHEW DEAR / SOUNDKITCHEN – BALKAN FUSION / ROBERT DIETZ – CADENZA / DAVID RODIGAN / ANALOGIK (LIVE) / SEEFEEL / ARBOURETUM / GUNDOGS / RAMADANMAN / MARK RAE / THE SOUL JAZZ ORCHESTRA / FRANK DE WULF / EARTH & LORI GOLDSTON / KUTMAH / BALKANIC ERUPTION – ROMA DAY / NORMAN JAY / UNITED VIBRATIONS / TIPPA IRIE (LIVE) / REGIS / AGNES OBEL / BREAKTHRU – SOUL:UTION / BLOOD CEREMONY & GHOST / WEDLOCK / FRANKIE AND THE HEARTSTRINGS / DIE! DIE! DIE! / PARTS & LABOR / EMERALDS

To get cheaper tickets in advance buy online:

https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/buy_tickets/venues/?id=685

Come say Hi!

xH&Hx

Right you lucky Bunch!! We are spoiling you this week with lots of special deals… first up we have Legendary NYC Disco Band Odyssey – Buy 2 Tickets get 1 FREE, hits such as “Going Back To My Roots”, “Inside Out”, “Native New Yorker” and “Use It Up And Wear It Out”… Take advantage! We also have Buy 2 get 1 Free offer for Matthew Dear which has now been moved into the bigger Venue, so don’t worry anyone who thought it was sold out, there’s more tickets available!!

For our ticket offers visit: https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/buy_tickets/venues/?id=685

As well as our generous ticket offers we also have a message from Mr Scruff who played a killer 6 hour set recently in his sold out show:

Many thanks to everyone who came to the Keep It Unreal gig at the Hare & Hounds, myself & all the crew had a great time. We recorded the whole night, and to download this, just go to www.mrscruff.com, click on ‘download code’ & enter the code FXaAdZ

thanks again, and see you in Brum soon!

Don’t forget to subscribe to our mailing list on the website, facebook and twitter feed!

Monday & Wednesday – Back Bar quiz – Lots of prizes to be won!

Tuesday

8Bit Lounge – here to immerse you in a world or retro, futuristic, and experimental electronics. At the first point you have a selection of retro games consoles, with both classic games, and fun recent titles.we have n64, game cube, playstation one, dreamcast.any or all of these might be working on the night. We have leon chromatouch showing of visuals and music for the evening is pure robot bliss. with a range of pure electro, vocoder styles, bits of bboy, arcade classics, electronica and songs of your past rendered in 8 bit stylings.

Thursday

Birmingham Promoters presents: Admiral Fallow / Goodnight Lenin – The precocious talent of the young foot-stamping, faintly maniacal singer/song-writer Louis Abbott, Citing influences including Tom Waits, Elbow, Low, Midlake, King Creosote, and Springsteen, Admiral Fallow adds clarinet, flute, stand up double bass and four jaw-dropping voices to the usual indie line-up to smash through their joyous, heart-filled, orchestral-tinged and beautifully well crafted songs.

Friday

Under The Counter & Leftfoot presents: Om Unit – causing  a stir with big remixes just out for Joker and The Foreign Beggars, the release of his Corridor EP on Plasticians Terrorhythm imprint, and the drop of the 12″ Searching, which is getting slammed across dance floors and radio worldwide. This is a chance to see one of the pioneers of the beat scene play in B’ham for the 1st time…heavy bass lines future sounds and heavy dubbed out beats are not be missed!

The Big Ten Inch presents: THE BIG TEN INCH!

Live: The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band. DJs: Count Skylarkin (Trojan Records) , Van Mule (The Yardbird / Ronnie Scotts), Jason ‘The Cat’ King. Music policy:  Red-Hot Rhythm & Blues, Screamin’ Soul, Wild Rockabilly, Ska, Skiffle & 60s Beat. Already a massive hit in London and Oxford, THE BIG TEN INCH blasts off for its maiden flight in Birmingham at the Hare & Hounds!

Saturday

Freestyle & Leftfoot presents: Odyssey – responsible for countless smash hits, including “Going Back To My Roots”, “Inside Out”, “Native New Yorker” and “Use It Up And Wear It Out”, which topped the UK charts for a fortnight back in 1980. Built upon a passion for blending disco, salsoul, afro Cuban and calypso, Odyssey’s timeless music has inspired further generations of contemporary producers and DJs.

The Head Club presents: Local Heavyweights Battle it out

Oh my god the last party was INSANE!!!!!! Storming straight back at you we bring 3 heroes of local techno to whip it all up again. Back to back, and because you loved it last time, there’s DK ROON and PABLO SONIC TERRORIST. And to finish off the night the incessant mixing skills of DR PEPPERSPRAY. First up on the eve is THC’s SUBCITIZEN, and we were going to put DJ SKIRT on at the end to really rock you guys!

Sunday

Soul Food Project presents: Roasts ‘n’ Records

Great Food. Great Music. Great Vibes. DJ Andrew Dubber will be manning the soundsystem for an afternoon of Bossa Nova, Jazz, Blue Note, Spiritual and beyond. Soul Food will be on hand to provide the best Sunday dinners in B14…Think Cajun Beefs, Warming Butternut Squash, Sticky, sweet hams, Crunchy Pork Belly and beyond…..

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR 2011:

WILD PALMS / ADMIRAL FALLOW / OM UNIT /  ODYSSEY / WOODS / SUBMOTION ORCHESTRA / MATTHEW DEAR / SOUNDKITCHEN – BALKAN FUSION / ROBERT DIETZ – CADENZA / DAVID RODIGAN / ANALOGIK (LIVE) / SEEFEEL / ARBOURETUM / GUNDOGS / RAMADANMAN / MARK RAE / THE SOUL JAZZ ORCHESTRA / FRANK DE WULF / EARTH & LORI GOLDSTON / KUTMAH / BALKANIC ERUPTION – ROMA DAY / TIPPA IRIE (LIVE) / REGIS / AGNES OBEL / BREAKTHRU – SOUL:UTION / BLOOD CEREMONY & GHOST / PARTS & LABOR / EMERALDS

To get cheaper tickets in advance buy online:

https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/buy_tickets/venues/?id=685

Come say Hi!

xH&Hx

Monday 28th March

Freestyle & Jibbering present

THE SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA

Plus support from Tangawizi, Sam Redmore & Shelley Roots

The Souljazz Orchestra return to the Hare & Hounds for another explosion of funk, soul, afro, jazz and latin rhythms that are sure to raise the roof. Their last appearance in Birmingham back in April 2010 proved to be one of the highlights of the year, and with critically acclaimed album “Rising Sun” released on Strut Records and support from the likes of Gilles Peterson in the bag, this show promises to be even bigger.

Since their formation in 2002, Canada’s Souljazz Orchestra have drawn on the rough, raw funk grooves of the 60s and 70s, moving forward the blueprint laid down by Fela Kuti and Fania Allstars in entirely new ways, whilst keeping the analogue grit intact. With three albums to their name – 2006’s “Freedom No Go Die”, 2008’s “Manifesto” and the aforementioned “Rising Sun” from 2010 – and years of relentless live touring to look back on, Souljazz Orchestra have developed into an in-demand fixture at venues and festivals worldwide.

Support on the night comes from Jibbering’s very own Tangawizi, Freestyle resident Sam Redmore and Rhubarb Radio’s Shelley Roots.

Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, 8pm-11.30pm

Tickets £5 early bird / £7 advance / More on the door

Tickets available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk

106 High St, Kings Heath, B14 7JZ

www.hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk

After starting off quite literally with a bang, Chapel Club launched head first into their Sunday night set at the Hare and Hounds. Starting off with arguably their best known song, Surfacing, the London five piece continued to play a full hour’s set that left everyone in the audience feeling like they’d been very quickly steamed – in a

good way. Rammed to the brim, the soldout set saw the band play several songs from their EP and recently released album, Palaces. As the show went on, the band veered from their more energetic tracks, like Five Trees, which saw the first few rows of audience rocked about by an impromptu pit, to the sombre Bodies, which held everyone in a revered silence for the duration.

Just rock ‘n’ roll enough to get everyone moving and just melancholy enough to get everyone moving and just melancholy enough to bring back hush, Chapel Club were well within their rights to have sold out. Supported by the equally commendable David’s Lyre, who, fresh faced and eager to please, played an opening set of five songs from their soon to be released EP, In Arms. What their support lacked in stage presence, Chapel Club front man Lewis made up for fivefold, self-admittedly on the rum; his crowd interaction and banter made the heat that seemed to appear from nowhere in the crowd bearable

The tininess of the Hare and Hounds made for a perfect venue for what are sure to be one of the most up and coming bands this year, and, all technical hitches aside, the set could not have been better. Avoiding the clichés that come with an encore, the band deemed it better to announce their final song rather than reappear with the standard ‘oh look we’re back’ approach of usual gigs, and with one final track, they left the stage to applause, and a feeling of both satisfaction and prolonged heat stroke from the audience.

Posted by Tamara Roper on: http://www.redbrickpaper.co.uk

It’s Tuesday night and we find ourselves in familiar territory upstairs in the main room at the Hare and Hounds, awaiting another eclectic evening of live music hosted by Birmingham Promoters.

Kicking off proceedings are local 5 piece Silver Souvenirs with their pick and mix style and good times ethic. Combining chugging guitars, math rock rhythms and even Balearic synths, they do a great job of working the crowd, making plain their mantra “to make people dance”. Knives, is the sound of Delphic and the Klaxons meeting halfway between Atlantis and Interzone, whilst Youth is more Dancing than Killing in the Name of. Despite a few sound issues they manage to keep the crowd enthused and will surely garner continual praise and recognition for their energetic performances.

Next up, is Trophy Wife, members of Oxford’s Blessing Force collective – a group of musical souls forged during the creative process of Foals’ Total Life Forever album. Opener Take This Night has a Kid Creole Latino intro overlaid with Hot Chip, Over and Over style chimes. Hot Chip is a good starting point for the band both musically and in their dynamic on stage. Just as Alexis Taylor’s vocals add fragility in an otherwise electronic environment, so too Jody Prewett’s voice adds languor to their “ambitionless office disco”. Microlite, their debut single seems to melt away revealing a sense of humanism akin to that on One Life Stand. The Quiet Earth, imagines New Order and sees an enthusiastic turn by the drummer beating down on the drum pads for dear life! This is definitely a band that you would like to be seen out with.

From the downright human to a glimpse of the supernatural, Brighton’s Esben and the Witch begin their performance with what could best be described as an incantation. As Rachel Davies wails at the back of the stage, Ring like, her face hidden by long black hair, guitarist Daniel Copeman’s spasmodic movements appear as reactions to her ever intensifying dirge. She approaches the front of the stage and starts to frenziedly bang away at a cymbal whilst the drone of the guitar summons up the spirits from beyond. Then from out of the maelstrom comes a plaintive voice that captures the soul. As opening tracks go, Argyria is a very powerful one encompassing all the elements that make up EATW’s style. As Beth Gibbons’ vocal on Portishead’s Dummy guided you into the heart of the music whilst retaining an existence all of its own, so too with Rachel Davies’ voice. She could be described as Florence’s Wyrd Sister, choosing to live on the darker fringes of the human psyche. Warpath sees her at her most Siouxie like backed by cavernous Glasvegas style guitars. Climaxing with Lucia at the Precipice, the crowd is literally left teeth-chattering, as the thunderous bass vibrates through the floor like an electric shock

Not just music but more a sense of theatre, a well-worked performance set to a backdrop of unnerving guitars, punctuated by ominous pounding drums with a Gothic heart and a voice that can dance on the wind and summon forth the dead.

Words by Andrew Gutteridge on: http://www.audioscribbler.co.uk

With only two weeks to go until NYC disco band Odyssey touch down at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath for a gig of colossal proportions, I caught up with Andy from Yam Who?, who has been working with the band in the studio, for a brief chat about what we have to look forward to and how their studio sessions have been going down.