Levellers Competition

Birmingham Rocks! have a pair of tickets to give away to see The Levellers at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall next Thursday, 6th March.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply tell us which English town the band hail from. Is it:

a. Bradford
b. Brighton
c. Bristol

Email your answer to bhammusic@googlemail.com

Competition closes 6pm on Monday 3rd March.

Sam Amidon in Coventry

For 99.99% of the population, the name Sam Amidon means absolutely nothing. For some people sat in tonight’s audience, however, his “All Is Well” album is the best album of 2007... READ MORE…

Photo - Steve Gerrard

Coventry trio voted the best new act in the UK

Coventry's indie heroes, The Enemy have won the Best New Band award at the Shockwaves NME Awards 2008.

The band picked up their award on Thursday from presenters, Faris Rotter from The Horrors and daughter of Rod, Kimberly Stewart.

The other nominees for the Best New Band award were Foals, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, The Pigeon Detectives and The Wombats.



Photo - Steve Gerrard

The Metros @ Bar Academy - 27th February 2008

Wednesday night, February 27th, Bar Academy Birmingham . A young and excited crowd was in attendance, already buoyed by the support and looking on expectantly for the hotly tipped Metros... READ MORE…


Photo - Lee Allen

Hot Chip – Wolverhampton Wulfrun – 22/02/2008

Friday nights are often electric after a boring mundane working week - its time for masses of people to cut lose and let their hair down. This Friday is certainly no different... READ MORE…



Photo - Lee Allen

Surface Unsigned

This week sees the launch of the Surface Unsigned festival which aims to find the most exciting new artists currently doing the rounds.

Held at The Rainbow in Digbeth, the heats will run from March 2nd through 'til April 27th, with over 30 gigs playing host to 7 bands each night. The best 4 bands of the competition can expect to receive major exposure as well as endorsements and other prizes.

Check out the SURFACE UNSIGNED WEBSITE for more info.

Megadeth @ Birmingham Academy

Celebrating 25 years in the business, Megadeth have become one of the mainstays of the metal genre. After being fired from Metallica, frontman Dave Mustaine has gone on to guarantee himself a place in the history books... READ MORE…



Photo - Steve Gerrard

Supersonic Festival 2008

This year's Supersonic Festval will take place on 11th, 12th and 13th July at the Custard Factory in Digbeth, with additional activity around the area. Tickets will go on sale in mid March and will include weekend tickets as well as day tickets.

This year sees the return of some of the most popular names from previous Supersonics, in particular BATTLES, the then unheard of surprise hit of 2005's festival who make a triumphant return to headline, and in the grand tradition of Supersonic, a cult underground act playing their first ever show on European soil - This year the honour goes to HARVEY MILK, Athens Georgia's seismic sludge titans.

A truly International and eclectic affair, also already confirmed to appear are: EFTERKLANG, HARMONIA, NOXAGT, EARTH, WOODEN SHJIPS, THRONES, OXBOW, JUSTICE YELDHAM, DALEK, ORTHODOX, BLACK SUN, THE OWL SERVICE, MAX TUNDRA, MAGNETAPHONE, PCM, EINSTELLUNG and GUAPO. With many more acts to be announced.

For further information about the acts performing please check Capsule's website.

Levi’s® OnesToWatch® feat. Cut Off Your Hands @ The Barfly

When you go to a gig you expect the loud music and the press of bodies to keep you nice and warm but last night it was even colder inside the Barfly than it was outside... READ MORE…


Photo - Lee Allen

Country Legend Comes To The Midlands

Willie Nelson is one of those rare artists who have come to be defined by their sheer indefinableness. He has made a career out of defying expectation. Rebellious Outlaw fighting Nashville’s staid production-line sensibilities; Award-winning country legend; crooning pop mega-star; working man. An incessant road master playing to sold out crowds worldwide on his own terms. Country boy. Golf enthusiast. Movie star. He’s covered reggae, rock and gospel tunes.

He’s played with punkettes L7 and symphony orchestras. Emmylou Harris, who spent a lot of time across the mic from Willie, has said, “If America has a voice it is Willie Nelson’s.” His musical talents and personal style show his audience a larger than life “Every Man” whose easy demeanor and well-spring of honesty in his life and music makes us feel at home.

Willie Nelson plays Wolverhampton's Civic Hall on Monday 12th May.

Tickets priced £37.50 and £30.00 are available from Midland Box Office: 0870 320 7000 or online at www.wolvescivic.co.uk

Dillinger Escape Plan Review

It’s a Wednesday night in Birmingham and Academy 2 has fallen into absolute chaos. The two security men down the front struggle to control... READ MORE…


Photo - Steve Gerrard

Medicine For St Pauls.

Originally formed in 1968 in Stafford, Medicine Head will be performing in the unique setting of St Pauls Gallery in Northwood Street, just off St Pauls Square.

John Fiddler, founder member of the band will be performing acoustically for just 100 fans on February 29th.

Tickets are available via the Gallery on 0121 236 5800.

Jimmy Eat World @ Birmingham Academy - 19th February 2008

Jimmy Eat World singer Jim Adkins is not your typical frontman of a multi-platinum selling punk rock band. If you didn't know better you'd happily believe... READ MORE…


Photo - Steve Gerrard

Power to the People

Cat Power (aka Georgia born Chan Marshall) makes a rare appearance in the Midlands on 10th June 2008 when she plays at the 3000-capacity Birmingham Academy in Dale End.

Touring in support of her recent covers album, "Jukebox", tickets for the gig go on sale February 20th at 9am and cost £17.50.

Click Here for tickets.

Wild In the Country

The Charlatans, Status Quo and The Zutons will all be performing live on Cannock Chase in Staffordshire this summer as part of the Forestry Comission's "Forest Tours".

Status Quo will perform at Birches Valley, Cannock Chase on June 27, The Zutons on the 28th and The Charlatans on June 29.

Call 01842 814612 or visit forestry.gov.uk/music for tickets.

Gallows @ Birmingham Academy - 16th February 2008

Frank Carter can rail all he likes against fans making idols of bands but if he's a subject of adulation it's no doubt a result of his thrillingly visceral and menacingly charismatic performances... READ MORE

Levi’s® OnesToWatch®

Now in its fifth year, Levi’s® OnesToWatch® has firmly established its reputation as a reliable indicator for artists about to hit the big time. With five monthly shows at Barfly venues across the country, last year’s stellar line up had charged performances by Ida Maria, Air Traffic, Foals, The Wombats, Johnny Foreigner, The Twang, Operator Please and Cherry Ghost among many others. Past acts include, Editors, Kooks, The View, The Fratellis and The Pigeon Detectives to name but a handful.

Arriving at Birmingham Barfly once more on Thursday 21st February, this year's line-up includes Cazals who are signed to French label Kitsune, home to Simian Mobile Disco and Digitalism. They'll be joined by Auckland's Cut Off Your Hands and the mysteriously named Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man


Photo - Bastien Lattanzio

For more information see www.levi.co.uk/lotw

The Fighting Cocks Rocks!

Moseley's Fighting Cocks pub has sealed its place in rock n roll history after Mojo magazine confirmed that the pub, which hosted regular gigs in the 80s, was the venue a certain Stephen Morrissey first ditched his first name before going on to become a music legend.

Former Smiths drummer Mike Joyce recalls: “I remember we played in Birmingham at the Fighting Cocks very early on and there were about five people backstage.

“Morrissey told us, 'I don’t want to be called Steve anymore, I want to be Morrissey'. So I was like, OK, fair enough.

“After we’d done the gig we were gonna have to drive back. I didn’t have my watch on, so I though, ‘I’ll ask Steve the time.’ But then I thought, ‘No it’s not Steve is it, it’s Morrissey?’

“So I said, ‘Morrissey, what time is it?’ and he said, ‘It’s about quarter to 12 Joyce’”.

Kaiser Chiefs @ Birmingham Barfly – 15th February 2008

After two massive albums and a fairly meteoric rise to the realms of indie superstars, Kaiser Chiefs are more often than not found parading around stadiums or headlining festivals before a cast of thousands. So it’s surprising to find them performing to a few hundred punters down at Birmingham’s Barfly on a Friday night in February... READ MORE…

V Festival headliners

Muse will headline this year’s V Festival, which takes place between August 16 and 17 at Weston Park near Stafford.

The trio are the first act to be confirmed for this year’s event ahead of tickets going onsale at 10am on March 7.

Panic! @ The Q Club

Birmingham's biggest alternative night, Panic!, has announced it is leaving its home at The Sanctuary and moving to the legendary Q Club on Corporation Street.

The first night will be Saturday 23rd February 2008.

For more info visit resurrectionclub.com

Venue Rumours

Rumours abound that The Barfly will soon be taking over The Sanctuary and looking to bring in bigger gigs at the venue.

The Carling Academy has been rumoured to be closing for years but could soon be leaving its Dale End address and moving to the site of The Dome nightclub.

Watch this space...

Bullet For My Valentine @ Wolves Civic Hall 1/2/08

Within 60 seconds of hitting the stage, the sold out Civic Hall is a sea of bodies jumping and punching the air, every face fixed on a band who know exactly how to work a room while throwing down monstrous riffs and thundering beats... READ MORE…

Welcome...

Welcome to Birmingham Rocks! - A brand new blog site dedicated to supporting local music, reviewing gigs and keeping you up to date with what's happening on the local music scene.

Whether it's the latest gig announcements, exciting new local bands we think you REALLY need to check out or just helping to spread wild rumours and cause the odd bit of controversy, Birmingham Rocks! is here to help keep you excited about music in the West Midlands.

If you have news you think people need to know you can email bhammusic@googlemail.com

We also look after the Birmingham Gig Guide and have our own lovely group on Facebook so make sure you check those out on a semi-regular basis.

Get involved! Join the group, send us your news and reviews and watch out for exclusive announcements on this very page..

Play nice!

BR!