University News Last updated 28 May 2009
Enterprising Birmingham City University students have organised a series of gigs across the city to highlight Brum's musical talent.
As part of the assessment for their music industries degree course the students have had to organise and promote concerts by unsigned acts. The concerts are linked to Birmingham Music Month http://brummusicmonth.wordpress.com/ which runs throughout June. The celebration, which was the idea of two Birmingham City University lecturers, celebrates the city's rich musical heritage, past and present.
The students were instructed to organise the events from scratch, from scouting for and signing up acts, to promoting showcase events for approximately 15 unsigned bands/singers. The exercise will allow the students to promote regional talent and gives the University an opportunity to demonstrate its engagement with and support of the local and regional music and other creative industries.
Matt Grimes degree leader for music industries said: "These showcase gigs are the culmination of 12 weeks hard work from the music industries degree undergraduates, who bring with them a range of multi-media disciplines.
"It allows them to put all the skills they have developed into real life industry practice. This is an intensive course and the students consistently rise to the challenges of setting up their own record label, signing, managing and promoting musicians and organising gigs for them. This process has allowed the students not only to engage with and forge strong links with local music businesses and musicians but also represents Birmingham City University's commitment to working in/with the community."
The events are being held at famous local venues such as the Rainbow in Digbeth and the Sunflower Lounge on Smallbrook Queensway. The first one is taking place tonight (Thursday 28 May) at the Sound Bar and will be used to raise profits for Birmingham Children's Hospital.
The full list of events is:
The Sound Bar, Corporation Street
7pm-11pm, Thursday 28May
£5 in aid of Birmingham Children's Hospital
Trapped Records presents:
My Only Chance
A Room for 2
Comic Book Hero
Damascus
Everett
The Rainbow, Digbeth
7.30pm - 12am, Monday 1st June
£4 in aid of PLAN
Plus Records presents:
Chantel
Screama
Alex Crowther
Black Market Empire
Smiling Ivy
Actress & Bishop, St Paul's
7pm-11pm, Tuesday 2 June
£3
Stream Records presents:
Point Blank Fury
The Vants
+ Special Guest
Sunflower Lounge, Smallbrook Queensway
7.30pm - late, Thursday 4th June
£3 in aid of Soil
Boom! City records presents:
The Amateurs
Reluctant Heroes
Tiny Cinema
Slipstream
Nick Moreton