Thanks to BeanTownHandmade
for this wonderful image – Frank might just get one for Christmas if he’s a lucky boy.

2011 has been an incredible year for Capsule with tons of wonderful events and unforgettable moments. Feel free to let us know what your highlights were from our 2011 program and let us know what you’re keen to see more of in 2012.

1. Blood Ceremony – I’m Coming With You (4:45)
2. Epic45 – England Fallen Over (4:26)
3. Health & Efficiency – Red drapes from my dream (7:13)
4. Matmos – Polychords (3:30)
5. Dead Fader - JBE Zorg (4:07)
6. Spectrals – Chip A Tooth (Spoil A Smile) (2:22)
7. a.P.A.t.T. - Fukin Hostile (1:33)
8. Seefeel – Folds (4:21)
9. Ghost – Stand By Him (3:56)
10. Woods – Suffering Season (3:06)
11. Bilbao Syndrome – vi (3:15)
12. Arbouretum - Another Hiding Place (5:16)
13. Kayo Dot – Right Hand is the One I Want (6:53)
14. Earth – Engine of Ruin (6:28)

We’ve hooked up with the super talent that is, Chris Brumcast to bring you a taster of forthcoming Capsule shows. It’s a real treat and hopefully will get you all excited about our amazing program of shows, kicking off with Brooklyn based mavericks KAYO DOT on Wednesday 16th Feb at the Hare & Hounds. Followed shortly by a combo of lo-fi rock and spook campfire folk in the form of WOODS, with support from SPECTRALS + DOOZER on the 14th March. A real delight on the 22nd with SEEFEEL feat. by Shigeru Ishihara (DJ Scotch Egg) and former Boredoms drummer Iida Kazuhisa (E-Da) with support from DEAD FADER + EPIC 45 (be warned tickets are flying out for this show).
The very next day on the 23rd we have a Supersonic favourite ARBOURETUM for fans of Earth and Lungfish, not to be missed with support from multi-instrumentalists HEALTH & EFFICIENCY.

In April we welcome back the godfather of drone EARTH with support from LORI GOLDSTON who has played with Nirvana, David Byrne & Cat Power to name but a few. On Saturday 30th April BLOOD CEREMONY who play a distinctive brand of flute-tinged musical sorcery with support from Swedish prog band  GHOST will be playing at the Hare & Hounds.

Tickets for all shows can be found at www.theticketsellers.co.uk
Polar Bear on York Rd in Kings Heath or Swordfish on Temple Street in Birmingham city centre

We look forward to seeing you at one or all of the above shows, and a huge thanks to Chris for putting this fantastic podcast together for us, a perfect soundtrack for a day in the office!

Capsule Film from Film Ficciones on Vimeo.

For your viewing pleasure – a short film to celebrate our 10 years of work.
This amazing bit of documentary footage was created by Scott aka Film Ficciones

Tonights show with Baroness & Taint at the Hare & Hounds has sold out.
This amazing limited edition poster designed by Jimbob of Taint will be on sale at the gig.

Don’t miss out on the following shows – they’re selling fast:
Thursday 11th February: CLUSTER + Einstellung at Town hall Birmingham
Friday 12th March: AUTECHRE + Rob Hall, Russell Haswell, Didjit at the Rainbow Warehouse
Tuesday 16th March: MONO + Rose Kemp at The Asylum
Friday 9th April: EYEHATEGOD + guests at The Asylum

Advanced tickets from: www.theticketsellers.co.uk
Swordfish + Polar Bear

We’re delighted to announce a show with Japanese band MONO for Tuesday 16th March. After last years sell out show at the Hare & Hounds, we’ve made sure that they’ll be no disappointed punters this time round with the show taking place at The Asylum in Hockley,  Birmingham.
Tickets available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk

Mono are a Japanese instrumental rock band formed in 1999 in Tokyo, Kantō, Honshū. The band consists of Takaakira Goto (electric guitar), Yoda (electric guitar), Tamaki Kunishi (bass guitar, electric guitar, piano, glockenspiel), and Yasunori Takada (drum kit, glockenspiel, synthesizer).

The band’s style of instrumental rock music is influenced by the genres of experimental rock and shoegazing, as well as by both the classical and contemporary classical periods of classical music, and also by noise and minimalism. Mono’s sound is characterised by the lead and rhythm guitars of Goto and Yoda respectively, both of whom make use of reverb, distortion and delay effects. Mono’s live performances are renowned for their intensity, both in their playing and in their dynamics.

I’ve actually seen grown men at Roadburn Festival be moved to tears while watching them.

Well our 10th birthday celebrations are now over, it’s been a blast! Thanks to all those artists that performed, to VIVID for hosting us and to all of you that attended it was indeed a marathon of aural delights.
(photos from our closing party to follow)
We’ve had a wonderful year with some fantastic and memorable performances, far too many highlights to mention (37 in total) – however a special mention must go to the SUBLIME FREQUENCIES show, SUPERSONIC Festival 09 and the Making Do event at New Art Gallery Walsall.

2010 is shaping up to be a pretty special year, already confirmed are BARONESS who will kick off proceedings in mid January at the Hare & Hounds, followed by THE EX & BRASS UNBOUND, Krautrock legends CLUSTER will be performing at Town Hall Birmingham. EYEHATEGOD will be making their first appearance in over 10 years in April at the Asylum and this is just for starters. We have plenty more treats up our sleeves including announcements for SUPERSONIC 2010. But for now have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year – thanks for your support.
The Capsule Team X

Little Chris aka Brumcast has put together a podcast show dedicated to celebrating Capsules 10th birthday, it features some of the artists performing over the next few weeks as part of our birthday season. It’s certainly getting us excited about what’s on the horizon.

LISTEN HERE

1. Beestung Lips – Reverse Alchemy (2:14)
2. Pram – Mother of Pearl (3:16)
3. Una Corda – Three (6:54)
4. Lightning Dust – Dreamer (3:46)
5. Modified Toy Orchestra – A Grand Occasion (2:07)
6. Tweak Bird – Whorses (2:29)
7. Einstellung – Tot (4:01)
8. PCM – Davros Dominion (5:05)
9. Six Organs Of Admittance – Shelter From The Ash (3:24)
10. Om – On The Mountain At Dawn (21:18)

Opening Party
Tuesday 1st December 2009
Capsule are 10! launch party
Monotonix + Beestung Lips
Esquilax + Cum Dogs
@ VIVID. Heath Mill Lane . Birmingham
LIMITED CAPACITY
Doors 8.00pm
Advanced Tickets: www.theticketsellers.co.uk

The launch party of Capsule’s 10-year retrospective exhibition features a number of special guests Israel’s garage rockers Monotonix, who certainly know how to start a party, rock you senseless and leave you wanting so much more will be headlining the opening show. In celebration of some of the ground breaking local music Capsule have championed Esquilax will be performing a special one off live performance, alongside Cum Dogs, a new project from Modified Toy Orchestra’s Brian Duffy. Infamous locals Beestung Lips will also be joining the proceedings.
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Wednesday 2nd December 2009
Capsule are 10!
Tunng + Six Organs Of Admittance
Lightning Dust + Bela Emerson
@ Town Hall Birmingham
Doors 7.00pm
Advanced Tickets ONLY from https://tickets.thsh.co.uk/
or phone – 0121 780 3333

An extraordinary night of entertainment at the spectacular Town Hall Birmingham. Special guests include old friends Tunng who combine a perfect mixture of skewed electronica and pastoral English Folk music. Six Organs of Admittance, psych-folk-pop, hippie jams updated for the kids of today. Lightning Dust, the side project of Amber Webber and Joshua Wells, both members of Canadian band Black Mountain. Complimented by the bewitching Bela Emerson, an innovative and prolific performer of electric cello, electronics, tenor viol and musical saw.
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Tuesday 8th December 2009
Capsule are 10!
Lightning Bolt + Tweak Bird +Pete Prescription
@ Vivid . Heath Mill Lane . Birmingham
SOLD OUT
Doors 8.00pm

The mighty Lightning Bolt will be performing an intimate gig in Vivid art gallery as part of Capsule’s 10th birthday celebrations. This strictly limited capacity show re-lives the first time Lightning Bolt played for Capsule back in 2004 in what is now the theatre space of the Custard Factory. Nothing less than a thrill to witness, Tweak Bird’s heavy, progressive psychedelia has earned them a reputation as an exciting new live act.  The man behind the world’s only and best Happy Hardcore covers band, Pete_Prescription completes the line up, expect Krautrock, melody, Noise or something else entirely.
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Thursday 10th December
Sunn 0))) + Om
The Asylum, Hockley, Birmingham B19 3LS
Advanced Tickets: www.theticketsellers.co.uk
Polar Bear/Swordfish

Capsule’s favourite cult doom outfit Sunn 0))) will be performing their ‘Monoliths and Dimensions’ album, illusory, beautiful and not entirely linear Sunn 0))) have become one of the most important experimental acts in the world. Om provide support to create what should be a show rich in darkness and intensity.
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Friday 11th December
Pram with Visuals by Film Ficciones + Light Trap
@ Vivid . Heath Mill Lane . Birmingham
LIMITED CAPACITY
Doors 8.00pm
Advanced Tickets: www.theticketsellers.co.uk
Polar Bear / Swordfish

Members of Haxan, Una Corda and sound artist Nicholas Bullen collaborate to create a progressive, experimental adventure in sound, Light Trap. Following this will be an eerie Victoriana inspired Pram performance alongside Film Ficciones in the warehouse space of Vivid.
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Sunday 13th December
Capsule and 7 Inch Cinema present:
Afternoon Tea – a light buffet with a healthy serving of films
Vivid, 140 Heath Mill Lane, Birmingham B9 4AR FREE EVENT
2pm – 6pm

Almost since day one, 7 Inch Cinema have been crouching in a corner at Capsule gigs with a video projector gaffa-taped to a stool showing films of hairy men shouting and small dogs in space. To celebrate the grannies’ remarkable and unexpected longevity they shall be gathering up some filmic highlights from the last decade and showing them at Vivid, alongside the customary mix of light snacks and word-searches.
FEEL FREE TO BRING CAKE TO SHARE
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Wednesday 16th December
Beak> (Geoff Barrow – PORTISHEAD)
Einstellung + Thought Forms
Vivid, 140 Heath Mill Lane, Birmingham B9 4AR
Advanced Tickets: www.theticketsellers.co.uk
Polar Bear/Swordfish

BEAK> were formed in January 2009 by three Bristol musicians, Billy Fuller, Matt Williams and Geoff Barrow. Geoff Barrow is a musician and producer best known for forming and producing music group Portishead and part owner of the independent record label Invada Records . Einstellung blend glorious monotonous Krautrock with melodic tones and heavy slabs of Sabbath riffage, whilst finding time to declare sonic warfare on those tinnitus victims who have passed the point of no return.
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Thursday 17th December
Capsule & Created In Birmingham present:
Knowing Me Knowing You
FREE EVENT with complimentary wine from Barefoot Wines
6.30pm – 9.00pm
Wouldn’t it be lovely if we all just talked a bit more? If you’re doing something super awesome, got some plans under your creative sleeves, putting on interesting gigs, exhibitions and the like then tell people about it at this little talky talky chit chat in association with Created In Birmingham. Or if you’re just interested in meeting some like minded folks feel free to come along.
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Saturday 19th December
Capsule 10th Birthday Closing Party
Modified Toy Orchestra
PCM + Calvados Beam Trio
Una Corda + Stinky Wizzleteat
Plus a selection of special guests DJs
Vivid, 140 Heath Mill Lane, Birmingham B9 4AR
Advanced Tickets: www.theticketsellers.co.uk

The closing party to Capsule’s 10th birthday celebrations will see a gathering of some of Birmingham’s most mind blowing experimental live acts – paying tribute to the ten years of exciting, genre pushing music that Capsule have produced and provided a stage for. Modified Toy Orchestra are a collection of abandoned and reconstructed Childrens electronic toys, conducted by a selection of musicians to create electronic music in a league of its own. PCM, the dark lords of drum n bass have long been key figures in the Midlands underground dance scene and firm Capsule favourites.
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So folks as you know by now Capsule will be celebrating our 10th birthday in December and as part of a month long celebration we’re moving into Vivid, an art space in Digbeth. Not only will we be hosting a series of live shows with the likes of Lightning Bolt, Monotonix and Beak> alongside some of our favourite Brummies – we’re also producing an exhibition which delves deep into our archive. This will feature 10 years worth of flyers, photos and related ephemera.

WE NEED YOU!
Which comes onto our call out – if you have any photos from past shows or video footage, sound recordings, related stories, memories, reviews, blog posts  please get in touch – all contributions will be included in our exhibition.
Get in touch directly – info[at]capsule.org.uk

or if you have a comment/story or memory of fav show to add you can leave something in the comments on this blog post.

Matt Snowden aka one half of Esquilax and the brains behind the Dream Dreams The Dreamer Orkestra popped by last week with a box full of treasures which included loads of old Capsule flyers and photos he’d taken at past gigs. It sure brought back a load of good memories for us.

This photo was taken at an Oxes show in 2001 at the Jug Of Ale – it was a rather sweaty & raucous night to say the least.
Here is one of Lightning Bolt from 2004 when they played in what is now the theatre space at the Custard Factory – again this was one of those unforgettable shows.

Summed up perfectly by Kris from Ideal Skate shop
“Sat at home on a Monday night 6 years ago I got a call recommending that I come to the Custard Factory to see this band that I had not heard of and an hour later I was in the most amazing sonic maelstrom. This was the first time I saw Lightning Bolt.
It was the best chance i ever took…..
Thank you Capsule.
I owe you…xxx”

Dig deep and hunt out those old photos or just send us a comment – all contributions gratefully received – there may even be prizes!!!

The very talented Mr Ben Javens, responsible for a good percentage of our Capsule posters has recently produced a series of 4 1/20 limited edition screen printed posters for our gigs. They’re a bargain at just £10 each – grab them while you can from his SHOP

A Hawk & A Hacksaw
Ltd edition of 20, hand pulled, two colour screen print on 300gsm cartridge paper. The dimensions are 594mmx420mm. All prints are signed and numbered by hand and will be sent out in a heavy duty postal tube.

Melt Banana
This is a ltd edition of 20, hand pulled, two colour screen print on 300gsm cartridge paper. The dimensions are 280mmx594mm. All prints are signed and numbered by hand and will be sent out in a heavy duty postal tube.

Mono
Once again this is a hand pulled screen print, printed on A2 (420mmx594mm), 215gsm cartridge paper, which are signed and numbered by hand and will be sent out in a heavy duty postal tube.

Vetitver

Hand pulled by Ben, onto some rather lovely 300g water colour paper, the dimensions of which are 380mm x 550mm, signed and numbered by hand.