To keep you up to date with what we’re doing with the Home Of Metal project we have set up a blog, this will hopfully fill you in until the archive gets launched towards the end of October. The blog will have contributions from our volunteers as well as news on what we are starting to collect for the digital archive, and who we encounter along the journey with related news for our events too.

Images will be taken by the Birmingham photographer Steve Gerrard, who has been capturing bands in action for over 20 years, and has photographed some of the biggest names and artists. The photographs will then go on display at Wolverhampton Art Gallery at the official launch event in October as well as New Art Gallery Walsall and then will become part of the Home Of Metal website.

Photo courtesy of Ben Javens

Capsule are proud to be involved with ‘The Joyful Bewilderment…“, a group exhibition showcasing the outpourings of a group of like minded image-makers which will take place at Rough Trade East in London from 2nd October – 27th October. Fundamentally, the artists in the show all share an essential motivation to explore the possibilities of enhancing everyday life by making magic from the mundane. Over 100 artists from all over the world including members of The Outcrowd Collective as well as several other West Midlands inhabitants from LUCY MCLAUCHLAN, RIK COOPER, STEF GRINDLEY, LEE BASFORD, BEN JAVENS, CHRIS KEENAN and LAWRENCE ROPER to name but a few as well as host of other reprobates including FRENCH, RICK MYERS and JAMES JARVIS.

EINSTELLUNG will be performing at the opening night on Thursday 2nd of October, in preparation for their forthcoming release on Capsule Recordings, a limited edition vinyl release of ‘Wings Of Desire’, with art work by Lucy Mclauchlan. (Due for release in November).

Einstellung are Steve Hough (ex-Cable Regime, Godflesh, Grover) on bass, Simon Rider (Ex Grover, Moneygods) on drums, Andrew Parker (ex-Katastrophy Wife, Sally) and Andy Smart on guitars.

For too long Birmingham and the West Midlands have failed to celebrate what is rightfully theirs, to claim the city and the region as home of “heavy metal”.

Throughout late 2008 Capsule will be building a digital archive and carrying out a series of open days starting on the 25th October at Wolverhampton Art Gallery as part of “Helllo Digital” We want you to help us create a ‘people’s archive’ of memories, images and pictures to tell the story of this unique moment of Midlands’ musical heritage. This project is being delivered in partnership with, Black Country Arts Partnerships, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, New Art Gallery Walsall, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

Capsule are looking for a small team of dedicated volunteers, with a passionate interest in either local history, music (specific or otherwise) or a desire to be part of a ground breaking project, which aims to bring a sense of civic pride to the region celebrating Birmingham and the Black Country as HOME OF METAL.

In return for your time commitment you will receive the following:
Training in recording oral histories / archiving digital data – including photography
Being part of a team delivering a unique project.
Travel cost will be covered.

For further info + to down load an application form:
http://www.capsule.org.uk/event/home-of-metal

Deadline for applicants: Friday 12th September

This project is led by Capsule in partnership with BCAP, WMAG, NAGW, BMAG as part of Hello Digital