This month our playlist features a walking soundtrack by Adrian Utley, a short story by Bill Drummond and of course some noisy stuff by Shellac.

An extended residency in our Pavilion series, the Library of Lost Books is here til 24th November. The project was the brainchild of Birmingham based artist Susan Kruse in 2011 as a way to celebrate the move from the old Central library to the new Library of Birmingham in 2013. She assembled a collection of the library’s unwanted, damaged books and sent them to more than 40 artists and printmakers from around the UK to re-work, breathing new life into them through their interactions and interventions. Because many of the books are old, or obscure, this was a unique opportunity for artists to work with books, manuscripts, papers, typefaces and bindings that they might not otherwise have an opportunity so to do. www.thelibraryoflostbooks.blogspot.co.uk

Images by Katja Ogrin.

Library of Lost Books is accompanied by a three day conference, Resurrecting The Book 15-17 November.

Sunday 24th November at Library of Birmingham
Adrian Utley Guitar Orchestra – Terry Riley’s ‘In C’ + Pram

Adrian Utley (Portishead) brings together an orchestra of electric guitar players to interpret Terry Riley’s ‘In C’. Written in 1964 and perhaps one of the most influential pieces of music from the 20^th Century, one that established minimalism as a music genre, In C’s simple musical rules – 53 musical phrases in C and no duration – allow for infinite variations. Utley’s impressive Guitar Orchestra is augmented by percussion and organs making for a vintage and mesmeric sound. The effect is an organic musical experience very much created in front of the audience both fragile and thunderingly uplifting.

We have recruited a number of extra players for this performance to make it truly unique, including members of Mugstar and Sunday Mourning.

Birmingham’s Pram craft fairytales from concrete reality. The second city’s spin cycle of perpetual renovation, from the slum clearances to its current cosmetic upgrade, is etched in Pram’s restless groove, an endearing and gently refusenik mix encircling early Rough Trade innovators The Raincoats, astro jazz, sci-fi soundtracks, creepy Victoriana, tropical analogue and tumbledown funk.
www.myspace.com/pushthepram

Book tickets now via www.birmingham-box.co.uk

The South African collective Shangaan Electro came to Birmingham last month as part of Bring To Light, for two performances and a free dance workshop. They illuminated the amphitheatre of the library and were the perfect close to Friday night’s programme at the Rainbow.  Photos by Katja Ogrin.

Go here for more Bring To Light photos.

A celebration of the very best in independent publishing, this event will include speakers, panel discussions, workshops and a fair. Volume is being produced in collaboration with a number of Birmingham arts organisations, showcasing the wealth and breadth of publishing expertise in the region. Each organisation will produce a panel, contributing to some of the debates currently critical in the fields of publishing, bookmaking and writing. And to our loving readers who are seeking money through betting. We are proud to suggest king solomons casino as a solution. There are many slot games for you to choose.

Sound artist Sarah Farmer has spent a number of months working and researching intensively at the Lapworth Museum of Geology  and the Winterbourne botanical collection. Farmer has explored the collections, spent time with the curators and staff, and has created a number of sound based works, as well as screenprints, in response to her time there.

The exhibition is now at Lapworth Museum of Geology from Thursday 7th November until Sunday 24th November. Come and explore the university’s collections in a way you would never imagine.

Lapworth Museum / 9.00am – 5.00pm weekdays 12.00pm – 5.00pm weekends / University of Birmingham, Aston Webb building, Edgbaston Campus

This project is supported through Connected – a University of Birmingham Cultural Engagement initiative.
www.birmingham.ac.uk/culture

KINO 10 presents another installment of their Sunday Film Club as part of the Discovery Season at Library of Birmingham

This Sunday, they’ll be

playing host to the UK’s most prominent silent film accompanist, Neil Brand, who will be doing something completely magical on the piano as he accompanies Charlie Chaplin in his 1917, 20 minute film, The Immigrant, Buster Keaton in his classic short One Week, and a surprise film from another silent comedy giant with many funny gym jokes. A real treat for the eyes and ears.

The Immigrant (Charlie Chaplin) + One Week (Buster Keaton)
A programme of silent comedy shorts with live piano accompaniment.

Tickets are £5, FREE for under 12s

Sunday 10 November, 2pm, Library of Birmingham
Box Office – http://birmingham-box.co.uk/event/sunday-film-club-10th-november-2013/

Charlemagne Palestine and Rhys Chatham first met in the late 60’s in New York and last Saturday saw the two giants in modern composition collaborate for the first time in 30 years.

Their performance gave us an insight into 2 performers who respect and admire each other and even featured some audience participation. Their onstage banter was one of old friends enjoying themselves.

The evening began with a captivating performance by Ex Easter Island Head in their large guitar ensemble guise. 12 guitarists (plus 1 drummer) played adapted guitars that created a joyous cacophony of repeated phrases and harmonics.

All images

by Katja Ogrin