There’s no doubt that this will be an extremely special show, and we’re all very excited here at Capsule HQ.

Matmos are a prolific experimental electronic duo whose previous works have included the use of liposuction surgery, aspirin tablets hitting a drum kit from across the room, and the reproductive organs of a cow. Yum. They’ll be joined on stage by J Lesser, who has previously worked with Bjork and Blevin Blectum.

Check out this amazing footage of Matmos performing at Royal Festival Hall:

Support comes from John Wiese – an important part of the LA noise scene, he has worked with C. Spencer Yeh, Kevin Drumm, Merzbow and has even toured as a member of Sunn0))).

Their performance at mac on Sunday 15th May is one of only four UK dates for Matmos – don’t miss out. Get your tickets here

Wedlock- what a success! We raised approx £300 (got some shrapnel to count!) for Japan Red Cross so a big thanks you to all the bands, DJs and stall holders but mainly a big thank you to everyone who made it down.

Here’s some pictures below from Katja Ogrin, plus a couple of videos that have been circulating…

Dream Dreams the Dreamer began proceedings with a 5-piece noise orchestra.

It was the Birmingham debut for Backwards; early Swans-esque filth.

Followed by Fickle Twin

and Bargepole

And on to the next event, the amazing Matmos will be performing a very special show at mac on Sunday 15th May, featuring J Lesser and with support from John Wiese  -get your tickets  here

This Saturday, celebrate the bank holiday weekend and get away from the Royal Wedding frenzy with Capsule. We’ll be hosting a party, acting as a fundraiser for Japan Red Cross, with bands and DJs as well as local record labels selling their wares.

Bargepole are a self destructive mix of Jesus Lizard, Hot Snakes and Charles Bukowski and features ex members of Beestung Lips and Knives. Backwards is a new, much anticipated project from ex members of Napalm Death, Beestung Lips and Una Corda, with double bass attack! Also playing are  Dream Dreams the Dreamer, an epic noise orchestra of percussion, violin, guitars, vocals and more plus Fickle Twin…

Bad Egg Records and First Fold Records will be hosting stalls, and there will be DJ sets from Pete Ashton (of 8bit Lounge fame) and Health & Efficiency.

Entry is  £5 – you can get them in advance here. All profits go to Japan Red Cross,please do come and support!

Music-News have published a review of our gig with Seefeel at Hare & Hounds last month.

Seefeel certainly had something more than a legacy to live up to, as they took the Hare & Hounds back towards a dreamy beautification from a far gone shoegaze era.

It was a great gig with wonderful support from Brighton’s Dead Fader (whose almighty unleashing of bass seemed to startle more than a few gig goers) and shoegazers Epic 45.

Click here to see the full review

“Could you imagine Elgar, Bach or Vaughn Williams’ cello adagios thunder-busting the bass-bins? Before tonight, me neither. Which is why Lori Goldston’s not quite so mellow cello opening set of angst-fueled arpeggios, left punters mesmerized, bewildered, fascinated and eye-bleedingly catatonic in equal measure.”

Lori Goldston opens for Earth

Followed by Earth joining Lori on stage

The godfather of drone Dylan Carlson

Earth play to a sell out audience – Thanks you

“Tonight, it bordered on reverence, and we know how H&H punters don’t take prisoners. Primal, tribal, viscerally asymmetric, it has to be said Earth’s dronal incantations are not everyone’s chosen vat of hemlock: their bruised muse being very much for the alternatively, esoterically inclined. But, subtle wiles are this band’s perplexing charm. And damnably nice people as well. Happy Daze! Thanks to Capsule for another great gig.”

Read full review by John Kennedy on Brum Live with thanks to Katja Ogrin for her fantastic photos

Last Wednesday the Arts Council announced their National Portfolio, unfortunately Capsule’s application was not successful.

This was the first time that Capsule had been invited to apply for such support through Arts Council, with the intention of supporting our year round program and underpinning the activity of the organisation. Our application was received very positively in the first round, however we were turned down in the second round and feedback was that due to the current financial landscape & competition we were not taken on.

Whilst the decision is of course extremely disappointing to us, it will not halt us in our dedication to conducting a first class, innovative programme of activity.

2011 is set to be an exciting year with the ground breaking Home of Metal project to be launched across the region in late June.

We’d like to thank our audience for their continued support and to say that we need you now more than ever, so watch this space for exciting announcements over the coming months!!

Home of Metal hit West Brom last weekend – which included a number of large scale vinyls of fans portraits taken by photographer Steve Gerrard.

…another excellent event coming up at Flatpack Festival. This Thursday 25th March at IKON Eastside, Flatpack will be screening ‘We Don’t Care About Music Anyway’, a portrait of the Japanese experimental music scene with a performance from Sakamoto Hiromichi, an intriguing cellist who also uses voice, musical saw and an array of instruments to craft beautiful, and always surprising, pieces. I’m personally hugely excited, having discovered him through his collaborations with sound artist Haco.

Tickets are available here, and there will also be opportunities to donate to the Red Cross at the event in the wake of recent events in Japan.

Don’t forget on Saturday 26th March Home of Metal will be screening ‘In Bed with Chris Needham’ at IKON Eastside, tickets for that event are available here