The Wire have published a glowing review of our show with The Alif Ensemble feat. Khyam Allami at Ikon Gallery. It was a wonderful show, and great to continue working with Khyam and his varying projects.
Our next gig is with Sleepy Sun, perfect hazy late summer vibes, with support from Mustard Tiger and a band rising from the ashes of Mothwasp (we’re waiting on the new name!). Tickets are available via https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/
Poster designed by Ben Javens
The debut performance by this new Arabic music collective took place in Liverpool at the weekend as part of the Arabic Arts Festival. We’re delighted that the Alif Ensemble will be performing in Birmingham this Thursday 19th July at Ikon Gallery. Tickets are still available via https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/
Here’s a review of the show from the Liverpool Echo –
The ‘sound’ is led by ensemble founder Kyam Allami, playing the oud, the traditional fretless string instrument which is the basis of middle eastern music.
Add to that the buzuk, mastered by vocalist Tamer Abu Ghazaleh, the the rest integrates the already widely familiar – bass guitar (Khaled Omran), two percussion players (Ayman Mabrouk and Kaled Yassine) with Yaroub Smarait on violin and Maurice Louca on keyboards.
Indeed, when also operating the mixing desk, Louca’s bodily animation communicated enthusiasm for a sound world which, frquently, could easily have crossed over into the realms of mid-period Pink Floyd.
We are extremely pleased to be bringing this very special show with some of the most talented and inventive young Arabic players to Birmingham. Fresh from a performance with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the Liverpool Arab
Arts Festival, the Alif Ensemble will perform at Ikon Gallery on Thursday 19th July.
The Ensemble will feature the magnificent Khyam Allami on oud. See below his previous performances at Supersonic, both solo and with Master Musicians of Bukkake.
Tickets are £8 or £6 concessions and available from theticketsellers
Thanks to all who made it on Sunday for our event at IKON. Part of the gallery’s Autumn Almanac series, celebrating the city’s cultural activity, we were invited to program a night of music and sound art. This seemed a wonderful way to round off our wonderful Home of Metal year, celebrating the sound of Birmingham with two exciting performances that explored the concept of Heavy Metal and created something entirely new.
Fresh from their Supersonic debut, Ore played their tuba doom. Referencing Metal, Classical and Experimental sounds.
Andrew Moscardo Parker took inspiration from the newly reformed godfathers of Metal, taking the first three notes of the song ‘Black Sabbath’ ( these notes were known as the Devil’s Intervals in Medieval times) and creating a 30 minute string piece. Eight string players surrounded the audience to create a truly immersive piece of work.
Capsule’s very own Ms Sara Fowles (centre) contributes viola
Huge thanks to all the players, to SOUNDkitchen for contributing field recordings based around the notion of ‘Metal’ and to IKON.
…than with Home of Metal?
If you’re around the Black Country, you may have seen Home of Metal splashed all over your buses, metro stations and more, all promoting our Heavy Metal dedicated day on Saturday 26th March.
We’re starting off at The Public, West Brom where we’re inviting Heavy Metal fans to bring along their memorabilia to add to our digital archive, anything from t-shirts, ticket stubs, fanzines and records are all invaluable to the project!
Johnny Doom will be hosting the event, interviewing cult metal hero Krusher (former ‘Raw Power’ presenter and Kerrang! art director) who will be talking about some of the Black Sabbath and Monsters of Rock artwork he has created.
Steve Gerrard will be giving a masterlass in music photography, showing you how to get the perfect live shot. Please note that this class is now full.
Steve has been an accredited photographer for bands such as Radiohead, Metallica, Kiss, Muse, Nine Inch Nails, Iron Maiden, The Sex Pistols, Bon Jovi and Melvins. As part of the Home of Metal open day he will be giving one lucky unsigned band a free photoshoot!
We’ll also be screening the first and only Led Zeppelin feature film ‘Song Remains the Same’ – along with (sometimes bizarre) dream sequences the film sees the band storm through ‘Stairway to Heaven’, ‘Black Dog’, ‘Heartbreaker’ and the rest, to thunderous effect.
Birmingham based artists Juneau Projects will be in attendance on the day to help you create your very own electronic cardboard instrument. Use cardboard to build your own Telecaster or Flying V, drumkit, keyboard or invent your own instrument. Then add some simple electronics to trigger sound samples, take to the stage, dress up and play!
It’ll be a great day, and it’s all FREE – Home of Metal Open Day, The Public, 11am-4pm
And that’s not all as in the evening we’re hooking up with Flatpack Festival and The Quietus to bring you a very exciting screening of ‘In Bed with Chris Needham’ at IKON Eastside
“The plot: Chris Needham, a 17 year-old Thrash Metal fan from Loughbrough who has been absolutely lacerated by the puberty stick, is about to play his first gig with his band, Manslaughter. The problem is, they’re complete rammel. Between their first painful attempts to stand musically upright and their debut gig, Chris takes the time to defend Metal and Youth, unleashes torrents of adolescent venom upon the Green movement, ‘old bastards’, vegetarians, ‘Chart Music’, organised religion, teachers, and Neighbours, conducts a relationship with his girlfriend in excruciating silence, gets hassled by Mr Taggart and His Amazing Shirt, and goes fishing.”
– Al Needham, Leftlion
‘In Bed with Chris Needham’, IKON Eastside, 8.30pm, tickets from HERE
For up to date news and to contribute to the archive go to http://www.homeofmetal.com/
Home of Metal is collaborating with Flatpack Festival to bring a very special screening to this year’s edition of the prestigious film festival. On Saturday 26th March, ‘In Bed with Chris Needham’ will be screened at IKON Eastside, followed by a Q&A with Chris Needham himself.
‘In Bed with Chris Needham’ follows a 17 year old thrash fan as he about to embark on his band’s debut gig. Full of quotable lines, its a fantastic insight into teenage fan-dom and is, of course, a testament to the power of Heavy Metal. Unscreened for two decades, this will be a very special event.
20:30 – 23:00 Sat 26th March 2011
Screening : £6.50 Tickets from HERE
In 2009, Home of Metal brought the Led Zeppelin classic ‘Song Remains the Same’ to Flatpack Festival – if you missed it (or just really need to see it again) we’ll be showing it earlier that day at our Home of Metal Open Day at The Public, West Brom. So come along and make a day if it!
Flatpack Festival 2011 programme is now online!
Join Ikon and the Bloors in Eastside to launch Hey for Lubberland!, their specially adapted canal boat, utilising geodesic design and dazzle camouflage. Music by Khyam Allami.
As part of the Supersonic Festival Simon & Tom Bloor’s boat will be moored near Ikon Eastside. Visitors can make short journeys, accompanied by soundtracks selected by artists performing at the Festival.
To reserve a place call Ikon on 0121 248 0708
Sing Hallelujah Reverend Billy is coming!
Friday 29th May, 5.30 – 6.30pm – FREE
Outside Ikon, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HS
Suffering from shopping overload? Concerned about a world rife with global advertising, multi-national control, global warming, packaging and supermarket domination in a profit driven and dirty world? Help is at hand! Reverend Billy and his Gospel Choir of Life After Shopping are coming to Birmingham as part of his ‘UK Shopocalypse Tour’.
Reverend Billy, the infamous New-York based performance artist and activist who is banned from every Starbucks in the US, makes his only Midlands appearance. This event is presented as a collaboration between Ikon and Fierce! Festivals year round programme.