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

So the birthday celebrations come to an end tomorrow and for the closing party we are keeping things local – so if you’re not from round these parts it’s time for an education in Birmingham underground music. Showcasing both acts that have stalked Capsule shows since the early days and the brand spanking new, this frenzied party of dark lords, Barbie dolls, sweat and growls should round things off nicely.

Doors are at 6 – yep it’s an early one. There’s a free gift to the first 100 through the door plus a raffle, short films and snacks to go alongside the wealth of incredible local artists.

Many folks have asked for a running order so here is an approx one give or take 5/10 minutes:

Doors 6.00pm
6.45 pm Stinky Weasel Teats
7.45 pm Una Corda
8.55 pm Kipple
9.10pm Health & Efficiency
10.10pm Modified Toy Orchestra
11.20pm PCM
1.00 am Curfew
This will be sprinkled with various DJ sets – expect a fair bit of reach and grab action!

Last few tickets available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk

Tomorrow Lightning Bolt perform as part of our 10th birthday celebrations, an intimate gig at VIVID – this is sure to be a special one! Taking us back to when we first put them on in what is now the Theatre Space at the Custard Factory back in 2004, that show was unforgettable and we’re sure that this one will be too. Support comes from Tweak Bird + Pete Prescription.
The show has completely SOLD OUT!

The birthday celebrations continue on Thursday with a double doom whammy featuring the mighty SUNN O))) + OM, this takes place at The Asylum in Hockley, there are still tickets available online and there will be a limited number on the door. Ear plugs are adviced 🙂

“Ten years on from Sunn 0)))’s first recorded output, The Grimmrobe Demos, the group’s patented style of supersonic slurry has transmuted and transmogrified into a new oozing beast, which despite having the same genetic makeup, has modified its DNA and absorbed any unsuspecting musical modalities it’s found useful. Monoliths & Dimensions, their seventh studio album, sees an amalgamation of the plate tectonics of drone metal with the inner and outer worlds explored in the free jazz of the 1970s, while also exhibiting a bent towards modern minimalism and classical music of the 20th century and earlier.” (from Tiny Mix Tapes)

Friday PRAM perform accompanied by visuals by Film Ficciones at VIVID, incorporating the techniques of early cinema, Filmficciones dark collages are stalked by a live performance by Pram, creating an eerie musical nightmare – think creepy Victoriana, tropical analogue and tumbledown funk. With support from LIGHT TRAP, featuring Nic Bullen (Ex Napalm Death/Scorn), Johnny Doom (ex Sore Throat/Doom) + Dougie of Una Corda fame. They combine blackened and primitive noise rock with progressive and experimental elements.
Tickets are available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk Swordfish + Polar Bear
Doors are at 8.00pm

We kick off our 10th birthday celebrations with an extraordinary night of entertainment at the spectacular Town Hall Birmingham who are also celebrating 175 years in existence. 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.

There are still tickets available from
https://tickets.thsh.co.uk/
or phone – 0121 780 3333

Lightning Dust (members of Black Mountain)

Six Organs Of Admittance

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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PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE this show was due to take place at VIVID but has now been moved to the RAINBOW PUB on Digbeth High Street, just past the Custard Factory
doors are at 7.30pm and the show will be over by 10.30pm please make sure you arrive early.
Advanced Tickets from www.theticketsellers.co.uk Polar Bear/Swordfish

WEDNESDAY sees a welcome return to the mighty OXBOW, jazz infused, Birthday Party style noise, they produce a live show where you never know what might happen, an element which is as exciting as it is scary. Support for this show comes TRANSITIONAL featuring Dave Cochrane (Head Of David/Grey Machine) and LIGHT TRAP which boasts comprised of John (Haxan, ex Doom & Sore Throat), Doug (Una Corda) and Nic (ex Napalm Death & Scorn).

Oxbow Duo at Supersonic Festival 2007

Ok folks we have a number of shows coming up over the next couple of months and we’re pretty stoked on the selection.

Kicking off with ELECTRIC WIZARD,  a crushing behemoth of funeral march psychedelia with support from Canadian flute-tinged witch rock, BLOOD CEREMONY – think Jethro Tull mixed with Sabbath!
Be aware that this show is selling very fast and our capacity is limited!

A welcome return by Capsule favourites FUCK BUTTONS, with support from ZUN ZUN EGUI, a  heavy dance band, they fire up mighty, eternal grooves worthy of some dust-caked Lagos street jam. THEO – Taut, chugging guitar loops layer up with frenetic tapping patterns that interweave in spiralling complexity.

STARLESS & BIBLE BLACK have drawn together the sounds of ‘70s Topanga Canyon country-rock, ‘80s Mancunian jangle, and space-age psychedelic drones to make a dynamic, warm and woodsy sound. Support from FOX, intimate, acoustic-led songwriting combining a wide variety of instruments, including guitars, banjo, percussion, keyboards, theremin, mandolin + new Birmingham based collective Health & Efficiency, who combine banjo, two basses, two guitars, synths, samplers and more effects and loop pedals.

ISIS are back in Brum, expect heavy, slow and brutal sounds, whilst hypnotising and entrancing you all with their live show. They will be bringing with them a very special support act – more news on that soon. This will be our first show at The Asylum in Hockley, which we’re really excited about using, good beer prices & great PA.

EFTERKLANG with support from NANCY ELIZABETH will also be taking place at the Asylum on the following night – expect an upbeat atmosphere and with  a sense of hope and optimism, these guys will leave you with a massive smile on your face – what more could you want from a gig.

These are just for starters – also confirmed for November DAMIEN JURADO, WOODS/ESPERS/THE CAVE SINGERS + OXBOW

Tickets can be bought in advanced from www.theticketsellers.co.uk
Polar Bear – York Road, Kings Heath
Swordfish – Birmingham city centre

Folks there are still tickets available for Supersonic Festival – day tickets can be purchased on the door

Sat from 4pm

Sun from 2pm