http://aboutbrum.co.uk Words, Pictures And Sounds From The Second City Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:58:47 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en [A quick note about the lack of posts recently - my apologies, I'm currently busy moving house. Normal service resumes shortly!] Fancy a bit of music to brighten up your July? You're in luck. For the 24th successive year, The Birmingham International Jazz Festival opens its doors - today! From the ... http://aboutbrum.co.uk/2008/07/04/mmmmmmmmm-jazz-festivals-nice/ Birmingham has been plagued by a spate of rumoured (and actual) venue closures in the past few years, and also been unlucky with others (memorably, the burning down of Eddie's, near New Street Station, a great blow for fans of alternative music and a decent night out). However, Roy and ... http://aboutbrum.co.uk/2008/05/31/birminghams-newest-music-venue-opens-to-the-sound-of-drop-d-powerchords/ Not got anything planned for Saturday the 31st of May? Well, give The Flyover Show a go. It's on from 1pm to 9pm (but I'm sure it may well overrun) and... well, when was the last time you got to enjoy a dollop of wholesome fun in such a glamourous ... http://aboutbrum.co.uk/2008/05/12/soweto-kinch-underneath-a-flyover-for-one-night-only/ Firstly - did we miss Spring? Summer's decided to queuejump once again this year, as my (exceedingly grown up and consummately mature) housemate said to me yesterday, "strappy top season's upon us once again. Giggidy!" But anyway, I digress. The Big Picture project's been running for a while now, and it's culminating ... http://aboutbrum.co.uk/2008/05/08/big-picture-day-get-your-brum-snaps-in/ Donato Esposito's the man with the plan - the guy behind Bostin and the supporter of everything good about the Midlands. The word 'bostin' is in itself a wholly positive gesture; "that's bostin mate!" is roughly equivalent to "that's really good / brilliant / really nice / smashing" and it's ... http://aboutbrum.co.uk/2008/04/25/birmingham-meet-esposito-bringer-of-bostin-tidings/ This time, prepare to welcome BloggingBrum to the world, a product of the creative mind of one Mark Steadman... What's it about? "It's a blog for Birmingham. That's it." Succint. I like it. (Bonus points for having a picture of the Floozie in the Jacuzzi as part of the design!) I'm always ... http://aboutbrum.co.uk/2008/04/02/another-brum-blog-is-born/ I suppose one of the advantages of promoting Birmingham and the West Midlands is that you hear about some stuff before others... I received an email from the PR department at the Town Hall, promoting their forthcoming festival under the "English Originals" moniker... I've been known to be a ... http://aboutbrum.co.uk/2008/03/31/forthcoming-town-hall-events-and-more-redesigns/ I had to laugh when I read this BBC article - Major city 'flash mob prevented'; Birmingham's Bullring shopping centre said it stopped a major 'flash mob' exercise involving dozens of people. But members of the group said the event, in which people froze for five minutes, took place and images ... http://aboutbrum.co.uk/2008/03/09/humourless-bullring-staff-attempt-ineffectual-smear-campaign/ Corny I know, but appropriate... Just now (about 1am), Birmingham (and much of the Midlands and Central England) had a little earthquake! It only lasted about ten seconds here, but was strong enough to make my speakers rock on their stands and my radiator make a noise... Amusingly, we all ... http://aboutbrum.co.uk/2008/02/27/did-the-earth-move-a-little-bit-for-you/ Birmingham's a bit of a higgledy-piggledy place when it comes to architecture. You have brash, modern buildings parked opposite 1980s 'oddities', which themselves are next to to clean lines and glass frontage of Starbucks and office buildings... And on top of that, you have the old, OLD buildings that were in ... http://aboutbrum.co.uk/2008/02/22/how-to-sum-up-birminghams-architecture-in-one-go/