Gig reviews, gigs in Birmingham & West Midlands

Review: Raymond Gubbay's Classical Spectacular at the NIA Dec 08 2008

THE combined might of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the English Concert Chorus once again made this an early December night to remember.Read

Review: The Kooks at Wolverhampton Civic Hall Dec 08 2008

EVEN when their front man Luke Pritchard is at his most tired and emotional, The Kooks know how to bring a venue to life with a bang.Read

Review: Slipknot at National Indoor Arena Dec 08 2008

THERE was an earthquake in Birmingham city centre last night. Its epicentre was traced to the National Indoor Arena.Read

Review: Duffy at Civic Hall in Wolverhampton Dec 05 2008

MULTI-award winning Welsh songstress Duffy swept into Wolverhampton on the back of news that she’s a contender for yet another prize.Read

Review: Coldplay at Birmingham NIA Dec 02 2008

COLDPLAY have come a long way since they played Birmingham’s Ronnie Scott’s in 2000, just as their album Parachutes was hitting the headlines.Read

Review: The Zutons at Birmingham Carling Academy Dec 01 2008

THE gushing compliments of the audience on their way out of The Zutons’ gig on Saturday were predictable.Read

Review: Simple Minds at NEC Arena Dec 01 2008

SIMPLE Minds were one of the iconic and important bands of the 1980s with such anthems as Alive and Kicking, Don’t You (Forget About Me) and their only number one Belfast Child. Read

Cliff Richard at the NIA, Birmingham - Review Nov 21 2008

IF there really is an elixir of youth then Cliff Richard seems to have cornered the market has he sang and danced his way through 42 numbers in a three hour and ten minute show at the NIA.Read

Mercury Rev delight faithful at Birmingham Carling Academy Nov 12 2008

IT’S a travesty a band of the stature and spell-binding brilliance as Mercury Rev play to a half-full venue.Read

Bryan Adams, LG Arena, Natonal Exhibition Centre Nov 03 2008

YOU’D never have thought that a man unfortunate enough to be named Bryan would go on to become a rock legend.Read

The Ju Ju Men, Madhouse Bar, Birmingham Oct 29 2008

EIGHTIES psychedelic rockers The Ju Men were back in Birmingham for one night only for a special one-off reunion at this intimate venue.Read

Romantic legend Al Green delights thousands of fans Oct 29 2008

IT’S been nearly four decades since Al Green released his first single.But enthusiasm for this soul legend had not waned for the thousands of soul fans who packed the NIA arena last night.Read

Queen still have a kind of magic Oct 17 2008

IT’S Queen – but not as we know them.Read

James Blunt, NIA Birmingham Oct 08 2008

HE is the bloke everybody pretends to hate.Read

The New Seekers, Lichfield Garrick Aug 25 2008

AFTER an overture longer than West Side Story, The New Seekers finally took to the stage to take their audience back almost 40 years.Read

Kasabian, Wolverhampton Civic Hall Aug 25 2008

WHEN swathes of sweaty revellers spill on to the streets still belting out the encore you know you have been part of something special.Read

Pentangle, Symphony Hall Jul 07 2008

IT says a lot about the enduring appeal of folk music that a band can still fill Symphony Hall despite not having toured together in nearly 40 years.Read

Tribute To The Swing Era, Town Hall, Birmingham Jul 07 2008

BIRMINGHAM'S restored Town Hall made its first contribution to Birmingham International Jazz Festival and heralded the return of a Big Band playing the great sounds of swing.Read

Kings Of Swing - Rat Pack Party, Lichfield Garrick Jul 02 2008

KINGS of Swing is a celebration of the golden era of big band music.Read

The World's Greatest No.1 Hits, Town Hall, Birmingham Jun 30 2008

TWO hours of chart-topping hits, featuring over 30 songs, and performed by a talented company of around 80 performers, all added up to a most enjoyable evening.Read