Gig reviews, gigs in Birmingham & West Midlands

Guns shoot to thrill in late night gig Oct 19 2010

BIRMINGHAM’S Guns N’ Roses fans are a forgiving bunch. The band came on stage 75 minutes after the scheduled start time but the crowd’s boos and slow handclaps rapidly turned to cheers and applause as Axl Rose and his motley crew launched into the title track from the Chinese Democracy album.Read

Guns n' Roses at Birmingham LG Arena - Review and setlist Oct 18 2010

IT’S 9.15pm, half an hour after the band is due onstage – and flamboyant frontman Axl Rose has yet to touch down at nearby Birmingham International Airport in his helicopter. Nothing changes on planet Guns N’ Roses.Read

Groove Armada review 02 Academy Oct 16 2010

BRASSY laid back trombone melodies, striking strobe lighting, booming beats and, of course, dance.Read

Donae'o and Skepta light up the night Oct 16 2010

A HANDFUL of fresh talent joined one of the UK’s top grime artists, Skepta, for a warm-up tour ahead of the prestigious MOBO Awards.Read

Review: Michael Buble in Birmingham Oct 11 2010

WE all knew that Michael Bublé could sing but I don’t think his adoring fans knew just how funny and charismatic the Canadian star was – until Saturday night. The talented singer, dressed in trademark dapper suit and tie, really connected with his audience, not just mesmerising them with his incredible voice, but making them laugh with jokes about his recent engagement, Tiger Woods’ transgressions and his set list. The 12-piece band dramatically launched into the classic Cry Me A River and it set the precedent for a wonderful evening.Read

Review: Jean Michel Jarre in Birmingham Oct 11 2010

IT’S hard to say who enjoyed the concert more – the audience or its star, French synth pioneer Jean Michel Jarre.Read

Ricky Gervais - Birmingham NIA Aug 13 2010

THERE’S one point in this show when Ricky Gervais says a comic should never apologise and there is ‘no joke you should not do’.Read

Nas and Damian Marley\n02 ACADEMY review Birmingham Jul 22 2010

AMERICAN hip hop star Nas revealed three years ago he would be working on an album with reggae legend Bob Marley’s youngest son Damian.Read

JULIAN SMITH : Birmingham Botanical Gardens Jul 21 2010

IT was the moment Britain’s Got Talent sensation Julian Smith strolled across the lawns, serenading the outdoor audience and sitting in one adoring female fan’s lap, that you realised the shy saxophonist has star quality. The 41-year-old Birmingham Conservatoire alumnus narrowly pipped to the reality TV post by Susan Boyle last year was making a return to the city’s International Jazz Festival where once he busked in shopping malls.Read

Review The Doors with London Philharmonic Orchestra, Wolverhampton Civic Hall Jul 21 2010

THE sad thing about this amazing gig – a gig worthy of headlining a major music festival – was that so many people missed out because the venue was astonishingly less than half-full.Read

Jazz Festival review: Martin Taylor, at Star City, Birmingham Jul 19 2010

A superbly polished solo performance by Martin Taylor, undoubtedly the finest British jazz guitarist of his generation.Read

Review: The Bluebeat Arkestra, at the Flapper & Firkin, Birmingham Jul 19 2010

With an eclectic symphony of bass, violins, guitar, synths, female rap and vocals the Bluebeat Arkestra are a complete fusion of raw sound. Read

Review: Monday Session, at the Botanical Gardens, Birmingham Jul 19 2010

Each track lifts across the gardens with confidence, and a significant degree of enjoyment. Read

Jazz Festival review: Joe Fournier with Tipitana, at the Lord Clifden, Birmingham Jul 19 2010

Returning from a tour of Sweden that left him with one hour’s sleep in two days, Joe formed an instant rapport with Tipitina in Birmingham. Read

Review: The Sound Of Music - Birmingham Hippodrome Jul 15 2010

IT’S the show we have all been waiting for as The Sound of Music opened at Birmingham Hippodrome this week.Read

Review: Britain's Got Talent Tour at LG Arena Jun 28 2010

WHETHER you love or loathe Simon Cowell’s omnipresence in the TV schedules, the genuine skill of the Britain’s Got Talent finalists was clear to see at the packed LG Arena.Read

Review: Ozzy Osbourne at the Town Hall, Birmingham Jun 28 2010

HE USUALLY plays arenas and massive outdoor festivals so it was a real treat for fans to see Ozzy performing in the relatively intimate environment of Birmingham Town Hall.Read