Art Co events next week

We’ve just had a flyer through about some interesting art events happening next week at the IM Suite of the Hippodrome which are free to attend:

“Culture & Identity The Role of Place in Shaping the Arts”
Tuesday 8th April, 6.30pm‐8pm

Chair: Robert Yates

Speakers: Richard Billingham ‐ Artist, Turner Prize nominee, Catherine O’Flynn ‐ Writer, Costa First Novel Award winner 2007, James Yarker ‐ Director, Stan’s Cafe

“Why Should We Care About Creativity In the West Midlands?”
Wednesday 9th April, 6.30pm‐8pm

Chair: Robert Yates

Speakers: Soweto Kinch ‐ Musician, MOBO Award winner & Mercury Award nominee, Stuart Murphy ‐ Creative Director, TwoFour / Former Controller BBC3, Matt Price ‐ Writer / Curator, Gavin Wade ‐ Artist, Founder Eastside Projects

‘Future of Sound’ Birmingham Showcase

Thursday 10th April, 6.30pm‐9pm

Including: Sykes, Director Cybersonica Martyn Ware, Modified Toy Orchestra, Soweto Kinch, The Sancho Plan, And local Birmingham artists.

Tickets are free and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. To book please contact Arts Co on 020 7723 0285 / info@arts‐co.com

THE ART OF IDEAS FOLDER Alongside the events a photo essay of Birmingham artists will be on display at the IMI Suite – Jane Anderson, Ayling & Conroy, Simon & Tom Bloor, Pogus Caesar, Mona Casey, Fay Claridge, Juneau Projects, Kate Pemberton, Liz Rowe and David Thomas photographed by Ravi Deepres, Chris Keenan and David Rowan. These are being printed as a limited edition on art maps of Birmingham, which will be handed out each evening in The Art of Ideas folder.

Last 2 days to see Visual

If you haven’t had the chance to pop in to the VISUAL exhibition at Baskerville House  then you have today and tomorrow to take a look before it closes.

“The exhibition features fine art, photography and contemporary craft by new, emerging and established British artists, all of whom have been carefully selected by arts professionals and business leaders. All the work is for sale and is suitable for both corporate and domestic settings.”

Writer matthew Pricehas written and extensive piece about the Visual concept and the exhibition which you can read on the Fused site here.

Image above: Jennifer Collier, Little Women Stilettoes, paper and card, 18 x 18 x 8 cm approx. Courtesy the artist. Photo: Luke Unsworth

Alizé Remixed DJ Competition!

1 tour…5 cities…21 years…. This is Alizé Remixed!

With its roots firmly in RnB and Hip Hop, Alizé is a legendary liqueur on the music scene. It is a premium fruit liqueur made from a blend of Alizé V.S Cognac and fresh and exotic juices from around the world. From name checks in some of the biggest tracks ever, to VIP rooms at some of the hottest parties around the world, Alizé is the soundtrack for the best nights out.

For its 21st Birthday, Alizé will be mixing up something really special.
Together with MTV, Alizé is searching for the freshest DJ talent to star in the Alizé Remixed tour. The winners will get £1000 cash and hit the turntables alongside the likes of legendary DJ legends including Jazzy Jeff and Grandmaster Flash, plus the competition Ambassadors Steve Sutherland and Shortee Blitz.

This isn’t a cutting and scratching contest, it’s about creating the ultimate vibe!
Alizé are asking would-be maestros to create a 10 minute mix of their favourite party tracks from the past 21 years, and then upload them to the contest’s dedicated website – www.alizeremixed.com. Mixes can include any number of tracks, from hip hop and soul to garage and reggae, so long as they make a banging party mix!
The better the vibe, the better the chance of getting your name up in lights!
All mixes will be judged by Alizé Remixed Ambassadors Steve Sutherland (Galaxy Radio) and Shortee Blitz (Kiss FM).

Steve Sutherland commented: “Alizé Remixed is an opportunity for great up-and-coming DJs to experience something amazing – to show off their skills and star alongside legendary names like Jazzy Jeff. No egos allowed and good vibes are essential, so if you’ve got the tracks, we’ve got the stage.”

Steve offers his top tips on creating the best banging party mix:
1) Vary up your tracks, don’t have all hip hop, or all 80s groove. Keep it interesting
2) Be creative. You don’t need to play the whole track, maybe just the best 16bars or the big hook
3) Don’t overuse scratching – we want to hear your selections, not your tricks
4) Choose your playlist carefully. You may love an obscure album track, but if the crowd doesn’t know it, you’ll kill the vibe…
5) …at the time, don’t be scared to throw in a surprise to keep them on their toes!

Once selected, the Alizé Remixed winners will play at one gig each on the tour which will be hitting 5 cities across the UK. The tour will kick of in Birmingham in April and then will hit Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and finish with a party to end all parties in London town. So whether your party playlist includes Mary J Blige and the Mary Jane Girls, Big Poppa and Big Daddy Kane, or even Chris Brown and Bobby Brown, Alizé Remixed is your chance to be heard!

Put your mix together and upload it to http://www.alizeremixed.com. Full terms and conditions can be found on the website.

Alizé Remixed Tour kicks off in Birmingham on April 24th at Custard Factory with Steve Sutherland and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Further dates and line up in Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and London will be announced soon.

For more info on Alizé’s product history and cocktails recipes, visit www.alizeuk.com

For further details on the Alizé Remixed contest and tour visit www.alizeremixed.com

From everyone here at Fused: GOOD LUCK!

Sweet Georgia Brown Retro Hair Pomade!

Fan of your Dax Wax? Look no further than Sweet Georgia Brown for your new follicle fix. Sweet Georgia Brown is a classic brand of hair pomades made in New York City – epitome of all things cool. And this fabulous retro inspired hair pomade from the New Yorkers is no exception.

The Original Sweet Georgia is a firm favourite with the American public and the British barbering force. For the shine or wet look, you will find nothing better. So make it your mission to treat your bonce to a bit of pomade loving all the way from New York City!

Sweet Georgia Brown Red is great for smoothing out dry ends and un-frizzing frizz.
Sweet Georgia Brown Blue is softer than the Original Red but still gives great hold and amazing shine. Apply small amounts for a little definition and a large amount for messed up madness.
Sweet Georgia Purple is water based and washes out easily, perfect if you can’t bear the stickiness! It has a fantastic scent and is lighter than the other two; this classic pomade is recommended for short crops or great definition in length.

ALL RRP £4.99  Available in a cool retro, nice big 4oz tin!
For stockists please call 02077 00 4444 or visit: www.sweetgeorgiabrownpomade.com

“Play Me, I’m Yours”

Pianos appear where you least expect them across Birmingham!

Fierce! is working with international artist Luke Jerram on a unique community music project titled ‘Play me, I’m yours’. Between 10 and 25 March around fifteen pianos will mysteriously appear in streets, shopping centres and public places across Birmingham,  written on the keys of each piano will be the words ‘Play me, I’m yours’. The project will launch on Weds 12 March 11am at One Stop Shopping Centre, Perry Barr.

The pianos are free for anyone to play. At different points between 10 and 25 March professional musicians will be invited to show their talents alongside members of the public who fancy giving piano playing a go! Locations include the Rag Market on Edgbaston Street in the City Centre, One Stop Shopping Centre in Perry Barr, two Schools in Kings Heath, the Children’s play area at Cadbury World in Bournville and Villa Park in Aston. We hope each piano will be personalised – (painted and decorated) by each community.

Through placing pianos across Birmingham the project will explore how communities access and participate in music making in a variety of settings. How long will the pianos remain in place? Who will play on them? Will each piano become a local meeting point as well as a talking point? Where will they end up? In someone’s home, in the river, burnt out, sold on ebay?

Each piano will have its own custodian, someone living or working nearby, who with Fierce! and Luke Jerram will document the community’s responses to the pianos by taking pictures of people playing them or wondering why they are there. The stories, films and photos will be posted at http://www.streetpianos.com.

Artist Luke Jerram said: “Like many people, I don’t know the names of the people living opposite our house. I’m interested to see if these pianos help to connect people and promote a sense of community. Some of the pianos will be loved, others ignored. Some people may just enjoy wrecking them, but that’s ok – the pianos are theirs! ”

Fierce! produces the annual Fierce Festival across the West Midlands. The eleventh festival will take place in May and June 2008, for more information visit http://www.fiercetv.co.uk. Previous public projects have included ‘Name in Lights’ with a resident’s name appearing in lights on top of Birmingham Library and the nest, complete with bird man, on the side of the Rotunda. Together with Luke Jerram projects have included hot air balloons and musicians floating above Birmingham and Stratford Upon Avon at dawn and the subterranean Tunnel Vision taking people underneath the city.

“Play me, I’m yours” has been funded by Birmingham City Council as part of the Urban Fusion programme.

MONSTERS

Last year we met Paul Roberts when he had a stall at LTD Edition – Fused’s affordable art market. He sold some very special little friends on his stall that were all handcrafted by his good self.
Since then his monsters having been popping upall over the place – including the 6ft one that he brought with him to the market.

He has just launched his monstersmonsters website so that you canfollow him and his friends wherever he goes. You can also buy his monsters online and at the Ikon gallery bookstore in Birmingham.

Dot to Dot tickets go on sale

This years DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL is going to be bigger and better than ever, tickets are onsale now, don’t miss out!

This yeat’s DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL  is to be held over 2 days in Bristol and Nottingham on May 24th and 25th in BOTH cities. Tickets went on sale for both Nottingham & Bristol at 9am, this morning.

Just some of the acts already confirmed to play include:
1990s
CARIBOU
DAN DEACON
DIRTY PRETTY THINGS
GET CAPE WEAR CAPE FLY
HEARTBREAK
JEREMY WALMSLEY
JUICEBOXXX
METRONOMY
PRIMARY 1
SPIRITUALIZED
THE GHOST FREQUENCY
THE HOLLOWAYS
THE LITTLE ONES
SAUL WILLIAMS
WE  ARE WOLVES

To keep updated with line-up details click here.

For tickets: 08713 100 000 / www.alt-tickets.co.uk

Mark Ronson dates announced

Superstar DJ and producer Mark Ronson will be heading to Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall on Tuesday 6th May 2008.

Tickets priced £23.50 will be available from 9.00am on Friday 7th March at Midland Box Office: 0870 320 7000 or online at www.wolvescivic.co.uk.

As yet there is no mention of any special guests following him to Wolves but we’ll keep you posted if we here anything.

V line-up annoucements

Received an email yesterday from the V Press Office with an update on the acts that are playing this years festival and its great to see local boys THE TWANG in the line up.

Of course there will be more annoucements to come but here is a taster – its a pretty eclectic line-up as is usual for V.

THE VERVE  • KINGS OF LEON  • STEREOPHONICS  • KAISER CHIEFS   THE PRODIGY  • AMY WINEHOUSE • THE KOOKS • THE ZUTONS • THE PIGEON DETECTIVES • LENNY KRAVITZ • MAXIMO PARK • IAN BROWN • THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS  • THE VIEW • NEWTON FAULKNER • THE POGUES • THE CHARLATANS • THE HOOSIERS • REVEREND AND THE MAKERS  • THE FEELING   ALANIS MORISSETTE • SCOUTING FOR GIRLS • DUFFY • JAMIE T • HOT CHIP • GIRLS ALOUD •  THE FUTUREHEADS • SQUEEZE • THE TWANG • SUGABABES • TRAVIS • AMY MACDONALD • THE COURTEENERS • SHED SEVEN • THE RIFLES •

www.vfestival.com
www.gigsandtours.com
www.seetickets.com

Free Futureheads show

The Futureheads celebrate the release of their new single, ‘The Beginning Of The Twist’, with a series of free shows and signing sessions:

MV Sunderland, Monday 10th March at 12.30pm (signing only)
HMV Newcastle, Monday 10th March at 6.00pm (gig & signing)
HMV Birmingham, Tuesday 11th March at 5.00pm (gig & signing)
HMV Manchester Wednesday 12th March at 6.00pm (gig & signing)