Death In Vegas play Camden Crawl 2012

Death In Vegas are to headline the opening night of the Camden Crawl 2012

The Camden Crawl offers 300 artists & events in & around Camden Town, London for 1 ticket over 3 days between 12pm – 4am between 4th – 6th May Bank Holiday weekend.

Officially the summer’s opening festival, The Camden Crawl is the UK’s definitive urban multi-venue arts showcase. 1 ticket gives you everything you could want from a cultural event, all in the proximity of Camden’s legendary venues. 300 new, established and emerging bands; the best comedy; exclusive, bespoke and pioneering performing arts; a fully interactive experience and loads more.

The Camden Crawl will introduce the Bank Holiday festival for the first time with an opening night marathon at Camden’s historic KOKO venue on Friday 4th May. As an explosive start to what promises to be the best Crawl ever, psychedelic electronic innovators Death In Vegas (aka Richard Fearless) will top the evenings bill which celebrates this landmark occasion.

“We’re really over the moon to be playing the opening night of this brilliant festival. We’re going to bring our full on sonic and visual assault to Koko, our first time playing this amazing venue and first time playing Camden Crawl.” – Richard Fearless

For more information visit www.thecamdencrawl.com.

Blink-182

Blink-182 have been confirmed to headline an Eden Session on Sunday July 8.

The Californian three-piece come to Eden following the release of their acclaimed sixth studio album Neighborhoods last September, their first record since the band split in 2005.

Blink-182, otherwise known as Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker, are probably best known for 1999’s seminal Enema of the State, which went on to sell 15m copies and spawned perhaps the band’s most well-known singles All the Small Things, What’s My Age Again and Adam’s Song.

Enema of the State was Blink-182’s third studio album, following 1994’s Cheshire Cat and 1996’s Dude Ranch. It preceded 2001’s Take Off Your Pants and Jacket and their self-titled fifth studio album, released in 2003 and heralding a more mature sound for the trio.

The band split in 2005 but reformed in 2009. New album Neighborhoods continues the band’s progression into more mature themes.

Blink-182 has sold more than 27 million albums in total and has won multiple awards, including Best New Act at the 2000 MTV Europe Music Awards and Best Rock Act at the same ceremony in 2001.

Martin Williams, Eden’s Marketing Director, said:

“Blink-182 are a great coup for the Eden Sessions. The band defined the pop-punk sound of the late nineties and early noughties, mixing catchy guitar hooks with lyrics that tackle serious issues in a humorous way. We’re really excited to be part of Blink’s return to the top and can’t wait to hear them perform songs from their long-awaited new album at Eden.”

Blink-182 are the second announcement for the 2012 Eden Sessions. UK soul and hip-hop star Plan B will headline a show on Friday July 6. More acts will be announced soon.

The Eden Sessions enter their eleventh year in 2012, following an acclaimed series of gigs in 2011, featuring Brandon Flowers and Pendulum among others. Previous years have seen performances from acts including Oasis, Kasabian, Mumford & Sons, Florence and the Machine and Muse.

Eden’s Inside Track scheme returns for the 2012 Eden Sessions. Members get a guaranteed pair of tickets to each show, with seven days to decide whether to buy them before they go on general sale. As well as priority booking and the latest Sessions news, Inside Track also gives members the chance to win exclusive Eden Sessions prizes.

Tickets to the Blink-182 Eden Session cost £35 plus booking fee and go on sale to Inside Track members today (Tuesday January 24) and on general sale at 6pm on Tuesday January 31. To book, contact the Eden Box Office on 01726 811972 or visit www.edensessions.com.

The evening offers a selection of Leonard’s most special songs alongside a narrative that reviews his life as a poet, lover and songwriter.  Joe Blair spent many years putting this together and it will be a unique evening.  I met Joe a couple of years ago at a management seminar in Northern Ireland and we have been in touch ever since.  For my sins, I have agreed to accompany Joe on some of the songs in the evening using the haunting tones of the e-bow, an unusual guitar effect that makes guitars sound more like a violin, hence the name ‘energy-bow’.  I bought my e-bow around 1978 after seeing Bill Nelson play one.

Copies of our latest album “Music from the Basement of Cognition” will be available on the night.  For now here’s one track, aptly titled “I always knew you would come back to Earth” after a week of madness on the streets of England.  I did once record a Prince styled version of Cohen’s “The Butcher” and an electro-pop version of the same song in the style of Erasure, but I am not posting them here for fear of reprisals by ardent Cohen fans!

So, do come along and check our review out if you are in Scotland next week.  I’ll finish with one of my favourite interpretations of Leonard’s songs in the form of Hallelujah by John Cale:

Peter Cook is the Rock’n'Roll Business Guru, blending business and management ideas with music.

Godspeed You Black Emperor

“I’ll Be Your Mirror” curated by Portishead & ATP on 23rd & 24th July – Alexandra Palace, London.

On 23rd & 24th July 2011 at the stunning Alexandra Palace, London, All Tomorrow’s Parties will present the first UK I’ll Be Your Mirror event, which will be curated by the mercurial Portishead (who headline both nights) and ATP. Acting as sister events to the world famous ATP Festivals which usually take place in holiday resorts, I’ll Be Your Mirror is a new series of artist curated music, film and art events taking place in cities worldwide.

Today ATP are very pleased to announce the addition of two stunning new performances to the Sunday 24th line-up: the legendary Godspeed You! Black Emperor who only recently reformed for a string of rapturously received sold out shows, and also a special collaboration between graphic novelist Alan Moore (Watchmen, From Hell) and musician Stephen O’Malley (Sunn O))), KTL) who will respectively provide text and guitar for an expanded soundtracking of Harry Smith’s 1962 animated alchemical film “Heaven & Earth Magic“.

We are also pleased to confirm the first of the films that will be screened in the cinema at the event. Heading the list we are excited to present the acclaimed Submarine which will be introduced by writer/director Richard Ayoade (Saturday 23rd) and we are also thrilled to invite Mark Cousins who will introduce his documentary feature The First Movie. Other films confirmed include The Treasures of Long Gone John and three films by John Minton – Field, Jock Scott and September, with a full schedule and more films to be confirmed shortly.

Portishead will headline both nights, with a different stunning supporting line-up joining them each day. Tickets will cost £59 per day with weekend tickets priced at £100. These are the only scheduled UK shows Portishead will play in 2011.

“I’ll Be Your Mirror” curated by Portishead & ATP – Alexandra Palace, London.

Saturday 23rd July

PORTISHEAD
PJ HARVEY
DOOM
COMPANY FLOW (original line-up – first UK show in 10 years)
THE BOOKS
FACTORY FLOOR
BEAK>
DD/MM/YYYY
FOOT VILLAGE
& MORE TBC

Sunday 24th July

PORTISHEAD
GRINDERMAN
GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR
SWANS
BEACH HOUSE
CARIBOU
ALAN MOORE + STEPHEN O’ MALLEY
LIARS
THE TELESCOPES
THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC
ANIKA
S.C.U.M.
& MORE TBC

Tickets are on sale now from www.atpfestival.com.

Death Cab For Cutie

Long known for their ingenious and imaginative videos, Atlantic recording group Death Cab for Cutie are poised to make history with the companion clip for their hugely anticipated new single, You Are A Tourist.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Tim Nackashi (TV On The Radio, OK Go, Elvis Costello, Radiohead), and conceptualized by frequent collaborator Aaron Stewart-Ahn, You Are A Tourist will be the first ever live, scripted, single-take music video to be broadcast as it is filmed.

You will be able to watch the action unfold before your very eyes at midnight tonight via the streaming device below:

Can't see the stream on your mobile device? Click here.

You Are A Tourist is the first single from Death Cab for Cutie’s eagerly awaited new album, CODES AND KEYS, which is scheduled for release on 30th May.

You can hear the full stream of You Are a Tourist here.

Portishead curate I'll Be Your Mirror

On the weekend of 23rd and 24th July 2011 at the stunning Alexandra Palace, London, All Tomorrow’s Parties will present the first UK I’ll Be Your Mirror live music event, which will be curated by Portishead (who headline both nights) and ATP.

Acting as sister events to the world famous ATP Festivals which usually take place in holiday resorts, and named after the b-side to The Velvet Underground’s original All Tomorrow’s Parties 7″ single, I’ll Be Your Mirror is a new series of artist curated music, film and art events taking place in cities worldwide, and the London event promises to be an incredible weeeknd.  The first I’ll Be Your Mirror was headlined by Godspeed You Black Emperor in Tokyo last month.

Portishead will headline both nights with a great supporting line, different for both days.
Tickets will cost £59 per day with weekend tickets priced at £100. These are the only scheduled UK shows Portishead will play in 2011.

With more acts to be announced, here are the current line-ups, ao far:

I’ll Be Your Mirror curated by Portishead & ATP

Saturday 23rd July

PORTISHEAD
PJ HARVEY
DOOM
COMPANY FLOW (original line-up – first UK show in 10 years)
THE BOOKS
FACTORY FLOOR
BEAK>
DD/MM/YYYY
FOOT VILLAGE

Sunday 24th July

PORTISHEAD
GRINDERMAN
SWANS
BEACH HOUSE
CARIBOU
LIARS
THE TELESCOPES
THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC
ANIKA
S.C.U.M.

Tickets are on sale from www.atpfestival.com.

Having been to the same all-day bash last year, I had very high expectations for this year’s event. After all, last year had introduced me to Allo Darlin’, Shrag and Standard Fare, who would all go on to produce cracking albums later that year. Could this year’s line-up prove their equal?

The History Of Apple Pie - photo: Robin Halls

First up were London-based The History of Apple Pie, who set the scene for the day by giving us all a large dose of feedback just as they were setting up. Their set certainly wasn’t helped much by a muddy sound (which persisted for most of the day, or maybe it’s just my ears) that gave us plenty of drums but precious little vocals. A mostly Painsy type sound ensued but they were pleasant enough and had me tapping my foot, which is always a good sign.

There was a touch of Strawberry Switchblade about ‘You’re So Cool’ which I enjoyed a lot, although the audience interaction from the band was noticeable only by its absence. They were not alone in this respect as it was something that was generally lacking all day. I’m not expecting everyone to be a convivial raconteur but something more than a quietly mumbled ‘Thanks’ wouldn’t go amiss. A good start to the day nevertheless and a band to file under ‘one to keep an eye on’, which is exactly where I had Shrag this time last year, so they are in good company.

Humousexual @ the London Pop Fest 2011 - photo: Robin Halls

Next on were the band with the best name of the day: Humousexual. Two blokes: one drummer/singer and one guitarist with a dodgy amp. Sadly, their name was the best thing about them. Again, the sound prevented the vocals from carrying clearly but there was plenty of enthusiasm for them, as they had people down the front dancing and singing along – no mean achievement for five-to-five on a wet afternoon.

Plenty of songs about London in their short set: South London, East London, Camberwell – do they need to upgrade their travelcard? One major problem with only having drums and guitar is that if, as here, the guitar amp fails, it does rather leave you watching just someone singing while bashing a solitary snare and not a lot else. Full marks to him for carrying on without missing a beat (literally) but it all left me rather cold, I’m afraid, although they weren’t without a few enjoyable moments. The White Stripes they definitely ain’t though…

Evans the Death were much more my cup of tea. They’d been a last minute replacement at the Lexington the month before and had made a good racket that night, even if the singer had a cold, so I was expecting good things from them. The first thing that struck me about them is that they’re young. Very young. For ones so tender in years, they can certainly rock, as they moved from all-out noise to a more refined and melodic aspect with ease. Singer Katherine Whitaker has a great voice and numbers such as ‘I’m so unclean’ and ‘Sleeping Song’ sound pretty good to me. More amp problems didn’t distract too much from their set. They’ve got all the basics in place and are capable of moving on to produce something really good if they keep going like this. They’ve just signed to the wonderful Fortuna Pop label and are another band to keep a close eye on in 2011.

I can tell you nothing about the Felt Tips, as that was the time for a quick dash to Chinatown and back to get some grub and be accosted by a Big Issue seller on the way. He was ecstatic with the few quid I gave him, kissing my cheek and telling how he was going to ‘panel someone’ later as he now had ‘seven hours to get pissed’ before ‘seeing his kids tomorrow’. He then narrowly avoided being flattened in the middle of Shaftesbury Avenue (and thereby wasting his panelling and drinking opportunities) by shouting at the lorry. A surreal few minutes.

Eux Autres @ the London Pop Fest 2011- photo: Robin Halls

Eux Autres were our next entertainment and another band I was looking forward to seeing, as their latest album ‘Broken Bow’ has some real gems on it. Hailing from San Francisco, they prefer to sing in French sometimes, which I’m sure makes perfect sense to them. Much enjoyment was had by watching the bassist who is obviously a graduate of the “Bill Botting School of Bass Playing” – lots of bouncing around. They’re another band with more than their fair share of facial hair, which is becoming pretty much de rigueur for a lot of bands recently (apart from Evans the Death who are either female or too young to participate). I’m not sure it’s good development but, hey, what do I know about youth trends? Eux Autres gave us some inspired moments of gorgeous female vocals against a jangly backing and it was all over too soon. One to see again, in my book.

What is it that makes some people in bands stand out from us mere mortals? I was just behind three people while watching Eux Autres and thought ‘they must be in a band’. I’m not sure what I based it on but I was right as half an hour later they were all on stage as half of Help Stamp Out Loneliness, who then proceeded to give us the first real performance of the night. I’m not denigrating any of the other bands but Help Stamp Out Loneliness just have a certain zing that sets them apart.

Help Stamp Out Loneliness @ the London Pop Fest - photo: Robin Halls

Maybe it’s their lead singer who absolutely demands your attention, maybe it’s their mere presence on stage (as it was when they were standing in the audience) or maybe it’s just their wall of synth/guitar powered-pop but whatever it is they have it to spare. Vocal comparisons with Nico are unavoidable and this is one band that is capable of taking the pop-world by storm this year. Their debut album is out on WIAIWYA records in May, so look out for it.

Bearsuit @ the London Pop Fest - photo: Robin Halls

I had been really excited about finally getting to see Bearsuit. They’ve been around for a fair while now and no-one has ever really sounded like them. They’ve undergone a bit of a line-up change in recent years and are now a five piece guitar/keyboard combo, with a drummer who looks like someone’s mate who turns up to make up the numbers at five-a-side but ends up being more than a bit useful. They perform mostly new songs from their forthcoming Fortuna Pop CD and seem to think they needed to apologise for it. No need, as it all sounds great and they deliver a series of numbers about ‘sexual exploitation in the woods’. The darkest recesses of singer Iain Ross’ mind have never sounded so good. The new single ‘When Will I Be Queen’ went down well, as did its two predecessors, ‘A Train Wreck’ and ‘Please Don’t Take Him Back’ and then they were gone leaving me wanting more and looking forward to the new CD.

The Monochrome Set @ the London Pop Fest - photo: Robin Halls

I have to confess that before the day started, I’d have been happy to leave at this point, as I knew that things would overrun, making it tight to get back for the last train.

Also, I knew very little about The Monochrome Set except that they have been around for more years than the rest of the line-up put together. It soon became apparent that they were the reason why the gig had sold out as the place rapidly filled up as The Monochrome Set wandered on-stage sporting a variety of interesting outfits, berets, pipes and but a single moustache.

They had the appearance of a collection of secondary school art teachers. They were very popular with the new audience but I couldn’t help noticing that most of the crowd from earlier no longer seemed to be watching. One comment I overheard was ‘They’re alright but nothing special’ which summed up my thoughts precisely. I watched for a few more numbers and drifted off for the train.

If ever there was a audience of two halves, this was it.

Although the evening had not ended on such a high as last year, when the magnificent ballboy headlined, it’d had been a top notch day and I’m already looking forward to next year’s bash immensely. See you there and don’t forget your raincoat.

The London Pop Fest 2011, was an all-day event held on Saturday 26^th Feb at the 100 Club.

On Saturday 26th March, Home Of Metal will be taking up residence in The Public, inviting fans to bring along their memorabilia & stories to be photographed & recorded to contribute to the digital archive. Home Of Metal are looking for everything from concert tickets to photographs, badges, album covers, t-shirts, demo tapes, fan letters, fanzines, flyers, lyrics, posters, press articles, set lists and promotional materials to build the collection online, which will inform Home of Metal exhibitions.

- Hosted by Kerrang! Radio DJ Johnny Doom
- Appearance by former ‘Raw Power’ presenter, Ozzfest compere and Metal expert Krusher
- Create your own DIY guitar and other family activities with Juneau Projects
- Photography masterclass with Steve Gerrard
- Meet the Home of Metal team

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
Home Of Metal – An exhibition exploring 40 years of Heavy Metal & it’s birthplace
18 June – 25 September 2011
Tickets: £6 (Adult), £4 (Seniors, Students, Children), £3 (Unwaged), £14 (Family)

Over the past four years, Home of Metal has scoured the UK and beyond for relics, artefacts, memorabilia and interesting stories. They have met the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy and Tony Iommi. They have spoken to the most passionate fans, and to the biggest movers and shakers within the industry. This summer, it finally will come together as a celebration of the HOME OF METAL.

When four working-class Aston lads known as Black Sabbath unleashed their debut album in 1970, it saw the birth of a new musical form, one unmistakably birthed from Birmingham and the Black Country. In the proceeding years, a myriad of bands from these locales took the lead from Sabbath and continued to evolve, innovate and break the barriers of this new genre.

Summer 2011 will see a large-scale exhibition at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery that will explore the ingredients that together made Heavy Metal. The show will offer an insight into the region’s industrial history, the early blues-rocks sound, the changing music industry, DIY politics and the global impact of the sound as well as a chance to hear stories from both the fans and the artists.

Four decades since Heavy Metal was unleashed onto an unsuspecting world, it is finally coming home to Birmingham and the Black Country in celebration of a truly global musical phenomenon.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery
You Should Be Living: The Visual Language of Heavy Metal
18 June – 17 September 2011

Home of Metal explores the relationship between fans and music; this exhibition further investigates the relationship by examining the work of artists inspired by the genre. Work on display will illustrate the visual impact of Heavy Metal, exploring the motifs and myths of the music.  The featured works use typography, vintage t-shirts, sculpted pieces and sound to explore the varying aesthetic of Heavy Metal and its relationship to contemporary art. The exhibiting artists, both national and international take inspiration from the genre, exploring notions of fantasy, chaos, performance and devotion.

Thirty years after the formation of Napalm Death, a special collaborative piece of work has been commissioned for this exhibition. French artist and grindcore fanatic Damien Deroubaix and Napalm Death founder Nicholas Bullen will present their sculptural construction containing text and abstractions, embedded video monitors, audio cables and microphones, referencing the work of both artists and the first Napalm Death album ‘Scum’. Thirty years after the birth of ‘grindcore’ You Should Be Living: The visual language of Heavy Metal is a celebration of the devotion of music fans to Heavy Metal and the work that is born of this.

The New Art Gallery Walsall
Mark Titchner
BE TRUE TO YOUR OBLIVION
8 July – 11 September 2011

i saw a light image mark tichener

As part of the Home of Metal season, The New Art Gallery Walsall will present a solo exhibition by artist Mark Titchner. The exhibition will include newly commissioned work as well as existing works.

Mark Titchner works in a wide range of media including sculpture, installations, light boxes, posters, video and performance. The use of text is a central element of his work and he derives inspiration from a range of sources such as song lyrics, advertising, utopian statements, political manifestos, philosophy and sociological theory. His visual language is very much influenced by his early interest in music and comic books.  Mark has exhibited widely nationally and internationally and was shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 2006.

Be Angry but don’t stop breathing (II) is a new version of a work in which visitors are encouraged to engage in a group primal scream exercise which visualizes the vibratory nature of sound.  The sounds produced by the screams are processed and used to vibrate trays of ink attached to loudspeakers. The work will be situated in the gallery next to N (I) B and will contrast with the silent scream.

A text based banner will be produced for the gallery’s Window Box, a project space which can be seen from the outside of the building for 24 hours per day.  I’ll choose my fate is a lyric taken from the song You Don’t Have to be Old to be Wise by Judas Priest.  This work links to Walsall Leather Museum’s display of Judas Priest’s stage costumes.

Walsall Leather Museum
Hell Bent for Leather: Judas Priest and the Heavy Metal Look
8 July – 11 September 2011

judas priest designs credit ray brown fashion

Eager to contribute towards the Home of Metal celebrations, Walsall Leather Museum will be focusing on the sights rather than the sounds of this musical phenomenon. The Museum will be displaying some of the stage costumes worn by local heroes of the Heavy Metal scene, Judas Priest and will be offering fans the rare opportunity to see costumes from the private collection of the band.

Home of Metal Conference – Heavy Metal and Place
University of Wolverhampton & Light House
1 – 4 September 2011

As a key part of the unique celebration of the Home of Metal the conference will explore, debate and celebrate the significant themes and origins of Metal in  ‘Home of Metal: Heavy Metal and Place’.

Over four days experts and academics will engage with the origins of the popular music genre of heavy metal and its formation in the industrial areas of Birmingham and the Black Country in the late 1960s.

The conference panellists will explore the sense of place.  The central theme will examine the social, cultural and economic structures which prompted the creation of a particular musical form, and the social relationships which maintain its local base, for both artists and fans. How does popular music relate to a sense of place?

A key issue will also be the interplay between globalism and localism, explored through the particular and localised expressions of a major international and multi-cultural musical form. Contributors will examine the musicological, social and economic determinants and there will be a particular concentration on musical heritage and the archiving of cultural history. Tickets and website details on sale in April.

Sponsors
Home of Metal gratefully acknowledge the support of Black Country Arts Partnership, Arts Council England, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Screen West Midlands, Laney, Gibson, Metal Hammer & Classic Rock Magazine.

To find out more and to upload metal memorabilia to the digital archive, visit www.homeofmetal.com

Launching in June 2011, Home of Metal founders Capsule, present a series of ambitious exhibitions and associated cultural programme under the banner of Home of Metal, exploring the foundations, social context and heritage of heavy metal culture, which has gone on to be a global phenomenon.

Informed by personal collections and iconic material from the Home of Metal digital archive, and featuring an original solo exhibition from acclaimed contemporary artist Mark Titchner, as well as work by French artist and grindcore fanatic Damien Deroubaix and Napalm Death founder Nicholas Bullen, the exhibitions will take place throughout The Black Country and Birmingham this Summer.

Focusing on the Midlands-born innovators of the genre and those that continued to develop it , the five key bands who inform the exhibitions are Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, Napalm Death and Godflesh.

“Judas Priest have always been proud to fly the flag for British Heavy Metal on our tours around the world. We make a point of letting everyone know that we are from the Black Country and so for us to be included in the prestigious Home of Metal event is another solid way of showing the strong connection we share with Birmingham and local fellow metal musicians throughout the region. There has and will be a tremendous interest and importance surrounding the innovative music coming from our part of the UK that has continued to inspire and influence countless musicians…. A big thank you to the Home of Heavy Metal and of course the fans who are the ones that make all this possible” – Judas Priest

Home of Metal – an exhibition exploring 40 years of Heavy Metal and its birthplace. This will be the core exhibition at the prestigious Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, taking over the largest UK temporary gallery space outside of London from 18 June-25 September. Informed by original band artefacts and materials from the Home of Metal digital archive, the show is the first metal exhibition of its kind, bringing together unseen memorabilia sourced directly from the fans themselves, and placing it alongside iconic items from metal such as Black Sabbath’s Mob Rules stage cross and handwritten Napalm Death lyrics. The show will also explore the ingredients that together made Heavy Metal, offering an insight into the region’s industrial history, the early blues-rocks sound, the changing music industry, DIY politics and the global impact of the heavy metal.

As part of the Home of Metal season, The New Art Gallery, Walsall will also be presenting a solo exhibition by internationally renowned artist and former Turner Prize nominee, Mark Titchner, BE TRUE TO YOUR OBLIVION. The exhibition will feature newly commissioned work such as Be Angry but don’t stop breathing (II), in which visitors are encouraged to engage in a group primal scream exercise which visualizes the vibratory nature of sound.  The sounds produced by the screams are processed and used to vibrate trays of ink attached to loudspeakers. Influenced heavily by metal music and the associated aesthetics, Titchner’s Turner-nominated Ergo, Ergot will also be on display, which references the iconic Vertigo logo.

Opening in July, Wolverhampton Art Gallery will present You Should be Living: The Visual Language of Heavy Metal, an exhibition which explores the relationship between heavy metal and artists inspired by the genre, using typography, vintage t-shirts, sculpture and sound to explore the varying aesthetic of Heavy Metal and its relationship to contemporary art.   Thirty years after the formation of Napalm Death, French artist and grindcore fanatic Damien Deroubaix and Napalm Death founder Nicholas Bullen will present their sculptural construction containing text and abstractions, referencing the work of both artists and the first Napalm Death album ‘Scum’.

Also opening in July, Walsall Leather Museum will be displaying stage costumes worn by local heroes of the Heavy Metal scene as part of their exhibition Hell Bent for Leather: Judas Priest and the Heavy Metal Look. This will be a rare opportunity to see costumes from the private collection of the band. There will also be Home of Metal exhibitions at The Public, Bilston Craft Gallery and Dudley Museum & Art Gallery.

Bringing people together to share their passion for heavy metal music, Home of Metal’s ambitions include the development of heritage tours and ultimately a permanent collection dedicated to telling the story of Metal and its unique birthplace for fans to visit in the future.

These exhibitions form part of the 2011 programme, which will also include a touring film programme, concerts, further exhibitions and a heavy metal conference, with further details yet to be announced.

The Home of Metal project is to hold a fourth and final Open Day at The Public on Saturday 26 March, offering one last chance for fans of all ages to share their memorabilia and stories with the digital archive and help to tell the true story of the birthplace of Heavy Metal.

11AM – 4PM, SATURDAY 26 MARCH 2011. THE PUBLIC, WEST BROMWICH.

FREE – ALL AGES WELCOME

Frankie & The Heartstrings

The free Topman CTRL Student Parties will be taking place at venues across the country this coming week, starting tomorrow, March 1st in Belfast and finishing in Birmingham on March 8th.

Each show will feature some of the hottest up and coming artists, hand selected by resident controller Huw Stephens and each of the FREE gigs will be headlined by Sunderland’s Frankie & The Heartstrings.

Michael McKnight of Frankie & The Heartstrings says: “We’re excited to play these shows with Topman CTRL because of the chance it gives us to be introduced to a new audience. We played Topman CTRL Live last year and it’s clear that Topman know what a good band is and have a genuine interest in pushing new music.”

These exclusive free parties are set to visit Belfast, Glasgow, Sheffield, Bristol and Birmingham in March.  To get your hands on tickets check out www.topmanctrl.com or TEXT; CTRL 1 for Belfast, CTRL 2 for Glasgow, CTRL 3 for Sheffield, CTRL 4 for Bristol or CTRL 5 for Birmingham to 83338 now!

Prepare for a night on the tiles with the best new tunes around as Topman CTRL Student Parties and Frankie & The Heartstrings take over venues across the UK, with support from Copy Haho, Let’s Buy Happiness, Young Legionnaire and Johnny Foreigner, plus DJ sets from Owen Davies of NME Radio. Topman CTRL will also be throwing in a few extra treats to make each show an unforgettable party.

Kicking off the celebrations the first of five Topman CTRL Student Parties will be heading to Belfast on March 1st with The Alice Kona Band. Joining the party in Glasgow on March 2nd is Copy Haho whose breakbeat psychobilly tunes are winning hearts.

Let’s Buy Happiness encompass a cinematic sound that glimmers with the eerie, fairy-dust sparkle of singer Sarah Hall’s vocals, catch them at The Plug in Sheffield on March 3rd. Heading up the heavy module is Young Legionnaire, a recent signing to legendary indie label Wichita Recordings who are sure to bring the stage to life in Bristol on March 7th.

Since 2005 Johnny Foreigner have experienced the extremes of Japan and big stage moments with The Futureheads, now they grace Topman CTRL Student Parties with one special performance in Birmingham on March 8th.

Topman CTRL Student Parties will be visiting:

Belfast – March 1st
Black Box
Frankie & The Heartstrings / The Alice Kona Band

Glasgow – March 2nd
02 ABC 2
Frankie & The Heartstrings / Copy Haho

Sheffield – March 3rd
Plug
Frankie & The Heartstrings / Let’s Buy Happiness

Bristol – March 7th
The Fleece
Frankie & The Heartstrings / Young Legionnaire

Birmingham – March 8th
The Custard Factory
Frankie and The Heartstrings / Johnny Foreigner

* Student ID required for all shows