18 www.whatsonlive.co.uk <strong>THE</strong> EASY WAY TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS ONLINE whatsonlive.co.uk The most comprehensive what’s on listings website for Birmingham and the West Midlands
Music GIG REVIEWS For further reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Lana Del Rey O2 Academy, Birmingham Despite hailing from our side of the pond, support act Kassidy seemed to confuse the crowd. A hairier version of Kings Of Leon, the Glasgow boys looked like they could’ve been extras in the Just Ride video. However, their gruff country sound was perfectly evocative of the faded heyday of Americana that Lana Del Rey sells so well. Onto a stage decorated with lion statues, palm trees, candelabras and columns, Lana meekly stepped forward. Dressed in an innocent white lace dress and sneakers, she oozed allure from every pore as she sang those immortal lines from Cola. Sliding against the guitarist during the dark and sultry Body Electric, she was showered with compliments by the audience, from the flattering to the crude. Answering their calls with fluttering eyelashes and a breathy voice that could’ve come straight from the mouth of Gatsby’s Daisy Buchanan, as played by Carey Mulligan, it was evident the ‘gangsta Nancy Sinatra’ years were well and truly behind her. Sauntering cat-like and delicately around the stage, she left the crowd breathless with renditions of Carmen, Summertime Sadness and Born To Die, whilst a lead up of Without You into Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door added plenty of street cred. With a hush descending upon the crowd for Young And Beautiful and Ride, her voice shining against the string quartet and piano, she played the part of lovelorn glamour queen to perfection. Having gained confidence since her early performances, Lana really is a picture-perfect American queen. From channelling Nancy Sinatra to Daisy Buchanan, her sweet voice and ethereal beauty have kept fans captivated. I can’t wait to see what she does next. Alev Dervish ■■■■ Steve Earle Symphony Hall, Birmingham Three times Grammy Award-winning musician, actor, author and activist Steve Earle is one of the greatest singer-songwriters of his generation, and regarded by many to be the Godfather of alt-country. Equally at home as solo artist or band member, Earle’s recent gig in Birmingham, with his highly acclaimed electric band The Dukes, was nothing short of superb. It was the first night of the British leg of his European tour, and what a way to start. Opening with the title track from new album The Low Highway, Earle launched into what’s best described as a road trip of America. Old favourites Copper Head Road, The Gallway Girl, My Old Friend The Blues and the achingly rendered Remember Me, written for his autistic, three-yearold son, were amongst the highlights, with a rousing encore of The Revolution Starts Now bringing proceedings to a close. Special mention must go to Chris Masterson (guitar and pedal steel) and wife Eleanor Whitmore (vocals and fiddle), integral members of The Dukes. Collectively known as The Mastersons, their opening set was extremely well received. A long career beckons for the duo. David Davies ■■■■ Music LISTINGS For full listing information on gigs, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk SAT 1 JUN VOICES UNLIMITED - <strong>THE</strong> WAY WE WERE The Swan Theatre Worcester <strong>THE</strong> 2013 WEEKEND OF ENGLISH SONG Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire TWENTY ONE PILOTS O2 Academy, Birmingham ROCKET The Jam House, Birmingham RAT PACK VEGAS SPEC- TACULAR Shugborough Historic Working Estate, Stafford JULIAN SMITH Lichfield Garrick FLEETWOOD BAC The Robin, Bilston <strong>THE</strong> BEAT The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury CLOSE TO YOU Tamworth Assembly Rooms <strong>THE</strong> SEX PISTOLS EXPERI- ENCE The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton BOOTLEG BLONDIE The Roadhouse, Birmingham VOULEZ VOUS Huntingdon Hall, Worcester <strong>THE</strong> ORGANIC LAWN MAN- AGEMENT Artrix, Bromsgrove KICK UP <strong>THE</strong> 80'S The River Rooms, Stourbridge ABBA REUNION Crewe Lyceum <strong>THE</strong> FLOYD SOUND Route 44, Acocks Green, Birmingham THREE MANDING STARS Featuring Djiby Drame, JaliMouso Mama Cherie and JaliMadi Kanteh The Drum, Birmingham KEYSHIA COLE The Institute, Birmingham KING YOOF Hare & Hounds, Birmingham GREAT CYNICS & SINCE MONROE Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham MILES KANE O2 Academy, Birmingham POST DESCARTES, JAPAN- ESE FIGHTING FISH & THOSE AMONGST US ARE WOLVES The Flapper, Birmingham <strong>THE</strong> DEAD FAMOUS Kasbah, Coventry ICICLE, KRYPTIC MINDS & COMMODO The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent SWINGING AT <strong>THE</strong> COT- TON CLUB Feat: The Jiving Lindy Hoppers & Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford <strong>THE</strong> FA<strong>THE</strong>R TEDS Irish Centre, Birmingham GUCCI PIMP The Actress & Bishop, Ludgate Hill, Birmingham FAMILY AFFAIR The Hop Pole Inn, Bromsgrove SEXY WEIRDOS Hare & Hounds, Birmingham AFRO MIO Symphony Hall, Birmingham VALOUS, HUNTED, SALVA- TION The Asylum, B’ham SUN 2 JUN CLIVE GREGSON Kitchen Garden Cafe, B’ham SPLASHH & POP- STRANGERS Hare & Hounds, Birmingham IO EARTH & AEON ZEN The Robin, Bilston BILLY BRAGG: TOOTH & NAIL TOUR Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon <strong>THE</strong> 2013 WEEKEND OF ENGLISH SONG Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire STANGALA & STONEBIRDS UK TOUR The Roadhouse, Birmingham SPOTLIGHT KID The Actress & Bishop, Ludgate Hill, Birmingham DAN GREENAWAY The Hop Pole Inn, Bromsgrove BURTON CONCERT BAND Birmingham Botanical Gardens MON 3 JUN <strong>THE</strong> KENNEDYS Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury NELL BRYDEN The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton <strong>THE</strong> TREVOR BURTON BAND Hare & Hounds, Birmingham DAVE MCPHERSON The Robin, Bilston CHAPEL CLUB (rescheduled date) The Institute, Birmingham HEADPHONE PARTY The Actress & Bishop, Ludgate Hill, Birmingham <strong>THE</strong> DUNNET BAXTER BIG BAND The Yardbird, Birmingham TUES 4 JUN <strong>THE</strong> DARKNESS Kasbah, Coventry <strong>THE</strong> KENNEDYS Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham GIDEON, FATHOMS, HERE LIES A WARNING, CON- DUIT AND SABOTEUR The Flapper, Birmingham DRENGE Hare & Hounds, Birmingham <strong>THE</strong> FAMILY RAIN The Institute, Birmingham NO ZODIAC, ABLAZE, BURNT EARTH, DE- STROYER BC, KAIZEN & HAUNTED The Flapper, Birmingham IN MEMORY OF ABRAM WILSON Symphony Hall, Birmingham <strong>THE</strong> BLA<strong>THE</strong>RSKITES The Actress & Bishop, Ludgate Hill, Birmingham NICK JACKSON, YOJI AND AQUILA The Yardbird, Birmingham ROCK REDEMPTION The Robin, Bilston WED 5 JUN IAN PARKER & HIS BAND The Robin, Bilston PATSY FULLER & <strong>THE</strong> REVELATORS The Jam House, Birmingham SEAPONY & SPECIAL GUESTS Hare & Hounds, Birmingham STEVE KNIGHTLEY Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham <strong>THE</strong> CHAPMAN FAMILY PLUS VICTOR The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton NICK JACKSON The Yardbird, Birmingham IAN PARKER WITH FULL ELECTRIC BAND The Robin, Bilston THUR 6 JUN JOOLS HOLLAND & HIS RHYTHM & BLUES OR- CHESTRA Civic Hall, Wolverhampton <strong>THE</strong> OFFICIAL RECEIVERS BAND The Jam House, Birmingham EMILY BROWNE Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry LULO REINHARDT Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry <strong>THE</strong> MUSIC OF <strong>THE</strong> HOL- LIES Two-hour show by The Hollywood Bees, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford, Shropshire STACEY KENT Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa A VISION OF ELVIS - ROB KINGSLEY Lichfield Garrick TRADITIONAL SONG SES- SION Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham MIDGE URE The Robin, Bilston FOLKS & SOLDIER The Rainbow, Birmingham MALICK PA<strong>THE</strong> SOW & BAO SISSOKO The Ironworks, Oswestry, North Shropshire NICK HARPER Taylor John’s House, Coventry PETE HYDE & <strong>THE</strong> VIEL- LARDS The Hop Pole Inn, Bromsgrove SAM JONES TOY SHOP The Yardbird, Birmingham FRI 7 JUN TALON - <strong>THE</strong> BEST OF <strong>THE</strong> EAGLES Solihull Arts Complex <strong>THE</strong> NEW AMEN CORNER PLUS SOUL SURVIVORS The Robin, Bilston BUDDY AND <strong>THE</strong> BOOTLEG CRICKETS Belgrade Theatre, Coventry CONSERVATOIRE FOLK ENSEMBLE Huntingdon Hall, Worcester www.whatsonlive.co.uk 19
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