BRING YOUR PARTY TO OUR PARTY AT THE NAILCOTE HALL HOTEL SPECIAL OCCASIONS AND ANNUAL EVENTS Sat 14th JUNE SPRING & SUMMER EVENTS 2014 THE MOTOWN ‘BLACK TIE’ MIDSUMMER BALL WITH THE RICHIE SAMPSONS DRIFTERS TRIBUTE REVIEW PLUS PETE HANLEY AND DISCO £49.50 Fri 20th JUNE Sat 26th JULY Sat 21st JUNE Sat 5th JULY CHARITY ROYAL ASCOT DAY ‘SUPREME’ MOTOWN & SOUL DIVA PARTY WITH THE MOTELLAS ‘TAKE THAT & WEST LIFE SHOW’ WITH Enjoy Champagne Reception, buffet lunch & live coverage of the races on the big screen TV followed by afternoon tea and sing-a-long party with THE BRIEFCASE BLUES THATS LIFE 5th - 8th AUGUST ‘MAMMA MIA’ SUMMER PARTY with ABBA SENSATION NICOS - THE UNORTHODOX GREEK AND DISCO BRITISH PAR 3 CHAMPTIONSHIPS TICKET PRICES INCLUDE 4 COURSE MEAL WE WILL CATER FOR ANY SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS BY PRIOR ARRANGMENT BOOKING HOTLINE 02476 466174 www.nailcotehall.co.uk Nailcote Hall Hotel, Nailcote Lane, Berkswell, Warwickshire CV7 7DE £75.00 £39.50 £32.50 £35.00 for more details visit. www.britishpar3.com THE EASY WAY TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS ONLINE whatsonlive.co.uk The most comprehensive what’s on listings website for Birmingham and the West Midlands 16 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Music GIG REVIEWS For further reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk Prince LG Arena, Birmingham Given that Prince is one of the most influential recording artists of all time, it’s hardly surprising that the announcement of his return to Birmingham after a nineteen-year absence was greeted with a veritable frenzy of expectation. But could the reality of his long-awaited return live up to the expectation? The answer was a resounding yes. Throwing himself body and soul into a mammoth thirty-four-song set, the now-fifty-five-year-old ‘godfather of funk’ ably illustrated both his seemingly endless talent for self-reinvention and his pretty much unrivalled ability as a multi-instrumentalist and live performer. A set by no means short of surprises got off to a characteristically playful start, courtesy of three false-alarm dips of the lights. Entering the stage to the pounding bass riff of Funk’N’Roll, and decked out in a fitted white suit and flared trousers, Prince (complete with full-bodied afro) channelled the spirit of his icon, Jimmi Hendrix. This was a performance refreshingly free from frills or special effects, the live experience instead being allowed to speak for itself. The set combined funked-up reinventions of popular crowd-pleasers - 1999, Controversy, Kiss - with extended renditions of lesser-known album tracks such as Raspberry Beret, and tantalisingly brief mashups spanning the entirety of Prince’s eclectic back-catalogue. What stood out most, though, beyond the artist’s undisputed showmanship, was his musicianship. Shifting from virtuoso guitar solos reminiscent of Hendrix in his prime to stripped-back acoustic solos highlighting his pitch-perfect vocal delivery, Prince presented a set marked by chameleonic shifts in style, texture and mood, successfully steering the line between self-indulgence and celebration. Special mention, too, must go to the all-female backing band, 3rdEye- Girl. Lead guitarist Donna Grantis’ intricate and unremittingly energetic solo sequences were a joy to behold. Highlights of the evening included a full-bodied funk-rock reimagining of the 1999 album track Something In The Water (Does Not Compute), a richly soulful performance of How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore?, and the hotly-anticipated versions of ’80s pop classics 1999, Kiss and When Doves Cry. But the pinnacle of the evening came in the form of an epic live rendition of Purple Rain, which combined richly layered instrumentation with soaring guitar solo sequences reminiscent of a later-era Pink Floyd. An awe-inspiring performance! Katherine Ewing ■■■■■ Neil Finn Symphony Hall, Birmingham With teatowels and tote bags for sale alongside tee shirts on the merchandise stand, it would be easy to dismiss Neil Finn as a middleaged, middle-of-the-road act. But while his audience demographic might suggest otherwise, the brilliant New Zealand singer-songwriter is anything but MOR. His former (and now on-off) band, Crowded House, always had far more depth and edge than a perfunctory assessment would suggest, and Finn’s recent solo album, Dizzy Heights, adds a variety of contemporary twists and textures to his typically melodic palate. But if the album is a triumph, this live show totally eclipsed it. Ably supported (as well as rejuvenated) by a formidable backing band featuring his wife and a group of musicians young enough to be his offspring (his two sons are regular cohorts), Finn showcased material from all areas of his CV in an inspired and inspiring performance. Bookending the curfew-breaking one hundred-andfifty-minute set with stunning solo acoustic readings of Crowded House classics World Where You Live and Better Be Home Soon, he slipped as effortlessly between piano and electric/acoustic guitar as he did between the various phases of his career. Indeed, it was surprising how easily the thirty-plus years of tunes slotted together; whether it was energetic rock (Locked Out, I Got You), psychedelic pop (Divebomber, Suffer Never), piano balladry (Message To My Girl) or simply the Weather (With You). Finn’s genial bonhomie - he performed the requested Enz song Six Months In A Leaky Boat despite it being one of his brother Tim’s tunes - further enhanced the experience. So, too, did the musicians, who seemed to be enjoying the evening every bit as much as the audience. Guitarist Jesse Sheehan even got an extended solo slot while Finn retuned his instrument. In short, there really was some-Finn for everyone to enjoy. Steve Adams ■■■■■ Music LISTINGS For full listing information on gigs, including times and dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk SUN 1 JUN MAKUINI AND THE HOODOO MEN The Robin, Bilston SMOKE FAIRIES Hare & Hounds, Birmingham TOUMANI & SIDIKI DIA- BATE Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry BLAKE & BRAZIL Irish Centre, Birmingham ROO PANES The Yardbird Jazz Club, Birmingham BACKYARD MUSIC BOYS Oozells Square, B’ham STEVE AJAO’S CLUB BEBOP Spotted Dog, Birmingham THE DAVE FARRANT BAND, BLANK PARODY & SECOND TRIP The Actress & Bishop, B’ham COWER, HOUNDS!, ONE LIFE LEFT & KRITICAL CHARGE The Flapper, Birmingham MON 2 JUN THE DUNNETT/BAXTER BIG BAND The Yardbird Jazz Club, Birmingham HOT POTATO FEATURING YEDO GIBSON Birmingham Conservatoire CARNABY STREET: THE CONCERT Solihull Arts Complex VERSES The Asylum, Birmingham TUE 3 JUN HOLLIS BROWN Hare & Hounds, Birmingham ANGELA BROWN The Robin, Bilston KROCK - THREE OBJECTS IN A CONCERT HALL Birmingham Conservatoire HOWLING BELLS Hare & Hounds, Birmingham JOHN FULLBRIGHT The Glee Club, Birmingham THE MARRAKESH EX- PRESS Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham THE WEDDING CRASHERS The Jam House, B’ham WED 4 JUN THE SEARCHERS Tamworth Assembly Rooms JONNY COLE'S BLACK COUNTRY BEACH PARTY The Robin, Bilston THEA GILMORE Artrix Bromsgrove ALPHA MALE TEA PARTY, MOUNT FUJI, WAX FEA- TURES & POCKET APOCA- LYPSE The Flapper, Birmingham SAM BAKER Hare & Hounds, Birmingham THE BLUES BAND Solihull Arts Complex PUBLIC ENEMY The Assembly, Leamington Spa UPRAWR 4TH BIRTHDAY The Asylum, B’ham FRANÇOIS THÉBERGE Birmingham Conservatoire ANTA The Tin Music And Arts, Coventry ABANDOMAN - MOON ROCK BOOMBOX TOUR Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton WOODEN SHJIPS O2 Academy, Birmingham ALLUSONDRUGS, MILK TEETH & FIZZY BLOOD The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham THE SPEAKEASY Kitchen Garden Cafe, B’ham LAURENCE JONES BAND The Assembly, Leamington Spa THE FAMILY RAIN Hare & Hounds, Birmingham LUCAS D & THE GROOVE GHETTO The Jam House, Birmingham HANSU-TORI Ort Cafe, Birmingham THU 5 JUN THE BEE GEES SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER PARTY WITH STAYIN' ALIVE Crewe Lyceum THE MOVE The Robin, Bilston THE BOHEMIANS - A NIGHT OF QUEEN Solihull Arts Complex BIG WOLF BAND The Roadhouse, B’ham ANGEL OLSEN Hare & Hounds, Birmingham MONKATHON FINALE The Yardbird Jazz Club, Birmingham WARREN SMITH WITH SPECIAL GUESTS Hare & Hounds, Birmingham REMI HARRIS TRIO & TG COLLECTIVE Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry JILL AND KATE The Actress & Bishop, B’ham MR BEN The Jam House, Birmingham MJ HIBBETT, GRACE PETRIE & GAVIN OSBORN Ort Cafe, Birmingham FRI 6 JUN CBSO HEROES AND SU- PERHEROES Symphony Hall, Birmingham THE INTENTIONS The Jam House, B’ham MOSTLY AUTUMN The Robin, Bilston HENRY PRIESTMAN Huntingdon Hall, Worcester LONDON GRAMMAR Civic Hall, Wolverhampton NICK MULVEY Civic Hall, Wolverhampton VOODOO ROOM Artrix, Bromsgrove THEA GILMORE The Assembly, Leamington Spa HOZIER O2 Academy, Birmingham PUTTING ON THE RITZ Upton House & Gardens, Warwickshire FOREST Hare & Hounds, Birmingham PIAF IN CABARET Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury THE RONALDOS Fleet Street Kitchen, B’ham MISTY'S BIG ADVENTURE Hare & Hounds, B’ham FRAN THE MAN Irish Centre, Birmingham JOHNNY 2 BAD Irish Centre, Birmingham HOT RED CHILI PEPPERS The Marr's Bar, Worcester THE SUPERSKAS Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton MELLOW PEACHES, CHRIS CLEVERLEY & ELLIS TAL- BOT Ort Cafe, B’ham THE DESERT MONKEYS The River Rooms, Stourbridge THE QUO The Roadhouse, Birmingham THE SHAPES, DOMESTIC BLESS & HUFFY Route 44, Birmingham BLUES BOY DAN OWEN The Tin Music And Arts, Coventry THE YAMAHA SCHOLARS Symphony Hall, B’ham JACQUI DANKWORTH The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury THE JAKE LEG JUG BAND The Water’s Edge Bandstand, B’ham MILOS Malvern Theatres SAT 7 JUN THE INTENTIONS The Jam House, B’ham THE JENTS The Slug and Lettuce, Birmingham LIMEHOUSE LIZZY The Robin, Bilston THE TREORCHY MALE VOICE CHOIR Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa CARLTON MALE VOICE CHOIR Huntingdon Hall, Worcester RHYS CHATHAM'S A SE- CRET ROSE Birmingham Town Hall ROCK ‘N’ ROLL PARADISE The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury SYMPHONY SOUNDS Symphony Hall, B’ham NICK OLIVERI The Institute, Birmingham NICK MALCOLM QUARTET The Hive, Shrewsbury DRENGE Kasbah, Coventry FABIO, BRYAN G & LENZ- MAN Hare & Hounds, Birmingham WHOLE LOTTA LED Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Shropshire MAETLOAF The River Rooms, Stourbridge SWEET BABOO Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry FOLLOW YOU HOME O2 Academy, Birmingham THE ELO EXPERIENCE Artrix, Bromsgrove BBC BIG BAND Bedworth Civic Hall TASKERS, THE MONICAS & SIERRA HOTEL The Flapper, Birmingham THE FATHER TEDS Irish Centre, Birmingham BROOKE SHARKEY, ADAM BEATTIE & LEANDER JONES Ort Cafe, B’ham BLOODSTOCK FESTIVAL'S METAL TO THE MASSES SEMI FINAL The Roadhouse, Birmingham DAVID COSLETT & JOSH KEMP Hare & Hounds, Birmingham THE CLONED STONES Route 44, Birmingham For full music listings in the West Midlands, visit. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 17
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