I Am Birmingham

Archive for August, 2011|Monthly archive page

COMPETITION: Win tickets to BAMMA 7 in Birmingham

In Competitions, News, What's On on 08/30/2011 at 16:57
BAMMA 7 returns to the Birmingham NIA for 2011

BAMMA 7 returns to the Birmingham National Indoor Arena (NIA) for 2011

BAMMA (The British Association of Mixed Martial Arts) will be returning to its spiritual home for its seventh event at the NIA Arena in Birmingham. In what is promising to be the most explosive fight card yet in the series, BAMMA 7 will be featuring the top British and International MMA fighters for a night of pure adrenaline fueled entertainment.

It was at the NIA Arena in September last year that the epic BAMMA 4 cemented BAMMA’s reputation as the top MMA Promotion in Europe, after attracting close to a million viewers. Read the rest of this entry »

Libertines’ Gary Powell to headline new Birmingham club night

In News, What's On on 08/30/2011 at 14:32
Gary Powell of The Libertines to launch Control night at Vudu in Birmingham, 2011

Gary Powell of The Libertines will launch Control at Vudu

Music artist Gary Powell of The Libertines is set to grace the launch of a brand new club night heading for one of the city’s newest clubs.

Premier music venue Vudu, in Birmingham’s Smallbrook Queensway, is set to be host to the city’s newest alternative clubnight – CONTROL.

Spearheaded by Counteract Magazine editor Richard Franks, and promoter Dan Hill, Control hopes to fill the gap left by an absence of regular indie nights, as it promises to become a Monday night staple.

“Control is here to make a change,” explains Richard Franks.

“Long gone are the days where on a Monday night you’d have to go to a club where you didn’t even like the music just so you could go out. Control feels it can relate to the City as a whole, with a clubnight playing feel good tunes and everyone’s favourite anthems after a long day at university or work.” 

'Control' night from Counteract Magazine at the Vudu club in Birmingham

Control

With a capacity of over 1,200, Control will boast three unique spaces with distinct design, holding three different genres of music. Room one, Intervention, will host the best in indie, alternative and Britpop from the last four decades; room two, Revolution, entertains the most memorable pop, garage, soul and funk tunes from the 1960s; and room three, Radar, will be spinning the best in up and coming music, entwined with established music perfect to wind down to in a balcony room with a city view and a number of tables and sofas.

The launch night on September 26 will feature resident DJs alongside Rob Munns, a Club NME and Koko resident DJ in London; and star guest Gary Powell, drummer for The Libertines. 

Gary, who declares himself as a ‘Brummie’, will be heading back home to thrill crowds with a set filled featuring indie classics before meeting with ardent fans.

Since 2001, Gary has been a key member in The Libertines and following the band’s split in 2005 he joined Dirty Pretty Things with Libertines frontman Carl Barât. In recent times Gary formed The Invasion Of… continuing his bands’ record of producing big hits in the industry. In 2010 Gary and his Libertines co-headlined Reading & Leeds Festivals with Arcade Fire, where over 70,000 people packed out the main stage to watch their first performance as a full band since 2004.

Promotor Franks feels bagging Powell is a massive coup for Control:

“I still can’t believe we’ve got Gary Powell to DJ at Control’s launch night. The man was influential to me growing up, he made me want to play drums and, in fact, got me into indie.

Richard P Franks, editor of  Counteract Magazine in Birmingham

Richard Franks

“Over the past couple of years I’ve promoted gigs but I’ve always wanted to host a regular clubnight at an alternative-orientated venue. Vudu, which recently opened in May, houses three fully fitted rooms, one of which can host live music; which will be very important as we look to bring bands into the clubnight to play for us.

“Alongside bringing star DJs from some of the biggest bands, we aim to showcase local talent, with local bands already booked in for both live and DJ sets. 

We also aim to create a successful relationship with universities and colleges around the city. A local connection is and always was our main aim as we felt Monday nights were lacking in Birmingham. It will also hopefully help local business as we’ll be looking at striking up deals with taxi firms and hotels. I just can’t wait to get started now.”

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Control takes place every Monday between 10.30pm and 3am, with it’s launch night on 26th September. Find out more at www.controlbirmingham.co.uk and follow Control on Facebook and Twitter.

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Nintendo and Disney join city’s top GAMEfest line-up…

In News on 08/28/2011 at 05:35
Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D at GAMEfest Birmingham NEC, 2011

'Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D' is one of the new titles at GAMEfest

With only 19 days before one of the most exciting consumer gaming shows opens its doors to the public, retail giant GAME have announced the addition of not just one… but two major games companies to the line-up for this year’s gaming extravanganza, as Nintendo and Disney both pledge to showcase titles at GAMEfest.

Disney’s Disney Universe and an amazing five Nintendo titles including Mario Kart 7, Super Mario 3D Land, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D and Kid Icarus: Uprising will all be available for gamers to experience at event; while fans of Zelda will not be disappointed when they get their hands on The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Read the rest of this entry »

Birmingham Ramadan Flashmobs feed the poor…

In News, Videos on 08/28/2011 at 04:32
Birmingham Ramadan 'Iftar' Flashmob 2011

Volunteers feed the homeless during Ramadan in Birmingham

Two Birmingham Flashmobs took to the streets this week armed with plates and pans as they planned to deliver pots of home-cooked food to the homeless and needy during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The group of around 20 volunteers set up a makeshift ‘meal centre’ outside Waterstones, in the city’s High Street, as part of an ongoing committment to feeding the poor and destitute during the 30 day period of fasting in the Muslim calendar. Despite being forced to hold back the weekly effort during the recent riots, the food stall made a welcome return as helpers handed out rice, meat, fruit and drink to hungry recipients.

Ghafor Ayub, who works with the charity ISRA Feed the Poor, joined the volunteers on Wednesday as they distributed hot food to the needy. Read the rest of this entry »

INTERVIEW | BAMMA 7: Fraser Opie

In Interviews on 08/27/2011 at 18:06
Fraser Opie at BAMMA 7, Birmingham 2011

MMA fighter Fraser Opie

Opening the upcoming BAMMA 7 card at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham is a light heavyweight tilt that promises certain fireworks, as former pro kickboxer Fraser Opie takes on once beaten judo specialist Robert Krecicki in a classic striker vs. grappler contest.
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A pro for the last two years, Fraser is surely one of the most prolific fighters on the card, having fought twelve times since 2009, notching up a record of 7-5. An ex bodybuilder, Fraser took up kickboxing at Lee Asdale’s SSJ Gym in Milton Keynes in 2006 to improve his cardiovascular conditioning. Read the rest of this entry »

INTERVIEW | BAMMA 7: Robert Krecicki

In Interviews on 08/27/2011 at 17:26
Robert Krecicki at BAMMA 7, Birmingham 2011

MMA fighter Robert Krecicki

A mouth-watering Light Heavyweight clash between Robert Krecicki and Fraser Opie opens the card at BAMMA 7, a matchup which should perfectly set the tone for the rest of the evening’s entertainment. And even though Krecicki has become accustomed to headlining events, most notably his recent title win against Toni Valtonen, he is looking forward to the opportunity to commence proceedings; “It’s a great opportunity for me to be the first fight on BAMMA 7. But my position on the card alters nothing. I train equally as hard whether on the prelims or the main card.”

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And generally, he appears buoyant heading into the highest profile fight of his young career; “This is a great opportunity and challenge for me to fight on the BAMMA promotion. It’s a big show. It’s easily the biggest organisation for which I’ve fought. I look forward to displaying my skills in front of a large crowd, which will include many of my friends.” Read the rest of this entry »

INTERVIEW | BAMMA 7: Lee Taylor

In Interviews on 08/27/2011 at 17:06
Lee Taylor at BAMMA 7, Birmingham 2011

MMA fighter Lee Taylor

There are few men better suited to stepping into a cage to fight than former soldiers. The discipline and control of fear is essential. One man who embodies that attitude is Lee ‘Hercules’ Taylor. Taylor served for nine years in the British Army, completing tours of Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia, as well as travelling the world on various missions.

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Upon leaving the army, which taught him boxing, judo and other forms of hand to hand combat, Lee discovered a love for Thai boxing and later MMA after seeing it on the television.

Read the rest of this entry »

Human Rights Film Festival launches in Birmingham

In News, What's On on 08/24/2011 at 16:26
Film 'Just Do It' will be showing at the West Midlands Human Rights Film Festival in Birmingham, 2011

'Just Do It' will be showing at the West Midlands Human Rights Film Festival

The city’s award-winning Birmingham International Film Society (BIFS) is set to host its first ever Human Rights Film Festival, next month.

Highlighting an array of film productions which have increasingly been focused on human rights issues, the Festival kicks off at 6.30pm on Tuesday 6 September at the Birmingham Library Theatre, with a reception and opening address from special guest speaker, Simon Davies, Director of Privacy International.

“There are so many films coming out at the moment that raise a variety of human rights issues, we thought the best way to present them would be in a Festival,” explained film programmer Max Simpson, one of the four local film enthusiasts who founded BIFS in 2008.

Read the rest of this entry »

COMPETITION: OMG! It’s party time for under-18s…

In Competitions, News, What's On on 08/23/2011 at 16:31
OhEmGee under-18s club night  at the LG Arena, Birmingham

OhEmGee takes place at the LG Arena in Birmingham

Hot new club night ‘ohemgee’ is coming to the LG Arena, and you could win tickets for you and a mate to be there!

The ‘ohemgee’ clubbing experience for 13-17 year olds is happening on Friday 21st October at the LG Arena’s forumLIVE entertainments space – and it’s set to be the ultimate way to end the summer holidays!

With live DJs, games, giveaways and much more, there’s no better place to spend that last Friday night of the summer hols with your mates. Plus, there’ll also be special appearances from some of your favourite brmb radio presenters too!

'OhEmGee' club night founder Charlotte Smith at the LG Arena, Birmingham

Charlotte Smith

The new club night has been thought up by 22 year old Charlotte Smith, a recent graduate of Birmingham City University, who landed a job at LG Arena after completing an internship with the venue.  Read the rest of this entry »

COMPETITION: Win tickets to ‘Musicalize’, Encore headlining

In Competitions, News on 08/22/2011 at 11:41
Boy band trio group 'Encore' headlining 'Musicalize' in Birmingham, August 2011
R’n'B all-male trio ‘Encore’ are headlining Musicalize at the HMV Institute

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY POSTPONED. THE EVENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING COMPETITION WE ARE RUNNING WILL BE RESCHEDULED. WE APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.

Looking for a sensationally cool way of ringing in the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend? How about an amazing night out at the HMV Institute in Birmingham enjoying performances from one of the coolest rising urban girl groups, a top new R’n'B boy band, one of the city’s best grime MCs, a YouTube sensation and a host of hip-and-happening  music acts?

Well, here’s your chance to get all this and more! You and your mates could be enjoying the hotly-anticipated Musicalize night on Saturday at one of the city’s best live entertainment venues, courtesy of Double M Entertainment, who are bringing the event to Birmingham following successful London gigs. Read the rest of this entry »

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