Quickly established as one of the coolest festivals in Birmingham, All Years Leaving returns for its fourth inception and is looking better than ever. Over two days expect some of the best music around, all carefully curated by Birmingham’s most discerning promoters, ‘This is Tmrw’. It’s not just music though, there will be art installations, pop up bars, street food, signings, DJs and after show parties. Both days look stunning and every band playing is worthy of your attention, but the preview gods insist we make recommendations. Big big big excitement for us are the Sunday headliners Idles. Whip crack lyrical smarts and so sharp you’ll bleed chainsaw riffs wound so tight you won’t be able to breathe. We can’t wait to get sweaty to one of the most exciting bands making a noise today. Swinging from one extreme to the other the retro twee pop bubblegum of Savoy Motel is a delight, we love the pop punk duo Diet Cig and don’t miss the piledriving rhythms of Traams whose post-punk energy transports us back to the joys of listening to early eighties John Peel shows and dank student gigs watching the likes of The Three Johns, Wire and The Nightingales. Don’t be late as some of the first bands on, such as Matters and Sunshine Frisbee Laserbeam, are incredible live performers. This event will sell out in lightning quick time so don’t hang about.
Sat 21 Oct & Sun 22 Oct at The Hare and Hounds, High Street, Kings Heath B14 7JZ (£17.60 day £30.80 wknd) www.skiddle.com
Words: Giles Logan
Published on: Sun 1 Oct 2017