Dorcha, Hoopla Blue, Liquid Cheeks | 2 Mar | Muthers Studio
Birmingham art-rock band Dorcha have been a must-see act for a while – and last year’s ‘Bruiser’ showed they’ve plenty more weirdness up their sleeves. Along with the prismatic alt-rock of Hoopla Blue and Liquid Cheeks’ vintage art-pop, it’s a killer line-up of local alternative talent.
Nightmares on Wax (DJ Set) | 8 Mar | Hare & Hounds
Forget crate-diggers: electronic magpie George Evelyn is a master amalgamator whose hip-hop roots have enabled him to weave together the dense strands of disco, jazz, afrobeat, and classical music into a sonic patchwork, enveloping the listener like a warm blanket. This ain’t no average DJ set.
Victor / Exotic Pets | 16 Mar | Muthers Studio
Brum promoters Die Das Der are launching a vinyl-only series of 7” singles featuring local talent – and it all starts here, with the reunion of gloomy alt-rock stalwarts Victor, and the biting post-punk up-and-comers Exotic Pets. Our monthly tip for an ‘I Was There’ moment.
Damo Suzuki | 19 Mar | Hare & Hounds
You heard. Legendary singer of your favourite band’s favourite band – the German krautrock group Can, duh – is embarking on a solo tour. The jaunt features Suzuki playing improvisational sets across the world with local artists varying from city to city – making this a truly unique night.
NAO | 22 Mar | O2 Institute
NAO’s neo-soul jams draw on the best from pop, electronica and R&B – with a shamelessly sunny, 90s-throwback undercurrent that’s a welcome change to wintery Drake-lites everywhere. It’s a heady recipe, brewed to idiosyncratic perfection on her critically-adored sophomore, ‘Saturn’.
My Baby | 23 Mar | Castle & Falcon
Shamanic electro-rock group MY BABY make the most unexpected musical connections, a synaptic map that ties together Can, the Kills, and the Faint into a theatrical dance-punk freakout. Last year’s ‘MOUNAIKI’ took their patchwork magic even further, proving they’re only getting better with time.
The Internet | 25 Mar | O2 Institute
It’s a long time since The Internet emerged as an Odd Future offshoot for Syd and Matt Martians – in the interim, they’ve become a shape-shifting retro-funk band who seem to stay two steps ahead of the zeitgeist at all times. Come see the Brainfeeder-esque grooves of last year’s ‘Hive Mind’ for yourself.
Noname | 28 Mar | O2 Institute2
Chicago’s Noname has played a faultless game so far. Building on the hype from her ‘Telefone’ mixtape, Fatimah Warner took her time to craft a damn-near-perfect, unflappable full-length in ‘Room 25’ – landing in the tnumber one spot of plenty of ‘Best of 2018’ lists. Things can only get bigger.
The Cinematic Orchestra | 29 Mar | O2 Institute
The electro-classical jazz collective known as The Cinematic Orchestra blend sampling and turntables with live improvisation to create an organic, slow-rising flood of sound that swamps the senses, beautiful and haunting. TCO have few peers, and in truth, they’re in a class of their own.
Tirzah | 31 Mar | Hare & Hounds
The queen of understatement found her sweet spot with last year’s ‘Devotion’, a super-lo-fi debut that retools thrown-out sounds into hypnotic, swirling R&B. It’s a skeletal exercise in songwriting, something like UK Garage in slow motion: intimate, honest, and bound to be captivating in the cosy Hare & Hounds.
- Words:
- Chris Donald - Gigs Editor
- Published on:
- Sat 23 Feb 2019