links for 2009-06-07
June 8, 2009
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Don’t wait for The Music Network to find you, get in touch and come to our next monthly meeting.If you would like to share any News, Information and Links with The Music Network, there are ways to do it.
1. Come to our Monthly Networking Meeting on the last Thursday of each month, 4-6pm at The BCU Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC), Millennium Point, Birmingham, B4 7XG.
2. Send in your Links – email us your Links with a brief two or three line description for each one. Links will be bookmarked and shared.
3. You can email your News, Information, thoughts or ideas. Send 250 words or more (text plus any links) and any photos or flyers or pictures (jpeg) with your contact details and a link to your own site or relevant page.
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CMAT is expanding and therefore looking for four new members of staff to join its small team and requires professional, friendly and flexible individuals for these posts.
For further information about CMAT, please visit our website: www.cmatltd.co.uk.
Business Development Officer (full-time)
Marketing Officer (part-time)
Studio Engineer (part-time)
Evening/Weekend Receptionist (part-time)
links for 2009-06-05
June 6, 2009
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It has been some time since the Parliament Square Peace Campaign last sent out a message to Brian’s supporters. Brian is still in Parliament Square, the Campaign is still here, but we very stretched in our resources.
Eight years ago yesterday on 2 June 2001, Brian came to Parliament Square to protest against the injustice and suffering caused to the people of Iraq by the UN economic sanctions and the bombing of the country by the US and UK.
Eight years later, after invasion and occupation, Iraqis have lived through another terrible period and western troops have pulled out to continue their war in Afghanistan with the US and NATO bombing claiming many civilian casualties.
Despite hassle from the police and others, Brian and supporters remain lawfully opposite Parliament reminding those in power of the costs of their wars. Do come down to show support if you can……
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Here is a message from Gary Seeney – Birmingham Yamaha Music School
Hello, My name is Gary Seeney, director of Birmingham Yamaha Music School – located in the Jewellery Quarter, near the City Centre.
I have the following Music Teacher vacancies.
Birmingham Yamaha Music School teaches over 200 children and adults each week – guitar, keyboards and drums to accredited standards.
Due to expansion we require the following teachers -
Keyboard Teacher
Guitar Teacher
Bass Guitar Teacher
Vocal Coach
All positions require great players who can read music and have the personality of a “children’s TV presenter”
We teach only rock and pop music and are open every evening Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday.
For further information please contact Gary Seeney at info at byms.co.uk
Remember to quote “The Music Network” when applying for any position so Gary knows how you found the vacancy.
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BIG PRINT in association with GUMBALL MACHINE presents…
GINA BIRCH (from post punk legends The Raincoats)
+ POPPY & THE JEZEBELS (Brum's supreme teens)
+ CHRISTY & EMILY (Psychedelic folk duo from Brooklyn)
+ The Dazzler's Nightingales 'Disco'HARE & HOUNDS, Kings Heath, BIRMINGHAM
SUNDAY 5 JULY
7.30pm KO, £7 admissionbirmingham: bigprint@hotmail.com
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Birmingham's No. 1 Independent Flyer Distribution Company?
For further information about our distribution services please contact Andy on 07973 416 290 or send an email
Parliament Square Peace Campaign – Brian Haw 8 Years of Protest. June 2001-2009
June 5, 2009
It has been some time since the Parliament Square Peace Campaign last sent out a message to Brian’s supporters. Brian is still in Parliament Square, the Campaign is still here, but we very stretched in our resources.
Eight years ago yesterday on 2 June 2001, Brian came to Parliament Square to protest against the injustice and suffering caused to the people of Iraq by the UN economic sanctions and the bombing of the country by the US and UK.
Eight years later, after invasion and occupation, Iraqis have lived through another terrible period and western troops have pulled out to continue their war in Afghanistan with the US and NATO bombing claiming many civilian casualties.
Despite hassle from the police and others, Brian and supporters remain lawfully opposite Parliament reminding those in power of the costs of their wars. Do come down to show support if you can.
Brian and Barbara Tucker are currently challenging the legality of the removal of the majority of Brian’s display in 2006 under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act. Despite the illegality of the action (as there is no power of seizure under SOCPA and no other authority was given at the time) they have discovered that the police took action with the foreknowledge and “full support of police actions by both houses and ‘Black Rod’”. Brian and Barbara will be in the High Court again this week and will take the case to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/05/430040.html
Meanwhile the promised repeal of sections 132-138 of SOCPA, which have restricted free speech and assembly for Brian and everyone else in a large area around Parliament, have yet to materialise. Gordon Brown promised the repeal when he came to power in 2007 but, despite being written into the Constitutional Renewal Bill and recommended by Parliamentary Committees, there has been no progress.
In reality however, the SOCPA restrictions on protest around Parliament are pretty much dead and buried although the threat of arrest is still used and deters people from exercising their right to protest.
http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/404526.html
Despite the repeal rhetoric, it is unlikely that the SOCPA legislation will be overturned without other measures restricting protest put in place. Recently, it has begun to look like Parliament will use the ongoing presence of large Tamil protests in the area as an opportunity to clamp down on Brian, and others.
On 14 May, The Evening Standard wrote that “Proposals were drawn up during an emergency meeting to give police the power to move people on from the square and to make it illegal for demonstrators to camp out overnight….Westminster Council hopes the legislation can be passed before parliamentary recess in June. It would affect all protesters including veteran peace campaigner Brian Haw….Westminster Council is also prepared to hand over ownership of the pavements surrounding the green to the Greater London Authority (GLA) – making any protest camp on the sidewalk illegal.”
Judging from what happens in Trafalgar Square, if the streets around Parliament fall into the ownership of the GLA, no-one will be able to protest without their permission. See http://repeal-socpa.info/ for more on the repeal ;(or not) of SOCPA and other developments.
Finally, Brian’s campaign relies on donations to keep going and many of you have been generous in your previous support. If you would like to make a donation, please see here: http://www.parliament-square.org.uk/donate.htm. The money is used wisely and sparingly!
Best wishes and many thanks for your continuing support,
Emma
Parliament Square Peace Campaign
A new film about Brian:
Brian & Co. Parliament Square SW1 is a new documentary film by Japanese film-maker Yumiko Hayakawa. Filmed over the course of one and a half years, the film captures this unique campaign through interviews with Brian, his supporters, former Labour MP Tony Benn and UK/Japanese peace campaigners. The film also sheds light on how freedom of speech is threatened in the UK and people’s imaginative and unrelenting ways of defending their rights. For more information, to watch a trailer and if you would like to help organise a screening of this film in your area, group, or school, etc. see
http://brianandco.co.uk/en_index.htm
For further information:
http://www.parliament-square.org.uk/
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/actions/2006/socpa/
http://www.iraqoccupationfocus.org.uk/
http://www.stopbombingafghanistan.org/
links for 2009-06-04
June 5, 2009
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Birmingham Music Network is an unfunded network and information point for anyone working in music in Birmingham and beyond. The room used at the TIC is kindly donated by Dave Taylor and his staff who run Creative Networks on the last Thursday of each month at the TIC, Birmingham City University, Millennium Point. The refreshments for the meeting have previously been supported by the Musicians’ Union. From now on, the £45 cost is being supported by local music businesses and musicians in return for advertising and exposure during the meeting and via the website.
links for 2009-06-03
June 4, 2009
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Here is a link to “Countercultural Capital & the Creative Economy – How do 1990s DiY Music ‘Entrepreneurs’ talk about the contemporary music business?” written by Charlotte Bedford for her MA Media Enterprise – Birmingham City University (May 2008)
It makes an interesting read…..
Placing independent music at the centre of the wider creative industries, this paper captures experiences and perspectives from 1990s DiY Music in order to inform the understanding of the rapidly changing ‘business’ of music……The role of the cultural entrepreneur is examined through accounts and opinions of independent music practice then and now, exploring the extent to which the current Do-it-Yourself digital music trend is new and ‘independent’.
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Celebrating Sanctuary is back this year with our best ever music line-up and an exciting range of events across the city. Offering musicians originating from Angola to Albania, Kurdistan to Kazakhstan, across Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East, our events demonstrate the rich diversity of talent that is settled here in Birmingham.
The key date in our calendar will be the Celebrating Sanctuary Festival on Victoria and Chamberlain Squares on Saturday 13 June. Alongside the music there will be workshops, displays, entertainment and activities for children, performances, arts and crafts, and samples of food from around the world – and all for free! In addition we offer music nights, a family music event, schools workshops and a schools festival.
Birmingham’s main contribution to National Refugee Week, which is celebrated between 14 and 20 June 2009.
Countercultural Capital & the Creative Economy – How do 1990s DiY Music ‘Entrepreneurs’ talk about the contemporary music business?” by Charlotte Bedford 2008
June 3, 2009
Here is a link to “Countercultural Capital & the Creative Economy – How do 1990s DiY Music ‘Entrepreneurs’ talk about the contemporary music business?” written by my friend Charlotte Bedford for her MA Media Enterprise – Birmingham City University (May 2008)
It makes an interesting read…..
Placing independent music at the centre of the wider creative industries, this paper captures experiences and perspectives from 1990s DiY Music in order to inform the understanding of the rapidly changing ‘business’ of music. The research builds on Leadbetter and Oakley’s (1999) description of a ‘new’ model of work derived from cultural entrepreneurs’ characteristic ‘independence’, and Wilson and Stokes’ (2002) subsequent paper on the changing nature of small independent businesses in the music industry. These ideas are considered in relation to cultural and popular music theory, particularly drawing on Thornton’s (1998) concept of ‘subcultural capital’ where value within a music scene relates to the lines of demarcation differentiating between underground and mainstream. The role of the cultural entrepreneur is examined through accounts and opinions of independent music practice then and now, exploring the extent to which the current Do-it-Yourself digital music trend is new and ‘independent’.
Click the link below to download or read. Its a microsoft word document. size: 144kb
P.A.I.N – Oh My God! We’re Doing It….. – Reviewed by M H Lambert
June 3, 2009
P.A.I.N – Oh My God We’re Doing It… We’re Fucking Doing It! – Reviewed by M H Lambert
P.A.I.N (Propaganda and Information Network for the uninitiated) were/are a band formed from the ashes of the seminal RDF (Radical Dance Faction) and the festy-dub-ska-punk AOS3 (named after Augustus Owsley Stanley III, maker of much LSD and roadie for Grateful Dead). With that background in mind, “Oh My God…” manages to combine a hard radical political edge with catchy tunes, skanking dub and some original sampling!
At just over 40 minutes with 9 tracks including the RDF songs “Punx with guns” and “Lighters” (with the same tune as Dum-Diggy on Ragamuffin Statement) there is something for everyone on here. From the slowed-out dub reggae of “Beltane” and the ludicrously catchy “Money” to the punked up “British Justice” and “Oh no! It’s the Pigs,” this album incorporates the best of the earlier bands’ sounds. The political angle makes this album sublime and not done in a conventional anarcho-ranting way but fusing some humour, simple choruses and catchy tunes such as “If you go down to Sainsbury’s, the special offer of the week is that it’s free” and “British justice… British justice… I can’t make sense of it ‘cos I’m stupid.” Vegetarianism, environmental activism, anti-capitalism, self-organisation and anti-statism are among the topics covered in songs, but not in a preach-shove-down-throat way but to the relaxing dub beats and bouncing British punk. To round it all off, the album ends with armed revolution on the streets of Britain!
Admittedly the recording quality could be a tad better but by standards of other DIY punk/reggae/free festival types, it’s not that bad! To top it all off, the title comes from the truly brilliant anarchist-propaganda Tin Tin “Breaking Free” comic which makes for a great album cover and t-shirt!
“Oh my God…” brings together all the best elements of AOS3, RDF, the anarchist-influences, free festivalling and biting satire. Still going strong despite losing John from AOS3, P.A.I.N manage to make one of the best ska-dub-punk-esque releases which you can come back to again and again. Finally, to top it all off, many hours will be wasted laughing at the booklet that comes with it demonstrating all the political acts against the state, government, Tories and much more. May the session continue!
links for 2009-06-02
June 3, 2009
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Our guest will be Jez from the Birmingham Music Archive and we’re going to pick our favourite Birmingham music gems. But. We’re going to turn half the show over to you — to pick your favourite brum bands and songs.
You can suggest anything you like, but we’ll not be deviating too far from the Big Paws policy of playing brand new tunes and obscure classics — so try and think of something that we and our audience might not have heard before.
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This article is about culture and the arts in the city of Birmingham, England. It covers both notable history and notable contemporary activities
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it’s a work in progress but they want people to add there own content. There is a fairly good list of bands on there already
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June has been declared to be Brum Music Month – a month-long celebration of all things Birmingham Music.
Do with that what you will. We're just trying to encourage activities, events, t-shirts, media coverage, free compilation releases, film screenings, photography exhibitions – anything you can think of that will help commemorate Brum Music Month.
Keep an eye on the site for developments, music videos, announcements and more… but most importantly – get involved!
We're not organising Brum Music Month – YOU ARE!
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Last Under The Sun will be played and discussed on the June 3rd edition of METAL TIME on BASEMENTSOUND RADIO which can be heard this Wednesday June 3rd 8pm GMT on www.basementsound.co.uk
The following bands all feature on the show -
LAST UNDER THE SUN
THE DECLINE
MOTHER TRUCKER
TWELVE GAUGE
PINK INDUSTRIAL WHORES
MISS HALLIWELLBig thanks to our man Nick J.Townsend who has fixed us all up good and proper
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The Local Underground Presents
The Nightingales plus Christy and Emily
3rd July at Mothers Ruin, 7-9 St Nicholas Street, Bristol, BS1 1UE8pm, £3,
Last Under The Sun on June 3rd edition of METAL TIME
June 2, 2009
Yes it’s true, Last Under The Sun will be played and discussed on the June 3rd edition of METAL TIME on BASEMENTSOUND RADIO which can be heard this Wednesday June 3rd 8pm GMT on www.basementsound.co.uk
The following bands all feature on the show -
LAST UNDER THE SUN
THE DECLINE
MOTHER TRUCKER
TWELVE GAUGE
PINK INDUSTRIAL WHORES
MISS HALLIWELL
Big thanks to our man Nick J.Townsend who has fixed us all up good and proper. Have a look at what else Nick is up to these days.
BASEMENTSOUND (presenter)
www.basementsound.co.uk
WEAK13 (band)
www.myspace.com/weak13music
BASE STUDIOS (venue promoter)
www.myspace.com/basestudios
RYAN’S GIG GUIDE (music columnist)
Nightingales and Christy and Emily – Mothers Ruin, Bristol 3rd July 2009
June 2, 2009
The Local Underground Presents
The Nightingales plus Christy and Emily
3rd July at Mothers Ruin, 7-9 St Nicholas Street, Bristol, BS1 1UE8pm, £3,
links for 2009-05-31
June 1, 2009
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Facebook – The Comicbook.
A Few words from Paul: Written, drawn and finished within a month, it felt like the well could have run forever were it not for the fact that full colour printing is probably on the tombstone of many impoverished, dead cartoonists. Well worth it though.So you get 72 pages focusing on the absurd and sinister elements of social networking. I set up a group on the website in question, and scoped for various ideas and experiences people had had. The response was really good, with members from just about ever country in the world.
However, the irony of using the very vehicle I was condemning made me feel like I may as well have been driving to Friends Of The Earth meetings in a 4×4. Despite this, making the leap into full colour feels fantastic…
