Save Acocks Green Library

Libraries are great for many reasons, and the importance of Acocks Green Library extends far beyond just being a repository of books. The Library was built in 1932, so it’s nearly 100 years old. Acocks Green Library was built in modernised Georgian style, in sandstone bricks and Grinshill stone. The City's Coat of Arms is over the main door. The internal joinery is of oak, including substantial areas of glazed oak framing, and the floors and dados in the entrance hall are terrazzo. The building was refurbished 1994-5. Acocks Green Library, like all the local Libraries across Birmingham, provides important services for the local community. Here’s some of the reasons why…

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Visit Iron Man Records on Bandcamp and discover all sorts of new music on Vinyl, CD, Digital and DVD.

Art, music, and performance can provide a way for individuals to express themselves creatively, communicate their thoughts and feelings, and connect with others on an emotional level. Art, music, and performance can expose individuals to different cultures and perspectives, fostering a sense of empathy and understanding of other people and ways of life. Some studies suggest that participation in art, music, and performance can have a positive impact on academic performance, particularly in areas such as maths and reading. Engaging in art, music, and performance can help individuals develop important skills such as discipline, focus, and perseverance, which can be beneficial in all areas of life. Finally, art, music, and performance…

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John Sinclair – Renegade Poet, Beatnik and Cultural Revolutionary

Immortalized by John Lennon’s 1972 song that bears his name, Sinclair is an iconic figure of ‘60s counterculture, famous for, among other things, having co-founded the anti-racist White Panther Party and for managing Detroit’s legendary proto-punk outfit MC5 early in its history. Following a highly publicized two-year stint in prison for marijuana possession (Lennon’s song was a protest against his incarceration), Sinclair has stuck to his guns as an advocate for marijuana reform. “Living Euro to Euro, sleeping on the couches and extra beds of friends, a man without a country and a post office box in New Orleans for a permanent address.” That's how spoken word poet John Sinclair describes…

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John Sinclair Presents Detroit Artists Workshop

Not many people can say that John Lennon wrote a song about them, but John Sinclair is among that select bunch. Viewed by the powers-that-be as a dangerous revolutionary for his involvement with the White Panther Party, Sinclair was handed a ludicrously harsh sentence – “they gave him ten for two” – for marijuana possession after a police sting. In 1971, Lennon, along with Yoko Ono, Stevie Wonder, Phil Ochs and Archie Shepp played a freedom rally in Michigan and three days later Sinclair was freed. Sinclair is probably best known in the music world for managing riotous proto-punks The MC5 and imbuing them with a radical zeal. But Sinclair is…

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Melusine – Children Of The Sweet Water by TUUP

PERFORMANCE STORYTELLING by TUUP MUSIC by HAMID MANTU and TIM WHELAN of Transglobal Underground. The Story of "Children of the sweet water" Catalogue Number Mule 16 Enter a world of supernatural beasts, power, jealousy & transformation. Medieval rulers of England and France often claimed descent from a part demonic, part angelic, part human, part fish-tailed creature called Melusine - a creator of peace and of conflict, a builder of cities, a vengeful daughter and a wronged wife – a legendary figure who the kings would credit for their achievements and blame for their cruelties. World renowned storyteller TUUP, joins forces with regular collaborators from the band Transglobal Underground, Hamid Mantu and…

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Iron Man Records Rehearsal Space and Recording Studio in Birmingham.

“Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality” – The Cheshire Cat, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Iron Man Records provides a cultural outpost for Musicians, Writers, Performers and Travellers in the arts with a large purpose built Music Rehearsal Space and Recording Studio. The Record label seeks to encourage residents and travellers in the arts to gather, record and present their cultural insights and experiences. “The first step to controlling your world is to control your culture. To model and demonstrate the kind of world you demand to live in. To write the books. Make the music. Shoot the films. Paint the art.” Chuck Palahniuk Located outside the Clean…

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Embassy for the Imagine Nation – Iron Man Records Recording Studio and Music Rehearsal Space in Hockley, Birmingham.

Iron Man Records provides a cultural outpost for Musicians, Writers, Performers and Travellers in the arts with a large purpose built Music Rehearsal Space and Recording Studio. The Record label seeks to encourage residents and travellers in the arts to gather, record and present their cultural insights and experiences. Located outside the Clean Air Zone, in Hockley, Birmingham, the rehearsal space and recording studio offers an Embassy for the Imagine Nation committed to inspiring and promoting Independent creativity. The Music Rehearsal space operates by way of a shared online diary with 24hr access. The Rehearsal space has room for one or two more groups, and four or more people to join…

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Framework Recording Studios, Birmingham

Iron Man Records works with Simon Reeves at Framework Recording Studios, a purpose built recording studio based in Birmingham, just outside the clean air zone. Simon specialises in recording, mixing and mastering. Framework Recording Studios UNIT 8A, Western Industrial Complex, Western Road, Birmingham, B18 7QD Bookings: Telephone (UK+44) 07790 158210 email siframework@gmail.com The vast majority of the 40,000 songs uploaded daily to Spotify are home recordings. For artists and songwriters to share content at a fast and frequent pace, it makes sense to sharpen your music production. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to employ a top producer to help you capture something creative. Better production creates a stronger impression…

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Warrior Beings – Moksha

Michelle ‘Moksha’ Watson has published a new book of her poems called ‘Warrior Beings.’ In case you wondered, Michelle is an Iron Man Records Patron and all round supporter of the cause. ‘Warrior Beings’ is the first solo collection of poetry by Michelle Watson, aka ‘Moksha Poetess’. It’s a beautifully produced volume, laid out with style by Slim Smith. It’s set out in five chapters (‘Self’, ‘Heart’, ‘Ikigai’, ‘Cut and Paste’ and ‘Light’), each illustrated with her striking visual art. Michelle has been a spoken word artist and singer songwriter on the London and Festival scene for over two decades, as well as producing a number of transformative theatrical happenings. Including:…

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John Sinclair – The Music & Activism that define his Revolutionary life

In Episode 26 of Essential Conversations, Ann Delisi spoke with John Sinclair about the music and activism that define his revolutionary life and career. This is one of the best interviews with John Sinclair I've heard to date. If you are an artist, writer, poet, musician or performer of any kind, give this a good listen. Turn off the Television, put your phone away. You may learn something. John Sinclair is an activist, poet, and writer whose life and work is connected by one theme – resistance. Sinclair co-founded the White Panthers, managed the MC5, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the possession of two marijuana cigarettes. His imprisonment…

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F23 Podcast E18 featuring Oliver Senton – October 9th, 2020

The F23 Podcast is a conversation based podcast with interesting,  inspiring, inter-dimensional beings of wonder who have chosen a human form for this incarnation. In conversation with Jamie Dodds (Pope Flag-dag the Brave) sharing their experiences, journeys, learning and un-learning from their off the map adventures through the counterculture. F23 is starting to look like some sort of Iron Man Records Patron Broadcasting these days. I can't believe it. It's brilliant. I haven't even started going through all the episodes yet, but I will. I had no idea so much has been going on while I've been working on other things like do these stairs go up? Or which way to…

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Robert Anton Wilson – Cosmic Trigger II – Down to Earth – Audio Book

Written by Robert Anton Wilson Narrated by Oliver Senton Recorded, Edited and Mastered by Simon Reeves at Framework Studios, Birmingham. (April 2019 – May 2020) Co-producers: Mark Sampson (Iron Man Records) & Steve “fly agaric 23” Pratt Executive Producers: Richard Rasa & Christina Pearson A 21st Century Rennaisance Man . . . funny, wise and optimistic . . . the Lenny Bruce of philosophers. – Denver Post “A Super Genius . . . He has written everything I was afraid to write.” – Dr. John Lilly, writer, neuroscientist and psychonaut “One of the funniest, most incisive social critics around, and with a positive bent, thank Goddess.” – Riane Eisler, author of…

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A Conversation with John Sinclair and Cary Loren – Saturday, March 31st 2018 at MSU Erickson Kiva (Erickson Hall, 620 Farm Lane)

Join John Sinclair and Cary Loren as they discuss the 1964 formation of the Detroit Artists’ Workshop, providing a unique glimpse into this revolutionary artistic moment. In the years between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Walk to Freedom down Woodward Ave. in July of 1963 and the Detroit Uprising of 1967, a dedicated group of artists led by John Sinclair banded together to make a difference in their community. Artifacts provided by Cary Loren, including photographs by Leni Sinclair and writing by John Sinclair are currently featured in the MSU Broad exhibition, Detroit Artists’ Workshop, on view through May 13, curated by Cary Loren with MSU Broad Associate Curator Steven L.…

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John Sinclair – Beatnik Youth – Double CD – review by Steve Fly Amsterdam, 2017

The story of the Beatnik Youth album begins in London. John Sinclair was visiting to perform with guitarist Al Clayton and his band The Dirty Strangers, Gigs organised in part by Ian Grant, including a double bill with Zodiac / Youth. Martin ‘Youth’ Glover came into John’s orbit and found a kindred spirit in John, proposing they work on a jazz project together. 

Sure enough plans were laid out for John to travel to Kingston College Of Music in London, to a recording session set up by Youth. The list of musicians in the large room was staggering: George Butler, Hugo Wilkinson and Steven Pratt on drums, Al Clayton and Brian…

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Cosmic Trigger 4th – 27th May 2017

The Play by Daisy Eris Campbell. Adapted from Robert Anton Wilson’s seminal autobiography Cosmic Trigger: The Final Secret of The Illuminati. See it at The Cockpit - Gateforth St, Marylebone, London NW8 8EH. BUY TICKETS HERE “Robert Anton Wilson’s 'Illuminatus!' had a profound effect on me and the Cosmic Trigger Play will no doubt do the same for a whole new generation.” Alan Moore, writer/author of V for Vendetta, Watchmen and Jerusalem Turn On. Tune In. Find The Others In 1976 maverick playwright and director Ken Campbell staged Robert Anton Wilson’s, Illuminatus! - a nine-hour stage play that helped launch the careers of Jim Broadbent and Bill Nighy. It also led…

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