Full Moon Party @ HMV Institue by Jessica Allman
Posted by: theculturalbible on: February 21, 2011
- In: Clubs | Music | Nightlife
- 4 Comments
Dancer @ The HMV Institute
Forget your Snobs or Subculture, Wednesday nights have been taken over by the newly re-furbished ‘Institute’.
Thanks to Rough Hill promotions, Birmingham has been added to the list of legends to host the ‘Koh Phangan’ Thai Full Moon party. Be prepared to experience lots of strobe lighting, neon face paints and glow stick galore.
Wednesday nights have never been so colourful.
There are 5 rooms in total, so enough variety for everyone. As you come in, girls armed with UV paint and glow sticks – ready to get you in the party spirit, greet you. Straight in front of you we have ‘The Library’ where you can hear the latest Dubstep / Drum & Bass / Electro from ‘BRUM TAKEOVER’ the Midlands’ best up and coming DJs and Live Acts. Up the stairs we have ‘The Institute’ on the first floor. Here they play mostly mainstream and commercial music and usually this is where you will find most of the headliners gracing the stage such as past performers like Katy B and Ms. Dynamite. Take a wander upstairs to the second floor you find two more intimate rooms: the Temple which plays solely R n B and Hip Hop, and the Secret Room for a bit of Motown and Soul fever.
For the smokers amongst us, The Institute does not discriminate but instead provides a heated outdoor terrace and burger van for your pleasure when the dancing gets too much. A great venue for those out for a good night, the music gets crazy, the floors gets sticky and be prepared to get a little hot and sweaty.
But once you get on the dance floor waving your glow sticks, nothing else matters but having a great time.
Visited: Wednesday Nights 10:30pm-3am
Contact: HMV Institute, Digbeth, Birmingham
Cost: £4 – Tickets can be purchased online or through Rough Hill reps.
Maroon 5 @ The 02 Academy Birmingham
Posted by: theculturalbible on: February 21, 2011
- In: Events | Music
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Maroon 5 are one of my guilty pleasures, we all have them, and mine could be a lot worse.
After there show at the 02 Academy Birmingham I came to the realisation as to what fabulous musicians they are. I was astounded as to how talented they are on a whole host of instruments.
The show was phenomenal, as the band performed tracks from “Songs About Jane”, “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long” and their newest album “Hands All Over”.
With such a mix of songs the whole crowd was involved with singing, dancing and clapping.
For such a small venue I felt the gig was managed well and would definitely now consider going to another event there.
The bar prices were extortionate, but they are at all of these type of events so nothing new there! (£6.80 for a pint of Carlsberg and a glass of water!)
Maroon 5 amazed me once again, and I’ve had their album on all morning now.
If you fancy a feel well, easy listening night out all mixed up with a bit of a dance then I would definitely recommend getting tickets to see Maroon 5.
They are only touring in the UK until the 22nd February and tickets are now sold out. However, watch their website or twitter for latest news and updates.
Tip: If your network provider is 02 you can get priority access to 02 venues for you and two friends and gig tickets up to 48hrs in advance before general release.
Visited: Sunday 20th February
Contact: The 02 Academy, Birmingham
Av Cost per Person: £25 (Ticket Price for this Event)
Perry Barr Dog Racing
Posted by: theculturalbible on: February 21, 2011
On Friday night I went, for the very first time, to the dog racing at Perry Barr Greyhound Track and Stadium.
My friend and I opted to dine in the Skyline Restaurant so we could watch the races with the comfort of warmth and dinner. However there is the option of watching from trackside, which is considerably cheaper.
We were introduced to our waitress and bar attendant who were both very friendly and we opted to have table service throughout the night which was a lovely touch.
The inside of the restaurant is amazing, for a second I forgot I was still in dismal Perry Barr. The meal was satisfactory, not amazing, but still nice – with plenty of choice
to choose from.
I ate Nachos, Smothered chicken and Vanilla cheesecake which were all included in the £20 we had pre-paid however you could choose other items such as Steak for a small supplement.
Naturally whilst eating we indulged in placing a few bets on the races. We tended to do one bet a race, putting £1 on each for a dog to win. We started off brilliantly – winning the first race but then it slipped down hill from there.
It was a fantastic night, with staff helping you whenever you wanted and as a first timer to this ‘betting malarkey’ I thoroughly appreciated it.
Naturally some people take it a lot more seriously than we did however it was a fun evening and would be an enjoyable evening out with a partner or a group of friends.
We ended the night by winning on the last race, which covered our drinks bill – so everyone was happy!
Visited: Friday 18th February
Contact: Aldridge Rd, Perry Barr
0870 840 7411
Av Cost per Person: £20 (3 Course Meal & Race Card – Drinks and Bets NOT included.)
Russell Howard @ The LG Arena
Posted by: theculturalbible on: February 21, 2011
I like Russell Howard anyway, so seeing him live was such a treat.
I spent the evening at the LG Arena to see Russell’s live “Right Here, Right Now” tour, that lasted around 2hrs.
I’m not going to spend time reviewing the comedy, after all that is very much down to personal opinion but if you like Mock The Week then this show was very much for you.
The gig was dynamic and interactive, and although I was sitting quite near the back I was still laughing like a loon for the whole two hours.
Chris Roberts a student from Birmingham City University said “I really enjoyed it and left really liking Russell, I feel like I could be one of his friends. His humour is about everyday, real life stuff for example relationships between brother and sister. I would really recommend this show!”
The LG Arena was brilliantly organised, with no queuing to show tickets as I arrived – just scan and enter and plenty of food and drink outlets to avoid queues there as well!
There were plenty of attendants on hand to guide us to our seats and overall our experience was easy and definitely made the evening stress free and enjoyable.
Russell still has tickets available for dates right the way until June, and although he has no more dates set for Birmingham it is definitely worth the travel!
Note: Trains go directly to the NEC/LG Arena for any events you may attend in the future – just get off at Birmingham International and you can walk right the way through.
Visited: Friday 11th February
Contact: The NEC, Birmingham
Av Cost per Person: £25 (ticket price for this event)
Nandos @ The Mailbox
Posted by: theculturalbible on: February 21, 2011
- In: Cuisine | Eating Out
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Nandos, possibly one of the worlds most famous chicken eateries that’s not KFC.
And there’s a blooming good reason for it.
On my visit to Nandos at The Mailbox, Birmingham I indulged in a Single Chicken Pitta with sides of spicy rice and garlic bread and a bottomless soft drink – which only set me back £10.71.
For freshly cooked chicken and food served with a smile I couldn’t be happier. To be honest, there is something for everyone at Nando’s. If you’re really hungry you can have a double chicken breast, add cheese, add pineapple and a whole other assortment of sides and extras!
Considering this Nandos restaurant can be busy an awful lot of the time I was pleasantly surprised to how quickly we were seated, and how quickly our food arrived.
It is the perfect place for a quick bite to eat with family or friends.
Visited: Friday 28th January 2011
Contact: The Mailbox, Birmingham
Av Cost per Person: £10
La Tasca – Regency Wharf
Posted by: theculturalbible on: February 21, 2011
- In: Cuisine | Eating Out
- 2 Comments
La Tasca is elegant Spanish cuisine in a traditional themed restaurant. It’s Spanish food, in Britain, at it’s best.
Firstly our waitress must be commended for her excellent service, from the moment we walked into the door until the moment we left. So Kathryn, thanks for that.
If you haven’t been to La Tasca before the menu can seem a bit daunting, as it’s a mind maze of tapas style dishes and paellas.
My boyfriend and I usually go for the ‘Tapas to Share’ section where you are recommended to pick 3-4 dishes each. It’s a brilliant idea if you are dining with a partner or friends as they are all served to your table in their own dishes and you can dip in and out.
I love that with tapas, you can try loads of new things!
My boyfriend and I ordered seven dishes between us, which were:
Gambas Pil Pil (King Prawns in chilli and garlic oil)
Croquettes De Pollo x2 (Chicken Croquettes with garlic mayonnaise)
We had 2 portions because we both love them SO much!
Chorizo Frito Al Vino (Spicy Spanish sausage flavoured with paprika and garlic, sautéed in red wine)
This is my boyfriend’s favourite!
Albondigas A La Jardinera (beef and pork meatballs in tomato sauce)
Patatas – Bravas Con Queso (potatoes in spicy tomato sauce with melted cheese)
Paella De Verduras (Vegetable Paella)
The food was served to us quickly and with a smile and was all hot on arrival. (I’m a real stickler for food being piping hot when it reaches me at the table!)
It was an absolutely delicious meal and I really cannot fault anything about my experience here. Even when there was a problem with the card machine at the end the staff were apologetic and friendly whilst the issue was resolved.
Make sure you check out VoucherCloud before you go however, as there always seems to be a deal around for your nearest La Tasca.
We used a voucher for 50% off our food so rather than our bill coming to nearly £40 we paid just £20 (including drinks).
Definitely one I would go back to!
Visited: Wednesday 16th February
Contact: Regency Wharf off Broad Street, Birmingham
Av Cost per Person: £10
‘Jake Bullit’ at The Rainbow Courtyard by Jessica Allman
Posted by: theculturalbible on: February 21, 2011
- In: Music
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Venue and Band Information:
'Jake Bullit'
We headed down to Digbeth to the outdoor terrace of The Rainbow Venue.
Jake Bullit has been playing as a four piece since around May/June last year. Jake was originally a solo artist and they decided it would work better if they were turned into a band, giving them more room to experiment.
The band consists of members Christie, Jacob, Oscar and Tom.
The Rainbow Pub and Courtyard are well known for it’s controversial and dynamic set ups. The usual crowds you’ll find consist mainly of Indie and Alternative genres – so dress down but dress to impress – girls, no-one is going to care whether you’re wearing heels or not.
The feel is industrial being located under a bridge; the courtyard area is airy and has an underground vibe to the place.
Other events located at The Rainbow are ‘Mannequin’, ‘FACE’ and ‘Zombie Prom’, drawing in large crowds of regulars and newbie’s alike. Although it can get a little hot and heavy, there are plenty of places to flitter off to including the warehouse part of The Rainbow, which with its high ceilings, can often be a good send for some breathing room.
Interview:
I spoke to Vocalist Tom Carwardine about the type of music Jake Bullit had to offer the Birmingham music scene.
Tom:
“We have been playing as a four piece since june last year. Me and Christie were playing in a guitar band in Birmingham and Jake and Oscar were in London working on producing, remixing and DJing and we liked the idea of bringing our sounds together to see what we could come up with. Jake had already done some remixes and stuff under the name Jake Bullit so we thought we’d stick with the name”
“We’re mostly synth-pop but our live show is quite ‘rave-like’ with a club feel with different sounds giving it a cool vibe. We like mixing it up a bit live and putting on a show and give you something to dance to rather than jut play through pop songs as they sound on the record. We have a wide range of influences from Blur and Happy Mondays, to New Order and Duran Duran.”
“We played in the courtyard bit of The Rainbow. We’ve played there a couple of times and it’s always a really good atmosphere. It has a great P.A and the sound is always wicked in there. It’s one of our favourite venues in Birmingham. The room was nicely filled, not too overcrowded but there was a good atmosphere and it’s always nice to see people dancing.”
Review:
I like The Rainbow Venues as you have plenty of choice to take you as you feel.
So if you want a fairly quiet night then just hang out in the pub section and enjoy the live music with a pint. For a more energetic and upbeat evening/morning, then the Courtyard and Gardens are the place to be.
Everyone is sociable and there was no trouble, just watch out for the toilets towards the end of the night – it tends to get a bit… interesting.
You can catch Jake Bullit’s next performance at the Actress and Bishop on the 18th March in Birmingham, with support coming from Rosarsic, Fred Claridge and This Burning Age.
'Jake Bullit' by Simon Pentelow
You can check Jake Bullit out on soundcloud and keep up to date via their facebook page
Visited: Freaky Friday evening 11th February 2011
Where: 160 High Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B12 0LD
Av Cost per person: £5 on the door
The Electric Cinema
Posted by: theculturalbible on: February 21, 2011
I ventured to The Electric Cinema to watch The King’s Speech.
My reasons for going…
Why not? It’s pence more than going to Cineworld and it’s the UK’s oldest working cinema.
The outside of the cinema is quite Art Deco by nature, and this feel definitely continues as you enter the building. You are greeted by a quaint ticket office where rather than those monstrous pink things you receive at Cineworld you are given an old fashioned cinema ticket that sets the tone for the place quite magnificently.
As with any t
rip to the cinema drinks and snacks were a must. It was refreshing to be served my Coca Cola in a glass, with ice and a slice whilst my boyfriend had a Peroni. We weren’t rushed to finish our drinks before the screening, and were encourage to take them to our seats.
With only two screens, The Electric is small, but as long as you pre book or arrive in good time it shouldn’t be a problem.
There is also the option to sit on a sofa, which to me is a fantastic idea! Although quite pricey at £12.40 per person it would make a romantic date, or a nice treat every once in a while.
Overall I loved The Electric, the atmosphere was lovely, the service was fantastic and everyone that was there just wanted to appreciate the film they were watching.
Definitely bear it in mind next time you fancy a trip to the flicks!
Visited: Thrusday
3rd February
Contact: 47-49 Station Street, Birmingham, B5 4DY
Av Cost per Person: £4.70 (Student Ticket)
Black Swan @ Cineworld
Posted by: theculturalbible on: February 21, 2011
Courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/allaboutgeorge/
So last Tuesday I went to Cineworld to see Natalie Portman take the stage as a ‘psycho ballerina’ in the box office hit Black Swan.
What a film…
If you liked Shutter Island, you’ll love this! A thrilling tale, and an epic journey as we follow Portman’s character Nina Sayers go from ballet nobody to leading lady.
If you’re not big fan of gore there are a couple of scenes that will make you cringe, but it’s definitely not a reason to not see it.
With Mila Kunis as supporting actress the film is packed with gorgeous ladies – and is definitely not just a chick flick.
Overall well worth the £4.20 – a fantastic watch that has left me still talking about it two weeks later!
Remember: Register on StudentBeans and get BUY ONE GET ONE FREE student tickets at Cineworld, Monday – Thursday
Visited: Tuesday 25th January 2011
Contact: Broad Street, Birmingham
Av Cost per Person: £4.20 (Student Ticket)
Flickr Photos
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