Features | Counteract

Stephen Pennell February 2, 2020February 2, 2020 Lady Sanity, Namiwa Jazz, Peace, The Clause

20/20 vision: 20 local artists tipped for greatness in 2020

We’ve kept our ears to the Marshall amps and penned 20 of our favourite local artists that we think are set for big things this year.

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Sophie Hack January 27, 2020January 31, 2020 Birmingham, Hare and Hounds, Independent Venue Week, The Castle and Falcon, The Night Owl

Independent music venues keep music thriving in Birmingham, but for how long?

Independent Venue week is here again, bringing the UK’s venues together, but it seems Birmingham isn’t getting the recognition is deserves.

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Stuart Barton July 25, 2019January 6, 2020 Birmingham, Instagram

15 of the best Birmingham Instagram accounts you need to follow

Birmingham is bold, beautiful and bright, and these Birmingham Instagram accounts shout about everything it has to offer.

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Counteract Reporter August 13, 2018November 12, 2019

Bingo starting to attract millenials

One of the reasons why bingo has been so successful over the years is that it has the knack of

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Andrew Gutteridge February 1, 2019November 7, 2019 Arcadia, Band Aid, Barbarella’s, Blondie, Canon Hill Arts Centre, Chic, David Bowie, David Gilmour, Godley and Creme, goldfrapp, Hazel O’Connor, Herbie Hancock, James Bond, John Frusciante, Justin Timberlake, Kajagoogoo, Led Zeppelin, Live 8, Lou Reed, Mark Ronson, Mayfair Ballroom, Melle Mel, Missing Persons, MTV, New Romantic, Nile Rodgers, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Robert Palmer, Rolling Stone, Rum Runner, Scissor Sisters, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Sting, The Beatles, The Human League, The Power Station, Timbaland, War Child, Wembley Arena

A beginner’s guide to: Duran Duran

It was at a Siouxsie and the Banshees gig in 1978 at Birmingham’s Mayfair Ballroom in the Bullring shopping centre, that a young John Taylor and Nick Rhodes had their Damascene moment.

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Sarah Staniforth November 6, 2019November 6, 2019 2-tone, Coventry, Far Gosford Street, fargo village, Just Dropped In... Records, The Big Comfy

15 of the best independent shops in Coventry

Coventry is home to a wealth of underappreciated indies. Use this guide to help you support the 2021 City of Culture’s independent businesses!

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Sophie Hack November 3, 2019November 6, 2019 arlo day, big joanie, Brain Food, Chartreuse, china bears, clarion, EKKAH, Exotic Pets, hamer, Hare and Hounds, humanstairs, kaleidoscope, mount pleasant, muthers, night owl, NONSUCH, patawawa, Prince of Wales, Robert Craig Oulton, Shai Brides, Sofa King, Sorry Grace, sugar candy mountain, Sugarthief, The Castle and Falcon, The Flapper, the ninth wave, The Taboo Club, walt disco

November 2019: 10 gigs in Birmingham for less than a tenner

Cramming as much live music, in one month as possible, here’s the low down on the best gigs for less than a tenner in Birmingham.

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Stephen Pennell November 4, 2019 Birmingham, Swim Deep, the new consistent

Swim Deep prodigy The New Consistent talks life, love and a BBQ with Wolf Alice

19 year-old local musician Ben Ramsay, AKA The New Consistent, is on a mission. Stephen Pennell chats to him about his journey so far.

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Sophie Hack October 22, 2019October 22, 2019 bad girls, brexit, button factory, castle and falcon, cave girl, club night, fruit tones, halloween, Jewellery Quarter, le freak, minerva works, mockingbord, Snobs, Swampmeat, The Night Owl, The Old Crown

Halloween 2019: The 10 best events in Birmingham

Rise like the dead for some of the best parties around the Birmingham block, from gigs to club nights, tea parties to tequila tasting.

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Counteract Reporter September 18, 2018October 14, 2019 Ambient, Birmingham, experimental, Post punk, punk, Swell Maps

The story of Swell Maps: Solihull’s 1970s post punk pioneers

Discover the story of Swell Maps, the Solihull band of teenagers who radically changed the sound of the 80s, 90s and beyond.