FFP

[Dogtanian]

I’ve seen Stewart Lee several times at the Symphony Hall. 

I saw him there last time round. I am seeing him again this year but I actually can't think where it is.

I’m going to look out for you next time. Shouldn’t be hard to spot judging from your username!

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

I’ve seen Stewart Lee several times at the Symphony Hall. 

I saw him there last time round. I am seeing him again this year but I actually can't think where it is.

I’m going to look out for you next time. Shouldn’t be hard to spot judging from your username!

Haha. I'm unrecognisable after I put all the slap on.

[dave.woodhall]

Yeah, that's what I've read from promoters.

And yet the Black Country is totally different.

[Dante Lavelli]

Some of the comments on this sum it up

https://tinyurl.com/4azh582k

Wow. Thats made me feel a bit sick.  It upsets me that people feel that way, and scares me that they think its okay to type it on an open forum.

[algy]

I do wish people would give Birmingham more love, rather than assuming nobody in the world would come here unless forced. If the people from here go on about it being crap, what hope do we have?

As UK cities go, Birmingham is right up there with the best of them.* The majority of people who take the piss are people who either haven't been here at all, or haven't been in decades.



*. And the only one where people talk proper.

Strongly agree here. Visit Brum - even just counting non-Villa related trips - more often than Liverpool & Manchester put together, despite those being closer to us. Birmingham is IMO one of the best cities in the UK to visit.

[eamonn]

Symphony Hall can be a bit iffy sound-wise for rockish bands (Elvis Costello the other week being an example) early in a set but seems to settle down. As for selling tickets, it's a long-established fact that Birmingham is a bit 'challenging' for promoters.

But why?

[LeeB]

Symphony Hall can be a bit iffy sound-wise for rockish bands (Elvis Costello the other week being an example) early in a set but seems to settle down. As for selling tickets, it's a long-established fact that Birmingham is a bit 'challenging' for promoters.

I've heard the same. I don't think the shite transport options at night help.

[dave.woodhall]

Symphony Hall can be a bit iffy sound-wise for rockish bands (Elvis Costello the other week being an example) early in a set but seems to settle down. As for selling tickets, it's a long-established fact that Birmingham is a bit 'challenging' for promoters.

But why?

Better people than me have tried to answer that one. We've had the music and we used to have the venues. One possible reason is that we've never had a Brian Epstein/Tony Wilson figure to bring everything together.

[Exeter 77]

Is it because music in Birmingham is so diverse with no specific movement?

[Stu]

Is it because music in Birmingham is so diverse with no specific movement?

Not enough fey white boys with guitars singing
“first I was a little bit sad
But now I’m happyyyyyy”

[dave.woodhall]

It's not just music. Our nightlife was appalling for decades, boxing doesn't sell well here and it's only been in the last few years that we've had the sort of crowds we should get. Brummies basically don't like parting with their money.

[Stu]

A wise people.

[LeeB]

It's not just music. Our nightlife was appalling for decades, boxing doesn't sell well here and it's only been in the last few years that we've had the sort of crowds we should get. Brummies basically don't like parting with their money.

Mind you the same sort of thinking was put to us not selling out, or needing to expand, and yet hear we are.

[Percy McCarthy]

PTV has posted some good stuff about the Aston Hotel on X.

[kippaxvilla2]

I have come across the concert debate a few times on the brum reddit page and promoters/organisers have popped up saying that it is common knowledge that Birmingham is a difficult place to sell tickets so some artists just avoid it. I think this is in relation to not global megastars but I always find it interesting. Most people seem to think in relation to the big artists that we're avoided a bit more because Manchester covers the North, London the South, and they think people in-between can just travel to either. Shit for us, like, but good for your Tottenham's.

The problem for a long while was always that the big venues are there (NEC, NIA etc), but the mid size venues aren't. We have one of the best (accoustically) venues in the world in the Symphony Hall, which is medium sized, and does do 'rock / pop' gigs, but it needs to find acts who can command the biggish prices and don't exploit that to play mega-venues.

Talking of Symphony Hall, three of the very best gigs I've been to have been there (David Byrne x 2, Kraftwerk), it really is a phenomenal venue, but I get why it isn't right for all. It's basically perfect for your middle aged types who care more about sound quality and what not more than anything else (me, effectively, and - to co-opt a Stewart Lee joke, the sort of people who go to Stewart Lee gigs).

It will never get edgy acts. The edgiest act I've ever seen there is Belle and Sebastian (awesome btw), which says a lot.

On a side note, going there for gigs has made me a massive fucking snob, I won't go anywhere for a gig if i even suspect the sound quality will be poor.

You need to get yourself to the warehouse for authentic beer throwing.  Sounds like it would be just up your street.