Rise Against I got into Rise Against pretty late in the game, Ready to Fall was the first song I heard and I dragged my best friend to go watch them in the Lock-Up stage at Reading, from that moment on they became one of my favourite bands. That was the summer of 2006 in another couple of years I would catch them at Download festival, the old Academy in 2009 and earlier this year at their one off show at The Electric Ballroom in London which was streamed live on the internet.


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John Kearney & Lucy Farrell Winter has truly got underway in Birmingham and promoters Moseley Folk present their monthly night The Lunar Society that brings singer songwriters to the cosy candlelit second room of the Hare and Hounds.


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Ringo Starr If you type RIN into a web search engine, the third predictive option that shows is Ringo Starr. If you do the same with the other three names of that fab four, they are not as high up the list. Admittedly, John, Paul and George are much more common names, but the point is that Mr Starr is still one of the most famous people on the planet. How he came to this position is often sited as him being the luckiest person in the world, rather than by his talent or good looks; although without doubt he fitted perfectly within that four piece band that shook the world.


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The Pains of Being Pure at Heart “Last train to Rowley Regis” There is this friend of mine called John. He is very passionate about his music and travels all over the country via the cheapest means possible, criss-crossing the land trying to cram in as much as he can. He has a network of friends who look after him and you can never be sure when he will turn up next. You are probably wondering what I'm going on about and what this has to do with the review. The point is that as was announced by Kip Berman from the stage my mate John “has been to more Pains.... gigs in the UK than anyone else”!.


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Redtrack + Cohere + No Americana + Imogen’s Kiss It specifically said on the flyer, ‘Emma Scott Presents...’ Well, I looked high and low at the Hare and couldn’t find her anywhere! A promise more honoured in the breech than the observance, me thinks. Honestly!


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Carina Round A respectfully hushed Hare crowd welcomed seasoned singer/songwriter troubadour Vijay Kishore to open the evening’s muse with a mostly newly-penned set of subtly honed songs of innocence and experience. His immediate signature feature is his higher-register sonorous vocals complimented by his dexterous and imaginative use of open-tuning guitar.


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Rolo Tomassi It all kicks off a little late tonight, the first band on at 8.15, meaning those that arrived at doors have been waiting over an hour. It's a harsh crowd and half empty room for Hymns, and it doesn't warm up much through their set.


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Max Raptor Tonight I am at the HMV Institute in Digbeth for what can only be described as a Midlands mash up – four local bands hailing from such varying genres it makes for a truly intriguing combination.


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Rival Schools Despite the odd shows here and there, it has been a long time since Rival Schools have toured let alone release an album. Thankfully they have chosen to do both, and here they are in Birmingham welcomed by a large number crammed into a smaller venue.


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Reel Big Fish I arrive just in time for New Riot, an energetic UK ska-punk band who are trying hard to get the crowd warmed up. At one point they divide the crowd for a 'wall of death' only to have no-one move when the track kicked in, leaving a big channel down the centre of the room. It's a shame the crowd were so unresponsive, but it's early on a cold Sunday evening - it'll take more than a bit of shouting.


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Rumer Imagine, just imagine, that The Graces of poetry and music summoned the likes of The Carpenters, Carole King, Julie London, Dusty Springfield, Bert Bacharch, Mary Coughlan and Herb Albert and asked them to kiss some of their magical muse upon this unassuming, singularly charismatic young lady, (BB already has) Sarah Joyce, who goes by the professional persona of Rumer (after a poet). She records an album; lovers go all moonstruck, kittens and puppies are sighed at in pet shops and your what to get you know who Christmas present dilemma is solved.


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Wilko Johnson Some would argue that Wilko Johnson was the vital ingredient that made the early Dr Feelgood a great band. His partnership with Lee Brilleaux is still regarded as something special in the annals of British Rhythm and Blues and Oil City Confidential Live set out to celebrate the early days of the band, from the pub rock circuit in London to chart topping success with the live album, Stupidity.


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