Written by Pete Chambers BEM
City of Music
If you are looking for two days of amazing music, would like to see some musical talent in the area, or just want to help a great cause – on February 3 and 4, the fundraiser they call City of Music will be taking place at The Empire in Coventry. It really is the place to be for live music – and it’s not all ska.
The events are in aid of The Coventry Music Museum and it is, of course, essential that it keeps going for 2021 and beyond. Here is a chance to buy a ticket, and make a donation, or even bid in the Sunday live auction which includes some amazing one-off items from Specials bassman Horace Panter.
Museum Director and gig organiser Neil Twigger said: “I’m really excited about this fundraising weekend. Not only is it raising money for a cause close to my heart, it is giving local bands the chance to play in the best music venue in our city and one with, in my opinion, the best sound systems.
“What I like about these gigs is that they are family friendly, which means parents can introduce their young ones to live music in a safe environment and it won’t break the bank.
“The Coventry Music Museum is totally run by volunteers. Money for rent and utilities for the museum are paid for by the entrance fee and fundraising so this can make a massive difference to keeping it up and running.”
This weekend will feature local bands and solo artists Ruder than U, Lost The Plot, Barbdwire, Wilde, Voodoo Kings, The Session, Skaledonia, The Baines, Lloyd McGrath Collective, Nick Knibb AKA The Archbishop, Danny Ansell and a rare appearance from Special Brew.
Also in attendance as MC will be BBC CW’s very own new music guru Brody Swain.
Tickets are available from The Coventry Music Museum at the 2 Tone Village in Walsgrave Road, online via the Empire web site and from the former Coventry Telegraph building in Corporation Street in the city centre.
Visit www.coventryempire.co.uk for more information.
Hope & Social
Here’s a gig that you will be guaranteed to leave with a smile on your face, wishing it was start time again.
Hope & Social are on stage on January 19 at The Tin, with The Upsiders in support.
Hope & Social have a manifesto: “It was basically that we would only do stuff that was fun, that we’d make only the music we wanted to make, and plan events that we’d want to go to. That we should collaborate with interesting people and on interesting projects. That making music makes our lives better, and we want to share how that feels, not keep it to ourselves.”
They are a superbly entertaining band – oh, and they wear blue jackets!
Visit http://thetinmusicandarts.org.uk/events/hope-social-the-upsiders for more information.
