Echotape, It Hugs Back, Chris Hope, Rachel Nicholas, The Offbeat FREE

ECHOTAPE

In mid-2010 in a small town south of England, five men in their early twenties came together with a passion for creating music and formed Echotape. As they began writing together about their life experiences and convictions, they teamed up with a series of left-field producers to record their first demos. Some of their early recording found their way legendary producer and Killing Joke member, Martin “Youth” Glover, whose production credits include with Dido, The Verve, Beth Orton, James, Crowded House and many others.

Youth was so impressed with what he heard in the demos he called Echotape in for a writing session and after just a few short meetings decided he wanted to record the band’s debut album. The result is the fantastic ‘Sky Above Quarley Hill’, which will be released this Spring and supported with an extensive tour across the UK, U.S.A and Europe. Check out the video for ‘Came into My Blood’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3zBN3qXZiI&ob=av2e http://www.echotape.co.uk/

IT HUGS BACK

The members of It Hugs Back have now spent half of their lives making music together. Friends since school, guitarist/singer Matthew Simms and bassist Paul Michael first formed a band together aged 12, with classmates Jack Theedom (keyboards) and Will Blackaby (drums), adding to the line up along the way.

In 2009 the band released their first album ‘Inside Your Guitar’, “a remarkable debut, a record that wraps itself around you and doesn’t let go for a solid, dream-like 40 minutes” (NME)

Since then the band have gone on to fill their time with an array of ventures. Matthew has become the guitarist for highly influential art rock band WIRE; Paul can regularly be spotted backing jazz greats at venues ranging from Ronnie Scotts to The Savoy; Jack has even become a chef (!). Yet It Hugs Back keep finding themselves drawn to one another...in the same room...doing the same thing...for the same reason.

In the summer of 2010, the band started to regroup more regularly in the space they like to call ‘The Record Room’ - a tiny spot in Matthew’s garage overflowing with guitars and vinyl; the band’s creative home since the very beginning. The end result being 'Laughing Party' the bands second album, released in May 2012.

CHRIS HOPE

The Chris Hope Project is an ever changing musical beast based in Birmingham and nobody knows quite where it starts and ends. Each live performance yields a different dynamic and a different set of musicians. The Project are currently promoting ‘The Black and White Album’, a two-year-in-the-making work of art which dissects the state of modern Britain. The rules are simple: appreciate the music: listen to the words. This is electrocoustic poetry. This is The Chris Hope Project.

RACHEL NICHOLAS

Rachel Nicholas is a British songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist studying composition at Birmingham Conservatoire. Her debut album is currently in progress and set to be released in Spring 2012.

THE OFFBEAT

The hand-crafted sound of Midlands four-piece The Offbeat delivers a contemporary take on folk music, not only imaginative and experimental but extremely sophisticated. These close friends draw influence from artists such as Charlie Simpson, Noah & The Whale, John Mayer, Counting Crows, and Lisa Hannigan, and demonstrate intelligent, heart-warming musicianship beyond their years. The unique group they have formed is becoming increasingly popular at festivals and events around the country, whilst their forthcoming album due for release Spring 2012 is already set to be a gem.

“…a whole bunch of talent with high hopes for a bright future.” - LichLive Review “Simply breath-taking – absolutely gorgeous vocals” - Shrewsbury Folk Festival Review

Every Sunday, Birmingham Promoters present an evening of eclectic music.

Doors: 6pm til late - FREE ENTRY