02 ACADEMY PICTURE SPECIAL
The Automatic
requested a shrine to
David Hasselhoff on
their rider! Talking of
which, honey and lemon
are without doubt the
most requested rider
items.
did you
know?
T
HE new O2 Academy
launches with a series of
shows by bands with Bir-
mingham connections.
The first gig, on September 10, is
headlined by Editors who became
adopted Brummies when they
made the city their base in 2003
after graduating from Stafford-
shire University.
In 2005 a handful of successful
singles led to the release of debut
album, The Back Room, which
entered the UK charts at number
13 and peaked at number two.
Follow-up, An End Has A Start,
went straight to number one and
saw the band touring extensively.
Songs from the forthcoming
third album, In This Light And
On This Evening, are due to be
showcased at the O2 Academy
show.
An honour to be part of new era
THE Twang headline the new O2
Academy's second gig on September
11.
The Quinton-based outfit is
celebrating the release of new album,
Jewellery Quarter, named after the
area of the city where the band
rehearse and where much of the
record was written.
The O2 Academy show will be
something of a mini festival with ten
bills performing across all three
rooms.
Included are The Scarlot Harlots, The
Traps, Templeton Pek, Misty's Big
Adventure, Subkicks, Octane OK,
Mexicolas, Strangle Kojak and Sick
City Club.
Says The Twang's singer Phil
Etheridge: "Dale End holds some
great memories for The Twang,
whether it be playing there or
watching our favourite bands
dreaming of the day we could
grace the stage. It's an honour to
be part of a new era and headlining
at the new O2 Academy
Birmingham."
Festival favourite
WEST HEATH singer Mike
Skinner, aka The Streets,
plays the O2 Academy on
September 12.
The Streets burst onto
the music scene six years
ago with the Mercury
Prize-nominated debut
album Original Pirate
Material. Since then, the
band have enjoyed some
blistering festival
performances,
showcasing tracks from
their back catalogue and
latest top ten record,
Everything Is Borrowed.
The Streets recently
confirmed their fifth
album release in 2010 will
be called Computers and
Blues.
THEN
NOW
Editors kick off first gig
THEN
THEN
NOW
NOW
Win great prizes online
To celebrate the opening, you can win a pair of tickets:
To see the Editors open the Academy.
To see The Twang on the opening weekend.
To see The Streets on the opening weekend.
To see Ocean Colour Scene on the opening weekend.
A copy of the new The Twang and The Rumble Strips CDs.
Go to www.birminghammail.net
20
BirminghamMailSATURDAY,SEPTEMBER5.2009

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