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Jez Collins

Andy Hamilton: 1918-2012

The Birmingham Music Archive was sad to hear of the death of Andy HAmilton in the early hours of 3rd June. Andy was 94 and was surrounded by family and friends. Andy was an immense figure in the history of Birmingham music. He started his first band in Jamaica at the age of 8 and… Read More »Andy Hamilton: 1918-2012

Pete Paphides

Peter Paphides (born Panayiotis Paphides) is a British journalist and broadcaster. Between 2005 and 2010 he was employed as the chief rock critic of The Times and presented The Times’ weekly music podcast for Sounds Music supplement. Since then, he has freelanced for The Guardian, Mojo and Q magazine made a string of documentaries for… Read More »Pete Paphides

Highway 61

Great record shop that was based in Fletchers Walk, Paradise Circus and was the major shop for all things Americana (before it was really called that) and Power Pop. Owner Martin was in revered Brum band The Great Outdoors and has sent a couple of photos of the shop in to the archive, including the day… Read More »Highway 61

The Rainbow Suite

The Rainbow Suite was a very large and well attended venue, which was situated above the Co Op in the centre of Birmingham. It was accessed by a lift, which was a wonderful situation for bands carrying in the then standard 4×12 speaker cabinets which weighed one and a quarter hundredweight (the same as a… Read More »The Rainbow Suite

Bournbrook Hotel

A venerated venue in Selly Oak, as Mike has written in, it needed its own page. Hi – we need a page for the above as this was a major local venue. Rock Against Racism had regular slots there showcasing local punk and reggae bands. They also used to have great sound systems on plus… Read More »Bournbrook Hotel

Andy Hamilton

The life and career of Jazz musician Andy Hamilton are quite remarkable – even by Jazz standards! Born in 1918, in Port Maria in Jamaica, his first exposure to music was through the church and a family piano. As early radio broadcasts from the USA were received across the Caribbean, Andy heard the original music… Read More »Andy Hamilton

Lightshows

Pat Myhill, Entertainment Officer at Aston University in the early 70s writes about the Lightshows that he and other students created to accompany gigs during this time. PAt recalls the processes he went through and explains how Aston was considered to have the best Lightshows in the country. I am so pleased to see some… Read More »Lightshows

Aston University

Aston Uni has a long history of gigs organised by the Student Union and their Events Officer. One of their most prolific officers was Pat Myhill in the early 70s. Pat put on numerous gigs and also developed light shows while there. You can read about this fascinating development here. Pat and his wife also… Read More »Aston University