For our longtime listeners you’ll know we’re a station created and (mostly) based in Birmingham (hence the home of rock in our name), and for those of you new here… well now you’re up to speed! So you’ll understand why we’re starting a new quarterly feature of what gigs we’re most looking forward to in brum (and why you should be coming to them if you weren’t already!). This first edition is just for November and December 2023 as we didn’t want to wait until next year to start making sure our listeners (and readers) knew what great shows were around to help them round the year off right!
The Hot Damn
4th November 2023 @ Asylum
Four girls who have a wealth of experience behind them, The Hot Damn wowed me at the Steelhouse festival in 2022. Uplifting, original and full of energy, they are a delight to watch. Their headline tour stops over at the Asylum Birmingham on November 4th and I certainly recommend you grab a ticket. Gill Montgomery on vocals is alongside the exceptional Laurie Buchanan on guitar. Bass is provided by Lzi Hayes and they are all kept in line by Josie O’Toole on drums.
Words by Diane
Stray From The Path (with Make Them Suffer)
7th November 2023 @ XOYO
If you want to let your anger out this winter, or in general just scream about how much you hate nazi’s and nonce’s, this is the show for you. I’m not the biggest fan of hardcore or punk but this band’s ferocity when playing live, as well as their lyrics, which are simple and to the point, never fail to get me in the pit (and I’m not normally a pit dweller!). Their latest album, with tracks such as “Guillotine”, are possibly even more heavy than previous releases, which makes this tour even more appealing. And incase any other reason was needed, the aussie metalcore legends in Make Them Suffer will be supporting. It’s their first time back in the UK since before COVID, and the first time here with their new keyboard player/clean vocalist Alex Reade. If their latest singles “Doomswitch” and “Ghost of Me” are anything to go by, Alex is a perfect fit and we’re excited to catch them on this tour!
Words by Rachel
The Prodigy
23rd November @ Utilita Arena
One of the most exciting gigs coming up for November is The Prodigy. Despite the loss of charismatic frontman Keith Flint in 2019, an event that could halt the progress of even the most accomplished of bands, the hardcore-punk-dance outfit returned last year. With a 10 date tour across 7 of the UKs best loved venues, smack bang in the middle of summer, we were treated to what can only be described as the sweatiest, most energetic, most fun shows of the last decade. The Prodigy’s Liam Howlett and Maxim did their fallen brother proud with an array of classic anthems, and new bangers that never fail to bring a crowd from every walk of life together under a spectacular light show. And now with a string of arena dates announced for November this year, you can rest assured that we’ll be seeing an even more awe-inspiring return to live performances with a bigger budget, and beefier sound system that is guaranteed to blow everyone away. So, if you are a new fan, or a lifelong member of the Ant Army, make sure you get a ticket, and get down there.
Words by Stan
Hot Milk
24th November @ O2 Institute
Hot Milk really have had a meteoric rise of the last few years. Formed in 2018 by Hannah “Han” Mee and Jim Shaw, the power pop duo quickly found themselves touring with the likes of British alternatives’ mainstays Enter Shikari, anthem factory Papa Roach, and global legends Foo Fighters to name but a few. Add to that a mainstage performance at Download Festival that the early followers, and those to whom Hot Milk was a pop imbued breath of emo punk fresh air, and it’s easy to see how they’re selling out venues on their upcoming tour already. If you’re luckier than me you might be able to get yourself a ticket to their November tour, and with it the chance to dance, mosh and sing along to their debut album “A Call to the Void”.
Words by Stan
Lorna Shore
28th November @ O2 Academy
Provided you haven’t lived under a rock for the last 2 years, you may have heard of a band called Lorna Shore. Hot on the heels of recruiting Will Ramos as their new lead vocalist in 2021, the deathcore 5 piece released the EP “…And I Return to Nothingness”. A cinematic deathcore tour de force that placed them firmly at the top of the deathcore hierarchy. This followed by their album “Pain Remains” saw the band playing packed out venues, and prestigious festival main stage slots almost without fail. If you saw them at any of their shows last year or caught them at their blistering dust storm of a set at Download Festival, you’ll know that these guys give everything they have and more. And with that said, if you can still get yourself a ticket to their November/Early December tour, and want the most immense face full of deathcore brutality… you really should shell out, and book the next day off work, as after a night in a Lorna Shore pit, we can assure you… The pain will remain.
Words by Stan
SKYND
28th November @ O2 Institute
If you love the darker side of music and have an interest in the realms of true crime, the return of ‘SKYND’- an industrial rock duo is one that you do not want to miss in Birmingham this late November. The band are touring across Europe during the final months of 2023 and are coming to the UK in November through to December. With a vibe that can be compared to the likes of Ice Nine Kills, but with a more eerie and melodic sound to their music, SKYND base their discography on telling classic stories of real crime cases in an entirely new light that captures the attention of the crowd in a whole other way to anything I have ever seen before. I first discovered this band at Download Festival 2022. Their unique approach to a side of music so outside the realms of the other bands that they were performing with at the festival, was something that gripped my attention from the get-go, and SKYND have been a band I have returned to time and time again whenever they release new music. With spooky season coming up, I can’t think of a better and more intriguing band to see this autumn and I’m incredibly excited to see them on the stage November 28th in Birmingham.
Words by Jodi
Wargasm (with Dropout Kings)
10th December @ XOYO
After seeing Wargasm 2 times already this year, I wasn’t too fussed about making it out to this tour. 2 things changed my mind. 1st – Their 2 latest singles. “Do It So Good” is the best electronic-metal fusion I’ve heard in a long time, and gives me mad The Prodigy vibes. “Bang Ya Head” is extremely catchy and features our lord and saviour Fred Durst. After having those 2 singles on repeat for the past weeks I was pretty much intent on going, then the 2nd thing happened – Dropout Kings got announced as support. If you want to know why that’s such a good thing, have a read of what I thought when I first saw them live here. If you can’t be bothered to read that, they’re a fun nu-metal/rap-metal group who are well worth a watch live, even if you’re not sure the music is your thing.
Words by Rachel
