Birmingham Music

The city of Birmingham in England holds the distinction of being the birthplace of heavy metal music. At the tail end of the 1960s, the generation that grew up during this time was under the shadow of the Cold War and experiencing strong ideas sentiments over the Vietnam War. Rebellion against authority and the perceived failure of organizations and established systems gave birth to various movements especially amongst the youth. Majority looked for meaning in a bohemian way of life with most of them adapting a hippie lifestyle. However, there were those who rejected the hippie philosophy and sought to express the dark experience of modern life.

The bohemians with a dark, nihilistic and morbid worldview found expression by embracing a type of music characterized by a heavy and industrial sound. Heavy metal musicians adapted classical styles from the acoustic guitar, repeating riffs, which gave the narrative structure of the themes in their songs. This revolution through and in music started with a Birmingham-based band called Black Sabbath. They originally played blues-rock music but later on their sound evolved to what will be known as heavy metal when they began to incorporate dark and nihilistic lyrics accompanied by loud, gritty guitar solos. Other notable heavy metal bands that trace their origins in the Birmingham music scene were Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, and Napalm Death.

The cultural and racial diversity of Birmingham also ushered the blossoming of reggae and ska music. West Indians who migrated to the city brought this type of music with them. The rhythmic and danceable musical style of ska and reggae caught on. Common themes such as love, sexuality and relationships were narrated in songs that were Jamaican-inspired. However, more serious themes and ideas prevalent in the city were also tackled. Injustice, poverty, racism, and political issues peppered the reggae and ska songs lyrics, reflecting the social conditions of the city. Ska and reggae bands like UB40, Steel Pulse, The Beat, and Pato Banton added to the diversity in the Birmingham music scene.

The city's musical pedigree extends to pop music with the 80s pop band Duran Duran. This band that started in Birmingham in 1978 has enjoyed commercial success right to the international level. Aside from their distinctive sound, the conscious effort for a visual trademark from their clothes to their album covers added to their appeal and popularity among fans. During the early years of music videos, they plunged into it right away with provocative videos of their songs that sparked controversies and passionate response both in the US and the UK. This pushed the band furthermore into fame that was manifested in more of their albums being sold and bigger crowds in their performances. The band also found fans among fellow musicians, some of whom cite Duran Duran as a key influence in their music. These range from contemporaries like Kylie Minogue to Gwen Stefani to Franz Ferdinand among countless famous musicians.

The acid house genre also found a home in the Birmingham music scene. Though the first records of this genre of house music were first produced in Chicago, it was in the UK that the acid house movement blossomed. This was due to the popularity of raves and after-hours clubbing of which this kind of music was the soundtrack. The scene in Birmingham was intense that people spill out from the clubs to the streets and partied on until the early hours of the morning. Some of the successful and influential house musicians, producers and DJs that came from Birmingham are Tony De Vit, Scott Bond, and Steve Lawler. Digbeth Institute, Cream, The Que Club, Tin Tins, and Miss Moneypenny's are just some of the dance clubs in Birmingham where acid house music was played.

With such a diverse and vibrant music scene, it is but natural for the city to regularly host a wide variety of music festivals throughout the year. These are some of the music festivals that the city of Birmingham hosts:

Birmingham International Jazz Festival - 200 performances, most of of them free, are held in ten days all over the city. This festival celebrates jazz music in all its forms and has become known as Europe's best annual jazz party.

Party in the Park - This is a popular outdoor summer music event all over England. In Birrmingham, it takes place in Cannon Hill Park.

Gigbeth - This music festival was organized in Birmingham to support local musicians. It started in 2006 and has been held annually ever since.

BASS Festival - The festival is a month-long event with the primary goal of celebrating African art and music in Birmingham.

The Supersonic - This is an annual music event at the Custard Factory featuring an eclectic mix of rock artists.

Birmingham Triennial Music Festivals - Though this festival has long ended due to World War I, it is still remembered and honored as a premier classical music festival.

The city has no lack of venues where music of any kind can be heard and celebrated. For pop and rock music, people flock to places such as the Custard Factory, the Drum Arts Centre, the Barfly, Scruffy Murphy's, Midland Arts Centre, and the Jam House. The National Indoor Arena, O2 Academy Birmingham, and the LG Arena provide larger venues for huge concerts. Classical music is best played at the Symphony Hall. This auditorium that can seat up to two thousand has world-class acoustics and is the home of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The Town Hall, which was renovated recently, is another home of the classics in the city. Opera lovers troop to the Hippodrome to catch the Birmingham Opera Company and Welsh National Opera performing at their best. The Birmingham Opera Company also goes to streets and other unusual places to stage an opera as part of their mission to make this music genre more accessible to the people. Jazz and folk music are usually heard at smaller clubs that dot the whole city but during the summer months, the sounds of these genres are taken to the Symphony Hall where jazz and folk festivals are held.