Birmingham | Discover new music and emerging bands

Interview: Alex Moir

01/05/2014 by Tom Roden

Birmingham-based indie artist Alex Moir recently stunned us with his upbeat summer tune ‘Like Ted Dexter’. So we had a few words with the man himself about who he is and his material. Tell us a bit about who you are and how you got into music? “I’m Alex Moir. I’m writer and a musician. I believe that music and lyrics transcend any other form of communication. I first got involved in music when I heard some class mates playing […]

Categories: Exclusive Content, Interview • Tags: Acoustic, Alex Moir, Birmingham, Indie, Like Ted Dexter, Soundcloud, Ted Dexter

Call Me Unique – ‘Urban Gypsy’ EP Review

19/04/2014 by Tom Roden

Call Me Unique is an artist who definitely lives up to her name. Shamelessly and successfully blending genres for years now, she has finally released the long-awaited ‘Urban Gypsy’ EP – with a little help from producer Professor F. But is it capable of capturing the eclectic excitement of her live shows? ‘Stranger’ introduces you to the EP well – with gentle plucked acoustic guitars and quiet scat opening the track, a reference perhaps to Unique’s acoustic-led beginnings. But it […]

Categories: EP Review, Review • Tags: 3 Words, Acoustic, Birmingham, Call Me Unique, CallMeUnique, EP, Freestyle, Improv, Jazz, Professor F, R&B, RnB, Scat, Sholo, Stranger, Urban Gypsy

Alex Moir – ‘Like Ted Dexter’ Review

17/04/2014 by Tom Roden

Feel-good indie doesn’t get more feel-good (or indie) than ‘Like Ted Dexter’, the latest single by Birmingham’s Alex Moir. This song is the musical epitome of summer. It’s a clap along, dance along, sing along masterpiece that will be a summertime hit, no doubt about it. What Moir has done here is put together something magical that will be the envy of many musicians. Combining breezy drums with laid-back acoustic guitars, simple but effective bass grooves and backwards guitar, Moir […]

Categories: Review, Track Review • Tags: Alex Moir, Birmingham, Birmingham Scene, Indie, Jason Mraz, Like Ted Dexter, MGMT

Kastella – ‘Rota Hell’ Review

15/04/2014 by Tom Roden

It’s a musical rush of blood to the head and without a doubt their strongest track to date: Midlands alt-rockers Kastella are back with new track ‘Rota Hell’, and it’s pretty brilliant. There is no messing around with this track. It comes straight in with feedback before detonating into an infectious guitar riff that will make you dance while it melts your face off. And the guitar is consistently brilliant throughout, leading the song with a series of epic hooks […]

Categories: Review, Track Review • Tags: Alternative, Birmingham, Birmingham Scene, Guitar Music, Indie, Indie-Rock, Kastella, Midlands, Rota Hell

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Introducing…Broken Hands

31/03/2014 by Tom Roden

Currently on tour with US surf-grungers Howler, Broken Hands are a band of big tunes and tight rhythms that any alt-rock fan should check out right away. On a dark and dreary day at Birmingham’s Institute on Friday, I was fortunate enough to get shelter from the rain by watching Howler perform. And to my great fortune, Broken Hands – a band I had heard of but never really listened to – were the second support act. They were on […]

Categories: Introducing, Live Review, Review • Tags: Birmingham, Broken Hands, Elephantine, Future Islands, Howler, No One Left To Meet, Soundcloud

Kastella – ‘Otherside’ Track Review

20/02/2013 by Tom Roden

Kastella are an indie band based in Birmingham and their sound is one that is familiar yet strangely refreshing, as ‘Otherside’ demonstrates well. You could be forgiven for dismissing the band as “just another indie band” from the moment the chiming guitars kick in on the track. But as you listen to the track, you notice what makes the band worth checking out. The bass and drums definitely have a funky vibe to them, offering a refreshing edge to the […]

Categories: Review, Track Review • Tags: Birmingham, Guitar Music, Kastella, Otherside

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The Bots – Live Review 4/11/12

06/11/2012 by Tom Roden

The Bots are a special thing indeed. A pair of brothers in their teens coming over from the USA and taking Europe by storm by being the embodiment of punk? That is definitely something special. Tonight, The Bots have brought together some great new punk-rock bands to support them as they attempt to show Birmingham exactly why they have earned attention from bands such as Blur and Refused. And they do exceedingly well in doing so. First on the bill […]

Categories: Live Review, Review • Tags: Birmingham, Punk, Skull TV, The Bots, The Flapper, The Styles, Youth Man

Chris Wallbank And The Cowards – Live Review 24/10/12

25/10/2012 by Tom Roden

It’s not very often that an opening act will almost be on par with the headline act in terms of showmanship and musical capability. But this is exactly what happened when Wolverhampton-based Chris Wallbank & The Cowards supported Dog Is Dead at their recent show at Birmingham’s O2 Academy 2. From the moment they walked on stage, everybody in the audience knew they were in for a treat. The confident grin and swagger of Chris Wallbank as he strutted to […]

Categories: Live Review, Review • Tags: Birmingham, Chris Wallbank, Dog Is Dead, O2 Academy 2, The Cowards

Cave Painting – Live Review 21/10/12

22/10/2012 by Tom Roden

When Gaz Coombes brought his tour to Birmingham on the 21st October 2012, nobody knew what to expect from him or the support act. Neither the tickets nor tour posters even mentioned a support act. Cave Painting are a five-piece indie band from Brighton, whose sound can only be described as ethereal. It is incredibly difficult to pigeon-hole their sound. They’re indie; they’re pop; they’re shoegaze; they’re slightly electronic. There’s a lot of words you could use to describe them, […]

Categories: Live Review, Review • Tags: Birmingham, Cave Painting, Gaz Coombes, Live Review, O2 Academy 2

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Introducing…Dive Exit

19/10/2012 by Tom Roden

They hail from Birmingham and have, in little over a year, progressed from being bedroom rockstars to a support act to performers like Missing Andy and Mini Mansions (the side project of Queens Of The Stone Age bassist Michael Shuman). Yes, Dive Exit are definitely a band on the rise: and it’s more than deserved. The band pride themselves on their ability to craft “very danceable music” for people to enjoy, while still “keeping true to their own style and […]

Categories: Introducing • Tags: Birmingham, Dive Exit, Lost

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Discover new music and emerging bands | Fresh Beats 365 – FB365

New music | New artists | Unsigned bands

Tag: Birmingham

Interview: Alex Moir

Call Me Unique – ‘Urban Gypsy’ EP Review

Alex Moir – ‘Like Ted Dexter’ Review

Kastella – ‘Rota Hell’ Review

Introducing…Broken Hands

Kastella – ‘Otherside’ Track Review

The Bots – Live Review 4/11/12

Chris Wallbank And The Cowards – Live Review 24/10/12

Cave Painting – Live Review 21/10/12

Introducing…Dive Exit