Home Journalism Photography

Counteract

I wrote for Counteract for a couple of years whilst studying in Birmingham (2017-'19). I wholeheartedly loved every moment of writing for them.

Counteract (est. 2010) is a fiercely independent, music-and-culture-loving website founded by the lovely, legendary Richard Franks.

Concert Reviews

Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Review: KT Tunstall rocks glitzy Town Hall show

Edinburgh native KT Tunstall touted new album WAX and past hits at Birmingham’s Town Hall on Wednesday March 20th. Support came from UK singer-songwriter Laurel.

Southampton native Laurel opened proceedings with a half hour set that carefully glided between tender acoustic tracks, and full-gusto’d rock-pop ballads. Playing long-written tracks and newer compositions from debut album DOGVIOLET, the crowd is attentive, police and hushed whilst in her comfortably unfamiliar presence. ‘Life Worth Li
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Review: The Wailers bask in a warm Brummie glow

The Wailers – original members of Bob Marley’s band bolstered by a roster of younger members – lit-up the O2 Academy on 15th March for a night of heartfelt reggae and roof-rapturing singalongs.

Arriving on-stage just after their ticketed time, superheroes of classic reggae, The Wailers, received a hero’s welcome. The nine-piece band, comprised of every instrument essential to the reggae cocktail – alongside two athletic and rapturous backing singers who doubled as a dance act among themselves f
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Review: Self Esteem hits the sweet spot in Birmingham

Sheffield’s Self Esteem played a wonderfully executed Birmingham set on March 12th, swaying carefully between layered pop and soulful acoustics.

A blend of sonic rock and alternative sounds caught the crowd’s attention at the Hare & Hounds tonight, as Lycio were called upon to open for Self Esteem. ‘Young Ties’ is an ear worm that seemed known to some members of the audience who were treated to a raw and unrestrained sound. Closing with their poppiest track, ‘Cash‘ (due out in April), Lycio hav
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Review: Postmodern Jukebox showcase vintage takes on modern hits

PMJ, officially known as Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, roared into Birmingham’s O2 Academy on Saturday 2nd March.

Evoking the smoky spirit of a New York City basement bar, a rotating bill of four vocalists were backed by a tightly rehearsed six-man band to rework contemporary hits and cult classics.

Starting off the show slightly behind schedule, the show was opened by host and performer LaVance Colley with Bruno Mars’ ‘That’s What I Like’, quickly kick-starting the six-strong backing ba
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Review: Synth-pop shines on with Chvrches at the O2 Academy

After four years of intensive touring and diligently crafting away at third album Love Is Dead, Chvrches made a glorious return to Birmingham’s O2 Academy for two nights.

Norwich natives Let’s Eat Grandma opened up the show on February 9th (the second of two evenings in Birmingham) with a gloriously gothic amalgamation of punk, synths and outright dirty pop in the best possible way. Tracks such as ‘Ava’, ‘Hot Pink’ and ‘It’s Not Just Me’ earned the duo a support slot, but it’s their avant-garde
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Review: Florence + The Machine play transcendent set at Genting Arena

Opened by Wet, Florence + The Machine return to Birmingham and the Genting Arena on Friday November 16, after 3 years away. A flitting contrast between bombastic and delicate, the show delighted much of the audience.

Dramatic build ups and an ethereal opening with ‘June’ re-introduce Florence Welch, and her sprawling band, back to Birmingham. Fresh from touring High As Hope (UK #2), the band’s fourth album in the U.S and Canada, the second night of the UK leg brings energy, intricate moments an
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Review: Franz Ferdinand impress a boisterous Birmingham crowd


• Glaswegian rockers Franz Ferdinand returned to Birmingham on Tuesday 20th February during a massive UK, US, Japanese and European tour
• The only support on the evening came from Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes’ fame
• The Franz setlist comprised of their classic indie hits as well as their impressive latest offering, Always Ascending (UK #6)

Albert Hammond Jr. propelled indie and rock grind into the crowd with a vocal range similar to Jake Bugg. The opening track quickly illuminated the r
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Review: Erasure play their first Birmingham show in over a decade


• Erasure played Birmingham’s O2 Academy on Sunday 11th February, showcasing a mix of nostalgic old hits and driven recent material
• The show was Erasure’s first full Brum date since 2002, excluding a short acoustic set in 2016 and Andy Bell’s appearance at Birmingham Pride in the same year

Bright Light Bright Light immediately grabbed the crowd’s attention as they filtered in from the cold and snow outside. A campy blend of retro disco-pop peppered with synths and precise saxophone solos com
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Review: Newton Faulkner plays Birmingham on massive UK tour


• Newton Faulkner performs in the main room at Digbeth’s O2 Institute on November 11th
• An eclectic mix of old and new; intimate and loud brings the house down on a Saturday night

Sam Brookes comes on stage (before quickly leaving, then coming back to a friendly cheer from the crowd), and segues into sparse, beautiful, minimalistic tracks that showcase the musician’s ability to carry falsetto notes without missing a single tone. This entrance captures the audience as he incorporates a range o
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Review: Kioko light up their hometown show at the O2 Academy


• Birmingham band Kioko continue their festival season of success, playing the O2 Academy on October 26th
• The band’s live presence is something to behold, which explains their well-earned presence on famous festival stages this past summer

After selling-out the smaller O2 Academy3 earlier in the year, the native Birmingham band are back to the O2 Academy‘s middle sized-room for another headline show. It follows a busy 18 months for the group, who have played Reading Festival, Glastonbury, Bo
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Review: Kele Okereke plays an intimate show at the Sunflower Lounge


• The Bloc Party front-man performed at The Sunflower Lounge on October 22nd
• Support came from Sipho and Teddy Matthews
• Kele and his openers turned the venue into a sweaty acoustic affair

Sipho warms up The Sunflower Lounge‘s chilly Sunday night crowd with some simple, acoustic songs about life, love and relationships, with much simplicity. But the real charm arrives with Teddy Matthews, who brings a Mumford And Sons-esque set with tracks about “love, breakdowns, and all that crap”. The wi

Profiles & Interviews

Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Interview: The Ting Tings on their ten-year career and new album release

With the Salford duo’s fourth album due out on October 26th, Counteract caught up with The Ting Tings to chat about switching creative gears, their ten-year career and upcoming record, The Black Light.

It’s 2018. The Ting Tings have been bending genres, ripping up rule books and diligently crafting away for a decade now. ‘That’s Not My Name’ and ‘Shut Up And Let Me Go’ from We Starting Nothing filled dance floors in 2008, whilst Sounds Of Nowheresville and Super Critical, not as well-received,
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Review: Sam Hollis impresses on debut EP, LYFE

After departing from the Glow in the Dark Lizards, Sam Hollis has carved his solo place in Birmingham’s music scene, with the 8th January self-release of his debut solo EP, LYFE.

Opening up the EP is pretty mid-tempo single track Looms Over You, an electro-bop with all the bells and whistles, and a funky-fast psychadelic riff which bloops and layers over words a bad relationship – complete with a sample from American TV.

Segueing into the hipster-pop of All Day, Sam’s favorite from the EP – he
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Introducing El Sam: Birmingham's dreampop non-conformist

El Sam is a dream-pop performance artist based in Kings Heath, Birmingham. He has self-produced and self-released two full-length albums, and is currently in the infant stages of writing album three.

Dudley-born, he moved to the Middle-East, then came back to Birmingham in the Autumn of 2011. Of his musical upbringings, he listened to Bowie, the Spice Girls, Sinatra. At present he’s in love with the music, artistry, and possibly macabre persona of Lana Del Rey. These, combined with his backgrou

Culture Writing

Counteract •

The best of Birmingham's museums and art galleries

If you’re in need of a chilled but informative Birmingham day out, you can’t go wrong with one of Birmingham’s wonderful museums or art galleries. All of those listed are within the city centre, so they are perfectly walkable on a day trip or day off.

A combination of both historical artefacts and art, Birmingham’s flagship museum houses a expansive gallery covering Pre-Raphaelite works, Egyptian artefacts, a child-friendly mini-museum and the Gas Hall with its rotating roster of exhibits. Ther
Counteract •

An ode to Digbeth: Birmingham's gritty creative quarter

The first record of Dyghbath can be traced back to 1533, when the area was Birmingham’s first industrial district, and the high street was the main thoroughfare for trading visitors from neighbouring towns to the east. Then, after the industry packed up and left, the neighbourhood went with it, leaving it undesirable and unused, save for sparse garages, empty warehouses and construction.

The new millennium brought change to Digbeth and Deritend – which are now seen as an amalgamation of the sam
Counteract •

The best gay, lesbian and LGBT+ bars in the Gay Village, Birmingham

Birmingham’s LGBT+ neighbourhood, The Gay Village, is a vibrant and lively party/dining area found next to Chinatown and the theatre district in central Birmingham; less than a ten minute walk from the Bullring and the Rag Markets.

The main area of the ‘Village’ is found on Hurst Street – which has the main ‘strip’ of popular LGBT+ nightlife in the city – but the criss-cross layout of ‘Gay Town’ hosts some fantastic party venues, as seen below.

The mainstay nightclub of Hurst Street which bega
Counteract •

10 European festivals in 2018 with tickets under £150

Mainland European festivals offer fantastic bang for your buck, with some of them offering three or four days of live music and a week’s worth of camping for less than £150. From France to Finland and Serbia to Spain, here are some of the best European festivals in 2018 you should definitely look in to attending! Ticket prices are correct at the time of publishing.

Last year’s environmentally-friendly and cashless festival showcased a range of talent, including a line-up of prolific BAME artist

Music Reviews

Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

'The Best Of Newton Faulkner ... So Far' recaps the last decade of the singer-songwriter's career

Virtuoso multi-instrumentalist Newton Faulkner releases his first Hits collection, with a unique twist and a heartfelt culmination of cult fan favourites sitting next to his biggest hits.

Now having edged over a decade in the music industry, Newton Faulkner is celebrating with a 2-disc set that celebrates his career and solidifies elements of his live shows that keeps fans coming back in unison.

The first disc is a collection of his biggest and best tracks from his previous 6 albums, from sign
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Mumford and Sons bring back the banjos and layer on the heartbreak on atmospheric 'Delta'

Raw tales of heartbreak, divorce and loss pepper the fourth album from seasoned London quartet Mumford and Sons. Delta expands the creative palette on which the band paint their craft.

Thankfully, the banjos are back. But this reinvention is much more lush and deeper than an outright rebel against what brought Mumford and Sons to established fame in the first place. ‘Picture You’ delves into the modern trend of high-pitched distorted vocals against a textured electro-R&B background; leading sin
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Review: Gary Numan's 'The Fallen' EP offers an extension of his recent, goth-tinged output

Capitalising on the success of 2017’s dark-rock ‘Savage (Songs from a Broken World)’, the synth giant turned goth-pop protégée makes a modest return a year later with new EP The Fallen, three tracks on a more accessible scale – whilst retaining grandeur and drama.

The stark cover artwork in the similar vein of his preceding album has a somewhat stratospheric atmosphere about it, as though he is walking on the moon. Sonically, this is reflected in the visual aspect of the record. Gary Numan will

Concert Announcements

These were 'pitches' Counteract would send to promoters in order to secure press access.

Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Self Esteem to bring her debut album 'Compliments Please' to Birmingham

Gloriously quirky newcomer to the UK’s pop scene, Self Esteem, is to take her debut album Compliments Please on tour, including a a date in Birmingham.

BBC Radio 6’s Album of The Day, ‘Girl Crush’ premiered by Annie Mac and an official remix of ‘The Best’ by Hot Chip member Joe Goddard has proceeded Rebecca Taylor’s drunken studio sessions and late night iPhone notes to be translated into cool, rhythmic and catchy ear worm-laden pop tracks. Taylor’s previous iteration in band Slow Club ticked o
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

MARINA set to return to the stage with six UK shows this April/May

Formally Marina + The Diamonds, stronger force MARINA returns to UK stages for an exciting round of shows in support of her upcoming two-part album, Love + Fear.

Preceded by solo single ‘Handmade Heaven’ and hit collaboration with Clean Bandit ‘Baby’, MARINA’s upcoming double set (released April 26th) comprises of two opposing themes – and a diverse sound.

After two years studying a psychology degree and taking serious time to focus on her mental health, MARINA shed the ‘Diamonds’ moniker for
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox set to swing into Birmingham

Cancelled by the Beast of The East in March last year, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox (PMJ) is finally swinging back into Birmingham’s O2 Academy this March

Finding viral fame after years of self-produced videos at home, PMJ regularly appear worldwide on television, and grace stages worldwide. Their new tour, “Welcome to the Twenties 2.0 Tour”, promises to prematurely usher in the new decade, and excitedly asks fans to forget their troubles if just for a night. Artists from Miley Cyrus to T
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Bob Marley's legendary band The Wailers to play O2 Academy next month

Honouring the legacy of Bob Marley, his band The Wailers continue to play worldwide. Next month, they return to the UK circuit for an expansive tour, which includes a night at Birmingham’s O2 Academy on March 15th.

Made up of founder and bass player Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett, guitarist Donald Kinsey, vocalist Josh Barrett, drummer Aston Barrett Jr, rhythm guitarist Owen ‘Dreadie’ Reid, and a swathe of other supremely talented musicians, The Wailers are returning to the UK. The group have been
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Newton Faulkner to bring new 'Best Of' collection to Birmingham

Newton Faulkner is returning to Birmingham this April with his new The Very Best Of (So Far) collection, celebrating his biggest hits and favourite songs to play live.

Having previously played the O2 Institute in 2016 and 2017, musical virtuoso Newton Faulkner is making a triumphant return to the very same venue with a Best Of record to play for ever-adoring fans.

His 2016 tour was backed by a full band with bells and whistles, whilst his 2017 outing was a more subdued affair, without lacking
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Synth-pop trio Years and Years to play Birmingham show this month

The London-based synth pop trio are touring the UK again this Winter, following the impressive success of their second album.

The trio will be bringing their glittery synth-pop and concept album Palo Santo to Arena Birmingham on November 30th, as part of the UK and Ireland tour. The band have been performing the Palo Santo tour throughout Europe over the Summer, and are currently on the road in North America. They hit UK venues on November 28, running through to next year.

Boasting minimal (bu
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Mumford & Sons to play Birmingham this November

Transmogrifying West-London band Mumford & Sons return to Birmingham for the first time in three years this November, in support of their upcoming album Delta.

The tour is earmarked by the band as the ‘most extensive and ambitious tour [they have] ever done’, aiming to ‘be everything’ and they are going to ‘leave it all on the floor’. The dates will see the quartet play in Europe, North America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Support for the UK, Ireland and North US shows is from Maggie Rog
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

KT Tunstall brings new album 'Wax' to Birmingham with 2019 show

Scottish pop-rock star KT Tunstall returns to Birmingham’s prestigious Town Hall in 2019 with her upcoming album, WAX.

After touring KIN in 2016 and 2017, her first in a trilogy of albums representing the themes of mind, body and spirit, WAX comes as part two, preceded by ferocious lead single, ‘The River’, showcased with a 17-show tour, bringing her record to glitzy venues across the UK and Ireland. Her anticipated appearance at the Birmingham Town Hall follows her gig last year at its sister
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Kaiser Chiefs announce new album and Birmingham date on UK tour

Kaiser Chiefs are set to bring their latest, as-of-yet untitled album KC7 to more audiences with a huge UK tour early next year.

Yorkshire indie-rock band Kaiser Chiefs have announced a huge UK tour for early 2019, alongside details of their seventh studio album.

Kaiser Chiefs fans can expect to singalong to the likes of ‘Ruby’, ‘Oh My God’ and ‘Everyday I Love You Less And Less’ as the band roll into Birmingham’s O2 Academy on Saturday, February 2. This will be the group’s first gig at the ve
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Texas, Imelda May and Ward Thomas to play Birmingham show

Texas, Imelda May and Ward Thomas will play Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on 1st September, as part of an innovative set of concerts that are linked between Bristol and Birmingham.

Skyline Series sees similar line-ups shared between Birmingham and Bristol, with the likes of The The, Garbage, James Arthur and Brian Wilson having appeared or scheduled to appear in either of the two cities.

Having been moved from the original rustic outdoor ‘Digbeth Arena’ venue due to scheduling conflicts, the trio
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

CHVRCHES to play Birmingham on 2019 UK tour: Get tickets here

Electro-pop trio Chvrches have announced a UK tour which will run throughout February 2019, including a stop-off at Birmingham’s O2 Academy.

The full announcement comes off the back of the band drip-feeding two gig city locations, without venue or date information, over the past week.

The newly announced tour dates form part of a much larger jaunt in support of their latest album, 25th May’s “Love Is Dead” – featuring the singles ‘Get Out’, ‘My Enemy’ [with Matt Berninger of The National], ‘Ne
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Dutch jazz singer Caro Emerald returns to Birmingham later this year

Dutch jazz-pop wunderkind Caro Emerald is returning to the UK with a fully-fledged winter tour, kicking off in Ipswich and winding-up in Sheffield, with a date at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on October 30th.

The doo-wop songstress (who nicknamed her tour ‘The Emerald Island’) is gearing up for a busy year, following her MO x Caro Emerald EP (released December 15th 2017) a collaboration between Caro and The Metropole Orkest, underneath her own publishing branch, Grandmono. The extended play succe
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Florence + The Machine announce national tour, with a date in Birmingham

With latest single ‘Hunger’ out and new album High As Hope being released on June 29th, Florence + The Machine have announced a UK tour, which arrives at Genting Arena on November 16th. The string of dates adds to their North American tour announcement last week.

Florence Welch returned last month with lead single ‘Hunger’, stating that after her last round of touring finished for How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, she “stayed off booze” in-order to go straight back into the studio.

The interim
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Erasure to play Birmingham next month

Erasure are to play a Birmingham date for the first time in over a decade as the full duo. Members of the band have made Brummie appearances in recent years, with the latest being Andy Bell performing a set at Birmingham Pride in 2016.

The current tour for their latest album World Be Gone (released 19th May 2017 via Mute) comprises of 18 UK dates, with most sold out. See below:

World Be Gone, the duo’s 17th studio album, landed at number 6 in the UK album chart and was their first top-10 new r
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Macklemore to play Birmingham on spring 2018 UK tour

The run of concerts, which will begin with a homecoming show in Seattle on 22nd December, will run through the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Europe, including a date at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on April 8th. This leg of the tour will run for a total of 36 dates.

Gemini, Macklemore‘s second solo album (UK #13), recorded in Seattle and Los Angeles, was released on 22nd September 2017 via Bendo.

Tickets for Macklemore’s O2 Academy, Birmingham date are here.
Counteract – News | Music | Film | Food •

Franz Ferdinand announce UK tour and share new single

Glaswegian band Franz Ferdinand have set the internet alight with news of a highly-anticipated tour. Aside from an intimate gig in their hometown last month, and a Cornish festival date in August, the band have not played a full UK tour in three years, since they merged with Sparks to form the one-off project FFS.

The stretch begins on February 13th at Manchester’s Albert Hall, and concludes at the Brighton Dome. The tour has ten dates overall, and includes a night in the main room at Birmingha