A brief word for Living by Henry Green, a 1929 novel set in a Birmingham foundry. Not sure how it took me so long to hear of this but it’s one of the most lovely things I’ve read in ages. Strange, elliptical style with very few definite/indefinite articles and amazing eye for detail, although maybe not such an ear for dialect (played more west country than brummie in my head). Anyway, worth picking up.

Please find below our most recent listings splurge…

Hello,

After last month’s onslaught, a far more succinct
set of listings this time as we stagger wheezing
and spluttering into autumn. Firstly some 7inch gigs…

7 INCH CINEMA & ELECTRIC SHEEP present
BELA EMERSON (live) & BIBIO (DJ set)
Monday 19th October, 7-11pm
At the Roxy Bar and Screen in sarf London

As a sort-of warmup for Flatpack and a sort-of
fringe event to the LFF, we are teaming up with
Electric Sheep for a night of film and music with
two very special guests. Bela Emerson will play
the cello along with experimental gems old and
new and Bibio is providing a genre-hopping DJ
set with cine visuals, with all manner of shorts
and animation filling the gaps.

£4 on the door.
The Roxy, 128-132 Borough High St, SE1 1LB
Nearby tube stops; Borough and London Bridge
http://www.7inch.org.uk/event/bibio-bela-emerson
http://electricsheepmagazine.com/

TRAVELLING PICTURE SHOW:
GALA FINALE
Sunday 25 October, 6-7.30pm
At the Electric in Birmingham

The family film tour climaxes with a special event
including some of the most popular cartoons shown
during the summer, the premiere of ‘chain-film’ The
Magic Box and pianist Paul Shallcross accompanying
two comedy classics: Buster Keaton wrestles with a
flatpack house in One Week (1920) and Laurel and
Hardy are persistent salesmen in Big Business (1929).
This show brought the house down at Green Man a
few weeks ago, and to be sure of a place we
recommend booking in advance via the Electric…

Tickets: £6 or £3 for under-16s
The Electric, 47 Station St, Birmingham B5 4DY
http://www.7inch.org.uk/event/travelling-picture-show-grand-finale/

THE WOODEN LIGHTBOX
Saturday 14 November, 7pm
At Vivid in Digbeth

Vancouver-based artist Alex MacKenzie presents
a unique expanded cinema performance using his
home-made, hand-cranked projector. Earlier in the
day Alex will also be running a rayogram workshop
where you can print directly onto strips of 16mm film.
£2 on the door. Presented in partnership with Vivid.
http://www.7inch.org.uk/event/the-wooden-lightbox/

And we’re doing a Sunday afternoon gig as part of
Capsule’s humungous 10th birthday celebrations in
December; more details soon.
http://www.capsule.org.uk/blog/?p=707

SOME OTHER THINGS GOING ON

12-26 October at BIAD School of Art in Birmingham
CLICKITY CLACKITY ANARCHY
Crafty art show.

Until 13 October at Bham Museum and Art Gallery
THE STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD
Take a packed lunch and a folding stool.

Tuesday 13 October, 1.30 pm at Birmingham Borders
EOIN COLFER
Signing copies of his unnecessary Hitchhikers sequel.

Tues 13 October, 6pm at the Drum in Newtown
DEEN TIGHT
New film on Muslim hip hop, followed by Q&A.

Tues 13 October, 6.10pm at Bham Library Theatre
BURMA VJ
The 2007 Burmese uprising, as seen by the monks.

Tues 13 October, 9pm at the Electric in Birmingham
VANISHING OF THE BEES
Nationwide screening as part of the co-op’s Plan Bee.

Weds 14 October at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath
EVERYTHING SWAP
This time including music and books as well as clothes.

14 October, 7.15pm at Birmingham Conservatoire
PAINT A VULGAR PICTURE
Launch of an anthology of short stories inspired by
The Smiths, with writers including Catherine O’Flynn.
Part of Birmingham Book Festival (6-29 October).

Thurs 15 October, 8pm at the Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham
ALL YOU CAN EAT ZINE!
Night of zines, music and performance.

15 October at the Victoria in Birmingham
COLOUR feat: WORLD OF FOX
LP launch with support from Friends of the Stars.

From 15 October at Ikon Eastside in Digbeth
RYOJI IKEDA: DATA.TRON
Ultrasonic bombardment.
Ikeda is playing at the CBSO centre next month.

Friday 16 October at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath
SUGARFOOT STOMP
Cowgirl theme, with guests from Attagrrl.

16-18 October at the Drum in Newtown
THE WIDOW COLONY
Portrait of a group of women in New Delhi who lost
their husbands during the anti-Sikh massacre in 1984.
Followed by Q&A with director Harpreet Kaur.

From 16 October at selected cinemas
PONTYPOOL (dir: Bruce McDonald)
Brilliant zombie wordplay from Canada. Probably
showing nowhere near Birmingham, but worth
hunting down.

From 17 October at the Waterhall in Birmingham
CRAFT AND THE SLOW REVOLUTION
Exploring the links between craft and the Slow movement.

Weds 21 October at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath
ASAKUSA JINTA
Tokyo street music.

Sat 24 October in Birmingham
OXJAM
A day of gigs in six venues around town. £6.

Sunday 25 October at the Glee Club in Birmingham
POLAR BEAR
Jazz outfit led by drummer Seb Rochford.

Weds 28 October at the Bristol Pear in Selly Oak
FILM RATS
Zombie-themed filmnight.

Weds 28 October at the Rainbow in Digbeth
SAM WOOSTER QUARTET
Kicking off a new season of Jazz Club. £4.

Thurs 29 October at the Asylum in Hockley
EFTERKLANG
Joyous Danish troupe with support by Nancy Elizabeth.

Sat 31 October at Birmingham Town Hall
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Lon Chaney classic with organ accompaniment by Nigel
Ogden, the man who does that strange show on radio 2.

Sat 31 October, 8-3 at the Wagon and Horses in Digbeth
REEL NEWS BENEFIT
Samhain-themed fundraiser for the video activists. Films,
food and bands including Resolution 242 and Bo Pilar
and the Mountain Valley Boys. £5.

Sat 7 Nov, 11am at Warwick Arts Centre near Coventry
FRENCH NEW WAVE
Film talk by my old tutor Ginette Vincendeau, including
a screening of The 400 Blows.

Sunday 8 November at the Yardbird in Birmingham
BRIAN AUGER’S OBLIVION EXPRESS
Jazz organ legend brings his B-3 to B3.