Photos by Katja Ogrin
‘Brutally beautiful people of Brum, breaking the boundaries and blending as one, brutally beautiful people of Brum, bigger and badder and better as one’
It was the culmination of 14 months of meetings, workshops, rehearsals and much head scratching that finally came to life on July 14th, 2024, in the shape of Brum Rocks Live! A combination of professional musicians, tutors, and wannabe rock stars – including me – that took their rightful place onstage to bring you live music in a unique and immersive performance.
It was an opportunity to hear some well-known classics re-worked and re-imagined to provide an evening of lively entertainment.
Let’s take a quick look at the brains behind the outfit, Reuben Penny is the Music Director of Misfits Music and Brum Rocks – aka lead wrangler, he likes telling people what to do, ahem – he is responsible for the comings and goings, his wife Rosie is the Executive Producer of Brum Rocks, Rob Jones is the Artistic Director, Jim Nankivell, Producer and Rodrigo Orquera, Senior Music Leader, have been running the workshops, Louise Blackburn is our choir leader and neatly bringing up the rear we have Jamie and Saffron who are part of the trainee team for Misfits.
With BRMB’s Luke Crawford hosting the evening, and 400 people gathered in this iconic venue, we began with a little spice with Hit The Dhol who performed a fine-tuned set of Bhangra beats, a perfect East meets West moment as they conveyed the crucial messages for the night, using football as a canny vehicle to be inclusive and unifying. We had sturdy fortification from the house band, various choirs, The Moseley and Bearwood Rock Collectives, we were treated to three original works. The first was ‘Brum Rocks’ and the second one ‘Black Country Fever’ celebrating our colourful local talent.
Jasmine Gardosi.
The singers and instrumentalists had been working on four classics and one specially commissioned song, written by our very own Birmingham Poet Laureate, Jasmine Gardosi titled ‘Brummie Steel’, it is an exclusive composition that is rousing and rapturous and it recognises all that we hold dear in our city renowned for its musical power and prowess. The pulsating chant and beatbox spectacular that ensued was enriching and coursed through our veins, synergetic and vibrant. The choir were tuned to perfection as they sang out ‘Hold the Line’ by Toto, ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’ by ELO, ‘So What’ by Pink and ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’ by Bon Jovi, all songs that are firm favourites with the public. Louise Blackburn is such an enthusiastic and inspirational figure; her fervour and excitement is infectious. With her joyful nature, a nose for melodies and harmonies she carries this choir into territories where we would never go alone. Spurred on by video messages from Rob Halford, Joan Armatrading, Fyfe Dangerfield, Nick Mason CBE and Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, all legends in their own right, we are motivated to exceed our own, and everyone else’s expectations.
An idea underpinned by unity, community and necessity to escape our entrenchment and entrapment of the daily grind, a chance for us to learn what else we are capable of and feel alive and productive, enabling positive and confident vibes.
It’s time to raise a glass to our hometown that over the years has done us proud, the ordinary folk got a chance to show their gratitude for the music, for the incredible tunes you have provided and for the accolade that we share Birmingham as our heart and cultural hearth, and for all of this we thank you!
Azra Pathan – Brum Rocks Live! 14th July 2024, The Forum, Birmingham.