King City: Adventures into Birmingham’s Diverse Music Culture

Birmingham has a longstanding tradition of individualism and experimentation, giving rise to a fragmented but innovative culture. This applies to the city’s contemporary music scene just as it does to the rest of its rich cultural heritage, which goes some way to explaining why the Birmingham sound is hard to define. Whereas other cities are known for a certain sound, this city celebrates is diversity.

In this new decade, the plethora of exciting indie bands, sick rappers and emotive singer-songwriters are surrounded by a collective of DJs, producers, promoters, venues, bloggers and vloggers who promote them. There’s an agglomeration building, coalescing around the Birmingham Music Awards, whose mission is to amplify this uprising to the world. In this book, Stephen Pennell’s reviews and musings, based on those appearing on The Birmingham Press and Counteract from 2013-2021, shine a light on Birmingham’s finest up-and-coming performers playing the city’s most iconic venues, taking us on a unique journey around Birmingham’s music scene.

The book is being published in loving memory of Paddy Dalton and half of the proceeds will be donated to his partner Kelly and son Aairon. Of course, if you buy this book that money comes from you, whether or not you were lucky enough to know him, so heartfelt thanks for your generosity. Paddy contributed more to good nights out in Brum than anyone bar Eddie Fewtrell, so this book seems an appropriate place to pay tribute – there’s an amusing little story about him within its pages which Stephen hopes will make you smile.