Ryan's Gig Guide - February 2019

“Well, my friends are gone and my hair is grey, I ache in the places where I used to play, And I'm crazy for love but I'm not coming on, I'm just paying my rent every day in the Tower of Song” Tower of Song, by Leonard Cohen We hear fromTom Martin, musician & founder of Birmingham's Tower Of Song. Intrigued about the well-known venue which is on Pershore Road, South Cotteridge, we asked Tom what inspired him to set it up... "The inspiration to create the tower of song came from me being a gigging musician who plays mainly original material and seeing so many venues be- come exclusively tribute bands, karaoke, giant football screens, gaming machines shouting out you have won etc. So the intention was, and still is, to create a gig run by and for artists particularly orig- inal musicians but not exclud- ing cover bands like soul bands & blues bands. Many friends have helped in various ways; electricians plumbers, who are all musi- cians by night, helped out. I happened to be listening to a Leonard Cohen album and "Tower Of Song" came on, that’ll be the name I thought. For example local painter/artist Mike Browning has been everpresent since it was a derelict building 12 years ago. Mike came in overnight and the first of what has be- come a series of murals de- picting troubadours through the decades appeared. He's been a major figure here through the years and a bril- liant artist who has never ex- hibited until now after being persuaded by Zee Khatak who is making a documentary about Tower Of Song.The ex- hibition will have guest musi- cians and will be featured in the film. Naturally it hasn't all been plain sailing and I've found myself swimming against the tide somewhat but there’s always been enough music fans and artists who get what it’s about and put their creativity and en- ergy into it. In January I cele- brated 12 years since my band the Tom Martin Celtic Soul Band, launched the tower of song and the original line up are coming together with me for this gig to celebrate the thousands of gigs we have put on. Every Wednesday we have "Rea River Roots".The first half showcasing aspiring artists who sign up for a couple of songs before the booked artist/artists of the night. "Crossroads Blues Club" uses the same format on Thursday nights. The second Friday of each month it’s the "No Cov- ers Club" hosted by Manny Mckenzie. The last Friday of each month sees "Jazz @ the Tower" hosted by Pippa Done (trombone/piano/vocalist). My son Jon is creating a night he’s called "Organic Electronic" fea- turing original electronic artists and live musicians. I play the last Saturday with my Tom Martin Celtic Soul Band. The first Sunday of each month its "Female voices" run by Chloie Mogg and Lobelia Lawson who also created the tower of song website. I'm pressing on with the new young artists coming here now and going forward I d like the tower of song to be more than just a live music venue.To this end I have weekly Yoga groups here at the tower and Mike's art exhibition will be the first of many. There will be a premiere showing of Zee's documentary which before being submitted to film festivals and this will herald a regular music docu- mentary film night here."  www.towerofsong.co.uk TOWER OF SONG Tell us about your venue: media@rggmag.com 32 rgg Feb 2019 www.ryansgigguide.com