Community – Back with a Bang!

Community – Back with a Bang!

Determined not to be beaten by the weather, ‘Community’ is back with a bang after its unfortunate summer postponement due to the crazy British climate. Returning for an indoor show on the Saturday of bonfire weekend, eight of the best bands from across the region will be setting the stage alight (metaphorically, at least) and letting off fireworks of the musical kind!

A celebration of the West Midlands music scene, this is a day for coming together whilst also helping to support those who feel they have no-one to turn to. As well as a fantastic eight hours of music, all profits will be donated to Wolverhampton Samaritans so you can have a great time and do some good for others in the process.

All ages welcome, but U-18s must be accompanied by an adult.

Community – Back With A Bang features, in alphabetical order:

A Week Full of Mondays
Citylightz
The Creature Appeal
Kid Charlemagne
Methods
Rosa Caelum
Smokin Eskimo
Watermark

A Week Full of Mondays

A Week Full of Mondays is a 4-piece alt rock act comprising of frontman and principal songwriter Sam Whitehouse, guitarist Jay Emery, drummer Aidan Sherwood and Bassist Dom Rowe.

Originally formed in the summer of 2022, the group combine dense guitars with an air-tight rhythm section to create a bed for introspective yet observational lyrics to sit upon. Praised by their peers in the local scene for their melodic indie songwriting alongside post rock and post punk imagery, AWFOM has been relentless developing a distinct alt rock sound, blending brooding tones with melodic storytelling, resulting in a healthy mix of directness and vibe-casting.

Effortless stylistic meandering allows the quartet to shift from subdued musical passages to thunderous moments which dance on the cusp of hysteria in the process. Their uncompromising live performances have garnered them underground acclaim in the midlands, as the group continue to build a following and a sound – entirely on their terms.

CityLightz

Having been compared to everyone from The Specials to Arctic Monkeys, Citylightz hit you with original songs that deliver huge pop hooks, indie rock anthems and classic lyrical storytelling. They call it ‘Rock ‘n’ Road!’

Fronted by lead vocalist/rapper B and singer/guitarist Luke Henry, bassist James Skidmore and drummer Tom Churm complete the band.

Originally formed in 2009, Citylightz reformed in 2019 after a long hiatus. With new music and an increasing popularity built on a strong social media following, they continue to make waves on the underground music scene.

The Creature Appeal

An eclectic indie-rock band from the Black Country, The Creature Appeal pair wild instrumentals and soulful vocals to create original, groove driven indie anthems with a gritty big city sound.

With a number of prestigious support slots under their belt with the bigger local acts of the past few years, they have received attention from BBC WM Introducing and Brum Radio among other various radio stations.

Since the addition of singer Nicole Sedgley to complete the line-up, this quartet are set to continue their success with more indie bopping in the future.

‘Fresh, groovy vibes’ – Birmingham Live
‘Groovy rhythms and tenacious basslines, alternating between bass-heavier tracks and indie gems’ – Counteract Magazine

Kid Charlemagne

Kid Charlemagne are a 4-piece hazy rock band hailing from the Midland streets of Stourbridge.

By blending a psychedelic, blues rock base with elements of funk and hints of jazz, Kid Charlemagne have crafted a unique sound that is saturated in its influences while being wholly original in its approach. The eclectic collective have already created a varied soundscape sure to have something to entice everyone.

Having built a live reputation at venues such as Katie Fitzgerald’s and Claptrap, where they also recorded their most recent single, this is a band already starting to raise eyebrows.

Methods

Methods are melancholic synth-rockers who burst onto the scene in 2015 with seriously impressive keyboard-heavy pop rock that sits somewhere in-between Interpol, White Lies and Joy Division.

Their trademark, inimitable sound has won over fans all over the UK, across which they’ve toured heavily, whilst building a strong fanbase at home. They’ve previously been nominated for a Birmingham Music Award and a Black Country Music Award.

Expect euphoric electronics, arena-sized choruses, versatile song writing and downright likeability from start to finish as they take you on a real musical journey of raw storytelling from five musicians who clearly love what they do.

Rosa Caelum

Formed in late 2021, Rosa Caelum are one of the fastest rising bands in the Midlands and are set to take that nationwide.

Intricate lyrics are delivered in a powerful yet angelic manner whilst being backed by intense, thunderous and catchy riffs and the presence of a hard hitting rhythm section.

The chemistry among this five piece is evidently displayed within their live performances as they perform an energetic and explosive set.

2023 has already seen them sell out two Birmingham headline gigs – the most recent with well over a month to go – and a triumphant set at their first major festival, Y Not. Also backed by This Feeling, known for breaking the biggest new guitar bands, Rosa Caelum are an act destined for bigger stages.

Smokin Eskimo

Smokin Eskimo make a return to Community having gained a lot of new fans last year and in Manchester in January, when they went north with Alex Ohm to represent the West Midlands in a Community ‘Away Leg’.

Heavily influenced by 60s psychedelic rock and blues, 90s Britpop and a smattering of jazz and funk, they’ve been described as one of the most entertaining bands you’ll ever see as there is always something happening on stage. They’ve also been described as what Oasis would have sounded like if Jimi Hendrix had been a member!

You certainly can’t pigeonhole Smokin Eskimo, a statement you’ll testify to if you saw them on the New Horizons stage last year!

Watermark

Formed in early 2020, Watermark are a four piece indie rock powerhouse from Wolverhampton that has spent the last few years taking the Midlands by storm with their 60s and 90s influenced writing and anthemic choruses.

Fronted by Andrew Bateman’s formidable vocals and guitar, combined with Cam Allsebrook’s intricate guitar, Kyle France’s solid basslines and Alex France’s pounding drums, they’ve created a sound that incorporates multiple genres and sticks in their listeners ears. As their energy conveys from stage to the rest of the room, they captivate their live audience in what are regularly packed out rooms.

Latest single, I’ll Never Let You Go, is another testament to Watermark’s songwriting prowess – proving why the group are going from strength to strength.