GET OUT MORE....GIG PREVIEW

BLUE AND GREANEY

24-11-2006

Former Blue boy Simon Webbe makes a hometown return, playing his first soloshow in the city, although The Stirrer is rather more excited by the prospect of a rare date for local legend Mickey Greaney in our latest gig round-up.

Birmingham born Webbe has at least managed to successfully shake off the boy band associations and establish himself as asensitive middle of the road soul man. Modern enough to sound contemporary, but nothingthat frightens the horses. He's had a couple of top-selling solo albums Sanctuary and Grace, and he'll be playing at the NIA on Sunday, May 27. Tickets priced £23.50 plus the usual dazzling array of fees go on sale today at 9am.

Phone 0870 919 4044 or go online to www.necgroup.co.uk

There was a time when Mickey Greaney looked as though he might end up playing stadiums. His Little Symphonies For The Kids released in 1994 is classic singer-songwriter melancholia, pre-dating Badly Drawn Boy and Damien Rice by a good few years.

Mickey's had personal problems and a few bad breaks which have helped keep stardom at bay, but he's a real talent to be cherished. Catch him at the Ceol Castle in Balsall Heath on December 13 with a host of other local acts for the absurdly cheap fee of £3.