Paul's homecoming a hit after Canadian inspiration (From Stourbridge News)

Paul's homecoming a hit after Canadian inspiration

12:18pm Wednesday 25th February 2009

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BIRMINGHAM born singer Paul O’ Brien emigrated to Canada in 2004 after becoming disillusioned by the UK music scene.

The artist, then aged 38, planned to leave his musical instruments behind and work as a teacher but before long found he could not ignore his songwriting talent.

Inspired by his new home, Paul produced two new albums to critical acclaim and gave up teaching to return to music, which had been his career since he was aged 16.

He combines styles ranging from folk to reggae to tell stories full of humour and empathy for the underdog which have been well received during his current British tour.

Paul is set to appear at Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge, tonight (Thursday February 26) and at Behan’s in Birmingham on Saturday February 28.

Listings

Thursday February 26

Roge David - The Little Chop House, Colley Gate.

Acoustic Open Night - The Longlands, Stourbridge.

Jam Night - The Moorings Tavern, Stourbridge.

Donkey Ride to Gibraltar, All Idiots Fall plus Caught Off Guard - Little Civic, Wolverhampton.

Rise Against - O2 Academy, Birmingham.

General Fiasco - O2 Academy 3, Birmingham.

Errol Brown plus Yolanda Brown - Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Mudball - JB’s, Dudley.

The Killers - LG Arena, Birmingham.

Russell Brand - NIA, Birmingham.

Fight Like Apes, Your Biggest Fanclub plus Suddenly Phantoms - Dragon Bar, Birmingham.

Eurobase feat. Neon Rise, The Dude’s plus Lambshade - Base Studios, Stourbridge.

Paul O’ Brien - Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge.

KFFM Live Acoustic Brew Special - Cellar Bar, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge.

The Commitments - Robin 2, Bilston.

Friday February 27

The Dark Blue Boogaloo feat. Babelfish, Jimm Zombie plus The Conscripts - Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge.

Rhythm Beat 30+ - Benjamin’s, Halesowen.

Tamla Motown and Soul with Max - Deja Vu, Rowley Regis.

Acoustic Session - Eagle and Spur, Cookley.

Mr P Body’s 78rpm Lunchtime Record Hop - Bell Hotel, Stourbridge.

Blues Illusion - The Maverick, Amblecote.

Guilty Pleasures of The Snow Angel plus Mr Owens - Little Civic, Wolverhampton.

Optic Therapy, Blue Nation, Computer Club plus The Belrones - O2 Academy 3, Birmingham.

Ultimate Romantics 2: Gurrellieder - Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Tom Chapman Band - Symphony Hall Foyer Bars, Birmingham.

Geno Washington, Jimmy James plus PP Arnold and The ram Jam Band - Town Hall, Birmingham.

Wonderwall - JB’s, Dudley.

The Killers - LG Arena, Birmingham.

Are You Experienced - The New Dog Pool Hotel, Birmingham.

Fred Zeppelin - The River Rooms, Stourbridge.

Viva Santana plus The Archer Marriot Band - Robin 2, Bilston.

Queensberry Rules - Woodman Folk Club, Kingswinford.

Saturday February 28

Halle: From Bruch to Beethoven - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.

Will Hodgson - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.

Guile, Four Dead in Ohio, Old School Tie, The Yams plus DJs The Dogfight Revolution - Little Civic, Wolverhampton.

Ane Brun, Young Runaways plus Dan Whitehouse - O2 Academy 3, Birmingham.

Festival of Polish Folklore - Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Coppers for Kids Charity Concert feat. West Midlands Police Brass Band - Town Hall, Birmingham.

New Orleans Wiggle with Carolyn Topsy Hilton - Waterworks Jazz Club, Birmingham.

Cool Britannia plus 2 Tonics - Village Hall, Wolverley.

Ken Dodd - Concert Hall, Dudley.

Green Head Man - The Stagborough Arms, Stourport.

Shamus - Labour Club, Quarry Bank.

Three Blind Mice - Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge.

Dressed To Kill - The River Rooms, Stourbridge.

Paul Carrack and His Band - Robin 2, Bilston.

Rock Machine - The Windmill, Lye.

The London Blackmarket plus The Telegraphs - Dragon Bar, Birmingham.

Fans of Faye - The Base Studios, Stourbridge.

Sunday March 1

Relight Your Fire 30+ - Labour Club, Colley Gate.

Smarty’s 30+ - The Kingfisher, Wall Heath.

Acoustic Open Night - The Longlands, Stourbridge.

Badland - Little Civic, Wolverhampton.

Reemer plus Page 44 - O2 Academy 3, Birmingham.

Festival of Polish Folklore - Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Central England Ensemble feat. Andrew Downes’ piano concerto world premiere - Town Hall, Birmingham.

Abigail’s Mercy, Winter Storm plus Hand - JB’s, Dudley.

Hard Core Rock - The Holly Bush, Cradley Heath.

Gary Pease - The Thorns Inn, Quarry Bank.

Paul James - Labour Club, Quarry Bank.

Dan Hartland - Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge.

Monday March 2

Open Mic Night - Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge.

Acoustic Live - Roadhouse, Merry Hill.

Open Mic Night - The Britannia Inn, Wollaston.

The Ting Tings - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.

Rosalita - O2 Academy 3, Birmingham.

Fei Comodo, Bury Tomorrow, Allucinere plus At The Water’s Edge - Dragon Bar, Birmingham.

Tuesday March 3

Folk and Acoustic Night - The Plough Inn, Wollaston.

Open Acoustic - The Windmill, Lye.

Jam Night - Roadhouse, Merry Hill.

Hayley Westenra - Town Hall, Birmingham.

Candy Cane - Barfly, Birmingham.

Wednesday March 4

Move to The Rhythm, Dance to The Beat 30+ Event - The Whittington Inn, Kinver.

Jam Night - The Maverick, Amblecote.

Open Mic Night - Plough and Harrow, Kinver.

Open Mic Night with Simon and Lee from Voodoo - The Church Tavern, Quarry Bank.

Over 35’s Chat and Dance - The River Rooms, Stourbridge.

Viennese Masters with Mackerras - Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Richard Clay’s Spoken Word and Original Music - The Holly Bush, Cradley Heath.

Quarry Bank Operatic Society: Gotta Sing Gotta Dance - Cornbow Hall, Halesowen.

Thursday March 5

Roge David - The Little Chop House, Colley Gate.

Acoustic Open Night - The Longlands, Stourbridge.

Jam Night - The Moorings Tavern, Stourbridge.

Hue and Cry plus Honey Ryder - O2 Academy 2, Birmingham.

Dave Onions - Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge.

Peter Donohoe - Town Hall, Birmingham.

Open Acoustic Night - The Vine, Kinver.

Gone ‘Till Winter - JB’s, Dudley.

LYU, Forever Wednesday, Kyoto Drive plus Losing Streak - Barfly, Birmingham.

Quarry Bank Operatic Society: Gotta Sing Gotta Dance - Cornbow Hall, Halesowen.

Nemsis - The Thorns Inn, Quarry Bank.

Half Man Half Biscuit plus The Humdrum Express - Robin 2, Bilston.

Little Defination, Coronation Gypsies, Mr Twist plus Faded Cadence - O2 Academy 3, Birmingham.

Friday March 6

The Dark Blue Boogaloo - Cellar Bar, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge.

Rhythm Beat 30+ - Benjamin’s, Halesowen.

Tamla Motown and Soul with Max - Deja Vu, Rowley Regis.

Mr P Body’s 78rpm Lunchtime Record Hop - Bell Hotel, Stourbridge.

Acoustic Session - Eagle and Spur, Cookley.

The Hype - The Maverick, Amblecote.

Roger Dean and The Lazy Boys - Town Hall, Stourbridge.

Coldplated - The River Rooms, Stourbridge.

Joolz Denby plus New York Alcoholic Anxiety Attack - Little Civic, Wolverhampton.

The Bronx, F***ed Up plus Rolo Tomassi - O2 Academy 2, Birmingham.

Russian Pictures: University of Warwick Symphony Orchestra and Chorus - Town Hall, Birmingham.

Bootleg Abba - JB’s, Dudley.

Red Music launch party feat. The Pargeters, The Fans of Faye, November Criminals and B Block Blues - The Broadway, Norton.

Angel Ibarra - Dragon Bar, Birmingham.

Quarry Bank Operatic Society: Gotta Sing Gotta Dance - Cornbow Hall, Halesowen.

Definitely Mighbe and Adored - The New Dog Pool Hotel, Birmingham.

Steve Lukather and His Band - Robin 2, Bilston.

Saturday March 7

Dirty Dancing - The River Rooms, Stourbridge.

Ben Smith - The Maverick, Amblecote.

White Light - Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge.

The Bluetones, The Cubans, Walk Don’t Walk plus Paradoxic - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.

Regis, Plastic Glasses plus Dirty Little Herberts - Little Civic, Wolverhampton.

You Me at Six - O2 Academy 3, Birmingham.

Wild Youth, The Late Eighties plus Plastic Parts Ltd - O2 Academy 3, Birmingham.

Viennese Masters with Mackerras - Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Fairport Convention - Town Hall, Birmingham.

Savannah Jazz Band - Waterworks Jazz Club, Birmingham.

Eyelash, Get Out Clause plus Out in The Crowd - Dragon Bar, Birmingham.

Quarry Bank Operatic Society: Gotta Sing Gotta Dance - Cornbow Hall, Halesowen.

Sheridan Leigh - Labour Club, Quarry Bank.

Oxjam - Cellar Bar, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge.

Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash - Robin 2, Bilston.

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