IN 20 years making records Chumbawamba have never been afraid to make a point through their music.
Their debut album, entitled Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records', was a response to the Live Aid campaign.
Copyists, tribute acts and TV talents show producers, come under the band's scrutiny on their latest CD, called The Boy Bands Have Won'.
The band says mimicry is nothing but recycled culture while manufactured groups do music the worst disservice.
Catch Chumbawamba at the Robin 2, Bilston, on Wednesday March 12.
Thursday March 6
Open Acoustic Night - The Longlands, Stourbridge.
Jam Night - The Moorings Tavern, Stourbridge.
Acoustic Open Night - Benjamin's, Halesowen.
Pure Purple - The Thorns Inn, Quarry Bank.
The Levellers, Alabama 3 unplugged plus 3 Daft Monkeys - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.
Sensorites - Little Civic, Wolverhampton.
Hayseed Dixie - Carling Academy 2, Birmingham.
Kid Harpoon, New Street Adventure, The Opportunities plus 95th Rifles - Bar Academy, Birmingham.
Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance - Cornbow Hall, Halesowen.
Dave Onions - Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.
I Hear Voices - Theatre Mac, Birmingham.
Obsidian Rain - JB's, Dudley.
Albert Lee and Hogan's Heroes plus Highway Dave and The Varmints - Robin 2, Bilston.
Acoustic Brew feat. Ian Babington, LC, Dan Hartland plus Corda - Cellar Bar, Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.
Omma Un Chain Black Country Night - The Holly Bush, Cradley Heath.
The Blues Toones - The Talbot, Bewdley.
Friday March 7
The Dark Blue Boogaloo feat. A Genuine Freakshow plus Cobweb Dilemmas - Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.
Acoustic Open Night with Brian Clee - Eagle and Spur, Cookley.
Rhythm Beat 30+ - Benjamin's, Halesowen.
Pure Instinct - King's Head, Brierley Hill.
Jack Penate - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.
Talula plus Linchpin - Little Civic, Wolverhampton.
Envy and Other Sins feat. Drugmule/Carter Manoeuvre plus Telegramme - Carling Academy, Birmingham.
The Feeling - Carling Academy, Birmingham.
Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance - Cornbow Hall, Halesowen.
Bootleg Abba - JB's, Dudley.
The Matches, Twin Atlantic plus Answers on Postcards - Barfly, Birmingham.
Johnny Panic, Orius, The Singles Club plus One Sixth of Tommy - Rock Cafe 2000, Stourbridge.
Fred Zeppelin plus Van Halen II - Robin 2, Bilston.
Dizzy Lizzy - The Roadhouse, Merry Hill.
Ramshackle feat. The Fratellies - Carling Academy, Birmingham, 10.30pm start.
Electric Kulintang feat. Susie Ibarra and Roberto Rodriguez - CBSO Centre, Birmingham.
Clive Carroll - Woodman Folk Club, Kingswinford.
Buddies - The Broadway, Norton.
Saturday March 8
Paul David - Labour Club, Quarry Bank.
Robert Wolfe - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, 1.30pm start.
Footloose - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.
Dezima, Smack Rats, The Hex plus Million Empire - Civic Bar, Wolverhampton, 6pm start Blink 18who? plus Green Date - Little Civic, Wolverhampton.
Boy Kill Boy - Civic Bar, Wolverhampton, 6pm start.
Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance - Cornbow Hall, Halesowen.
Saltflat - Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.
Veil - Theatre Mac, Birmingham.
High On Maiden plus Disarm Goliath - JB's, Dudley.
Cud - Barfly, Birmingham.
Ollie Hughes - Civic Centre, Perton.
Dirty DC - Rock Cafe 2000, Stourbridge.
The Counterfeit Stones plus Rachael Mainstone - Robin 2, Bilston.
Dezima, Smack Rats, The Hex plus Million Empire - Little Civic, Wolverhampton.
Red Mock Chilli Peppers - The Roadhouse, Merry Hill.
Sunday March 9
Relight Your Fire 30+ - Labour Club, Colley Gate.
Smarty's 30+ - The Kingfisher, Wall Heath.
Original Music Extravaganza - Holly Bush, Cradley Heath.
Silver Creek Country Band - Nags Head, Wordsley.
Becky - Labour Club, Quarry Bank.
Asia - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.
Look See Proof - Little Civic, Wolverhampton.
Akala - Bar Academy, Birmingham.
The Edwards Brothers - Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.
Doomsday - Barfly, Birmingham.
Tranzam plus Off The Rails - Robin 2, Bilston.
Monday March 10
Open Mic Night - Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.
Band Showcase Night - Rock Cafe 2000, Stourbridge.
Gary Numan - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.
Ektomorf, Stuck Mojo, Vengince plus Tenside - JB's, Dudley.
Example - Barfly, Birmingham.
Tuesday March 11
Folk Night - The Plough Inn, Wollaston.
Open Acoustic - The Windmill, Lye.
Open Mic Night - The Britannia Inn, Wollaston.
Charlie Dark's African Beats - Jam House, Birmingham.
Primal State, Lavondyss plus Ghosts on Pegasus Bridge - Little Civic, Wolverhampton.
Richard Fleesham - Carling Academy, Birmingham.
Inner City Pirates - Bar Academy, Birmingham.
Gwyneth Herbert plus Gemma Quarterman - The Yardbird, Birmingham.
The Futureheads, Gundogs plus Go Audio - Barfly, Birmingham.
Skull Fox plus The Resigned - Rock Cafe 2000, Stourbridge.
Wednesday March 12
Move to The Rhythm, Dance to The Beat 30+ Event - The Whittington Inn, Kinver.
Jam Night - The Maverick, Amblecote.
Noise Pollution - Rock Cafe 2000, Stourbridge.
Irish Session - Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.
Open Mic Night with Simon and Lee from Voodoo - The Church Tavern, Quarry Bank.
CBSO Classical Masterpieces - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.
The Inspiral Carpets plus Mark Morriss - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.
We Are The Ocean and Saving Aimee plus Fear of Music When Autumn Falls - Bar Academy, Birmingham.
Westlife - NEC Arena, Birmingham.
Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash - JB's, Dudley.
Chumbawamba - Robin 2, Bilston.
Thursday March 13
Open Acoustic Night - The Longlands, Stourbridge.
Jam Night - The Moorings Tavern, Stourbridge.
Acoustic Open Night - Benjamin's, Halesowen.
Ska Cubano - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.
Baise-moi, Crooked Dawn, Half Day Closing plus Shapes - Bar Academy, Birmingham.
The Jamesons - Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.
Acoustic Brew feat. Alex Moir, Vad, Pete Heywood plus The No Time Wasters - Cellar Bar, Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.
Westlife - NEC Arena, Birmingham.
Clubland Live - NIA, Birmingham.
The Aftermath - JB's, Dudley.
Boy Kill Boy, Lights Action plus Page 44 - Barfly, Birmingham.
Flick feat. DJ's Pete Death and Demitri - Rock Cafe 2000, Stourbridge.
Open Mic Comedy with Dinsy - The Holly Bush - Cradley Heath.
The Grande Mothers Of invention - Robin 2, Bilston.
Friday March 14
The Dark Blue Boogaloo feat. Barry's Attic plus November Criminals - Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.
Acoustic Open Night with Brian Clee - Eagle and Spur, Cookley.
Rhythm Beat 30+ - Benjamin's, Halesowen.
Four Star Mary plus Fatally Yours - Little Civic, Wolverhampton.
Red Route, Lazy J, Tilted Smile plus Tokyo Storm Warning - Bar Academy, Birmingham.
The Fab Beatles - JB's, Dudley.
Himsa, The Agony Scene, Too Pure To Die plus Ted Maul - Barfly, Birmingham.
Sean Webster - Lamp Tavern, Dudley.
Midas - Worcester College, Worcester.
The Fillers - Rock Cafe 2000, Stourbridge.
Rooty's - Custard Factory, Birmingham.
The George Michael Experience - Robin 2, Birmingham.
The Robbie Williams Experience - The Roadhouse, Merry Hill.
Saturday March 15
Maria Lee - Labour Club, Quarry Bank.
Bury Tomorrow, Random Conflict plus A Clear Conscience - Little Civic, Wolverhampton.
The Late Arrivals, BSN420, You and What Army plus The Monotones - Civic Bar, Wolverhampton.
Electric City, Science Versus Romance plus Reluctant Heroes - Carling Academy, Birmingham.
Splatt - Katie Fitzgerald's, Stourbridge.
Slipnot plus Jazz Thrash Assassins - JB's, Dudley.
Gallhammer plus The Sontarian Experiment - Barfly, Birmingham.
Want You Back - Village Hotel, Dudley.
Ollie Hughes - Great Barr Hotel, Birmingham.
Hot Banana - Waterworks Jazz Club, Birmingham.
Deft Leppard - Rock Cafe 2000, Stourbridge.
Peter Cox and His Band plus A-Syde - Robin 2, Bilston.
Guns 2 Roses - The Roadhouse, Merry Hill.
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