A new music venue and ‘vinyl bar’ where you can play records and even bring your own music is being opened in Birmingham.

Dead Wax Digbeth will open its doors to music fans at the weekend with a four-day launch featuring 45 bands, musicians, artists and DJs from the city and across the Midlands.

A series of specially curated free events will run across the venue’s three spaces from Thursday, November 28 to Sunday, December 1 – including two all-dayers, late-night DJ sets, rare live performances and acoustic sets.

Trendy new music venue and vinyl bar Dead Wax Digbeth in the former premises of the Wagon & Horses in Adderley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham
(Image: Lyle Bignon for Laine Brew Co)

Some of Birmingham’s hottest live acts, including Swampmeat Family Band, Brain Food, Violet, RISCAS, The Empty Page and Wax Futures will take to the stages at the 120/230/100-capacity multi-room venue, formerly punk, rock, metal and alternative haunt The Wagon & Horses in Adderley Street, in the city’s creative quarter of Digbeth.

Fully transformed by Brighton’s Laine Pub Co, Dead Wax Digbeth features a renovated and expanded building incorporating live music spaces both upstairs (120 capacity) and outside in the Duck Bath yard (230 capacity).

An interior shot of the main bar at Dead Wax Digeth

An interior shot of the main bar at Dead Wax Digeth
(Image: Carlo Solazzo)

The main bar area (100 capacity) will present a craft beer offering from Beavertown and Laine Brew Co. alongside guest draft lines from local breweries including Dig Brew Co, plus a Dead Wax Pizza menu with “fresh carnivore, vegetarian and vegan choices overseen by city food tastemaker Anthony Duffy.”

Music fans and vinyl lovers will be encouraged to choose and play albums and singles from the bar’s large 4000 record collection as well as enjoy vinyl-only sets from a diverse line-up of DJs in a vibrant setting in the heart of Digbeth designed and created by local artists.

A mural, curated by street artist Gent48 featuring influential Birmingham bands, musicians and DJs including Big Bear Records, Birmingham Promoters, Catapult Club, Chicks Dig Jerks, ColdRice, Die Das Der, Distorted Tapes, Iron Man Records, Punch Records, This Is Tmrw, and Sweat among others will complete the visual identity for this latest addition to the city’s live music landscape.

Beer, vinyl and pizza - one of the exterior signs on Dead Wax Digbeth gives a hint of what's in store at the trendy new bar and music venue

Beer, vinyl and pizza – one of the exterior signs on Dead Wax Digbeth gives a hint of what’s in store at the trendy new bar and music venue
(Image: Lyle Bignon for Laine Brew Co)

The launch comes as good news in light of a number of concerns around Birmingham’s music and pub mainstays with city-centre venues including The Flapper, Scruffy Murphy’s and the Eagle and Tun all under threat from closure due to redevelopment.

Leading city live music bookers Birmingham Promoters, KILLER WAVE, Sonic Gun, and DIE DAS DER have all learned their industry expertise and support to the new venture, managed by former Sunflower Lounge boss and recording artist Ben Drummond.

Speaking ahead of the opening, Ben Drummond said: “It’s an incredibly challenging time for venues and bars in the city and across the UK so we’re doubly thrilled to be bringing Dead Wax Digbeth to life this week with a team that has worked very hard to create a very special offering.

Music flyers, posters and logos on the sound desk in the main area of Dead Wax Digbeth

Music flyers, posters and logos on the sound desk in the main area of Dead Wax Digbeth
(Image: Lyle Bignon for Laine Brew Co)

“We’re hugely grateful to all of the local creatives who’ve helped us put together a full and exciting launch weekend programme and we look forward to contributing to the city’s cultural fabric, live music offering and UK touring map over the coming months and years.”

Twenty DJs from a number of well-known city music brands will take part in the opening weekend, including Cherry Bomb, Distorted Tapes, Kaleidoscope, Night Owl, Sweat Club, and Takin’ Care of Business.

The live billing boasts 25 live acts drawn from Birmingham and the Midlands’ flourishing indie, psych, art-rock, acoustic, rhythm and blues, heavy, punk, soul, math and pop scenes.

Lighting in the main bar of Dead Wax Digbeth

Lighting in the main bar of Dead Wax Digbeth
(Image: Lyle Bignon for Laine Brew Co)
Dead Wax Digbeth Opening Night Party

5pm- 3am Thursday, November 28 2019

Free

Main venue performances (1800 onwards) from:

Swampmeat Family Band

The Good Water

Main bar vinyl DJ sets (1800 onwards) from:

Richard March (Bentley Rhythm Ace, Pop Will Eat Itself) & Daniel Finnemore – DJ set

Cheese Dip (Sweat Club)

Joel Webster (Killer Wave, PNKSLM Recordings)

Duck Bath outdoor stage DJ sets (1800 onwards) from:

Cherry Bomb (Elizabeth Ilsley & Jonny Murphy)

Carlton Wainwright (Takin’ Care Of Business)

Witch Fever

Witch Fever
Killer Wave present Dead Wax Digbeth launch Friday

6pm-3am Friday 29 November 2019

Free

Main venue performances (1800 onwards) from:

Cherry Pickles

Witch Fever

Brain Food

The Devil & Saint Joseph

Elephant Peel

Main bar vinyl DJ sets (1800 onwards) from:

Selextorhood

‘T-Bird’ Thomas Jones (Takin’ Care Of Business)

Mazzy Maryam Snape (The Night Owl)

Duck Bath outdoor stage DJ sets (1800 onwards) from:

Dizcoh

Sonic Gun

You'll be able to play Dead Wax Digbeth's record collection - or even bring along your own

You’ll be able to play Dead Wax Digbeth’s record collection – or even bring along your own
(Image: Getty Images)
Saturday Dead Wax Digbeth Launch Alldayer

12pm- 03am Saturday 30 November 2019

Free

Main venue performances (1700 onwards) from:

Violet

RISCAS (DJ set)

George Pannell

Alex Ohm

Faux Palms

Boat To Row

Cheap Thrills (DJ set)

Duck Bath outdoor stage DJ (1300 onwards) and live performances (1400 onwards) from:

Paid in Full (DJ Wayne Lango)

Issy Holmes

Louise Woodley

Jen North

Paper Buoys (acoustic set)

Alex Lleo

Midge

Esther Turner

Vinyl-only DJ sets in main bar (1200 onwards) from:

Weird Wax

Kaleidoscope

I Dig Your Wig (Dan Finnemore)

Randy Billings (The International Submarine Club)

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DIE DAS DER present a Dead Wax Digbeth launch event

3pm-10pm Sunday,  December 1 2019

Free

Main venue performances (1500 onwards) from:

The Empty Page

WAX FUTURES

Exotic Pets

Modern Literature

SUE

Liars at the Witch Trial

Main bar DJ sets (1500 onwards) from:

Distorted Tapes

Ollie/NC

For further information on the Dead Wax Digbeth launch weekend, visit www.deadwaxdigbeth.pub

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