Welcome to the world of Beat 13 – a Birmingham, UK-based artist collective born from Matt Watkins’ experimental audio-visual art website in 1999.  In search of lesser-known local talents, Watkins, a designer, soon teamed up with freelance illustrator Lucy Mclauchlan, and Beat 13 became a full-fledged community, complete with a website and shop/gallery.  Now, with a roster of nine, their client list boasts everyone from Gorillaz and the Guardian, to Selfridges and Smart Cars.

In between the constant slew of international exhibitions and projects, we asked Watkins and Mclauchlan to divulge some of their favorite things about their hometown.  In their own words:

“Having grown up in Birmingham, home of Black Sabbath, Balti’s and Lord Of The Rings, Beat13 have witnessed the changing face of the UK’s biggest city outside of London. At the heart of England, “Brum’s” network of canals encouraged the city’s growth as it formed the backbone of the industrial revolution. By the early 70’s, the likes of Spaghetti Junction gave Brum a rep as the UK’s original “concrete jungle”, despite being a remarkably green city. Although Welsh Valleys ship us regular rain and wind, when the sun comes out it feels like everyone’s on holiday.

“A true multicultural and diverse city, large-scale redevelopment has replaced derelict industrial buildings with ‘snazzy’ glass-faced shopping centers and bars, but nothing’s gonna get rid of the accent.

“Being the centre of the country with little geographical restraints the city centre constantly shifts, and different regions of the city have something to offer. Despite good bus services it’s not the easiest city to get around, and finding where the action is can be a bit of a mission after dark as most of the city centre becomes deserted as soon as the shops shut. Billions have been spent on the new Bull Ring shopping centre and the ‘50s sci-fi-themed Selfridges building...it’s gonna look dated in no time and I’m just waiting for it to be turned into a super club.

“The musical heritage of the city is impressive. The 60’s “Brum Beat” sound of Traffic, Spencer Davis Group and the Moody Blues made way for the 70’s rock of Black Sabbath and the reggae of Steel Pulse, but none of this is apparent to the casual observer and I still plan on erecting a statue of Ozzy Osbourne. Nowadays a diverse underground scene of experimental, electronic, jazz, rock and urban music bubbles under the surface, but you have to keep your ears to the ground.

“A good starting point is the Custard Factory, just 5 minutes walk from New Street station it’s a hive of activity for the more creative types in the city. Based in and around the original Birds custard factory, there’s the infamous Medicine Bar, a gallery, theatre space, artists units and studios, shops and cafes. Although often deserted, if you visit at the right time it’s not a hard place to keep yourself occupied and hosts numerous club nights, gigs and events. Just up the road is The Rainbow, probably our favorite pub in town where again, you never know what could be going on there.

“CAPSULE brings us some of the most interesting and diverse acts, and they are curators of the excellent Supersonic Festival - a major success over the last 3 years and growing bigger each time. If Hip-hop and live MCs tickle your fancy SOULTHUMP could be your thing. Some of our favorite promoters are LEFTFOOT (funk, jazz, electronica), TRIGGER (holographic bassforms), FIXED (drum’n’bass), 7INCH Cinema (left-field films), and Birmingham Jazz have put on some great contemporary stuff at venues across town, like the Glee Club, a comedy and music venue that’s always worth looking out for.

“Growing up in the vibrant late-‘80s skate scene, Brum was a great place -- though the Birmingham Wheels skate-park is long gone, Moseley now has the huge Epic skate-park, which I would have dreamt of having down the road when I was growing up there. If you pop into Ideal skate-shop in the city center, you can buy a Third Foot board, made in Birmingham, and they’ll point you in the direction of Moseley. The skatepark’s not the only attraction as the sleepy village has transformed in the last 10 years into another mile of pubs, bars and eateries. But if you want to escape the streets, take your shoes off, put on your cape and head down Moseley Bog where J.R.R. Tolkien was inspired to write Lord Of The Rings. Up the road in Kings Heath is Poplar Road, an evolving street with some nice cafes and the inspiring Maison Mayci, whose French tasties are winning fans all over. A 5-minute cab ride takes you to the Stratford road, the birthplace of the Balti, with countless Indian and Pakistani restaurants. Jyoti is by far our favourite, and a must-visit if you’re a veggie...or even if not, you won’t miss the meat...they’re the best samosas I’ve ever eaten. Back in town, check out Cafe Soya, a Vietnamese-Chinese cross of delights that I always miss when out of town.

Go There:

Matt’s Recommended Cafes:

Maison Mayci, 8 Poplar Road, Kings Heath, B14 7AD, tel: 0121 444 8167 maisonmayci.co.uk

Rooty Frooty & The Kitchen, 2 of the bar/eatery/party zones at the Custard Factory

Best Cheap/Tasty Eats:

Cafe Soya, The Arcadian Centre, 70 Hurst Street, B5 4TD, 0121 683 8350

Warehouse Cafe, 54 Allison St Digbeth Birmingham B5 5^TH, 0121 633 0261

Jyoti, 569-571 Stratford Road, Sparkhill, B11 4LS, 0121 766 7199 - the best

Music and Video:

Swordfish, 14 Temple Street B2 5BG 01216334859

Capsule, ask them what’s going on, capsule.org.uk

Cinephelia, all the best films you’ve never seen, Woodbridge Road, Moseley, B13 8EH tel:0121 449 6000

Epic Skate-park, epicskateparks.com

Shopping:

Ideal Skate-shop, 175 Corporation Street, B4 6RG tel:0121 236 3900

Zen, for all your legal highs, incense and magic/crystal needs. 3 St Mary’s Row, Moseley, B13 8HW, thezenshop.co.uk

Going Out:

The Rainbow,

Medicine Bar, Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth, B9 4AA 0121 224 7777

Glee Club, The Arcadian, Hurst St, B5 4TD 0870 241 5093, glee.co.uk

Boiler Room, Vyse Street, B18 6NF, 01212484999, eyeonmoseley.blogspot.com

Art & Cinema:

Beat13 / Studio 4 / Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth, B9 4AA

mac, macarts.co.uk

The Electric, the oldest working cinema in the UK, 47-49 Station Street, B5 4DY, 0121 643 7879, theelectric.co.uk

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square B3 3DH 0121 303 2834

Ikon Gallery, ikon-gallery.co.uk

 

For more info on Beat13: Beat13.co.uk