The Courteeners, Carling Academy 2, Birmingham

Hotly tipped guitar band The Courteeners play Birmingham this month as part of a nationwide tour.

Formed in Manchester, The Courteeners are very much the product of the rainy city and deal in a windswept romanticism that recalls the area's favourite sons The Smiths and the ragged charm, if not the sound, of the Happy Mondays and Stone Roses.

Latterly, the band have garnered press attention from both the monthlies and the NME and have been playlisted on daytime Radio 1 with the single What Took You So Long?

Early 2008 will see the release of their debut album, which has been produced by legendary knob-twiddler Stephen Street, who has cajoled terrific work out the likes of Blur, Babyshambles and the Smiths.

The Courteeners play the Carling Academy 2 on December 9th.

Address: Carling Academy 2, 52-54 Dale End, Priory Square, Birmingham, B4 7LS.

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See what else is on

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• Regent Street Festival, London
• Shibboleth, Tate Modern, London
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