The Unofficial Inkubus Sukkubus Website

<body bgcolor='#000000' text='#ffffff' > <h2>Midsummer 2003</h2> <h3>Midssummer's Eve at the Rollright Stones<br> Inkubus Sukkubus at The Custard Factory, Birmingham</h3> <h2>Inkubus Sukkubus + Support at The Custard Factory, Birmingham</h2> <p>By sheer co-incidence, I arrived at The Custard Factory just as the band did, so of course we all retired to the bar. Well, what did you expect? <img src='http://www.sheepish.net/forums/images/smiles/icon_twisted.gif' alt=':twisted:'> </p> <img src='092-band-with-green-man.jpg' alt=''> <p>The Custdard Factory, in Digbeth, just south of Birmingham city centre, is a brand new arts and cultural venue, created from a former Birds custard factory. One of the more striking (not to mention Pagan!) features of the re-worked building complex is this awe-inspiring Green Man, partly made from living plants, and towering above the main roadway through the site. To give an idea of the figure's gargantuan scale, yes that is Candia, Adam and Tony posing by his mighty feet.</p> <img src='093-fans.jpg' alt=''> <img src='094-tony-candia-adam.jpg' alt=''> <img src='095-other-band.jpg' alt=''> <img src='096-fans.jpg' alt=''> <p>As day drew towards evening and dusk fell, there was plenty of time to chat, meet new friends, and generally relax while looking forward to the coming performance.</p> <img src='099-stiltwalker.jpg' alt=''> <img src='100-the-venue.jpg' alt=''> <img src='101-chatting.jpg' alt=''> <img src='104-adam.jpg' alt=''> <p>As is somewhat typical at Pagan-organised events, there was a fair level of chaos and confusion reigning, not helped by the people who'd supplied the stage neglecting to also supply the canopy they'd been paid for, thus leaving the PA gear exposed to the sky. With rain forcast, it was for a while hit or miss whether the gig would actually take place, as neither of the bands were particularly keen to be electrocuted.</p> <img src='105-green-man.jpg' alt=''> <p>Eventually, after much debate between the bands and the event's sound engineer, and with the promised rain stubornly refusing to fall, it was decided to "wing it" and go ahead. So the support act, Arctic Sun, took to the stage at 10:30, and turned in a commendable performance, including a cover of "With Or Without You". Thanks to the ever-lovely Avaritia for jogging my memory on that! </p> <img src='109-support.jpg' alt=''> <img src='110support.jpg' alt=''> <img src='108-support.jpg' alt=''> <img src='115-crowd.jpg' alt=''> <img src='114-drummer.jpg' alt=''> <img src='113-stage.jpg' alt=''> <img src='112-drummer.jpg' alt=''> <img src='111-support.jpg' alt=''> <p>Meawhile, a truly spectacular midsummer fireworks display was set off from the roofs of the factory buildings, deafening explosions and blinding flashes of multicoloured light erupting through the darkened skies, while fine ash from the rockets drifted down onto the heads of the crowd!</p> <img src='129-fireworks.jpg' alt=''> <img src='128-fireworks.jpg' alt=''> <img src='127-fireworks.jpg' alt=''> <img src='126-fireworks.jpg' alt=''> <img src='125-fireworks.jpg' alt=''> <img src='124-fireworks.jpg' alt=''> <img src='123.jpg' alt=''> <img src='122-fireowkrs.jpg' alt=''> <img src='121-fireworks.jpg' alt=''> <p>Once Arctic Sun had finished their set, there was a short pause while the PA was reset, and time to grab a few pictures arround the venue</p> <img src='136-adam-and-shuna.jpg' alt=''> <img src='138-interlude.jpg' alt=''> <p>Adam attempting to drink the fountains dry, while the fair lady of the Merchandise tries to hide behind a candlestick. Well, can you blame her, there are mad people about!</p> <img src='139-interlude.jpg' alt=''> <img src='145-fiew-from-the-merchandi.jpg' alt=''> <img src='146-floorlights.jpg' alt=''> <img src='147-avaritia-and-friend.jpg' alt=''> <p>Avaritia and a friend in deep contemplation (or was it intoxication?)... <img src='http://www.sheepish.net/forums/images/smiles/icon_twisted.gif' alt=':twisted:'></p> <img src='148-interlude.jpg' alt=''> <p>At the stroke of midnight, Inkubus Sukkubus finally took to the stage, and treated us to the full "Wytches" set. Despite the lateness of the hour, the audience was still very much up for it, and while the sound may not have been quite up to the standards of the truly superb gig at the Camden Underworld the week before, the atmosphere and sheer joy of hearing the band play live, beneath the open sky, through the witching hour and beyond, was a truly incredible experience. The pictures below attempt to capture an echo of that feeling of celebration and happiness, as the year swept gloriously past it's zenith in the full heat of a beautiful Midsummer Night.</p> <img src='150-is-on-stage.jpg' alt=''> <img src='151-inkubus-sukkubus.jpg' alt=''> <img src='152-familiar-faces.jpg' alt=''> <img src='153-inkubus-sukkubus.jpg' alt=''> <img src='155-inkubus-sukkubus.jpg' alt=''> <img src='156-200-tony.jpg' alt=''> <img src='159-people-in-motion.jpg' alt=''> <img src='161-tony.jpg' alt=''> <img src='164-overall-setting.jpg' alt=''> <img src='170-200-on-stage.jpg' alt=''> <img src='175-inkubus-sukkubus.jpg' alt=''> <img src='177-on-stage.jpg' alt=''> <img src='178-goddess.jpg' alt=''> <img src='179-audience.jpg' alt=''> <img src='180-audience.jpg' alt=''> <img src='181-tony-and-candia.jpg' alt=''> <img src='182-adam.jpg' alt=''> <img src='184-tony.jpg' alt=''> <img src='185-inkubus-sukkubus.jpg' alt=''> <img src='186-adam.jpg' alt=''> <img src='187-inkubus-sukkubus.jpg' alt=''> <img src='188-tony-and-candia.jpg' alt=''> <img src='189-inkubus-sukkubus.jpg' alt=''> <img src='191-setting.jpg' alt=''> <img src='192-setting.jpg' alt=''> <img src='193-candia-roadsigns.jpg' alt=''> <img src='194-candia-std.jpg' alt=''> <img src='194-candia-we-belong.jpg' alt=''> <img src='196-candia.jpg' alt=''> <img src='197-candia.jpg' alt=''> <img src='198-candia.jpg' alt=''> <img src='202-candia.jpg' alt=''> <img src='203-candia.jpg' alt=''> <img src='204-candia-adam.jpg' alt=''> <img src='206-candia-adam.jpg' alt=''> <img src='209-tony-tongue-solo.jpg' alt=''> <p> <img src='211-candia-bright.jpg' alt=''> <img src='211-tony-bright.jpg' alt=''> <img src='219-adam-bright.jpg' alt=''> </p> <img src='211-tony-candia.jpg' alt=''> <img src='212-adam.jpg' alt=''> <img src='225-is-strip.jpg' alt=''> <img src='231-song-to-pan.jpg' alt=''> <img src='235-view-from-the-stage.jpg' alt=''> <img src='241-across-the-water.jpg' alt=''> <img src='242-across-the-fountains.jpg' alt=''> <img src='246-random-audience-members.jpg' alt=''> <img src='247-inkubus-sukkubus.jpg' alt=''> <img src='248-inkubus-sukkubus.jpg' alt=''> <img src='250-tony.jpg' alt=''> <img src='251-adam.jpg' alt=''> <img src='252-candia.jpg' alt=''> <img src='254-candia.jpg' alt=''> <img src='255-happy-audience.jpg' alt=''> <img src='256-adam-candia.jpg' alt=''> <img src='258-candia-tony.jpg' alt=''> <img src='259-candia-tony.jpg' alt=''> <img src='260-tony.jpg' alt=''> <img src='261-adam.jpg' alt=''> <img src='262-candia.jpg' alt=''> <img src='263-candia.jpg' alt=''> <p>All good things must end, so after the encore, tired but happy, the band retired once more to the bar!</p> <img src='264-the-liverpool-lads.jpg' alt=''> <p>Meanwhile a couple of fans made a bee-line for the vinyl version of Supernature for the sake of the extra three tracks, "Intoxicata", "Nation" and "Rite of Man". Hi lads!</p> <img src='266-the-setting.jpg' alt=''> <img src='269-the-comment.jpg' alt=''> <p>Tony, Candia, and a friend pass comment on the infamous "fornacatorium" newspaper article.</p> <img src='271-the-dragon.jpg' alt=''> <img src='274-the-setting.jpg' alt=''> <p>Someone has put a lot of artistic work into the venue!</p>  <img src='276-inkubus-sukkubus.jpg' alt=''> <p>Look who's sitting on my couch! <img src='http://www.sheepish.net/forums/images/smiles/icon_twisted.gif' alt=':twisted:'> Adam did at one point suggest we might see if these couches would float in the conveniently placed pool, though for some strange reason we never quite got round to trying it out.</p> <img src='277-the-setting.jpg' alt=''> <p>A final view of the rather magnificent setting.</p> <img src='280-highway-to-hell.jpg' alt=''> <p>The Custard Factory's car park has an interesting fence, made of several dozen crushed cars mounted in a rack. A reminder, perhaps, that no matter how fancy your vehicle, sooner or later, this is the way of all steel?</p> <p> <a href='../../../fs-live-midsummer-03-02.html' target='_top'> Journeytime - a Midsummer Pligrimage </a> - <a href='../../../fs-live-midsummer-03-03.html' target='_top'> A Midsummer Night with Inkubus Sukkubus </a> - <a href='../../../fs-live-midsummer-03-04.html' target='_top'> Homebound Wanderings </a> - <a href='../../../fs-live-midsummer-03-01.html' target='_top'> Midsummer Index </a> </p> <p><a href='/index.html' target='_top'>Home</a></p> <body bgcolor="#004000" text="#ffffff" link="#ff4000" vlink="#ff4000" alink="#ffffff"> <div id="navcontainer"> <ul id="navlist"> <li id="active"><a href='index.html' target='_top'>Home & News</a></li> <li><a href='fs-live.html' target='_top'>Live Gig Reviews!</a></li> <li><a href='fs-music.html' target='_top'>The Albums</a></li> <li><a href='fs-backstage.html' target='_top'>Backstage</a></li> <li><a href='fs-audio-video.html' target='_top'>Media</a></li> <li><a href='fs-links.html' target='_top'>Links</a></li> <li><a href='fs-circle.html' target='_top'>The Circle</a></li> <li><a href='http://supernature.inkubus-sukkubus.co.uk' target='_top'>The Supernature Forum</a></li> <li><a href='player.html' target='_blank' onClick="return popup(this, 'notes')">Music Player</a></li> <li></li> </ul> </div> <SCRIPT TYPE="text/javascript">  </SCRIPT>