Below in it’s 5th year, started at The Rainbow Pub where promoters Adam Shelton, Lee McDonald and Ross T got together to start a gathering for friends from many summers working away in Ibiza and stop then from having to go out of Birmingham for a good party.
The Rainbow, an old Victorian boozer with raw brickwork, graphed courtyard with a smoky atmosphere created from the organic was to set the tone for a friendly, underground setting perfect for what Below wanted to bring to a city not really pushing any musical boundaries. Below in a venue with such character proved to be a fresh look on music and clubbing in the city.
The Rainbow was reluctant to give a Saturday night booking so Below took on Sunday Daytimes after spending many a good day/night in London at one of their inspirations for creating Below, Secretsundaze.
Within a couple of months the old Victorian BOOZER was packed and word was spreading, like minded people were travelling from all over the UK and Sunday's in Birmingham were no longer a day of rest.
Over time BELOW has booked some of the most prolific and respected underground artists in the world whilst also adding a subtle mix of friends and social groups to make the party what it is today. Residents Adam Shelton and Subb-An have always pushed to do their own thing whilst having the understanding to create a vibe at any time of the day to suit the guests they are playing around and to suit the party.
A great connection was formed with the north of the UK and regular appearances from Tristan Da Cunha, Despo, Tom Craven, PBR Streetgang and many more has helped to bring new fresh crowds to Sundays in Birmingham.
Below has introduced Birmingham to some incredible unique spaces. There have been parties in venues that have never been used before and have never been used again. These have helped form a forward thinking identity for the party.
Venues include:
Drained pools, strip clubs, car parks, thai restaurants, cellars, basements, tropical garden parties, boat parties, terrace raves, rave in a vintage clothes shop, 60s Night Clubs, under railway arches, beach parties and anything else that wasn't the norm. Below also introduced the city to some unique warehouse spaces - one of which has become part of the Rainbow Complex - it's large spacious main room is complemented with a victorian viaduct that had the feel of a completely illegal rave. 9 times out of 10 they were.
Although the venues were special nothing quite grabbed the magic of The Rainbow so in 2007 Adam Shelton and Lee McDonald took over the lease of the victorian boozer and developed the courtyard further. With subtle improvements the venue continued to gain rave reviews in the media and become the djs and bands place to want to play. The line-ups grew stronger and the crowd travelled from a far.
In 2010 The Rainbow had the vision to convert the cellar of the pub to a new addition - Cellar Door - a fantastic intimate space that added another string to the Rainbow's bow.
Below celebrated it’s 5th Birthday with Mattias Tanzmann and Julietta in the new Cellar Door venue then back to the Courtyard for one of their strongest parties to date on August Bank holiday with Argy, Vincenzo and Berkson & What.
To welcome 2011 Below hosted a Below Years Day rave that sold out in advance with a line up that defines Below - a handpicked collection of some of the finest djs from across the UK and was a great start for Below and it’s residents Adam Shelton and Subb-An.
Below has 6 carefully selected line ups to look forward to in the summer introducing Birmingham to another untapped - secret venue bringing back the alfresco daytime parties that started it all.