Major pop acts head to revamped concert venue
A MAJOR Birmingham concert venue to be given a new lease of life with a new name and major acts heading in.
The Rainbow Arena in Lower Trinity Street is to be rebranded The Digbeth Arena, run by Bristol live events company The MJR Group.
James Arthur, Texas, Imelda May and Garbage are the first acts to sign up to appear at the site.
The news comes as Wolverhampton Civic Hall, which might have attracted such tours, is closed for a year for renovation.
Founded in 2012, The MJR Group describes itself as a ‘live events company specialising in concert promotion and venue development’.
It regularly hosts gigs at Midland venues including the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath and The Zephyr Lounge in Leamington Spa.
The Rainbow Events (formerly The Rainbow Venues) recently signalled its intent to move away from venue operations and back towards live event promotion.
Birmingham City Council revoked the club’s licence in November after a drug-related death at Rainbow Warehouse in Lower Trinity Street.
The venue was ordered to shut down after student Michael Trueman, 19, was understood to have taken MDMA at a Halloween event.
He died in hospital the next day. The tragedy was the second drugrelated death in two years at the nightspot.
Rainbow Venues handed over its licence of Spotlight, Mama Roux and Cafe Collette to Digbeth Dining Club, which has announced it is expanding to three days a week.
But Crane, Rainbow Arena, The Car Park, Warehouse, Roof Garden and Blackbox have all closed.
In a Facebook post from The Rainbow Events, Lee McDonald said: “Our business will return full circle to the position from where we originally started. Working with emerging and established artists, bands and labels to produce extraordinary and memorable experiences for music fans and clubbers across the country under The Rainbow Events.
“We have a strong relationship with MJR and could not be happier that they are the company taking the Arena forward into the future.”
Benjamin Newby at The MJR Group said: “We are honoured and humbled to become part of the innovative and artistic hub that is Digbeth. We have already started developing great relationships with the business and creative community and look forward to what the future will bring. We recognise the dedicated and inspirational work Rainbow Venues have put into their venues and Digbeth as a whole. We will work hard to continue their passion while adding our own vision and operational standards to the Arena.
“As a resident of Birmingham, I personally could not be happier or excited that MJR are involved in this project that joins our group of venues across the country and become part of this exuberant city.”