It's official. Birmingham is the new Rotherham. Well, according to the NME that is.

The lacklustre music weekly this week devotes four pages to a new scene, excruciatingly christened "Best Midlands".

Twelve bands and a photoshoot at the Custard Factory and – voila – suddenly we're at the heart of the zeitgeist.

Watch out for, among others, Murdoch, Ripchord, The Ripps and Untitled Musical Project (name spelt wrong in the article, by the way).

In little boxes, Smash Hits-style, we are given the who, what and whys of each band, plus a myspace link. You can listen to tracks on the NME's website too.

Most of the acts featured are your average guitar-slinging sub-punkers. Nothing revolutionary but a decent night out down the Flapper or Jug.

It's very nice of the NME to sit up and take notice, but the piece is causing ructions among the people who have been working to nurture a home-grown scene and one which goes much deeper than the current fad for angular Arctic Monkeys-inspired rock.

Bands who are truly expanding pop and rock's boundaries don't get a mention. Shady Bard, Distophia and the Modified Toy Orchestra spring to mind.

Labels like Static Caravan, Bearos and Warm Circuit don't get a sniff and, in perhaps the biggest snub of all, promoters Capsule are completely ignored.

A quick glance at the CVs of any of these will tell a completely different picture. Stints at Sonar promoting the local scene, festivals such as the annual Supersonic and Moseley Folk, a stream of singles and albums that are truly inspirational . . . none of these are deemed worthy of a mention.

The NME's version of the region is one-dimensional and misleading and reeks of laziness. Over the next few weeks we'll be pointing you towards the true diversity of the West Midlands' music scene. Don't believe the hype.

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If you're one of the unfortunate people who turned up at the Robin 2 in Bilston on Saturday to find the Steve Brookstein gig cancelled, gaffer Mike Hamblett would like to say sorry, but it wasn't his fault.

The winner of the first X Factor with a number one single and album in his trophy cabinet actually has cancelled his whole tour.

Elsewhere, ticket sales were reportedly in single figures, living proof of the ephemeral nature of reality TV fame.

Not so at the Robin where, according to Mike, they were respectable enough. He's none too pleased with the last-minute cancellation, leaving his live room empty on a Saturday.

Sadly for Mr Brookstein, there are no plans to reschedule the gigs.

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Some ideas are so brilliant aren't they and here's a cracker from Birmingham's Carling Academy.

How does the idea of a free lunchtime gig with a couple of pints thrown in gratis sound?

That's the simple but effective recipe for the Carling C2 Lunchtime Sessions.

On Thursday in the Academy Bar at 12.30pm, catch the crafted songsmithery of Andy Gower, a superb modern troubador and pal of Post favourite Scott Matthews.

Friday sees the Crimea on stage performing their own brand of twisted pop.

Both acts are superb and this promises to be the start of something big. So ditch that Greggs pasty for the day and log on to carling.com/ lunchtimesessions for tickets. We'll be giving some away next week, along with crates of beer so stay tuned

 Up to something on the local music scene? Tired of the NME banging on your door? Seen a good website? Email us at post.features@mrn.co.uk