Launch of Queercore in the Second City
Queercore in the Second City is a documentary exploring Birmingham’s thriving Queer Hardcore (queercore) scene, a subculture rooted in punk’s DIY ethos, community building, and queer resistance. Produced by Centrala and commissioned by the Royal Geographical Society, the film captures a unique moment in time where music, identity, and place collide.
Through interviews with organisers, performers, and gig-goers, Queercore in the Second City sheds light on the importance of creating safe, autonomous spaces for queer expression within heavy music scenes. The documentary traces the roots of queercore from its punk origins to its current resurgence, asking why these spaces remain vital today.
Against the backdrop of Birmingham’s working-class history and its legacy as the birthplace of heavy metal, the film shows how queercore has found a natural home in the Second City, blending energy with radical care, and defiance with joy.
Queercore in the Second City is a testament to the enduring power of grassroots cultural spaces, and the people who fight to keep them alive.
Afterparty
Leibniz: Hardcore adjacent grunge band from Brighton. Drawing sounds from grunge, hardcore and shoegaze, delivering it with an intense and cathartic energy in the name of trans liberation and relief from emotional turmoil.
Luxury Nan Smell: Noisy, Birmingham, math-rock scented three piece LUXURY NAN SMELL present a collection of silly riffs. After meeting in art-pop outfit Sofa King, Rose Davies and Emily Doyle enlisted blast beat enthusiast Jacob Spink to dream up a definitely danceable fusion of post-punk, sludge, and bedroom emo.
Without Blood: 0121 hardcore mosh
Blythe Blade: 0121 Queer punk band making moshy silly music about whatever takes their fancy, but most likely they’ll be screaming about the government and degeneracy.
This gig is brought to you by Centrala and 0121Queercore, entry is free though we ask you to book, we’ll be accepting donations on the door or by adding a tip to your order.
Evening Schedule:
Doors @ 17:30
Intro @ 18:00 (upstairs)
Screening @ 18:15, approx 30 minute run time
Q&A @ 18:45
Afterparty @ 19:30 (downstairs)
Credits:
Directed and produced by Centrala
Executive producers Lexi Bushell
Filmed by Ryley Morton, Kimberly Barber, and Spence Hackett
Edited by Lexi Bushell
Commissioned by the Royal Geographical Society