RUSTIE LEE'S CARIBBEAN LIVE @ Aston Arena, Birmingham - Fri & Sat 23rd July!!

RUSTIE LEE'S

CARIBBEAN LIVE

@

Aston Arena, Birmingham

Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd July, 2011

The biggest Caribbean party ever held indoors in the UK. Great Live acts and DJ's - Caribbean Food Court - Car parking by the Venue.

Celebrating all things Caribbean with music from Dancehall to Ska to Reggae to the biggest Soca Flag Party.

The best night out you can ever ever have.

Click me to get your tickets!



Click here to get your tickets from TheTicketSellers

Ikon joins international calls for the release of Ai Weiwei

Ikon Gallery has joined the international movement calling for the release of acclaimed Chinese art Ai Weiwei.

A single hand-crafted porcelain sunflower seed, one of tens of millions as featured in Ai Weiwei’s recent installation at Tate Modern, has been placed in a plinth at the entrance of the gallery. Displayed in this context, the single seed reminds us of the plight of the individual.

On April 3, Ai Weiwei was detained at Beijing airport while en route to Hong Kong, and his papers and computers were seized from his studio compound. Ai's whereabouts remain unknown and he has been denied due process under Chinese law.

In response to his arrest, leading museums around the world including the Guggenheim, New York; Tate, London; Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD); Museum of Modern Art, New York; and the Musée national d'art modern, Paris have joined an online petition to express concern for Ai’s freedom and call for his release.

We hope that our collective action using Ai Weiwei's favoured medium of social sculpture will hasten Ai’s release and promote the principle of free creative expression.

To view the petition please visit: http://www.change.org/petitions/call-for-the-release-of-ai-weiwei

­Productive allotments in Hall Green

The following article has been kindly sent for publication on Spaghetti Gazetti by friends on the Birmingham based website Antidote: Counteracting Doom and Gloom

Read the article here and join the website's discussion boards 

For some years Hilary and John Powell have cultivated two rented plots on an idyllic tree-ringed council-owned site in Scribers Lane, Hall Green.

John does the heavy work on the allotments and Hilary, who is in poor health, plants and picks the fruit and vegetables.

This year, they will be cultivating runner beans: enorma, climbing French beans, cobra and a yellow variety, lettuce mixed salad crop, parsley: Italian and moss curled, coriander, French tarragon, sage, garlic, garlic chives, oregano, thyme, peppermint, mint (mint sauce type) lemon balm, chives, fennel, pak choi, potatoes: King Edwards, International Kidney, Desiree, Charlotte, Cavillero de Nero, sprouts: red rubine, Romanesque, all year round cauliflowers, calabrese: purple sprouting early and late, white sprouting early and late, purple cauliflowers, green sprouting broccoli – summer, sweetcorn, carrots, Turks turban squash, courgette - defender, gooseberries, blackcurrants, red currants, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples, Bramley, Queen Cox, Jonagold, plums: Victoria, greengage, damson, asparagus, peas, mange tout, swede, parsnips, dill, borage, phaecelia- green manure, celery, rainbow chard, gladoli, sweet peas, michaelmas daisies, sweet williams, delphiniums, stocks, marigolds and aquilegia.

Hilary is now growing tomatoes, aubergines and peppers at home in a greenhouse.

Preventive barrier measures

Certain crops are grown in net cages, protected from pigeons: sprouts, sprouting broccolis, cabbage, kales, cauliflowers, calabrese, peas, raspberries, currants, strawberries and blueberries.

Onions and leeks were affected by onion/leek moth last year, so this year they will be grown under Agralan’s Enviromesh, a strong durable mesh netting crop cover which prevents damage by insects, caterpillars, birds, rabbits, wind & hail.

Strawberries are reared in growbags off the ground on a long table arrangement.

No pesticides

Home made applications include:

boiled up rhubarb leaves as a spray - helps to get rid of insects pests;

comfrey leaves and nettle leaves soaked in water make a wonderful liquid feed (needs a lid on as it stinks and mosquitoes like to lay eggs in it)

soot mixed in the soil and when planting nematodes (parasite worms) are used to combat the slugs.

Other insects/pests/ eggs are picked off – or ignored.

An inviting picnic area at the top of one of the allotments has been cleared and grassed by John for any members who would like to relax there.

A store near the entrance stores gardening goods, chemicals, compost and other goods which members can buy at cost price every Sunday.

There is now a waiting list at the allotments due to the increased interest in growing food plants. In 2010 there were 23 in the queue for two years and this year 12 people are waiting. Plots have to be kept clean, tidy and cultivated – a strict rule.

We hope that Minister Eric ­Pickles will listen to reservations expressed about his review of council ­services. It is feared that the reassessment of the 1908 ­Allotments and Small Holdings Act, which ensures town halls provide plots where needed, could end legal ­protection for the sites, threatening the future of allotments.

LIVE OPEN-AIR EVENTS AT BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS THIS SUMMER!

Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses, Edgbaston, has a fantastic season of open-air music and theatre lined up for this summer. Four separate open-air theatre companies, the Gardens’ own BIG BAND MUSIC EVENING as well as one of the highlights of the Birmingham International Jazz Festival, ‘Lady Sings The Blues’. The Main Lawn is a natural amphitheatre with the Victorian Bandstand at its focus. Visitors are encouraged to bring a blanket or low chair, a picnic – and then sit back and enjoy!

The musical season gets off to an exciting start:

Sunday 19 June – 6.30pm

The Gardens’ Midsummer Big Band Charity Music evening with The Rat Pack – Garry Allcock & ‘All Star’ Big Band

and later

Sunday 10 July 7.00pm

Lady Sings The Blues – with Val Wiseman recreating the amazing voice of Billie Holiday, supported by some of the Britain’s finest jazz musicians including Digby Fairweather.

The open-air theatre programme begins with

Chapterhouse Theatre presents:

24 June ‘Cranford’

27 July ‘Sense & Sensibility

4 August ‘Snow White’

Crescent Open Air Theatre presents

29 & 30th June - ‘An Ideal Husband’

MDCC Theatre presents:
20 & 21 July – ‘King Lear’ by William Shakespeare

Rain or Shine Theatre presents

17 & 18 August -‘Much Ado About Nothing’ by William Shakespeare

Also every Sunday afternoon during the summer there will be live music in the Gardens Victorian Bandstand – music for all tastes – jazz, brass, concert.

For full programme see web site – http://www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/

To book: T: 0121 454 1860

Read Spaghetti Gazetti Magazine Online - June 2011 Edition

Community groups benefit from Access Grants in Aston

Community and faith groups in the Aston area of Birmingham have recently benefited from grants of up to £7,000 from Aston Pride to make adaptations to their buildings so that their services can become more accessible to the whole community. The grants were provided through Birmingham Disability Resource Centre who worked closely with Aston Pride to carry out audits on buildings and provide training to 15 community organisations in Aston.

Projects which benefited financially included the Park Lane Garden Centre run by BITA Pathways who improved access, disabled driver car parking and signage in their building, Aston Parish Church who made a large section of the church accessible via level flooring, Saathi House who added an automatic front entrance door as well as creating an accessible kitchen area for local disabled women and Holy Trinity Community Centre who made a side entrance of their centre accessible via a ramp for elderly and disabled service users to access the garden. The Kokni Mosque in Aston received help towards car parking for disabled members of their congregation.

Three groups which provide support to parents of disabled children also benefitted from new play and sensory equipment. Pete Millington, who coordinated the project on behalf of BDRC said “it was a great pleasure to help grass-root groups in Aston to make their services more accessible to more local people. We plan to run a training event for groups at one of these buildings in June”.

Birmingham City Council’s gorilla garden wins silver at Chelsea

Birmingham City Council has been awarded silver at the Chelsea Flower Show this week.

The garden, which was put together on behalf of the city’s Parks and Nurseries department by Mike Hinton and team was entitled ‘The Plight of the Gorilla’ and was specifically designed to highlight the situation of these endangered animals in the Rwanda region of Central Africa.

The garden took eight days to create on site and was a centrepiece in the Grand Pavilion at the show. The exhibit consisted of a jungle scene complete with rocks, a waterfall and tropical plants - all overlooked by a large model gorilla. Plants included poinsettias and authentic African plants and shrubs. The garden also had an additional eco twist by making use of reusable plastic rocks instead of sandstone. Originally it was thought that the rocks would have to be sourced from South Africa, but the council were able to obtain realistic rocks which are moulded from the original granite specimens from one of their regular suppliers, Amberol (http://www.amberol.co.uk%20)./)

John Williamson, Marketing Manager at Amberol was at Chelsea to view the finished result. “The garden looked really impressive and the general public absolutely loved it,” he commented. “People were coming up to the display and commenting how fantastic it looked - it certainly had the wow factor. We were delighted with the effect that the rocks created as part of the waterfall; they looked exactly like real rocks but at a fraction of the cost, making it a real sensory experience for visitors.”

Birmingham Parks and Nurseries department creates and tends to communal displays across the city as well as maintaining Birmingham’s five premier parks including the largest, Sutton Park National Nature Reserve which covers a total of 2,400 acres.

As well as success in the Chelsea Flower Show, the authority has also won numerous awards in Britain in Bloom, including gold in 2010 in the large city category of Heart of England in Bloom.

Zandra Rhodes invites Fashion Design students from Coventry University to work with her on Godiva Awakes, part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad

International fashion designer Zandra Rhodes
demonstrates techniques for students from Coventry University

International fashion designer Zandra Rhodes met students from Coventry University’s Fashion Design course last week to set a design brief which would see the winning student work alongside Zandra to produce garments for Imagineer Productions Godiva Awakes, part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Godiva Awakes is part of Artists taking the lead, a series of 12 public art commissions across the UK to celebrate the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Arts Council England is delivering the project in partnership with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Creative Scotland and Arts Council of Wales.

Imagineer Productions Godiva Awakes will create a ten metre high Godiva, who will awake in July 2012 to a spectacular performance and powered by 50 cyclists journey to London to play a part in the London 2012 celebrations. Coventry based Imagineer Productions are one of the UK’s foremost producers of large-scale outdoor events, carnival and site specific theatre.

Zandra Rhodes will work with students from Coventry University to create a transparent modern style medieval shift for Godiva with gold hand painted godets and trailing sleeves. Over this will be an ‘iron’ corset decorated with mirrored flowers. Both beautiful and practical the garments are being created for the ten metre high Godiva that will be powered by bike and manipulated by one puppeteer on her journey to London.

Claire Maddocks, Imagineer Productions said: “Zandra brings a real sense of theatre to Godiva’s corset and shift and we are really excited that Zandra will be working with, and developing the skills and experience, of budding fashion designers at Coventry University. Through Godiva Awakes we are creating a once in a lifetime opportunity for young people of all backgrounds to engage in an ambitious project and in doing so support a new generation of makers, performers and event producers.”

Zandra Rhodes, Fashion Designer said: “Designing the corset and gown for Godiva Awakes will be a fantastic challenge, I am already thinking about sheer transparent fabrics that will hold the right shape but create the right fantastic illusion for such a historical important icon yet work with the structure itself. I am also looking forward to trying out some new techniques through working with students at Coventry University and using the cutting edge facilities they have there.”

Kollette Super, Coventry University said: “It is very exciting to present our students with the opportunity to work with legendary fashion designer Zandra Rhodes, an amazing opportunity for all the students to take part in workshops at the University led by Zandra and for students to experience working alongside her in her London studio.”

Zandra will judge the students designs in June 2011 and the winner will work with Zandra to hand paint the panels at Zandra’s workroom above the Fashion and Textiles Museum in London for the final garment produced for Godiva Awakes.

In addition to Zandra’s garments, a team of regional textile and glass artists will create the top coat and train for Lady Godiva showcasing the crafts and industries from the West Midlands. Led by award winning textile artist Julia O’Connell, the team includes Maggie Dunne, Rachel Grant, Adam Hussain, Debbie Squires and Julie Joannides. The coat and train will feature designs researched and created from the Chain Makers of the Black Country, the Potteries in Stoke-on-Trent, Computer Gaming in Leamington Spa, Glove Making in Worcester, and the Glass Making Industries from Stourbridge and Smethwick.

The pattern for Godiva’s coat and train will be created by Coventry based Creative Hubb using the latest cutting edge technology. The company will create a pattern which equates to nearly 6 times the scale of an average human size for the 10 metre high creation.

Over 1000 people are already part of the Godiva Awakes project across the region, including the Communitas (220 young people), the Choir (100), the Cycle Team (100) with 58 people employed on delivering Godiva Awakes alongside eight apprenticeships for young people and a further 100 jobs planned to be created during the project. For more information visit www.imagineerproductions.co.uk/godivaawakes

Imagineer Productions are working with the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership for the 2012 Games (CW2012) to maximise opportunities arising from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. www.cswp.org.uk/london2012. To see how the West Midlands region as a whole is maximising the benefits from London 2012 visit http://www.wmfor2012.com/.

Birmingham Lord Mayors Show 2011

Monday 30 May

11am – 5pm

Victoria Square and Chamberlain Square, Birmingham City Centre

This annual spectacular takes place on Spring Bank Holiday Monday and is one of the council’s most prestigious civic events, attracting over 20,000 people into the City Centre. A highlight of Birmingham’s civic calendar, it is the annual introduction of the new Lord Mayor to the city and a fond farewell to the outgoing one. As well as raising money for the Lord Mayor’s charities, the event is a great day out for the whole family.

This year the show will offer entertainment for all ages including six hours of live musical performances on the main stage with local singers, dance performances and children’s entertainment.

Other attractions and activities include face painting, craft stalls and activities, army displays and recruitment stands, children’s workshops and a vintage vehicle display. There will also be refreshments on sale and even the chance to have tea with the Lord Mayor!

For further information please contact the Lord Mayor's Parlour - 0121 303 2040.

City of Wolverhampton College Presents - Little Shop Of Horrors - Wulfrun Hall: Weds 29th June, Thurs 30th June + Friday 1st July 2011

For three nights at Wolverhampton 's Wulfrun Hall students will perform their take on this classic comedy horror musical. Featuring plants from the acclaimed Birmingham Rep production the show looks set to have audiences' enthralled and entertained.

Tickets priced £5.00 + £4.00 (concessions) are available from Midland Box Office : 0870 320 7000 or online at www.wolvescivic.co.uk

Half Term Events at Young Readers 2011

Family Fun Day at South Yardley Library

Join us at South Yardley Library for a fun filled day of stories featuring storyteller Anna Conomos and author Andrew Newbound. There will be something for all the family including everyone’s favourite The Gruffalo. Plus free mehndi and face painting. Refreshments provided. Tickets will be available throughout May. Contact South Yardley Library on 0121 464 1944.

11am-4pm

Andrew Newbound

When ghost-busting psychic Alannah starts robbing ghouls of their ill-gotten gains, she has no idea that she will soon be drawn into a centuries old battle between angels and demons. Andrew Newbound, author of the spooktacular comic fantasy Demon Strike invites you to join his Word Wizard fun and games session. Don’t miss the basket ball inflatable hoop-off finale!

2.30pm-3.30pm

Suitable for children aged 9+

http://www.goawayghosts.com/

Don't miss our fantastic two day event at the beautiful setting of Aston Hall. Top authors, storytellers and poets, writing workshops, bhangra dance, CBeebies, a film tent, magic shows, face painting and much much more!

Find out about the full Book Bash programme.



 

Half Term Events at Young Readers 2011

Sue Bentley at Waterstone's

A fantastic opportunity to meet the hugely successful author of the Magic Kitten, Magic Puppy and Magic Pony books and get your books signed. These much loved and collected series feature nice (and nasty) fairies and cute, clever and mischievous animals that enter into the lives of lonely little girls in need of a little bit of magic. FREE event. Just turn up on the day.

Waterstone's, High Street, Birmingham, 11am-12 noon

Sue Bentley at Centre for the Child

Meet the hugely successful author of the Magic Kitten, Magic Puppy and Magic Pony books. Find out what it’s like to be a writer, listen to some of her stories and help her to create an exciting new adventure. A great opportunity for young writers to capture some of Sue Bentley’s sparkly magic. FREE event. Just turn up on the day.

Suitable for children aged 6+ and their families.

Centre for the Child in Central Library, 2pm-3pm

http://suebentley.ponymadbooklovers.co.uk/

Sutton Children’s Library Fun Day at Fellowship Hall, South Parade

10.30am-3pm

Join us for an action-packed day including:

11am-11.45am -Stories, songs and colouring for 2-4 year olds

1.30pm-2.15pm - Pinnocchio, a puppet show for all the family with Clive Chandler (see below for details).

2.15pm-3pm - Puppet Making

Plus face painting from 10.30am-12 noon and 1pm-3pm.

To book a free place and for more information ring 0121 464 1842.

Pinnocchio with Clive Chandler

An old man and his wife who long for a child make a little boy out of wood. But their creation turns out to have a mischievous mind of his own. The classic tale of Pinnocchio is brought to life in a fast paced and funny glove puppet show that will entertain the whole family

http://www.tiptoppuppets.co.uk/

Young Writers at Young Readers with Ian Billings

Join author Ian Billings for a family writing workshop and create some stories for the new Library of Birmingham website! Take a short stroll through the city centre for a tour of the new library site and find the inspiration to get your creativity bubbling. A great opportunity for all ages to get some top writing tips.

Suitable for children aged 7+ and their families

Please note, children need to be accompanied by an adult for this event. Places on this workshop are limited to participating children and their accompanying adult. Please book in advance at Centre for the Child or by telephoning 0121 303 2421.

Centre for the Child, 10.30am-12 noon or 1.30pm-3pm

Storyteller Akuba visits the Mobile Library

Poet and performer Akuba also creates her own folktales. Her ancestors are from West Africa and her poetry has been performed at a special commemorative event in Ghana’s old slave fort Elmina Castle. Akuba has a fantastic way of inspiring children to draw out their own talents and get them joining in with confidence. Free tickets available from the Mobile Library.

Suitable for children aged 5+

11am-12 noon, behind City Road Primary School on Cavendish Road in Winson Green

Family Fun at Spring Hill Library

A day of amazing activities for all ages including a Treasure Hunt, face painting, craft and stories. Plus find out more about the Black Family Reading Project and join in with the online fun at Stories from the Web. Drop in at any time throughout the day. Free refreshments from 12 noon until 2pm.

11am-3.30pm

Storyteller Akuba

Poet and performer Akuba also creates her own folktales. Her ancestors are from West Africa and her poetry has been performed at a special commemorative event in Ghana’s old slave fort Elmina Castle. Akuba has a fantastic way of inspiring children to draw out their own talents and get them joining in with confidence.

Suitable for children aged 5+

Spring Hill Library, 2pm-3pm

Family Fun Day at Wylde Green Library

'Fairy Tales and Scary Tales' - A magical afternoon of stories and enchanting activities for all the family. Come along dressed in your favourite fantasy outfit.

1.30pm-4.30pm - Drop in artist workshop. Create fairy wings, magical models and more!

2pm-2.30pm - Magical tales for under 8s. (Please book a place).

3.30pm-4pm - Harry Potter and Beyond. Fantasy Fiction Quiz for children aged 8+.(Please book a place).

Contact Wylde Green Library on 0121 386 5492 to book a place for the quiz or stories. (Please note when telephoning that the library is only open on Tuesday afternoon, Saturday morning and Fridays). www.birmingham.gov.uk/wyldegreenlibrary

Susan Price at Centre for the Child

When food runs short, Elka and Daw are abandoned deep in the woods by their father. But with darkness, the wolves come… Susan Price is a Carnegie prize-winning author who blends history, folklore and science fiction to create crooked tales of time travel, chilling ghost stories and bewitching fantasy.

Suitable for children aged 8+

Centre for the Child in the Central Library, 11am-12 noon

Family Fun Day at Boldmere Library

Libraries are fun! Find out why at our Family Fun Day!

9.30am-10.15am - Meet author Meg Harper. Suitable for 6-9 year olds.

10.30am-11.15am - Another chance to meet author Meg Harper. Suitable for 6-9 year olds.

11.40am-12 noon - Mini Rhymes for children aged from 6 months to 5 years.

2pm-3pm - Meet author Susan Price. Suitable for 9+.

3.15pm-4pm - Stories and craft. Suitable for 3-6 year olds.

Plus face painting from 9am -12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm.

Meg Harper

Meg Harper writes books about school, hauntings and embarrassing mums. Meg will share a few tricks of the trade and reveal how a book is created in this interactive and entertaining session.

Suitable for 6-9 year olds

Boldmere Library, 9.30am-10.15am or 10.30am-11.15am

http://www.megharper.co.uk/

Susan Price

When food runs short, Elka and Daw are abandoned deep in the woods by their father. But with darkness, the wolves come… Susan Price is a Carnegie prizewinning author who blends history, folklore and science fiction to create crooked tales of time travel, chilling ghost stories and bewitching fantasy.

Suitable for children aged 9+

Boldmere Library, 2pm-3pm

www.susanprice.org.uk/spricemoodle

Storyteller Tom Phillips

Choose a picture from Tom the Tale Teller’s story stick and hear him bring it to life using props to draw his listeners in. Tom is a weaver of tales feeding your imagination with fairies and monsters, mystery and wonder. A great opportunity to experience enchanting tales in a truly atmospheric setting.

Suitable for family groups and children of all ages.

12.30pm-1.30pm at Sarehole Mill, Cole Bank Road, Hall Green, B13 OBD. Please note: This event will take place in the Courtyard and is free. Entry charges apply for people wishing to visit Sarehole Mill.

2.30pm-3.30pm at Soho House, Soho Avenue (off Soho Road) , Handsworth, B18 5LB. Please note: This event will take place in the Gardens and is free. Entry charges apply for people wishing to visit Soho House.

http://www.tomthetaleteller.webs.com/

Moqapi Selassie

Listen to a fantastic storyteller from the legendary Apples and Snakes - the UK's leading organisation for performance poetry. Join in with the fun as our intrepid wordsmith transports you on a magical journey wrapped in tantalising tales. A founder member of the New October Poets Society, Moqapi Selassie is also a DJ, dub poet and published writer.

Suitable for children of all ages and their families

11am-12 noon, Ward End Library

2pm-3pm, The Drum. Booking via The Drum Box office on 0121 333 2444. Admission free.

http://www.applesandsnakes.org/

Coleshill win gains national recognition

Right Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, centre, Dominic Ferro and his wife Louise
with children. Back centre, Adam Farrell and back right Chris Bain,
Chair of Coleshill and Water Orton Labour Party.

The shock election of Labour’s Dominic Ferro to North Warwickshire Council and the narrow loss by colleague Adam Farrell in the previously safe Conservative seat of Coleshill North has been acknowledged at a national level by a visit to the area from Shadow Cabinet Minister Liam Byrne MP.

Liam Byrne, who is the Shadow Secretary for Work and Pansions and before last May sat in the Cabinet, said, “The Labour win in Coleshill North resonated nationally. It rocked the Tory party in the ward where they have their national Campaign centre at Coleshill Hall and it showed Labour was winning again in middle England. Ed Milliband the Labour Leader asked me to come here to congratulate both of our candidates on their election result.”

Newly elected Councillor Dom Ferro, who topped the poll, said, “The people of Coleshill were angry because they were being ignored by the Conservatives who did a deal to sell off our Car Park, they are closing the Police Station and after promising to look again at the High Speed Railway, Conservative Ministers announced instead of cancelling it that they would build it even faster. People felt betrayed. The election of a Labour Council in North Warwickshire shows that Labour is winning the battle for middle England. I am proud to represent Coleshill and I will do my very best to serve them.”

If Adam Farrell had got another 17 votes he would have been at just 18 years old, the youngest Councillor in the country. Adam got 544 votes, being just beaten by Conservative Peter Fowler.

Adam says, “Of course, I was disappointed to so narrowly miss election, but I had such a wonderful time meeting people in Coleshill. I will definitely stand for council in the future.”

Summer Season @ The Drum

The Drum's summer season is just beginning, so take a look at the wide range of arts and entertainment that we have on offer this season. There's something for everyone, so check out what's happening in the next couple of weeks...

Fri 27 May, 10pm

£12 (£10), more on the door

Slum Village

Formed in the early 90s, it was their early producing collaboration with A Tribe Called Quest that propelled them into the limelight. Prepare yourself for a night of superior hip-hop from veterans of the genre. The night will begin with the B-boy Battle of the Titans featuring Little Tim vs Mouse with special guest judge Shabba Doo.

Sat 28 May, 1pm


£15


Shabba Doo Dance Masterclass


Shabba Doo starred as Ozone in the original dance flick, Breakdance: The Movie (1984). This is a unique opportunity to learn some moves from Shabba Doo while he makes a short stay in the UK.

Sat 28 May, 7.30pm


Admission free


Chalk Circle


Mixing styles such as streetdance, breaking and contemporary dance with traditional African forms, this new dance display, devised through a series of consultative workshops with local communities, is a centrepiece of Birmingham's Foster Care Fortnight. Followed by a post-show discussion about adoption and fostering and the Black community.

Thu 2 Jun, 2pm


Admission Free


Storytelling with Moqapi Selassie


Moqapi Selassie - a Black British born Rastafarian - explores his childhood experiences of inner-city life in the 1960s and 70s, with humour and thought-provoking commentary. A powerful, engaging performance for children by one of the country’s foremost dub poets.


Suitable for ages 6+

Summer Season @ The Drum

Fri 03 Jun, 7pm

£12 (£10), £15 on the door

Upfront Café presents Doc Brown, Jamie Howard, Axel the Entertainer and Dane J Baptiste

Join us for an energetic night of laughs featuring some of the best breakthrough talent emerging on the thriving urban comedy circuit, including sets from unique comedian-rapper Doc Brown (Comedy Rocks, ITV), ‘white but not right’ Jamie Howard, fast rising Axel Entertainer and Dane J Baptiste.

Thu 9, 7pm & Sun 12, 3pm & Sat 18 Jun, 2pm

£5 (£3) / £5 (£3) / Admission free

Faiz Ahmed Faiz centenary celebrations

Celebrate the birth of renowned Urdu and Punjabi poet, Faiz Ahmed Faiz with a documentary on his life on 9 Jun followed by a symposium on his poetry and politics on 12 Jun. Celebrations will culminate with a Mushaira at Birmingham Library Theatre on Sat 18 Jun featuring performances by local and international poets.

Fri 10 Jun
 
£7 (£5)
 
Me, Marley and I
 
Me, Marley and I is a vivid true story of brutal survival, true love and friendship during an African military revolution, told against a backdrop of live reggae music. In some situations standing up for what is right and fair can also mean walking a fine line between survival and obliteration. Gloriously funny and warm, this true story jolts sharply into focus the horror of living through a military uprising.

Fri 17 Jun

£8 (£6)

The Spiral

An inward spiral decays and dies, an outward spiral grows and thrives! This gripping piece of spoken word theatre dramatises a life-changing meeting between Glitzy – an emerging grime artist from North Birmingham and veteran dub poet and radical cultural activist Leroy ‘Steppin-Razor’ Ujima.

Summer Season @ The Drum

Happening Elsewhere...

Fri 10-Sat 18 Jun

£12-£28.50, concessions available

The Wiz

The Rep presents The Wiz, set in modern day Birmingham; an urban coming of age spectacular with fantastic soulful Motown classics like Ease On Down The Road. This musical promises to bring the audience to their feet and the house to its knees! Featuring Midlands’ X-Factor finalist Treyc Cohen as Dorothy. This show takes place at the New Alexandra Theatre.


Happening Elsewhere...

Thu 16 Jun, 10pm

£25, £35, £45, £55, £75*

Ravi Shankar @ Symphony Hall

Performer, composer, teacher and writer, Ravi Shankar, returns to Symphony Hall. Renowned for his pioneering work in bringing Indian music to the West, he is one of India’s most recognised and esteemed musical ambassadors. Tonight’s concert will be an evening of Ragas. The programme will be announced from the stage.

* Plus £2 fee per transaction on all bookings except purchases made in person at the Box Office.

Friends of The Drum


Friends of The Drum offers the perfect opportunity to get more involved with The Drum and to be a part of our dynamic and exciting future. The Drum relies on support from individuals to maintain and develop our extensive programme of work. Your generosity will enable us to continue to progress plans for a vibrant and exciting future. Membership entitles you to a wide range of benefits from discounts on tickets, to invitations to meet artists and our annual festive party. Join our Friends Scheme and be part of the shape of things to come.

Enjoy a meal or snack in our Café Bar. Frontiers serves delicious food and a wide range of drinks.

For more details and a menu call 0121 333 2412.

Box Office and Information: 0121 333 2444

The Drum - Europe's premier arts centre dedicated to presenting British African, Asian and Caribbean arts and cultural activities.

Been to the Drum recently? Want to be in with the chance of winning a pair of free tickets? Log on to http://www.the-drum.org.uk/ click the feedback tab and tell us what you think!

Birmingham Pride

Start Date: 28 May 2011 12:00 PM

End Date: 29 May 2011 11:59 PM

28 and 29 May

The Gay Village

Carnival Parade 28 May at 12 noon, Victoria Square

Free

One Love

Birmingham’s annual Pride festival returns to the Gay Village in Hurst Street over the spring bank holiday weekend.

The largest free lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) festival in the region starts with a carnival parade through the city centre at 12noon on Saturday 28 May. And this year’s theme is ‘One World, One Love, One Community’ reflecting the desire to include everyone, so expect some spectacular ‘loved up’ floats.

The area around Hurst Street will be closed to traffic for the Bank Holiday weekend and there will be lots of entertainment zones including a dance arena, cabaret marquee, funfair, community village green, plenty of market stalls and live performances.

Birmingham Pride is organised by the Birmingham Pride Committee, with support from Birmingham City Council and the many clubs, bars and businesses in the village area.

Tel: 0121 303 3008

http://www.birminghampride.com/

JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER TO PLAY ELGAR IN BIRMINGHAM

Music lovers can enjoy an Elgar masterpiece performed by one of the world's greatest cellists at Town Hall Birmingham on Wednesday, June 8.

Julian Lloyd Webber, who recently celebrated his 60th birthday, will be performing the Elgar cello concerto with the Town Hall's artists in residence Orchestra of the Swan.

His recording of the concerto, conducted by Yehudi Menuhin, won a Brit Award and was chosen as “the finest ever version” by BBC Music Magazine.

The afternoon concert, which also includes Brahms' symphony no2 and Vaughan Williams' Wasps overture, concludes another successful season for one of the the UK's most accessible orchestras.

Julian, who is Orchestra of the Swan's Associate Artist and President of its Honorary Council, is returning to the Town Hall following his acclaimed performance of the Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations with the orchestra in February.

David Curtis, Artistic Director of Orchestra of the Swan, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity to enjoy an Elgar classic performed by a musician that has almost made the work his own. It provides the perfect conclusion to our successful first season in association with Julian and we have further performances with him planned for 2011-12.”

Tickets are available priced from £6.50 to £19.50 by calling the Town Hall box office on 0121 780 3333 (www.thsh.co.uk). The concert start at 2.30pm. For more information about Orchestra of the Swan, please click on www.orchestraoftheswan.org

Summer Dhamaka - Featuring: Mangi Mahal, Miss Pooja, Sudesh Kumari, Harjit Marman, Prince Roshan, Aliya Qaiser, Neeru Bajwa, Narinder Jot + Amar Arshi - Wolverhampton Civic Hall: Sunday 28th August 2011

We are delighted to announce the feast of Punjabi talent that is Summer Dhamaka…

Miss Pooja

Miss Pooja is a Punjabi folk vocalist from India whose rise to fame has come at the right time. Not only has she inspired others to take up folk singing. But she is fast becoming a worldwide name who people want to work with.

She is now becoming the words on everyone's lips, a powerful singer that has shown the world and Bhangra industry that there still are genuine artists out there.

Miss Pooja was born as Gurinder Kaur Kainth on 4 December 1979. Before embarking on her professional singing career, she received a master's degree in music and worked as a music teacher in Patel Public School in Rajpura, India. She chooses "Miss Pooja" as her professional name because "Pooja" was her childhood nickname.

Miss Pooja has been singing her whole life. After earning a Masters in Music, she took the Bhangra scene in India by storm with her sweet yet powerful vocals. She later began recording duets with a number of artists. Once she had established herself on the Indian scene, Miss Pooja took her career to the UK where she continued to collaborate with some of the biggest names in Bhangra music.

Miss Pooja started her career with Darshan Khela and released the first album Jaan to Piyari, it was released in January 2006. Since then she has recorded duets with other artists on over 1500 songs and released over 300 albums. And this is very complicated work to gather all the albums of Miss Pooja on one place.

"Romantic Jatt" is her first solo album in which she has done an extra ordinary job by delivering her single voice and great new look.

Mangi Mahal

Mangi Mahal was born in Punjab with a magical true folk voice. Mangi gave many hits to this Punjabi music industry and adding more to his name.

Doors 6.30pm

Tickets priced £50.00 (V.I.P. Front Rows), £30.00 (Stalls) + £25.00 (Balcony) are available from Midland Box Office: 0870 320 7000 or online at http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk/

Interns wanted – Birmingham

Social Enterprise West Midlands is a business network for and about social enterprise. We have recently launched a range of new membership services and are looking for two highly motivated and proactive individuals to join our busy team. We provide membership packages, training and events, specialist consultancy, an online business directory, a sector magazine, event management and marketing services, advertising and sponsorship opportunities. Visit our website for more information: http://www.socialenterprisewm.org.uk/

We’re recruiting for…

1. Membership Services & Sales Intern - SEWM is a membership organisation and this is our core product offer. If you have an interest in or have studied customer service, customer relationship management, sales techniques and are motivated by driving value for our members then this may be the role for you.

2. Training & Events Intern - Income generated from organising and running high quality training events is fundamental to the success of our business. If you have an interest in training and events or have studied events management and organisation, business studies and sales techniques and are motivated by driving value for our members then this may be the role for you.

Because we can promise you that:

Working with us will open your eyes to a career path you never knew existed

We’ll work with you to make it a rich, rewarding and enjoyable experience 

You’ll be doing real work that is making a real contribution

Your areas of interest and strengths will be used to shape what you work on

ü You’ll thrive and shine in our small team

ü You’ll gain varied and interesting experience

ü A significantly enhanced CV

ü You won’t want to leave!

Initially this will be a 13 week full time (9.30am - 4.30pm) unpaid internship, with a £50 a week expenses allowance. However, there is an opportunity for these roles to develop into employment. The hours and salary will be as a direct result of the work and most importantly regular income that you are able to provide through your duties during the placement period. We need you to help us shape the future of our services and create the potential for permanent employment. Your future is in your hands!

How to apply...

Please send your CV to Melanie Mills at: m.mills@socialenterprisewm.org.uk by 11 June 2011.

Did you know…

Last Thursday, we launch our new Student Membership package at the Social Enterprise Mentor ‘Graduate Special’ networking event. We are offering students a reduced rate of only £25 a year (that’s under 50p a week!) for membership. Whether you would like to set up your own business, work or volunteer in the sector, or make social enterprises your preferred supplier of products and services, we can keep you informed and updated on the best ways to get started.

Join us now to start receiving your SEWM member benefits. You will receive

ü A weekly round-up of social enterprise news, events, blogs and job opportunities - sent straight to your inbox every Friday afternoon.

ü A free subscription to Se magazine - our quarterly publication packed full of topical articles, case studies and policy updates.

ü A SEWM Member logo to display on your website, blog, email signature or any promotional materials.

For more information about our new Student Offer, please see attached. Alternatively, call 0845 450 7515 or simply reply to this email.

Kind regards


The SEWM Team

Social Enterprise West Midlands

Suite 2, Trident Training Centre
1 Rake Way
Birmingham
B15 1EG

t 0845 450 7515


info@socialenterprisewm.org.uk

ww.socialenterprisewm.org.uk

LOCAL MAN MAKES THE FINAL OF NATIONAL TRADESMAN AWARD

From over 3,000 entries, local Birmingham builder Chris Hook (right) has been named as a finalist in a national competition organised by trade retailer Screwfix – and is now battling it out with nine other finalists from across the country to take home the national title and a brand new van.

A 52-year-old builder and electrician from Erdington, Chris was a teacher for 20 years when he was diagnosed with cancer. He knew he had to make a change to his life so Chris, who had always enjoyed DIY, took his training and eventually set up his own business in 2006.

Chris prides himself on his service, going above and beyond to ensure his customers are happy - even taking clients around specialist suppliers so that they can find better quality, value, products.

Chris explained: “I think it's important to help people learn themselves where possible - for example if someone just wants me to put a screw in the wall, I'll check whether they have their own tools and then we'll do it together so they know for the future.”

Chris, whose company is called The Yellow Dog Co, is now hoping to be crowned Britain’s Top Tradesman 2011 – and win a brand new van manufactured by Ford.

Chris added: “With so many entries to the competition, even making the final of Britain’s Top Tradesman is an honour. I’m just crossing my fingers that I impressed the judges!”

John Mewett, Marketing Director at Screwfix, said: “At Screwfix we meet hundreds of tradesmen every day in our trade counters and we understand how hard they work and the efforts they go to in order to get the job done to the highest standard, so it is great to be able to highlight the good work that is being done up and down the country with Britain’s Top Tradesman.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response and have enjoyed hearing some impressive stories of exceptional workmanship and great customer service along the way. Chris and all our finalists have demonstrated their willingness to go the extra mile to get the job done and it’s certainly no easy task to pick the winner.”

Chris was invited to Silverstone racecourse to meet the judging panel at the finalists’ day and was treated to a tour of the iconic race track.

The judging panel, which includes representatives from Screwfix, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) and the electrical trade body NICEIC will be announcing the national winner later in June.

Patient Support Group Day at QE Hospital - 07.06.11

Following the success of ‘Working Together’ - Patient Support Group Day on the 10th March, we are delighted to inform you that Birmingham LINk is teaming up with University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust to hold a second Support Group Day on the 7th June. It will run from 10.00am to 3.00pm inside the main foyer.George Kingsley


This event will showcase the work of different support groups across the region so they can provide easily accessible information to patients, carers and staff about support options available to them when they leave hospital. This should enable them to access better after-care and long-term support so they can continue to cope with their condition.

It will also a provide an opportunity for these support groups to interact with each other, share knowledge and develop ways of working together in the future. We hope to promote and develop better dialogue between support groups, especially those that offer support for similar typed conditions.

Birmingham LINk continues to empower patients so they can voice their concerns about the provision of health and social care services, whilst facilitating communication between the public and those in charge of delivering and commissioning these services. This event will give people an opportunity to learn more about LINk, and the planned changes to how your views will be represented over the coming months.

Date: Tuesday 7th June 2011

Venue: The Atrium, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham

Time: 10.00am – 3.00pm

Contact:



Community Outreach Officer – Birmingham LINk Host

Tel: 0121 456 7820 Mob: 0782 574 5774 Fax: 0121 454 9240

Radclyffe House, 66-68 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B16 8PF

DESIGN THE KEY TO SAFER HOMES AND STREETS, SAYS BARRATT WEST MIDLANDS

A street scene at Dovedale Park , Perry Common

We all want to live in places that are safe, secure and attractive – and today’s new home developments can help to encourage a sense of community and reduce the risk of crime.

That is the message from housebuilder Barratt West Midlands, which says it is now giving higher priority than ever before to development layout when creating new places to live.

Barratt carefully plans to achieve the correct balance between privacy and community, cars and pedestrians. Not only does getting the right balance encourage neighbourliness. It also discourages crime and anti-social behaviour.

“Our aim is to create safe, secure and attractive communities where people aspire to live, and design has a crucial role to play in that,” said Lisa Thacker, Sales Manager at Barratt West Midlands.

“We want to build friendly places to live, where people get to know their neighbours. Not only do thoughtful development layouts improve the quality of life for residents. They can also help to deter anti-social or even criminal behaviour.”

“For example, developments should be planned in a way that gives just as much priority to pedestrians as cars. The buildings and layout should create a neighbourhood that is easy to get around, whether you’re on foot or behind the wheel.”

“It helps surveillance if buildings overlook all public spaces, roads and footpaths. And good street lighting is also very important. Taken together, these tend to make both residents and visitors alike feel generally safer.”

Good design isn’t arrived at by accident. Barratt has its own Guide to Good Design which covers all aspects of site layout including exterior design, landscaping, roads, safety and security.

The company has also recently launched an in-house national design competition to further enhance the quality of its developments around the country.

Schemes are judged on a range of design criteria including:

• Do the buildings and layout make it easy to find your way around?

• Are the streets pedestrian, cycle and vehicle friendly?

• Are public spaces overlooked and do they feel safe?

“In recent years we have earned a reputation for the quality and design of our award-winning developments,” added Lisa. “Now we are aiming to raise the bar again.”

Barratt West Midlands is currently selling properties at the following developments in Birmingham :

Dovedale Park
Jackdaw Road
Perry Common
Birmingham
B23 5BP

Tel: 07717 864 322

Dovedale Park offers a single one-bedroom apartment priced at £118,950 and two- and three-bedroom houses priced from £145,950. The sales office is open from Wednesday to Monday from 10am to 5pm.

Kensington Gardens
Spring Road
Tyseley
B11 3DL

Tel: 0121 777 2589

Kensington Gardens offers a selection of two-bedroom apartments priced from £116,500 and six-bedroom houses priced from £225,000. The sales office is open daily from 10am to 5pm.

The Crescent
The Shardway
Shard End
Birmingham
B34 7AT

Tel: 0121 748 2638

The Crescent offers one-, two- and three-bedroom houses priced from £74,950. The sales office is open daily from 10am to 5pm.

For more information, please contact the sales office. Alternatively, please call the sales hotline on 0844 811 9933 open seven days a week from 8am to 9pm or log on to http://www.barratthomes.co.uk/

Barratt West Midlands has been confirmed as meriting the maximum five star official rating from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) for the second year in a row. The news was announced after more than 20,000 new home buyers across the country took part in this year’s HBF customer satisfaction survey.

Greater Birmingham visionary enters Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

2011 is the centenary of the Greater Birmingham Act (1911) which extended Birmingham’s boundaries so that it became undisputed the Second City in England. The pioneer town planner who championed the measure, John Sutton Nettlefold (1866-1930), is included in the latest edition of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, published on Thursday 26 May.

Michael James of Swansea University describes how Nettlefold joined the family screw-making business at Broad Street, Birmingham, and married into Birmingham’s political Chamberlain family. Elected in 1898 to Birmingham city council he chaired the newly created housing committee and played the dominant role in developing the city's housing policy. He pioneered ideas of low-density housing, with a plentiful supply of open spaces and adequate amenities, located on the outskirts of cities, but with good transport links to the town centre. He insisted that Greater Birmingham must result in ‘better Birmingham’ and ensured that the city was in the forefront of adopting town planning. Nettlefold’s political career ended in personal disappointment, and he disappeared into obscurity after losing his council seat in November 1911 – paradoxically, the month in which Birmingham’s new boundaries came into effect – but his town planning legacy remains.

Nettlefold joins over 1100 notable historic figures connected with Birmingham among the 57,768 people included in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. The Oxford DNB online is freely available in public libraries across the UK. Public libraries offer ‘remote access’, so that library members can log-in to and read the dictionary online—at home or anywhere, at any time.

For further details see http://www.oxforddnb.com/

Unwrapped Festival - showcasing the emerging writing talents of muslim women

Birmingham Repertory Theatre – UNWRAPPED

Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Ulfah Arts are proud to present an exciting festival of new writing taking place this month at mac birmingham.

Unwrapped festival has been inspired by the Government’s preventing violent extremism (PVE) strategy and its impact 10 years on from 9/11 but is a celebration of lesser heard stories and voices that depict real lives and truths of multicultural Britain. Join us to be challenged, entertained and involved, and to unwrap the truth from perception.

UNWRAPPED

26 – 28 May With readings of work by new female writers alongside pieces from a brand new play jointly written by three professional playwrights, Unwrapped festival is a creative response to some of the biggest questions of the last decade. Daytime offerings of debate, storytelling and workshops culminate in evening performances of delicate, self-reflective tales, people-centred drama and urgent exposes of a country shrouded by fears of faith, culture and extremism.

Evening performances cost £7 (£5 concessions), all other events are free, although advance booking to secure your place is recommended.

THURSDAY 26 MAY

4pm Panel discussion Arts & Faith: Faith labels in the arts – stereotyping or liberating?

6pm Short performance Many Tongues in the Holy Land by Roisin Murray.

7pm Evening performances Handled by Shaila Sharif, Away Day by Sharon Hosker and The Tiffin Box by Shaid Parveen, plus scenes from a new play by Fin Kennedy, Naylah Ahmed and Yusra Warsama.

8.30pm Post-show Q&A with Naylah Ahmed, Fin Kennedy & Yusra Warsama.

FRIDAY 27 MAY

1-3pm Workshop Investigative Playwriting with Fin Kennedy

4pm Panel discussion PVE, Politics & Islam: How can we get the experts out of their bubble?

7pm Evening performances To Hell With God by Sahin Kathawala, Ghost Girl by Jennifer Schofield, I’m Not Mad, I’m Just Not Normal by Amerah Saleh plus scenes from a new play by Naylah Ahmed, Fin Kennedy & Yusra Warsama.

8.30pm Post-show Q&A with Naylah Ahmed and Unwrapped writers

SATURDAY 28 MAY

10am, 12noon and 3pm Storytelling with Roisin Murray

1-3pm Workshop Creative Writing with Malika Booker

4pm Panel Discussion Art, Community & Participation: How can we promote access and grassroots work in the arts without the stigma?

7pm Evening performances The Inbetween by Shagufta K Iqbal, P.A.R.I.S by Subika Anwar, Troubled Times by Roisin Murray, Tool Down by Denese Clarke plus scenes from a new play by Naylah Ahmed, Fin Kennedy & Yusra Warsama

8.30pm Post-show Q&A with Unwrapped writers