WEDNESDAY 1 JUNE
Birmingham Improv Presents: Maestro 7.30pm
Birmingham Improv brings you ‘Maestro’, the exciting elimination improv game where anything can happen. Twelve intrepid improvisers face a series of scenes and challenges, for a night filled with cheer and laughter. The scenes are scored by you, the audience, until only one player remains…the Maestro. Come along and enjoy the ride, cheer for your favourite improviser, and see who will take the winning crown…. Free. Bucket collection if you enjoyed! See more at www.birminghamimprov.com
FRIDAY 3 JUNE
1000 Trades Presents: Eclectic Sessions 8pm–12am
A night celebrating the diverse nature of dance music. Featuring a mix of musical genres from classic house to chill out, via soul, jazz, hip-hop, funk, post-punk and broken beats. Featuring well known classics and modern unknowns from the likes of Salsoul/ Philadelphia International/ Compost Records/ K7/ Strictly Rhythm/ Acid Jazz/ Tru Thoughts/ Grand Central/ BBE/ Alice Russell/ Jazzanova/ Atjazz/ Quantic/ Kaytranada/ BB&Q/4 Hero/Ben Westbeech/Masters at Work/ Pete Rock/ Rae & Christian/ The Milk/ Donald Byrd/ Smoove & Turrell/ Chic/ The Pendletons/ Cameo/ Cymande/ SOS Band/ Children of Zeus/ Amp Fiddler/ Yazmin Lacey + many more. With DJ Greg. Free
SATERDAY 4 JUNE
1000 Trades Summer Party 12pm-2am
Here we go again.. It’s only another rip snorting rager of an all-day Summer Party, all in honour of our 5th Birthday complete with Street BBQ, taps taken over by local breweries, ping pong and the best bit – free entry. Line-up:- Eclectic Sessions w/ DJ Greg 1-3pm (everything under the soul & disco sun)- DJ Rob 3-5pm (deep disco and lounge sex house) – POPGANG Live! 5-6pm Stroud’s finest 80s sycophants – NowHam w/ DJ Drive 6-8.30pm (credible 80s) – Disco Sucks w/ Nige 8.30-10.30pm (disco basically) – Jazz In The House w/ DJ Stapes 10.30-midnight (Phil Asher Tribute Set) – Dan Monkman midnight-2am (DIY mumbo jumbo) (classic 80s 90s deep house). See you there!
WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE – SATURDAY 30 JULY
1000 Trades Presents: Blu Magic
From 8 June, our small but perfectly formed kitchen will be showcasing some of Birmingham’s finest food traders and restaurateurs with bi-monthly residencies, bringing you a taste of the second city’s thriving food scene.
First to take over the reins is previous incumbent Blu Magic, founded by Birmingham-based chef Matthew Knight cooking up delicious plates with a Caribbean twist – fusing the great flavours the Caribbean has to offer with influences and tastes from around the world. Last time Matthew wowed us with his creativity and quality, and we’re really looking forward to him bringing it home again. Expect small and large plates loaded with flavour; 24hr marinated jerk rump steak with fried baby crab claw or sticky steamed Asian baos with fried plantain, avocado and Feta Cheese. Mississippi fried chicken and crayfish curry to mango and passionfruit cheesecake. Serving weekday evenings from 5pm and all day Saturdays.
WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE
Birmingham Improv Presents: Maestro 7.30pm Birmingham Improv brings you ‘Maestro’, the exciting elimination improv game where anything can happen. Twelve intrepid improvisers face a series of scenes and challenges, for a night filled with cheer and laughter. The scenes are scored by you, the audience, until only one player remains…the Maestro. Come along and enjoy the ride, cheer for your favourite improviser, and see who will take the winning crown…. Free. Bucket collection if you enjoyed! See more at www.birminghamimprov.com
THURSDAY 9 JUNE
Kamikaze Club Open Mic 7.30–10.30pm
The Kamikaze Club return for another Open Mic comedy session on a new regular Thursday night slot (third of each month). Fresh acts looking for a spot, as well as pros looking to shine up their material will be on hand to keep hilarity at a high. Free. More details via facebook.com/TheKamikazeClub
FRIDAY 10 JUNE
Birmingham Jazz Presents: Matt Carmichael Quartet 7.45pm
Welcomed as ‘a distinctive new voice in a crowded scene’ by BBC Music Magazine when he released his first album, Where Will the River Flow in March 2021, saxophonist Matt Carmichael has been making a big impression on audiences since he emerged on the Scottish jazz scene as a teenager with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland. Internationally regarded Scottish saxophonist Tommy Smith recognised Matt’s potential early, inviting him to join his own youth jazz orchestra, and has described Matt as “better than I was at that age.”Matt formed his quartet with multi-award-winning quartet in 2016. Their well-established teamwork was a feature of Where Will the River Flow and aligned with Matt’s expressive, forthright leadership it has earned them appearances at Ronnie Scott’s and festivals across the UK. The album has been ‘longlisted’ for the Scottish Album of the Year Award 2021 and recently, fiddler and BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2017 Charlie Stewart has added an extra dimension to the band and underlined its music’s appealing Scottish lilt. £12.50/ £10 members/ £5 students. Tickets via birminghamjazz.co.uk (more on the door)
FRIDAY 10 JUNE
1000 Trades Presents: Eclectic Sessions 8pm–12am
A night celebrating the diverse nature of dance music. Featuring a mix of musical genres from classic house to chill out, via soul, jazz, hip-hop, funk, post-punk and broken beats. Featuring well known classics and modern unknowns from the likes of Salsoul/ Philadelphia International/ Compost Records/ K7/ Strictly Rhythm/ Acid Jazz/ Tru Thoughts/ Grand Central/ BBE/ Alice Russell/ Jazzanova/ Atjazz/ Quantic/ Kaytranada/ BB&Q/4 Hero/Ben Westbeech/Masters at Work/ Pete Rock/ Rae & Christian/ The Milk/ Donald Byrd/ Smoove & Turrell/ Chic/ The Pendletons/ Cameo/ Cymande/ SOS Band/ Children of Zeus/ Amp Fiddler/ Yazmin Lacey + many more. With DJ Greg. Free
SATURDAY 11 JUNE
Downtempo Disco 8pm–12am Ever-popular monthly bringing you the sweetest disco edits, soul cut-ups and cutting edge deep house, brought to you by the inimitable Simon Tricklebank and Dan Farrell. Free
WEDNESDAY 15 JUNE
Birmingham Improv Presents: Maestro 7.30pm Birmingham Improv brings you ‘Maestro’, the exciting elimination improv game where anything can happen. Twelve intrepid improvisers face a series of scenes and challenges, for a night filled with cheer and laughter. The scenes are scored by you, the audience, until only one player remains…the Maestro. Come along and enjoy the ride, cheer for your favourite improviser, and see who will take the winning crown…. Free. Bucket collection if you enjoyed! See more at www.birminghamimprov.com
FRIDAY 17 JUNE
Birmingham Jazz Presents: Zoetic 7.45pm
Introducing Zoetic, a new project from award-winning composer and trumpet player, Chris Batchelor. Renowned for his melodic and warmly lyrical trumpet playing, Chris Batchelor has been composing music for almost as long as he’s been performing. Winner of the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Composers, this new ensemble sees Batchelor further honing and distilling the approach he established in his writing for Loose Tubes and Big Air.
Batchelor’s distinctive compositions for Zoetic are the outcome of his long-lasting immersion in a wide range of music in London’s varied scene, from East African guitar band grooves to echoes of wistful European folk themes and sinuous lines reminiscent of Arabic music. Add the influence of Batchelor’s original voice throughout and you have a rich source of inspiration for this exceptional group of musicians… £12.50/ £10 members/ £5 students. Tickets via birminghamjazz.co.uk (more on the door)
SATURDAY 18 JUNE
1000 Trades Presents: Bargain Bin Soul 8pm–12am
Geeburd digs out a selection of life-long favourite club classics. Obscure floor-fillers salvaged from the bargain bins, from electric boogie and street soul to latin freestyle, new jack swing and beyond. Featuring the likes of Aurra/ BB&Q Band/ Cameo/ Candido/ Change/ Cherrelle/ Chic/ Colonel Abrams/ Debbie Deb/ D-Train/ Fatback Band/ First Choice/ Gap Band/ Glenn Jones/ Guy/ Gwen Guthrie/ Gwen McCrae/ India/ Inner Life/ Jam and Lewis Productions/ Johnny O/ Joyce Sims/ Kashif/ Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam/ Loose Ends/ Luther Vandross/ Mary Jane Girls/ Melba Moore/ Midnight Star/ Noel/ Odyssey/ Patrice Rushen/ Prince and the Revolution/ Ready For The World/ Serious Intention/ SOS Band/ Stacy Lattishaw/ Stevie B/ Sybil/ Teena Marie/ The System/ The Time/ Today/ Unlimited Touch/ Vaughan Mason/ Whispers. With Geeburd (NowHam). Free. See Facebook events page for more
WEDNESDAY 22 JUNE
Birmingham Improv Presents: Maestro 7.30pm Birmingham Improv brings you ‘Maestro’, the exciting elimination improv game where anything can happen. Twelve intrepid improvisers face a series of scenes and challenges, for a night filled with cheer and laughter. The scenes are scored by you, the audience, until only one player remains…the Maestro. Come along and enjoy the ride, cheer for your favourite improviser, and see who will take the winning crown….
Free. Bucket collection if you enjoyed! See more at
FRIDAY 24 JUNE
Birmingham Jazz Presents: Nick-Costley White Quartet 7.45pm
Nick is one of the most in demand guitarists on the UK jazz scene, renowned for a deep understanding of the jazz tradition and repertoire, alongside a virtuosic technique and progressive approach to improvising. Nick is lucky enough to have performed with some of the most renowned jazz musicians in the country including Martin Speake, Stan Sulzmann, Gareth Lockrane, Lewis Wright, Steve Fishwick, Brandon Allen, Jeff Williams and Asaf Sirkis. Nick performs extensively throughout the UK as well as touring in Europe, Australia, China and South America. Nick has also contributed to over a dozen studio albums as a sideman with a variety of jazz groups. Upon graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2011 Nick was awarded the Yamaha Scholarship for Outstanding Jazz Musicians…. £12.50/ £10 members/ £5 students. Tickets via birminghamjazz.co.uk (more on the door)
FRIDAY 24 JUNE
1000 Trades Presents: Eclectic Sessions 8pm–12am
A night celebrating the diverse nature of dance music. Featuring a mix of musical genres from classic house to chill out, via soul, jazz, hip-hop, funk, post-punk and broken beats. Featuring well known classics and modern unknowns from the likes of Salsoul/ Philadelphia International/ Compost Records/ K7/ Strictly Rhythm/ Acid Jazz/ Tru Thoughts/ Grand Central/ BBE/ Alice Russell/ Jazzanova/ Atjazz/ Quantic/ Kaytranada/ BB&Q/4 Hero/Ben Westbeech/Masters at Work/ Pete Rock/ Rae & Christian/ The Milk/ Donald Byrd/ Smoove & Turrell/ Chic/ The Pendletons/ Cameo/ Cymande/ SOS Band/ Children of Zeus/ Amp Fiddler/ Yazmin Lacey + many more. With DJ Greg. Free
SATURDAY 25 JUNE
NOW HAM: A Night of Credible 80s 8pm–12am
Bannish Banarama, Kybosh Kylie and Erase Europe ….our monthly night dedicated to proper music from the most underrated decade since the last one. Featuring the likes of Japan/ Talk Talk/ Scritti Politti/ Vissage/ Bauhaus/ Haircut 100/ King/ Depeche Mode/ Orange Juice/ The Chameleons/ China Crisis/ The The/ Aztec Camera/ The Associates/ The Cure/ Tom Tom Club/ Lotus Eaters/ Heaven 17/ New Order/ Prefab Sprout/ Talking Heads/ Altered Images/ The Teardrop Explodes/ Tears for Fears/ Art of Noise/ Simple Minds – amongst many others.
With Coughing Pigeon DJs. Free. See Facebook events page for more details.
WEDNESDAY 29 JUNE
Birmingham Improv Presents: Maestro 7.30pm Birmingham Improv brings you ‘Maestro’, the exciting elimination improv game where anything can happen. Twelve intrepid improvisers face a series of scenes and challenges, for a night filled with cheer and laughter. The scenes are scored by you, the audience, until only one player remains…the Maestro. Come along and enjoy the ride, cheer for your favourite improviser, and see who will take the winning crown….
Free. Bucket collection if you enjoyed!