About Brum

News of two tasty little events – the second of which I’m particularly excited about. But first, to West Bromwich – and to a comedy competition!

The Public’s suffered from more than a little derision and criticism since it opened (“that big, hugely expensive building in the middle of West Brom which nobody bothers to go to” being heard when it first opened) but perhaps that’s being just a smidgen too cruel. It’s a good venue and exhibition space, receiving support and interest from people across the spectrum, and… Well, it’s nearby, isn’t it?

To their credit, the venue’s operators Sandwell City Council (plus exhibitors and event promoters) have continued to back the venue and their hard work (and cold hard cash) is paying dividends. Not only do we currently have the excellent Home of Metal exhibition – their Weekender, from the 1st to the 4th of September looks like a cracking little visit, particularly given we’re nestled in the very black heart of British Heavy Metal (home to the Heavy Metal Records record label no less!), there’s all kinds of fringe arts, culture and entertainment events on regular rotation.

Most recently, The Public’s announced a comedy showcase – culminating in ten comics being given ten minutes to perform in front of a heckling, drinking audience AND the winner taking home £100 in genu-wine Bank of England tenners. Pays the bar tab, if nothing else. The competition’s been called “Starter for Ten” – and also heralds the return (hurray!) of regular comedy nights at The Public into and through the autumn months. The winner of the competition gets to be the visiting comedians’ support gig – lesser men would be intimidated, but I KNOW there are some really funny comics in the Midlands. Perhaps I should get my arse over there to check this out.

Begin shameless quote from press release;

“The Public’s comedy showcase is a great way to celebrate the outstanding talent the region has to offer and will provide amateur comics a fantastic opportunity to perform alongside touring comedians.”

Linda Saunders, Managing Director of The Public

Comics wishing to enter the competition should email a promo video or links to online content to comedy@thepublic.com, together with an application form available from www.thepublic.com [the direct link is http://www.thepublic.com/events/calling-all-budding-comedians -- Chris].  Deadline for entries is Friday 26 August 2011.  For terms and conditions visit thepublic.com; for more info about events at The Public you can call 0121 533 7161.

Also, Soweto Kinch is back in town! 2011′s Flyover Show – the fourth instalment of what’s arguably one of the coolest urban gatherings in the Midlands – is going to be BIG. He’s only gone and booked some Wolverhampton unknown who goes by the name of “Goldie” to headline this year! Soweto explains:

How cool is that lineup! I’ll shamelessly quote from 69 Degrees, in case you haven’t already read:

Between Soho Road and Great Hampton Street, Birmingham, there’s the Hockley Flyover. Nothing too exciting about that, I bet you’re thinking. But on 20th August, below this generic grey stretch of road, will be transformed into an arena of creativity and will play host to some of the most iconic contributors to Black British and Urban Culture.

Drum & Bass legend Goldie and MOBO award winning UK rapper Akala, among others, are set to continue to defy stereotypes, featuring alongside graffiti artists, comedy acts, and theatre and dance work next month.

The fourth year of the free event promises to be thought provoking, challenging and entertaining, whilst proving that communities associated with negative headlines can stage the highest of artistic expression.

The Flyover Show 2011 will be held from 12:30 – 9pm on Saturday 20th August.

For more information and updates join them on Facebook or follow on Twitter. [Chris -- also follow @SowetoKinch!]
www.facebook.com/flyovershow

FLYER TIME! Click on it for the full-size version…

Given the weather we’ve already had this year it should be bloody brilliant. See you there then?

Roll up, roll up – it’s the shiny new About Brum podcast, replete with delicious podcasty goodness and compatible with all half-decent media players and devices.

The inaugural episode features Nick Booth of Podnosh and Birmingham Social Media Surgery fame! Also, Birmingham- or West Midlands-based band? Get your music featured on the next instalment… Contact me for more details.

Click here to download the podcast's audio file

Links to articles mentioned in podcast:

http://www.paradisecircus.com
Nick Booth: PodNosh.com
Nick Booth: BeVocal – Acock’s Green SMS

Intro music for this episode: Advantage – Never Say Never

If you think you deserve to be featured in a future podcast, get in touch - I look forward to hearing from you!

A short and sweet entry this time for the end of July. If you missed “Centre of our World”, the six-part insight into Birmingham’s diverse ethnic communities written and presented by Birmingham’s very own Professor Carl Chinn, Radio 4 are currently repeating the series every day this week at 3:45pm. Starting with Birmingham’s Irish community, the programes move onto the Polish, Yemeni, Chinese and Greek Cypriot communities over the course of the shows. At 15 minutes long, the programmes are just right to ‘dip into’ – so go take a listen.

If you missed the first three episodes, you can listen to them for the next few days on iPlayer.

It’s not just canals coming out of the Black Country these days, we have some superheroes all of our own too. Employing the talents of Matthew Craig, Donato’s bringing the Bostin Heroes to the world – and he’ll be on the radio on Sunday to talk about it. From the Brum Mail article about the idea; 

“It will be a Midlands-themed comic, aimed at a broad audience, but anchored in familiar landmarks, such as Dudley Castle and the Bullring.

“Over the coming weeks, teaser images and background material will appear on the website, gradually introducing the characters and their world, in advance of the launch of the ongoing strip.

“I am hoping that it will capture the public’s imagination as there is a hero inside all of us.”

The strip will be written by Matthew Craig, aged 32, from Perry Barr, and illustrated by Jack Davies, 20, from Sutton Coldfield. Matthew, a former molecular biologist, and Jack, who has been drawing since the age of four, have both been tipped as Britain’s next big comic book creators.

…and From Mister Bostin himself:

You’ll be pleased to hear that i will be on BBC WM this Sunday 27th at 2pm ish on Carl Chinn’s show to talk in more detail about the comic and some of the stories that will be unfolding.

If you are not in the UK you can listen to all BBC WM shows live or on play again at hCarl Chinn’s BBC Birmingham feature page along with details how to message Carl at this page too.

If you want to see the comic and meet the team behind it, they’ll both be at the Birmingham International Comics Show this October.

Image credits: Birmingham Mail and Bostin Group