CONTENTS

4 - 63 EVERY FESTIVAL in 2020* 6 OF THE BEST PLACES YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK OUT IN BIRMINGHAM 6 PARKS & WALKS 14 BARS 24 PLACES TO EAT PART ONE 36 MUSIC VENUES 46 MUSEUMS 50 PLACES TO EAT PART TWO

64 INDEX BY CATEGORY 68 CREDITS

* IT IS JUST POSSIBLE THAT WE'VE MISSED ONE OR TWO. SEE BIRMINGHAMFESTIVALS.COM FOR UPDATES. ii 1 WELCOMEWELCOME

“Life is a festival only to the wise” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

2 3 Chinese New Year First Bite & Bite Size JANUARY 18 bit.ly/1stBite2020 MAC Birmingham & Warwick Arts Centre Bite Size and its sister festival First Bite exist to develop and showcase new work from the Midlands. The activity runs across four public events and includes a fully supported commissioning process for three regional theatre makers. Ideas of Noise JANUARY 23 – FEBRUARY 9 bit.ly/IDNoise2020 Birmingham, Stourbridge and Coventry Arts and Science Festival Contemporary classical performance rubs shoulders with electronica, visual art and Arts & film. This edition of Ideas of Noise spreads Science Festival its programme of cutting edge music, art JAN 2020 - MAY 2020 and interactive events across Birmingham, bit.ly/ArtsnScience2020 Stourbridge and Coventry. JANUARY Various venues across Birmingham Birmingham University’s annual Chinese New Year celebration of research, culture and JANUARY 24–26 collaboration - on and beyond its bit.ly/YearoftheRat2020 Edgbaston campus - is currently Southside, Birmingham showcasing the launch of the University’s Welcome in the Year of the Rat at new Green Heart parkland. Its spring Birmingham’s annual Chinatown gathering, programme sees thinkers, makers and the UK’s largest celebration of the lunar doers engage with the theme ‘Hope’. new year outside London.

4 5 Clent Hills Sandwell Valley Country Park 6 of the best... A half-hour bike ride along the Birmingham Canal is another major urban park, its charms only slightly mitigated by the M5 running right through it. Thanks to the acres of green, large play park and restored working farm, this is a hugely popular spot PARKSPARKS ANDAND for Black Country families on a sunny day. Clent Hills Like the Lickeys, an established Earlswood Lakes destination for Brummies seeking a brief taste of oxygen. Unlike the Lickeys, 400 WWALKSALKS acres of land offers you plenty of different walking routes and some great views. The Two regularly recycled semi-facts about Birmingham: more canals than Venice, and cafe in the car park does a decent bacon more trees than Paris. Although the city may lack for waterfronts or dramatic views, it sandwich, and there’s a nice ‘natural play’ has no shortage of lovely options if you’re looking to work off a hangover or a big meal. area in the woods nearby, Sutton Park Sutton Park A two-mile circuit of the reservoir runs the One of Europe’s gamut from picturesque to sketchy. If you’re largest urban parks, on the Tolkien trail, beyond the eastern this place stretches shore you can find Perrott’s Folly and the for miles and includes Waterworks Tower - supposedly inspiration several ponds, cycle for the ‘Two Towers’. trails, footpaths and Earlswood Lakes a donkey sanctuary. The Canals In the outer reaches One of the best spots for a Sunday stroll and From Edgbaston reservoir you can sally forth there’s also a good a bit of bird-watching is at Earlswood, a few into the Black Country or take the towpath chance you’ll bump minutes south of the city centre on the train back into town and explore the Jewellery into a wild pony. and also connected to the canal network. Quarter, Digbeth or the leafier stretches Music pilgrims might want to continue across out towards the University. For cyclists or the M42 to Tanworth-in-Arden, childhood walkers these hidden arteries are a brilliant home and last resting place of Nick Drake. way to sample the city.

6 7 B-Side A6 Advert.qxp_Layout 1 28/01/2020 12:48 Page 1

Great British Beer Festival Winter

FEBRUARY Winter beer, ethical porn, podcasts and spoken word

8 FEBRUARY Birmingham Swing Festival Verve Poetry and Spoken Word Festival PodUK 2020 FEBRUARY 1 bit.ly/PODUK2020 Millenium Point Calling itself the ‘Comic Con’ of the Podcasting world, PodUK is a one-day celebration of UK podcasting with panels, Birmingham Swing Festival Q&As and workshops covering everything from podcast creation to fandom culture. FEBRUARY 7–9 bit.ly/BSwing2020 Students’ Union, Sports Aston, LGBTQ History Festival Verve Poetry Great British Beer Festival School Sports Centre FEBRUARY 20–23 & Spoken Word Festival Centered upon the Aston Triangle, bit.ly/LGBTQHis2020 Birmingham Swing Festival invite you to FEBRUARY 20–23 The Gas Hall, BM&AG, Nightingale Club join them as they continue their mission bit.ly/VervePoetry2020 to bring the best of swing dance and swing A long weekend of queer cinema, talks Patrick Studio music to Birmingham. and workshops under the theme ‘Looking Winner of a Saboteur Award in 2019, Verve Back, Moving Forward’, exploring how is this year moving to a new home at the Bean Flicks: previous generations’ LGBTQ+ activism Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio. The programme and empowerment can help to shape the embraces award-winning poets and local Ethical, Feminist Porn Festival way we approach the future. legends, spoken word artists, open mic nights Great British Beer Festival Winter FEBRUARY 14–15 and workshops pitched at all levels. FEBRUARY 4–8 bit.ly/BeanFlicks2020 Birmingham International bit.ly/GBBFW2020 Centrala, Digbeth Recorder and Early Music Festival Perfectly timed for Valentine’s Day, The New Bingley Hall FEBRUARY 20–22 For the first time ever, beer lovers’ Birmingham’s first ethical, feminist, queer bit.ly/IntlRecorder2020 and kink-positive porn festival. A packed line organisation CAMRA Birmingham are Royal Birmingham Conservatoire up of sex and porn researchers, performers, hosting the Great British Beer Festival Now on its third outing, this annual Winter. Beers of every style and shade will artists, activists and creators will lead a programme of discussions and screenings. ‘recorderfest’ combines professional concerts be imbibable, served from cask, keg and with demonstrations and participatory bottle. Ciders and spirits also available. events, alongside an early music market.

10 11 Birmingham Running Festival Sutton Coldfield Book Fest FEBRUARY 22 FEBRUARY 29 bit.ly/RunBham2020 bit.ly/SCBFest2020 Sutton Park Sutton Coldfield venues Returning to Sutton Park for a second year, Join beloved children’s authors Jacqueline Birmingham Running Festival provides Wilson and Nick Sharratt amongst others, to attendees with options to suit both keen discover books and enjoy interactive storytelling joggers and aspiring endurance runners with fun at this popular event for under-12s. 5k, 10k and Half Marathon courses on offer. Kebabingham Festival BEASTdome Mini Festival FEBRUARY 29 FEBRUARY 27 bit.ly/Doner2020 bit.ly/BEASTDome2020 Mutt Motorcycle Company, Digbeth Birmingham University & BOM Generally encountered wandering the city A taster for the BEAST FEaST (p25), streets in the hours between clubbing and highlights of this mini-festival include bass bedtime, Taste & Liquor assemble the best singer Nicholas Isherwood (known for his in the business to drag doner and falafel performance as Lucifer in Stockhausen’s into the daylight. T&L run various street Licht series), and the composer and food pop-ups in Digbeth throughout the instrument builder Dirk Johan Stromberg. year - see their website for details.

BEASTdome Mini Festival

12 13 Tilt Dig Brew 6 of the best... 43 River St, Digbeth B5 5SA - open Thurs-Sat Like many other tap-room bars (see also Rock & Roll, Glasshouse, Burning Soul, Attic), Dig Brew has limited opening hours but is well worth a walk into Digbeth - especially now that they’ve upgraded their food offer with PUBSPUBS ANDAND weirdly medieval-themed pizzeria Dough. BBARSARS Dig Brew After a period in the doldrums, Birmingham’s ‘beernaissance’ (sorry) shows no sign of abating. Supported by plentiful small brewers capitalising on the excellent water Tilt (hijacked from Wales in the 1890s by Joseph Chamberlain), the city offers a good mix City Arcade, Birmingham B2 4TX of cosy, traditional pubs and craft-beer hang-outs. Activity bars sprang up everywhere in 2019, with drinking now possible in tandem with mini-golf, darts, baseball, Cork & Cage Bartons Arms 1373 Pershore Rd, Stirchley B30 2JR 144 High St, Aston B6 4UP shuffleboard, pingpong and probably base- jumping before too long. This city-centre Dotted along this unpromising stretch of the A grande dame of the pinball haunt predates all of them, and Pershore Road you can now find a bounty city’s pub scene, back distinguishes itself with a superior range of of independent eating and drinking options. in the day this place beers and a handy location. Offering a good range of beers alongside provided lodgings for middle Eastern nibbles, this place hits the the likes of Charlie spot for us. Chaplin, Marie Lloyd 1000 Trades and Laurel and Hardy. 16 Frederick St, Jewellery Quarter B1 3HE Its arts-and-crafts Winner of an Observer award in 2019, The Old Moseley Arms tiling and stained 1000 Trades has built a reputation 53 Tindal Street, Balsall Heath B12 9QU glass are beautifully with regular kitchen residencies and a One of the city’s finest back-street boozers preserved, and the busy calendar of music and events. The got even better a few years ago when they Thai food is excellent. Red Lion round the corner merits an started serving tasty, reasonably-priced honourable mention for Bathams on draft curries. In general there is just something Bartons Arms and excellent Sunday roasts. womb-like and wonderful about the Old Mo. 14 15 St Patrick’s Day Festival

MARCH Podcasts, queer film, Irish culture and vegan food

16 Punkt Birmingham MARCH MARCH 18–20 bit.ly/Punkt2020 Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Whisky Birmingham St Patrick’s Day Festival Since 2005 an annual pilgrimage to MARCH 7 MARCH 15 Kristiansand in Norway has become a bit.ly/BhamWhisky2020 bit.ly/StPats2020 fixture for adventurous music lovers. This The Bond, Digbeth Digbeth collaboration between Punkt, UK based Featuring major whisky brands, Drawing up to 100,000 people from across artists and BCU presents a rare opportunity independent bottlers, local experts, the globe for its live stages and parade - to enjoy Punkt outside Adger County, Norway. creative masterclasses, music and street one of the largest in Europe - Birmingham’s food. The city’s largest whisky festival St Patrick’s Festival celebrates the cream returns for its eighth year. of Irish music, dance and heritage. Birmingham Vegan Festival Birmingham Vegan Festival MARCH 28 bit.ly/VeganFest2020 Edgbaston Stadium Peruse over ninety all-vegan stalls selling food and drink, clothes, accessories and cosmetics. Also includes guest talks and CineQ Queer Film Festival documentary screenings about how food CineQ Queer Film Festival choices affect the environment, health and MARCH 26–29 animal welfare. bit.ly/CineQ2020 MAC, BOM, Mockingbird Podfest Birmingham After a successful first edition in MARCH 28–29 2019 CineQ returns with an expanded bit.ly/Podfest2020 programme, with a focus on films by and Town Hall for queer, intersex and trans people of Look on as podcast hosts bring their colour. Events lined up include a screening expertise to the stage in a series of live of Marlon T. Riggs’ Tongues Untied with a shows. Performers include Drunk Women curated dining experience. Solving Crime, Films to be Buried With and St Patrick’s Day Festival Table Manners with Jessie Ware. 18 19 v

BEAST FEaST

Discover & Explore Birmingham Museums Birmingham has one of the best civic museum collections of any city in , all housed in nine wonderful locations. APRILAPRIL Black literature, experimental sound, gin and gaming

Funded by: 20 birminghammuseums.org.uk

BMT Discover and Explore_A6 Advert_105x148mm.indd 1 29/01/2020 14:32 Insomnia Gaming Festival Noise Not Music Festival Vaisakhi APRILAPRIL APRIL 10–13 APRIL 24–25 APRIL 26 bit.ly/IGFest2020 bit.ly/NotMusic2020 bit.ly/Vaisakhi2020 NEC Castle & Falcon, Balsall Heath Featuring a LAN party for over 2800 This year’s seriously heavy line-up Each year thousands gather in Handsworth gamers, massive stages showcasing gaming includes: Discharge, Varukers, Extreme Park for this landmark event in the Sikh and esports content, community-led games Noise Terror, Icons of Filth, Billyclub, Cress, calendar, preceded by two processions tournaments, tech experiences, and meet & DSA, Warwound, Abominate and Social from Hockley and Smethwick. greets from the biggest Youtubers, Insomnia Insecurity. is back for its sixty sixth festival. The Gin To My Tonic Festival Birmingham Wine Weekend APRIL 24 APRIL 24–26 bit.ly/G2T2020 bit.ly/BWine2020 , Digbeth Venues across central Birmingham Bringing together over 100 different Birmingham’s annual long weekend offering gins from across the UK and beyond, an infinite variety of wines in bars across this Gin to my Tonic focuses upon the city centre returns. Purchasing a craftsmanship, flavour and enjoyable wristband gains access to a taster glass of drinking experiences. 35ml serves come Ten Acres of Sound premium wine, wine cocktail, or wine and as standard. canapé pairing at each participating venue. Ten Acres of Sound Black British Book Festival Vaisakhi APRIL 10 – MAY 3 bit.ly/10Acres2020 APRIL 25 bit.ly/BBBF2020 BEAST FEaST Venues across Stirchley Legacy Centre of Excellence, Newtown APRIL 30 – MAY 2 Located in the people’s republic of The Black British Book Festival is Europe’s bit.ly/BEASTFeast2020 Stirchley, this new three week showcase biggest black literature festival. It delights University of Birmingham of experimental sound production falls in foregrounding and celebrating black Exploring ideas about optimism, reconciliation somewhere in the venn diagram between authors working across all genres. and restoration, in 2020 this electronic and avant-garde concert series, site-specific electroacoustic festival celebrates music’s exhibition and village fete. The focus is ability to bring people together. Featured on sustainability and the co-existence of artists include: Beatriz Ferreyra, Hans humanity, nature and technology. Tutschku, Heather Roche, Eva Zöllner, Simon Birmingham Wine Weekend Emmerson and Christopher Fox. 22 23 Original Patty Men The Merry Maid 6 OF THE BEST... 9 Shaw’s Passage, Digbeth B5 5JG 263 Moseley Rd, Highgate B12 0EA When it comes to burger wars it’s more of ‘Desi pubs’ are an Anglo-Asian hybrid a two-horse race. While you’ll find plenty where old-school alehouse meets Punjabi declaring their love for Meatshack, our cuisine. Although more of a thing in the grubby Digbeth hearts cannot look beyond Black Country, Birmingham does boast a their fellow street-food stalwarts on the other few including this agreeably no-nonsense PLACESPLACES side of the tracks. OPM offers occasionally example on the 50 route. wacky specials alongside reliable staples, with sister bar Kilder just next door. Milan Sweet Centre 191 Stoney Lane, Balsall Heath B12 8HB PART ONE OPM TOTO EATEAT Set up in the 1970s and now run by the The distinction between ‘fast food’ and ‘fine dining’ may be too crude, but these founder’s son Jay Patel, Milan is a popular pit-stop offering simple, tasty Indian food - all places are all worth considering if you’re in search of instant gratification and/or of it vegetarian. If you want to try something eating on a budget. similar but eat in, check out Jyotis in or Zindiya in Moseley. Otto 14 Caroline St, Jewellery The Blue Nile Quarter B3 1TR 28 Great Hampton St, Jewellery Quarter B18 6AA The local pizza wars The speciality at this Ethiopian eatery is the have been hotting up Injera, a spongy, table-sized bread which you of late with the arrival use to mop up a dazzling range of curries and of Baked in Brick, Poli, stews (many of them meat-free). Finish off Alicia’s, Rudy’s and Peach Garden with a coffee ceremony, with freshly roasted no doubt another 34 Ladywell Walk, Birmingham B5 4RX beans presented at the table. five before we go to Down a Chinatown alleyway near the print. However, we are Blue Nile markets, a steamed-up window hung with happy to concur with meat leads you to formica nirvana. The the prevailing wisdom service manages to be both abrupt and - the wood-fired pizzas warm, the food arrives before you’ve even served up by relative ordered it, and the triple roast is the stuff of pensioner Otto (est. Otto legend. Cash only. 2016) are sublime.

24 25 Birmingham Pride

MAY Swing dancing, stronger together, graffiti art and guitars Swingamajig Viewscreen Festival MAY MAY 8 MAY 15–25 bit.ly/Majig2020 bit.ly/Viewscreen2020 Birmingham Botanical Gardens MAC One-day jamboree celebrating the sights Viewscreen is a celebration of the glorious and sounds of the 1920s with a modern world of television - archive, cult, streaming, twist. This year Swingamajig are swapping the whole works. This is a look into TV’s past the industrial backdrop of Digbeth for the as well as its fascinating future at a time when sprawling lawns and tropical greenhouses huge technological changes, binge watching of the Botanical Gardens. and fevered online debate have made small Birmingham Anime and Gaming Con screen consumption bigger than ever. Birmingham Anime Independent Birmingham Festival Thinking/Not Thinking Festival and Gaming Con MAY 22–24 MAY 2–3 Independent Birmingham Festival bit.ly/NotThinking2020 bit.ly/AGCon2020 MAY 9–10 Centrala, Digbeth bit.ly/BhamInd2020 Birmingham’s celebration of musical Nearly triple the size of previous years, this The Bond, Digbeth contrast and juxtaposition turns four. all-age event has a brand new venue at A jam-packed line-up of Brum’s very best Presenting ambassadors of jazz, improv, Conference Aston, ready to welcome, gamers, pop-up restaurants, cocktail bars, street metal, electronic, contemporary classical and comic fans, anime fanatics and cosplayers. food, craft beer, artists, designers and indie rock, it places them on bills where they Swingamajig makers, along with a full programme of live wouldn’t usually feature, meaning everyone music and entertainment. goes home with a new favourite act. Flatpack Festival A Matter of Life and Death Festival MAY 5–10 bit.ly/Flatpack2020 MAY 6–17 Get Creative Festival bit.ly/YODO2020 Across Birmingham MAY 9–17 Across Birmingham Every May Day bank holiday Flatpack takes over bit.ly/GetCreative2020 venues across Birmingham with a colourful Offering up a lively, city-wide programme Across Birmingham celebration of film in all its forms, from family comprising film screenings, art A UK-wide initiative celebrating the everyday screenings and live soundtracks to cutting-edge competitions, workshops, open days and creativity happening in homes and public shorts and audio-visual performance. This more, this annual festival aims to promote spaces. Whether it be outdoor photography, year’s ‘2020 Vision’ programme will explore the healthy and productive conversation about music, pottery or yarn bombing, Get Creative eye and how technology changes the way we death and dying. aims to inspire people to try something new look at the world. and share their creativity. Thinking /Not Thinking Festival 28 29 B-SIDE Hip Hop Festival Birmingham International Dance Festival MAY MAY 29 – JUNE 7 bit.ly/BSide2020 & Southside Birmingham Pride Expect explosive dance battles and live MAY 23–24 graffiti art, street sports, music and DJ bit.ly/BhamPride2020 performances on outdoor stages, as well Central Birmingham & Southside as talks and workshops with high-profile Focusing on the recent Stonewall 50 guests from the international hip hop anniversary and the ongoing struggle for scene. Celebrating its fifth birthday. trans rights, the theme of the 2020 Pride Parade is ‘Stronger Together’. Kelly Rowland and the Vengaboys are already confirmed as headliners, and the festival will take place on a new site at the old wholesale markets. Sonic Wave MAY 24 bit.ly/SonicWave2020 Venues across Digbeth Rocking an impressive hometown line-up including Swim Deep, this new festival takes in some of Digbeth’s most stalwart venues. Other confirmed acts include The Blinders, Lady Bird and Talk Show. JUNE Fake bands, favourite authors, dance and design

B-SIDE

30 Birmingham Coffee Festival Solihull Book Fest JUNE JUNE 5–7 JUNE 6 http://bit.ly/BhamCoffee2020 bit.ly/SBoF2020 Custard Factory The Core, Solihull Birmingham International Bringing together forty independent coffee An opportunity for children aged 0-12 to enjoy shops and coffee culture experiences storytelling, discover astonishing books, and Dance Festival from Birmingham and beyond, a chance to meet favourite authors. Star turns include JUNE 5–21 sample specialty coffee and food from all Horrible Histories illustrator Martin Brown bit.ly/BIDF2020 around the world. and an Aardman model making workshop. Central Birmingham Taking over Birmingham’s theatres, Birmingham Fake Festival streets and squares with show-stopping performances, and great choreography JUNE 6 bit.ly/FakeFest2020 from both UK and international dancers. Accompanied by events for all ages and Bournville Book Fest abilities including social dance, mass Returning to Kings Heath Park, Birmingham’s Bournville Book Fest participation and family friendly activities. largest celebration of the tribute act presents a world-beating line-up of fake bands. JUNE 11–20 bit.ly/BBoF2020 Birmingham Design Festival Valefest Venues across Birmingham JUNE 5–6 A book festival especially for children. bit.ly/BhamDesign2020 JUNE 6 bit.ly/Vale-2020 Offers youngsters the chance to meet BCU, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Birmingham Coffee Festival favourite authors, discover new books University of Birmingham Vale Site The focus for the third BDF is on colour, within and express themselves by taking part in a new two-day ‘conference’ format. Workshop Legends in the City Annual one-day festival of music and creative workshops. leaders include Anthony Burrill and Jim performance organised by and for Sutherland, whilst Saturday’s line-up features JUNE 6 University of Birmingham students. bit.ly/LegendsCity2020 Birmingham Hippodrome Presents... talks by Brian Collins, Morag Myerscough and Liz West. All alongside exhibitions, immersive Digbeth Arena JUNE 12 – AUGUST 1 http://bit.ly/Southside2020 installations and stalls. Legends in the City celebrates the iconic Birmingham 90’s and 00’s electronic music Southside, Bullring Grand Central & city centre scene revered by aficionados the world over, Birmingham Hippodrome presents and is curated by the likes of Lisa Lashes a summer-long festival programme and Fergie. All day event reverberating of cabaret, circus and free outdoor across postindustrial Digbeth’s disused performances in outdoor spaces and pop- Birmingham Hippodrome Presents... warehouses and outdoor spaces. up venues across the city centre. 32 33 Jewellery Quarter Festival JUNE JUNE 20 bit.ly/JQF2020 Jewellery Quarter Birmingham Fashion Festival Celebrating the atmosphere, heritage JUNE 12–13 and people of this historic Birmingham bit.ly/BhamFashion2020 neighbourhood. Come along for a full day Central Birmingham of live music, family entertainment and a range of tours, trails and workshops Offering attendees the opportunity to see enabling you to discover the Jewellery runway shows from local, national and Quarter. internationally recognised design talent, BE Festival alongside store and boutique displays. Prosecco Festival BE Festival Birmingham Rum Festival Celebrating Sanctuary JUNE 20 JUNE 23–27 JUNE 27 bit.ly/Prosc2020 bit.ly/BE-F2020 bit.ly/BRum2020 JUNE 13–21 Birmingham REP The Cuban Embassy, Moseley bit.ly/CelSan2020 Town Hall Annual event welcoming exceptional Since it began in 2015, this festival has Venues across Birmingham The UK’s Biggest Prosecco Festival - now also featuring gin - returns to Birmingham theatre, dance, circus and visual arts invited guests to explore and discover the Arts festival showcasing, celebrating and Town Hall. practitioners from the four corners of richness of rum. It highlights the flavours championing, art created by refugees and Europe. This year will feature - amongst and stories behind each brand and bottle, others living in exile in Birmingham. The others -spectacular interventions from focusing on premium quality rums. launch event at MAC marks the start of visual artist Francesc Serra in the festival Refugee Week and features live music, hub, and live music and DJs till late. workshops, face-painting, stalls and activities. Birmingham Indian Film Festival JUNE 26 – JULY 6 Foodies Festival Migrant Festival bit.ly/BhamIndianFilm2020 JUNE 26–28 Venues across the city JUNE 18–21 bit.ly/Foodies2020 bit.ly/IKONM2020 Venturing far beyond Bollywood, BIFF , Edgbaston presents the best new South Asian cinema Ikon Gallery Featuring Masterchef and British Bake including feature films, documentaries, The third annual Migrant Festival presents four Off winners, the UK’s biggest food festival shorts and Q&As. days of visual art, music, film and performance. heads to Birmingham. Live music, It celebrates the contribution made by refugees workshops and masterclasses are on offer and migrants to the UK in Birmingham alongside renowned chefs sharing their and beyond, whilst bearing witness to the favourite recipes and top cooking tips. hardships and sacrifices endured. Migrant Festival 34 35 Symphony Hall Centrala 6 of the best... Broad St, Birmingham B1 2EA A key part of the city’s cultural renaissance in the early 90s, and now in the process of building a new foyer distinct from the convention centre next door. Home of the CBSO, currently led by impressive young MUSICMUSIC Lithuanian conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla. Centrala Minerva Works, 158 Fazeley St, Digbeth B5 5RT Scruffy Murphys Part of a cluster of art spaces, this cafe- Dale End, Birmingham B4 7LN gallery-gig-venue inspires fierce loyalty for VVENUESENUES A no-frills rock pub at the less beautiful end taking a punt on performers that wouldn’t For a city with such a strong musical heritage a frustrating number of UK tours of town, Scruffy’s has been keeping the flame make it to the city otherwise. Recent burning for heavy music since 2001. Pool, highlights have included Canadian drone- bypass Birmingham altogether, in part due to the lack of good mid-scale venues. darts, food, sticky floors and regular gigs in rock, Geordie punk and Arabic jazz. There seems to be a big gap in the market between back-room intimacy and arena the basement. bombast, and this list reflects that. The Hare The Hare and Hounds and Hounds The Institute The Spotted Dog 78 Digbeth High Street, Digbeth B5 6DY 106 High St, Kings Heath B14 7JZ Being an O2 venue, this has all the familiar trappings of the corporate gig experience. Well established The 1908 building itself is a bit of a marvel as the city’s best though, and a packed show in the main room alternative venue can still take your breath away. thanks to an eclectic The Spotted Dog lineup, decent sound 104 Warwick St, Digbeth B12 0NH and a relaxed feel. The Institute Although the narrow L-shaped bar doesn’t Among the bookings obviously lend itself to gigs, stop in on a confirmed for the first Tuesday evening and you may well find it half of 2020 are Wire, packed with a young crowd listening to great Rozi Plain, Dreadzone jazz for a fiver. Plus traditional Irish sessions, and the Nightingales. wonky clubnights, open mic evenings and excellent scotch eggs. 36 37 Moseley Jazz Funk & Soul Festival

JULY Lindyhoppers, activist artists, carnivals and cocktails Brum Zine Fest BCU Inspired Festival JULY JULY 4 JULY 6–13 bit.ly/BZine2020 bit.ly/BCUIns2020 Birmingham BCU buildings across the city Moseley Festival Birmingham’s celebration of independent Birmingham City University opens its doors JULY 2–5 publishing and DIY making. Expect to find to the people of the city and the world, for a bit.ly/MoseleyFest2020 some of the UK’s best zine makers and week of graduate shows and performances. their work, alongside workshops enabling Kicks off with a Family Day on 6 June. Centered upon Moseley Park but with you to get cutting, sticking and copying to activity across the village, this is one of your heart’s content. Music for Youth National Festival Birmingham’s oldest and best established JULY 7–11 community festivals with something to CoCoMad bit.ly/MusicForYouth2020 entertain all ages. JULY 4 Symphony Hall, Town Hall, CBSO Centre Birmingham Cocktail Weekend bit.ly/CoCoMad2020 Open to the public, every July around 10,000 Colmore Food Festival of the UK’s brightest young musicians Not so small anymore, this edition of perform at world class venues and city- Birmingham Cocktail Weekend Cotteridge Park’s free annual family festival centre locations across Birmingham. JULY 10-12 promises attendees: a secret forest, bit.ly/BhamCocktail2020 Hawaiian lounge, Lindyhoppers, dancing, Festival of Audacity Venues across central Birmingham music, and lots of science for children (or A long weekend of sampling Birmingham’s your inner child) to have a go at. JULY 9–11 bit.ly/FAudacity2020 cocktail scene. Getting a wristband allows access to each venues’ signature cocktail, Central Birmingham and Digbeth created exclusively for the event. Nostalgie Ya Mboka Festival Produced by Beatfreeks and making JULY 4 Birmingham its stage, the Festival of bit.ly/NgomaYK2020 Audacity is a youth-led, multidisciplinary Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival Colmore Food Festival Indoor arena, Newtown festival of activist art. JULY 10–12 JULY 3–4 A full on celebration of Africa’s music, bit.ly/MJazz2020 bit.ly/ColFood2020 dance, comedy, fashion and food, this year Moseley Park Victoria Square featuring artists from Democratic Republic Following its 10th anniversary in 2019, Annual event showcasing the food and of Congo, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul returns for drink on offer in Birmingham’s prestigious Guinea Bissau and Nigeria. another shindig in Moseley Park. Acts in Colmore Business District. Entry is free, with previous years have included: Chic with food prices capped at £4 and drinks at £5. Nile Rogers, The Jacksons, Chaka Khan, Festival of Audacity The Pharcyde, Khruangbin and Soul II Soul. 40 41 Film Festival Supersonic Festival Birmingham Fest JULY JULY 13–16 JULY 17 – AUGUST 2 bit.ly/BPFilm2020 bit.ly/BhamFest2020 Brindleyplace Venues Across Birmingham This outdoor film festival in Brindleyplace Since 2012 Birmingham Fest has offered Central Square is totally free to attend. Turn an eclectic two-week programme of up, pick up a deck chair, and enjoy. In May performing arts events with artists hailing look out for a chance to vote for the films from all over the UK. which you’d like to see on the big screen. SandwellSandwell & &Birmingham Birmingham Mela Mela TILT Festival JULY 18–19 JULY 13–19 bit.ly/SBMela2020 bit.ly/TILT2020 Supersonic Festival Victoria Park, Smethwick Minerva Works, Digbeth The UK’s biggest Mela is celebrating its Yarningham Seven days of aerial training and JULY 17–19 tenth birthday this year, with a weekend bit.ly/SuperSonic2020 performance from world class artists. full of south Asian music mixing local with Yarningham Situated in the heart of Digbeth, TILT Digbeth international talent alongside dance, art JULY 11–12 Festival is Birmingham’s only dedicated Last year described by the Guardian as and traditional food. bit.ly/Yarningham2020 aerial and physical theatre festival. the UK’s best small festival: “By embracing Uffculme Centre, Moseley the heaviness in Birmingham’s heritage, Back for a fifth year, Yarningham and adding a strong dose of eccentricity, celebrates all things yarn. Featuring Supersonic is world-class” leading dyers and independent producers, alongside workshops, demonstrations and Birmingham, Sandwell & most importantly cake. Westside Jazz Festival JULY 17–26 Sandwell & Birmingham Mela Barrio Fiesta bit.ly/BSWJazz2020 JULY 18–19 JULY 11-12 Across Birmingham and the bit.ly/SBMela2020 bit.ly/BarrioFiesta2020 Founded in 1985, the festival offers over Victoria Park, Smethwick Woodgate Valley Park, Quinton 200 jazz and blues performances, talks, The UK’s biggest Mela is celebrating its The 13th edition of an annual gathering workshops and films - nearly all of them tenth birthday this year, with a weekend for Birmingham’s Filipino community, free admission. Taking place at over 100 full of south Asian music mixing local with featuring music, comedy, dance and a venues across the West Midlands, including international talent alongside dance, art TILT Festival range of food stalls. bars, shopping centres, parks and libraries. and traditional food. 42 43 JULY Simmer Down JULY 19 bit.ly/Simmer2020 Handsworth Park Don’t miss the Welcome to Birminghams JQ Festival 2020 2020 also sees north Birmingham’s Saturday 20th June homegrown celebration of reggae and other Solihull Summer Festival African-Caribean musical styles turning ten. Head up to Handsworth Park to join the Solihull Summer Festival celebrations and take part in Birmingham’s JULY 25–26 J e w e l l e r y answer to the Notting Hill Carnival. bit.ly/SolFes2020 Tudor Grange Park, Solihull Birchfield Jazz Festival This two day festival in central Solihull Quarter JULY 24–25 presents a diverse mix of genres across bit.ly/BirchfieldJazz2020 the weekend. Headliners in previous DISCOVER A DIFFERENT CORNER OF THE CITY St Mary’s Church, Handsworth years have included The Human League, Free weekend-long event showcasing Level 42, The Vamps, UB40, Busted, The Birmingham musicians who reflect the Proclaimers and Sister Sledge. far reaching roots, diversity and influence of jazz. In 2020 it celebrates Ambrose The Festival of Quilts Campbell, the Nigerian musician credited JULY 30 – AUGUST 2 with forming Britain’s first black band, the bit.ly/Quilts2020 West African Rhythm Brothers. NEC Learn & Eat, Drink Browse Established in 2003, Europe’s biggest Explore & Relax & Buy quilting show now attracts over 26,000 quilting fanatics each year. Distinguished past exhibitors have included Dorothy Visit this urban village anytime of the year. Caldwell, Elizabeth Brimelow, Nancy Crow, The JQ is bursting with energy and steeped in history! Jane Dunnewold and Diana Harrison, Explore our website: jewelleryquarter.net with over 800 quilts entered into the international competition. /JewelleryQtr @JQBID @JQ_BID 45 The Pen Museum 6 of the best... 60 Frederick St, Jewellery Quarter B1 3HS Trinity Road, Aston B6 6JD Entry: £2.50-£6 Entry: £3-£8 Forming an ideal double-bill with the Coffin A stone’s throw from the Aston Expressway and Works - or even a triple-bill if you make it to pockmarked with Civil War cannonball damage, the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter too - this magnificent Jacobean mansion is the this is a properly nerdy shrine to the humble jewel in ’s portfolio. MUSEUMSMUSEUMS pen in the neighbourhood where mass Worth a visit for the Long Gallery alone. production of steel-nib pens first took off. Despite the city’s ‘Forward’ motto and continual mania for redevelopment, Mill Birmingham does also boast an array of quirky, perfectly-formed heritage attractions. Cole Bank Rd, Hall Green B13 0BD Entry: £3-£6 Now part of the Hall Green suburbs, this was Coffin Works once open countryside where the young JRR 13-15 Fleet St, Tolkien played. If you squint you might think Birmingham B3 1JP you’ve stumbled right into Middle Earth - Entry: £4.50-£7.50 particularly if you cross the road and venture When Newman Brothers into . As of 2020 the Mill itself closed down in the 1990s includes a restored 1850s bakehouse, with after a century producing fresh bread baked daily on site. ‘coffin furniture’, the last owner Joyce Green Lapworth Museum of Geology left everything exactly Aston Webb Building, UoB, Selly Oak B15 2TT The Back-to-Backs as it was and resisted Entry: Free big-money offers from Tucked away on the university campus and The Back-to-Backs property developers. recently given an imaginative makeover 55-63 Inge St, Birmingham B5 4TE The result is this which saw it go up against Tate Modern for a Prebooked tours only wonderful timewarp, ‘museum of the year’ award in 2017. Paradise Hugely popular National Trust property, with knowledgeable for lovers of fossils and rocks, with plenty of preserving the last remaining set of back- volunteers giving tours glistening specimens in the shop that you to-back houses in a city where they were on the hour. can take home with you. once to be found everywhere. Summer 2020 will also see the Trust open the doors at the Roundhouse, which started life as Coffin Works corporation stables in the 1870s. 46 47 Sonic Gun Weekender MADE Festival

MADE Festival Birmingham Restaurant Festival AUGUST 1 AUGUST 24 – SEPTEMBER 6 bit.ly/BMADE2020 bit.ly/BhamRestaurant2020 Sandwell Valley Country Park Venues across Birmingham 2020 sees the West Midlands’ biggest A fortnight of great value menus and music festival get even bigger, with a move exciting dining experiences at restaurants to new home Sandwell Valley Country Park. right across Birmingham. This year’s headliner is Brummie legend The Streets, backed up by many more acts Waterfront Festival AUGUST across the electronic music spectrum. AUGUST 31 Brummie legends bit.ly/Waterfront2020 (past and future), Sonic Gun Weekender Canalhouse Pub, city centre AUGUST 21–22 There will be music on the canalside stage restaurants and waterfronts bit.ly/SonicGun2020 throughout the day at this family-oriented The Castle and Falcon, Balsall Heath waterfront bank holiday celebration in Gas This two day event looks to celebrate Street Basin. the West Midland’s best music. Acts in previous years have included Sugarthief, Violet, The Cosmics, Harry Jordan, Violet, Wolfgange Harte plus surprise DJ sets from Peace and Swim Deep. 48 49 The Wilderness Harborne Kitchen 6 OF THE BEST... 27 Warstone Lane, Jewellery Quarter B18 6JQ Alex Claridge’s black-clad bistro was shaped by a love of “junk food and international food”, along with a good dose of heavy rock. Chef Stu Deeley departed just before his Masterchef victory was announced, and in PLACESPLACES spring 2020 will open his own place down the road.

PART TWO Harborne Kitchen TOTO EATEAT 175-179 High St, Harborne B17 9QE After the cheap thrills of part one (p.24), a few choice restaurants where you can Identifies as an “informal neighbourhood linger. Birmingham is understandably proud of its Michelin stars, but beyond Messrs restaurant”, while quietly harbouring loftier ambitions. The midweek four-course menu Purnell, Simpson, Carter and co are a host of upstarts worthy of your time and cash. - including the fabled ‘Roscoff Onion’ - is well worth a try. Gaijin Sushi 78 Bristol St, Birmingham B5 7AH Folium 8 Caroline St, Jewellery Quarter B3 1TW Many of Birmingham’s finest Intimate, Scandi-influenced eatery housed in sushi establishments seem a former JQ printworks. Sunday Times food to be run by taciturn Poles The Wilderness critic Marina O’Loughlin has described it as a (see also Sushi Passion, and “sparkling diamond”. the wonderful Otoro Sushi Formosa Izakaya in the indoor market). Chef 115-117 Hurst Street, Birmingham B5 6SE Michal Kubiak has riffed Chakana One of the more imaginative offerings in on this outsider status by 140 Alcester Rd, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8HT Chinatown, this Taiwanese establishment adopting the name Gaijin - Yet another recent arrival from that London, ticks all the boxes with friendly service, a derogatory Japanese term chef Robert Ortiz has turned Moseley’s old reasonable prices and fantastic flavours. If for foreigner - but there’s Lloyds bank into a blue and white haven you struggle to navigate the slightly eccentric nothing inauthentic about complete with a private dining room in the old menu, we suggest the octopus balls, oyster his food, deftly prepared at vault. Drawing on the cuisine of his native Peru, mushrooms and garlic aubergine. close quarters. Gaijin Sushi Ortiz specialises in super-sharp ceviche.

50 51 ! High-Vis Festival en tly ! en tly r r y In summer 2020, Roundhouse Birmingham t e e invites you to f f #SeetheCityDifferently!

Events and activities by foot, by bike, and on water. SEPTEMBER • Roundhouse Guided Tours Di f Di f • City & Canal Walks e C i Guided tours, • Kayak & Cycle Tours • Street Gym BMX, open doors

Pre-booking for tours essential. and cabaret Check listings at roundhousebirmingham.org.uk to see what’s on! ee t h S

High Vis Festival SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 5 bit.ly/HiVis2020 Digbeth Free all-day event in and around The Custard Factory, celebrating street art, graffiti and street culture. Take in a pop-up comic-con, skaters, BMXers, an arts and crafts bazaar and plenty more besides. Collectormania 27 SEPTEMBER 5–6 bit.ly/Collectormania2020 NEC Heritage Open Days Cosplay, autograph sessions, photo shoots and collectables galore can be found at this Heritage Open Days In:Site Festival established fandom jamboree. Special guests SEPTEMBER 11–20 SEPTEMBER 11–20 include Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy. bit.ly/HeritageOpen2020 bit.ly/InSite2020 Locations across Birmingham Birmingham Cathedral Birmingham Heritage Week Every year in September, historic sites Site-specific art, craft and design SEPTEMBER 10–20 across the country throw open their doors exhibition and events programme to celebrate their heritage, community responding to the Cathedral, its history Moseley Folk Festival bit.ly/BhamHeritage2020 and history, creating England’s largest and Birmingham’s making heritage. Locations across Birmingham Moseley Folk & Arts Festival celebration of the past. Historic spaces and Birmingham’s annual celebration of its places across Birmingham will participate. SEPTEMBER 4–6 heritage. Over two hundred events, from bit.ly/MoseleyFolk2020 exhibitions and walks to open days and Moseley Park workshops. A chance to visit and discover Still Walking Festival Running the gamut from traditional to new parts of the city, or rediscover SEPTEMBER 11–20 downright experimental folk and indie, this popular places and see them from new bit.ly/StillWalking2020 year’s lineup includes Saturday headliner perspectives. Locations across Birmingham Passenger. Celebrating fifteen years by The usual eclectic mix of exploratory the pool in Moseley Park, the festival also guided tours and walking events crafted features a packed programme of comedy, to challenge your understanding of crafts and cabaret. Birmingham. Still Walking Festival 54 55 Birmingham Improv Festival Birmingham Literature Festival SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 17–27 bit.ly/BhamImprov2020 MAC Birmingham Kings Heath Street Festival Comedy, horror, musical, science fiction, SEPTEMBER 13 fantasy and much more, all spontaneously bit.ly/KHFest2020 created before your eyes. Bringing the best York Road, King’s Heath of improvisation from the UK and beyond, Once again York Road closes down to Birmingham. for Kings Heathens’ annual knees-up, featuring an array of music, dance street International Comic Expo food and drink. SEPTEMBER 19 bit.ly/ComExpo2020 Brindleyplace Food Festival Edgbaston Stadium SEPTEMBER TBC Day-long family and fan comic convention bit.ly/BPFood2020 at Edgbaston Cricket Stadium. 2020’s Brindleyplace guestlist features some of the biggest After a successful launch in 2019 names in UK comics including John Brindleyplace Food Festival is back. McCrea, Ian Edginton and Phil Winslade. Featuring a food market in Central Square, chef demonstrations, live music and Birmingham Open Studios entertainment throughout the day. SEPTEMBER 26–27 & OCTOBER 3–4 OCTOBER bit.ly/BhamOpen2020 Brindleyplace Food Festival Locations across Birmingham Running, punning, Birmingham Open Studios returns for its literary greats fourth year with more participating artists than ever before. A chance to drop in on and lederhosen artists exhibiting from their own homes and studios across south Birmingham.

56 Birmingham Literature Festival Birmingham Music Festival OCTOBER OCTOBER 10–11 bit.ly/BhamMusic2020 King Edwards School, Edgbaston Gin & Rum Festival Birmingham Comedy Festival One of Britain’s biggest amateur piano OCTOBER 2 OCTOBER 2–11 festivals. A vast range of abilities and ages http://bit.ly/GinRum2020 bit.ly/BhamComedy2020 (from under 8 to over 60) will be on show, Edgbaston Stadium Venues across Birmingham with a similarly wide roster of music from Praetorius (born 1571) to David Bowie. The UK’s largest gin and rum festival tour City-wide event featuring big name acts offers a chance to sample over 60 different and rising stars of stand-up, theatre, gins and 60 different rums. If you’re still improv and more. Includes the Birmingham Great Birmingham Run standing after that, there will also be live Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award - OCTOBER 11 entertainment and DJs into the night. the West Midlands’ biggest comedy prize. bit.ly/BRun2020 Starts at Millenium Point Birmingham Comedy Festival Large running event starting in central Birmingham and encompassing the south of the city. A rare opportunity to enjoy our roads and public spaces traffic-free. Birmingham Literature Festival Future Days OCTOBER 8–17 bit.ly/BLit2020 OCTOBER 17–18 Venues across central Birmingham bit.ly/tmrw2020 The Crossing, Digbeth The very best writers, speakers, thinkers, activists and artists from the UK and Two day musical event curated by local across the world gather each October for a promoters This is Tmrw, venturing across celebration of books and ideas. psych, electronica, art pop, post punk and everything in between. Hosted at The Crossing, a custom-built venue within South Birmingham College.

58 59 Digbeth Oktoberfest Diwali Mela OCTOBER OCTOBER TBC bit.ly/Dtober2020 The Old Crown, Digbeth Lederhosen at the ready... For a brief period BASS Festival each autumn Birmingham’s oldest drinking establishment is transformed into a tiny slice of southern Germany. Birmingham International Piano Festival OCTOBER 28 – NOVEMBER 18 bit.ly/BPiano2020 Barber Concert Hall Once again some of the world’s finest BASS Festival pianists and keyboard players converge in the city, including John Lill, Clipper OCTOBER 20–22 Erickson, accordionist Samuele Telari and bit.ly/BASS_2020 Macedonian folk musician Simon Trpceski Venues across Birmingham amongst others. NOVEMBER Since it was set up in the mid-2000s, BASS Festival - produced by Punch Records - has Mind Body Spirit Festival been at the forefront of celebrating the city’s contemporary black music scene. OCTOBER 30 – NOVEMBER 1 This year promises to be no different. bit.ly/MindBodySpirit2020 &DECEMBER NEC Screening Rights Film Festival Featuring motivational speakers, musicians, artists and performers from Cult film, queer arts, OCTOBER 22–25 across the globe, along with a host of bit.ly/SRFF2020 health & wellbeing exhibitors and organic Jewish learning Venues in Birmingham and Coventry food stalls. An international screening programme and jewellers aiming to provoke thought and conversation about human rights and the relationship between film, adversity and social action. 60 Diwali Mela ESRC Social Science Festival NOVEMBER 8 NOVEMBER TBC bit.ly/DiwaliMela2020 bit.ly/SocSciFest2020 Soho Road, Handsworth Venues across Birmingham Offering food from around the world, free The Birmingham incarnation of this fairground rides and gift shopping, Soho UK-wide event invites attendees to take Road in Handworth welcomes you to one a deep dive into society, and shows how of the UK’s largest Diwali celebrations. pioneering social, economic and political Highlights include live music throughout research impacts on everyday life. the day and two miles of spectacular lighting. Jewellery Quarter Open Studios DECEMBER 5–6 Birmingham Film Festival bit.ly/JQOpen2020 NOVEMBER 13–22 Jewellery Quarter bit.ly/BFilm2020 Over 20 Jewellery Quarter workspaces Millenium Point are opening their doors, enabling visitors Annual international festival of screenings, to explore and shop for locally made events and awards for film makers gifts. Commissions and conversations from around the world, held in central from jewellers, fabricators, textile Birmingham. artists, printers and more will show this SHOUT Festival community of makers at work. TradFest Cine Excess SHOUT Festival NOVEMBER 26-29 Limmud Festival NOVEMBER 2–8 of Queer Arts and Culture bit.ly/TrdFest2020 DECEMBER 27–31 bit.ly/CineExcess2020 NOVEMBER 5-15 Digbeth bit.ly/Limmud2020 Electric Cinema, Mockingbird bit.ly/SHOUT2020 The UK’s newest traditional Irish music Hilton Metropole, Birmingham Attracting a range of international Venues across Birmingham festival. A weekend full of top class Volunteer-run festival of Jewish learning, filmmakers, academics and UK theatrical Now well established, Birmingham’s concerts, instrument workshops, album drawing thousands of participants from premieres, this hybrid film festival and annual celebration of Lesbian, Gay, launches, multiple Irish trad sessions and a across the UK and beyond. conference is devoted to global cult film. Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) youth band competition. Now in its 13th year, Cine Excess also performance, film, and visual arts returns provides a forum for established industry to MAC and other venues. figures to act as mentors to emerging filmmakers. 62 63 VISUAL ARTS, CRAFTS INDEXINDEX & DESIGN Arts & Science Festival p. 5 FILM Birmingham Design Festival p. 32 Bean Flicks: Ethical, Feminist Porn Festival p. 10 Birmingham Fashion Festival p. 34 Birmingham Film Festival p. 63 Birmingham Open Studios p. 56 Birmingham Indian Film Festival p. 35 LITERATURE & Brum Zine Fest p. 40 COMMUNITY Brindleyplace Film Festival p. 42 Festival of Quilts p. 45 Barrio Fiesta p. 42 Cine Excess p. 62 SPOKEN WORD Birmingham Anime and Gaming Con p. 28 Birmingham Literature Festival p. 59 Get Creative Festival p. 29 CineQ Queer Film Festival p. 19 Birmingham Pride p. 30 Black British Book Festival p. 23 High Vis Festival p. 54 Flatpack Festival p. 28 Celebrating Sanctuary p. 34 Bournville Book Fest p. 33 In:Site Festival p. 55 Screening Rights Film Festival p. 60 Chinese New Year p. 5 Solihull Book Fest p. 33 International Comic Expo p. 56 Viewscreen Festival p. 29 CoCoMad p. 40 Sutton Coldfield Book Fest p. 13 Jewellery Quarter Open Studios p. 63 Collectormania 27 p. 54 Verve Poetry & Spoken Word Festival p. 11 Migrant Festival p. 34 Yarningham p. 42 Diwali Mela p. 63 THEATRE, DANCE & Get Creative Festival p. 29 PERFORMANCE FOOD & DRINK Insomnia Gaming Festival p. 22 BE Festival p. 35 Birmingham Cocktail Weekend p. 41 OUTDOORS Jewellery Quarter Festival p. 34 Birmingham Comedy Festival p. 58 Birmingham Coffee Festival p. 32 Birmingham Hippodrome Presents... p. 33 Kings Heath Street Festival p. 56 Birmingham Fest p. 43 Birmingham Restaurant Festival p. 49 Birmingham Running Festival p. 13 Migrant Festival p. 34 Birmingham Hippodrome Presents... p. 33 Birmingham Rum Festival p. 35 Brindleyplace Film Festival p. 42 Moseley Festival p. 40 Birmingham International Dance Festival p. 32 Birmingham Wine Weekend p. 22 Great Birmingham Run p. 59 Sandwell & Birmingham Mela p. 43 Festival of Audacity p. 41 Birmingham Vegan Festival p. 19 High Vis Festival p. 54 St Patrick’s Festival p. 18 First Bite & Bite Size p. 5 Brindleyplace Food Festival p. 56 Still Walking Festival p. 55 Valefest p. 33 Sandwell & Birmingham Mela p. 43 Colmore Food Festival p. 40 Waterfront Festival p. 49 SHOUT Festival of Queer Arts and Culture p. 62 Digbeth Oktoberfest p. 60 Still Walking Festival p. 55 Foodies Festival p. 35 TILT Festival p. 42 Gin & Rum Festival p. 58 Gin To My Tonic Festival p. 23 Great British Beer Festival Winter p. 10 Independent Birmingham Festival p. 29 Kebabingham Festival p. 13 Prosecco Festival p. 34 Whisky Birmingham p. 18 64 65 MUSIC & SOUND MUSEUMS & BASS Festival p. 60 BEASTdome Mini Festival p. 13 HERITAGE Arts & Science Festival p. 5 BEAST FEaST p. 23 Birmingham Heritage Week p. 54 Birchfield Jazz Festival p. 45 ESRC Social Science Festival p. 63 Birmingham Fake Festival p. 33 Heritage Open Days p. 55 Birmingham International Piano Festival p. 60 LGBTQ History Festival p. 11 Birmingham International Recorder and Early Music Festival p. 11 Birmingham Music Festival p. 59 LGBTQIA+ Birmingham, Sandwell & Westside Jazz Festival p. 43 Bean Flicks: Ethical, Feminist Porn Festival p. 10 Birmingham Swing Festival p. 10 Birmingham Pride p. 30 B-SIDE Hip Hop Festival p. 30 CineQ Queer Film Festival p. 19 Celebrating Sanctuary p. 34 LGBTQ History Festival p. 11 Future Days p. 59 SHOUT Festival of Queer Arts and Culture p. 62 Ideas of Noise p. 5 Legends in the City p. 32 MADE Festival p. 49 SPIRITUAL & Moseley Folk & Arts Festival p. 54 Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival p. 41 RELIGIOUS A Matter of Life and Death Festival p. 28 Music For Youth Festival p. 41 Diwali Mela p. 63 Noise Not Music Festival p. 23 Limmud Festival p. 63 Nostalgie Ya Mboka Festival p. 40 Mind Body Spirit Festival p. 60 Podfest Birmingham p. 19 Vaisakhi p. 23 PodUK 2020 p. 10 Punkt Birmingham p. 19 Simmer Down p. 45 Solihull Summer Festival p. 45 Sonic Gun Weekender p. 49 St Patrick’s Festival Birmingham p. 18 Supersonic Festival p. 43 Swingamajig p. 28 Ten Acres of Sound p. 22 Thinking/Not Thinking Festival p. 29 TradFest p. 63 66 CREDITSCREDITS

This guide has been lovingly compiled by Flatpack Projects on behalf of Birmingham Festivals Group. Flatpack grew out of a Digbeth filmnight in the early 2000s, and as well as producing our own festival every May we deliver all manner of different projects and events throughout the rest of the year.

Edited by: Josh Allen Designed by: Keith Dodds Printed by: Panda Press

The 2020 Birmingham Festival Guide would not have been possible without the support of Birmingham Hippodrome, West Midlands Growth Company, Arts Council England and Visit Britain.

Since 2016 Birmingham Festivals Group have been working collaboratively to raise awareness of our amazing events calendar, lobby as a sector and share good practice. Festivals attract over 2.5 million people to Birmingham every year, putting the city on the map and making it a more exciting place to be. For more info on the group and an online calendar go to: www.birminghamfestivals.com

@ColmoreFoodFestival @ColmoreBID @ColmoreBusinessDistrict @ColmoreBID 68 #ColmoreFoodFest20 69 70