Black Country Festival 2018 - Dudley Cover_Layout 1 07/06/2018 09:38 Page 1 Black Country Festival 2018 - Dudley Cover_Layout 1 07/06/2018 09:38 Page 2 The Black Country Festival 2018 Mayor’s Welcome This will be the fifth year of the Black Country Festival and more and more people are taking part every year. We are expecting thousands of people again to support and enjoy the events taking place across the whole of the Black Country including Dudley borough. Black Country folk are extremely proud of their heritage and love to celebrate. As both Mayor and as a resident of this borough I am keen to take part in activities during the festival and to meet many people during my civic duties. The whole of July will be packed with a range of events including carnivals, music, comedy, fun days, sporting events and the big day itself on the 14 July, Black Country Day. Make sure you come and have a bostin’ time and get along to some of the community events near you. Have fun. Councillor Alan Taylor Mayor of Dudley 02 www.black-country-festival.co.uk Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:42 Page 1 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:42 Page 2 The Black Country Festival 2018 Introduction Hello and welcome to the guide to and make sure you don’t miss out on anything The Black Country Festival 2018. of interest to you. There is sure to be something on your doorstep for the whole family to enjoy. We are delighted to be entering the fifth year of We have also thrown the spotlight on our annual celebrations, both heartened by the some local institutions who are synonymous with success of last four year’s events and excited The Black Country people and spirit. Please take about 2018 which we hope will be bigger, better the time to read about them and consider their and more engaging for you, the people of The services. They have all rolled their sleeves up to Black Country. help make the celebrations as much fun as The Black Country Festival Committee possible for you the people. have been working hard for the past twelve We sincerely hope you enjoy the months to make sure there truly is something for events this year and encourage you to get everyone in the area this July. From music, involved in whatever way you can. theatre, comedy and sports to good old fashioned get togethers and celebrations across all the boroughs. We are hugely fortunate again this year to have enjoyed fantastic support from the borough councils across all parties and particularly local businesses and institutions, without whom the festival would not be able to take place. In this magazine you will find listings for all festival events to help you plan your month Left to right: Steven Edwards, David Brownhill How it all began and James Stevens. Steve Edwards came up with the idea for Black came in 2014 when Garry Sawers, Pete Lowe Country Day in 2012. The Flag had been and Ian Marrey met to discuss the idea of the launched by the Black Country Living Museum festival. A further meeting was arranged with like and thought our area needed a day of minded community campaigners and the idea to celebration. He wanted to celebrate our history, hold a summer festival began to take shape. In heritage and indeed our future. Our communities order to tie that in with a benchmark day of needed to be reunited and this was a perfect historical importance, July 14th was decided way for people to learn about and celebrate our upon in order to mark the invention of the world’s history. first steam engine, by Thomas Newcomen in He initially chose the date March 30th 1712. This event is considered by many to be 2013 for the first Black Country Day. The reason the real beginning of the industrial revolution. In behind the date was quite simple. He set it for the age of the digital revolution the idea spread the weekend after St Patrick’s Day. The whole of like wildfire and the last four year’s Black Country the world becomes patriotic for St Paddy’s Day Festivals exceeded all of our expectations with and saw it as the perfect opportunity to thousands of people coming together to encourage Black Country People to show our celebrate throughout the month of July. own patriotism. So, now, five years on, here we go Although celebrated by a small again. The festival is in rude health and will be number, the real success of Black Country Day bigger and better than ever. 04 www.black-country-festival.co.uk Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:42 Page 3 The Black Country Festival 2018 05 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:42 Page 4 The Black Country Festival 2018 06 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:42 Page 5 The Black Country Festival 2018 07 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:42 Page 6 The Black Country Festival 2018 08 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:42 Page 7 The Black Country Festival 2018 09 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:42 Page 8 The Black Country Festival 2018 10 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:42 Page 9 The Black Country Festival 2018 11 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:42 Page 10 The Black Country Festival 2018 12 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:42 Page 11 The Black Country Festival 2018 13 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:42 Page 12 The Black Country Festival 2018 PROMARCO PROMOTIONS LTD Bus, Trailer & Stage Hire Are you planning an Event? We can offer a variety of exhibition stage units to suit your requirements... Promarco have a wealth of experience in developing and organising Tours, Campaigns and Fun Day Events. Perfect for: • Roadshows • Public Consultations • Product Promotions • Fun Days For more details contact Promarco on 01384 565646 14 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:42 Page 13 The Black Country Festival 2018 15 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:43 Page 14 The Black Country Festival 2018 Fly the Flag 16 www.black-country-festival.co.uk Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:43 Page 15 The Black Country Festival 2018 17 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:43 Page 16 The Black Country Festival 2018 18 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:43 Page 17 The Black Country Festival 2018 Black Country Ales Micro Brewery.. Major Taste The perfect pour since 1834! Beer and Gornal go together like peaches and cream and one of the key sites for brewing in the village is at The Old Bull’s Head, which produced its first pint way back in 1834. The current brewery, which still utilises some of the early brewing and fermenting equipment, is owned and operated by Black Country Ales, who themselves have been producing their popular beers on the site for over fourteen years. NEW Acquisitions Black Country Ales supply beer to their own Black Country Ales have recently purchased 3 pubs and alehouses, which number over thirty new pubs... and can be found dotted throughout the area. The company is a Black Country business by Real Ale Tavern, 67 Load Street, Bewdley name and nature. A large chain with community DY12 2AW. pub ideals. Each of their ale houses has an Jewellers Arms, 23 Hockley Street, Hockley, identity all of its own and having visited most of Birmingham B18 6BW. them I can honestly say I’ve had good Cross Inn, 34 Alcester Road, Finstall, experiences across the board. Our pubs are Bromsgrove B60 1EW. dotted around the Black Country and surrounding areas. Please see our Facebook page for updates. Black Country Festival And the award goes to... Black Country Ales are proud to be supporters It has been a successful year with Black Country of the Black Country Festival, as it signifies Ales owned-pubs being voted CAMRA everything that's great about our local heritage (Campaign for Real Ale) Pub of the year. and community. Dog Inn, Burton (1st Place), Black Country Arms, Walsall (1st Place), Pretty Bricks, Walsall Why not pop into one of their pubs during July (3rd Place) and the Waggon & Horses, and raise a pint to the Festival. Halesowen (1st Place). Check out their website for all of their local pubs Their popular beers include BFG, Pig on the Wall - www.blackcountryales.co.uk and Fireside. Cheers! www.black-country-festival.co.uk 19 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:43 Page 18 The Black Country Festival 2018 20 Black Country Festival 2018 Inners_Layout 1 07/06/2018 15:43 Page 19 The Black Country Festival 2018 Craddock’s Brewery The Duke William Award winning pub and home to Craddock’s brewery – what more reason do you need to visit The Duke William? Customers drinking in the beer garden have a front row seat to watch Craddock’s seven house ales brewing. But if real ale isn’t your tipple, the pub also stocks 10 varieties of malt whiskies, more than 30 Belgian and continental beers, and an extensive range of premium spirits and traditional soft drinks.