Linda Green has written a novel set in a ‘fictional’ Birmingham newsroom, based on her time with the Birmingham News. An important chance to find out what goes on inside the Post and Mail building? I’m not about to recommend buying the hardback, but it’ll be out in paperback in October and of course there’s always your local library.
Today is the 30th anniversary of the death of the king of rock and roll and I thought I’d mark the occasion with a run down of Birmingham’s top Elvis impersonators. Armed with the trusty Google search engine I went out to find them – I discovered two things: There aren’t many Brum based Elvis Tribute Acts, at least with an online presence Elvis impersonators by rule have really awful websites The two Elvis impersonators I did find were Adrian Nash (who’s pictured above) and Mark Green (of whom only a BBC vox-pop seems to be on the web). I’m sure there are many more – in fact I’m sure there was a fella who did well in a GMTV competition who I bumped into once in the Old Railway – do you know of any?
The zulus are about to hit Brum, and for once none of them will have gold Birmingham City pendants round thier necks. The Young ZULU Warriors (all 26), have just confirmed as one of the special guests to appear on what is already an extraordinary line up, at the Rootsville Festival. Direct from Kwazulu Natal, we have been told to prepare for a barrage of drummers and dancers in full regalia surging it’s way down Gibb St – just like a normal Saturday night then ;) I dont’ think this bit of video can possibly do them justice, but it’s pretty much all I can find on t’interweb. Worth a look tho’ We also hear that the promoters are also trying to organise a performance piece which takes it’s cue from the film Network, you know “I’M AS MAD AS HELL AND I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE“. Rootsville, Mad as Hell. Fantastic stuff.
The Big Screen is doing high culture this summer (a counterpoint to the beach ?) with three live showings of opera and ballet. The entertainment isn’t only on-screen as BBC WM’s Jenny Jones is compering live music at each. The first one up is this Thursday (31st) – Swan Lake by the Royal Ballet, which is preceded by: 6.30 Harmon8, students from the Conservatoire 17.15 Crossroad Collision – multicultural urban jazz 18.00 The Azaad Dhol Drummers – dhol drumming (unsurprisingly) 18.45 The Kevin Ashcroft Band – blues, ballads & rock n roll Opera follow on 13th June and 3rd July, and then it’s over.
Play Shakespeare is a new, brill, online Shakey resource. And as we know the sonnets only work right in a brummie accent
That Heinz have showed their disdain for Birmingham – let’s all return the favour. Don’t buy Heinz. BBC NEWS | England | West Midlands | Final British bottle of HP sauce
Catherine O’Flynn has just released her first novel the stunning ‘What Was Lost’, which is set in an around our fine city and particularly the ‘Green Oaks’ shopping centre – Merry Hill by any other name. What with Birmingham now being Europe’s shopping capital and all, we begged and blackmailed her into dishing the 411 on the true magic of retail…
