Celebrating 25 years since their launch in 1994, the Watoto Children’s Choirs are touring again and will be in Birmingham in April in association with Cedar Church.

The 5-month UK tour, presents the story of abandoned African children and vulnerable women, who’ve been empowered to rise above their circumstances, and answer the call to be part of the new Africa – ready to make a difference in the world.

Watoto Children’s Choirs have travelled extensively since 1994, sharing a message of hope for Africa’s most vulnerable children and women. People see their smiles and are embraced by their hugs. The children have the distinct privilege of telling people, “It’s possible to have joy, to laugh and to have hope, no matter what you’re going through.”

Like Africa, the production is vibrant and colourful, taking you on an emotional journey from utter despair to joyous celebration, as the children and women share their personal stories of triumph in story and song.

Start time 4pm

Tickets are free but you need to pre-register. Visit

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/watoto-childrens-choir-in-we-will-go-birmingham-west-midlands-tickets-58707959086

For more details visit www.cedar.church or tel: 0121 667 3071

Expect an eclectic mix of music and dance covering many different styles featuring Niki Evans from X Factor fame currently touring with Kinky Boots who’ll be backed by the DMS band as well as Dave Barnes who appeared on The Voice among many others.

Start 7pm

For more details visit https://www.dmsfusionlive.com/

Marty Willson-Piper is best known for his tenure as a lead guitarist, singer/songwriter and occasional bass player with disparate acts – the church (“Under The Milky Way”), All About Eve and The Saints, covering Psychedelia, Goth and Punk. As a songwriter he has written songs for and with Charlie Sexton – Bob Dylan’s guitarist, Aimee Mann, Jules Shear, Linda Perry and Grace Slick. He’s currently working with legendary Swedish Progressive Rock band Anekdoten, touring with them all over Europe, Japan and even Armenia. Marty will be making a rare UK appearance at the Kitchen Garden Cafe as part of his UK tour.

Visit  www.martywillson-piper.com

Image: Camilla Storbjîrk

To mark International Women’s Day and the publication of a new book, Once Upon A Time In Birmingham: Women Who Dared To Dream, Waterstones Birmingham is hosting a special event to celebrate the achievements of 30 inspiring women from the city.

On Sunday 10th March, a number of women who have played an instrumental role in the creation of the book will be at the city centre store, reading excerpts and sharing their views on the importance of the book, which was commissioned by Birmingham City Council in 2018 to mark the centenary of the first women being given the right to vote.

The event will take place on the fourth floor at Waterstones Birmingham, High Street.

Tickets are £3 each, redeemable against purchases of the book at the event. Attendees will also be able to get books signed and gift wrapped. Find out more information and book tickets online at https://www.waterstones.com/events/women-who-dared-to-dream/birmingham

Proceeds from the book will go towards a fund to help the city’s young women pursue their own dreams – further details will be announced later this year.

Welsh National Opera’s irresistible production of this classic transports you to a dream world, full of colourful characters. A witty story combined with Mozart’s sublime music adds up to an unforgettable opera experience for all ages.

Visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com

Welsh National Opera’s irresistible production of this classic transports you to a dream world, full of colourful characters. A witty story combined with Mozart’s sublime music adds up to an unforgettable opera experience for all ages.

Visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com

Back by popular demand following the success of their 2017 tour, Yamato will present the UK premiere of Jhonetsu (Passion). Audiences can experience Yamato’s innovative style; combining traditional Taiko drumming with spectacle and athleticism. In this brand-new show, the drummers will challenge themselves to their absolute limits both musically and physically. With a show designed to instil audiences with the exhilarating and explosive energy of Taiko, this promises to be their most ambitious and spectacular show to date.

Yamato are recognised as trailblazers in the Taiko world having broken from the patriarchal confines of the style by including female drummers in the troupe from inception. Since 1993, the Yamato drummers have performed to 7 million people in more than 54 countries across the globe.

Visit https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/yamato-drummers-2/alexandra-theatre-birmingham/

Based on the topics of unity and division this timely project lays particular emphasis on Europe as its arrival marks 30 years since the overthrow of Communist regimes. The exhibition provides an opportunity to reflect on the collapse of the Eastern Bloc and the unity of Europe, whilst contrastingly taking place during Brexit and other independence movements. Through performative action, immersive and interactive measures, artists’ work directly responds to the current socio-political climate of the continent addressing key issues of migration, borders, territory, cultural identity, belonging and isolation.

In the new work ‘Mapping Through Network Technologies’, Jens Masimov continues to explore his Armenian, Swedish, and Finnish heritage and history. A home server acts as a virtual headspace wherein a reality and a simulation intertwine. The server will be accessible 24/7 for anyone with internet access. This open-source way of working and distribution mirrors Masimov’s lived experiences and emotions concerning mixed identities and the constant multidirectional motion that ensues.

Referencing video game aesthetics, Anna Jochymek’s three-channel video installation depicts the artist navigating the streets of London, following the Roman Wall that demarcates the first border of city, dressed as an inline-skating soldier in her father’s old military uniform. Borrowing the title from Elias Canetti’s noted tome ‘Mass and Power’ the artist’s work ‘Crowd Crystal (in progress)’ seeks to create a subtle shift in the environment from the position of the migrant.

Other works take a more cynical stance ridiculing the mass media for amplifying public anxiety through fearmongering tactics as seen in Tamara Kametani’s work ‘Total Security Life’, a fictional company specialising in security solutions. The work is compounded in the form of a CGI film modelled using corporate and advertising aesthetics, a website and a commercial trade fair stand that sells walls to keep unwanted people out.

Zoë Aiano’s film ‘Skywalker’ features a group of witches from Eastern Serbia who are trained in issues related to crossing borders, offering guidance on how to secure foreign papers and casting spells to facilitate freedom of movement.

Running 2/3 – 13/4 Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11am – 6pm

www.centrala-space.org.uk
 

With hundreds of wedding specialists on show, from bridal boutiques and florists to jewellers and photographers, this is a great opportunity to try, buy, book and hire everything you need for your special day at the UK’s biggest wedding show.

Visit www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk

Birmingham St Mary’s turns 40 next year and to celebrate they’re hosting a  fun night of dinner and entertainment.

Doors will open at 6.30pm where there’ll be a welcome drinks reception. From 7pm CEO Tina Swani will talk guests through how far the organisation has come over the last 40 years, the amazing things that have been achieved and what the future looks like for palliative and end of life care in the city. Dinner will be served at 8pm with entertainment, raffles and games throughout before a live auction and live comedy from brummie Queen of Fun, Barbara Nice.

Carriages at midnight.

Dress Code: Black tie

Tickets:

Individuals – £79.00

(shared table of 10, welcome drink, 3 course meal and entertainment included)

Two People – £150.00

(shared table of 10 welcome drink, 3 course meal and entertainment included)

Bronze Table of 10 – £750.00

(table of 10, welcome drink, 3 course meal and entertainment included)

Silver Table of 10 – £850.00

(table of 10, welcome drink, 3 course meal, drinks package and entertainment included)

Gold Tables of 10 – £950.00

(table of 10, welcome drink, 3 course meal, VIP drinks package and entertainment included)

Visit https://www.birminghamhospice.org.uk/our-40th-anniversary