Entertainment News

Flawes’ modern take on timeless pop put them on the map from the very beginning, resulting in a famous fan in the shape of Billie Eilish, sessions with Finneas, repeated support from Radio 1 and performances at Reading and Leeds. Having just finished as guests on Tom Grennan’s European tour, Flawes’ return this year has been better than ever with the singles ‘Don’t Blame Me’, ‘Is It Any Wonder?’, ‘Tears Won’t Show’ and ‘Satellite’ – today they release their eagerly anticipated sophomore album ‘One Step Back, Two Steps Forward’. 

Multiplatinum global superstar Jason Derulo has shared his latest summer smash, “Slow Low”, available now via Atlantic Records at all DSPs and streaming services. Written by Jason Derulo and Shawn Charles, produced by Pink Slip (One OK Rock, Royal & The Serpent), and Jackson Morgan (Machine Gun Kelly, Sam Fischer), The change of tempo in “Slow Low” is a never-been-done-before creative choice that is sure to get everyone’s attention.  Jason is no stranger to being a trendsetter and being first. 

Birmingham Hippodrome’s B-SIDE Hip-Hop Festival 2023 has arrived in the city, bringing exceptional artists and acts from breakin’, graffiti, DJ’ing and MC’ing to the heart of Birmingham.

The free annual festival launched on Thursday 8 June with the Hippodrome’s Young Advocates’ takeover event, which featured hip-hop taster sessions and an informal jam session, and will culminate with Breakin Convention on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 June. Celebrating 50 years since the birth of hip-hop, B-SIDE Hip-Hop Festival has a jam-packed line-up of performances, workshops and activities to enjoy across the city.

Actress and comedian Ali Wong has announced that she’ll be returning to the U.K. with her show Ali Wong: Live at London’s Eventim Apollo on Saturday, 12 August 2023. Presales for her comedy show will start Wednesday 6 June at 10am local time with general on sale following on Friday 9 June at 10am local at LiveNation.co.uk.

Making her highly anticipated return to the U.K., Wong, a comedian, writer, actress, and director known for her comedy specials Baby Cobra, Hard Knock Wife, and Emmy-nominated Don Wong, will swing into London for one date only, offering two hilarious stand-up shows across an early and late performance during the middle of her 19-city North America tour before heading back across the pond to complete a run of U.S. dates until December 2023.

Hey Duggee, based on the smash hit CBeebies series, will come to Coventry over the summer, playing at the Belgrade from 3-6 August, with a press performance on Thursday 3 August at 1pm.

Duggee, the Squirrels and some of their friends star in the musical play Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show – named Best Family Show at the 2023 Olivier Awards – which is packed with non-stop fun, laughs, music, singing and dancing. This is the first-ever stage adaptation of the hugely popular CBeebies series, which brings Duggee and friends to life through extraordinary puppetry and storytelling, with families able to see their TV heroes live on stage.

Acclaimed Birmingham-born singer and pianist Reuben James today releases the title track from his debut album Champagne Kisses. Released on his very own Rufio Records on Friday June 23rd, the album features a host of some of James’s most talented friends and collaborators including Roy Ayers, Braxton Cook, Joel Culpepper, Conor Albert, Ric Wilson, Carrtoons and Vula amongst others.

B:Music have announce its 2023/24 Birmingham Classical Series at Town Hall and Symphony Hall, packed with superb orchestras, world class soloists and unmissable programmes. The new season will showcase some of the pinnacles of orchestral music as well as newer discoveries.

There will be a host of world class soloists, orchestras and conductors taking to Birmingham’s finest stages and, as always, B:Music continues its mission to reach new audiences across the West Midlands and beyond for the Symphony Orchestra of India, Sunday morning concerts with coffee and cake, and international household names such as Lang Lang performing on the world-famous Symphony Hall stage.

Kris James is firmly on the rise.  Having recently supported Will Young and Anastacia throughout UK and Europe on tour, today the singer-songwriter from Liverpool releases his first new music of 2023 - the soul-stirring summer single ‘Caught Feelings’.

The song sees Kris inviting his fans to delve deep into the depths of his true essence, offering an intimate glimpse into his raw emotions and genuine self. Kris fearlessly embraces his authenticity, unleashing a symphony of unfiltered thoughts and heartfelt sentiments. ‘Caught Feelings’ shows how Kris has matured as a singer and songwriter.

Since 2012 Carol Harrison has written, directed, produced, and starred (as Kay Marriott, Steve’s mother) in the highly acclaimed All Or Nothing The Mod Musical. Starting In 2016, the musical ‘rocked houses’ across the UK for over two years before opening in London’s West End in 2018.

Australian sibling duo Belle Roscoe beguile audiences with an intoxicating concoction of gritty modern Americana and classic ‘70s-tinged folk-rock, as heard on their current single ‘The Birds’. Now the duo release the accompanying video for the song ahead of their set at the Black Deer Festival on June 17th.

‘The Birds’ sees Belle Roscoe put their spirit animal Mojo The Walrus back in the spotlight after they were all arrested in London whilst filming the visual for their single ‘Soho Shoes’. Belle Roscoe (Julia and Matty) first met Mojo in the small hours during sessions for their upcoming EP ‘Talking To The Walrus’.

This year marks 80 years of British Black Music 1943-2023, with this event set to be online, plus there could be the chance to have a physical component to engage an audience and special guests.

On Wednesday June 21, 2-8pm (UK) BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress) will mark Make Music Day and British Black Music Month (BBMM) with 80 Years Of British Black Music 1943-2023 – a widely varied 6-hour DJ set by Kwaku BBM, which will display the depth and breadth of British Black music, spanning over 80 years, from the World War 2 era to present day. The programme is as follows (the *BMC: 21 Years Of British Black Music will accommodate the time slot offered to go live on the Make Music Day UK’s Youtube channel):

Come From Away, the multi award-winning ‘Best Musical’ across the globe, announces dates and venues for its first ever tour of the UK and Ireland. This critically acclaimed show comes direct from the West End where it celebrated over 1000 performances and played to more than 850,000 people at the Phoenix Theatre. Come From Away comes to Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 21 May – Saturday 1 June 2024.

If you thought opera wasn’t for the whole family, think again. The Enchanted Pig is a delightful story of animal capers and fairy tale romance, and singers from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (part of Birmingham City University) are reaching out to schools and families with the magical, fun family show at The Bradshaw Hall (8-10 June).

The Halls Wolverhampton burst back into life as Britpop legends Blur marked the official reopening of the iconic venue with a sell-out show. Thousands of music fans revelled in the sunshine in the new-look space outside The Halls - where major investment by City of Wolverhampton Council has improved the public realm.

They then poured through the doors to take in the multi-million-pound refurbishment completed by the Council and new venue operators, AEG Presents, that will ensure the Grade II-listed halls remain part of the city’s fabric for generations to come. It kick-starts an Opening Season of shows that will grace the new 3,404-capacity ‘The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton’ and 1,289-capacity ‘The Wulfrun at The Halls Wolverhampton’.

Thousands of people descended on Birmingham city centre this Bank Holiday weekend to attend one of the country’s biggest LGBTQ+ festivals, with a special focus on providing sanctuary to individuals from marginalised communities. Officially launched in Centenary Square, the Birmingham Pride parade saw thousands of people march through the city showcasing Pride flags, brightly coloured rainbow floats, shimmering costumes and powerful banners celebrating equal love.

Iconic retail destination, Bullring & Grand Central, hosted its first after hours live music event over the weekend (Friday 26th May) – Late Night Out.

Over 400 people attended the intimate gig, which was hosted in partnership with Gaydio and fronted by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star, Ginny Lemon. Guests at the three-hour event (9pm – midnight) were treated to performances by music producer and promoter, Jodie Harsh, Girls Aloud member, Nadine Coyle, and Ginny’s fellow Drag Race UK star, Black Peppa.