budding comedians get chance to hit the comedy circuit Aspiring comics will get the chance to show off their talents at a unique showcase event in West Bromwich. The Public arts centre will host the open mic event with a £100 cash prize up for grabs for the winner who will also get a stepping stone onto the comedy circuit with the chance to earn support slots for touring comedy artists at the venue. The Starter for Ten event takes place in front of a panel of judges and a live audience on September 23 and will launch The Public’s autumn programme of comedy nights. Comics wishing to enter the competition should email a promo video or links to online content to comedy@thepublic.com, together with an application form available from www.thepublic.com. Deadline for entries is Friday, August 26. For terms and conditions and more information visit www.thepublic.com.
hip hop gospel sounds to be showcased in birmingham
home of metal
Mobo Award winner Jahaziel and New York rapper R-Swift lead an eclectic line-up of hip hop and gospel for two shows in Birmingham this month. Recognize: Presenting Future Gospel takes place at The Drum in Aston on August 4 followed by a special gospel showcase performance as part of Birmingham Carnival, a bi-annual celebration which returns to Handsworth Park on August 7.
A region-wide campaign celebrating the roots of heavy metal music continues this month, with new exhibitions launching in the Black Country. Home of Metal launched in June with exhibitions in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, while a new display has now been unveiled in Walsall. The New Art Gallery in Walsall hosts Be True To Your Oblivion by multi-discipline artist Mark Titchner until September 10. It includes a brand new film entitled N (I) B, based around a portrait video of musician and sound artist Nicholas Bullen, a founding member of grindcore heroes Napalm Death who became renowned for his ‘Death Grunt’ vocal style. You Should Be Living: The Visual Language of Heavy Metal (pictured below) also continues at Wolverhampton Art Gallery until September 17, a contemporary collection of work inspired by heavy metal including typography, vintage t-shirts and sculptures. It also includes a collaboration work by Bullen and French artist and grindcore fan Damien Deroubaix featuring sculptures, paintings and cinefilm footage. The Black Country Weekender, featuring events, films, live music and talks, takes place at various venues from September 1 to 4. Visit www.homeofmetal.com.
Recognize has been programmed by Punch Records and MUZIC4LIFE with a trans-Atlantic bill which includes US artists R-Swift (pictured right) and Eshon Burgundy, alongside UK talents such as vocalist Melody from Nu Soul, emerging talent Ms Coco Dupree and Jahaziel, renowned for his combination of gospel music and hard-hitting rhymes. The events will blend rap, soul and RnB with a contemporary take on cuttting edge and traditional gospel music. Tickets for the first concert at The Drum in Potters Lane on August 4 are priced at £10. The artists return to Birmingham for a special showcase performance on the main stage in front of a 50,000-strong carnival crowd. The Caribbean-themed Birmingham Carnival, including Mardi Gras-style parade, runs from 1pm to 8.30pm on August 7, taking place in its original home of Handsworth Park for the first time in 17 years.
GUERILLA Table tennis project SEARCHes FOR BRUM’S KING OF PING
More than 50 table tennis tables have been in place at various locations ranging from Victoria Square to Cadbury World and will remain in place until August 8. Challengers will take part in a huge public tournament to bring the Ping Brum project to a close with a bang between 2pm and 6pm on Sunday, August 7. 4
Photo by Lee Allen
Table tennis hopefuls will compete to become Brum’s ‘King of Ping’ before the city’s outdoor tables disappear.
An abandoned shop in Corporation Street has also been turned into The Ping Pong Parlour with arts festival Fierce taking over the parlour on Fridays to add its own unique style. The final Fierce Friday takes place on August 5, with Fierce joining forces with arts collaboration Search Party to host a marathon game of ping pong between 5pm and 8pm. For more details including locations of tables and how to enter the King of Ping tournament visit www.pingbrum.co.uk. Brum Notes Magazine