are made. There’s an Ort brand, Josie designs the posters, and the team are protective and knowledgeable about what Ort is, they know certain music is right for the space and the crowd. Josie suggests “acoustic over loud” as a guide but don’t assume they lack variety. Anyone who takes a quick glance at the listing will see there’s always something different on: whether it’s classes, performances, pop-up food events or film. Ort has a strong enough following to be able to support new artists and ensure a good night for all.
The team want people to come forward with new music, art and ideas, and it seems they do. Josie receives between ten and twenty emails a day from people wanting to perform or exhibit, which tells us one thing if it tells us anything, that Ort is both needed and doing well. The people that perform at Ort become part of it, they build personal relationships and Josie is clearly pleased to see staff and performers go on to do well. Those who have come on placement and moved on to a job is something she’s proud of.
In the future Ort want to grow. There may be space to expand, there may be other opportunities around. They are proud of their location and want to continue to give people a reason to come down to their home in Balsall Heath. Whilst Ort has laid down great foundations and built up an army of fans, much of course will depend on the future of the area and the building. Josie remains “passionate, and absolutely loves it”. With the affection we all have for Ort I’m sure it will continue to be a fixture in the area for years to come.
To close, like my experiences of sitting drinking tea in Ort or seeing people perform, meeting Josie was a real joy. Josie and Ridhi have created a great venue and resource for Birmingham. It’s a real gem on the Moseley Road and if you’ve never been then you are missing out. To get in touch with the team at Ort email info@ortcafe.co.uk Tom Gillam tom@moseleyb13.com
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