Street Cred Magazine - November 2019

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Music fashion Film Gadgets holiday education health and fitness

NOVEMBER 2019

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Apache Indian The Birmingham-born legend celebrates 30 years in the industry

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THE MORMONS ARE COMING To BIRMINGHAM

T

he Book of Mormon, Broadway’s smashhit musical written

by Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez, is coming to Birmingham Hippodrome next year from 4 March 2020 with Public booking for the Tony, Olivier and Grammy award-winning is open now.

The Book of Mormon follows a pair of Mormon boys sent on a mission to a place that’s a long way from their home in Salt Lake City.

Since making its world premiere in March 2011 at New York’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre, where it won nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, The Book of Mormon has been performed on three continents and won over thirty international awards.

The musical has smashed longstanding box office records in New York, London, Melbourne, Sydney and cities across the U.S. The London production opened in February 2013, winning four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical, and breaking the record for the highest single day of sales in West End history. It has sold out every one of its 2766 performances to date at the Prince

of Wales Theatre.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the creators of the Emmy and Peabody award-winning television show, South Park, now in its twenty second season, and the feature films South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut and Team America: World Police.

Robert Lopez co-created the Broadway musical Avenue Q and co-wrote the songs for Disney’s Frozen and Coco. He is one of only fifteen artists to win all four major entertainment awards Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards.

Book, Music and Lyrics are

by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Directed by Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, The Book of Mormon has choreography by Casey Nicholaw, set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt, sound design by Brian Ronan, orchestrations by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus and music supervision and vocal arrangements by Stephen Oremus.

The Book of Mormon is produced by Anne Garefino, Scott Rudin, Important Musicals and Sonia Friedman Productions.

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B

irmingham Repertory Theatre has joined forces with a group of partners to launch a ground-breaking project to promote positive mental health among young African Caribbean men.

The project, called Shifting the Dial, uses cultural activities to encourage young black men to discuss and explore mental health issues and build resilience through promoting wellbeing, improving self-esteem and encouraging personal development.

With National Lottery funding of almost £750,000, Shifting the Dial brings together the skills and experience of The REP, community engagement organisation First Class Legacy, the charity Centre for Mental Health, and Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The three-year scheme will also identify and promote a group of 30 ambassadors to act as role models and mentors for the community.

And through evaluation and learning, it aims to result in system-change, encouraging young black men to seek help for mental health issues earlier and to encourage the mental health sector to provide the appropriate support.

The project follows more than three years of work by The REP which runs Lightpost Theatre Company, a drama group for young African Caribbean men which explores subjects around mental wellbeing.

“There is an over-representation of young black men who are admitted to services when it’s almost too late,” says theatre

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www.streetcredmagazine.com director Philip Morris, who manages the Lightpost company.

“They’re not going in to see doctors in the early stages.

“The aim of the initial project was to encourage them to change that. It allowed a free space through theatre where young black men could express themselves around these subjects and address some potential issues for those who were at risk.”

After the first year the weekly group, who were aged between 16-26, staged a show at The REP based on their experiences of mental health.

In the second year they took the project a step further, creating the theatre company and staging another production Zulu Blue.

Turning the spotlight on racism in football, Zulu Blue was a sellout show at The Door.

The group’s most recent production, The Place For Me, based on the Windrush generation, moved to the larger space of The Studio and was performed as part of the Festival of European Youth Theatre.

And in the summer they performed Brummie Iliad – a new version of the epic Greek tragedy.

“We’re telling stories from a black male perspective in society and the complexities that can come along with that,” says Philip.

“And by staging the shows at The REP we are also reaching beyond that group to engage the wider community including families, friends and the wider public.

“Theatre is an outlet. It’s powerful because it allows you to be somebody else for a moment or to allow yourself to be vulnerable,

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Shifting the Dial for Mental Wellbeing and through that to gain more strength.

“There are so many victories you can have in theatre. It’s not just about the end production with the stage and lights and big audiences.

“But actually if someone is able to speak with a bit more confidence, project and be heard or feels confident enough to invite a family member or the wider community to see them – they are

all victories.”

Lightpost was one of three projects involved in the pilot called Up My Street, funded by mental health charity MIND and also featuring First Class Legacy and St Basil’s, the Birminghambased charity which supports homeless young people.

Evaluation of the three projects showed their effectiveness and ensured the successful bid to the

National Lottery which has led to the launch of Shifting the Dial.

Coming to the end of its first year, the next two years will massively expand the project, bringing more young African Caribbean men into drama as well as other cultural activities.

But the benefits will go far beyond those involved in Shifting the Dial, says Sarah-Jane NiiAdjei, project producer based at The REP. And the title of the project captures this.

“The name Shifting the Dial covers a range of dimensions,” explains Sarah-Jane. “One is about shifting mindsets – shifting the way young black men, their friends, families and network think about mental health. So we want to really change the way people think about mental health and the support they receive.

“We’re also looking to shift the mindset and practice among health professionals in terms of what the needs of young black men are and why certain support and services need to be set up to really engage with them.

And how they can harness young black men with lived experience into delivering services and playing a part in that support system.

“And we also want to shape decision makers’ approaches to how they prioritise the needs of young black men. There are boroughs where young black men are not seen as priorities when strategies are being set yet in all systems whether it’s mental health or criminal justice they tend to be in the harsher end of those systems.

“We want to show that there are innovative plans taking place in the community which could potentially create a process where we can address some of these areas.”

And in doing so, the team believes Shifting the Dial can make a real and long-term difference to the mental health and lives of young black men.

“We’re focussing a lot more on system-change and working with policy makers and decision makers,” adds Sarah-Jane. “So we’ll be working with anyone who is involved in making that mental health system work as efficiently as it can.”

To find out more about Lightpost Theatre and Shifting the Dial contact learning@birmingham-rep.co.uk or visit birmingham-rep.co.uk

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Birmingham to get a new multicultural lifestyle complex A new concept for Birmingham’s Digbeth area is being launched with the pioneering new halal complex that promises to reflect and celebrate the culturally diverse nature of our city. Art.quarter is the perfect blank canvas for a completely new scene.

Founded by Jordan Patel, a Birmingham-based Muslim revert with Indian heritage, Art.quarter has been over a year in the making, and will provide employment and development opportunities in the local area, as well as injecting new life into the Digbeth scene.

The complex is set over 20,000 square feet and three floors, and will be an explosion of culture and creativity, with talent from around the city contributing to create a space that caters for every aspect of modern life.

Launching in late November with a food court, gallery and boutique barbershop, Art.quarter will quickly develop to include a ladies-only hair salon, patisserie, kids’ dessert parlour, fitness studio, multimedia centre, retail and more. With the full complex planned for completion by March 2020, Art.quarter promises to quickly become the beating heart of the city.

Jordan’s vision for the complex is simple but ambitious - he wants to create unity through common interests, and create

an environment for everyone to thrive, no matter their beliefs or heritage.

“The idea for Art.quarter comes from a deep understanding of the divisions in our city, and our society, and a desire to help to heal those wounds though creativity, “I want to create a space for people to share experiences and begin to understand one another, “Muslim, Indian and British values all coexist peacefully inside me; I want Art.quarter to show that they can coexist peacefully in society, too.”

In line with the collaborative nature of the project, the Art. quarter team are looking for local creatives to put their stamp on the space and staff of all levels.

They also welcome enquiries from parties who are interested in business partnership opportunities.

Clannad celebrate award winning 50 year career

H

aving sold 15 million records worldwide and with eight Top 10 U.K. albums to their name, multi-award winning Clannad today announce their ‘In a Lifetime’ The Farewell World Tour. The Grammy and BAFTA award winning quartet will also release a new Anthology ‘In a Lifetime’ deluxe set to be released worldwide on 13 March 2020 via BMG. The Billboard Music Award winners’ farewell world tour will celebrate their exceptional 50-year career and fans can expect the band to perform in cities across the U.K. including Glasgow, Birmingham and Manchester along with a very special show at The London Palladium for St. Patricks day before concluding in Brighton on 23 March 2020.

This will be the band’s closing statement in the live arena so expect major activity around this

final bow.

The tour will last a year and a half incorporating territories such as Europe, Australasia, North America, Japan, and South East Asia dates which will be announced over the next coming months.

To coincide with this very special live tour, BMG are proud to be releasing ‘In a Lifetime’ Anthology; a multi-format, career-spanning anthology containing tracks from Clannad’s 50-year recording career. It will be available as a 38 track 2CD set, 2CD deluxe, 2LP, 2LP deluxe and an expanded deluxe 100+ track set as well as digital versions. The anthology will both delight and excite Clannad’s enormous and loyal fan base as well as introduce this legendary, influential and culturally important band to a whole new generation of music fans.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Experience The Music of Assassins Creed

NOVEMBER Gig Listings F BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY

November 01 Festival Of The Dead 02 Fire Red Empress 02 A1 03 Bars and Melody 03 The Heavy 06 Jamie Lenman 07 She Drew The Gun 08 The Amazons 08 Absolute Bowie - Legacy Tour 09 Kodaline 09 The Icicle Works 09 The Regrettes 10 Burna Boy - African Giant Tour 11 Vampire Weekend 12 Rex Orange County: The Pony Tour 12 lovelytheband 13 Rex Orange County: The Pony Tour 14 Tom Walker 15 Pearl Jam UK 15 Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown 16 The Doors Alive 16 The Clone Roses + Kazabian 16 The Dualers 17 Freya Ridings 20 D Block Europe 21 Sports Team 22 Shed Seven 22 Official Shed Seven Aftershow DJ Set with Lead Singer Rick 23 PUP 23 Scouting for Girls 25 Battle Beast - No More Hollywood Endings Tour 25 Lewis Capaldi 26 Skepta 26 Electric Six 27 Mac DeMarco 27 Swarmz 28 Amon Amarth: Berserker World Tour 2019 29 Giggs 29 Prince Tribute Endorphinmachine 30 Xilla 30 Northlane

O2 INSTITUTE

November 01 Friendly Fires 01 Catapult Club ft. Nova Bloom 02 Fever 333 02 Neffex 04 Welshly Arms & The Glorious Sons 04 Bear’s Den 05 BANKS: The III Tour 06 DragonForce 07 Wildwood Kin 07 Sleeping With Sirens 07 The Bluetones 08 The Macc Lads 08 Catapult Club ft. Infinite Sauce 09 The Rifles 09 Loyle Carner 09 Anniversary ft DJ Nate 10 Marianas Trench 10 AURORA 11 Feeder 12 Reel Big Fish 13 half•alive 14 GoldLink 15 Yonaka 15 Roma Cove & Krooked Tongue 15 Mr Eazi 16 The Hooten Hallers

16 Ivory Wave 16 Metronomy 17 Orla Gartland 19 Maverick Sabre 21 An Evening with The Steve Hillage Band and Gong Gong 21 Professor Green 22 SCARLXRD 22 Yungblud 22 Glass Ceilings 23 New Model Army 23 Rhys Lewis 23 Jade Bird 24 Mahalia - Love & Compromise Tour 24 Tokio Myers 24 Prateek Kuhad 25 Fontaines D.C. 26 Naaz 26 Ruel 27 Sunset Sons 28 Fat White Family 29 Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple “live” 29 Aldous Harding 29 Catapult Club ft. Ali Gilbert 30 Young Dolph & Key Glock 30 Catapult Club ft. Hazard Pilots

RESORTS WORLD ARENA

November 02 JoJo Siwa D.R.E.A.M. The Tour 07-09 Little Mix 14 Christina Aguilera Plus Alma 16 Free Radio Hits Live 2019 19-20 National Achievers Congress 2019 with Russell Brand 23 Nigel Benn v Sakio Bika 27 Elvis Presley In Concert Live on screen with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra

ARENA BIRMINGHAM November 02 E3UK Live 03 Rahat Fateh Ali Khan 04 Catfish and the Bottlemen 08 Magic of Motown 09 The Australian Pink Floyd 10 Chronixx and Koffee Live 12 Liam Gallagher 15-17 Jack Whitehall 23-24 The 2019 Birmingham International Tattoo 28 Dido 29 The Chemical Brothers 30 Midlands Mayhem

NEC

Oct 31 - Nov 01 Bricklive 31-01 GRADJOBS LIVE! 31-03 Simply Christmas - The Crafty Christmas Show 31-03 The Creative Craft Show 01-03 Cake International 01-03 Mind Body Spirit Festival 02-03 The National Pet Show 08-10 The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show 08-10 The Classic Motorbike Show 14-17 Festive Gift Fair 16-17 MCM Comic Con 16-24 Motorcycle Live 2019 21-23 WorldSkills UK LIVE 23-24 Warley National Model Railway Exhibition 2019 28-01 The Art & Antiques for Everyone 28-01 BBC Good Food Show

Winter 30-01 Baby to Toddler

TOWN HALL & SYMPHONY HALL

November 01 CBSO: Friday Night Classics - Andrew Lloyd Webber 01 The Football Ramble 02 Jazzlines Ensemble 02 The Tallest Man On Earth 03 CBSO: CBSO Youth Orchestra: The Rite of Spring 04 James Morrison 05 Ben Fogle - Tales From The Wilderness 05 OMD - 40 Years: Greatest Hits 06 Marillion with Friends from the Orchestra 07 CBSO: Mendelssohn’s Elijah 07 An Evening with Christopher Cross 08 Così Fan Tutte – Classical Opera 08 Frank Skinner - Showbiz 09 Jazzlines Creative Vocal Group 09 Dumteedum 09 Spectacular Classics 09 Jazzlines Gospel Ensemble 09 Jason Byrne 10 The Music of Bond 10 Gospel Goes Charity 11 Lunchtime Organ Concert – Remembrance Day 11 The Lighthouse Family 12 Jack Savoretti 13 CBSO: Capriccio Espagnol 13 Sir Ranulph Fiennes: Living Dangerously 14 The Stylistics 14 Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band 16 Jazzlines Ensemble 16 NOW That’s What I Call The 80s Live 16 Foy Vance 19 688X488 17 CBSO: Family Concert The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra 18 Steve Hacket 19 John Mayall - 85th Anniversary Tour 19 Shakespears Sister 20 CBSO: Beethoven and Stravinsky 21 Bat For Lashes 21 Ardal O’Hanlon: The Showing Off Must Go On 22 CBSO: Friday Night Classics - CBSO Ultimate Playlist with Classic FM 22 Vir Das: Loved 23 Jazzlines Creative Vocal Group 23 Jazzlines Gospel Ensemble 23 CBSO: Beethoven and Stravinsky 23 Hawkwind 50th Anniversary UK Tour 24 Sixties Gold 2019 25 Lunchtime Organ Concert – Thomas Trotter 25 Gordon Buchanan ‘Animal Families & Me’ 25 Ronnie Wood 26 Adam Ant 27-28 CBSO: Haydn and Mozart 27 Show of Hands 28 Red Hot Chilli Pipers 29-30 Jools Holland 30 John Robins: Hot Shame

or the very first time, audiences across the UK will be able to experience the rich musical history of the Assassin’s Creed franchise live in concert in 2020, in a multimedia symphonic project that will tour across the UK, following on from its premiere at the London Eventim Apollo this October.

The tour will begin at Birmingham Symphony Hall on 23rd April, before calling at Manchester Bridgewater Hall, Edinburgh Usher Hall, and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

The innovative and immersive new take on the music of the Assassin’s Creed saga will be presented in a live music setting with new takes on the best tracks in the franchise which has broken new ground in music for video games, made by beloved composers such as Jesper Kyd, Lorne Balfe, Brian Tyler, Austin Wintory, Sarah Schachner, Winifred Phillips, Elitsa Alexandrova, Chris Tilton, Ryan Amon and The Flight.

A full orchestra and choir will perform this unique two hour show

(including intermission), featuring a musical repertoire from across eleven games.

Spanning more than ten years and ten video game instalments, Assassin’s Creed has become one of the most well-known names in the video game industry. The series tells the grand story of the conflict

between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order.

Fans will be able to relive their favourite moments on the giant screen, which provides a cohesive retelling through HD footage of the eternal feud, allowing the audience to be immersed like never before.

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Peaky Blinders creator appointed to new screen industry body

P

eaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, Birmingham-born actor Adil Ray and Coventry’s Debbie Isitt, who created the Nativity film franchise, will be part of a new taskforce to supercharge the West Midlands’ screen industry, it was confirmed today.

The trio will join other talented and well-known individuals from the region’s TV, film and games industries on the taskforce.

The members will now be tasked with getting the new screen industry body up and running ahead of its official launch in October.

This includes creating a name and branding that will attract people from across the globe to come and create content in the West Midlands.

The body’s members will also be working on developing a strategy to revolutionise the current screen industry, helping to drive investment, growth and thousands of new jobs.

It will be chaired by international industry heavyweight Ed Shedd and serve as a single point of contact for national and international film, TV and game makers.

Ed said: “I am absolutely

thrilled with the response we have had for inaugural members, with nearly 50 screen professionals applying.

“It was a challenge to select the initial group from such a wealth of talent. However, I am pleased that the group we are announcing presents a really interesting mix of sectors, backgrounds and experience. I am hugely looking forward to working with them all in the months and years ahead.”

Cllr Ian Brookfield, who is also leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, added: “As part of our Local Industrial Strategy we plan to see 29,000 new, high skilled jobs in the digital and creative industries by 2030.

“By having the screen industry itself leading the way through this new body, we believe we can achieve this and capitalise on the rapidly expanding creative sector to boost our wider economy and future prosperity.”

There are four key aims of the new body, including: • Develop a single delivery plan and help turn strategy into action • Secure and deliver both public and private funds • Commission a variety programmes of activity • Both lobby and promote the West Midlands screen industry

The Who has one of the greatest rock legacies in music history, they’re one of the all-time great live bands, have sold over 100 million records world including 9 US & 10 UK top ten albums and 14 UK top ten singles in a career spanning six decades.

Now Fifty-five years after they made their first recordings, The Who is back with their first new album in thirteen years entitled WHO due for release on 22nd November 2019.

The eleven-track album was mostly recorded in London and Los Angeles during Spring and Summer 2019 and was co-produced by Pete Townshend & D. Sardy.

Singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend are joined on the album by long-time Who drummer Zak Starkey, bassist Pino Palladino along with contributions from Simon Townshend, Benmont Tench, Carla Azar, Joey Waronker and Gordon Giltrap.

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EGX Creates A New Home For Gaming M

oving from its regular home at the NEC in Birmingham to the ExCeL in London was a choice questioned by many regular attendees, but following a very successful stretch in the capital, EGX seems firmly set in its new home.

Sporting the usual array of AAA titles and Indie games, including the hotly anticipated Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Pokemon Sword/ Shield, Avengers and more, there was something for gamers of every side.

With queues upwards of 3 hour queues for some of the top titles not uncommon, what was great was the addition of pre-bookable slots for certain titles, allowing you to skip the queues for the games you really wanted to play.

For the older gamers amongst us, there was the retro section, showcasing an impressive lineup of old school consoles and games, and even a pinball section.

Cosplay was again a massive part of EGX, and even if you didn’t manage to make it to the Cosplay Stage itself, there were many cosplayers wandering around the venue trying out the games, so it wasn’t unusual to see a character that you knew when you turned a corner.

With a number of tournaments, live head-to-heads and prizes to be had on the main stages for many of the headline companies, and giveways galore from energy drinks to merchandise, there is always something to keep you occupied.

There is so much to do at EGX that it is a good job it is a 4 day event, as you would be hard pushed to see the majority of it in one day.

If you missed EGX, then EGX Rezzed is your next UK gaming event, with 2020 dates coming soon.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Snoop Dogg to tour UK in 2020

A

fter releasing his 17th album ‘I Wanna Thank Me’ earlier this year, rap superstar, Snoop Dogg, has announced details of his 2020 UK arena tour and his shows will see him joined by West Coast hip hop stars D12, Warren G, Tha Dogg Pound and Obie Trice – with Irish rap duo Versatile set to playing the opening sets at each of the concerts.

Snoop Dogg is one of the most successful rappers to emerge from the famed West Coast rap scene, which burst into life in the 90s and became one of the world’s most powerful cultural forces.

He released his Dr Dre-produced debut album Doggystyle in 1993, which shot straight to number one in the US charts and spawned some of his biggest hits to date, including Gin and Juice, as well as Who Am I? (What’s My Name?).

He recently covered of Nick Cave’s ‘Red Right Hand’ in conjunction with the new season

of BBC’s ‘Peaky Blinders’, which the song is the long-running theme tune of - which will go down well with an expected sell-out date at Birmingham Arena on April 16.

His other arena venues include:

3Arena in Dublin, the SSE Arena, Belfast, Manchester Arena, Leeds’ First Direct Arena and the O2 in London.

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apache indian celebrates 30 years in The Music Industry “I owe a lot to Handsworth Birmingham, I am very proud of my culture, Indian language, I represent a new movement of diversity that’s why I still represent diversity till today as I have grown up around that.”

“We have a legacy in Birmingham, we have young people who are very talented, but who is helping them? Where are the record labels?”

Celebrating 30 years in music is a well grounded musician from Birmingham that has not lost his roots and remains to be the foundation of Reggae and Punjabi culture.

Actually this man was the first to break through the music industry in a big way with this sound.

Yes its the legendary Apache Indian who is super famous for hit single Boom Shak a Lak that made Hollywood movies Scooby Doo and Dumb and Dumber.

If there is someone that has international success from Birmingham then this is the man to say that does it big!

Mark Dwayne: Its very important the aura the energy you give off to people in the community.

Apache Indian: My aim is to inspire people to be inspired its a Handsworh Birmingham thing MD: You came out in the early 90s?

Apache: I came out in 89 the first record came out in 92 MD: Up to this day Boom Shak A Lak is still a serious tune smashing the place up!

Apache: It’s a world wide anthem I have sold over 13 million records worldwide, and it’s produced by Wooligan the original man from soundsystem days that used to help me on the mic on stage.

Round the world it has been number 1, in Brazil top 5 in the UK and featured on 125 TV commercials It still shows that it wasn’t a song just for that time, people are still enjoying the song twenty years later

MD: The thing I love about that video is it brings me to the times when I wore click suits [laughs] Apache: May have to do a click suit party! [laughs] MD: You are also celebrating 25 years on Island records, the same label as Bob Marley, tell me about the process of making the album ‘In JA’.

Apache: Island sent me to Jamaica doing records with Bob Marley’s team, I want to say thank you to Reggae music and thank you to the whole culture.

I worked with a producer called Jim Beans who was the producer for the Empire soundtrack and he has worked with Shakira & Justin

Timberlake. The album is is me personally and shows diversity.

MD: Your 50 now right I hope I look like that at your age [laughs] Apache: Its all about what you have done for your life how you look and I am blessed I’ve done things all around the world but it is nice to bring it back home.

People know I love Reggae from an early age, I love roots, the thing is I am from Handsworth, Birmingham. I went to the same school as Steel Pulse Musical Youth are from here and UB40 so we have a name around the world for doing Reggae music.

I traced my life back I was born on Holly Road, Handsworth, my parents went to work every day in a factory and I was dropped off at the lady next door who is Jamaican.

She was my nanny and I would go there 12 hours a day for 5 years so you can look at the influence and how I know Jamaica and Reggae culture so well.

We have a legacy in Birmingham, we have young people who are very talented but who is helping them?

Where are the record labels?

But now we have Aim Academy studio where they can come in for free we can help and do video shoots for them. Everyone is getting ripped off or misadvised these days.

If we are known for Reggae, Bhangra and Rock we have to continue that legacy and help young people.

MD: Think it’s time we bring back community spirit and I am glad you are helping to do that in Birmingham.

Apache: We used to help a lot more with community projects.

Everyone had a hand in but I don’t just put it down to people why there is lack of togetherness, the media has changed and what people see, money is tighter.

I thought I want to give something back so I went to Handsworth College and asked for a room, that’s all I wanted and it started off with 6 kids coming in to get life skills and now we have 250 students three years later that all get help to make music for free with video production and qualifications, to help younger people is very important for me.

You can catch Apache Indian live at the Phoenix Newspaper Gala Dinner and Awards where he will be giving the audience a 30 year celebration in music showcase.

Words: Mark Dwayne

F

ollowing their hugely successful homecoming show at Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium, Kaiser Chiefs have announced date for their 2020 tour, with very special guests Razorlight, which includes a Birmingham date.

US alternative rock/pop band Life have also been announced as support for the Arena Birmingham gig.

Kaiser Chiefs will kick off their arena tour in Hull on January 21 next year, with a series of dates following before a concluding show at London’s The O2 on

ENTERTAINMENT

Kaiser Chiefs ready to rock Arena tour February 1.

When speaking about the new album, the indi band’s frontman, Ricky Wilson, said that it was sounding “undeniably Kaiser Chiefs”.

“I went and listened to the first few [Kaiser Chiefs albums] again,” Wilson said. “I listened to a lot of the stuff we were listening to when we made those albums,

like some old Motown and stuff.

The truth of the matter is that it’s just five of us in a room and we make the music that we make.”

Kaiser Chiefs will kick off their 2020 arena tour in Hull on January 21, with a series of dates following incuding Arena, Birmingham on Saturday January 25 - before a concluding show at London’s The O2 on February 1.

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Red Carpet Glitz & Glamour

9th Anniversary Gala Dinner & Awards

MASQUERADE BALL

AFTER PARTY Saturday 16th November 2019 call

07787 311 440 or 07948 155 192

10pm prompt Tickets £40

+Booking fee

Broad Street, B1 2EA

or book online @

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“The OFFICIAL AND Exclusive Black Tie awards after party”

Elite entertainers include

APACHE INDIAN WASSIFA SHOWCASE

DADDY ERNIE TENNA STAR WAYNE IRIE JB DJ SPRINGER hosted by the award-winning

MARK DWAYNE

Saturday 16th november 2019 A Legendary Party Experience ● Grand VIP Setting ● Award Winners Fabulous Cocktail Reception ● High Profile Celebrities ● Red Carpet SPONSORED BY

www.thephoenixnewspaper.com

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Don’t miss MIZ

F

rom a premature age, Shannon Wright AKA `MIZ` has had a flair for music. Her tag name MIZ stems from being "a bit miserable" originally ”Lil Mizery" over the years people shortened it to MIZ, which in her own words is still pretty on brand for whom she indicates to be.

MIZ mentions “music was family born with her siblings taking a heavy interest in UK music specifically grime”.

This introduced her to the genre of grime “grime particularly struck me as a raw, passionate style of music holding my interest longer than any other genre“.

Starting early she realized that music came very organically to her, Impressed with herself that she could rhyme the words “orange” with “door-hinge" (insert "lol" here) she persevered with music at home until joining her first collective ‘variation recordz’ A collective of like-minded individuals from Hertfordshire they performed at youth clubs at the time, swiftly moving on to radio sets at the age of 14 at Empire FM. Never really considering that music could fabricate a career, she got sidetracked with life and didn’t care much for music.

Between the ages of 15 and 18 only releasing a few non-profit

projects for means of expression.

At the age of 19 she started taking her music career seriously.

Attending radio in London multiple times a week and getting performance bookings all across the UK. Hooking up with ”The Girls of Grime" in 2018, gave her some incredible opportunities and pathways in which to gain some thrust within the genre.

She attended BBC 1Xtra which has got her to where she is now, currently working with ‘Female All Stars’ whilst focusing on a solo career.

Like a lot of musicians, music took MIZ to a different locale, whisking her away from troubles in life, allowing her to express herself deeply “The fact I could feel 100% depressed, write a song about it and feel 50% less depressed afterwards kept me creating and it was just a perk that people seem to like it".

Because of her Musical choices, she was able to meet some incredible creatives who have become friends and family, unfortunately, with music being a primacy for MIZ she has also lost real-life friends when music took the centre stage, “people sometimes treat me differently after finding out what type of music I make because I don’t stereotypically look like that kind of artist, it makes building relationships difficult sometimes".

Over the years MIZ has had a number of musical procurements, her first doing a radio set on BBC 1Xtra with ‘Sir Spyro’ “I have a few great musical achievements, these are the points of my musical career where I sat back and said, damn, I can actually do this.”

MIZ is intensely proud of her freestyle on black box whilst partaking in ‘team take over’ with Female All Stars on BBC 1Xtra with ‘DJ Target’.

These are all people and platforms she never thought she’d get to meet so to have reached so early feels blessed.

In summer 2018, MIZ hit a bit of a low point. She had been non-stop grinding at radio and events for

the whole year "I was completely burnt out", this gave rise to squabbles in her music collective at the time and didn’t know how to deal with the changes in her personal life.

Unfortunately, ending her involvement with the collective, she refused to go on the radio, write any bars or even converse about music in general.

It was at that time she truly lost the passion for music and was ready to move on from her MIZ persona and just be a normal person. Luckily, she came back ‘from the mountain’ and decided she can’t give up on something that she adored.

Day by day, she started revisiting projects that she’s been working on slowly easing herself back into the mindset of being an artist, which was a mindset that she was always going to have.

“It’s hard to repress creative thoughts when you start feeling better, especially because that’s what I’ve always had and that’s the person I’ve always been".

Helping her along the way, She claims her partner really helped with this, always coaxing her to create as he supported her through the bad times “linking up with Female All Stars particularly helped as being in a collective with like-minded talented female artists brought back the fire in my belly".

It’s incontrovertible to see that music for MIZ isn’t just being an artist, it’s a way of life “music makes me feel everything, I listen to a lot of different music for my many different moods so music makes me feel happy, sad, deflated, alone, joyous and everything else in between" The future looks propitious for MIZ “right now I am building an empire! I’ve been in the studio weekly for months now, writing and recording material so I’m just sitting on hundreds of unreleased songs at the moment I have a plan with what I want to do with every single one, but the execution has to be perfect! So I’m not rushing anything".

Interviews I guess it always helps to have a plan, “I have a lot of content in the works with Female All Stars so expect a project from us before the year is out!“.

It’s one of her dreams to work with ‘CASisDEAD’, "the level of his content delivery and expression is out of this world! He writes what I wish I could write...

In ways I would never be able to think...

“He is such a creative musician and the mystery around him enhances that even more" so if CASisDEAD is reading, you know to do.

For MIZ, her goals are to be

happy “I want to create things that I’m proud of with people that I care about in places that are beautiful, I want to see and do everything! And I will... the ultimate goal overall is to stay true to myself and do what I want because nobody can hold me back anymore".

I believe her.

Socials Twitter - @MizMedia Instagram - MizMedia E-Mail bookmizshutdown@gmail.com YouTube - MizMedia SoundCloud - MizMedia

@PhoenixNewsUK

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By Mandip Singh Taunque

B

elinda Carlisle blew fans away on the last night of her UK tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her hugely successful ‘Runaway Horses’ album.

There were no elaborate sets or costume changes. Only Belinda Carlisle, her band and a microphone were needed to make it a night to remember.

Choosing Birmingham’s stunning Symphony Hall as the venue for her final night on 6th October made the concert all the more special. The night kicked off with title track ‘Runaway Horses’ and the hits flowed including ‘Leave A Light On’, ‘La Luna’, ‘Summer Rain’, ‘Vision Of You’ and ‘(We Want) The Same Thing’. Belinda sang all of the Runaway Horses Album’s non released tracks as well as a collection of her greatest hits including ‘Heaven Is A Place On ‘Earth’ and ‘Circle In The Sand’.

Belinda, formally lead singer of American girl band The Go Go’s, has released eight solo studio albums including a French album and her most recent album ‘wilder Shores’ containing a selection of Gurmukhi chants.

Belinda’s last chart entry in the UK was with ‘Gold’ a 3-disc compilation album containing all her chart hits across her solo career as well as selected album

tracks across all eight albums.

The album peaked at number 11 in September of this year and was her highest performing album since 1993.

As well as celebrating the 30th Anniversary of ‘Runaway Horses’ Belinda used the opportunity to both meet fans and raise thousands of pounds for her charity ‘Animal People Alliance’.

Those who donated were invited to meet Belinda backstage before the show. The ‘Animal People Alliance’ charity’s mission is to provide high quality care to street animals in need in Kolkata, India.

The charity also provides high quality employment to individuals at risk of falling below the poverty line or being exploited. The charity trains and employs vulnerable people as veterinary technicians, animal handlers, caregivers, and shelter staff.

The charity works with local shelter homes for women and children, to help integrate animals into their community and allow them to help each other recover from their traumas and problems.

Belinda is both the co-founder and ambassador for the charity.

Further details of the charity can be found at: www.animalpeoplealliance. net and across social media platforms.

Concert Review - 5/5

Local Heroes Honoured Through AJN Awards

T

he Association of Jamaican Nationals Birmingham (UK) held its annual Local Heroes and Be Inspired Youth Gala & Awards Dinner as it recognised and celebrated outstanding achievements of what is the best of the Caribbean Diaspora and the wider British community in the development and sustainability of the British way of life.

With the spotlight heavily laid on local unsung heroes in the community across the West Midlands and beyond.

As part of the nationwide Black History Month celebrations, the event highlighted the positive virtues of Jamaican culture and its diverse people and the contribution to the economic, social, and political and community life of the United Kingdom.

Honouring those across all communities that have changed things especially by solid, practical achievement; whose work has brought distinction to British life and have enhanced the UK’s reputation in their respective areas.

There was a special guest performance from Steve Higgins and MOBO Winner Lurine Cato, and Keynote Address by Judge Normanemming III.

ENTERTAINMENT

Belinda Carlisle wraps up her anniversary tour whilst raising thousands for charity

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ENTERTAINMENT

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Two Queens Crowned at Mrs World Punjaban UK 2019

By Mandip Singh Taunque

T

wo outstanding and inspiring women were crowned ‘Mrs World Punjaban UK 2019’ at the presidious Grand Finale organised by ‘Channel Punjab Shaan Punjab Di’.

Ravneet Kaur from Leicester won the over 35s category and Shalini Gulati won in the under 35s category. The first runner-ups were Kameljeet Kaur Sembhi and Amardeep Kaur. Second runnerups were Nisha Chohan and another Amardeep Kaur.

Mrs World Punjaban UK was the concept of Channel Punjab Shaan Punjab Di, the first crowning was in Patiala, Punjab and the second in Dubai. This year the contest took place in the UK. Over the past three months fifteen finalists had to preform individual and group tasks which culminated in the first Punjabi reality show which will be aired on Channel Punjab but now available internationally via YouTube.

Mrs World Punjaban UK 2019 winner Ravneet Kaur said “I am really proud to be awarded the prestigious honour of becoming Mrs World Punjaban UK 2019.

I feel empowered and would really like to reach out to as many people as possible not just nationally but internationally, I feel nothing is impossible with hard work, dedication and determination.

Punjabis are great and together we can make a real difference to our world. I want to promote my rich and colourful Punjabi culture and show that women are strong and capable of achieving anything if they put their mind, heart and soul into it. I want to use this achievement to help, support and inspire others to fulfil their dreams”.

Co-winner, Shalini Gulati said “I am on cloud nine, my dream has come true. I am a proud housewife, which sometimes somehow stop you thinking about yourself.

“You may not believe this but winning a crown has been my childhood dream. Royalty and grace are embedded in the crown.

I love children and my focus will be on children, that they should know our Punjabi language not only speaking but reading and writing as well.

“This will allow our rich culture and heritage to survive and

flourish. I believe often Punjabis are known for their helpful nature and helping others I want all children to increase and build this gift, children are our future”.

The opening act was a melody of songs sung by one of the contest’s judges, Jasbir Singh Wohura, Managing Director of East End Foods PLC. He said “I must thank and congratulate Channel Panjab and the whole organisation who worked tirelessly to achieve their goal. it was a great achievement for the housewives and their families and gives a prominent place to women in our modern society.”

Jasbir’s performance went down a storm and captured the Punjabi vibe perfectly.

Another highlight of the night was the amazing performance by music director, renowned singer - Ravi Inder Sheen. Ravi got the audience on their feet and treated them to a show to remember.

The Hosts of the grand final were Sukhi Batth and Neetu Singh who said “What a great thought Channel Punjab had to create such a platform for all those women, who are married,

l Mrs World Punjaban UK 2019 crowned winners - Ravneet Kaur and Shalini Gulati (Bindi Sandu copyright Silver Fox Pictures) divorced or widowed. It was great achievement for all”.

“Congratulations to Channel Panjab for celebrating the Mrs of this world. The ladies in our lives who work so hard as mums, wives, daughter-in-laws and so much more and do it all with a smile. Congratulations to all the contestants.

“They were fabulous. And a huge well done to all the family members who came to support them. I could see the little children so proud of their mums on stage” added Sukhi.

“It was an excellent event.

Judging was challenging but I think just goes to prove the talent

of the contestants.

“Well done Channel Punjab for highlighting to the world the role of females in our society. It was a pleasure working with you all” said Army Captain Makand Singh MBE who was one of the five Judges for the Grand Finale.

Dr Opinderjeet Kaur Takhar a Senior Lecturer at Wolverhampton University said “Well done to you all on such a fantastic event”.

Mrs Satinder Kaur Taunque OBE. DL. was also given the challenge of selecting the six winners from the fifteen contestants “Mrs World Punjaban UK 2019 event was an excellent portrayal of Punjabi Culture with

l Back Row L-R: The judges: Balbir Singh Flora MBE, Jas Wohura, Mrs Satinder Kaur Taunque OBE, DL, Dr Opinderjeet Kaur Takhar, Captain Makand Singh MBE; Jasbir Singh Derewal, brainchild of the event. Front Row – The crowned winners and runners-up L-R: Amandeep Kaur, Nisha Chohan, Shalini Gulati, Ravneet Kuar, Amandeep Kaur (Newcastle) Kameljeet Kaur

a flavour of Punjabi folk dances, songs, dresses and jewellery.

“I am so proud of each and every woman who auditioned and took part in this three-month extravaganza, empowering and motivating all generations.

Congratulations and well done to all contestants and winners.”

Fellow judge Balbir Singh Flora MBE “It has been a honour and great privilege to play a part in the amazing Mrs. World Punjaban UK 2019 with Channel Punjab, Shaan Punjab Di which for me showcased Punjabi culture through traditional singing, dancing, activities, colourful displays and outfits by all the passionate contestants and production team”.

The brainchild behind this concept was Jasbir Singh Derewal who said “I would like to thank everyone for their support shown and for the kind words on this journey, which would have not been possible without the team and we endeavour to continue this journey of rejuvenating our culture and at the same family values”.

The audience loved the event which showcased the best of Punjabi culture. Pav Kaur said “The ladies competing in this contest represented Punjabi women from around the world.

“They made me feel empowered and made me proud to be Punjaban. I hope Punjabi girls and women will be inspired to enter the contest next year.”

The auditions for the next Mrs World Punjaban 2020 are open in Europe, Canada, United States and United Kingdom.

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World Premiere For The New Golf: Digitalised, Connected, And Intelligent T he Golf is the most successful European car for more than four decades. A new chapter in the history of this best-seller begins today, 24 October 2019, with the world premiere of the eighth Golf – digitalised, connected, and intuitive to operate.

Never before has a Golf been so progressive. With hybrid versions launched at the same time, it is electrifying the compact class. Its digital interior enables a new dimension of intuitive operation.

Speeds of up to 210 km/h are possible with assisted driving. It is the first Volkswagen to use swarm intelligence from traffic via Car2X, meaning it can warn against hazards on an anticipatory basis.

Its world premiere takes place in Wolfsburg, where the Golf was invented, and where it has been built and refined for the last 45 years. The new Golf will be available on the market in December.

“Over the course of seven generations, the Golf has impressed more than 35 million customers. The entire automobile industry expects a new Golf to set the standard”, explained Dr. Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG. In terms of its technology, the Golf is making the greatest leap forward since its debut. Ralf Brandstätter, Chief Operating Officer of Volkswagen Passenger Cars: “This car is completely new.

“But of course, a Golf always remains a Golf.

Because the underlying concept is timeless. This car has defined our brand over decades. The Golf has consistently made new technologies available for everyone.”

It is a fact that the new Golf makes sustainable mobility accessible to many people.

What’s more, with this Golf Volkswagen is moving to digitalised, self-explanatory operation.

MOTORS

Peking To Paris Motor Challenge Scoops Major Honours Peking Paris 2019 achieved ‘Motorsport Event of the Year’ prize at the prestigious Historic Motoring Awards in London on Thursday 17th October 105 intrepid global competitors took 36 days, crossing 12 countries and eight time zones, most who finished the 14,680 km 8,500 mile epic motoring adventure agreed it had been the toughest yet.

The seventh edition of the famous event first run in 1907, followed in the footsteps of the early pioneers.

In adhering to the spirit of the original event which produced such an epic motoring experience, it clearly impressed the industry luminaries on the panel of judges on the International Historic Motoring Awards committee.

The ERA Peking to Paris Motor Challenge is often described as the world’s greatest motoring endurance event, but with this award it has now firmly set itself as the jewel in the historic motoring crown.

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ENTERTAINMENT MOTORS

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he boss of one of Europe's biggest independent Ford car dealers has warned jobs could be lost in his industry, after the UK leaves the EU. Peoples chair Brian Gilda, who runs six dealerships in Scotland and the north of England, said Brexit tariffs could push costs up 15%.

The dealership announced a 17% drop in profit in the last year, to £4.5m.

That came as the UK carmakers' industry body, the SMMT, said it needed Brexit "like a hole in the head".

New investment in the UK car industry has plummeted as manufacturers concentrated on getting ready for a possible nodeal Brexit.

The government said that the automotive industry "remains one of our great success stories", adding that it had been helping businesses to prepare.

Peoples, which employs 400 staff, saw record turnover of £277m in the past year but said the profit fall showed trading conditions were "difficult".

Gilda said of the post-Brexit landscape: "At some stage, tariffs are going to be introduced.

"You could have an engine which is built in Dagenham, which gets exported into Europe which will have a tariff.

"It then gets fitted into a Fiesta in Cologne and comes back in, and will have a tariff."

Mr Gilda added: "It looks as those these tariffs are going to add somewhere between 10% and 15% to the price of a car.

"The manufacturers can't

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Boss warns of postBrexit tariffs and job cuts in motor industry

afford that right now. They're in the grubber financially, so something's going to happen in terms of production.

"That's going to affect consumer confidence and that in-turn will affect the economy and jobs."

Asked if that could force the closure of car dealerships, he said: "I'm sure that's the case.

"Some privately-owned companies who are lacking in resource might just say, 'enough is enough, this is worse than a

recession'."

Mr Gilda said he had been putting his own Brexit plans in place, adding: "I am hopeful that we will get a result, but determined not to fall apart if we don't."

First 100% Electric London Black Cab In 120 Years Launched By Dynamo

The last time London had a 100% electric taxi was 120 years ago, when Queen Victoria was still on the throne.

The Bersey Taxi, was introduced in 1897 and was operational until 1899. It had a range of 30 miles between each recharge.

Dynamo Managing Director Brendan O’Toole unveiled the Dynamo Taxi, based on a Nissan e-NV200 Evalia MPV, at the International Clean Air Conference at London City Hall in front of attendees including New Minister for the Future of Transport George Freeman, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd. Managing Director Kalyana Sivagnanam.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “Air pollution is a national health crisis that is stunting the lung development of our children and leading to thousands of premature deaths.

“We have cut pollution by a third in central London by introducing the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone and worked tirelessly to clean up the bus and taxi fleet.

“London’s black cabs are known around the world, which is why I am pleased to launch the first all-electric London black cab by Dynamo. Working with cabbies to go electric is a key part of our plans to improve London’s air quality. The Dynamo Taxi will accelerate the retirement of polluting diesel taxis from city streets across the UK, improving air quality, helping to tackle the climate emergency and to create a green economy. I’ve been delighted by the number of cabbies who have applied for our £42 million fund to trade in their older, dirtier vehicles earlier – doing their bit to improve our filthy air.”

“The Dynamo Taxi is the UK’s first Transport for Londonapproved fully electric taxi and is designed with both drivers and passengers in mind. With a low starting price, and a reliable vehicle architecture in the Nissan e-NV200, we are offering a truly unique solution to the tens of thousands of taxi drivers in London and cities across the UK.”