Entertainment News

Dancehall superstar Popcaan has announced his European headline tour for 2023, where he will be performing his new album ‘Great is He’ for the first time.

The 13-date stretch, produced by Live Nation, kicks off on Saturday, 6 May at Paris’ Salle Pleyel, making stops in Ireland, the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Germany, before closing the tour in Madrid, Spain on Thursday, 5 May at La Riviera. This will be the first time that Popcaan has performed his new album in full.

Almost nine million pounds to support the arts sector and cultural activities in Birmingham for 2023-2026 is set to be approved by Cabinet next week (21 March 2023).

The Commissioning of Cultural Activities 2023-26 report proposes revenue funding grants totalling £2,976,151 per annum over the next three financial years. This will cover the same funding period for those arts organisations in receipt of National Portfolio Funding from Arts Council England, therefore supporting arts organisations' ability to plan for a sustainable future in challenging times.

Space scientist and broadcaster, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, has been named as a Barbie Role Model for her work promoting science careers to girls.

The Sky at Night and CBeebies Stargazing presenter was honoured with a Barbie doll as part of International Women's Day on Wednesday and British Science Week from 10-19 March. Earlier this month, the astronomer became the new chancellor at the University of Leicester, which is known for space research.

The Royal Three Counties Show, one of the UK’s largest celebrations of our glorious countryside and rural life, is set to return to Three Counties Showground in Malvern from 16 – 18 June 2023, with a fantastic line-up of new experiences, special guests, family fun, exciting entertainment and outstanding food and drink. 

Over the past century, the Royal Three Counties Show has become a much-loved event in the calendar, and now features over 6,000 animals, the UK’s largest collection of rare and native breed animals and numerous livestock national breed shows, with 15 due to be held this year.

The Joy Filmfare Awards Bangla 2022 celebrates artistic and technical excellence in Bangla cinema, with this, the sixth edition, seeing Joy Personal Care as the title partner.

Held at the ITC Royal Bengal in Kolkata, and hosted by Ankush Hazra, Anirban Bhattacharya and Srabanti Chatterjee, it was a star-studded celebration of the best of Bengali cinema, with the likes of Aparna Sen, Sourav Das and Subhashree Ganguly just some of the big names in attendance.

In the late ‘90s, the girl band phenomenon B*Witched were superstars, with super-catchy pop, Irish charm and double-denim being a constant fixture at the top of the charts.

They became the youngest girl group to have a UK#1 with the irresistible double-Platinum ‘C’est La Vie’, which they followed with another three consecutive chart-topping singles (‘Rollercoaster’, ‘To You I Belong’ and ‘Blame It On The Weatherman’) as well as two Top 5 albums with big moments including the Royal Variety Performance  to US tours (including with Britney Spears and *NYSNC), B*Witched did it all.

Accomplished record label Acid Jazz & Other Illicit Grooves celebrate 35 magnificent years of trailblazing music with a series of residencies touring locations across the UK where Acid Jazz was arguably the strongest influence in Birmingham, Leeds, London, Bristol and Luton.

The Music, Arts, Dance & Culture Exhibition will host exclusive Q&As with Acid Jazz stalwarts of the scene, Eddie Piller (Acid Jazz Records/DJ), Dean Rudland (Acid Jazz Records/DJ), Omar (Singer), Snowboy (DJ), John Stapleton (DJ), Perry Louis (Jazzcotech dancer and DJ), Adam Regan (DJ), The Dig Family (DJs and promoters), Adrian Gibson (AGMP), with live performances plus many more guest artists, DJs and dancers TBA.

Two plaques have been unveiled in Coventry to celebrate the history of 2-Tone music.

Sited at Coventry Railway Station, they mark the former locations of the Rocket pub and Horizon Studios, which played notable roles in the development of the scene.

Taking over Bristol’s Harbourside this July, Siren is back at the Bristol Amphitheatre to bring three nights of drum and bass, jungle and dancehall anthems. Award-winning hit maker Sean Paul will headline on Friday 28th July and make sure Bristolians are stuck like glue to the harbourside this summer. Pre Order your tickets here!

The St. Kitts Music Festival has announced a spectacular lineup of musical artists performing at the 25th Annual St. Kitts Music Festival from 22-24 June 2023, for a weekend of Soul, Soca, Jazz, R&B, Reggae and more. Internationally renowned performers will include Chronixx, Koffee, Govana, Skillibeng, Air Supply, Valiant, Patrice Roberts, Skinny Fabulous, Byron Messiah, and GrandMasters Band. Additional talent will be announced in the coming weeks.

Breakin’ Convention’s all-new international line-up is heading to Birmingham Hippodrome on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 June as part of its ground-breaking hip hop festival. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Breakin’ Convention 2023 will commence at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in April before embarking on a major UK tour, which culminates at the Hippodrome.

Uniting the sun-kissed folk-rock of the ‘70s West Coast scene with the grittier edge of modern Americana, Belle Roscoe are poised to make a big impression in 2023, starting with today’s release of their new single ‘The Birds’. The track will feature on their new EP ‘Talking To The Walrus’ which follows later this year, with both releases coming via a new deal with Regent Street Records.

Iconic reggae band UB40 are celebrating their 45th anniversary with a very special outdoor show in their native Moseley, Birmingham, on Sunday 27 August 2023. Entitled The Homecoming, the performance takes place at Moseley Park and Pool, in an area steeped in UB40 history.

Joining the globetrotting superstars are British soul/R&B pioneers Soul II Soul, Manchester’s The Mouse Outfit, DJ Don Letts, and Caribbean ensemble Freetown Collective.

Directed by Tessa Walker, this celebrated novel is brought to thrilling theatrical life in a new adaptation by the author, as it tells the story of Amber, a young girl deftly defining her place in the world, as she navigates a difficult homelife and bullying at school with sanctuary coming through her one escape of running and running fast.

Following a sensational visit to the city in 2021, Tom Cruise is back in Birmingham!

Taking a break from starring in Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image Saves the World at Birmingham Rep, the Hollywood star took the time to visit some of his favourite spots in the city.

JLS have thrilled their fans by announcing a reunion tour of the UK and Ireland.

The singers – Marvin Humes, Oritsé Williams, JB Gill and Aston Merrygold – are going to hit the road for the EVERYBODY SAY JLS: The Hits Tour later this year. The former X Factor stars announced their news on social media after teasing a big announcement.