Entertainment News

Birmingham based cider, Kingstone Press, part of Aston Manor Cider, has partnered with a local illustrator to unveil a huge ‘Ode to Lockdown’ mural in the heart of the West Midlands.

Kingstone Press has teamed up with local Birmingham artist, Jimmy Rogers, to create the unique mural on display at The Custard Factory in Digbeth to reflect the lives we have been living since March last year.

The two have come together to create a mural that depicts the recent lifestyle adjustments, including social distancing, video calls, meeting outdoors and most importantly celebrating the efforts of the NHS.  The mural takes passers-by on a journey through the weird and whacky moments we have endured over the last year and celebrates the moments we are now able to share together again – aiming to raise a smile as people walk by. For those Eagle-eyed passers-by, look out for the likes of clapping for the NHS, rainbows, and the hit craze of baking banana bread. 

For city revellers in and around Birmingham and local areas, the ‘Ode to Lockdown’ mural also includes an interactive AR lens that brings elements of the wall to life for an immersive experience. As part of the interactive element of the mural, people who scan the QR code to activate the AR lens, can enter a VIP competition to win a year’s supply of Kingstone Press Cider.

Commenting on the mural’s unveiling, Katie Walker, Brand Manager for Kingstone Press at Aston Manor Cider, said: “We are very proud to unveil our ‘Ode to Lockdown’ mural outside The Custard Factory in Digbeth. As a Birmingham based Cider brand, we understand the love and affection local people have for Digbeth and its culture. Digbeth is such a vibrant, artistic spot in the heart of Birmingham, making it the perfect place for our mural, celebrating the fact that we will be able to enjoy a pint of Kingstone Press together again.

“As part of creating the mural here at home in Birmingham, it was important for us to provide the opportunity for a local illustrator who knows the city well, to help bring our ‘Ode to Lockdown’ to life, with their own personal touch and inspiration. Working with local artist Jimmy has been a delight and we cannot thank him enough for the amazing work and detail he has put in the piece. We can’t wait raise a glass together in the future!”

Local Birmingham artist, Jimmy Rogers, said: “Being from the local area, it is a real privilege to work alongside such a well-known, fun, Birmingham-based brand like Kingstone Press Cider. When designing the mural, I was inspired by the country coming together to combat the virus. To me, the Kingstone Press mural reflects all the things we’ve had to go through together, while we’ve had to stay apart. Whether that was working from home on an ironing board, binge-watching TV, or getting out for your one hour of daily exercise – I hope people will look at the mural and see an element that resonates with them from over the past year and build some excitement for that next cider together”.

The ‘Ode to Lockdown’ mural can be found outside The Custard Factory in Digbeth and will be present until Sunday 11^th July. The Kingstone Press Cider competition closes on midnight Friday 16^th July.

For more information, please visit: https://www.kingstonepress.co.uk/

JC Stewart started 2021 in style, when he was named as MTV’s first global Push artist of the year. The single ‘Break My Heart’ continue to fire his momentum skywards.

Co-written with Niall Horan and broadening his already engaging pop appeal, it reached a remarkable 37 New Music Friday playlists, a total that matched Taylor Swift’s single from the same week. It continued his airplay support at both Radio 1 and Radio 2, while his Spotify following was elevated over 4 million monthly listeners.

The attention continued, most recently when he was highlighted in Hunger’s Britpop 2.0 portfolio. Now JC Stewart’s loyal and burgeoning fanbase is set to again grow in stature as he shares his second single of the year ‘Loud’, together with its official video.  
 

‘Loud’ is arguably JC’s most beautiful, elegant, and reflective song to date that has the bravery to push JC’s lovelorn lyricism to the fore, this time with a twist as the self-confessed Professional Sadboy is heartbroken by separation rather than a break-up. It is classically melodic yet infused with voguish sonic touches, constantly evolving in stature from fragile piano into a wall-of-sound rich with soothing vocal harmonies and commanding percussion.
 
JC wrote ‘Loud’ earlier this year when he spent a few days alone by the Kent coast. That time apart was all the inspiration he needed for the song’s affecting emotional intensity. The track was subsequently produced by the Grammy winner Koz, best known for his work on both of Dua Lipa’s smash hit albums, and mixed by Matty Green (Dermot Kennedy, Louis Tomlinson).
 
In the video for ‘Loud’ JC is joined by his girlfriend, the model Annabelle Hoy, and she also features on the single artwork. Drawing on water as a symbolic representation of being submerged by life’s challenges, the visual exudes a beautiful power in its simplicity.

 
JC says; “The concept of the video stemmed around the fact that sometimes, when I’m feeling overwhelmed, it can feel like being underwater. Both intense and silent. Overwhelming and solitary. I thought the water symbolised what I felt for the few months before I wrote the song and wanted to make that the main focal point. Having my girlfriend in it, who the song is about, was also incredibly special and something I’ll be able to cherish forever.”
 
The video was created by Collective Films, who previously worked with JC on last year’s livestream show and interview.
 
JC Stewart is set to make a long-waited return to touring this summer. He is confirmed to play Latitude on the weekend of July 22 – 25, which he will follow with two headline shows: a homecoming gig at Belfast’s Ulster Hall (September 2) and his biggest London venue to date at the O2 Academy Islington (September 22).
 
Emerging from Northern Ireland, JC Stewart possesses all the traits needed to become a globally recognised artist. His music is powered by a voice as real and powerful as the heartfelt emotions he explores.

Yet while his talent is remarkable, his personality is relatable. His sharp wit and inclusive nature are immensely popular at social media, a following which exploded after Jennifer Aniston shared his quarantine-themed twist on the ‘Friends’ theme last year.
 
That growing following includes some famous fans too. Last year saw him release his big collab, teaming up with 220 Kid for ‘Too Many Nights’, while his debut EP ‘When The Light Hits The Room’ was co-written with the BRIT/Ivor Novello winner Tom Odell. His first major collaborator came when he co-wrote ‘Hollywood’, a song which later featured on Lewis Capaldi’s huge debut album.

Often billed as ‘Britain’s most musical family’, the Kanneh-Masons are seven aged from 24 to 11 years old; all play either violin, piano or cello. They have won numerous prizes and awards and the children all attend, or have attended, London’s Royal Academy of Music and its Primary and Junior Academies apart from Jeneba, who instead has chosen to study at London’s Royal College of Music.

Sheku, third eldest in the family, shot to fame as the winner of the 2016 BBC Young Musician competition, the first black musician to win the award since its launch in 1978. He then became a household name after being invited to perform at the 2018 wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which was watched by billions around the world.  

He has made two chart topping albums, Inspiration and Elgar, as well as being a part of the family’s first album, Carnival, released in November this year.

https://bmusic.co.uk/whats-on/season/the-kanneh-masons-return-to-birmingham.

The Morningside Arena, home of the Leicester Riders, has announced plans for a 1,200 metres squared extension, to increase the flexible use of the Arena. The Arena is the largest indoor venue in the city with a capacity for up to 3,000, and stages many national and international Events, both in sport and culture, as well as acting as a community sports arena.

The extension will increase the facility from 3 basketball courts to 5 basketball courts – which will make it the largest in the country. The extension went through a pre-Application planning review process earlier in the year and the Planning Application was submitted last month.

“The Arena along with many other businesses in the sector has come through some very difficult times due to Covid, but we are very positive about the opportunities going forward,” said Riders Chairman Kevin Routledge, a Director of Morningside Arena.

“Our community sport usage pre-Covid was growing every year, so much so, that our Foundation has had to look for additional external facilities, to support its programme. Meanwhile the Arena’s reputation for staging major events has been growing, and we have already invested significantly to make the Arena Covid-secure and more flexible.

“We are attracting bookings for major TV events across a range of sports which have never been staged in Leicester and we need the extra space to maintain our dual purpose, including the further growth of Riders basketball pathway and community engagement.

“This addition will also improve the customer experience for the largest events. Thus, we felt the time was right to get on with this development, which has the support of all our partners, including the City Council and Leicester College.”

Jo O’Meara enjoyed phenomenal success with S Club 7 as the group landed four UK #1 hits, won two BRIT Awards and repeatedly packed arenas all over the UK. Now one of British pop’s most distinctive voices is set to return with the news that her new solo album ‘With love’ will be released on August 27th. The album has today been launched alongside its first single ‘On The Surface.’
 
And how better to mount a comeback than with a song like ‘On The Surface’? The voice that powered some of the era’s most irresistible pop classics is back and sounding better than ever before. Full of passion and soul, Jo’s timeless vocal is the midas touch that elevates an already elegant power ballad to new heights. It’s reflective and emotional too, as Jo sings about how we portray ourselves and how we can be let down by how others choose to portray themselves.
 
Jo says, “This song is about how we can keep things bottled up inside, And people never knowing the true pain of what maybe inside someone! Sometimes it’s easier to put on a smile ! Everyone is ok ….. on the surface ❤️”
 
‘On The Surface’ is one of six co-writing credits that Jo has on ‘With love’, an album that explores a huge range of emotions. Just as powerful as the lead single, ‘Closer’ is a future wedding classic, while the incredibly moving ‘Lay Your Hurt On Me’ was written in dedication to a friend who was battling cancer. That friend never had a chance to hear the finished song, which was eventually heard for the first time at his funeral. But there are hugely uplifting moments too, including the inspirational modern pop of ‘I’ll Be There’, a reflection of her country roots on ‘I Hope You Dance’ and some R&B-tinged flavour on the upbeat ‘Sweet Surrender’.
 
There are also some engaging throwbacks to the past, too. An acoustic version of ‘Don’t Stop Movin’’ is a reminder that there’s exemplary songwriting at the heart of every smash hit, while ‘Relentless’ is a new acoustic take on the title track of her 2005 debut solo album. Factor in some fresh interpretations of ‘80s classics ‘Missing You’ and ‘Heaven’, and you have a set that rewards all of the effort that Jo put into the project.
 
“I’ve made this album with all my love,” she says, “but I’m also sending it with love to all the fans out there that have been so supportive to me for all of these years, through the ups and downs. I’m so proud of what I’ve done with this album, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”
 
At the start of 2020, Jo had the urge to return to recording. She got back in touch with her previous collaborator, the Grammy-winning producer Brian Rawling, and had begun work at Metrophonic Studios before that week was out. While lockdown inevitably made the process a whole lot more complicated, ‘With love’ took shape with the help of Zoom sessions and other key Metrophonic producers, notably Paul Meehan and Kjetil Mørland. 
 
Jo’s experiences have taken her a long way from growing up on Collier Row, near Romford, Essex. As a teenager, she sang country classics at working men’s clubs before joining an early incarnation of the British-American girl group Solid HarmoniEand working with a young Max Martin. Everything went stratospheric with S Club, before she launched her solo career with the hit single ‘What Hurts The Most’. She even attracted the attention of Richard Carpenter, who wanted Jo to record an album in which she would add her voice to songs his late sister Karen hadn’t had the chance to record. But now ‘With love’ feels like Jo has finally become the artist she always dreamed of being.
 
‘With Love’ track-list:

1.    ‘I’ll Be There’

2.    ‘On The Surface’

3.    ‘Breathe In’

4.    ‘Closer’

5.    ‘I Hope You Dance’

6.    ‘Lay Your Hurt On Me’

7.    ‘Pieces’

8.    ‘Sweet Surrender’

9.    ‘Missing You’

10.  ‘Relentless’ (Unplugged)

11.  ‘Heaven’

12.  ‘Don’t Stop Moving’ (Unplugged)

The Michelin Supercar Paddock is celebrating record breakers at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed, with a number of powerful, eye-catching icons already confirmed for the event.

Home to some of the most powerful road and track specialist cars, the Michelin Supercar Paddock will be one of the most exclusive locations for fans to catch a glimpse of rarely spotted hypercar machinery. This year is set to be the most eventful to date, with an exciting line-up of celebrities, motorsport greats and esteemed automotive figures on the live stage keeping the crowds entertained.

This year’s Batch 6 Michelin Supercar Run is made up of some 70 of the finest supercars and hypercars, which are all housed within the Paddock and First Glance area at the Festival. Outside of this, Michelin has confirmed a small selection of the most desirable and hotly anticipated motors that will take pride of place in the Supercar Paddock. These are the Koenigsegg Regera, Mercedes AMG GT R Black Series, Porsche 911 GT2 RS MR and the all-electric Everrati ‘Signature’ wide body.

Designed specifically to be one of the most prominent and exclusive in luxury megacars, the Koenigsegg Regera combines a powerful twin-turbo V8 combustion engine with three electric motors. Coupled with cutting-edge 800-volt battery power, this 1500bhp hypercar broke the 0-249-0mph (0-400-0kmh) world record in a staggering 31.49 seconds. It beat the previous record from the Swedish brand’s Agera RS, which completed it in an equally mind blowing 33.29 seconds. 

Lining up alongside the Koenigsegg, the world’s fastest production car around the Nürburgring, the Mercedes AMG GT R Black Series, will also take pride of place within the Paddock. Conquering the legendary Nordschleife circuit with an astounding lap time of 6 minutes 43.616 seconds, this 720bhp powerhouse defeated the previous record by over a second on its Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R MO tyres. Boasting a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine, the Mercedes can reach 0-60mph in 3.1 seconds and has a top speed of 202mph.

The 700bhp Porsche 911 GT2 RS MR is set to appear in the Michelin Supercar Paddock. Built in cooperation with legendary outfit Manthey-Racing - recent winners of the Nürburgring 24 Hour endurance race - it became the fastest road-legal sports car around the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 2018, completing a lap of the 20.6-kilometre-long circuit in a breath-taking time of 6 minutes 40.3 seconds.  

Everrati’s stunning ‘Signature’ wide body is also set to line-up within the Paddock. Based upon a fully restored 1991 Porsche 911 964, featuring carbon fibre body elements and a state-of-the-art 500bhp EV powertrain, coupled to a 53kWh battery pack and battery management system, the car is capable of delivering an electric, emission-free driving range of more than 150 miles and sub-4-second 0-62mph acceleration.

This year Michelin has its own dedicated garage within the Supercar Paddock, which will play host to a special car making its dynamic debut at the event. Boasting a 6.2-litre V8 and on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, the car will be unveiled live on the Michelin Supercar Paddock stage to visitors on Thursday morning.

Visitors to the Festival of Speed can expect to get up close to some of the most influential voices in the automotive world, who will join TV star Vicki Butler-Henderson, and legendary racer, Tim Harvey, on stage to discuss some of the world’s finest examples of automotive design and engineering. On Saturday at the event, a selection of special guests will select an overall winner for the Michelin Supercar Paddock Showstopper of the Festival award.

Two of the UK’s most distinctive talents, Toddla T and Lady Leshurr, have teamed up to release ‘2Gether Now’, a modern update on The Farm’s 1990 Top 5 classic ‘All Together Now’, which has been adopted as an iconic football song. The track is released as part of JD Sport’s #JDPassItOn campaign on TikTok, which has already achieved a staggering 2.1 billion views.

Built around a sample from the original track, ‘2Gether Now’ kicks the song firmly in 2021, with punchy UK hip-hop production from Toddla T and Lady Leshurr’s ferocious full-throttle flow. Her rhymes expand upon the message of unity that the original expressed, this time celebrating the nation coming together as lockdown eases and excitement for EURO 2020 reaches fever pitch. The track’s immediacy will also introduce the song to a whole new audience at TikTok.

With a huge interest in football related content during EURO 2020, JD Sport’s campaign and hashtag challenge has attracted over 2.1 billion video views, with TikTok users showing off their skills - from football tricks to make-up tutorials, all with a distinct EUROs theme. Football creators such as Pele Newell, Ben Black and Andrew Henderson have all used the track as they’ve joined the challenge.

Toddla T is one of Britain’s biggest and most influential producers. His genre-melding beats have been called upon by countless top-level artists, including Stormzy, Aitch, Headie One, AJ Tracey and Bugzy Malone. Also a renowned DJ, Toddla T runs his own artist career in parallel to his production work, with three albums and countless singles and EPs to his credit.

Described by Dummy as “a no holds barred, whimsical MC with a sharp tongue and representing the pride of female rap,” Lady Leshurr is the Queen of UK Rap. The huge viral success of her ‘Queen’s Speech’ freestyles established her reputation, which she added to in style when she won Best Female Act at the MOBO Awards. She has continued to be a phenomenon in the past year, achieving 37 million streams for her remix of Nathan Dawe x Little Mix’s ‘No Time For Tears’, and being recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours with a British Empire Medal (BEM).

A new Scottish Anthology of Women Writers celebrating the senses was released yesterday.

LUCENT, An Ode to Nan Shepherd’s The Living Mountain, published by 8d Press, will feature the poems, prose-poetry, and memoirs of 22 women writers, wariting in Scotland today, who were given the brief to explore the sensuality of Scotland in light of Covid and their lives now.

Prominent Jamaican Scots scientist and Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Sir Geoff Palmer, has penned the Foreword to the anthology which represents a diverse selection of women writers, including women writers of colour and disabled writers.

The idea of the anthology stemmed from the classic Scottish ode to nature, The Living Mountain by 20th century nature writer, Nan Shepherd.

Jo Chumas, a writer, novelist and small press publisher, and who runs 8d Press out of the Studio, in the Heritage Quarter of Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland and who came up with the idea for the anthology said: “I read Nan Shepherd’s The Living Mountain and fell immediately in love with the text. Everything that Nan Shepherd wrote about in her wonderful ode to the Cairngorms rang true with my own experiences of my adopted country Scotland. I became fixated with the idea of producing a tribute to Nan Shepherd and I asked writers to submit their work to me. I was delighted at the quality of the work, the passion these writers showed in their contributions and the diversity which shines through, reinforcing my love of Scotland’s diversity and inclusion for all.

“For me, the most important message is that the senses are key to our experiences. Walking out in nature, being among people, getting outside, ourselves come alive, and this is truer than ever in our post-pandemic world. Nan wrote about how nature and Scotland made her feel, through to the core of her being.”

“Fast-forward eighty years from when Nan wrote her book, her feelings still ring true. The senses are the core of our being,” Jo said. “In Scotland, our senses take in all the gloriousness of this country, from the sounds of the birds to the crystal-like light, to the panoramic views, to the scale of the mountains, to the dramatic seasons and wild open landscapes. Nature soothes us and reminds us of what is important. We are all equal in Scotland, all just a tiny part of this massive, beautiful landscape and every single one of us feels Scotland, feels through our bodies and our hearts our relationship with this stunning country. I wanted to share my obsession with Scotland with the world.

LUCENT – An Ode to Nan Shepherd’s The Living Mountain features up-and-coming women writers with links to Scotland and will be released as a keepsake hard-back book, printed by top UK printing firm Pureprint, in a limited edition of 500 signed and numbered copies. It is being stocked at Topping’s Bookshop in Edinburgh, the Abbot House Gift Shop, Maygate, Dunfermline and is available for purchase through the 8d Press website.

With many show-stopping tricks up his sleeve, guests are invited to roll up to Freddo’s Circus at Cadbury World, the newest live stage show in town, for a fun-filled day.

Running every weekend until Sunday October 10, Freddo’s Circus is the latest stage show on offer at the Bournville-based attraction, giving visitors the chance to be amazed by Freddo the Frog and Richie the Ringmaster at the big top. With plenty of jokes to delight the whole family, guests will enjoy entertainment from ‘Freddo the Clown’ as part of the 15-minute show. Encouraging a barrel of laughs from the audience, ‘Freddo the Clown’ will provide amusement that’s sure to delight young and old alike.

The all-new show will see the famous frog transformed into ‘The Great Fredeedo’. Great fun for children, adults and magic lovers, The Great Fredeedo will use his marvellous mystique to read the minds of those in the audience.

Fun with Freddo doesn’t stop there - as well as the chance to laugh with ‘Freddo the Clown’ and have your mind read by ‘The Great Fredeedo’, guests will also be amazed by the juggling skills of ‘Spin Master Freddo’. Freddo’s Circus will be in the big top at Cadbury World on weekends and bank holidays, as well as throughout the summer holidays.

Elsewhere in the attraction, visitors can head to the 4D Chocolate Adventure zone to experience the sensation of riding on the Crunchie rollercoaster and diving into a pot of liquid Cadbury Dairy Milk in a cinematic experience that’s not to be missed. Guests can also catch the talented chocolatiers in action and take a delicious taster for themselves in the Chocolate Making zone, before practicing their piping skills by drawing their name in chocolate in the Have A Go zone.

What’s more, the outdoor African Adventure Play Area is also open and offers the perfect place for younger visitors to make the most of the sunshine, filled with tube slides, climbing zones and rope bridges. There’s also savings to be made at the chocolate-filled destination through the attraction’s all-new Parent and Toddler pass, enabling one adult and child aged five and under to enjoy discounted entry Monday to Friday during term time, with combined tickets priced at just £16.

Gerrard Baldwin, General Manager at Cadbury World, said: “We’re so excited to welcome families to Freddo’s Circus, our latest and newest stage show! We hope chocolate-lovers of all ages can enjoy fun with Freddo in this engaging and unique show, that’s sure to entertain the whole family this summer.”

If you’ve left it to the last minute to get ready for Father’s Day, BBC Good Food has recipes and gift suggestions to keep Dads, and everyone in the family, well-fed and happy today Sunday, and all year round.

Breakfast in bed and a home-made card would make any Dad’s day special, BBC Good Food has sumptuous breakfast ideas to suit everyone from Eggs benedict pancakes to Easy banana muffins and  French toast bacon butties.

If the Father’s Day weather plays nice, why not fire up the barbecue and head to BBC Good Food for advice and inspiration for special treats including Barbecued pork with sage, lemon & prosciutto and tasty Easy vegan burgers?

The weather might mean staying indoors, so a classic Sunday roast is the perfect way to celebrate.  For Sunday dinner with a special twist, try steak and all the trimmings inside one giant Yorkie. For a more classic affair, the succulent slow roast chicken is super simple to prepare.  Roast dinners don’t have to be all about the meat, a veggie centrepiece in the form of roast butternut squash, stuffed with herbs, nuts, barley and feta cheese will make it a meal to remember.

Baking a cake is a sure-fire way to impress a sweet-toothed Dad, and Father’s Day is the perfect chance to get creative in the kitchen. A slice of Easy carrot cake and a cup of tea is guaranteed to make his day a little more special. Or write a heartfelt message on a fudgy chocolate traybake using colourful sweets, edible sprinkles, nuts and chocolate shavings.

If you can’t get out to the shops before Sunday, what about surprise subscription to bring year-round treats for Dad?  BBC Good Food has reviewed the Best cheese subscriptions and Best chocolate subscriptions and clubs – with luck, everyone will get to share.

Dads who like to turn up the heat in their food would love a ticket to the BBC Good Food webinar “Trade secrets: Chilli, adding heat to food” to hear live from with top chef Tom Kerridge and beer sommelier Marverine Cole.  It’s just £8 a ticket/

For year-round inspiration and ideas to get the family cooking from classic favourites to memorable celebrations, order Dad a subscription to BBC Good Food magazine and until 12 July get a cocktail making kit and an exclusive subscribers-only cocktail making class.  The perfect last-minute Father’s Day gift for all Dads - shaken, or stirred!

Hundreds of photos and videos that tell Birmingham’s story during the Covid-19 pandemic have gone on display at Thinktank Science Museum.

The Life on Lockdown project began in May 2020 when Birmingham Museums Trust began collecting digital images and recordings of first-hand experiences to reflect the lives of Brummies during lockdown. The aim was to keep a record of the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure that future generations could learn about this extraordinary time.

From Big Issue sellers on empty streets to the rise in food banks, and from babies born in lockdown to socially-distanced visits to grandparents, the experiences of Birmingham during the Covid-19 crisis can now be seen in the Life on Lockdown display at Thinktank Science Museum. The Life on Lockdown film can also be seen on Birmingham Museum’s YouTube channel.

Rosie Barker, Senior Engagement Officer at Birmingham Museums Trust said: “We felt it was important to capture Birmingham’s pandemic story for future generations to help us understand how the city dealt with such an extraordinary time and major moment in history. It’s very easy when we are all experiencing something like this pandemic to want to put it behind us as quickly as possible, but it’s vital that museums like ours keep a record for future generations.

“The public response to our digital collecting call-out was fantastic – the range of images, videos, stories and creativity reflect both the physical surroundings of the city and emotional response of Brummies to the pandemic. It’s particularly important that we reflect the diversity of people’s experiences during the pandemic – the highs as well as the lows – and also look at whether there is a unique Birmingham experience of Covid-19.”

The new display also features artwork by renowned Birmingham graffiti artist, Gent 48 – the colourful Forward in Unity depicts the City’s NHS and frontline workers fighting back against the evil grasp of the virus and was originally painted as a mural in Digbeth. The limited-edition print of the mural was presented to Birmingham Museums as a gift to the city’s collection by Gent48 and Art4Charity and has been signed by 250 Birmingham dignitaries, as well as Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer.

Prints of the artwork and a book telling the story of its creation are available to buy from Birmingham Museums’ online shop. An innovative Beard and Turban Face Mask is also included - the pioneering design was created by Birmingham designer, Sunnie Delilah, as a protective face-covering for her Sikh father-in-law who had struggled to find appropriate protection during the coronavirus pandemic.

Additionally, the Greenway sisters’ Solidarity in Separation - three masks decorated with words, beads and stitches – are on display. The three sisters from Birmingham captured their feelings about Covid in a family project that kept them connected while lockdown kept them apart.

Originally the Life on Lockdown collecting project was limited to digital items, reflecting the voices and experiences of people’s lives across Birmingham. With restrictions now easing Birmingham Museums are hoping to collect additional physical objects that reflect Birmingham’s pandemic story.

The Life on Lockdown display can be seen at Thinktank Science Museum Birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank and the film can be viewed online via Birmingham Museums’ YouTube channel https://youtu.be/CgsHRZ-d7Wk.

Channel 4 has announced its off-screen commitments as part of Black to Front, following the publication of a report for the Channel by The Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity (LHC) at Birmingham City University.

Black to Front is an ambitious project focused on a day in September 2021 when Channel 4’s entire programming schedule will be fronted by Black talent and contributors. It will encompass every genre – from news to drama - and will involve all areas of the business including advertising, marketing, All 4 and social. The day aims to amplify Black voices, talent, and stories, and is part of the Channel’s ongoing commitment to improve Black representation both on and off screen.

To ensure the project drives significant and sustainable change within the industry, Channel 4 is working with LHC at Birmingham City University to help shape ambitious and meaningful off-screen commitments and to address specific challenges, barriers and issues identified in the industry.

Based on the recommendations of this extensive piece of work, Channel 4 is committed to increase Black representation on all shows featuring as part of Black to Front. Specifically:

·         On all new commissions to aim to maximise Black representation off-camera, achieving teams where all roles are filled by Black talent

·         On existing shows, to support indies to maximise Black representation off-camera

·         To fund progression placements on at least 10 shows across the day to give Black talent real jobs, a supported step-up in seniority, maximise the number of credits they receive on the programmes and continued mentoring to ensure genuine progression

·         To monitor these commitments to ensure all learnings and data are recorded and used to inform policy going forward through a manifesto of change to ensure systemic change.

Channel 4 is an anti-racist organisation and is aiming to increase Black representation in all departments including editorial, production, craft and technical and studio and at all levels of seniority. Representation in teams will be measured before and after Black to Front to track progress.

In addition, Channel 4 will ask indies to provide the percentage of staff spend that comprises talent from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic background, for all shows that are part of BTF day where this is available.

As many as possible of the commissioners and staff with editorial input working for Channel 4 on Black to Front day will also be Black.

Kelly Webb-Lamb, Deputy Director of Programmes and Head of Popular Factual said: “We have been working with The Sir Lenny Henry Centre to help us ensure Black to Front leaves a lasting legacy. We asked the Centre to make far reaching recommendations which challenge us as we tackle this urgent and important issue for the industry. We welcome the Centre’s input which hopefully will allow Black To Front to provide genuine opportunities for Black talent to progress their careers and transform the next generation of creative decision makers who will impact what we see on-screen in the future.”

Marcus Ryder, Visiting Professor at LHC and Head of External Consultancies at Birmingham City University said: “We are encouraged by how Channel 4 has positively embraced the recommendations outlined by the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity for the Black to Front day and recognise the need to prioritise Black representation behind the camera in positions of editorial responsibility as well as on-screen. We hope the report will not only help Channel 4 but inform other broadcasters in shaping their diversity and inclusion policies”.

Channel 4 will publish the learnings and data from Black to Front in order for the industry to assess where there are skill shortages and to inform policy going forward, as well as helping Black people to understand where there might be opportunities for them.

Black to Front was conceived by commissioning editors Vivienne Molokwu and Shaminder Nahal. It will be led by Deputy Director of Programmes, Kelly Webb-Lamb with Vivienne and Shaminder working across the whole day with Melissa Cousins as Project Coordinator. Head of Creative Diversity Babita Bahal will oversee on and off-screen commitments alongside Head of Commissioning Management Emma Hardy.

After 14 months away from their home theatre, Birmingham Royal Ballet have announced their plans to return to Birmingham Hippodrome this October with a season from Director Carlos Acosta that again balances the new and the classic, beginning with contrasting tellings of, arguably, the greatest love story ever told.

Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s passionate Romeo and Juliet choreography and Prokofiev’s glorious score will set hearts alight in this enduringly popular, classic interpretation of Shakespeare’s tragedy created especially for Birmingham Royal Ballet. From the balcony scene’s ecstatic pas de deux, exploring love in all its soaring wonder, to the lovers’ heart-breaking ends, Romeo and Juliet is ballet at its most poignant and beautiful.

Carlos Curates: R&J Reimagined sees Romeo and Juliet get a very different treatment with the Company premiere of Romanian choreographer Edward Clug's Radio and Juliet, a reinvention of the classic story set to the music of Radiohead, featuring tracks from Kid A, Amnesiac and OK Computer. This version explores what could have happened if Juliet decided not to take her own life, and is an exhilarating, emotional rollercoaster that has toured the world to widespread acclaim since its premiere in 2005.

Radio and Juliet will form a double bill with a new work from Birmingham-based choreographer Rosie Kay, further details to be announced.

Carlos Acosta said: ‘Shakespeare’s timeless story of love and passion has inspired so many versions over the centuries, not least translated into dance. We’re exploring some of this rich reinterpretation in our double bill Carlos Curates: R&J Reimagined, also in October. I really love Edward Clug’s contemporary reinvention of the story and I’m also thrilled that we are continuing to build relationships with other Birmingham arts companies and that we’ll be joined by Rosie Kay Dance Company who will complete this exciting programme.’

This festive season, Birmingham Royal Ballet will bring The Nutcracker back to the city when Birmingham Hippodrome welcomes the return of Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy in November. Birmingham Royal Ballet’s superb dancers and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia weave their magic with the timeless choreography and glorious Tchaikovsky score to create a quintessential Christmas treat for all the family.

For spring 2022, Carlos Acosta promises entertainment for all ages when he brings an explosion of Spanish sunshine, spectacular dance and vivacious comedy to the Hippodrome stage.

In a new production created especially for Birmingham Royal Ballet, Don Quixote introduces us to Cervantes’ famous knight himself, lovers Kitri and Basilio, and a host of supporting characters. As the Don sets out on a quest to track down his true love, with his loyal friend and servant Sancho Panza at his side, he finds himself embroiled in an unlikely adventure of love and dreams. 

Carlos Acosta said: ‘We can’t wait to bring a much-loved classic and some exciting new productions to our home stage of Birmingham Hippodrome.’  

Fiona Allan, Artistic Director & Chief Executive, Birmingham Hippodrome said: “After nearly 18 months absence it’s both a delight and a relief to be welcoming Birmingham Royal Ballet back to their home on the Hippodrome stage, for Carlos Acosta’s first full season at the helm.  Personally, I can’t wait for R&J Reimagined, which will be the perfect introduction to Carlos’ bold new vision for the company.”

Hull, Yorkshire: new family business LIFERYDER has achieved a nationwide hit with the development of a brand new stylish ‘Go Anywhere’ kid’s scooter. The growing list of positive customer reviews and feedback for the ‘made in the UK’ brand is set to switch-up the UK market.

Dads Allan Haagensen and Chris Dobson have drawn inspiration from their young children. The former Aerospace engineers have created a patented scooter design. The LIFERYDER Infinity scooter is built to last, made from a recyclable plastic composite.

Allan says “We saw a gap in the market for a scooter that was built to last, which can work on all terrains with the ability to grow and change with the rider’s individuality.

“The 12-inch (30 cm) wheels provide high ground clearance, and off-road tyres mean that the Infinity scooter can be used in all the places enjoyed by children and their families, such as parks, woodland trails and beaches.”

“And because this scooter is designed to be used in many different locations, close to home and further afield, we have made this the first large wheel scooter that is fully foldable, so it can easily be transported in a car.”

Physical and mental health benefits of being outdoors

Chris says: “We have our own young families, so we understand the physical and mental health benefits of being outdoors. We have created a scooter with high-speed bearings and low rolling resistant air tyres. It’s fast and exciting to ride.”

“So, children and teenagers aged 5 to 15 can enjoy the exercise provided by being on their scooters. They’re keeping fit and burning calories without realising it. They are also away from their phones, screens and gaming consoles.”

Challenging the throwaway mentality and landfill culture

The LIFERYDER Infinity scooter has been three years in development, with 21 prototypes. In designing the stylish new scooter, the engineering duo had an eye on the planet as well as performance.

Allan explains: “We set out to create a stylish scooter, but not at the expense of the planet. We have built a scooter which will last. This is a real break from a throwaway mentality and landfill culture and reflects our intention to design a scooter for a circular economy.”

“There are two reasons why parents change scooters for their children – they outgrow them, or the child wants a new look to the scooter.”

The LIFERYDER Infinity scooter is designed to be stylish and grow with a child. It’s fully adjustable for riders 110 cm to 160 cm tall and a maximum weight of 50 kg, aged 5 to 15 years.

Allan continues: “We know that style is important, and we have more than 35 different graphics to enable riders to customise the look of their scooters. As children grow, and their style changes, they can peel off the current graphics and switch them up to a new design. So, our scooters will last for longer.”

“Feedback from parents and children tells us that we’ve achieved the cool stylish look we planned.  One parent described her child’s scooter as ‘the Lamborghini of scooters.’ We’re happy with that compliment!”

Internet hit with viral and social media marketing

The LIFERYDER team have already scored an internet hit with viral and social media marketing, helping them to sell thousands of the innovative lightweight scooter.

Chris comments: “The response through social media and word of mouth recommendations has been tremendous. You can only purchase our scooters from our website, and we’ve had online orders from families across the whole of the United Kingdom, from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.  We are now starting to see overseas buyers from Germany and Poland too.”

He adds: “There are literally Liferyders starting to pop up all over the country which is an amazing achievement from our humble start-up business.”

Chris says: “Feedback tells us that parents value a quality product. The Infinity scooter is the only scooter produced in the UK and reflects our commitment to high standard and quality engineering.”

“It’s been important to get the design and quality right.  Our patented frame design is safe and engineered to last.  It’s also tested to the rigorous British Standard EN14619:2019.”

The London Festival has announced a landmark partnership with Knights Security Group (KSG) to deliver a Covid safe event in 2023. The London Festival is an extravaganza of live music performances, cultural events, engaging new technology and feel-good entertainment.

Knights Security Group will work in collaboration with The London Festival to deliver a strategic and fully comprehensive 360-degree Covid-safe blueprint. It will deploy their wide range of COV-RID products across multiple locations in the festival to keep festival goers safe. Planning is already under way and will continue as arrangements are made to kick off the inaugural event.

With significant experience in dealing with high traffic locations, the KSG Team will ensure that over 250 hand sanitiser stations are kept in operation throughout the two-week festival, regular thermal fogging will be deployed to ensure that all attractions are clean and safe. Going above and beyond, The London Festival will offer free 50ml hand sanitiser bottles to families with young children free of charge on entry to the festival.

All COV-RID products to be used during the London Festival are alcohol-free and are specifically designed to be non-toxic and non-hazardous to use. The COV-RID products are natural and friendly to the environment as they are derived from plants and biodegradable.

Achieving the gold standard for disinfecting locations with lots of visitors and people, KSG will become an integral part of The London Festival team throughout the event with pre-tested teams continually disinfecting all areas of the immersive and technologically advanced event at regular intervals.

Mr Andrew Knights, CEO of Knights Security Group Ltd said: “The London Festival will be provided with the full range of COV-RID products to achieve levels of hygiene and cleanliness that no big event has experienced before.

“All products planned for the festival are alcohol-free, non-toxic and non-Hazardous. By thermally fogging all of the exposed surfaces in the enclosed locations the London Festival will ensure they are disinfected and safe for the whole family.”

The London Festival is organised by Empower London Foundation in partnership with the Nascent Vek Group.

Following his critically-acclaimed project ‘Bettie James’, the chart-topping, platinum-selling recording artist and current ACM New Male Artist of the Year Jimmie Allen will release his new album ‘Bettie James Gold Edition’ on June 25th via BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records/BMG. The 16-track album doubles down on Allen’s expansive love for music across genres, with nine brand new collaborations in addition to the seven previously featured on ‘Bettie James’. The album is available to pre-add or pre-save. The original project has amassed more than 155 million streams along with critical acclaim, and further established Allen as country’s next superstar.
 
Newly featured artists on ‘Bettie James Gold Edition’ include Babyface, BRELAND, Keith Urban, LANCO, Lat han Warlick, Lindsay Ell, Little Big Town, LOCASH, Monica, Neon Union, Pitbull, teamwork and Vikina.
 
“When it comes to music I love, I don’t really get wrapped up in boundaries or genres. I thought we were gonna stop with the collaborations with ‘Bettie James’, and then I was like man, there’s so much music out there that I love, so many artists that I love, and I just wasn’t done,” Allen says. “There’s some pop, there’s some rock, there’s some country, there’s some R&B. I got a chance to work with legends! When I was writing some of the songs, I was trying to picture each moment. I went to each artist to work with them so they could be who they are on the song and bring their greatness to the song – I feel like that’s what makes the songs better. I’m super proud of the body of work of this album and can’t wait for people to hear it.”
 
‘Bettie James Gold Edition’ is a continued homage to Allen’s late father, James Allen, and late grandmother, Bettie Snead, who passed away in September 2019 and February 2014 respectively. It follows the monumental success of ‘Bettie James’, a seven-track project released in July 2020 which featured a wide array of artists from across genres and generations including Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Mickey Guyton, Nelly, Noah Cyrus, The Oak Ridge Boys, Rita Wilson, Tauren Wells and Tim McGraw.
 
The album includes his current single ‘Freedom Was A Highway’, which features Brad Paisley. Recently playlisted at Radio 2, the track is currently Top 30 at US country radio and topped Taste of Country’s 10 Hottest Songs For Summer 2021. Jimmie Allen and Brad Paisley subsequently performed together on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, and Paisley also surprised Allen during his performance of the song at the ACM Awards, days after Allen was crowned New Male Artist of the Year.
 
Another highlight is ‘Why Things Happen’, a collaboration with Darius Rucker and Charley Pride, which Rolling Stone included in their 10 Best Country Collaborations of 2020. They stated; “There’s nothing outwardly political about the song’s pious searching for higher meaning amidst tragedy, but released during nationwide protests against police brutality in a surging pandemic, ‘Why Things Happen’ perfectly captured a broken nation in mourning.”
 
Jimmie Allen will publish his debut picture book, ‘My Voice Is A Trumpet’, on July 13th. It’s a powerful story about speaking up for what you believe in (at any age) and celebrates the many types of voices that can affect change.
 
He has been blazing trails since the beginning of his career. He made history as the first Black artist to debut with two consecutive #1 hits: ‘Best Shot’, which spent three weeks at #1 on country radio, and ‘Make Me Want To’. Both songs featured on his 2018 debut album ‘Memory Lane’, which The New York Times dubbed as one of the strongest of the year. Building on that breakthrough, ‘Bettie James’ and the new ‘Gold Edition’ add to a career that has accumulated more than 850 million streams.