Entertainment News

The legendary Sir Lenny Henry PhD will embark on a brand new UK tour this autumn visiting Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in November.

Following the October publication of his memoir, Lenny will travel the length, breadth and width of the country with ‘An Evening With Lenny Henry - Who Am I, Again?’

In part one of the show, Sir Lenny will take the audience through a jam session of stories both funny and sad - triggered when writing his memoir - from growing up in the Black Country, puberty, school, friendship, family secrets and unashamed racism. With his mother's mantra of 'H'integration' echoing in his ears, Sir Lenny will recount setting out on his roller coaster ride of a career - but at every stage wondering: Am I good enough? Is this what they want?

In part two, Sir Lenny will be interviewed by friend, broadcaster and author Jon Canter, for further insights into his life and career, followed by questions from the audience. Come and enjoy these honest and tender stories, told with a glorious sense of humour and help Lenny figure out ‘Who Am I Again?'

Sir Lenny said: “I’m looking forward to travelling around and telling these stories. Writing the book was a huge feat and I’m very proud of it - I can’t wait to share more stories and fun about growing up in the Midlands, my early days in the clubs, pubs and discotheques and of course working on Tiswas, Three of a Kind and The Lenny Henry Show. The show promises to be an evening of memories, laughter and fun - I can’t wait to get started.”

He has been a comedian since the age of 16. He has risen from being a cult star on children's television to one of Britain's best-known and most celebrated comedians, as well as a writer, radio DJ, TV presenter, co-founder of Comic Relief, and an award-winning actor. He has a PhD in Media Arts, and in 2015 was awarded a knighthood for services to charity and drama.

His autobiography, also entitled ‘Who Am I, Again?’ is published by Faber & Faber on 3 October 2019.

Birmingham Hippodrome was ‘proud’ once again to be a part of the UK’s biggest two-day LGBTQ Pride festival that attracted a record number of 100,000 people lining the streets. This year the theatre brought some Latin flavour to the parade on Saturday 25 May with a themed float from Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s smash-hit musical On Your Feet!

The theatre’s colourful float blasted popular hits from the musical such as Rhythm is Gonna to Get You, Conga and Get On Your Feet, while energetic performances from dancers entertained crowds. The Broadway and West End production of On Your Feet! is the inspiring true love story of Emilio and Gloria and charts their journey from its origins in Cuba, onto the streets of Miami and finally to international superstardom. The show hits the Hippodrome stage on Tuesday 3 September and runs until Saturday 7 September.

Laura Smith, Head of Communications commented “It was amazing to once again take part in Birmingham Pride and celebrate the event’s incredible atmosphere with thousands of people across our city. Last year we brought Lola’s Angels from Kinky Boots which was a real crowd-pleaser and this year was no different with the phenomenal dance moves and hits from On Your Feet! Pride takes place on our doorstep so it is great to support our neighbours and get our staff and shows in the party!”

Grammy-winning songstress Ella Mai will be extending her wildly successful, sold-out The Debut Tour. The tour is in support of Ella’s self-titled album, which was executive produced by 10 Summers’ label head, Mustard. The album features Ella’s latest single, “Shot Clock” as well as the record-breaking hits, “Boo’d Up” and “Trip.”

Chart-topping success aside, Ella Mai has also had an amazing reception on the awards circuit. In 2018, she took home the Soul Train Awards for Best New Female and Song of the Year (Boo'd Up) and, last month, “Boo’d Up” yielded her Best R&B Song at the 61st GRAMMY Awards. Ella also took home iHeart Radio awards for R&B Song Of The Year and R&B Artist of the Year, as well as Outstanding New Artist, Outstanding Song and the prestigious Outstanding Album at the NAACP Awards. The UK native who took to the stage at Coachella will be supporting Ariana Grande on the European leg of her Sweetener tour which kicks off in London on August 17 at the O2 Arena.

Award winning singer, musician, philanthropist and reggae icon Rita Marley, OD has released a career retrospective of her most well-known material.

The Best of Rita Marley ‘Lioness of Reggae’ has been released exclusively on limited edition vinyl.

Ziggy Marley says: “I felt this was a project that needed to be done, her musical legacy, message and vibe is unique to her and an important part of reggae’s history. This is a way for us to highlight and share her beautiful art”.

Alpharita Anderson displayed a deep love of music since childhood, singing to her family while working. This passion would ultimately lead her to form The Soulettes, which led to the eventual meeting of local Trench Town musicians Robert Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston – known as the Wailers. Soon after this fateful meeting, the talented young Rita became an integral part of the Wailers musical development, as well as a constant presence and influence in her husband, Bob Marley’s, life and legacy; including as a member of the I-Threes alongside Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt.

Simultaneously, Mrs. Marley forged an extraordinary career as a solo artist, known for upholding the artistic and cultural standards of reggae. Her music reflects the versatility and diversity of reggae through the smooth blends of Gospel, Rhythm & Blues, Jazz and Soca.

Today, no matter where in the world, the name Marley is synonymous with reggae music and the culture of Jamaica.

Rita Marley’s musical career has produced incredible albums including 'Who Feels It Knows It', 'Harambe', the 1992 GRAMMY-nominated album 'We Must Carry On' and 'Spectacle For Tribuffalos', as well as the classic reggae album 'Beginning', with the I-Threes.

Her sizzling 1982 hit ‘One Draw’ created waves around the world, was a bestseller with over two million copies sold and made history as the first reggae single to top the Billboard Dance Charts. . Mrs. Rita Marley, OD continues her legacy today with the Rita Marley Foundation – eradicating poverty and hunger, while empowering communities, in Africa, Jamaica and beyond.

The Best Of Rita Marley ' Lioness Of Reggae' is out now.

Tracklist:

1. Harambe 2. One Draw 3. A Jah Jah 4. That's The Way 5. Who Feels It Knows It 6. King Street 7. Thank You Jah 8. Good Morning Jah 9. I'm Still Waiting 10. Play Play

Tuff Gong Worldwide was founded in 2006, an off shoot of the original Tuff Gong label, which was founded in 1965 by Bob Marley with the vision of producing, distributing and promoting his music free from the constraints of corporate label politics. In a time, decades before, artist-owned record labels were commonplace, the legendary Bob Marley’s vision was characteristically well ahead of its time. Now, nearly a half-century later, his dream is being realized.

Today, Ziggy Marley is a completely independent artist – owning all of his master recordings since 2006 and all of his compositions with Isthi Music – his publishing company. Marley’s robust business goes far beyond music, into book publishing, film and television.

On UNESCO International Jazz Day (Tuesday 30 April), Royal Birmingham Conservatoire has announced that acclaimed musician and broadcaster Soweto Kinch is to join its Jazz Studies team as a Visiting Tutor.

The multi award-winning saxophonist and MC, who has strong connections with Birmingham, brings close to two decades of experience in international touring, recording, composition and radio work to the course, beginning with a public performance alongside two bands drawn from the school at the Conservatoire’s Eastside Jazz Club on Thursday 30 May.

The announcement of Soweto Kinch’s appointment is the latest in a series of academic and industry developments that are helping to establish Birmingham as a new centre of the UK’s contemporary jazz scene, as well as contributing to the genre globally. A considerable community of jazz musicians, academics and industry professionals are now embedded at the state-of-the-art facilities at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and within the leading Jazz Research Cluster at Birmingham School of Media to collaborate and innovate internationally.

Soweto said: "I’m honoured and excited to join the Jazz Studies team. Having had a loose connection with the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media for over 15 years, it's great to formalise what’s been a fruitful relationship, and to build on great musical partnership. I’m looking forward to joining some inspirational teaching staff as well as connecting the dots of arts and music across Birmingham’s communities with this vibrant faculty to help develop a music scene that occupies a vital place within the national jazz landscape.”

The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s Jazz Studies course, led by Jeremy Price, has a student community of around 80 students at any one time and has produced a number of notable alumni over the years including Percy Pursglove, Mark Hanslip, Alcyona Mick, Alex Woods, Tom Syson and Tim Thornton. The core department team consists of Andrew Bain, John O’Gallagher and Percy Pursglove with many international names in jazz also on the Visiting Tutor team including Jean Toussaint, Liam Noble, John Turville, Mark Hodgson and Clark Tracey.

Head of Jazz at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Jeremy Price, said: “The opportunities and resource of talent we have here is truly exceptional. When you couple that with the international jazz venue that is Eastside Jazz Club, the whole package becomes an indisputably world class proposition. On International Jazz Day it’s well worth noting that in this academic year alone we have sent students and staff to Siena Jazz, European Jazz Lab with Hamburg Hochschule and the Elb Jazz Festival, Thai International Jazz Conference in Bangkok, the jazz composition and arranging conference in Denver Colorado, Bogata Colombia exchange, Paris Conservatoire collaboration at Cheltenham Jazz Festival and a big band project with Milan Conservatorio.".

A significant number of international projects are being delivered by jazz researchers across Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Arts Design and Media including the development of a ground-breaking app exploring the experience of jazz festivals in online environments and the use of digital technologies in the planning and management of music festivals. The technology is being researched by Professor Nicholas Gebhardt and Dr Craig Hamilton and tested in partnership with Cheltenham Jazz Festival with the latest version in use at the 2019 edition which starts this week.

The annual music festival is also a project partner for an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) research project led by Dr Sarah Raine. This project will explore the experience of women jazz musicians active in the UK as a means to support Cheltenham Jazz Festival in their Keychange (PRS Foundation) pledge for a 50/50 gender balanced programme by 2022.

"As a major international music event, Cheltenham Jazz Festival has an important role to play in developing artistic and research-led relationships with key institutions. We have a strong focus on talent development and offering unique content to our audience, and our partnership with staff and students from schools across Birmingham City University, in particular Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Birmingham School of Media, enriches the programme and develops artists through an exchange project, jam sessions, free stage gigs, the festival app and research around career progression for women jazz artists. This can only come about due to the depth and breadth of jazz talent in the city of Birmingham," Emily Jones, Head of Programming at Cheltenham Jazz Festival, added.

The Birmingham City University Jazz Research Cluster is also home to several major international publications, has an excellent track record of being awarded external funding and provides committee members and regular participants for the Rhythm Changes conference, now the largest gathering of jazz scholars globally.

Parkside, the University’s important new arts, design and media facility is now home to an archive of written, printed and visual materials on jazz, blues and related music, from the 1920s to the present day. The substantial British Institute of Jazz Studies collection also acts as a satellite of the National Jazz Archive, together with other jazz-related materials and collections held at the Parkside Building.

The materials at the ADM (Arts, Design and Media) Archives are accessible to the public by email appointment (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and are managed by Dr Pedro Cravinho – who also leads the pilot research project in partnership with professional jazz photographer Brian Homer, ‘Everyday Jazz Life: a photographic project on contemporary jazz musician’s lives in Birmingham’.

Alongside Birmingham City University’s jazz studies, research and performance output, lies a flourishing jazz scene. Venues including Town Hall & Symphony Hall, The Spotted Dog, midlands art centre, The Lamp Tavern, 1000 Trades, Hare & Hounds, The Jam House, PizzaExpress Live and the CBSO Centre regularly host performances by local, national and international artists and bands, promoted by organisations such as Jazzlines, Birmingham Jazz, Fizzle, Leftfoot and TDE Promotions. Record labels, collectives and festivals including Stoney Lane, BRC, Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul, Surge Orchestra and Birmingham Jazz Festival continue to offer opportunities and employment for industry professionals, including in retail, production, programming, composition, touring and marketing.

Established by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2011 at the initiative of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, and recognized by the United Nations General Assembly, International Jazz Day brings together countries and communities worldwide every 30 April to celebrate the art of jazz, highlighting its important role in encouraging dialogue, combating discrimination and promoting human dignity.

An RSPCA film which tells the tale of an abandoned Christmas puppy who is thrown out with the rubbish has been named a winner at this year’s Charity Film Awards.

Stars, the tear-jerking short video, shows Woody the Christmas pup being abandoned before he is rescued and taken in for care by the RSPCA.

The touching film was made by the charity’s small in-house team to highlight the Kindness at Christmas campaign. It was filmed at the charity’s RSPCA Newbrook Animal Centre in Birmingham.

The soundtrack features an acoustic cover of the Simply Red song Stars, written by Mick Hucknall, and was performed by up and coming singer Lucy Ellie, who works for the RSPCA.

Films were split in to categories depending on the charity’s annual turnover and the RSPCA won the top award in the Charities with a £50,000,000+ category.

Broadcast manager at the RSPCA, Alan Laxton, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won the Charity Film Award and to have such lovely comments from the judges.

“When we made Stars we wanted to reflect the incredible work that staff and volunteers across the RSPCA do all for animals in need 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The story tells the tale of a toy dog - but what happens to him is very real. We rescue, rehabilitate and rehome dogs just like Woody every day, all year round.

“It was lovely to show all the different aspects of the work we do - from the inspector rescuing the dog, to him being treated by vets, looked after by our canine carers and volunteers before being rehomed.

“Staff gave up their own time to help us with the filming and while this story is of a toy dog - with a twist at the end - this story is played out every day across the RSPCA, but for real. We take in the most cruelly treated and neglected animals from across England and Wales and work hard to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome them.”

Director of Communications at the RSPCA, Chris Wainwright said: “To have won this award in this category against some very tough competition is fantastic. We are so pleased people were moved by the story - which is so typical of an animal that comes in to RSPCA care - and that hope everyone that watched it was touched by it’s message.”

The Charity Film Awards - the third event of its kind - took place in London on Friday night (26 April) and was hosted by actress Sally Phillips. The RSPCA’s award was presented by Apprentice contestant Daniel Elahi.

Simon Burton, founder of the Charity Film Awards. “The quality of the films in this year’s Charity Film Awards was better than ever. Inspirational, heartbreaking and heartwarming films that make a real difference to incredible causes.”

Following a family statement it was confirmed the influential filmmaker John Singleton - known for films including Boyz N The Hood and his remake of detective movie Shaft - has died after been in intensive care following a stroke.

His death came after the Oscar-nominated director's family announced they had taken the "agonising decision" to remove him from life-support.

Singleton, the first African-American filmmaker to be nominated for the best director Oscar with his debut feature Boyz N The Hood, in 1992, "passed away peacefully" shortly after being removed from life support in Los Angeles.

Born in LA, Singleton was considered a trailblazer for African-American directors in the 1990s. Fresh out of college, he also became the youngest ever director to be nominated for the accolade. He also received a second nomination for best original screenplay for the film.

In their statements, the family also took the opportunity to raise awareness around hypertension, or high blood pressure, in the African-American community.

They said the director had "silently struggled" with the condition, and urged people to familiarise themselves with symptoms.

"We are grateful to his fans, friends and colleagues for the outpour of love and prayers during this incredibly difficult time," they said.

"We want to thank all the doctors at Cedars Sinai for the impeccable care he received." Fellow ground-breaking film director, Spike Lee, posted a touching Instagram tribute to the late director, in which he recalled meeting him while he was a film student.

"With His Passion, His Heart, The Way He Talked About His Love For Cinema And Black Folks I Could See John Would Make It Happen, And He Did," the post said.

John was 51.

eSpares, the online parts seller that helps customers fix their appliances and be the heroes of their homes, is partnering with Free Radio Birmingham for Superhero Day.

The annual event, which is taking place on 10^th May this year, raises money for Free Radio’s charity, Cash for Kids. Free Radio Cash for Kids is a grant giving charity, supporting disadvantaged children across the West Midlands, including those who are living in poverty, subject to neglect or abuse or living with an illness or disability.

Last year, eSpares raised over £1,600 in support of this very worthy cause. However, this year, the company has taken its support to heroic levels by sponsoring Superhero Day across the entire Midlands region.

Alongside supporting the event, eSpares will be carrying out a series of special visits to the charities that will benefit from money raised during the campaign.

Cash for Kids received applications for funding from over 60 projects across the area, and are hoping to help as many of them as they can. Applications included:

• Urban DevotionBirmingham – a project that organises activities for local children and families in some of the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the cit
• Evesham Adventure Playground– provides food and activities to disadvantaged families during the summer holidays
• Worcester Snoezelen– a multi-sensory leisure therapy centre for children of all ages with disabilities
• Murray Hill Community Trust –provides therapeutic support for children who have experienced domestic violence, abuse, self-harm, loss, separation, emotional wellbeing issues or those in the care system
• Coventry Boys & Girls Club– works with children that reside in the poorest, most disadvantaged and hardest to reach communities in Coventry

Tom Reeves, Charity Fundraising Executive at Free Radio Cash for Kids, said: "We are delighted to have eSpares supporting Superhero Day 2019! They're a successful local business who truly want to give something back to the community. We are lucky to find a company that are so supportive of what we do."

Ad Casey, Head of Brand at eSpares, added: “Our values focus very much around being the hero of your home by maintaining and repairing your household appliances, with our support, rather than throwing them away. Encouraging a #fixfirst mentality saves our customers money and ultimately saves the environment by reducing the amount of appliances sent to landfill.

“Free Radio’s Superhero Day shows that every one of us can be heroes in our own way. We’re passionate about doing our part to raise the profile of Cash for Kids and the wonderful work they do to change the lives of disadvantaged children in our area. We’re really excited to be lending this event more support than ever before and to be helping raise funds for incredibly worthy community causes.” 

The eSpares website features more than 1 million parts from over 1,700 brands, alongside a handy Advice Centre, full of how-to guides that take you through your repair step-by-step.

The largest of the Canaries is gearing up to host the fifth annual edition of the Tenerife Walking Festival which will take place from 21 - 25 May 2019. Registration is still open and hikers are being encouraged to sign up fast. Thanks to the variety of routes on offer and the diversity of Tenerife´s natural beauty, the Tenerife Walking Festival is considered to be one of the most outstanding hiking events in Europe.

The event is organised by the Tenerife Tourism Corporation in partnership with the European Hiking Association, the European Union of Mountain Associations, the Spanish Federation of Mountain Sports and the Federación Canaria of Mountaineering and covers the island´s best trails. These are divided into coastal, volcanic and forest hikes, which enable participants to discover a huge variety of terrain and protected landscapes. This includes the UNESCO-listed Teide National Park, which is famed for its remarkable volcanic scenery; the ancient laurel forest of Teno Rural Park; the charming village of Taganana, perched high above the Atlantic Ocean; and many more areas of stunning natural beauty.

All routes will begin in Puerto de la Cruz on the north side of the island, where celebrations will also take place to mark the end of the festival including musical performances and the chance to sample an array of local gastronomy. The event gains global recognition with over 10 different nationalities already set to take part this year, including members of Pakistan's women's mountain team who will be training for future expeditions during the festival. The festival acts as an important promotional activity for the island to raise awareness of its facilities for hiking holidays, which already prove popular with French, German, Swiss, Austrian and Dutch tourists. According to data prepared by the Department of Tourism Research of Tenerife, almost 10% of the 5.8 million tourists (approximately 530,000) who visited the island in 2018 practised hiking, which equated to an income for Tenerife exceeding 20 million euros. Tenerife's commitment to sustainability will also be maintained during the festival. To compensate for the carbon footprint caused by CO2 emissions related to the festival, an equivalent number of forest species will be planted on the island in agricultural areas currently in disuse.

The President of Tenerife, Carlos Alonso, explains the value of participating in this year´s event: “The Tenerife Walking Festival offers hikers the opportunity to discover Tenerife´s unique and breathtaking landscapes. Tenerife is truly the ideal destination for nature lovers, hiking addicts and avid explorers thanks to the island´s all-year round spring-like temperatures.”

The Tenerife Walking Festival is aimed at families, groups of friends, couples and individuals and is a fantastic opportunity to meet like-minded travellers and explore the island. Registration costs €30 (approximately £26) and includes a welcome pack; daily transport to each trail; guided walks with a professional expert in Spanish, English, German or French; and a wristband to enjoy discounts in shops, restaurants, hotels and museums in Puerto de la Cruz, the festival's home base. Participants must select at least three hikes prior to the event, which each have an additional cost.

Lesley Joseph will join the cast of Tim Firth and Gary Barlow’s Calendar Girls the Musical when it comes to Birmingham Hippodrome for the very first time from Tuesday 28 May –Saturday 8 June 2019.

Although perhaps best known for playing Dorien Green in the ITV sitcom Birds of a Feather, alongside Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson, Lesley has a wealth of theatrical experience to her credit. Most recently she starred as Frau Blücher in Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein at the Garrick Theatre, a role which earned her an Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.

Lesley’s other notable theatre credits include Miss Hannigan in Annie (West End and UK Tour), Chris in the play of Calendar Girls (UK Tour), The Vagina Monologues (West End and UK Tour), and Kathleen in Sir Peter Hall’s production of Home (Theatre Royal Bath).

On television, Lesley played Rachel Culgrin in ITV’s Night and Day for nearly two years. Other TV appearances include Rumble with Brian Glover, Easy Money, Spywatch, Minder, Roots, and The Knowledge to name a few. She played Green Beryl in Channel 5’s series The Secret of Eel Island, and guest starred as Erica in BBC’s The Slammer.

Lesley has also appeared in scores of light entertainment shows. She had a regular spot as glamour correspondent on GMTV, and presented ITV’s Wish You Were Here…?. In 2016, Lesley was partnered with Anton du Beke on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Lesley Joseph joins the previously announced cast of Sarah Jane Buckley (Blood Brothers and Hollyoaks) as Annie, Sue Devaney (Dinnerladies, Casualty, Coronation Street, Mamma Mia!) as Cora, Julia Hills (Broadchurch, The Archers) as Ruth, Judy Holt (Cold Feet, Scott & Bailey) as Marie and Lisa Maxwell (Loose Women, Hollyoaks, The Bill) as Celia and Rebecca Storm (Evita, Les Miserables, Chess) as Chris.

Calendar Girls The Musical is inspired by the true story of a group of ladies, who decide to appear nude for a Women’s Institute calendar in order to raise funds to buy a settee for their local hospital, in memory of one of their husbands, and have to date raised almost £5million for Bloodwise. This musical comedy shows life in their Yorkshire village, how it happened, the effect on husbands, sons and daughters, and how a group of ordinary ladies achieved something extraordinary.

Gary Barlow and Tim Firth grew up in the same village in the North of England and have been friends for 25 years.  With Take That, Gary has written and co-written 14 number one singles, has sold over 50 million records worldwide and is a six times Ivor Novello Award winner.  Tim has won the Olivier Award and UK Theatre Award for Best New Musical, and the British Comedy Awards Best Comedy Film for Calendar Girls.

The cast also includes Phil Corbitt as John, Ian Mercer as Rod, Sebastian Aberneri as Colin, Alan Stocks as Denis, Pauline Daniels as Lady Cravenshire, Ellie Leah as Miss Wilson, Danny Howker as Danny, Isabel Caswell as Jenny and Tyler Dobbs as Tommo.

Calendar Girls the Musical comes to Birmingham Hippodrome for the very first time from Tuesday 28 May –Saturday 8 June 2019.

James Morrison’s current album ‘You’re Stronger Than You Know’ commenced a new era in the career of one of the UK’s most popular artists. Its lead single ‘My Love Goes On’ (featuring Joss Stone) was named Record of the Week and added to the A-list at Radio 2 as it raced to 8 million streams. It was followed by his first full UK tour in three years, which included what he describes as “one of my favourite gigs ever” at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire.

Now James Morrison announces a new 12-date UK Tour this Autumn, kicking off on the 28^th October in Ipswich, it includes a date in London at the Royal Festival Hall on 29^th October and concludes in Southend on 14^th October. Pre-sale tickets are available from Wednesday 24^th April at 10am and go on general sale on Friday 26^th April at 10am.

James recently shared a live video to the album’s second single ‘Feels Like The First Time’.  Filmed at Manchester’s ornate and historic Albert Hall, it sees Morrison and his band deliver the song in an intimate and impassioned performance. It was directed by Raja Virdi, whose previous credits include Freya Ridings and Lewis Capaldi. Arguably this is the track on the album that best captures his soulful take on the Motown and Stax traditions, ‘Feels Like The First Time’ is a shot of sonic sunshine as summer approaches.

As with the rest of the album, ‘Feels Like The First Time’ bristles with an exuberant dynamic which reflects his live shows. Morrison and producer Mark Taylor quickly recorded the core of the album within a week, before spending a second completing the finishing touches – tight backing vocals, strident horns and overdubs.

As a result,‘You’re Stronger Than You Know’ is the album that James Morrison has always wanted to make. Vocally he’s never sounded better, with his honest songwriting inspiring a voice that exudes power, tenderness and experience. His band, meanwhile, hit that life-affirming sweet spot between rambunctious energy and tight musicianship and now you can go and watch him perform it live.

Since first breaking through in 2006, James Morrison’s achievements include two #1 albums, five Top10 singles, a BRIT Award and sales.

Please go to http://jamesmorrisonmusic.com/tour-2/ for ticket details and further international dates.

The full list of UK live dates:

May 2^nd          Cheltenham Jazz Festival June 16^th         Essex, Down Hall 29^th         Glastonbury July 13^th/14^th. London, OnBlackheath 2019 August 3^rd           Kenton, Tunes In The Castle October *New UK Headline Tour Dates* 28^th         Ipswich Regent Theatre 29^th         London Royal Festival Hall 31^st         Manchester O2 Apollo November 2^nd          Sheffield, City Hall 3^rd           Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 4^th           Birmingham, Symphony Hall 6^th           Bath, Forum 7^th           Bournemouth, Pavilion Theatre 10^th         Newcastle, City Hall 11^th        Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall 12^th        Nottingham Royal Concert Hall 14^th        Southend, Cliffs Pavilion

Walsall’s Travelstar European has won National Express’ top ‘Operator of the Year’ title for the fourth-year running at the organisation’s recent award ceremony.

The company picked up the gong at the UK’s largest coach operator’s annual awards ceremony in Coventry two weeks ago.

Craig Jackson, Operations Manager at Travelstar European, said: "We are extremely proud to receive such great recognition from National Express.

“We have an incredible team of people at Travelstar - the administrators, cleaners, engineers and, in particular, the drivers, who go out there and deliver excellence every day. This award is for them.

“To win Operator of the Year for the fourth consecutive year is a huge honour, and we will continue to deliver a better and safer service for our customers.''

The Operator of the Year category is based on the company’s engineering standards, the number of miles operated and customers carried, as well as praise and complaints.

The company also walked away with ‘Operator of the Year for 6 to 10 vehicles’, a Gold Standard Achievement – meaning over three consecutive ‘Gold’ statuses for three or more consecutive years - and a Golden Spanner award for exceeding expectations in engineering.

Chris Hardy, Managing Director at National Express UK Coach said: “We wouldn’t be National Express without our operators. Travelstar European help to keep us on the roads on a daily basis and I am pleased to have this opportunity to recognise their efforts and celebrate them as a valued partner.”

Award-winning choreographer and performer Seeta Patel brings her re-imagining of the iconic ballet, ‘The Rite of Spring’ to Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio.

With a cast of six outstanding performers, the show reinterprets the classic ballet in the powerful classical Indian dance style of Bharatanatyam.

Composer Igor Stravinsky wrote The Rite of Spring, the ballet and orchestral concert – widely considered to be his masterpiece - for the 1913 season of Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes.  When it premiered at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, the avant-garde nature of the music and choreography caused a sensation and continues to be influential over a century later.

“The Rite of Spring has been choreographed by many different artists and companies over the years”, says Seeta Patel.  “Diaghilev, Pina Bausch, Maurice Bejart to name a few.  But this will be the first time ever it will be done with the Bharatanatyam dance form. I performed at the Patrick Studio in October 2018 with my one woman show ‘Not Today’s Yesterday’.

The venue team are incredible and I’m so happy to be bringing the larger scale work to the venue and to continue building my relationship with Birmingham audiences.”

Patel’s production is set to be an exciting flirtation between East and West as it looks beyond notions of the exotic and orientalist perceptions of Eastern classical arts. The piece will showcase some of the finest international Indian classical dance talent in an exciting bridge between two technical, powerful and evocative art forms: Western classical music and Indian classical dance.

Seeta Patel will bring a transformative re-telling of this tale through intricate rhythmic footwork, expressive prowess, geometric and dynamic movement.

Stravinsky’s epic score gains a fresh perspective in Seeta Patel’s production through the use of Bharatanatyam, the dancers’ knowledge of Indian classical music to interpret the rhythms, and production design referencing the parched earth, the need for spring rain and the birth of new life.

“We’ve played with lighting design and makeup effects and our two costume designers, who live in Bangalore, have inspired the look of the production with their beautiful textures” says Seeta.

Seeta Patel’s‘The Rite of Spring’ is at Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio on Tuesday May 14.

A former University of Wolverhampton student who was crowned Miss Black Country in 2018 is making a bid for the Miss England title this summer.

Alexandra Darby, 23, from Rowley Regis, graduated from the School of Performing Arts in 2017 with a degree in Musical Theatre and now works as a professional singer.

As Miss Black Country last year, Alexandra raised more than £1,000 for charity, including the Miss World cause supporting disadvantaged children, Beauty with a Purpose.

She was also praised by the judges for her written exam on the Black Country and is keen to promote the region in her public appearances as the title holder.

Last year, Alexandra came 24^th in the Miss England contest, which attracted 22,000 initial hopefuls and is making another bid for the title this year.

She said: “I loved University. I had to work hard and had three jobs while I was studying and found it challenging at times, but I had great lecturers and learnt so many new things. I struggled with confidence until my degree.

“After graduating, I auditioned for the agency Mainstream Entertainment and was put on their books. I now tour the UK performing, singing in clubs and hotels, mainly covers of old songs, alongside some more modern hits. My degree definitely helped me with my performance skills and self-confidence. My presence and the confidence on stage was also a big help for the pageants.”

For Alexandra, the competition is a chance to showcase her passion for singing and a springboard to further success.  She has set up her own dementia choir and will be going to Greece to teach music at a refugee camp.

Anyone interested in studying in the School of Performing Arts should register to visit the next Open Day on Saturday June 15.

Shoppers will be treated to a performance of Motionhouse’s WILD production at Bullring & Grand Central today (April 13).

WILD, the daring new performance by Leamington Spa-based leading UK dance-circus company, Motionhouse, explores the disconnect with the natural environment. Performers will use powerful physicality and daring feats to move through a forest of tall poles. The performance is part of a year-long partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome, which will see many more theatrical pop-up performances to come.

There will be two performances at 1pm and 4pm on Level 0 at Bullring & Grand Central outside of Disney Store and H&M.

Danielle Bozward, Marketing Manager at Bullring & Grand Central, commented: “Having worked with Motionhouse during the launch of our Spiceal Street development a few years ago we know that their performances are exceptional and prove popular with our shoppers. We look forward to welcoming them back to entertain our customers with this new production.”

The performance comes as part of Bullring & Grand Central’s partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome. Throughout the year the partnership will deliver a range of events and activities in-centre.    

One of the most unique concert experiences of recent years is set to return for 2019 having won the hearts of critics and fans a-like, as Elvis is set once again to be back, in a building near you!

The six-date arena tour will begin at the Manchester Arena on November 25th, before taking in Cardiff Motorpoint Arena (November 26th), Birmingham Resorts Arena (November 27th), Sheffield Arena (November 28th), Glasgow Hydro (November 29th), before a huge finale at London’s The O2 on December 1st.

The show will see the King once again up close on screen alongside the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra live on stage, with this year being extra special as they will also be joined by The TCB Band – Elvis’ original and longtime backing band. This is the only chance to experience the man who changed the course of popular music, selling an unparalleled 1 billion records worldwide.

Marking 50 years since Elvis’ triumphant return to live performing - as he took up his infamous Las Vegas residency in 1969 - the 2019 tour will feature very special personal appearances from Priscilla Presley and long term Elvis associate Jerry Schilling, who will be sharing intimate stories, personal photos plus rare home movies.

On the tour, Priscilla Presley said: “We’re BACK and better than ever! I am thrilled and honoured to be returning to the UK. Please join me live on stage to present this brand new show backed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra , Elvis’s TCB Band, never before seen new footage of Elvis, and  more surprises, including, Jerry Schilling and myself on stage sharing our stories. This will be a once in a lifetime show... you won’t want to miss.”

The collaboration between the music of Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has spearheaded an incredible current phenomenon, with new orchestral arrangements of the music of the most legendary artists of all time being presented with the original recordings of the artists’ own voice which led to three huge-selling and critically acclaimed albums (If I Can Dream, The Wonder of You, and Christmas with Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra).

With Elvis never having toured the UK, or performing with a full sized orchestra as were two of his dreams, these shows are a chance to both honor the legacy of an icon who has defined popular culture for over half a century, and for fans to see ‘The King’ live, who never had the chance to before.