Entertainment News

A free exhibition featuring portrait prints by artists as diverse as Hogarth, Dürer and Grayson Perry opens at the Bath & North East Somerset Council-run Victoria Art Gallery on August 20. A highlight of the exhibition, entitled 'Portraits and Identity', will be Perry's 'Map of Days', which was purchased by the Gallery in 2014, using grant-aid from outside bodies. This unusual self-portrait takes the form of a map showing the inner workings of the artist's mind.

Where's the best place to go in the UK to stargaze? It appears the answer is Mid Wales where the dark skies and reduced light pollution are attracting global recognition. The Welsh region renowned for its unspoilt, natural beauty now has two areas that have achieved International Dark Sky status and a further area stretching into North Wales is set to apply to join them later this year.

The 16th Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival returns on Saturday September 5 (10am-6pm) and Sunday September 6 (10am to 5pm) to celebrate the town's proud maritime past and important maritime future with visiting ships including The Götheborg (the world's largest wooden sailing ship) and the Jubilee Sailing Trust's Lord Nelson. It's the first time that the Swedish Götheborg will be seen at a UK Maritime Festival.

Pupils from schools around Wolverhampton are striking the right note on a musical tour of Spain organised by Wolverhampton Music Service. The 74 students, aged between 15 and 18, are performing a total of five concerts at a series of international music festivals taking place near Palencia in Spain this week.

The first winner of Britain’s Got Talent - opera singer Paul Potts will be performing live in concert at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre as part of a line up of four new shows announced. The National Theatre production of J.B. Priestly’s An Inspector Calls From Stephen Daldry, the Oscar nominated Director of Billy Elliot, the production is hailed as the theatrical event of our generation winning more awards than any other play in history.

A new exhibition featuring the work of one of Japan’s great masters opens at Wolverhampton Art Gallery next month, giving people the rare chance to see some incredible Eastern artworks. It features the work of 19th century artist Utagawa Hiroshige and marks the first time a touring exhibition from the world-famous Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology in Oxford has come to Wolverhampton.

At Bristol Science Centre, one of the UK's leading interactive science centres, turns 15 years old at the end of this month. At-Bristol will be celebrating with guests, staff and visitors during their next 'Hello' Community Open Weekend on 25 & 26 July where visitors from Southmead will be able to visit At-Bristol for free! (Upon presenting a flyer they will have received through schools and children's centres).

Tuesday 21^st July 2015 marked the successful launch event of the brand new Caribbean inspired TV channel, 1HEART TV. The evening was a warm and lively gathering of friends and associates who gathered to celebrate the launch of a truly pioneering channel dedicated to the Caribbean and all of it’s greatness.It was a great event, well-attended and a night everyone thoroughly enjoyed (including The Phoenix team!)

Thousands of visitors will head to Birmingham on 25-26 July for the Lebara Sandwell & Birmingham Mela 2015.  The free festival, taking place at Victoria Park, Smethwick, is a weekend extravaganza in the heart of the community that combines live international music performances, stalls, food, arts, community showcases, workshops and a funfair. Over 100 artists and groups are set to perform at the event including Punjab’s superstar Roshan Prince, chart-topping artists Arjun, Roach Killa, Juggy D, Nesdi Jones and many more!

A section of the world's biggest scientific experiment – the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) – will be part of an interactive exhibition at Edinburgh's Dynamic Earth starting Friday 31 July. A life-sized mock up of part of the 27-kilometer particle accelerator will be on display at the attraction until 24 August – one stop on a national roadshow that celebrates the UK's involvement in the groundbreaking discoveries made by the LHC.

It’s back! The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing at Wolverhampton Art Gallery is howling again thanks to kind fundraisers who raised the cash to repair the unusual piece of art. The quirky mechanical sheep that emerges from the balcony of the gallery every hour before opening up to reveal a red-eyed wolf was commissioned in 1999 as part of the Millennium celebrations.

Calling all Families; be prepared to be blown away with an explosive Big Bang Bank Holiday Weekend full of fun at Royal Gunpowder Mills from Saturday 29 – Monday 31 August.  This bank holiday the industrial heritage site in Waltham Abbey have a pyrotechnical-tastic programme of family friendly activities planned for the August weekend. 

The £10.4 million redevelopment of Wolverhampton’s Civic Halls came a step closer today with the city council submitting its planning application.  More than £174.4 million of public and private investment in the city centre over the next 12 months has been laid down to stimulate economic growth and increase employment opportunities.

This summer Go Ape, the UK’s multi-award winning forest adventure company, has more than 55 adventures across its 28 UK sites to offer families and friends – including a brand new Forest Segway adventure at Whinlatter in the Lake District and a Tree Top Junior adventure due to open next month in the Forest of Dean.

As the summer warms the gardens of Britain, people habitually move their lives outside – and if you ever needed an incentive to enjoy an alfresco lifestyle the winning entries from this year’s British Pool & Hot Tub Awards, hosted by the UK Trade associations BISHTA and SPATA, provide a fabulous taste of what the UK’s world of wet leisure has on offer, reaching new heights in design and technology.

An increasing number of local school pupils are going on a voyage of discovery with Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Visitor numbers for primary school groups to the Lichfield Street gallery have increased again this year, with more than 8,000 students pouring through its doors over the academic year.