The annual event which celebrates independent music and arts venues and the people who run them, Independent Venue Week is drawing to an end. Having ran throughout the week, the importance of playing live, especially at the beginning of any artist’s career, has been at the centre as local radio shows showed their massive support of their local singers, bands and independent venues.

Union leader Mick Lynch and West Midlands Mayor Andy Street have pledged their support for cultural venues serving Birmingham’s Irish community following separate visits to a Digbeth music venue and bar.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) General Secretary, and chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), visited the independent music venue and community bar Nortons Digbeth to speak to rail workers and business owners respectively, using the opportunity to praise work to ensure Irish heritage is celebrated in the city-region.

The Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC) – Promoter of the Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023 – is delighted to confirm that multi-award winning Superstar DJ and music producer Calvin Harris, will perform at this year’s event taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from 17th-19th March 2023.

The Scottish singer-songwriter will be joining multiple Grammy nominated US rapper Travis Scott and legendary recording artist, producer, and DJ Afrojack on the weekend’s music line-up for biggest international sporting event of the year to take place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The concert will take place on the Main Stage of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, F1’s longest and fastest street circuit. 

Fourteen-year-old singer Kairo McLean, is leading a star-studded list of superstars, including Kirk Diamond, Celena, multiple winner Exco Levi and multiple nominee Ammoye, who will all be competing in the Reggae Recording of the Year category of the upcoming 2023 JUNO Awards.

With the nominations just being revealed in Canada, McLean, who won the award last year, is nominated twice in the category with ‘In the Streets’ and ‘Reggae Party’ featuring Kirk Diamond and Finn.

The home of blues music in Birmingham is going ‘full metal’ to commemorate a milestone event in rock history. Velvet Music Rooms on the city's golden mile of Broad Street is hosting a special session of its Birmingham Rocks nights on Sunday 12 February.

The gig will mark the 53^rd anniversary of the release of Black Sabbath’s debut album, regarded as heavy metal’s coming of age.

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

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