Staff Benda Bilili

Straight from Kinshasa, the hotly tipped world music and film stars Staff Benda Bilili bring their infectious rumba, reggae and James Brown funk to the Town Hall on 14^th May. Tickets £15.

Charlie Ross, aka veteran performer One Man Star Wars, beams down in Birmingham for a night of geek filled humour and sci-fi celebration at the Town Hall on 28^th May. Tickets £19.50.

The legendary Ladysmith Black Mambazo, voices of Paul Simon’s Graceland and Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban and Dolly Parton collaborators return for what promises to be a memorable night at Symphony Hall on 2^nd June. Tickets £24, £26, £27.50.

The incredible folk singer and social activist Judy Collins returns to the Town Hall for another impressive concert on 7^th June featuring material from over 50 years in music

Penguin Cafe, the ensemble responsible for enduring music in films like Napoleon Dynamite and meshing genres together to create a new world of sound, are at the Tow Hall on 8^th July. Tickets £20

Comedian Andy Parsons, star of Mock The Week, Live At The Apollo and BBC Radio 2, debuts at the Town Hall with his show Gruntled on his third national tour, on 7^th October. Tickets £15.

Folk singer Ralph McTell performs highlights from his vast song collection, including the Bob Dylan birthday tribute recording, at the Town Hall on 9^th October. Tickets £18.50.

Multi-talented American star Josh Groban is promoting his Rick Rubin-produced album Illuminations at Symphony Hall on 12^th October. Tickets £35.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and Byrds front man Roger McGuinn returns to Birmingham to play the Town Hall on 17^th October. Tickets £26.50

Legendary British bluesman John Mayall, who helped catapult Eric Clapton and Mick Fleetwood to stardom, is performing at the Town Hall on 28^th October with special guests the Oli Brown Band. Tickets £30

Grammy Award-winning singer and guitarist Peter Frampton celebrates his 1976 multi-platinum selling album Frampton comes Alive at Symphony Hall on 15^th November. Tickets £22.50, £27.50

There’s an additional date at Symphony Hall on 7^th April 2012 for Sarah Millican, the Geordie stand-up comedian who has gone from Edinburgh Fringe winner to household name and TV star in no time at all. Tickets £20

Joan Armatrading

Finally, advance notice of Ivor Novello winner, Grammy Award nominee and Broad St Star Joan Armatrading, who returns to Birmingham on 26^th October 2012 to play Symphony Hall with support from the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner Chris Wood. Tickets £29.50

For further details contact the Town Hall/Symphony Hall box office on 0121 780 3333 or visit www.thsh.co.uk