Birmingham events to celebrate city’s musical heritage.

Next month sees Birmingham City University play host to “The Song Remains The Same”, an evening of debate and live music, as part of B-side, a major national music campaign by Visit Birmingham to create an ultimate top 20 ‘virtual album’ of tracks by West Midland artists.

The free event on July 9th includes a panel discussion in the Parkside lecture hall, featuring musicians and music writers, including Matt Everitt (BBC 6Music), Vix Vox (Vix and her MsChiefs and ex-Fuzzbox) and music writer Pete Paphides (Guardian Music), which will be chaired by Prof. Paul Long (BCU School of Media). Guests will discuss Birmingham’s place in popular music, and whether the city and region gets the credit it deserves.

Following what promises to be a lively and interesting debate, the audience will then move to the roof terrace of BCU Parkside for drinks and live music from Midnight Bonfires.

Tickets for this event are free but are strictly limited. They are available from
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-song-remains-the-same-when-will-birminghams-music-get-its-due-respect-tickets-12014709319

Visit Birmingham has assembled a panel, which includes Laura Mvula, Horace Panter (The Specials); Phil Etheridge (The Twang); Vix Vox (ViX and her MsChiefs and ex-Fuzzbox); music journalists Pete Paphides and Matt Everitt.

On July 9th at the Grade I listed Town Hall Birmingham, the panel will meet to consider hundreds of suggestions from the public, as well as championing a personal favourite track.

The resulting 20-song playlist will be announced a week later and available as a Spotify playlist.

Public nominations are open until midday on June 30th at visitbirmingham.com/bside; one entrant, chosen at random, will win a pair of tickets to the Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul festival in Birmingham on July 11th.

B-side is an initiative by Visit Birmingham, the city’s official leisure tourism programme for Birmingham.