Love Stirchley More

An alternative Valentine’s experience celebrating Stirchley

  • A festival of art, commerce and love  celebrating Stirchley, Birmingham

  • Free love tattoos, love boat show with comedian Barbara Nice, artist installations, performances, interventions and something for all ages

  • Event aims to raise profile of Stirchley and link businesses with the local community

Love Stirchley - Left- Emma Larkinson Right - Jayne Murray Photo Credit - Katja Ogrin

Love Stirchley – Left- Emma Larkinson Right – Jayne Murray Photo Credit – Katja Ogrin

Over three evenings in February, Love Stirchley More will provide an alternative Valentine’s experience across Stirchley in south Birmingham; a mini festival of events celebrating and demonstrating love which have been made for Stirchley and hosted by businesses there.

All aboard the Love Stirchley More Love Boat! – Boost your love quota in half an hour with comedian Barbara Nice, the compere of The Laughing Sole, Stirchley’s very own comedy club. Barbara is your average Stockport housewife who has given up the domestic bliss of Tupperware and Poundstretcher shops for the unpredictability of the comedy world.  With the affectionate attitude of a playgroup leader at a wild Iggy Pop concert, she is guaranteed to warm the heart of any audience. Join her as she explores the ups and downs of love and loss.

Sample Stirchley Sauce, Birmingham’s new special sauce, available for a limited period over the festival. Made by Cuffufle Preserves, Brum’s new answer to HP is made with ‘Love Apples’ – more commonly known as tomatoes.

The festival will feature Get Your Noodle Out, Loaf’s pop-up restaurant serving heart-warming noodle dishes and film fun on matters of the heart courtesy of Stirchley Happenings and Kino10. There will also be a carnival-spirited launch procession from Bournville Railway Station to Stirchley’s High Street.

Free love tattoos will be available over the festival from Skinny’s Ink Tattoo Studio designed exclusively for Love Stirchley More.

Several artists have also been chosen to work with local shop-keepers and community. They will provide a series of installations, performances and interventions across Stirchley during the festival as well as free drop-in workshops and events.

It is hoped that Love Stirchley More will grow and become a regular event, a stepping stone towards becoming a bigger festival, harking back to the Stirchley Carnival which took place regularly up until 1939 and briefly resurrected in the 1980s.

Thursday 14 – Saturday 16 February 2013.

Venues across Stirchley, South Birmingham

Full programme now online: here