Kora-scating Kouyaté
Senegalese kora player Kadialy Kouyaté climaxed the Muzikstan mini-festival in Balsall Heath. Martin Longley danced instead of taking notes…
Monocles sighted on Kings Heath High Street
Martin Longley appreciated an early chance to catch alternative rock-jazz supergroup Monocled Man.
Wynton takes shots at the Spotted Dog
In a rare double-header, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis played Symphony Hall and the Spotted Dog on the same night. Martin Longley was on his trail.
Birmingham to take part in UK’s biggest free community music festival
Birmingham will be at the heart of the UK’s biggest free community music festival in July with nine events taking place in the city as part of Our Big Gig.
B-Side hosts free debate and live music event
Birmingham events to celebrate city’s musical heritage.
Jazz friends forever
Martin Longley heard Horace Silver, Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock and Louis Armstrong tunes mingled together in an unusual jazz combination.
Flamenco flame on!
To his surprise, Martin Longley found himself in a dance school over the weekend.
What’s On at Town Hall & Symphony Hall
Latest announcements from the city centre venues.
Kicking out the jrams
Martin Longley saw New Yorker Jeffrey Lewis turn the pages of his comic books. The Lower East Sider also played some mighty fine rock’n’scroll…
Pierre guitar contest
Martin Longley concludes his week of guitar fetishism…
Solihull Girls’ Choir to sing on BBC Daily Service
Solihull School Girls’ Choir will be bringing a heavenly sound to BBC Radio 4’s Daily Service this morning.
Grubby guitar basin
From deep down in the Coventry canal basin, Martin Longley enjoys an intimate recital by Brooklyn guitarist David Grubbs…
How many axes does it take to cut a secret rose?
Did New Yorker Rhys Chatham break a record for the number of guitarists found onstage at the Town Hall? Martin Longley thinks so…
Plug in to Wireless
Tammy Facey on an upcoming weekend in the park.
Sound and vision
Martin Longley reports on jazz saxophonist Tom Harrison’s film music project.
Lucy Spraggan headlines Lichfield Rocks festival
X-Factor star to top July bill.
What’s On at Town Hall & Symphony Hall
Film, dance and music coming up.
Heavy metal legend to take up teaching post at university
Tony Iommi, lead guitarist and founding member of Black Sabbath, will be sharing his songwriting secrets with music students at Coventry University.
What’s On at Artrix
Stage, screen and live music coming up.
Pete Waterman to tell secrets of his success
Music mogul will give Coventry University talk.
More than a Rumour
Britain’s Got Talent might have been on TV Saturday night, but Bernie Jackson saw two of the nation’s greatest examples at the 02 Academy.
The Film Music Project
Iconic film scores reworked in a jazz setting.
Local band to launch new release at Yardbird
Funk poppers Cantaloop will showcase their new single Avalanching at an exclusive launch event in Birmingham this June.
Flying high
Iconic singer to appear at Glee.
Banana split
Japanese rock-complexity titans lay waste to Digbeth warehouse! Martin Longley was down the front.
Journey into the Otherworld
Martin Longley enveloped himself in ‘the land of the young’, up in Kings Heath on Monday night.
Time of the season
Iconic singer Colin Blunstone talks to Dave Woodhall.
Solihull stomp
Martin Longley unearths the pulsating traditional jazz scene of Solihull…
Kid Congo towers
Kid Congo Powers has guitared for the Cramps, the Gun Club and the Bad Seeds. Martin Longley caught him playing as himself.
Sun Zoom Spa
The Beefheartian Magic Band are soon appearing at the Lunar Festival, but Martin Longley thrilled to their inspired re-creations in Leamington last Thursday…