Your guide to Birmingham / Music and Entertainment in Birmingham
Music and Entertainment in Birmingham
Located in England's West Midlands region, Birmingham is a large city that saw booming growth during the 18th century because of its focus on manufacturing. Today, it's the second-largest city in England and is known for its museums, trendy bars and cafes and Industrial Revolution-era landmarks. If you're planning a trip to this vibrant city, you'll find plenty of festivals in Birmingham worth exploring. Consider some of these things to do in Birmingham and experience the best the city has to offer.
Music Events
Whether you're interested in attending an exciting music festival or checking out a live show on the weekend, Birmingham has a variety of ways to enjoy a great performance. When you want to experience some incredible music in Birmingham, make plans to see a few of these top options.
Symphony Hall
The International Convention Centre
Symphony Hall is a stunning 2,262-seat concert venue that's considered to have some of the finest acoustics in the country. Not only is the venue home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, but it also hosts around 270 other events throughout the year. These events include comedic performances, classical concerts, organ recitals, dance performances, family shows and a variety of other musical gigs.
Mama Roux
Mama Roux is a high-spirited bar that brings the richness of New Orleans and America's Deep South right to the heart of Birmingham. If you're looking for something unique to do on a Saturday night, you'll find it at Mama Roux. The venue has a Saturday night party that features an incredible DJ collective. You also have a chance to check out other special performances each week, including live bands, carnival dancers and burlesque shows.
Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival
The Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival is set in the beautiful Moseley Park. The event takes place over one weekend in July and brings in people from around the world to enjoy legends and up-and-coming artists in the world of jazz, funk and soul music. In addition to incredible live performances, the festival also offers plenty of activities to enjoy. You can head to the I Am Yogi studio for yoga practice, get a fun introduction to swing dancing with Swing Era dance school, work up a sweat with a class presented by Sofunk Dance Fitness and more.
Sports Events
Birmingham has played an important role in a number of modern sports, and the city's love of sports runs deep. If you want to see what makes Birmingham so special when it comes to sports, check out these top sporting events and locations.
Arena Birmingham
Arena Birmingham is an outstanding indoor entertainment and sporting venue that hosts a variety of comedy, music, sport and family events throughout the year. Some of the exciting sporting events coming to Arena Birmingham include the Trampoline, Tumbling & DMT British Championships, Netball Nations Cup, BBL Cup Final, All England Open Badminton Championships and Premier League Darts.
Alexander Stadium
Alexander Stadium is another great place to check out some live sporting events in Birmingham. This international athletics stadium routinely hosts the English Schools' Athletics Championships and is home to the Birchfield Harriers, which is an athletics club that welcomes runners of all experience levels. The stadium is set to receive some modernization upgrades so it can host the annual British Grand Prix and become the main athletics venue of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Villa Park
Aston Villa F.C. was founded in 1874, making it one of the oldest professional football teams in the city. The club competes in the Premier League, which is the top tier of the English football league, and it plays its home games at Villa Park. In addition to the football games, Villa Park has also hosted various concerts and other sporting events throughout the years, including boxing matches, rugby union matches and international rugby league games.
Food and Drink Events
Some of the most popular Birmingham festivals revolve around delicious food and incredible drinks. If you want to experience what Birmingham is serving up, be sure to check out these excellent food and drink events.
Brindleyplace Food Festival
If you love food, you don't want to miss the Brindleyplace Food Festival happening in mid-September. This wide-ranging festival will treat your taste buds to dishes from around the world. It will feature over 20 stalls offering food from Eastern Europe, Sri Lanka, Turkey, India, the United States and more.
Birmingham Rum Festival
You can sip some old favorites and discover new rums when you check out the Birmingham Rum Festival when it comes to the area at the end of June. In addition to tasting rums, you can also learn more about the variety of rums and their distillation process from rum experts. You can also stop by the Rum Shop to pick up a bottle or two of your favorite varieties.
Cultural Events
From literature to dance and everything in between, Birmingham is brimming with culture. When you attend these top cultural events in the city, you'll be able to experience some of what makes the city so popular with writers, artists and performers.
Fierce Festival
Various locations in Birmingham
For over 20 years, the Fierce Festival has been promoting Birmingham as a city that's diverse, tolerant and vibrant. The festival comes to Birmingham every two years in October to showcase an amazing range of dance, theater, music and activism performances.
Moseley Folk & Arts Festival
The Moseley Folk & Arts Festival is a three-day celebration that occurs in Birmingham at the end of August. When you attend this event, you'll enjoy a weekend full of music, food and fun. You can check out the sculpture workshops, watch live concerts, take part in storytelling events, attend singing workshops and sit in on author readings.
Whether you like exciting sporting events or dramatic performances, you'll find something to enjoy in Birmingham. When you're ready to check out some of the top Birmingham events, be sure to make plans to see these great options.