Want to grandstand at the bandstand?

 

Fun in the sun at the Walsall Arboretum Bandstand

Musicians and performers throughout the borough are being invited to take centre stage at Walsall Arboretum’s bandstand this summer.

Following the success of last year’s appeal for performers Walsall Arboretum rangers are asking for more of the same. Slots are currently available for both Saturdays and Sundays between the Spring Bank Holiday Weekend until the end of the season in September.

As well as musicians and singers organisers are keen to hear from poets and local artists wanting to showcase their talents to live audiences.

Councillor Harrison, Portfolio holder for Clean and Green stated: “Last year the bandstand was a buzz of activity throughout the summer months and provided some top notch entertainment by artists who did it for free.

“What really stands out is that these performers do it for the love they have for their art form and that really shines through to the audiences who were able to enjoy hours of fabulous entertainment.

“We would be really keen for the Arboretum bandstand to be the focal points for park visitors once again so organisers would love to hear from anyone interested in taking advantage of the opportunity.”

Gary Nicholson, Arboretum head ranger, added: “The range of entertainment on offer in recent years has been truly uplifting and has offered a wide and varied range of offerings that have appealed to all age ranges.”

Performers thinking of taking part should send their you tube clips/CDs/links or videos to Gary Nicholson, Arboretum head ranger at nicholsong@walsall.gov.uk , together with contact details and a series of available dates.

Bands on the Beacon Mega Line-up Confirmed

Bands on the Beacon (Pic: Walsall Council)

30 musical acts will be taking over the Beacon in this year’s two day Bands on the Beacon extravaganza.

Music fans will be treated to a large variety of musical genres from classic rock to a dash of pop at this year’s family-friendly festival being held on Saturday and Sunday 27 and 28 June from 12.30pm-6pm on both days.

Commenting on this year’s event Councillor Adrian Andrew, chair of Barr Beacon Trust, said: “If you enjoy music you won’t just like the bands on the beacon event this year, you will love it!

“We have selected 30 of some of the best live music acts around for this year’s two day event and it looks set to be a really great family occasion with music to suit all tastes.

“This year we are calling on music fans to do their bit to help make sure that we keep the Bands on the Beacon an annual event.

“You don’t often get a chance to see such a large selection of live acts for such a small cost and ticket sales will help to go a long way to keep the bands on the beacon flag flying.“

On Saturday 27 June the main stage includes: Klasside, Medusa Rising, Khaliq, Pleasure House, Soley Mourning, George’s FLW and finishing with Esther Turner.

The Sunday 28 June line up for the main stage includes: The Interpreters Regale, Sunday 44, Dinky, Hidden Skies, World Service and finishes with The Sherlocks.

The Saturday 27 June line up for the acoustic stage includes: Strumpit, James Atwood, Rumours of Spring, Demi Marriner, Ellie Windwood, Molly GH, Theo Born Musician and Lisa Jayne Garratt

On Sunday 28 June the acoustic stage includes: Kadaridris, Leah Astbury, Sarah Martyn, New Spirit, Mike ‘irv’ Swift, Joshua Sole, Elmore Row and Eeek.

To accompany this musical extravaganza Walsall’s very own award winning Backyard Brewhouse will have a selection of their finest offerings available on both days.

Tickets for the event are now available for sale from specialist secure ticketing website TicketsSource. Running from 12.30pm-6pm each day, adults cost £4, children aged 5 to 15 are ‘A quid a kid’ and under fives can come for free.

All tickets are valid for one day, include free parking and are inclusive of a booking fee. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

For updates and to check out some of the bands visit Bands on the Beacon’s Facebook page or go to www.bandsonthebeacon.co.uk.

Beacon concert tickets on sale

Bands on the Beacon (Pic: Walsall Council)

Music lovers are now able to grab their place at the boroughs highest music festival, the Bands on the Beacon happening this June.

Taking place over two days for the first time since the event started in 2010, the family friendly music event will provide a variety of pop, rock and funk soundtracks to accompany the 360 views on offer from one of the regions premier landmarks.

Tickets for the event are now available for sale from specialist secure ticketing website TicketsSource. Running from 12.30pm-6pm each day, adults cost £4, children aged 5 to 15 are ‘A quid a kid’ and under fives can come for free.

All tickets are valid for one day, include free parking and are inclusive of a booking fee. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Barr Beacon Monument by C. Manning (Wikimedia Commons)

Councillor Adrian Andrew, chair of Barr Beacon Trust which has pledged £5,000 to the event said: “There is a lot of excitement about this year’s Bands on the Beacon festival. New and established local bands will be showcasing their talent on the two stages throughout the two days promising a fantastic opportunity to enjoy some live music in a stunning setting.”

Wayne Moseley, local businessman, and one of the event’s organisers and sponsors said: “Details of the line up will be announced shortly. We can guarantee that the audience will be treated to high quality acts performing on both days as well as the opportunity to sample locally produced ales, food and crafts”.

Tickets can be obtained online by visiting http://cms.walsall.gov.uk/bands_on_the_beacon or by visiting  www.facebook.com/bandsonthebeacon and following the link to the TicketsSource page

Bands ready to light up Beacon

Bands on the Beacon (Pic: Walsall Council)

Main Stage acts confirmed for Bands on the Beacon

From classic covers to a smattering of pop and funk with plenty of rock and some dance for good measure – 14 acts are already lined up to play this year’s Bands on the Beacon.

The family-friendly gig is being held over two days for the first time – Saturday and Sunday 27 and 28 June from 1pm-6pm on both days.

And organisers have arranged for arts and artisan stalls on both days to add to the festival atmosphere at the borough’s highest point.

As Heritage Lottery Fund cash, which part funded the event has now run out, music lovers are being asked to pay a small charge for tickets this year.

Tickets for each day will be £4 for adults with “kids for a quid.” Under fives will be allowed in free. Details of how to get tickets will be announced shortly.

Barr Beacon Trust has pledged £5,000 to this year’s Bands on the Beacon and £2,000 has come from Dinky bassist Wayne Moseley’s company, BBR Engineering. Wayne is supporting Barr Beacon Trust to attract sponsorship for the event.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, chair of Barr Beacon Trust, said: “We’re always inundated with bands asking to play at Bands on the Beacon which just goes to show how well supported it is across the whole borough.

“We’ve got 14 acts lined up for the main stage so far and will shortly be announcing details of how up and coming artists can have the chance to play too.

“It’s a family-friendly event that appeals to all ages and all tastes so we’ve chosen bands that cover a broad spectrum of musical styles.

“It’s shaping up to be another brilliant show and we’re all counting down the days till June. We may not have the Foo Fighters but it’s a lot cheaper – and cleaner – than Glastonbury!”

Among the acts confirmed so far for the Saturday are Venkman, Mr George’s Famous Last Words (who supported Seth Lakeman at Wolverhampton Civic Hall) and and Esther Turner with Sunday 44, Hidden Skies and Liberty Lies among Sunday’s line-up.

For regular updates check out Bands on the Beacon’s facebook page, @walsallcouncil on Twitter and the council’s website www.walsall.gov.uk

Walsall FC gets new footie song thanks to local band!

The Assist (courtesy of the band)

It may not have escaped our readers’ notice that Walsall Football Club are shortly going to be playing at Wembley Stadium for the first time in their entire history!

Now there’s even more great news for music-loving Walsall footie fans –  Walsall’s very own Indie/Alternative band THE ASSIST have specially written and produced a timely musical tribute to The Saddlers – and their great new single ‘Walsall FC Go To Wembley’ is now available to pre-order from iTunes!

All profits made from the sale of this song will be donated to The Brain Tumour Charity and the Walsall FC Youth Development Programme.

You can listen to a preview of the song on the Walsall Football Supporters’ Trust website.  To pre-order the single, CLICK HERE and follow the links to the Itunes store.

Collectors item

Not only but also, the song will also be released on a CD single format at a cost of £5, each one signed by the band and limited to 127 copies only, one to mark each year of the clubs history.  This is bound to become a sought-after collector’s item!

Walsall Football Supporters’ Trust have given special thanks to The Assist, Trust Member Adam Paget for making all of this possible, and also to Eddie Thomas at Dovecote Studio for donating all the studio time for free meaning more funds can be raised for these more than worthy causes.

Success

The Assist has achieved relative success in a short time, their debut single was released in October last year and broke into the iTunes alternative album chart peaking at #116. they’ve performed headline gigs at 02 Academy’s in Birmingham and Manchester, as well as support slots with happy Mondays, Reverend and the Makers and also legendary bass player of The Jam Bruce Foxton.

A recent highlight for the band was playing the Blackpool Rocks Festival, sharing the stage with The 1975, Disclosure and Swim Deep.

To find out more about The Assist, check out their Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/TheAssistBand  and their Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/theassistband

Beechdale boy sez cum on feel the noize!

Noddy Holder at Walsall Town Hall

Noddy Holder is hosting an evening of 60s Mania at Walsall Town Hall in support of the Mayor’s Charity Appeal later this month.

Freeman of the Borough of Walsall, Noddy Holder, returns to his home town on Friday 27 March 2015 as compere for this charity concert.  The evening will feature two 60s tribute acts, The Born Again Beatles and a ‘British Invasion’ tribute act, with support from Q4, Regale, and as seen on The Voice, Misternothing with Mitchel Elms and The Rooz with Louis Coupe.

Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Pete Smith, said: “We hope this concert will be a sell-out. Tickets cost just £10 each and for this there will be a terrific host for the evening, Noddy Holder, and over four hours of musical entertainment.

“All the supporting acts will perform at least one well known song from the 60s which will make 60s Mania a night to remember.

“Noddy will also be running the draw for a really impressive raffle on the evening.”

All proceeds after costs will go to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal beneficiaries MS (Black Country branch), Macmillan (Walsall Branch), Walsall Heartcare and Bloxwich Community Partnership.

Walsall Council House (pic: Stuart Williams)

Doors open at 6.30pm, as will the bar, with the concert’s first act going on stage at 7.30pm with The Born Again Beatles appearing  later in the evening.

Tickets are now on sale from Walsall Town Hall Box Office and can be purchased by calling 0845 111 2900 (Option1) or visiting the Council House on Lichfield Street from 10am-12noon and 2-4pm.

If any business or organisation would like to sponsor the event or donate an item for the Charity Concert raffle, please contact the Mayor’s Office on 01922 652072.

Bands on the run – to Barr Beacon!

Bands on the Beacon (pic: Walsall Council)

This year’s Bands on the Beacon music festival will be bigger and better than ever, running over two days at the end of June, organisers have announced.

The popular event will be held on Saturday and Sunday 27 and 28 June at Barr Beacon, the borough’s highest point, and will also feature arts and artisan stalls.

A line-up will be announced shortly and there will also be an opportunity for up and coming bands and artists to showcase their talent.

The family friendly festival will run from 1pm-6pm on both days and this year’s event will be ticket only.

Organisers are having to charge a small fee for tickets as funding for Bands on the Beacon, the majority of which came courtesy of the Heritage Lottery Fund, ended last year.

Tickets for each day will be £4 for adults with “kids for a quid.” Under fives will be allowed in free.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, chair of Barr Beacon Trust, said: “We know from the feedback that we get each year that people want us to continue putting on Bands on the Beacon and visitors have told us they’d be prepared to pay a small amount if it meant the event could continue.

“We’re looking at making a weekend of it in 2015 with bands on both Saturday and Sunday up at Barr Beacon as well as the introduction of stalls to add to the festival feel.

“We’re working with local guitarist Wayne Moseley whose band Dinky played at the first festival in 2010 to try and secure sponsorship for the event and we hope local people will get behind us to support it. The Trust has pledged £5,000 and Wayne’s company, BBR Engineering, has put in another £2,000 so  we’ve set the ball rolling!

“Bands on the Beacon is a brilliant day out – ask anyone who’s been over the years – and we’re all looking forward to making this year’s just as enjoyable.”

For regular updates check out Bands on the Beacon’s facebook page, @walsallcouncil on Twitter and the council’s website www.walsall.gov.uk

Live music night in Bloxwich to support autism charity

Music-lovers can look forward to a fantastic evening’s entertainment from multiple acts at Bloxwich’s top venue next month. 

And what’s more, the proceeds of the ‘Songwriters Night’ show on 6^th July at Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre in Elmore Row will go towards helping support young people’s autism charity ‘Kidzlikedanny’, which has raised more than £15000 since being founded over 15 years ago.

Chuck Micallef on stage at Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre.

The event offers an amazing line-up for just £5 per ticket, and will be co-compered by accomplished Canadian Country Singer/Songwriter Chuck Micallef, who will be performing his own original songs alongside covers by artists such as Hank Williams, Gordon Lightfoot and John Prine in a gather round back porch picking style of performance appreciated by audiences up and down the country.

Tony Barrett as ‘The Tat Man’

Joint compere for the evening is well known Folk Singer/Songwriter/Comedian/Raconteur Tony Barret. Tony’s cheeky stories interlaced with song parodies, well delivered covers and original compositions have helped make him a popular and well-respected performer on the UK’s music and festival circuit – and he has also recently starred as ‘The Tat Man’ in the acclaimed series of Bayard’s Colts street plays for Walsall.

Amazing evening entertainment at Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre

There’s an amazing range of entertainment coming up soon at Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre, part of the Bloxwich Library complex in Elmore Row, Bloxwich.

The little theatre with the big heart is such an incredibly versatile venue that just about anything can happen there – and frequently does!

Managed by Bloxwich Library Forum in partnership with Bloxwich Library, the theatre, opened in 1964 and rebuilt in 2009-10 together with Bloxwich Library, the complex being relaunched as Bookmark Bloxwich, is completely reconfigurable and also boasts a Library Cafe, shared with the library during the day and usable as a bar in the evenings when events are on.

Hot evening events on the horizon at Bookmark Bloxwich Theatre are listed below – click on each title to view full details on the What’s On Walsall website:

Fri 12 April 2013

Open Mic Night

Musicians For Life in conjunction with Bookmark Bloxwich Forum invite you to come and play….

Free Entry.  Time 7.30pm doors  8.00pm show.  Email Bruno On open.mic.bookmark@gmail.com  to Book a slot. Normally 15 min or 3 songs.

Sat 20 April 2013

Don’t Go Into The Cellar presents… Sexton Blake

The British League of Underhanded Scoundrels, Traitors, Extortionists and Rapscallions holds Edwardian London to ransom in this jolly fine play!

Time: 7.30pm Ticket price: £8.00, £6.00 concession. Tickets can be purchased from Bloxwich Library: 01922 655900.

26 April 2013

Youth Open Mic Night

A place for young singers, song writers, rappers and musicians to play, jam and try out songs and Rhymes….

Time 6.00pm doors  6.30pm show.  Free Entry.

Call Dan 01922 712069 for info and to book a slot.

Fri 10 May 2013

Open Mic Night

Musicians For Life in conjunction with Bookmark Bloxwich Forum invite you to come and play.

Time 7.30pm doors  8.00pm show.  Free Entry.  Email Bruno On open.mic.bookmark@gmail.com  to book a slot. Normally 15 min or 3 songs.

Sat 11 May 2013

Vera Van Heeringen

Debut album from Dutch bluegrass guitarist/singer Vera van Heeringen promises much and delivers in spades.

Tickets £5.00. Call 01922 655900.

See:  www.veravanheeringen.com/_/Welcome.html

Fri 24 May 2013

Youth Open Mic Night

Bookmark Bloxwich and IYPSS invite you to come and play…

Time 6.00pm doors  6.30pm show.  Free Entry.

Call Dan 01922 712069 for info and to book a slot

Sat 20 July 2013

Don’t Go Into The Cellar presents…  Dracula Walks the Night

Count Dracula, has returned to exact a dreadful vengeance on his nemesis, Van Helsing in this show with real bite!

Time: 7.30pm Ticket price: £8.00, £6.00 concession. Tickets can be purchased from Bloxwich Library: 01922 655900.

Sat 26 October 2013

Don’t Go Into The Cellar presents…  ‘Warnings to the Curious’

Have your spines tingled and your bumps goosed with this atmospheric adaptation of the creepiest Edwardian ghost stories…  Spooky!

Time: 7.30pm Ticket price: £8.00, £6.00 concession. Tickets can be purchased from Bloxwich Library: 01922 655900.

And there’s more…

More events will be added as they are booked – don’t forget to check at Bloxwich Library or on the Bookmark Bloxwich web page:

https://sites.google.com/site/bookmarkbloxwich/

Bloxwich theatre to host lively night of music

On Saturday 6^th April, Bookmark Bloxwich Live Music will once again be staging Across The Borderline as a follow up to the previous show’s sold out performance last October. The show features three great acts, offering an international line-up from Canada, U.K. and France.

Starting off the show, Canadian Country Singer/Songwriter Chuck Micallef will step up to the microphone joined by multi-instrumentalist Dave Luke with their interpretations of great country songs written by Hank Williams, Gordon Lightfoot, John Prine and The Carter Family to mention only a few. These works stand comfortably along side Micallef’s self penned tunes in a “gather ‘round the back porch picking style of performance” that audiences have appreciated up and down the country.

Next up will be well known Folk Singer/Songwriter/Comedian/ Raconteur Tony Barrett, who brings a vast variety of material to the Bookmark stage. Barrett’s cheeky stories interlaced with song parodies, well delivered covers and original compositions have helped make him a well respected performer on the U.K.’s music and festival circuit.

As the French connection component of the show takes the stage, EnChante’s performance intersperses French Classics from the 1950s & 60s by Brel, Barbara, Trenet, and Piaf. Lead singer Jocelyne Thompson adds her unique song writing skills to round off the night in an authentic style that has been denoted as “Chansons a Texte.” Backed by Nick Thompson on double bass and Ron Thomas on classical guitar, the trio brings the atmosphere of a Parisian Café into the intimate theatre for a night to remember.

Tickets are £5 and can be reserved by calling 01922 655900 or visiting Bloxwich Library in Elmore Row.

Doors open at 7.30 pm for an 8:00 pm show.