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Steeleye Span
Thu 15 May Town Hall
Since their debut in 1969, Steeleye Span havebeen one of the most influential names in British roots music. Pioneers of folk-rock, Steeleye Span changed the face of folk music forever, taking it from small clubs into the world of gold discs and international tours. Members have come and gone over the years, with past and present lineups virtually a who’s who of the British folk scene, but Steeleye has always remained an institution, at the forefront of the genre they helped define. Steeleye Span 2008 finds Maddy Prior - the voice of Steeleye for 34 years - back at the helm of a line-up featuring band stalwart and fiddler extraordinaire Peter Knight, Rick Kemp on bass, Ken Nicol (Albion Band) on guitar and vocals and Liam Genockey on the drum stool.
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BBC BIG BAND with Peter Grant & Clare Teal In association with BBC Radio 2
Fri 16 May Town Hall
Don't miss the vocal pairing of Peter Grant and Clare Teal in the closing concert of the Band’s Town Hall season. Since the release of his debut album , _New Vintage_, which went straight in to the Top Ten and sold 100,000+ copies, Peter’s career has gone from strength to strength. Clare Teal, who regularly appears in concert with the BBC Big Band, has also just released her latest album, _Get Happy_ with Universal Music. This is the perfect chance to hear two great singers, backed by Britain’s finest big band. £12.50, £16.50, £19.50 In association with BBC Radio 2. Concert to be recorded for BBC Radio 2’s Big Band Special. BBC Big Band is a Town Hall Associate Artist.
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The City Of Birmingham Ballroom Dance Championships Featuring Cabaret by Darren and Lilia from Strictly Come Dancing
Sun 18 May Town Hall
Featuring star cabaret by Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova from the BBC television programme Strictly Come Dancing. Cabaret at approximately 8pm followed by the Grand Finals. Presented by the 2 Richards, the UK’s leading dance competition promotors. £15, £17.50 Choir benches £12.50
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Lunchtime Organ Concert Thomas Trotter
Mon 19 May Town Hall
*Parry* Toccata & Fugue, _The Wanderer_ *J.S.Bach* Trio Sonata No. 1 *Saint-Saëns* Fantasie in D flat Danse Macabre *Litaize* Prélude et Danse Fuguée
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BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert
Wed 21 May Town Hall
Our friendly lunchtime concert series continues with the first in a series of recitals featuring Beethoven’s most popular violin sonatas in the hands of outstanding young players. Jennifer Pike was 2002 Young Musician of the Year, and has just been nominated for a South Bank Show/The Times Breakthrough Award. £7, 60 plus/full-time students/under 16’s/unwaged £5
*Jennifer Pike* Violin *Daniel Tong* Piano
*Mozart* Sonata for violin & piano 30 in E minor K304 12’ *Schubert* Sonata for violin & piano No.3 in G minor D408 16’ *Beethoven* Sonata for violin & piano in C minor Op.30 No.2 26’
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A Comedy Night Out - PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Fri 23 May Town Hall
PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED *With Frank Carson, Duncan Norvelle and Ian ‘Sludge’ Lees* Everyone likes a good laugh, and who better to provide the laughter than legends Frank Carson and Duncan Norvelle, along with one of the funniest men on the circuit today Ian ‘Sludge’ Lees. £19.50
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Brian Yeates Associates regrets to announce that A Comedy Night Out will not be appearing at Town Hall, Birmingham on the Friday May 23rd. All ticket holders will be contacted and refunded in full. For information, A Comedy Night Out will still be appearing at the following local venues: 15th May Town Hall, Sutton Coldfield 16th May Palace Theatre, Redditch 1st June Garrick Theatre, Lichfield We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.
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TINARIWEN plus very special guests Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara
Sat 24 May Town Hall
Tinariwen are a group of former Touareg warriors from the southern Sahara who (to quote the Sunday Times) ‘strode out of the Sahara with the best rock album of the year [2004], suggesting a gathering of the greatest guitars you’ve ever heard, John Lee Hooker, Jimi Hendrix, and electric Bob Dylan burnt into new shapes by the desert sun’. They fought a rebellion in the early 1990s to win greater freedom for the Touareg people, and their fight gave birth to a whole new style of desert music - their roots rock rebellion of the soul is one of the most entrancing sounds to emerge from Africa in years. Standing £17.50 Seating £20
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resonance events presents The Herbaliser plus special guest Chris Read
Sun 25 May Town Hall
"resonance events":http://www.myspace.com/resonanceevents will be throwing a party with funky edges for the discerning hip hop heads, plus a little dirty, slinky, live jazz groove...LIVE bands, MCs and DJs rock in the glorious surroundings of the 175 year old venue. With a late licence, free drink with every ticket plus giveaways, the huge launch night at Birmingham's tastiest venue features 7-piece DJ/live collective and London beat maniacs The Herbaliser plus special guest DJ "Chris Read":http://www.myspace.com/chrisreadsubstance (Substance), guest MC Mad Flow, funky DJ Maxwell and sweet visuals from Chromatouch... All this on a May Bank Holiday too! With new album _Same As It Never Was_ waiting in the wings, one of the UKs foremost live hip hop acts The Herbaliser land in Birmingham for a rare and memorable night of pure turntablist wizardry. Supported by a five piece band plus new female vocalist Jessica Darling, Ollie Teeba and Jake Wherry will be both tearing it up and chilling it out with a heavy mix of beats and treats. Laced with pure soul, a strictly dancehall ethos and an arsenal of music to get you moving, Ninja Tune's most famous export will be playing fresh fresh material and taking you back to the old... We welcome back to Brum the mixologist, Substance promoter and all round hip hopper Chris Read behind the decks for some party beats with Mad Flow, PLUS DJ Maxwell AND visuals from Chromatouch. Presented in association with "Birmingham Jazz":http://birminghamjazz.co.uk
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Julian Cope lecture- Ancient Worship of the Gods Beyond Rome plus screening of Haxan accompanied by live soundtrack
Mon 26 May Town Hall
Capsule present an event at Town Hall as part of Fierce Festival, featuring an evening of the occult with visionary rock musician and hip archaeologist Julian Cope. Cope will present one of his infamous lectures, based on his years of study of the occult, mythology and Britain’s pre-history. Followed by a screening of cult film Haxan (1922 dir: Benjamin Christensen)-an other worldly vision of grave robbing, torture, possessed nuns, baby sacrifices and satanic Sabbath, with a live soundtrack by art house electronix outfit Bronnt Industries Kapital. "Capsule":http://capsule.org.uk
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American Enterprise
Wed 28 May Town Hall
Maverick and enthusiast, Carlo Curley has brought the organ out of the church loft and imbued his recitals with crusading zeal for the instrument's colour and vitality. His recital, the final one this season, explores the huge, and sometimes outrageous, range of American organ music. Prepare to hear Town Hall's organ as it has never been heard before! *6.15pm Pre-concert talk: Graeme Kay in conversation with Carlo Curley*
*Carlo Curley* Organ
*Programme includes:* *Hugh McAmis* Dreams *Seth Bingham* Roulade *Charles Ives* Variations on America *Samuel Barber (arr Strickland)* Adagio for Strings *Dudley Buck* Concert Variations on The Star-Spangled Banner *Edward MacDowell (arr Curley)* To a Wild Rose, from Woodland Sketches *Stefan Lindblad* Toccata on an American Theme, in homage to Leonard Bernstein
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The Anoushka Shankar Project
Fri 30 May Town Hall
Anoushka Shankar has a pedigree to die for: the beautiful, supremely talented daughter of legendary sitar mastro Ravi Shankar, who has played with George Harrison, Sting, Herbie Hancock and Elton John. She is a major force in global fusion, her albums _Rise_ and _Breathing Under Water_ blending ancient raga-melodic forms with western influences and modern instruments. Her presence is mesmerising and her magical sound evokes a timeless spirituality, giving the ancient sitar new expression in a modern context. Presented in association with sampad £13.50, £17.50, £19.50
*Anoushka Shankar* Sitar *Tanmoy Bose* Tabla *Ravichandra Kulur* Flute *Leo Dombecki* Piano *Barry Phillips* Cello
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Eric Bibb: Get Onboard World Tour 2008 Plus support Emily Maguire
Sat 31 May Town Hall
Following the release of his new album _Get Onboard_, Eric Bibb is embarking on a world tour. Bibb’s touring band will feature renowned players such as legendary double bass player Danny Thompson & Trevor Hutchinson (Waterboys & Lúnasa) sharing stand-up bass duties, and Bibb perennial, drummer Larry Crockett. New York-based, Yana Bibb (Eric’s daughter) will join the band on backing vocals. £24.50
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Summer Serenade with Orchestra of the Swan
Sun 1 Jun Town Hall
A seasonally flavoured programme of some of the most delightful music for strings by Vivaldi, Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Elgar - four of the greatest melodists of all time! *1.30pm Free pre-concert talk and post-concert conversation*
*David Curtis* Conductor *David Le Page* Violin *Mozart Divertimento* in D K136 13' *Elgar Serenade* for Strings 12' *Vivaldi* Summer from The Four Seasons 10' *Tchaikovsky* Serenade for Strings 28'
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'AND NOW, THE NEWS'
Thu 5 Jun Town Hall
What soundtrack would you choose to accompany the news? Have you wondered about the music behind the headlines? A new commission by New Guide to Opera (Michael Wolters and Marcus Dross) explores this idea in our increasingly media-driven society, with original music performed to a live broadcast of the BBC News. The performance features students from Birmingham Conservatoire alongside cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, one of the most creative musicians of his generation. Julian will also perform a new work written specifically for him by Howard Goodall. The concert launches both the New Generation Arts Festival and Integra 2008, taking place at Birmingham Conservatoire. Integra works take centre stage in the second half, with the performance of a second commission, by Ed Bennett and Juneau Projects as well as a performance by renowned swedish ensemble Ars Nova and works by Pierre Jodlowski and Kent Oloffson. £10, 60 Plus/Under 16’s/Unwaged £8, Students £2.50 Please note that, owing to the live link with the BBC News, this concert will start promptly at 7pm. Please be seated by 6.55pm.
*Launch of New Generation Arts Festival and Integra 2008* *Julian Lloyd Webber* _cello_
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New Generation Arts Festival:
Thu 5 Jun Town Hall
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Black Voices & London Adventist Chorale
Fri 6 Jun Town Hall
If you love inspirational gospel singing, don’t miss the stunning London Adventist Chorale, one of the world’s best gospel choirs. They’re joining Town Hall Associate Artists Black Voices in an uplifting programme of inspirational gospel and spirituals old and new, alongside new music from LAC’s charismatic young director Ken Burton. Ken led the fantastic Town Hall Gospel Choir in last year’s Reopening Concert, and they’ll be joining the party in a special guest appearance. “The London Adventist Choral stole the show with gospel fervour. Their conductor, Ken Burton, was clearly the coolest man in the postal district and probably the planet!” Evening Standard
*London Adventist Chorale, Director Ken Burton* *Black Voices, Music Director Carol Pemberton*
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Family Concert: Animal Magic Organ Concert
Sat 7 Jun Town Hall
Come and hear the Town Hall Organ as it takes you on a journey to the zoo! Hear the roar of the cheetah, the miaow of the alley cat and feel the massive weight of the blue whale in a new piece of music and verse called Animal Parade. Then be transported into a world of magic with Mr Majeika and The Magic Organ as we present a thrilling and entertaining assortment of comical organ effects. Pipe blowing/making and a hands-on demonstration showing how the organ really works in the foyers and Lower Bar area.
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Famil Event: Animal Magic Organ Concert
Town Hall
*William Whitehead* organ *Jo Moseley* narrator *Stephen Povey* narrator *Ian Farrington with words by Esther Eidinow* _Animal Parade_ *Bob Chillcott with wordsby Humphrey Carpenter* _Mr Majeika and the Magic Organ_
Come and hear the Town Hall organ as it takes you on a journey to the Zoo! Hear the roar of the cheetah, the miaow of the alley cat and feel the massive weight of the blue whale in a new piece of music and verse called Animal Parade. Then be transported into a world of magic with Mr Majeika and the Magic Organ as we present a thrilling, entertaining and occasionally bizarre tale of witchcraft and sorcery in music and words, featuring an assortment of comical organ effects. The character of Mr Majeika comes from the successful series of children's books by Humphrey Carpenter, who wrote the text for this work. Also there will be a pipe blowing/making workshop and a hands-on demonstration showing how the organ really works. Adults £5, 60 plus £4.50, Under 16’s £2.50 Family Ticket (4 people, Minimum 1 Adult) £12
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Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel Please note: There will a support act for this event; Simon Le Fort.
Sun 8 Jun Town Hall
After 34 years of touring the world, Steve Harley still says, "Playing Live is the biggest thrill there is. Every night is different. Every audience and every town have their own personality, and I am a relentless explorer". Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel will be appearing in a show that will cover a 12-album career, with tracks from each one. _The Human Menagerie_, the band's debut release, caused a sensation in 1973, with a 40-piece orchestra and 30-piece choir augmenting the band on Steve's mega-hit, the mysterious _Sebastian_ and the enigmatic _Death Trip._ The current release, _The Quality Of Mercy_ has been described by many as possibly the best album Steve has ever made. The list of hits is considerable, including _Judy Teen_, _Mr Soft_, _Here Comes The Sun_, _Mr Raffles_, _Love's a Prima Donna_, but the biggest of all is, of course, *_Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)_*. The song has been covered by other artists over 100 times, in several languages.
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Lunchtime Organ Concert Thomas Trotter
Mon 9 Jun Town Hall
