music

Admission Free

Documents the stories of Mixed Heritage families in Birmingham during the 1950s and 1960s. Mixed Heritage people have been an obvious presence in the UK for the past 50 years, yet relatively little is known about their unique cultural experience.

Given a separate ethnic category for the first time in the 2001 National Census, Mixed Heritage is now the fastest growing ethnic group in the UK. Through photographic exhibition and oral testimonials Guess Who is Coming to Dinner? brings together two generations of Birmingham families to tell their stories.

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Cultural Arts Foundation in partnership with The Drum presents

Shazia KhushShazia Khush’s music represents five thousand years of cultural and musical heritage of Indus valley civilisation - spread from the snow covered and lush green mountains of Kashmir through to the beautiful landscapes of Punjab, to the shining view of Arabian Sea.

With the ability to sing in a variety of languages including Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhu, Kashmiri, Gojri, Pahari, Hindko, Shazia Khush is widely respected both internationally and in her homeland of Pakistan.

music

Music4Life presents

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: Gospel Valentine's Celebration Birmingham’s freshest gospel promoter Music4Life presents a plethora of talented DJs playing the very best of gospel hip hop, RnB, reggae, funky house and grime. So bring the one’s you love, relax and enjoy the up-tempo sounds with the best gospel DJs around!

comedy

£9 (£7), £11 on the door

Upfront Café presents

Quincy - Single MomA change of approach this season with the first of two self-contained shows kicking off Upfront Comedy.

Direct from a successful run at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival, East London heavyweight Quincy (Paramount Channel’s ‘Comedy Blue’) performs a funny, sad and touching autobiographical show, telling of many up’s and down’s of a rarely publicised thing, a single Black father, who in this circumstance just happens to be a comedian. dance

dancedancedance

The Drum in partnership with The Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (ADAD) presents

DanceUnderConstruction:TapLyricalJourney&UntitledA new monthly initiative set up by The Drum & ADAD to encourage, support, nurture and develop new dance productions by Black dancers and choreographers. Each month, we will feature two dazzling dance productions: Tap Lyrical Journey by Imani is an autobiographical solo using tap, African and Caribbean rhythms as well as spoken word and video projection. Untitled by Keisha Grant is an idiosyncratic movement based contemporary and African dance piece.

ArtsDevelopment

£10 (£8), £15 on the door

Café Masti presents

A Portrait of Shazia Mirza Highly acclaimed observational stand-up comedian Shazia Mirza presents her new show jam-packed with hilarious stories, including the tale of her picture featuring alongside Nelson Mandela’s in the National Portrait Gallery, being told at eight stone she was too fat for US TV and her experience as a WAG.

‘A feisty young Muslim women with a self deprecating and needle sharp humour, prepared to break taboos and make us think about the most controversial issues of our time, from suicide bombers to virginity’. The Guardian.

comedy

£5 (£3)

Nu Century Arts in association with The Drum presents

Gospel Workshop & ShowcaseDaytime workshop and evening showcase for aspiring and established local gospel artists; please see website for further details.

www.nucenturyarts.co.uk/livebox.php

£5 (£3)

The Drum in partnership with Arts Council England presents

Islam & Hip Hop What is the relationship between Islam and hip hop? Are they compatible? Where are the boundaries?

Chaired by Rakin Fetuga of Islamic hip hop band Mecca2Medina, this lively debate, especially for young people, will discuss and explore the influence that hip hop has on young British life.

Photographs by Kamraan Rashid.

event

£5 (£3) Nu Century Arts in association with The Drum presents

Robert Mitchell & Corey MwambaExpect pianist Robert Mitchell’s collaboration with rising star vibes player to result in an array of originals, the odd bop anthem, a jazz classic or two, and a bit of improvisation from two of the most virtuosic players around.

In conversation with Meera Syal Critically-acclaimed MBE Meera Syal discusses her work as a revered fiction writer (Anita and Me), TV fame and life in the media. With appearances in hit shows such as Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No. 42. Tonight’s discussion is a wonderful opportunity to gain an insight into the life of an Asian icon, hosted by BBC Asian Network’s Nikki Bedi.

Please see website for confirmed date.

Spoken Word event

An Audience with Linton Kwesi Johnson Internationally renowned dub poet and musician Linton Kwesi Johnson discusses life, poetry and politics, offering a unique insight into his life as one of the most radical, prolific and leading names of Black literature. This enthralling discussion is followed by a live performance as LKJ uses revolutionary language and reggae rhythms to get his message across.

Inspired by The Arrivants a pictorial essay, which explored the experiences of Commonwealth immigrants arriving in this country in the fifties and sixties, The Lunch Group Project focuses on a group of elderly residents living in Hackney and Islington who meet every Saturday to have lunch at the Factory Community Centre in North London.

The portraits reflect a group of people from very diverse backgrounds drawn together through one commonality the British Commonwealth. The exhibitions draws attention to how quickly time passes and how our lives adapt to our ever-changing circumstances.

ArtsDevelopment

NubianReaders'BookClub Come along to the Nubian Readers’ Book Club and enjoy reading and reviewing a variety of books written by African, African Caribbean and African American authors.

£5 (£3)

Nu Century Arts in association with The Drum presents

Battle in the BoxBattle in the Box is one of the country’s only acoustic hip hop freestyle sessions.

It’s open mic, so step up and shine!

theatre

Wed £8, Thur £10, Fri, Sat & Sun £12

Early Bird Offer: £10 tickets available (Fri 5 Jan to Sat 14 Feb)

Rifco Arts presents

Where’s my Desi Soulmate Are you a pharmacist who is still tied to your mother’s apron strings and can’t find love or a remedy? Or a workaholic lawyer who has no time for a partner? Are you a chat room obsessive who can only deal with cyber relationships? Or maybe an independent women whose biological clock is about to explode?

Where’s my Desi Soulmate offers a contemporary and humorous insight into the lives of British Asian singletons, where the cast play out multiple scenarios. Come along and meet the characters as they embark on their journeys to find love and companionship - will their singleton status become ancient history?

£9, (£7), £11 on the door

Upfront Café presents

Jefferson & Whitfield in Your Face Upfront’s second self-contained show features slick musical double act Jefferson and Whitfield (BBC 2’s The Real McCoy). Back by popular demand with their full show In Your Face the duo tear up the Upfront Stage with sketches, song parodies and their extra sharp stand-up.

Age Restriction 18

comedy

£5 (£3)

Nu Century Arts in association with The Drum presents

SureShot Michael Brome, aka SureShot, is a modern day griot. He’s a master of cerebral verse, a hip hop influenced poet who tackles topics of love, music, religion, and Black culture, alongside the occasional humorous short story.

danceThe Drum and sampad in association with Chitraleka Dance Company presents the PREMIER of

From Stardust to LifeCreation of stories, evolutionary theories and the ten incarnations of Vishnu unfold in From Stardust to Life. The choreography, music and visuals take you on a journey back in time and space when the universe came into being and life began.

Exploring links between dance, science and Indian mythology, Chitraleka Bolar’s choreography blends the classical Indian dance style Bharatanatyam with western contemporary movements, creating a stunning presentation with the use of evocative digital imagery, multimedia projection and special lighting design.

£5 (£3)

Nu Century Arts in association with The Drum presents

HKB FiNN Poet and musician HKB FiNN’s work is rooted in the traditions of reggae, hip hop, blues, jazz and West African sounds. Through exploring his own cultural legacy, HKB FiNN has created an organic modern sound which he’s dubbed ‘acoustic Afro hip hop’.

ArtsDevelopment

ArtsDevelopment

The Drum in partnership with The Association of Dance of the African Diaspora

DanceUnderConstruction:BuskinBoy&HALOPerformed and choreographed by Sean Graham, Buskin Boy is a narrative hip hop dance theatre piece that looks at a young boy’s struggle through an identity crisis and the transition to manhood in the absence of a father figure. HALO is a biographical solo piece created by De-Napoli Clarke and performed by RJC. The piece reviews the pain and torment endured by a dancer whilst immobilised from his neck to his head by a halo traction screwed into his skull.

InConversationwithJasmineJohnsonBirmingham’s writer Jasmine Johnson has come a long way since her first novel Mr Soon Come hit the literary scene with a bang way back in 2001. Since then, she has written and self-published two other sensations: The Devil I Know and The Day Hell Broke Loose, not forgetting the adaptation of her first novel, Mr Soon Come for the stage.

Bring your listening ears and your burning questions, as BBC Presenter Nikki Tappa engages in conversation with this notorious and controversial writer, branded, The Lady With The Passionate Pen.

theatre

event

sampad presents Sabhasampad’s popular showcase for local and emerging talent returns to The Drum. Sabha (meaning meeting) aims to demonstrate the diversity of British South Asian arts in the West Midlands. The evening’s entertainment will include music, poetry and rap per-formances from local artists Rohit Ballal and Raju Mali, followed by live music by talented musician and composer Manveer Singh. For information on how to take part in a future Sabha, please contact sampad on 0121 452 8899 or email info@sampad.org.uk.

£5, School Bookings £3.50

Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company presents

These Four StreetsBy Naylah Ahmed, Sonali Bhattacharyya, Jennifer Farmer, Lorna French, Amber Lone and Cheryl Akila PayneIn October 2005 the rumour of a rape sparked disturbances in Lozells, Birmingham that led to the killing of one man, widespread damage and a fracture between two communities that had previously appeared to be living happily alongside one another.

Inspired by the views, hopes and fears of local people connected to or affected by the disturbances, These Four Streets is an engaging and hopeful play that highlights a community’s fight to stay together.

A collaboration between six young female writers, These Four Streets explores the power of rumour and what it’s like to live in a place that has been written off.

Age restriction 14

Admission £5 (£3)

Nu Century Arts in association with The Drum presents

The Michael Janisch & Pete Zimmer Quintet featuring Joel Frahm Saxophonist Joel Frahm joins the quintet of Michael Janisch, Pete Zimmer, Jim Hart and Alex Garnett to perform tracks from Frahm’s latest release We Used To Dance.

Photograph by Tory Williams.

theatre

£16 (£14), Saturday Matinee £10.50

Free Street Entertainment presents

Dis Shoodbe on TVPremiered at the Hackney Empire in 2008, Dis Shoodbe on TV is a brand new comedy sketch show destined for a TV screen near you! Featuring some of the best comedic and acting talent around, including Jimmy Akingbola, Wayne Rollins, Glenda Jaxson, local girl Annette Fagon and Babatunde, the show introduces a whole host on new comedy characters, who will leave you in stitches!

Age suitability 12

Photograph by Black Ink.

Courtney Pine’s Jazz Warriors were a seminal Black British big band from the 1980s. Their mission was to celebrate Black British musicianship and shake up the cliquey world of British jazz. Twenty years on, the newly-minted band brings together the finest contemporary young Black British musicians in a concert themed around the experience of what Pine calls ‘Afropeans’ - people of African descent who were born in or live in Europe.

“The rhythm section was top-notch...There were barnstorming solos...the three-hour concert never lost interest...nice touches abounded…Hugely entertaining...” Mike Hobart, The Times.

£18.50 & £16.50

Venue: Town Hall The Town Hall in association with The Drum presents

Courtney Pine & Jazz Warriors Afropeans

music

To book your tickets call 0121 780 3333

or visit www.thsh.co.uk

music

The Drum in partnership with Punch and Sonic Attractions presents

Musiq SoulchildPhiladelphia’s finest soul export touches down with his full backing band at The Drum for his very first gig in the West Midlands.

His latest album; OnMyRadio features the hit single IfUleave with Mary J Blige. His last album LUVANMUSIQ, debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard 200. It earned him three Grammy nominations: Best RnB Album, Best Male RnB Vocal Performance for B.U.D.D.Y., and Best RnB Song for Teachme.

Here’s your chance to get “Up Close & Personal” with the US’s hottest soul artist of the moment.

Admission Free

‘Want to see more of me?’ is a series of portraits of Black British film actors by acclaimed photographer Donald MacLellan, commissioned by the UK Film Council in order to celebrate and support Black film talent and provoke debate about the demand for greater on-screen diversity. Featuring Noel Clarke, Adrian Lester, Ashley Walters, Mona Hammond, Sophie Okonedo, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Naomie Harris and Chiwetel Ejiofor amongst others, MacLellan’s portraits highlight the depth and range of talent in the field and raise questions about the roles that are available to Black British film actors.

music

Venue: Town Hall The Town Hall in association with The Drum presents

Orchestra BaobabOrchestra Baobab are one of Africa’s great iconic bands, creators of one of the world’s most sublime and truly distinctive pop sounds.

Founded in 1970, Orchestra Baobab fused Afro-Cuban rhythm and Portuguese Creole melody with Congolese rumba, high life and a whole gamut of local styles - kick-starting a musical renaissance in their native Senegal, which turned the capital Dakar into one of the world’s most vibrant musical cities. They produced more hits in less than a decade than other bands in a lifetime.

To book your tickets call 0121 780 3333 or visit www.thsh.co.uk

Running Time TBC

Don’t miss the film premier of Uchian Kandhan from the makers of the Pothowari smash hit Mein Ve Khucker Kha Saan. A hilarious and yet moving story of forbidden love that crosses traditional boundaries - in doing so a son fails to meet his fathers expectations and pays the ultimate price - an all too common story within the Pakistani community.

Please note that this film is in Pothowari

Age Suitability

PG

£5 (£3)

Nu Century Arts in association with The Drum presents

Live Box Special Join us for a night featuring a very special guest artist - full details to be announced nearer the time. Watch our website for further details!

Upfront Café presents

Comedy Spring Series The Comedy Café returns to the regular format headlined by Brixton bus driver turned award-winning comedian Slim. The ever-sarcastic Glenda Jaxon and special guests join him in burning up The Drum stage for the final performance of the season.

Age Restriction 18

comedy

theatre

Matribhoomi Theatre Company presents

Patiala Junction - A Punjabiwood Comedy Play Patiala Singh is very rich and wants to be the King of Patiala on other people’s money. A very stingy man, he dreams of money day and night, relationships mean nothing only living life to the full!

With Punjabi songs and Bhangra dance, this comedy theatre takes you on a side-splitting journey, as Patiala finds himself in a troubling situation when someone steals his money. Will he get his money back and live King Size again or will he find unexpected happiness?

Performed in Punjabi

music£10, MOTD

Music4Life presents

A Meeting with the King: Easter Gospel Extravaganza Come along and celebrate with Music4Life who bring the very best in gospel RnB and hip hop this Easter Season. Get your tickets early this show is bound to be popular!

Age Restriction 18

£5 (£3)

Nu Century Arts in association with The Drum presents

Soweto Kinch's The Flyover Show: The Sequel Last year, Soweto Kinch, alongside international names and home-grown rising stars presented an inspiring, day-long festival beneath Hockley Flyover. Tonight’s showcase is a sneak preview of the exciting new work that young local artists have created specially for May 09s Flyover Show.

music£16.50 Venue: Town Hall The Town Hall in association with The Drum presents

Motorcity Roots: An Anniversary Tribute to the Motown Legacy featuring Jazz Jamaica Motown Records, named after hometown Detroit’s nickname of Motor City, was founded in January 1959. To celebrate the anniversary, put on those flares for an unforgettable feel-good evening with a party atmosphere as Jazz Jamaica’s ska-jazz-reggae band dusts down your favourite Motown Classics. This band really rocks, and with their big, bold, brassy horns and skanking rhythm section, we guarantee they’ll have you dancing in the street!

“Jazz Jamaica, the raucously vivacious British band that mixes reggae with all manner of other idioms, played Caribbean bebop Tamla Motown ...Jazz Jamaica puts a reggae bounce under just about every soul classic you’ve ever heard of...irresistible.” The Guardian.

To book your tickets call 0121 780 3333 or visit www.thsh.co.uk

Café Masti and Off the Curb presents

An Evening with Shappi KhorsandiHaving just recorded a 30-minute solo comedy special for Paramount Comedy, Shappi Khorsandi takes to The Drum stage. Come along and enjoy one of Britain’s most engaging comedy performers in her critically-acclaimed one woman show.

Age Restriction 18

comedy

£5 (£3)

Nu Century Arts in association with The Drum presents

Michael Janisch Group featuring Will Vinson London-born, New York-based saxophonist Will Vinson, dubbed ‘the thinking man’s alto saxophonist’ joins London-based Michael Janisch, a fast-rising global voice on electric and acoustic bass. They’ll be playing all genres of music from jazz to hip hop.

The Drum in partnership with Christian Aid presents

Life in DR CongoThis insightful and entertaining event will feature poetry, a film screening, music, food, local art and a thought-provoking debate highlighting the current situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The event features Les Elus; a Congolese gospel group from Derby, a Black Country poet Beverley McKenzie and one of Birmingham’s most popular gospel singers, Enid Rose Weir.

ArtsDevelopment

PhelaJhoot(FirstLie)After the success of Mein Ve Khucker Kha Saan, director and producer, Tahir Chaudhry brings the comedy play Phela Jhoot to The Drum stage. When Karmoo tells a lie to stop his wife’s persistent nagging, he finds himself in deep trouble as the lie leads to another and another, slowly mutating and spreading throughout his village. Desperate for his wife not to find out, Karmoo attempts to undo the lie before it is too late, resulting in hilarious consequences.

ArtsDevelopment

dancedancedancedance

DanceUnderConstruction:TheJourney&Children'sChoreographyChoreographed by Vicki Igbokwe and performed by the Uchenna Dance Company, Children’s Choreography is an interactive piece which explores the few moments just after a child wakes - a place, between sleep and dreams as the world gradually comes into focus. The Journey is a study of rhythm drawing on house dance and contemporary dance, choreographed by Vicki Igbokwe.

ArtsDevelopment

You do not have to have any experience and it is not just open to people who want to perform. There will be an opportunity to showcase your talents at two annual events, whether your talents lie in producing, writing, directing, delivering events or performing in them.

5pm - 7pm Monday - Thursday 1pm - 4pm on Saturdays.

For more information please contact Dee on (0121) 333 2431 or at d.whittle@the-drum.org.uk.

You can also pick up registration/ consent forms from The Drum Box Office.

Mon & Tue, 1pm - 5pm (Job Seekers), Mon & Tue, 5pm - 9pm (Employed), £6 (£2 Job Seekers), free for Job Seekers within B6 postcode area.

For more information visit www.the-drum.org.uk or to book a slot call 0121 333 2444 or email info@the-drum.org.uk

Call our Customer Service Relations Team for more information on 0121 333 2444 or log onto our website www.the-drum.org.uk/friends

£7 (£5)

Nu Century Arts in association with The Drum presents

Sway Winning a MOBO award in 2005 for Best Hip Hop Act - beating heavyweights 50 Cent and The Game - saw Sway rise from underground to mainstream success. His This Is My Demo album was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize in 2006; later that year, Sway beat Blak Twang, Plan B, Dizzee Rascal and Kano to pick up the Best UK Act at the inaugural BET (Black Entertainment Television) Hip Hop Awards. Sway has recently signed to Akon’s Konvict music label and released his second album, The Signature LP.

Mon 02 Feb - Fri 27 Feb Exhibition: Guess Who Is Coming To Dinner?

Fri 6 Feb, doors open 7pm Upfront Café presents Quincy - Single Mom

Fri 13 Feb, doors open 8pm Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: Gospel Valentine’s Extravaganza

Sun 15 Feb, 7pm Shazia Khush

Sun 15 Feb, 7.45pm Live Box: Gospel Special

Thu 19 Feb, 7.30pm Dance Under Construction: Tap Lyrical Journey & Untitled

Fri 20 Feb, doors open 7.30pm A Portrait of Shazia Mirza

Sun 22 Feb, 7.45pm Live Box: Robert Mitchell & Corey Mwamba

Thu 26 Feb, 7.30pm Islam & Hip Hop

Fri 27 Feb, 7pm Nubian Readers’ Book Club

Sat 28 Feb, 7.30pm An Audience with Linton Kwesi Johnson

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Date TBC, 7.30pm In conversation with Meera Syal

Sun 1 Mar, 7.45pm Live Box: Battle In The Box

Mon 2 Mar - Fri 27 Mar Exhibition: Lunch Group

Wed 4 Mar - Sun 8 Mar, 7.30pm Where’s my Desi Soulmate?

Fri 6 Mar, doors open 7pm Upfront Café presents Jefferson & Whitfield in Your FaceSun 8 Mar, 7.45pm Live Box: Sureshot

Thu 12 Mar, 7.30pm From Stardust to Life

Fri 13 Mar, 12.30pm These Four Streets

Sun 15 Mar, 7.45pm Live Box: HKB FiNN

Thu 19 Mar, 7.30pm Dance Under Construction: Buskin Boy & HALO

Fri 20 Mar, 7.30pm In conversation with Jasmine Johnson

Sat 21 Mar, doors open 9pm Musiq Soulchild

Sun 22 Mar, 7.45pm Live Box: Battle In The Box

Wed 25 Mar, 7.30pm Sabha

Thu 26 Mar, 7.30pm - Town Hall Courtney Pine & Jazz Warriors Afropeans

Fri 27 Mar, 7pm Nubian Readers’ Book Club

Fri 27 Mar, 7.30pm, Sat 28 Mar, 5.30pm & 9.00pm, Sun 29 Mar, 7.30pm Dis Shoodbe on TV

Sun 29 Mar, 7.45pm Live Box: The Michael Janisch/ Pete Zimmer Quintet & Joel Frahm

Mon 30 Mar - Fri 1 May Exhibition: Want to see more of Me?

Fri 3 Apr, doors open 7pm Upfront Café presents Comedy Spring Series

Sat 4 Apr, 7.30pm - Town Hall Orchestra Baobab

Sun 5 Apr, 7.30pm Uchian Khandhan (High Walls)

Sun 5 Apr, 7.45pm Live Box: Special

Fri 10 Apr, 8pm A Meeting with the King: Easter Gospel Extravaganza

Sun 12 Apr, 7.45pm Live Box: The Flyover Show: The Sequel

Fri 17 Apr, 7.30pm - Town Hall An Anniversary Tribute to the Motown Legacy featuring Jazz Jamaica

Sat 18 & Sun 19 Apr, 7.30pm Patiala Junction

Sun 19 Apr, 7.45pm Live Box: Battle In The Box

Fri 24 Apr, doors open at 7.30pm An Evening with Shappi Khorsandi

Fri 24 Apr, 7pm Nubian Readers’ Book Club

Sun 26 Apr, 7.45pm Live Box: Michael Janisch

Sun 26 Apr, 7.30pm Phela Jhoot (First Lie)

Mon 27 Apr, 8.00pm Life in DR Congo

Thu 30 Apr, 7.30pm Dance Under Construction: The Journey & Children’s Choreography

Sun 3 May, 7.45pm Live Box: Sway

CISC