Street Cred Magazine - January 2023

Matthew Bourne’s new adventures makes Wolverhampton debut with Romeo and Juliet

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre have announced that Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures will play Wolverhampton for the first time from Tuesday 17 –Saturday 21 October 2023 with Romeo and Juliet, which gives Shakespeare’s timeless story of forbidden love a scintillating injection of raw passion and youthful vitality.

Confined against their will by a society that seeks to divide, our two young lovers must follow their hearts as they risk everything to be together.

A masterful re-telling of an ageless tale of teenage discovery and the madness of first love, Romeo

and Juliet garnered universal critical acclaim when it premiered in 2019, and now joins the New Adventures repertoire alongside the very best of Bourne’s world renowned dance theatre productions.

The 2023 production of Romeo and Juliet is the first Co-Production between New Adventures and Sadler’s Wells. A relationship that dates back nearly 30 years; New Adventures have been performing at Sadler’s Wells since 1993.

In 2005 Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Sadler’s Wells, Alistair Spalding, appointed Matthew Bourne as one of the organisations first Associate Artists and in 2006 New Adventures became a Resident Company.

Matthew Bourne said: “I had resisted creating a new production of “Romeo and Juliet” for many years wondering if there was anything new to say in a much-performed work. In 2019 I found that inspiration in a countrywide young talent development project that surrounded the original production.

“Working alongside my usual world class creative team but with a team of “young artistic associates’ and a young cast of super talented emerging dance artists, we created something relevant, questioning and deeply moving…. But also, an unexpected hit show! I’m therefore thrilled to announce its long-awaited return as part of the celebrated New Adventures

repertoire to entertain and provoke audiences with its powerful and timely tale of young love.”

Directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, collaborating with the New Adventures Artistic team; Etta Murfitt (Associate Artistic Director), Lez Brotherston

(Set and Costume design), Paule Constable (Lighting Design), Paul Groothuis (Sound Design) and Arielle Smith (Associate Choreographer) with Terry Davies’ thrillingly fresh orchestrations of Prokofiev’s dynamic score.

Also on sale are ANNIE starring

Craig Revel Horwood from Tuesday 10 – Sat 14 October 2023,

LIFE OF PI from Monday 22 –Saturday 27 April 2024, SHANIA – 25 LIVE COME ON OVER on Thursday 1 June and THE MAKINGS OF A MURDERER on Wednesday 21 June.

Birmingham Hippodrome And Chinese Festival Committee

Birmingham Announce Lunar New Year Celebrations Return

FESTIVITIES WILL

START in the city centre with a packed programme of performances in partnership with Bullring & Grand Central on Saturday 21 January.

The celebrations will continue in Southside on Sunday 22 January with performances, family activities, food stalls and much more. Sponsored by Uber Eats and in association with Southside District and The Arcadian, the Sunday programme will celebrate the official first day of the Year of the Rabbit and mark a welcomed return to Southside after three years, with the newly redeveloped Hippodrome Square at the heart of the event.

tee Birmingham said: “We’re thrilled to bring Lunar New Year festivities back to Southside in 2023. As you may have spotted, the name of the event is different from previous years; we have made this change to recognise communities across the world who celebrate the Lunar New Year alongside our Chinese community.

ELLEN DEGENERES' DANCING DJ STEPHEN ‘TWITCH’ DIES

Best known as the dancing DJ and sidekick on The Ellen Show, Stephen "tWitch" Boss, has died by suicide.

Confirming the news, the TV star's wife Allison Holker Boss said he was "the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans". He became an integral part of Ellen DeGeneres' US talk show from 2014, until it finished earlier this year.

DeGeneres tweeted to say that she was heartbroken at the news. She wrote: "He was my family, and I loved him with all my heart. I will miss him."

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed t that its West Valley Division officers responded to a radio call at a motel on Ventura Boulevard. There were no signs of foul play, and the case was being dealt with by the Los Angeles County Coroner's office.

Wong, Chair of the Chinese Festival Commit-

James

“We have created a fantastic programme of events with our co-producer, Birmingham Hippodrome, which will delight all visitors to the city, more details will be shared soon. We’d like to thank our sponsors and partners and look forward to the city-wide celebrations next month, alongside Bullring & Grand Central.”

After appearing as a dancer in movies like Blades of Glory and Hairspray, tWitch first found fame as a runner-up on So You Think You Can Dance in 2008. One of his dances was nominated for an Emmy for best choreography and he later returned to the show as a

judge. The Alabama-born entertainer went on to work as an actor, featuring in the Step Up film series and later Magic Mike XXL, and was also made an executive producer on The Ellen Show in 2020.

Paying tribute, his wife, a fellow dancer with whom he co-hosted Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings,

said: "Stephen lit up every room he stepped into."

She added: "He valued family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light was everything to him. Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you." The couple, who met on an all-star season of So

You Think You Can Dance, had three children - and the family appeared together on the The Ellen show.

A host of star names from the worlds of entertainment, the arts and sport have been paying their respects to Boss, recalling memories of him and expressing their feelings on social media.

Birmingham based independent production company, Threewise Entertainment, and BOA Stage & Screen Production Academy have announced a groundbreaking film and TV industry talent partnership ahead of a new motion-caption feature film set to shoot in the UK.

The partnership will see final year students at BOA Stage & Screen Production Academy, based in Ladywood, Birmingham, given the opportunity to secure their first industry production credits working alongside a raft of industry professionals from the TV, film and games sector.

Up to 80 Trainees from the Academy will work alongside industry crew both on and offscreen to support the production of Threewise’s debut feature film intended to shoot in summer 2023. The original production will blend live-action performance and digital motion capture characters using the same technology utilised in Hollywood productions from Star Wars to Planet of the Apes and James Cameron’s forthcoming Avatar sequels.

Title and plot details for the new film are closely under wraps but the production hails from RTS winning UK Producer Mi-

Birmingham Production Company And Screen Academy Announce Groundbreaking Talent Partnership

who together co-created Nickelodeon’s newest Kids & Family adventure series, Rock Island Mysteries, currently airing worldwide on the channel. Rock Island Mysteries is produced in partnership with Fremantle Australia, with production currently underway down under on Season 2. What the trio of creators will reveal is that the film is set to fol-

low a streetwise group of teens who must save their city from a fantastical threat and is said to evoke classic creature-features such as Gremlins, Attack the Block and Goosebumps. Based on an original idea by Ford, and written by Matt & Vince, the project will also tackle real-world issues affecting millions of modern youngsters.

“As a kids and family indie, we want to create authentic con-

tent with, not just for, young audiences,” says Michael Ford, Co-Founder and Head of Content at Threewise Entertainment.

“We believe this is critical to ensuring our productions remain relevant and engaging. This is why our film partnership with BOA means so much to us.” Applications to the BOA Stage & Screen Production Academy are now open, for September 2023 intake.

PIONEERING FASHION DESIGNER VIVIENNE WESTWOOD DIES AT 81

The ‘Godmother of Punk’, British fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood made her name with her controversial punk and new wave styles in the 1970s and went on to dress some of the biggest names in fashion. Her husband and creative partner Andreas Kronthaler said: "I will continue with Vivienne in my heart.

"We have been working until the end and she has given me plenty of things to get on with." Westwood came to prominence with her androgynous designs, slogan T-shirts and irreverent attitude towards the establishment.

She was also known as a staunch activist and brought causes she cared about, like climate change, to the catwalk. The designer was made a Dame for services to fashion in 2006.

Derbyshire-born Westwood worked as a primary school teacher, before setting up clothing shop Let It Rock on King's Road in Chelsea with her then partner Malcolm McLaren in the early 1970s. The business was later renamed Sex and in late 1975, McLaren began managing a punk rock band made up of shop regulars - the Sex Pistols. They shot to fame wearing

Westwood and McLaren's designs. Fashion designer and Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham, paid tribute to Westwood, saying: "My thoughts are with her family at this incredibly sad time." American designer Marc Jacobs said on Instagram: "You did it first. Always. Incredible style with brilliant and meaningful substance...

By the 2000s, Westwood was designing wedding dresses for stars like model Dita Von Teese who dressed in her purple gown to marry singer Marilyn Manson, and Princess Eugenie who wore three Westwood designs for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine. Her designs also featured in the 2008 film version of Sex And The City. Memorable runway moments include her nine-inch platform shoes, which famously tripped up model Naomi Campbell.

As well as climate change, Westwood became a vocal supporter for the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is fighting extradition to the US to face charges under the Espionage Act. In July 2020, she dressed in canary yellow in a giant bird cage warning over an Assange "stitch up".

She was 81.

chael Ford, and Writer/Director duo Matt Cooke & Vince Lund

l Dame Vivian Westwood

Food & Fine Dining

RENOWNED ‘COLMORE FOOD FESTIVAL’ RETURNING FOR ITS 10TH YEAR

The much-loved Colmore Food Festival is making a return to Birmingham for its 10th anniversary in July. The muchloved Colmore Food Festival is making a return to Birmingham for its 10th anniversary this year.

Next year, the free, must-visit festival will return in a new location in the Grounds of St Philips Cathedral and will provide guests with a tasty and affordable spread of mouth-watering mini dishes from the traders’ latest menus.

Whether you’re a diehard foodie or just fancy sampling the best of the District’s food and drink scene, the festival will be host to many food and drink stalls, with a range of options available to tingle everyone’s tastebuds!

The award-winning event showcases the best food and drink offerings from across the Colmore Business District and attracts over 30,000 visitors each year. Visitors will be spoilt for choice with the stalls made up of local restaurants, coffee shops, bars and hotels offering a selection of meat, vegetarian

and vegan options.

Organisers are also placing price caps on food and drinks, creating an affordable, but unforgettable experience. Colmore BID will now be reaching out to local ‘gourmet gurus’ operating in the District to showcase tasters of their decadent dining at the festival stalls.

Alex Tross, Deputy Chair of Colmore BID said: ‘’We are so excited to announce the return of the Colmore Food Festival, particularly with this year being the 10th anniversary of the BID delivering

the event. Birmingham’s food scene has an impressive history and still to this day has so much to offer, and this event showcases exactly that, whilst simultaneously supporting the local businesses in the Colmore Business District.”

Michelin-starred chef, Glynn Purnell, said: “The Colmore Food Festival is a one-of-a-kind event –and we’re excited to announce it’s returning better than ever for its 10th year in July 2023. The festival celebrates the best of Birmingham’s food and drinks scene, right in the beating heart of our amazing

city.

“With many venues participating as it returns for its 10th special year, the event attracts more than 30,000 visitors annually. Completely free to attend, price caps are set per item to ensure the selections on offer is both tasty and affordable for all.

“We’ll be releasing details soon, so keep your eyes peeled on Colmore BID’s social media channels for more information!” The festival will run from Friday 20 July – Saturday 21 July 2023.

The Humble Baguette Gets Unesco Heritage Status

UNESCO HAS ADDED the quintessentially French baguette to its "intangible cultural heritage" list. The body announced it had added "artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread" to its list of 600 other items, joining things like traditional tea making in China and a Korean mask dance known as "talchum" - both also included for the first time in 2022. Its inclusion celebrates the French way of life, Unesco chief Audrey Asoulay said, adding: "The baguette is a daily ritual, a structuring element of the meal, synonymous with sharing and conviviality. It is important that these skills and social habits continue to exist in the future."

Producing some 16 million a day, the exact provenance of the baguette is not known: some suggest the bread was ordered by Napoleon because it would be easier for soldiers to carry, while others suggest it came along later - an easy bread for workers to tear and share without the need of a knife in Paris. Others still credit an Austrian baker in the 1830s for its shape.

However, the baguette as we know it today was only officially named just over 100 years ago, in 1920. It was then that strict rules about what classed as a baguette were put in place - standardised at 80cm (30ins) and 250g (8oz). It even had a fixed price until 1986.

AWARD-WINNING, climate and plastic-neutral global wellness brand, Vahdam India has announced the exciting launch of a limited-edition Self Care gift in partnership with international superstar and tea lover, Nicole Scherzinger.

While living life on the move, Nicole, a singer, songwriter, actress and TV personality, knows the importance of taking time to care for herself. With this partnership, she wants to inspire others to do the same, inviting fellow tea lovers to choose their blend

and take time to relax and reflect over the festive season.

“Self-care can come in many forms, including a warm cup of healing tea, made with the most divine ingredients. Take some tea-time out for yourself today.” said Nicole.

The limited-edition self-care gift from ethical, plastic neutral Vahdam India, comprises:

• An assorted collection of 6 x 10 delicious, carefully selected, individually enveloped tea bags, comprising: hibiscus rose herbal tea; turmeric spice herbal tea; vanilla spiced chai tea; sweet cinnamon chai tea;

mint melody green tea and sweet Himalayan green tea

• A high quality, specially autographed black, stainless steel, vacuum insulated 350ml deluxe tumbler - perfect for your warming, healing cup of delicious Vahdam India tea on the go.

Vahdam India, which is also favoured by the likes of global icons Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey and Ellen DeGeneres for taking India's finest teas and superfoods to the rest of the world, has a range of over 100 garden-fresh, artisanal and signature blends. These

have been shipped to over 3m people across 130 countries and places sustainability and social initiatives at the centre of its ethos.

"We're very excited to have partnered with Nicole and create this limited-edition gift box. Nicole has been very vocal about her wellness journey and continually shares her wisdom and tips for a healthy lifestyle. We're glad she has found a form of self-care in VAHDAM's healing teas." said Bala Sarda, Founder & CEO of Vahdam India.

By the middle of the 20th Century, the baguette had won over the country. But since 1970, 400 artisanal bakeries have closed down each year, with the total number across France dropping from 55,000 to 35,000 today, according to news agency AFP. And yet it remains key to French identity, with President Emmanuel Macron saying the baguette was "envied around the world".

"The baguette is flour, water, salt, yeast - and the know-how of the craftsman," Dominique Anract, president of the baker's federation, said in a press release.

Parisian baker Priscilla Hayertz acknowledged that it was a basic product, but one that affects all socio-cultural categories, whether rich, poor... it doesn't matter, “everyone eats baguettes".

Panto Shines Proudly

Somehow Christmas has rolled round again, and as we rocked up to Birmingham Hippodrome that can only mean one thing - it's Panto time!

For the 9th consecutive pantomime Matt Slack returns to the Birmingham Hippodrome, a firm fan favourite now you know exactly what you're going to get from Slack, a wonderful mix of comedy, perfect timing, fantastic impressions, messing with the audience and a great chemistry with legendary panto dame Andrew Ryan.

This time Matt is the titular character of our story, Dick Whittington, and with Doreen Tipton as Doreen the Cat, you can imagine the pretty obvi-

ous jokes that will happen, and they happen often.

Panto has always been that wonderful joint mix of a great fun show for children and a whole slew of double entendre and other jokes that fly way over the little heads, specifically for the adults in the room, This year the bad guy is played by Marti Pellow as The Ratman, who is suitably booed at every opportunity, however some unfortunate audio mixing meant his dialogue was lost at times, especially on his introduction.

On another unfortunate point, Suzanne Shaw is terribly underused, as Alice Fitzwarren she never has a chance to show off any of her talents.

Dr Ranj makes a loud and glittery entrance as the Spirit Of The Bells, is always the butt of the obvious medical jokes, but is a loveable character through and through.

Now that the height of Covid has passed, children are once again allowed up as guests on stage with Slack to interview them and get some very heartwarming

responses, and some sass mind you, from the wonderful young people in the audience at each show.

He said how much he's missed that interaction and it was obvious by how kind and caring he was with the children.

As always, the Birmingham Hippodrome Panto runs into the new year, until 29 January 2023 to be precise, so there is no excuse to not get your tickets and see this family favourite to kick start your 2023!

Happy Chinese New Year

Trinidad & Tobago-born musical duo Kinetic has released its first contribution to the 2023 Soca soundtrack entitled ‘Driftin’.

The US-based sons of Trini soil, Keston ‘De Chancellor’ Harris & Kwasi ‘KHemSun’ Jones have released the new Groovy Soca track which evokes emotions of love, euphoria and mental freedom.

The new release is a combination of solid instrumentation, melodic delivery and lyrics that arouse images of exotic voyages and intimate excursions to tropical destinations with a special travel companion. Regarding the inspiration behind the new song they shared, “In a sense, it's freedom. It's all beautiful emotions metaphorically described in a vessel of love.

The plane in the lyrics is the vessel and ‘to drift’ is to be carefree in a mental state of liberation. The inspiration behind the song was to highlight the joy of total freedom (both mental and physical) with the one you love.”

Driftin was written by both Harris and Jones and produced by the famous Badjohn Republic. This latest single features vocal contributions from Peter ‘WildXFire’ Noel who has previously lent his talents to

Kinetic ‘Driftin’ into Carnival

music projects by artistes such as Machel Montano and Lyrikal. The new track has already gained positive reviews from listeners with

some stating that they gained a sense of peace, as well as feelings of joy and wanderlust upon hearing it.

Celebrating over 25 years at the pinnacle of hip hop, it’s been a career that has seen the Doggfather cement his undisputed influence on music with chart-topping, multi-platinum records, while also solidifying his importance to wider culture as an actor, businessman and more across the board.

The tour sees Snoop Dogg enlist a selection of his key collaborators from the breadth of his iconic music career including further West Coast hip hop royalty; Warren G, Tha Dogg Pound, Obie Trice and D12. They will also be joined by the multi-million streamed Irish rap duo Versatile. Snoop Dogg collaborator and platinum-selling rapper Xzibit will join the tour for the dates in Scotland and England.

West Coast rap legend Snoop Dogg has come a long way since being discovered by Dr. Dre in the early 1990. As impressive as he was when guesting on Dre’s The Chronic in 1992, few could have guessed he’d go on to global fame, tens of millions of record sales, and a career in movies and TV. And that’s only part of the story, from battles with the law to reinvention as a reggae artist.

He was born Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr. in Long Beach, California, on October 20, 1971. His "Snoop Dogg" nickname came from his mother because she thought he looked like Snoopy from the Peanuts cartoon.

He played piano and sang at his local Baptist church, before starting rap in sixth grade. After graduating high school, Snoop was arrested several times for drug possession and spent time in prison.

He was also associated with the Rollin’ 20 Crips Gang. He started making music as a way out of his troubles and recorded early demos with his cousin Nate Dogg and friend Warren G as 213.

A track on one of these came to the attention of Dr. Dre who invited Snoop — then rapping under the name Snoop Doggy Dogg — to audition.

From there they collaborated on a song called "Deep Cover" for the soundtrack of the film for the same name; and Snoop became the key rapper on Dre’s hugely successful first solo album, The Chronic, in 1992.

Snoop's first album, the Dre-produced Doggystyle (1993), climbed its way to the No. 1 spot on Billboard's hip-hop and Top 200 charts, based in part on the success of

the singles "Who Am I (What's My Name)?" and "Gin and Juice."

Next came a short film called Murder Was the Case, the soundtrack of which went double platinum. Snoop's next album, Tha Doggfather (1996), also reached the top of the charts, despite the absence of Dre, who had left Death Row over a contract dispute. Snoop then left Death Row himself, falling out with label mogul Suge Knight and moving to Master P’s No Limit Records.

He scored the top slot on the hip-hop charts with his next two albums: Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told (1998) and No Limit Top Dogg (1999). His last album for No Limit, The Last Meal, came in 2000 and sold over 2 million copies. By now his sound had become less "gangsta rap" and somewhat smoother.

Snoop continued to make music throughout the

noughts, enjoying a big hit in 2004 with the chart-topping single "Drop It Like It's Hot," which sparked several fruitful collaborations with Pharrell Williams.

He reunited with Warren G and Nate Dogg as 213 to drop the album The Hard Way in 2004. In 2007, Snoop became the first artist to release a track — "It's The DOG" — as a ringtone prior to its release as a single.

He also branched out into acting during the same period and appeared in several films, including Starsky & Hutch, The Wash and Training Day. He also made guest appearances on television shows, including The L Word and Weeds, and starred in his own E! reality show, Snoop Dogg's Father Hood, in 2007.

He was part of a sketch show, Doggy Fizzle Televizzle, and participated in the Comedy Central Roast of the future president Donald Trump.

He also uses his likeable laconic personality to good effect

in a new venture for VH1, Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, where he and Martha Stewart host dinner parties for various celebrities.

Outside of music, Snoop has made investments in the burgeoning cannabis business. In November 2015 he launched Leafs By Snoop, becoming the first A-list celebrity to brand a line of cannabis products.

That same year he also launched a new digital-media venture called Merry Jane, which focuses on the latest mar-

ijuana news. In May 2017 Snoop dropped his fifteenth studio album Neva Left. He also released a gospel album titled Bible of Love in March 2018.

He is held in high esteem and affection by hip-hop fans worldwide, and is one of the most recognizable faces and voices of the whole genre, even to those who don’t listen to his music. He has the distinction for having the most Grammy nominations of any music artist— 17 to date — without having won one. But as Snoop Dogg shows few signs of retiring, don’t write him off just yet.

SNOOP DOGG UK & IRELAND TOUR MARCH 2023

14th – Belfast, SSE Arena

15th – Manchester, AO Arena

16th – Glasgow, SEC Hydro

21st – London, O2 Arena

26th – Dublin, 3Arena

27th – Leeds, First Direct Arena

28th – Birmingham, Resorts World Arena

Line Up Announced For Wolverhampton Literature Festival

Hosted by the City of Wolverhampton Council, Wolverhampton Literature Festival returns from 3 to 5 February 2023 for its seventh year.

The festival aims to champion the creative voices of Wolverhampton and the West Midlands and provide a platform to showcase their talents. This year’s line-up includes Irvine Welsh, speaking about his new crime thriller and also reflecting on 2023 as the 30th anniversary year of his million-selling debut novel, Trainspotting, Robin Ince, Richard Herring, Suhaiymah Manzoor Khan, Jazzie B, Emma Kennedy, Wolverhampton’s Poet Laureate Kuli Kohli, Miki Berenyi, Brian Bilston and the Digital Sisterhood - to name only a few. There will be an exciting line up of poetry and spoken word throughout the weekend with Poets, Prattlers,

and Pandemonialists presenting the sixth Wolverhampton Literature Festival Poetry Slam along with the headline poetry event, Stars of the Slam, featuring the five winners of the regional poetry slams battling out for the overall crown.

Kuli Kohli and the Punjabi Women’s Writing Group will deliver a delightful event, entertaining audiences with their feisty, challenging and funny poetry.

Central Youth Theatre will be back, performing Lord of the Files in the atmospheric venue of Wolverhampton Grammar School. The Arena Theatre will host some of the Language for Liberation strand of the programme on the Saturday, followed by a live recording of the Dungeons and Dragons podcast, Sixteen Candlekeeps, on the Sunday.

For the first time, Wolverhampton Literature Festival is collaborating

with Wolverhampton Film Festival for a showcase of local filmmakers. There is also a range of events for children at Central Library, with the chance to see some BSL storytelling, take part in a Shakespearean insults workshop and join in with storytelling and crafts.

Wolverhampton Community Radio will also be hosting a programme of events and live broadcasts throughout the festival at the Mander Centre Community Hub. It will be an exciting weekend of literature, poetry, prose and storytelling!

DREAMGIRLS DELIGHT AT MILLENNIUM POINT

Millennium Point hosted a special festive performance for its VIP guests featuring principal members of the cast from the dazzling multi award-winning West End production of Dreamgirls, currently enjoying a month-long run at The Alexandra, Birmingham.

Nicole Raquel Dennis, Holly Liburd, Paige Peddie and Brianna Ogunbawo treated invited guests to a stunning showcase of show tunes, including the classic And I Am Telling You and One Night Only.

Roy Williams Clint Dyer And Sir Lenny Henry Film4’s New ‘Three Degrees’

THE CREATIVE team behind BAFTA-nominated Death Of England: Face To Face are in development on Three Degrees with Film4, and have attached prolific British actor Sir Lenny Henry as Executive Producer.

Clint Dyer (“Get Up, Stand Up” The Musical, Death of England: Face to Face), whose production of “Othello” is currently on at the National Theatre, will direct and Roy Williams (Death of England: Face to Face) is writing the screenplay.

Three Degrees is a remarkable true story. In 1978/9, dur-

ing the Winter Of Discontent, three young, Black footballers - Cyrille Regis, Brendon Batson and Laurie Cunningham - transformed the fortunes of West Bromwich Albion as well as becoming a beacon of hope and inspiration for Black and Ethnic Minority players. Their skills, personalities and drive left a lasting impact on the club, football and society more widely; kickstarting the long, slow and painful journey of Black and Minority Ethnic players establishing themselves in football across the western world.

Bob Marley Grandson Found Dead

He was known for songs such as “Burn it Down,” “Made It,” and “No Way Out.”

with the Melody Makers, the band made up of Ziggy Marley ― Daniel Marley’s father ― and his siblings Stephen, Cedella and Sharon. “Then, when I was around 12, my cousins and I went on the Melody Makers’ Roots Rock tour.

A cause of death was not disclosed by the representative, although, a report suggested that Marley suffered an asthma attack and was found in a vehicle.

Marley was born in Jamaica and moved to Miami when he was 11 years old. Following his father and grandfather’s footsteps, he began writing music in middle school and released his first song, “My Girl,” as a teen.

He released two EPs, “Comfortable” (2014) and “Eternal” (2021). In addition, he joined family members on several projects, including his father on “Revelation Party,” a track from Stephen Marley’s 2016 album

“Revelation Part 2: The Fruit of Life.” Music was in his blood. In a 2014 interview with the Jamaica Observer, Jo Mersa Marley said he decided to pursue a career in music at age 11 when he and his cousin Daniel Bambaata Marley started making beats together.

He would go on to collaborate

Uncle Ziggy bought my cousins an Apple laptop, and we used the Garage Band software and made our beats on it,” Jo Mersa said in the interview. “We recorded from the microphone, put on our headphones and that became our studio for a good three years. That is when my songwriting started to get more focused.” He also spoke about the musical influences he took from his father, an eight-time Grammy Award winner.

“My father has created a legacy by putting out songs with meaning. It’s something I have to live up to,” he said.

Survived by his wife and daughter, he was 31.

l Brianna Ogunbawo, Holly Liburd, Paige Peddie, & Nicole Raquel Dennis serenade guests

Joseph “Jo Mersa” Marley, son of musician Stephen Marley and grandson of reggae icon Bob Marley, has died, his representative confirmed to Rolling Stone.

REUNION PARTY BEATS THE BLUES FOR ANOTHER CHRISTMAS JAM

The ‘Tribute To The Birmingham Jazz Funk All Dayer Powerhouse Reunion’ returned when its pre-Christmas party saw stalwarts like Gordon Mac, Kenny B, Trevor M, Kwa, Neil Pinnock and Chris Reid amongst those providing another night of Classic Soul Funk Boogie Dance, Broken, Soulful, Afro House beats to get everyone in the right mood for what was the upcoming Crimbo celebrations.

With Incognito frontwoman, Imaani, plus Projection’s Doreen, and Em-Cee blasting the very best of some of their classic tunes, for those there ‘on the scene’, it was a must, as a balance for what the days ahead where to bring, at

the Penthouse Loft Lounge, in the city.

So, despite the cost-of-living crisis being at the heart of so many decision-making for those more experienced on the social scene, this was an ideal antidote and, again, reminder of days gone by. For erstwhile event organiser, Tony ‘Frenchie’ Quailey, this was the fourth in his ‘Reunion sessions, with the Big City Radio presenter staying on course, of making this the biggest of its kind in the UK.

“An easy, soothing night of music”, said one party goer, as another said: “This is another cool night for true music lovers”.

For Quailey, he’ll be looking for a bigger, funkier 2023.

Progressive Metal Band Announce Special Southampton Show For 2023

German progressive metal band The Ocean are heading to Southampton next February. Playing at The 1865 on 2nd February 2023, the six-piece are revered as one of the most devastating live bands in modern heavy music.

Founded by guitarist and composer Robin Staps at the dawn of the millennium, The Ocean immediately stood themselves apart. Coalescing around a shared vision of limitless sonic exploration and heaviness delivered straight from the gut, the German ensemble swiftly gained a formidable reputation as standard bearers for the nebulous but unstoppable post-metal movement.

After becoming a regular fixture on the European festival circuit, The Ocean appeared on

metal festival bills at Hellfest, Wacken, Resurrection and Summer Breeze just as much as they did mainstream rock open-airs like Roskilde, Dour and Pukkelpop and tastemakers’ indoor boutique festivals like Roadburn and Dunk!.

Over the course of their storied career, The Ocean have toured Europe and North America with influential artists such as Opeth, Mastodon, Mono, Cult Of Between The Buried And Me and Devin Townsend. The band’s own Pelagic Records has become one of the world leaders for post-rock and post-metal, with a catalogue of 150 physical releases since 2009.

Across the past two decades, the band have been in a perpetual state of evolution, releasing a steady succession of groundbreaking and acclaimed albums that have all sought to push

heavy music forwards, embracing the cerebral, the primal and the inexplicable unequal measure.

Blending eclectic musical style with the detail and depth that have become two of The Ocean’s most enduring trademarks, the collective released their most recent album ‘Phanerozoic II’ in 2020. Released into a world in turmoil, the record provided fans of adventurous and challenging music with all the sonic and philosophical sustenance they have come to expect from the intuitively progressive group.

After twitching in their starting blocks when the global pandemic put pay to live shows, The Ocean are primed and ready to hit the road again, with their music set to mutate and grow into ever more extraordinary shapes in its live form.

New CEO Appointed To Lead INEOS Automotive

INEOS AUTOMOTIVE has appointed Lynn Calder as CEO of INEOS Automotive. Lynn takes up her new role with immediate effect after six years in the INEOS Group, including multiple CEO roles. She was formerly in private equity.

Lynn’s appointment completes a new, strengthened leadership team for INEOS Automotive marking the transition from engineering project to commercial business.

Hans-Peter Pessler – formerly a senior executive from Magna Steyr in Austria that manufactured the G-Wagon for Mercedes – takes up a new permanent role as COO of INEOS Automotive, responsible for all engineering and operations.

“It’s an exciting time to be taking the reins,” said Lynn. “The team and the Grenadier itself have come a long way, and yet we’re still only at the beginning of creating a global automotive business. I love a challenge, and with bold plans for the future, I’m looking forward to the adventure ahead.”

AUDI PRESENTS PLAN FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE FUTURE

Audi is all in on electromobility: As of 2026, the brand with the four rings will only launch all-electric models onto the global market, gradually phasing out production of its combustion models by 2033.

Based on this clear decision made as part of its Vorsprung 2030 corporate strategy, Audi is now taking steps to prepare its global facilities for the production of all-electric cars.

Unlike many of its competitors, Audi is building on its existing global production network to achieve this vision. “Step by step, we are bringing all our sites into the future,” says Audi Board Member for Production and Logistics Gerd Walker.

“We don’t want any standalone lighthouse projects on greenfield sites. Instead, we are investing in our existing plants so they end up being just as efficient and flexible as newly built production sites or greenfield plants.”

According to Walker, this is sustainability in action – in economic, ecological, and social aspects.

“The path Audi is taking conserves resources and accelerates our transformation to a provider of sustainable premium mobility,” Walker emphasizes.

The Audi Board Member for Production and Logistics wants to make manufacturing flexible and resilient to ensure it will be future-proof in the long term. In

keeping with this aim, Audi developed its comprehensive strategy taking various perspectives into account.

Walker and his team focused on the following questions: “What does society expect from us? What do our customers demand? What are the expectations of stakeholders, and what will our employees need in the future?”

In response, Audi has created the 360factory; a vision of the future. The approach places equal emphasis on cost-effectiveness,

sustainability, flexibility, and attractiveness.

An ambitious roadmap on the road to e-mobility

By the end of the decade, Audi will be making electric-drive models at all of its production sites worldwide. “To achieve our goal, we are relying on our highly qualified staff and will make all our employees fit for the future by 2025 with a training budget of around 500 million euros,” says Walker. Two sites, Böllinger Höfe and Brussels, are already produc-

ing all-electric vehicles. Starting next year, the Audi Q6 e-tron will be the first all-electric model to roll off the production line in Ingolstadt. And production of all-electric cars will gradually start in Neckarsulm, San José Chiapa, and Győr as well. In 2029, all production sites will be producing at least one all-electric vehicle model. Depending on local conditions, production of the remaining combustion models will be gradually phased out by the beginning of the next decade.

New plants will only be built where additional capacity is needed. For example, Audi and its partner FAW are currently building a site in Changchun (China) where models based on the PPE (Premium Platform Electric) technology platform will be locally produced. With construction set to finish by the end of 2024, this will be the first automotive plant in China where only all-electric Audi models roll off the line.

NISSAN LEAF POWERS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AS UK PLANT HITS 250K EV MARK

ANissan LEAF is providing the sparkle for Nissan Sunderland Plant’s Christmas display to celebrate production of 250,000 of the pioneering electric vehicle in the UK.

Demonstrating the ability of the LEAF to act as a mobile power plant, the lights on the 32-foot Christmas tree and its shimmering reindeer are being powered by the vehicle’s battery, using V2X (or V2X-MAS TREE) technology.

Alan Johnson, Vice President Manufacturing at Nissan Sunderland Plant, said: “Passing a quarter of a million Nissan LEAF is a tremendous milestone, and demonstrates the electric vehicle manufacturing expertise we have built up at our plant over the past decade.

“This year we have completely electrified the plant’s line-up with

the new versions of Qashqai and Juke launched, so lighting up the Christmas tree with our original EV is a spectacular and appropriate way to end 2022.”

The Nissan LEAF’s vehicle-to-grid capability (sometimes called vehicle-to-building or vehicle-to-everything - V2X) puts energy management back in the hands of the owner by turning their vehicle into a mobile energy hub. Drivers can store electricity in their vehicle’s battery and feed it to the grid, their building, or their Christmas Tree, when needed.

The technology allows electric vehicles to be fully integrated into the electricity grid and help improve grid capability to handle renewable power as well as managing energy more efficiently.

The Nissan LEAF, built in Sunderland for more than a decade,

FORD PRO revealed the ultra-high specification Ranger Platinum pickup – raising luxury to a new level in the Ranger family.

The new Ranger Platinum joins the exciting next-generation line-up of Europe’s best-selling pickup at the pinnacle of the on-road range. Exclusive exterior detailing and finishes enhance the Ranger’s already characterful design, matched by a stylish and contemporary leather-trimmed cabin.

Ford’s powerful 240PS 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine and a drivetrain specially engineered for refinement combine to deliver smooth, effortless performance for cruising, as well as exceptional torque for confident load carrying and towing up to 3,500kg.

“The Ford Ranger has set the

standard for performance, versatility and capability in the pickup segment, and now it’s setting the standard for luxury”, said Hans Schep, general manager, Ford Pro, Europe. “The stunning new Platinum will suit customers who appreciate the level of comfort and technology from high-end road cars, but who rely on the toughness and all-round productivity that consistently make Ranger Europe’s pickup sales leader.”

Bentley Flying Bees Reach New Milestone

IN PARALLEL WITH the company’s financial successes this year, Bentley’s very own extraordinary ‘Flying Bees’ too have had an exceptionally fruitful season. Following the productivity levels of their human colleagues, the bees have produced an estimated record 1,000 jars of honey from Bentley’s very own Excellence Centre for Honey Production.

A colony of 120,000 indigenous honey bees, taking up residence in May 2019 as part of Bentley’s #GOTOZERO sustainable strategy have now grown to an impressive 600,000 strong swarm across ten ac-

tive bee hives at the company’s headquarters. This is just one of many initiatives undertaken by the British marque to promote biodiversity around the expansive campus.

Working together with ‘Buckley Bees’ – Bentley’s beekeepers, the vacated honey supers have broken new records by producing more honey than ever before at the company’s Excellence Centre for Honey Production. Here, each frame, overflowing with the precious liquid gold, is spun to extract every last drop and then the honey is carefully drained and filtered before being decanted and individually jarred.

was the world’s first mass-market electric vehicle. The Nissan Qashqai, the record-breaking original crossover, is now offered with Nissan’s unique e-POWER

system, a first for the company in Europe, while its B-segment stablemate, the Nissan Juke, is now equipped with an advanced hybrid powertrain.

Europe’s best-selling pickup goes Platinum as new Ford Ranger model lifts luxury to new levels

Extra UK tour dates announced for in demand Babatunde Aléshé

BABATUNDE ALÉSHÉ is one of the fastest rising stars in British Comedy. After recently warming the hearts of the nation with his incredible stint in the jungle as part of this year’s I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, he has announced a host

of extra dates, due to phenomenal demand, for his upcoming Babatunde Aléshé: Babahood UK headline tour, kicking off in January. A powerhouse performer, his stand up presents a hilariously fresh perspective, oozing charisma whilst showcasing im-

peccable stagecraft and comic timing.

A firm TV favourite, the hugely popular award winning comedian, actor and podcaster has appeared in shows including Guessable (Comedy Central), House of Games (BBC), Sorry

I Didn’t Know (ITV), The Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV2), Rhod Gilbert’s Growing Pains (Comedy Central), Comedians Giving Lectures (Dave) as well as a cast regular in the BAFTA nominated Celebrity Gogglebox (C4). In 2022 Babatunde’s Mission Imagination podcast series won a prestigious ARIAS Award.

With the tour starting at the Komedia, in Brighton, on December 26, 2022 and finishing on May 27th at G-Live in Guildford, extra shows include additions Nottingham’s Playhouse, Salford’s Lowry, London’s Leicester Square Theatre, Leeds’ City Varieties, the Oran Mor in Glasgow, the Tyne Oran Mor Theatre & Opera House in Newcastle and the Corn Exchange in Cambridge.

Jesy Nelson And Zion Foster ‘A Thing’ Following Romance In Jamaica?

JESY NELSON IS said to be getting close to rapper Zion Foster after the pair spent time together on a romantic trip to Jamaica.

The former Little Mix member, 31, is thought to be keeping her romance with Zion low key by keeping each other out of their social media posts while they were holidaying in the Caribbean. The luxury getaway included the couple jetting off to the five-star Sandals resort in Montego Bay on the north of the island.

The all-inclusive hotel tends to specialise in romantic breaks and honeymoons. It also features Love Nest Suites overlooking the ocean complete with bathtubs on the balcony.

It was reported that a source said: "It's early days and there is definitely no label on things but Jesy and Zion have grown close in recent weeks.

They are taking things at their own pace and playing it all by ear, but they are really enjoying each other's company. Jamaica was

the perfect chance to really get to know each other away from where they could be recognised.

This comes after it has been confirmed that Jesy is working on new music. She revealed that she's set to release brand-new music in the New Year after apparently hosting a 'listening party' with her friends.

The 31-year-old split from her record label over creative differences.

Earlier in the year Jesy parted ways with label Polydor after they failed to agree on new music. After re-working her debut album, Jesy is said to be "overwhelmed" by the positive reaction from her close pals.

Talking about her upcoming music, Jesy told her fans: "Hello my beautiful people, I am back!” she wrote after returning to social media following a break. ‘I decided I needed a bit of a social media break, and it did me the world of good. I have missed you all so much.

Burna Boy, Cardi B And Offset Boost Jamaica As No.1 For Music

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has lauded Nigerian international music superstar, Burna Boy, for a stellar performance.

The show attracted thousands of locals and visitors to the island’s capital, Kingston, and also welcomed the heightened exposure for Jamaica brought by American music stars Cardi B and Offset who vacationed on the island recently.

“I applaud African superstar Burna Boy for his fantastic performance at the National Stadium on the weekend, which was certainly a must-see event for many of our locals, and indeed visitors to the island, who flocked Kingston to attend this massive entertainment offering.

Likewise, having Cardi B and Offset here was another big plus too,” said Jamaica Tourism Minister Bartlett.

“Entertainment remains an important value-added product which we will continue to utilise

strategically within the tourism industry to enhance the sector’s growth. In fact, it is one of the passion points of our visitors and one of the many reasons why persons travel to Jamaica yearly. We therefore look forward to many more private sector led events in the near future, which

will continue to positively impact our tourism sector and the many small and medium entrepreneurs who benefit from them,” he added.

The GRAMMY-winning Burna Boy announced his Love, Damini Summer 2022 Tour shortly after his record-break-

ing, sold-out debut at Madison Square Garden. On December 18, at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, the Caribbean portion of the tour came to an end with performances by Popcaan, Toni-Ann Singh, and Lila Ike.

JANUARY Gig Listings

Magic of Motown (SH)

Viennese New Year with the CBSO (SH)

plays Mahler's First Symphony (SH)

Queen Extravaganza (SH)

Organ Concert with Thomas Trotter (TH)

B:Classical 2022/23: Julian Bliss Septet - The Genius of Gershwin (TH)

19 CBSO plays Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto (SH)

19-20 The Classic Rock Show (TH)

20 Classic FM Hall of Fame 2023 with the CBSO (SH)

22 Black Dyke Band in Concert (SH)

25 CBSO plays Beethoven's Emperor Concerto (SH)

25 Kayhan Kalhor & Erdal Erzincan (TH)

26-27 Stewart Lee: Basic Lee (SH)

27 B:Classical 2022/23: The King's Singers - Northern Lights (TH)

28 The Conman, The Dictator & The Modernist (TH)

28 TALON: The 25th Anniversary Tour (SH)

29 CBSO Sounds New (SH)

30 Lunchtime Organ Concert with Thomas Trotter (TH)

Birmingham Rep Honoured With MINILAND Model

BIRMINGHAM

Cast members from Nativity! The Musical, which is currently playing to sold-out audiences at the theatre, helped to unveil the new model as it was added to the famous MINILAND®. The mini-Rep is made from over 700 bricks and took three weeks to make. Built from over 1.5 million bricks, the MINILAND features famous iconic buildings and locations from across Birmingham and beyond including the Rotunda, Selfridges and The Library of Birmingham.

Michelle Thompson, the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Birmingham’s Master Model Builder said: “It was an honour to build The Rep theatre to go into our

MINILAND at the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Birmingham. It’s an iconic building and a part of Birmingham’s history, so it made sense to feature it here. And what better way to honour it than to have the cast of the Nativity here to see it take its place next to the library, just in time for Christmas!”

Head of Communications at The Rep, Ben Wooldridge, said: “The Rep is the oldest building-based theatre company in the country, with its roots firmly based here in Brum. Much like LEGOLAND Discovery Centre’s MINILAND, we build and create with imagination at the heart of everything we do, right here in the city centre. It is an honour to recognise The Rep’s place in the city by becoming the first Birmingham theatre to be featured in the spectacular MINILAND cityscape.”

HIPPODROME RAISE OVER £32K TO GIVE THE NEXT GENERATION A YEAR OF CREATIVITY

Birmingham Hippodrome has raised a record-breaking £32,000 with Gift Aid as part of The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2022, a match funding campaign that doubled all online donations between Tuesday 29 November and Tuesday 6 December.

An ambitious target of £30,000 was set to help enrich the lives of 5,000 disadvantaged young people through theatre. The target was beaten with over 24 hours to go and an additional £2,300 was raised; this will enable the venue to provide even more young people with a year of creativity in 2023.

The donations raised will enable the Hippodrome Education Network (HEN) to lead weekly workshops in schools throughout the academic year and help support the next generation of artists, producers and directors by offering career development paths. The funding will also enable young people from areas of low-social economic engagement to see a world-class production at the theatre for the first time, experience backstage tours and performance at festivals and events on the Hip-

l HEN school showcase at Birmingham Hippodrome

podrome stages.

Judith Greenburgh, Head of Fundraising and Development at Birmingham Hippodrome said: “Thank you to everyone who has donated to our festive fundraiser and helped us raise our largest amount to date. Your money will

introduce over 5,000 young people to a wide range of transformative opportunities and give them unforgettable experiences, including seeing a show on our stage for the first time.

“We’re incredibly grateful for everyone’s generosity and look

forward to continuing our important work with young people across the West Midlands next year.” For more information about Birmingham Hippodrome’s HEN network, visit: Birmingham Hippodrome website.

Rep became the only city-centre theatre to be honoured with a MINILAND® model at Birmingham’s LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.

l The cast of Nativity! The Musical at Lego Discovery Centre