WHAT’S ON
JUNE
BOOK ONLINE: thsh.co.uk
WHAT’S ON AT TOWN HALL SYMPHONY HALL RESIDENT ORCHESTRA
ASSOCIATE ARTISTS
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Ex Cathedra, Birmingham City Organist Thomas Trotter, Black Voices
Certain events by Resident Orchestra or Associate Artists are included in respective concert packages. Contact the Box Office for more information.
HOW TO BOOK By phone: 0121 780 3333
Online: www.thsh.co.uk
In person: Town Hall Box Office is open two hours before the start time of a performance. Symphony Hall Box Office, in the ICC is open 10am – 6pm (Monday – Saturday). Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays except when there is an event (open two hours before event starts).
DISCOUNTS & PACKAGES
HOW TO REACH US
For more details visit thsh.co.uk
NOT NORMAL – NOT OK Town Hall Symphony Hall are proud to support the Not Normal – Not OK campaign, to encourage safety and respect within live music venues.
Town Hall is located in Victoria Square, Birmingham, B3 3DQ.
Symphony Hall is located within the International Convention Centre, 8 Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EA. For further information visit www.thsh.co.uk/your-visit Funded by
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Town Hall renovation also funded by
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BOOK NOW 0121 780 3333 www.thsh.co.uk
Sat 1
Sun 2
6:30PM
Symphony Hall
THE SALVATION ARMY: SYMPHONY SOUNDS
The Symphony Sounds concert showcases some of the best in Salvation Army music and creative arts with guests FourHymn, Bellshill Band from West Scotland division and a choir of 200 young people.
7:30PM Symphony Hall
LEO SAYER LIMITED AVAILABILITY
8PM
CBSO Centre
JAZZLINES PRESENTS EMPIRICAL
2:30PM
Symphony Hall
CITY BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS TRAVELS THROUGH TIME
British music legend Leo Sayer will be touring the UK in celebration of his 70 birthday year. With this performance, Leo and his band brings boundless energy, exuberance and a hit packed show to some of his favourite venues across the country. Since forming in 2007, the multi award-winning quartet Empirical has maintained their position as one of the UK’s most exciting jazz ensembles.
Give it a whirl this afternoon, as the CBSO’s very own Time Lord Catherine Arlidge and composers from Rameau to Rimsky-Korsakov take the whole family on a fabulous, fantastical musical journey through four centuries... and into the future!
Mon 3
7:30PM Town Hall
NICK LOWE & LOS STRAITJACKETS
1PM
LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT – THOMAS TROTTER WITH SALLY STOCKS
Town Hall
Nick Lowe has made his mark as a producer (Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, Pretenders, The Damned), songwriter of at least three songs you know by heart, short-lived career as a pop star, and a lengthy term as a musicians’ musician.
Thomas Trotter shares the stage with flautist Sally Stocks. “She has the effortless technique one would expect” wrote one critic, “but more importantly, she also has an open, expressive sound with a lot of character and individuality”.
Tue 4
10:30AM Town Hall
TOWN HALL TOUR
7:30PM Town Hall
TOWN HALL SYMPHONY HALL BIRMINGHAM CLASSICAL: AURORA ORCHESTRA – MUSIC OF THE SPHERES
Learn more about the Town Hall’s rich heritage and the changes it’s seen since opening in 1834.
Aurora Orchestra explores celestial sounds and the cosmic order in an eclectic programme enriched by elements of design, lighting, projection and illustration.
Wed 5
10:30AM Symphony Hall Café-Bar
MIDWEEK EXPLORER – JUNE: NATALIE MASON FREE
5PM
AFRICAN MIDWEEK SERIES – MABUNJE HARRISON TRIO FREE
Symphony Hall Café-Bar
Take time out in a relaxing and friendly space with your little ones. Explore music, dance and story-telling whilst making new friends. The African Midweek Series celebrates African arts and culture in Birmingham. Performances will include live music, storytelling and spoken word.
BOOK ONLINE: thsh.co.uk
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Thu 6
2:15PM Symphony Hall
CITY BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS A SPRING SYMPHONY
Soloist Cédric Tiberghien plays Schumann’s First Symphony to welcome the arrival of spring with blasts of trumpets and a great, joyous flourish of sound.
Fri 7
8:30PM Hereford Cathedral
EX CATHEDRA PRESENTS SYMMER MUSIC BY CANDLELIGHT
5PM
JAZZLINES FREE GIGS – PINDORAMA FREE
Symphony Hall Café-Bar
7:30PM Symphony Hall
This atmospheric sequence of words and music is inspired by four centuries of seasonal music – a counterpart to Christmas music by candlelight – a concert that will send you home singing of summertime.
Unwind in the café-bar to the sounds of jazz musicians from Birmingham and beyond.
CITY BIRMINGHAM ORCHESTRA PRESENTS SONGS FROM THE 60S
There’s never been a decade quite like the 60s – and tonight, the CBSO and an all-star West End cast get down and groovy with the songs that defined a generation: Alfie, Downtown, Congratulations, Mrs Robinson and many more.
Sat 8
11AM
Symphony Hall Café-Bar
THE STRINGS CLUB FREE
The Strings Club’s Discovery Days are the perfect way to ignite your child’s love of music. Packed full of unmissable musical activities inspiring your child from the offset and taking them on a memorable musical adventure!
SYMPHONY HALL’S GIF T SHOP Our Gift Shop is home to a host of musically inspired gifts to suit all ages; including cards, homewares, CDs, toys, books and jewellery. We’re proud to work with local businesses offering an array of Birmingham themed products. Symphony Hall’s Gift Shop is overflowing with inspiration! 4
OPENING HOURS: 12PM – 5PM, 7 DAYS A WEEK… AND LATER ON SYMPHONY HALL CONCERT NIGHTS.
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Sat 8
7:30PM Symphony Hall
SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR
Sun 9
1:30PM University of Birmingham
CITY BIRMINGHAM ORCHESTRA PRESENTS SONG FESTIVAL
6PM
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
Tue 11
Symphony Hall
As one of British music’s most recognised and distinctive vocalists, the only question must be why the mix of Sophie Ellis-Bextor alongside a sumptuous live orchestra hadn’t happened sooner. For Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla the Baltic Song Festivals have been a formative musical experience: together with the CBSO, CBSO Chorus and SO Vocal choir, plus guest choirs drawn from throughout the region, she brings that same life-affirming tradition to Birmingham. Join us as we celebrate amazing local talent and take you on a journey through music and genres ranging from folk, to pop, classical and gospel.
7:30PM Symphony Hall
OPERA NORTH – AIDA
7:30PM Hare & Hounds
JAZZLINES PRESENTS MAISHA
Wed 12
7:30PM Town Hall
QUADROPHENIA THE ALBUM – LIVE
Thu 13
5PM
LIVE AT 5 PRESENTS DARCY HOLMES FREE
Symphony Hall Café-Bar
This new concert staging of Aida comprises an international cast and reunites the 2017 Turandot creative team with conductor Sir Richard Armstrong, director Annabel Arden and set and costume designer Joanna Parker. Leftfoot and THSH Jazzlines present Maisha. The six-piece group Maisha, led by bandleader Jake Long, bring a fresh slant to the weighty spiritual jazz tradition. The Goldhawks (8-piece band), deliver a stunning live performance of The Who’s smash hit concept album, Quadrophenia. “Mighty, moving and unstoppable” – Sunday Times
Darcy Holmes navigates modern relationships and ego with thoughtfulness and honesty with a rich and eclectic blend of electro R&B and vintage orchestration. 7:30PM Symphony Hall
CITY BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS MIRGA CONDUCTS MAHLER’S SECOND
Hear Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, a supersized CBSO and the massed voices of the CBSO Chorus committing, body and soul, to some of the most heart-lifting music ever composed, in one of the CBSO’s real “signature” works.
Fri 14
5PM
Symphony Hall Café-Bar
7:30PM Symphony Hall
JAZZLINES FREE GIGS – ZOE GILBY FREE
Unwind in the café-bar to the sounds of jazz musicians from Birmingham and beyond.
BERNADETTE PETERS
The three-time Tony and multi-award-winning Broadway star Bernadette Peters will perform selections from her award-winning Broadway outings, including songs from Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods and Hello, Dolly!
BOOK ONLINE: thsh.co.uk
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“IT’S TAKING PEOPLE ON A JOURNEY THROUGH THE MUSIC” 6
With a string of high profile gigs looming, you might expect hot London jazz ensemble Maisha to be buried in a rehearsal room. But not so – as Dave Freak found out. “When we were getting the music together, we rehearsed and worked stuff out, but it’s got to a point now where we don’t have to,” explains drummer/ founder Jake Long. “If you know the melody, know the form, you can go anywhere! After that you can work it out at the gig.”
arriving later – made waves with their first EP, 2016’s Welcome To A New Welcome. A live recording of their debut gig, it put them on Brownswood Recordings’ radar, leading to a track on their zeitgeist capturing jazz primer We Out Here (alongside Moses Boyd, Ezra Collective, Shabaka Hutchings, and Nubya).
Subsequently, traditional set-lists are non-existent.
Now comes their much lauded album, There Is A Place, which despite being just five tracks, takes the listener on a diverse journey of funked grooves, chilled moments, and more.
“I’ll get on stage and hit a drum, hit a cymbal, and I won’t necessarily know which tune it’s going to go into – and it’s like that for the whole set. I lead things into different tunes ... so we’ll finish one and there’ll be this point of mystery, where we’re exploring these particular sound worlds, and then it’ll slowly transform into the next tune. “I’ll play different grooves over the tunes or go into a different section, and someone will solo,” Jake continues. “We like to keep it completely fluid, to allow people, if they hear something, to just jump on that idea.” Inspired by the so-called spiritual jazz of Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, Jake, plus Nubya Garcia (sax, flute), Shirley Tetteh (guitar), Amane Suganami (keyboards), Twm Dylan (bass), and Tim Doyle (percussion) – with additional percussionist Yahael Camara-Onono
“I’m a massive fan of albums, I’ll buy and album and listen to the whole thing. I love it when there’s motifs, and it kind of works as one piece – the whole album, 45 minutes, is like listening to ... one sound. That’s what I really wanted to achieve,” says Jake. “There is this idea of telling a story to it – where it goes down ... there’s climatic pieces – but it all works together. Like when we do live shows, we don’t stop and talk between tunes, it’s taking people on a journey through the music, so we allow the tunes to flow.” Jazzlines present Maisha at the Hare And Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham on Tuesday 11 June 2019.
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Sat 15
7:30PM Symphony Hall
TOWN HALL SYMPHONY HALL BIRMINGHAM CLASSICAL PRESENTS: CHINEKE! ORCHESTRA – DVOŘÁK, GOODYEAR AND GRIEG The extraordinary Chineke! Orchestra, Europe’s first orchestra to feature a majority of black and minority ethnic musicians, continues to fulfill its mission to champion, change and celebrate diversity in classical music.
7:30PM Town Hall
WOMAN TO WOMAN – JUDIE TZUKE, BEVERLEY CRAVEN & JULIA FORDHAM
The Woman to Woman tour brings together three of the UK’s best loved and most celebrated female singer-songwriters, Judie Tzuke, Beverley Craven and Julia Fordham.
Sun 16
3PM
Symphony Hall
CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS MIRGA CONDUCTS MAHLER’S SECOND
Hear Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, a supersized CBSO and the massed voices of the CBSO Chorus committing, body and soul, to some of the most heartlifting music ever composed, in one of the CBSO’s real “signature” works. 3PM
Town Hall
GORDON CAMPBELL BIG BAND FT. SPECIAL GUEST VOCALIST JOE STILGOE
Featuring the best of the great big bands including music by Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Harry James, Ray Anthony and Tommy Dorsey.
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
1PM
Symphony Hall
LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT
Thomas Trotter conjures up that world of 18th century London today, before diving into the sensuous, spiritual universe of César Franck, and finishing with the catchy signature tune that Eric Coates wrote in the 1950s for Birmingham’s own ATV!
7:30PM Symphony Hall
CONVERSATIONS WITH NICK CAVE SOLD OUT
8:30PM Birmingham Cathedral
EX CATHEDRA PRESENTS SUMMER MUSIC BY CANDLELIGHT
8:30PM The Jam House
JAZZLINES FREE GIGS: CAROL BREWSTER FREE
2:15PM Symphony Hall
CITY BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS STEPHEN HOUGH PLAYS BEETHOVEN
Nick Cave brings his unique conversation events to Symphony Hall. He will take questions from the audience on all manner of subjects and perform some of his most beloved songs on piano. A programme of joyous music for a magical midsummer evening, performed by the glow of candles at dusk.
Carol Brewster has recently returned to performing after a short break and her recent appearance at the Jazzlines Symphony Hall session showed that she has lost none of her ability to win over an audience.
Edward Gardner conducts, and tops it all with Schubert’s irresistible Sixth Symphony. It’s champagne for the ears.
8PM
8
Symphony Hall Café-Bar
BRUM CRAIC – JUNE FREE
Join us for a night of comedy craic celebrating the best up-and-coming new acts in and around Birmingham, featuring a special guest from the international comedy circuit.
BOOK BY PHONE: 0121 780 3333
Wed 19
8:30PM
Birmingham Cathedral
EX CATHEDRA PRESENTS SUMMER MUSIC BY CANDLELIGHT
Thu 20
12PM
Symphony Hall
BRING YOUR OWN BABY COMEDY FREE
This atmospheric sequence of words and music is inspired by four centuries of seasonal music – a counterpart to Christmas Music by Candlelight – a concert that will send you home singing of summertime... Bring Your Own Baby Comedy is the UK’s premier baby friendly comedy club!
6:30PM Eastside Jazz Club
NIKKI ILES – THE PRINTMAKERS
7:30PM Symphony Hall
CITY BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS STEPHEN HOUGH PLAYS BEETHOVEN
Award winning Nikki Iles has made an invaluable contribution to the jazz scene in this country and beyond, while also making a very personal musical statement in many groups, not least her own superb Anglo-American trio with Rufus Reid and Jeff Williams.
Edward Gardner conducts, and tops it all with Schubert’s irresistible Sixth Symphony. It’s champagne for the ears.
Fri 21
7:30PM Town Hall
TAN FRANCE
5PM
JAZZLINES FREE GIGS: CELEBRATING SANCTUARY SHOWCASE FREE
Symphony Hall Café-Bar
Join Queer Eye’s Tan France as he discusses his heartfelt, funny, touching memoir naturally tan as part of his exclusive UK book tour marking his first public appearances in the UK.
Unwind in the café-bar to the sounds of jazz musicians from Birmingham and beyond.
Sat 22
7:30PM Symphony Hall
THE PLANETS – AN HD ODYSSEY WITH NASA FOOTAGE
9AM
2019 BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION – FIRST ROUND
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts
Holst’s seven-movement orchestral suite The Planets, completed exactly a century ago, has become one of the best-loved and most evocative works in all of classical music.
Birmingham International Piano Competition remains committed to the art of the piano recital, and provides young pianists the chance to further their careers and perform in world class venues.
10:30AM Symphony Hall Café-Bar
MUSICAL PICNIC – ROOPA PANESAR & FRIENDS FREE
3PM
SPACE SPECTACULAR
Symphony Hall
Tuck into a morning of musical entertainment with the family! Watch and join in with performers, as they introduce your children to a world of music, song, storytelling and dance. A sensational concert of your favourite music from deep space and beyond in a galaxy of sight and sound.
BOOK ONLINE: thsh.co.uk
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Sat 22
7:30PM Town Hall
AN EVENING WITH HELEN SHARMAN CMG OBE, THE FIRST BRITISH ASTRONAUT
Britain’s first astronaut, Helen Sharman, CMG, OBE, will appear in a special event at Town Hall, Birmingham to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing and 60 years of NASA.
Sun 23
10AM
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts
7:30PM Town Hall
2019 BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION – SEMI-FINAL ROUND
Birmingham International Piano Competition remains committed to the art of the piano recital, and provides young pianists the chance to further their careers and perform in world class venues.
JAMES ACASTER – COLD LASAGNE HATE MYSELF 1999 SOLD OUT
A whimsical master, James Acaster has received acclaim from around the world, including a record breaking, 5 consecutive nominations for ‘Best Comedy Show’ at the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016 Edinburgh Fringe Festivals among others.
Mon 24
7:30PM Town Hall
JAMES ACASTER – COLD LASAGNE HATE MYSELF 1999 SOLD OUT
A whimsical master, James Acaster has received acclaim from around the world, including a record breaking , 5 consecutive nominations for ‘Best Comedy Show’ at the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016 Edinburgh Fringe Festivals among others.
Tue 25
7:30PM Symphony Hall
GLADYS KNIGHT LIMITED AVAILABILITY
10:30AM Symphony Hall
SYMPHONY HALL TOUR
Gladys Knight, known for her collection of classic hits such as: Midnight Train To Georgia (which remains one of the most famous Motown records to date and was honoured as one of ‘The Greatest Songs Of All Time’ by Rolling Stone Magazine) and more returns to Symphony Hall. Explore one of the world’s finest concert halls visited by over 11 million people.
2:15PM Town Hall
TOWN HALL SYMPHONY HALL BIRMINGHAM CLASSICAL PRESENTS: AMATIS TRIO – HAYDN AND BRAHMS
The outstanding Amsterdam-based Amatis Trio is already established as one of the most strikingly relevant new ensembles on the European scene.
Wed 26
7:30PM Symphony Hall
CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS THE DAMNATION OF FAUST
Join Edward Gardner and an all-star cast for a night when the Devil really does have all the best tunes.
8PM
10
Town Hall
REGINALD D HUNTER: FACING THE BEAST
Celebrating his twentieth anniversary as a comedian living and performing in the UK, Reginald D Hunter sets out on a forty date tour of the UK and Ireland in 2019 with his highly anticipated new show.
BOOK BY PHONE: 0121 780 3333
Thu 27
5PM
Symphony Hall Café-Bar
7:30PM Symphony Hall
LIVE AT 5 FREE
Relax, beat the commute and soak up the sounds of Brum’s best singer-songwriters.
TOWN HALL SYMPHONY HALL BIRMINGHAM CLASSICAL PRESENTS: ALICE SARA OTT – NIGHTFALL
Hailed by critics for her refinement and intensity Alice Sarah Ott is a one-of-kind musician – a dazzling concerto soloist, a talented illustrator and designer, and a brilliantly compelling recitalist.
Fri 28
1:30PM Symphony Hall
GENERATION LADYWOOD SHOWCASE FREE
5PM
Symphony Hall Café-Bar
JAZZLINES FREE GIGS: DAVE FERRIS SEPTET FREE
8PM
Symphony Hall
RHOD GILBERT: THE BOOK OF JOHN SOLD OUT
Join us to celebrate the talent, commitment and enthusiasm of young musicians from Ladywood. The annual Generation Ladywood Showcase is one of THSH’s flagship Learning & Participation projects, and we can’t wait to share it with you! Unwind in the café-bar to the sounds of jazz musicians from Birmingham and beyond. It has been a while, but the multi-award-winning Welsh comedian is back, with a brand new live show. In a six-year break from stand-up, a lot has happened to Rhod. Almost all of it s**t.
Sat 29
3PM
Town Hall
2019 BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION – THE FINAL
The Birmingham International Piano Competition remains committed to the art of the piano recital, and provides young pianists the chance to further their careers and perform in world class venues.
Sun 30
8PM
Symphony Hall
GATECRASHER CLASSICAL
3PM
Town Hall
WNO FAMILY CONCERT
7:30PM Symphony Hall
Gatecrasher Classical promises fans a mind-blowing experience with a host of Live Vocalists performing alongside the Gatecrasher Orchestra including Merle Forbes Bullet in a Gun, Jan Johnston Skydive & surprise tracks performed by Marcella Woods. Welsh National Opera is delighted to return to Birmingham with a brand new Family Concert in the theme of Summer, you will hear music from opera, television and film all aimed at introducing younger members of the family to orchestral concerts as well as entertaining the adults.
JOHN BARROWMAN – FABULOUS LIMITED AVAILABILITY
John Barrowman is a singer, actor, dancer, presenter, judge and author. Most recently, UK audiences delighted in supporting him as he made the final three in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here 2018.
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