Town Hall Symphony Hall Jazz, Folk, World & Roots What's on Guide

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

WHAT’S ON JAZZ FOLK WORLD & ROOTS

JAZZ FOLK WORLD & ROOTS AT TOWN HALL SYMPHONY HALL HOW TO REACH US Town Hall is located in Victoria Square, Birmingham, B3 3DQ. Symphony Hall is located within the International Convention Centre on Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EA.

D N U O S E T I B

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s 5 year 2 6 1 ic fans s u m Sink your teeth into live music for less For udents & st Sign up for free at www.thsh.co.uk/soundbite SoundBite Founding Principal Supporter

For further information visit www.thsh.co.uk/your-visit Image © Andy Hughes

HOW TO BOOK

BY PHONE

DISCOUNTS

Box office: 0121 345 0600

Discounts are available for some concert performances - please check online or on 0121 345 0600.

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) and 12pm - 4pm (Sunday).

*A £3 transaction fee plus £1 (optional) postage, will be charged on all bookings except purchases made in person at the Town Hall or Symphony Hall Box office.

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Town Hall renovation also funded by

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Box office 0121 345 0600 or visit www.thsh.co.uk

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SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2:30PM SYMPHONY HALL

FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 8PM SYMPHONY HALL

BRASS BAND GALA CONCERT FEATURING BLACK DYKE BAND, CORY BAND AND FODEN’S BAND

AN EVENING WITH CROSBY, STILLS & NASH Tickets Sold out - returns only

FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 7:30PM TOWN HALL

The who’s who of brass bands, join Black Dyke Band, Cory Band and Foden’s Band as they come together for a magnificent gala concert.

Chris Barber OBE is an icon of traditional jazz in Europe. His Jazz Band is one of Europe’s most successful traditional jazz bands, and over the years has evolved into a richly textured eight-piece group, blending brass, reeds, and electric guitar into a unique and unmistakable mix of blues and jazz.

FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 7:30PM SYMPHONY HALL

Ian Anderson celebrates the life and times of the English Agricultural inventor, Jethro Tull. The concert tells the story of the original Jethro Tull’s life, reimagined as if in the near future and illustrated with Anderson’s best-known songs from the rock band Jethro Tull repertoire.

Ian Anderson

The performance is in a quasi-operatic structure with surprise virtual guests on video and some additional newly-written songs to round off the elements of the story.

Tickets £10 - £21 plus transaction fee*

‘Brilliant venue for music concerts. There are no restricted views and the acoustics are the best.’

Trip Advisor comment on Symphony Hall, 1 January 2015

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*A £3 transaction fee plus £1 (optional) postage, will be charged on all bookings except purchases made in person at the Town Hall or Symphony Hall Box office.

Richard Thompson

JETHRO TULL THE ROCK OPERA PERFORMED BY IAN ANDERSON

The BIG Chris Barber Band features everything from New Orleans to blues to late Ellington, played with extraordinary panache and skill. Hits include Bourbon Street Parade, Jubilee Stomp, Ice Cream and When the Saints Go Marching In. Barber promises an exciting evening of high quality jazz and blues, appealing in equal measure to the aficionado and the newcomer.

Tickets £21 plus transaction fee*

SUNDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 7:30PM SYMPHONY HALL

RICHARD THOMPSON - ELECTRIC TRIO TOUR Named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the Top 20 Guitarists of All Time, Richard Thompson’s genre defying mastery of both acoustic and electric , along with dizzying energy and onstage wit continue to earn him new fans and a place as one of the most distinctive virtuosos in folk rock history.

Tickets £25 & £28.50 plus transaction fee*

The Big Barber Band. Photo © Luc Lodder.

Tickets £10 - £21 plus transaction fee*

THE BIG CHRIS BARBER BAND

Black Dyke Band

In a stunning line up including the current National and European champions, don’t miss this sensational concert featuring the cream of the brass band world.

Box office 0121 345 0600 or visit www.thsh.co.uk

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Diana Krall

MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 7:30PM TOWN HALL

ALBERT LEE

WITH SPECIAL GUEST RALPH MCTELL Albert Lee is lauded for his unparalleled picking style and versatility and with the new solo acoustic album Highwayman just released to critical acclaim and a documentary of his life in the works, Albert will embark on this solo tour with his incredible band of hand-picked musicians – John “J.T.” Thomas (Tracy Chapman, Sheryl Crow) on keys, Will MacGregor (Tori Amos, The Pretenders) on bass and Jason Harrison Smith (Peter Asher, Steve Lukather) on drums.

BIRMINGHAM WEEKENDER A FREE CITY ARTS WEEKEND FOR ALL THE FAMILY!

The band will also be joined by special guest, renowned steel guitarist and multiple Grammy-winner Cindy Cashdollar. One of the most in-demand musicians on the American roots music scene, Austin-based Cindy has played steel guitar and dobro for many leading artists in various genres, including Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Dave Alvin, Rod Stewart, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton.

Birmingham’s arts organisations come together to stage a free weekend of amazing outdoor arts, with events throughout the city centre. Visit birminghamweekender.com SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 6:30PM SYMPHONY HALL

MUSICAL PICNIC

DUB QALANDAR

Our popular Musical Picnic with artists including:

Dub Qalandar is a spectacular inter-cultural performance especially created for Birmingham Weekender. An ensemble of master musicians and vocalists, including Legend, Reggae Magic, Azad Kashmir Folk Group, Surj Sahota and Yaz Alexander, come together in a spiritually uplifting tapestry reflecting the rich cultural diversity of Birmingham.

The Stringcredibles She’Koyakh ESKA Hackney Colliery Band Yabba Funk

11am 12:30pm 2pm 3:30pm 5pm

Don’t miss roaming and popup performances around town from She’Koyakh, Hackney Colliery Band and Birmingham’s Choir With No Name.

SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 11AM - 6PM Our Musical Picnic continues with: Holly Thomas and Friends Young Pilgrims with Bostin’ Brass Sara Colman with the Town Hall Gospel Choir Electric Swing Circus Shlomok

11am 12:30pm 2pm 3:30pm 5pm

Our roaming and popup performances continue with Bostin’ Brass, Town Hall Gospel Choir and The Destroyers.

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Sufi mystic music meets roots reggae in a deep urban dub style, with village clay pitchers, intricate sitars rifts, rhythmic, punctuating dholki beats, reverberating bass lines, skanking guitars, nyabinghi drummers plus the extraordinary tabla maestro Mohinder Singh Mendi.

This new inter-cultural orchestra has musical direction by the award-winning composer and musician Simon Duggal.

Concept and direction by Mukhtar Dar. Tickets Please note: This event is FREE but ticketed. You can arrange tickets at the Box office in person or by calling 0121 345 0600. Please note booked tickets are unreserved by area (eg if you book a ticket for the stalls you can sit anywhere in the stalls). No transaction fee will be charged. If you would like tickets posted there will be a £1 charge.

*A £3 transaction fee plus £1 (optional) postage, will be charged on all bookings except purchases made in person at the Town Hall or Symphony Hall Box office.

‘The ultimate virtuoso…gifted on just about every level’ Eric Clapton

MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 7:30PM SYMPHONY HALL

DIANA KRALL WALLFLOWER TOUR

‘One of my all-time guitar gods’ Brad Paisley Tickets £25 plus transaction fee* Albert Lee

SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 11AM - 6PM VICTORIA SQUARE

Diana Krall, five-time Grammy winning jazz pianist and vocalist brings her Wallflower World Tour to Symphony Hall.

Acclaimed as one of the most accomplished and distinctive musicians in the world today, Krall’s career thus far has included producing an album for Barbra Streisand, serving as musical director and arranger for Paul McCartney and hitting the road for a good cause with Neil Young.

Her album Wallflower takes in popular classics from The Mamas and the Papas’ California Dreaming to more recent gems such as Crowded House’s Don’t Dream It’s Over.

Musically speaking, Diana Krall is no wallflower. Don’t miss the chance to see her perform in the stunning acoustics of Symphony Hall.

Tickets £40 - £60 plus transaction fee* Limited Availability

Box office 0121 345 0600 or visit www.thsh.co.uk

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WEDNESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 8:30PM SYMPHONY HALL

TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 7:30PM TOWN HALL

SAIN ZAHOOR

CHICO AND THE GYPSIES SUPPORT TBC

From Pakistan, Sain Zahoor is a true original. After a recurring dream as a child and being called away from his family, he’s devoted his life to singing at shrines and gained a cult following. The sound of his voice is raw and powerful and the lyrics are surprisingly radical.

Following the success of the band’s sold-out show at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane in November 2014 Chico Bouchikhi – co-founder of The Gipsy Kings and co-writer of their biggest hits (Djobi Djoba, Bamboléo* and *Soy) - and his band come to Town Hall.

Rising to prominence in 1989 at the All Pakistan Music Conference, he didn’t produce a record until 2006 – and was then promptly nominated for the BBC World Music Award. With his small five-piece ensemble, this charismatic figure is a true holy man who makes an unforgettable impression.

Chico has built up a phenomenal worldwide audience of millions of music fans from his native France to Japan via Dubaï; the band’s infectious brand of rumba, flamenco and Latin pop and rock tunes is joyful, flamboyant and hugely entertaining.

‘Fans of the Sufiana kalams claim that seeing and hearing Sain Zahoor in full flow is the closest anyone alive will get to being in the presence of the Sufi mystics of yore’ BBC 3

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Sain Zahoor

Tickets £27.50 & £30 plus transaction fee*

SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER 7:30PM TOWN HALL

FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER 7:30PM TOWN HALL

PORT ISAAC’S FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS

THE ROBERT CRAY BAND

Down on the harbour front of the tiny fishing village of Port Isaac on the North Cornwall coast, the authentic sound of the shanty can be heard loud and clear via the mighty chorale of The Fisherman’s Friends.

Returning to Town Hall following his 2014 sellout concert.

Considered one of the greatest guitarists of his generation, Robert Cray has written or performed with everyone from Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, to John Lee Hooker.

There’s no gang leader, no choirmaster and no holds barred in the singing of The Fisherman’s Friends. This nine-man group draw on a vocal repertoire reaching back 200 years, embracing songs and shanties not only from Cornwall but Liverpool, Ireland, Africa, the West Indies, and America.

Over four decades Robert Cray has laid down track after track of good-time, uptown, low-down blues, and has been known as one of the most popular artists in blues and soul music. His soulful and creative guitar work has been a dominant force in the genre.

PLUS SPECIAL GUEST SHAWN JONES

Be prepared to have your ears blown clean off…

Now the 5 times Grammy award winner and multi-platinum selling artist returns to Symphony Hall to showcase his powerful talent.

Tickets £22.50 plus transaction fee*

“For 30 years now, you’ve made us feel like we’re always coming home. Thank you for that!” Robert Cray Tickets £29.50 & £39.50 plus transaction fee*

*A £3 transaction fee plus £1 (optional) postage, will be charged on all bookings except purchases made in person at the Town Hall or Symphony Hall Box office.

Robert Cray

Fisherman’s Friends

Tickets £15 & £20 plus transaction fee*

The architect of the Gipsy Kings success, Chico saw them become the first French group to be awarded a platinum disc in the US and go on to sell an estimated 20 million albums, making them the biggest world music crossover act.

Box office 0121 345 0600 or visit www.thsh.co.uk

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THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER 7:30PM TOWN HALL

THE DEMON BARBERS XL - DISCO AT THE TAVERN TOUR Winners of ‘Best Live Act’ BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2009 Renowned for their no holds barred approach to their live shows The Demon Barbers return to the concert stage with a new repertoire, extra band members and a modern twist to their multi-award winning Roadshow.

The Demon Barbers XL will feature new material from their new album Disco At The Tavern a collaboration with Grammy & Emmy Award winners Donal Hodgson and Kipper, best known for their work with Sting.

The Demon Barbers

Tickets £16.50 plus transaction fee*

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Forget queues and waiting in line, now you can pre-order drinks for the shows you’re coming to watch using our brand new drinks app.

Find us in the Google Play and App store: THSH

FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER 7:30PM SYMPHONY HALL

FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER 8PM TOWN HALL

HOTHOUSE FLOWERS

DONOVAN

PLUS SUPPORT RAINY BOY SLEEP

Something amazing happens when Hothouse Flowers step onto the stage – something that has been shaped by over thirty years of singing and playing all over the world, yet no two shows have ever been the same! There is a sense of musical adventure, an impulse to reach new heights and depths in music where the unspoken aim is that the band and the audience become one and the world becomes a different place for a while.

Despite the bands lengthy career which is now heading into its fourth decade there is a sense of unfinished business. Every night they want to play the best gig they have ever played and take the musical risks that can maybe make that possible.

There are still songs to be written and emotions to share.

Whether it’s in a tiny club, an arena or in a festival field there is a sense that the best is yet to come.

Donovan, ‘60s legend, icon, poet and one of our most enduring singer-songwriters, is returning this year to mark his 50th year in the music business. This most auspicious anniversary will prompt a major renaissance for the man whose fingerprints can be seen throughout the last half century of popular music.

Donovan has recently been inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2012) and The Songwriters Hall of Fame (2014 ), and received The Mojo Maverick Award from Jimmy Page.

Donovan. Photo © Michael Collopy Donovan Discs.

Combining solid traditional acoustic instruments and songs with the added oomph of a superbly tight rhythm section they create a unique and captivating sound.

DOWNLOAD OUR DRINKS APP! Hothouse Flowers

Since winning Best Live Act at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2009 The Demon Barbers have been immersed in the development of their Folk & Hip Hop Dance Extravaganza The Lock In. Following a number of successful UK tours, including high profile shows at Glastonbury Festival and 5 star reviews for their 2 week run at Edinburgh Fringe, The Demon Barbers now bring some of the UK’s most exciting young Clog, Sword, Hip Hop & Break dancers onto the concert stage to create the live folk music & dance spectacular of the year!

Tickets £25 - £30 plus transaction fee*

Tickets £25 - £30 plus transaction fee* *A £3 transaction fee plus £1 (optional) postage, will be charged on all bookings except purchases made in person at the Town Hall or Symphony Hall Box office.

Box office 0121 345 0600 or visit www.thsh.co.uk

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Marcus Miller

Maria Schneider

WEDNESDAY 28 OCTOBER 7:30PM TOWN HALL

THURSDAY 19 NOVEMBER 8PM SYMPHONY HALL

MARCUS MILLER

MARIA SCHNEIDER JAZZ ORCHESTRA

PLUS SUPPORT

Best known for his work with jazz legend Miles Davis, Marcus Miller’s resume is brimming with over 500 recording credits on albums across the entire musical spectrum including work with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Chaka Khan, Billy Idol, Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg.

A true pioneer, he will be performing material from this his debut Blue Note album, Afrodeezia, the making of which saw him collaborate with musicians from West Africa, South America and the Caribbean. The recording has a list of guest artists stretching from Lalah Hathaway to Chuck D, with Robert Glasper and Snarky Puppy’s Cory Henry also making appearances. His live bands feature a signature mix of infectious funk, jazz and soul that’s guaranteed to rock the house.

‘This one gets the balance between rich content and easy accessibility just perfect. I read somewhere that Miller is the most successful living jazz musician. On the evidence of Afrodeezia that comes as no surprise.’

The Jazz Breakfast

Don’t miss the The MSJO Residency Quintet see page 19 for details

Jazz aficionados won’t need telling that the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra is one of the most exciting large groups working in jazz today; a big band that combines the best of tradition with a contemporary openness and drive built around the excellence of the band members, who are the top players on the New York scene.

The most talented jazz composer of her generation, Maria Schneider makes a very rare appearance with the superb New York big band that has been the heart and soul of her music since the early nineties.

Years of working closely with Gil Evans and Bob Brookmeyer explain her command of rich and distinctive orchestral texture and her charismatic stage presence that draws the audience into the core of her music.

Expect evocative, majestic and heart-stoppingly gorgeous music in their long-awaited Birmingham debut, during their first visit to the UK since 2008.

Advance booking strongly recommended for one of the biggest concerts of the year.

‘Like the music of her most obvious predecessors, Duke Ellington and Gil Evans, Schneider’s reaches towards a significant new level of imagination, making hers the first truly novel approach to jazz band composition of the new century.’

LA Times

Tickets £25 plus transaction fee*

Tickets £9.50 & £25 plus transaction fee*

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*A £3 transaction fee plus £1 (optional) postage, will be charged on all bookings except purchases made in person at the Town Hall or Symphony Hall Box office.

Box office 0121 345 0600 or visit www.thsh.co.uk

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Symphony Hall. Photo © Craig Holmes.

THURSDAY 19 NOVEMBER 7:30PM TOWN HALL

STEELEYE SPAN Folk rock pioneers Steeleye Span bring their new live show to Town Hall, with Maddy Prior – the voice of the band – leading a line-up featuring faces old and new.

2014 saw Steeleye Span emerging on a new exciting chapter.

With the departure of fiddle player and long-standing member Peter Knight the band introduced the young and vibrant talent, Jessie May Smart.

2014 also saw the release of a deluxe version of their album Wintersmith in collaboration with Sir Terry Pratchett with an extra CD including 4 new studio tracks. A record that delighted long time fans, introduced them to a new audience and broke new creative ground, Steeleye look forward to continuing this story into 2015 as they perform new gems alongside the classics that have made them one of the most successful British Folk Rock bands ever.

SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER 7:30PM SYMPHONY HALL

SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 8PM SYMPHONY HALL

CELTIC WOMAN 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

JOE BROWN

Celtic Woman return to Symphony Hall after an outstanding show in December 2014. Their 10th Anniversary Celebration showcases four gifted Irish women – three world-class vocalists and a brilliant Celtic violinist – whose talent and charisma bring centuries of musical and cultural tradition to life. The ensemble includes a full band, bagpipers, Irish dancers and the Aontas Choir, all under the direction of Emmy-nominated music producer David Downes.Together, they combine Irish musical tradition, contemporary songcraft and state-of-the-art stage production to create their trade mark fresh fusion sound.

Tickets £27.50 - £33.50 plus transaction fee*

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To find out more visit www.thsh.co.uk/supportus/individual-giving/nameaseat/

*A £3 transaction fee plus £1 (optional) postage, will be charged on all bookings except purchases made in person at the Town Hall or Symphony Hall Box office.

Joe Brown

Celtic Woman. Photo © David Conger.

Tickets £19.50 - £22.50 plus transaction fee*

In celebration of Symphony Hall’s 25th year we are offering you the chance to name a seat, and leave a lasting impression on our world-renowned venue.

Steeleye Span

‘Maddy Prior… has the power to stir the hairs on the back of your neck’ The Press

NAME A SEAT AT SYMPHONY HALL

Premier Rock ‘n’ Roll legend Joe Brown goes from strength to strength as his contemporary achievements continue to gather momentum.

Joe, with his five piece band will be on stage all evening, and the musical styles incorporated into this new show are as unique as the man himself.

Packed with timeless classics, rockabilly, gospel, country, folk and rock ‘n’ roll, all interwoven with Joe’s effervescent delivery and humorous reminiscences, this sensational show is a musical journey not to be missed.

Tickets £25 plus transaction fee*

Box office 0121 345 0600 or visit www.thsh.co.uk

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Caro Emerald

MONDAY 7 & TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER 7:30PM start time TBC SYMPHONY HALL

CARO EMERALD Caro Emerald is set to dazzle Symphony Hall with her polished fusion of pop, jazz and swing.

‘She came armed with a series of irresistible melodies that burrowed into your consciousness and refused to leave’ Evening Standard ‘Emerald’s carefree sense of fun is, ultimately, disarming’ The Independent Tickets £22.50, £32.50, £45, £125 (VIP) plus transaction fee*

MONDAY 14 DECEMBER 7:30PM SYMPHONY HALL VaShawn Mitchell

UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN - 30 PLUCKING YEARS

MONDAY 30 NOVEMBER 7:30PM SYMPHONY HALL

MONDAY 7 DECEMBER 7:30PM TOWN HALL

THE WATERBOYS

VASHAWN MITCHELL WITH TOWN HALL GOSPEL CHOIR

The music of The Waterboys encompasses Celtic folk and freewheeling rock and roll, giving it a southern soul edge in eleventh album Modern Blues, due to be released in 2015.

Their new line-up includes Mike Scott, Muscle Shoals legend David Hood on bass, Austin guitar-slinger Zach Ernst, and Memphis keyboard wizard Brother Paul. They join Irish electric fiddle great Steve Wickham and ace drummer Ralph Salmins at a time when the relevance and popular reach of The Waterboys has never been greater.

With the Modern Blues album and tour The Waterboys crash thrillingly back into the present with a new sound, a new lineup and, as always, the promise of the unexpected.

Tickets £28.50 & £32.50 plus transaction fee* 16

Eight Ukuleles, Sixteen Hands, Thirty Two Strings, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, the irresistible entertainment juggernaut comes to Symphony Hall for an evening of fun as they celebrate their anniversaries in front of happy, stomping, laughing audiences. They play ukuleles, they sing, they say funny things, they whistle, but they bring a lot more to the table than that.

Tickets £24 plus transaction fee*

Award-winning US singer, songwriter and Gospel artist VaShawn Mitchell joins Town Hall’s very own award-winning Gospel choir to host another amazing Gospel production.

With chart-topping songs such as Nobody Greater and Turning Around For Me, Mitchell is one of the industry’s most visionary, uplifting and inspiring artists. With more breathtaking harmonies, flavours and Gospel ‘twists’ from Town Hall Gospel Choir, the evening is sure to start the festive season off with an unforgettable experience.

Tickets £15 & £20 plus transaction fee*

*A £3 transaction fee plus £1 (optional) postage, will be charged on all bookings except purchases made in person at the Town Hall or Symphony Hall Box office.

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

Box office 0121 345 0600 or visit www.thsh.co.uk

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THURSDAY 1 OCTOBER 8:30PM HARE & HOUNDS

BEATS & PIECES Famously energetic and engaging live performers, Beats & Pieces redefine the role of a big band for a new generation.

Led by composer and conductor Ben Cottrell, their music is influenced as much by Michael Jackson, Björk or Radiohead as it is Duke Ellington, Gil Evans or Loose Tubes. Rave reviews have followed the band everywhere they go and this is a chance to catch one of the most exciting young bands in the UK.

Yazz Ahmed - THSH Jazzlines Fellow.

Photo © Emile Holba.

Tickets £10 plus transaction fee*

SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER 8PM CBSO CENTRE

YAZZ AHMED ALHAAN AL SIDURI Inspired by the songs of Bahraini pearl divers and wedding music of the female drumming groups of the Gulf Region, trumpeter and composer Yazz Ahmed presents a suite of songs and instrumental pieces entitled Alhaan al Siduri (Melodies for Siduri).

The performance will see Yazz combine the live electronic sounds of music sculptor Jason Singh with her seven-piece band, Ahmed Family Hafla, as well as the vocal stylings of Brigitte Beraha and British-Iraqi singer, Alya Marquardt.

Tickets £12 plus transaction fee* Part of the Fellowship Ticket Deal - 3 Gigs for £30 18

Sons of Kemet

*Fellowship Ticket Deal - Applies to selected gigs only

Lauren Kinsella - THSH Jazzlines Fellow.

Jazzlines

Special offer. See 3 gigs for £30*

TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER 8PM STUDIO THEATRE, LIBRARY OF BIRMINGHAM

LAUREN KINSELLA SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN Award winning singer and composer Lauren Kinsella presents Somewhere in Between, a multi-disciplinary performance encompassing the worlds of music, poetry and theatre.

Kinsella is joined by the world class improvisers Mark Sanders (drums), Hannah Marshall (cello) and celebrated Irish actor Peter Campion. Together they will explore the poetry of Simon Armitage, Maura Dooley and Micheal O’Siadhail in a unique theatre based music performance in two contrasting sets.

Tickets £12 plus transaction fee* In association with Birmingham Literature Festival Part of the Fellowship Ticket Deal - 3 Gigs for £30

THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER 8:30PM HARE & HOUNDS

THURSDAY 20 NOVEMBER 8PM CBSO CENTRE

SONS OF KEMET

THE MSJO RESIDENCY QUINTET

Shabaka Hutchings saxophone, clarinet, composer Theon Cross tuba Seb Rochford drums Tom Skinner drums Four fiercely creative musicians. Kinetic, earth-shaking sound.

Electrifying live performances.

Expect nothing less from the 2013 MOBO award-winners Sons of Kemet, as four of the UK jazz scene’s brightest stars play at the Hare and Hounds.

SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER 8PM CBSO CENTRE

Culminating in a revolutionary mix of music that spans jazz, rock, dub, Caribbean folk and traditional African diasporan history, Sons of Kemet are a band that really must be experienced live.

ANDREW BAIN & GUESTS

‘One of the most original ensembles in recent British Jazz’ Jazzwise

This new project by drummer and bandleader Andrew Bain, features some of his favourite musicians in the world playing a combination of compositions highlighting the excellence of British jazz. This exciting lineup features Mike Walker on guitar, Gwilym Simcock on piano, Iain Dixon on Saxophone and Steve Watts on bass.

Tickets £15 plus transaction fee*

*A £3 transaction fee plus £1 (optional) postage, will be charged on all bookings except purchases made in person at the Town Hall or Symphony Hall Box office.

‘The most fun you can have with a saxophone, a tuba and two drum kits… a swirling brew of rhythm’ The Times ‘Rasta rhythms, Middle-East and West-African melodies and straight-up rock Energy to ignite a dance floor’ The Quietus

Jay Anderson bass Jonathan Blake drums Frank Kimbrough piano Donny McCaslin tenor sax Mike Rodriguez trumpet This outstanding quintet features players from the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, as part of their Birmingham residency this November. They are all leading players on the US jazz scene, each internationally renowned. Here they perform together in a unique and very special event.

Tickets £15 plus transaction fee*

Jazzlines

2014/15 Fellows

YAZZ AHMED, LAUREN KINSELLA & CHRIS MAPP New works have been created through Town Hall & Symphony Hall’s Jazzlines Fellowships Programme 2014/15, supported by Jerwood Charitable Foundation.

Tickets £12 plus transaction fee*

Box office 0121 345 0600 or visit www.thsh.co.uk

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WEDNESDAY 9 DECEMBER 8:30PM HARE & HOUNDS

STUART McCALLUM From jazz beginnings to DJ culture, Stuart McCallum’s music is a distillation of influences, creating a beautiful, ambient/electronica/jazz soundscape, which embraces simple, memorable melodies, bass lines and drum beats.

Double ticket offer. See both Gonimoblast gigs for £15

Led by THSH Jazzlines Fellow Chris Mapp, Gonimoblast perform music that combines measures of harsh, dark experimental tones, mixed with joyful clashes, all underlined by a narrative thread of improvisation. Drawing inspiration from the doom metal of artists such as SunO))) as well as the Norwegian improv scene and its innovative Punkt festival, the group boasts an impressive line-up of Chris on bass and electronics, Mark Sanders on drums and percussion, Dan Nicholls on keyboards and electronics, and Leafcutter John on electronics.

THURSDAY 26 NOVEMBER 8PM THE CROSSING AT SOUTH AND CITY COLLEGE

FRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER 8PM THE CROSSING AT SOUTH AND CITY COLLEGE

CHRIS MAPP’S GONIMOBLAST & MAJA RATKJE

CHRIS MAPP’S GONIMOBLAST & ARVE HENRIKSEN

The first of two showcase performances by this strikingly original band, at a fantastic new Jazzlines venue in the heart of Digbeth. the band will be joined by the superb vocalist and composer Maja Ratkje, who approaches music making with a broad palette and rare profundity.

The second of two showcase performances. For this gig the band will be joined by a leading member of the Norwegian scene from which they take influence, trumpeter Arve Henriksen.

A leading member of the Norwegian improvised music scene, Ratkje is renowned for her solo performances and unique approach to extending the expressive range of her voice, both acoustically and electronicall. She also has an impressive discography of recordings for labels such as Rune Grammofon, Important and ECM, and John Zorn’s Tzadik label.

Tickets £12 plus transaction fee* Also part of the Fellowship Ticket Deal - 3 Gigs for £30 20

A founder member of the ground-breaking improvisational group Supersilent, Henriksen explores the sonic possibilities of the trumpet like no other musician. Arguably Norway’s most versatile and prolific musician of his generation, Henriksen has an impressive discography that includes recordings for ECM, Rune Grammafon and Jazzland.

Tickets £12 plus transaction fee* Also part of the Fellowship Ticket Deal - 3 Gigs for £30

*A £3 transaction fee plus £1 (optional) postage, will be charged on all bookings except purchases made in person at the Town Hall or Symphony Hall Box office.

Having gained notoriety as a key member of Cinematic Orchestra, Stuart recently released his fourth album, City, co-written and produced with in-demand drummer Richard Spaven who has played with, Flying Lotus, Gregory Porter and Jose James amongst many others. Thriving in that beautiful space where genres blur, Stuart’s music draws on a range of influences from Machinedrum, Lau and Martin Simpson to Debussy, Taylor McFerrin and Burial.

Tickets £10 plus transaction fee* Jean Toussaint

GONIMOBLAST

Stuart McCallum

Chris Mapp - THSH Jazzlines Fellow. Gonimoblast

Jazzlines

FRIDAY 11 DECEMBER 8PM CBSO CENTRE

ROOTS & HERBS ‘THE BLAKEY PROJECT’ To commemorate the life of the great Art Blakey twenty five years after his passing, saxophonist Jean Toussaint has been busy organising a project he calls, Roots and Herbs “The Blakey Project.” Borrowed from the Messengers Blue Note record of the same name, and inspired by Toussaint’s time with Blakey’s award winning Jazz Messengers. Roots and Herbs features an all-star line-up of British Jazz Musicians to explore the music of the legendary bandleader and some of his illustrious Messengers; Jean Toussaint Tenor Saxophone Byron Wallen Trumpet Andrew McCormack Piano Daniel Casimir Bass Shane Forbes Drums.

Tickets £15 plus transaction fee*

Box office 0121 345 0600 or visit www.thsh.co.uk

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MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 7:30PM TOWN HALL

SPOKEN WORD

PETER AND DAN SNOW: THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO EXPERIENCE June marked 200 years since the Battle of Waterloo, one of the world’s most famous and important battles. To mark this significant anniversary Peter and Dan Snow will give a fascinating talk, illustrating the climactic showdown between the military giants of the age: Napoleon and Wellington.

Tickets £15 - £17.50 plus transaction fee*

Aliens Love Underpants.

Photo © SJS Photo.

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SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER 1PM & 3.30PM MONDAY 26 OCTOBER 11AM & 1PM TOWN HALL FAMILY

ALIENS LOVE UNDERPANTS

Ben Fogle

This zany and hilarious tale based on the best-selling children’s book is wonderfully brought to life on stage for the very first time. With stunning effects, madcap action, original music (and lots of aliens of course!) this fantastically fresh and funny production will delight the whole family.

Tickets £12.50 plus transaction fee*

MONDAY 9 NOVEMBER 7:30PM TOWN HALL SPOKEN WORD MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 7:30PM TOWN HALL SPOKEN WORD

BEN FOGLE CALL OF THE WILD Ben Fogle has rowed the Atlantic Ocean, crossed Antarctica on foot, run across the Sahara and crossed the Empty Quarter on camel. In Call of the Wild, Ben will recount how the selfconfessed urbanite became drawn to, and so enamoured with, adventure, travel and the harsh challenges associated with a life in the wilderness. The show will include tales from his first adventures travelling across South America as a younger man, to some of the toughest trials known to man.

Tickets £22 plus transaction fee* 22

DOUG SCOTT - EVEREST THE HARD WAY: 40TH ANNIVERSARY LECTURE Autumn 2015 will mark the 40th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest: The Hard Way, when the late Dougal Haston and Doug Scott made the first ascent of the mountain’s massive South West Face. In this special lecture, Doug will tell of the epic expedition and climb, how his life led up to this defining moment and where it took him upon his return from the summit.

ACCESSIBILITY Facilities for disabled patrons 0121 780 4949 Minicom line 0121 644 6140 Facilities for disabled patrons Wheelchair Users and Disabled Patrons receive discounts on selected shows. For information on facilities for disabled patrons please call 0121 780 4949 / Minicom line 0121 644 6140 or visit www.thsh.co.uk/your-visit/accessibility/

This guide is available free of charge on CD or Braille (on request) from Sarah Barnett, Vista Sound Services, 2 Rutland Close, Leicester, Forest East, LE3 3PW. Tel: 0116 2498810 Email: sarah.barnett@vistablind.org.uk Data Protection Once you have booked tickets all your contact details will be held and processed on our Box office marketing database and from time to time we may send you information about Town Hall and Symphony Hall and the programme of events and activities using any one of the contact methods you have provided. Other arts organisations and companies carefully selected by Performances Birmingham may also be interested in sending you information on events and products they think will be of interest. If you do not want your details to be passed to another organisation please tell us at the time of booking. (Data Protection Act (1998). Registration No X3281 12 8.)

Disclaimer Information and prices in this guide were correct at the time of going to press and published in good faith. Unforeseen circumstances, however, may result in changes to the published programme or named artists; please check prior to booking. The timings given for each piece are for guidance and may vary in performance. Performances Birmingham Limited - a Company controlled by Birmingham City Council - is a Registered Charity No 1053937. Registered in England No 3169600. Performances Birmingham Limited.

Registered Office: Symphony Hall, Broad Street, Birmingham, UK, B1 2EA. Image Credits (Front Cover) From left to right: Caro Emerald. Sons of Kemet. Crosby, Stills & Nash © Eleanor Stills. Albert Lee. Sain Zahoor. Yazz Ahmed © Emile Holba. Robert Cray. Richard Thompson. Maria Schneider.

HIRE US!

If you’re looking for an impressive venue for your next event, get in touch to find out more about hiring Town Hall or Symphony Hall.

Call 0121 644 6053 or email corporate@thsh.co.uk

This is a brand new lecture for the anniversary, lavishly illustrated with Doug’s celebrated mountain photography, and will provide a very personal account of this legendary first ascent.

Tickets £17.50 plus transaction fee*

*A £3 transaction fee plus £1 (optional) postage, will be charged on all bookings except purchases made in person at the Town Hall or Symphony Hall Box office.

Box office 0121 345 0600 or visit www.thsh.co.uk

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COMING SOON FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2016 7:30PM TOWN HALL

SUNDAY 24 APRIL 2016 7:30PM SYMPHONY HALL

Jack Jones

Gregory Porter

To see what’s on when, visit www.thsh.co.uk SUNDAY 15 MAY 2016 3PM TOWN HALL

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

JACK JONES – GREGORY THE COMING HOME PORTER TOUR Tickets Tickets £29.50 plus transaction fee*

£30 - £42 plus transaction fee*

THE UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN

EXPLORES THE CECIL SHARP SONGBOOK Tickets £19.50 plus transaction fee*

MEMBERS ENJOY EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS! Become a THSH Member for just £18 a year and receive these fantastic benefits: • • • • • •

Prority booking and information via email No transaction fees Discounted purchases at THSH cafés/bars and gift shop Free use of THSH cloakroom A special THSH Member’s parking rate at the nearby QPark car park, located in Brindleyplace Access to a range of discounts in cafés, restaurants, bars and shops in Birmingham.

Join today Visit thsh.co.uk/membership. Pick up a leaflet, pop into the Box office or call 0121 345 0600