Project Soundlounge Festival
The Town Hall hosts an amazing array of local talent organized as part of their youth development programme. The 16-25 year old participants take on all aspects of arranging the event; programming, producing and marketing. Highlights include Dorcha’s beautifully wistful electronica, the shoe gaze nostalgia of Karl Monroe and the smooth soul of Kemi Sulola. A fantastic event that deserves all of our support.
Sat 6 Aug 2.30pm at Town Hall, Victoria Square, Birmingham B3 3DQ projectsoundlounge.co.uk/

Joanna Karselis + DJs at mac’s Summer Sessions (outdoors)
The Birmingham based singer songwriter is the latest addition to the excellent Summer Sessions series of free concerts at the mac. As well as performing solo Joanna has worked with several orchestras and  has also scored music for plays and films. She will be playing a mixture of old and new songs and we have been promised a glimpse of her new guitar! The performance will be followed by a chilled out set from DJ Gravebongaz.
Fri 5 Aug, 6pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH  macbirmingham.co.uk/

Sunday Social at the British Oak
Perfect Summer Sunday vibes in Stirchley with a beautiful big beer garden, cool clientele and some of Birmingham’s best-suited DJs for an end of the week wind-down. This week see DJ Jonnie Greaves from Brum radio/rave against racism playing the best in ska, reggae & dancehall. The shady beer garden is child-friendly and opens until 8pm and with a huge ale selection and proper high-quality Sunday dinners, make ours a long one…
Sun 14 Aug, British Oak, 1364 Pershore Road, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2XS. Tel: 0121 458 1758 www.facebook.com

Digbeth First Fridays + Digbeth Dining Club
It’s all going off in Digbeth on Friday night – for free! Get your arty party on with a whole artistic explosion of free and cheap frills at Digbeth First Fridays, see this month’s preview here
And why not sample some street eats and beats while your at it, at the free Friday feast for your eyes ears and tummies (you obviously have to pay to fill that bit tho’) that Digbeth Dining Club provides. See preview here

The Great Outdoor Summer Parties at The Lord Clifden
Balearic style parties in the heart of Birmingham for free, what’s not to love? With an always super solid line-up of DJs and a laidback but buzzing crowd, dancing your Saturday night away under the stars isn’t such a distant dream after all. This week features Adventures in Paradise DJs getting the party started, see our preview here

Free Clubbing
Lots more outdoor summer clubbing vibes at the Corona Sunset Summer Terrace Party at The Rainbow + free RElapse party at Hare & Hounds, see our clubs roundup here.

Live sounds: The Taskers at Gunmakers Arms
The Gunmakers Arms continues to expand its already huge cultural repertoire with more live music, this time from the Stafford based The Taskers. Hard working rockers with influences as diverse as Weezer and The White Stripes they have released six albums with number seven ‘Wolf Party’ due out soon. The outdoor stage and decking is a lovely place to watch live music and if the sun shines all that Two Towers ale will go down a treat.
Sat 6 Aug 3pm at Gunmakers Arms, Bath Street, B4 6HG www.facebook.com

Songs and Poetry at The Lamp
The Lamp Tavern in Digbeth plays host to an evening of songs and poetry featuring one woman band Rowena Knight performing all original celtic funk, singer songwriter John Benbow and Andy Howell.
Sat 6 Aug 8pm at The Lamp Tavern, 157 Barford Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 6AH www.songsandpoetry.org.uk/

Ikon Gallery
Currently has several free exhibitions we heartily recommend, see our feature here

Distant North – Hiking The Kungsleden + Q&A (dir: Theo Gove-Humphries, 2016, cert 12) The King’s Trail (Kungsleden) is a long distance walking path measuring some 440km through some of Europe’s most unspoiled scenery taking in Sweden’s highest mountain the Kebnekaise. The thirty day hike is not for the fainthearted. The documentary follows four friends travelling through Arctic Sweden as autumn descends from Abisko to Hemavan A Kickstarter funded project.
Sun 7 Aug 2pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH macbirmingham.co.uk/