B-Side: Hip-Hop Workshops at Birmingham Hippodrome
A three day dance intensive workshop programme including poppin’, break dance and hip-hop. Available for beginners and intermediate levels. Book all three or just one – enjoy being taught by the best from Break Mission. Part of The Hip Hop Festival with various free events, talks and shows around the city. See here for more details of events and times.
Tue 30 Aug – Thu 1 Sep, various times at Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street, Birmingham B5 4TB www.birminghamhippodrome.com/

Jazz Tuesdays at The Spotted Dog in Digbeth
A great little boozer with a wonderful covered garden area. On Tuesday it’s taken over for an evening of cool and enthusiastic live jazz.  Tonight it’s Nick Dewhurst who needs no introduction in these here parts! Here he brings his Tritone quintet – a band made up of 5 musicians from 3 countries! Original jazz compositions, but kept fairly straight ahead. Bring along your beard and stroke it enthusiastically, nice.
Tue 30 Aug 9pm at The Spotted Dog, Warwick Street, Digbeth Birmingham B12 0NH jazzatthespotteddog.co.uk/

Latin Jam Sessions at The Cuban Embassy
If you can play an instrument then bring it along and join in the jamming action at The Cuban Embassy and you’ll get free drinks as well as free entry. If you just want to relax and enjoy the music, the chilled out vibe is perfect for whiling away a few hours.
Tue 30 Aug, 7pm at The Cuban Embassy, St. Mary’s Row, Moseley Birmingham, B13 8HW www.facebook.com

Storytelling in the Courtyard at Aston Hall 
Hear a variety of old folktales from Britain, and beyond; tales of dragons, trolls, giant cats and magical mermaids. Stories of clever lads and daft giants! Tales to make you laugh and some to make you shudder! The stories are for both old and young. Performances at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm. This event takes place outside, so please wear appropriate clothing.
Wed 31 Aug, various times at Aston Hall, Trinity Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 6JD www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/

Nightingale Film Club
This evening the Nightingale film club will be screening Death Becomes Her (dir: Robert Zemekis, 1992, cert 15) a riotous black comedy starring Goldie Hawn, Meryl Streep and Bruce Willis. The secret to eternal youth means you can inflict hilariously copious levels of violence on your partner with little result. You are actively encouraged to bring your own snacks.
Wed 31 Aug, 8pm at Nightingale Club, 18 Kent Street, Birmingham B5 6RD www.nightingaleclub.co.uk/

Gregory Peck’s Jazz, Funk & Soul Open Mic Night at The Night Owl
The Night Owl is always a cool venue to spend time in, throw in some free live funk music and, if you’re that way inclined, bring along your own instruments to plug in and make some tuneful noise.
Wed 31 Aug, 9pm at The Night Owl, Lower Trinity Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4AG. www.facebook.com

Poetry Jam at Java Lounge Open Mic
Free entry starting promptly at 7pm to fit as many performers in as possible (advised to come early as seats have proven to fill up fairly quickly). Open mic, sign up on arrival we welcome poetry, spoken word, rap etc.
Thu 1 Sep, 7pm at Java Lounge, Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 3BD www.facebook.com/

Fred Skidmore Trio at Actress and the Bishop
Playing Hammond organ driven rare grooves originally made famous by Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff and Booker T. What’s not to like?
Thu 1 Sep, 8pm at Actress and the Bishop, 35 Ludgate Hill, Birmingham B3 1E www.facebook.com/

COGnitive Jazz Therapy at Cogs Bar
Every Thursday, Cogs Bar hosts a Jazz themed night which features live bands, music and amazing people. This night used to be hosted at the Yardbird in Birmingham City Centre.
Thu 1 Sep, 7pm at Cogs Bar, 61 Newhall Street, Birmingham B3 3RB cogsbar.co.uk/

Drum and Bass Sessions at the Dark Horse
Thu 1 Sep see our clubs round-up here

Lunchtime Guitar Concert with Leo Turner
The lunchtime guitar concerts are a unique and popular event on the Birmingham music scene and feature some of the most compelling and exciting guitar music from the Spanish, Latin and Classical repertoire. The concerts take place in the beautiful setting of the Round Room.
Fri 2 Sep, 1.10pm at BMAG, CHamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3DHwww.birminghammuseums.org.uk/

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. This month features a Late Night vodka cocktail Polish Traditional Paper Cutting Workshop drop in and exhibition at Centrala, farewell Bonfire Party at Edible Eastside, international new media, art exhibitions, Pecha Kucha 20×20 & more. While your in the vicinity Digbeth Dining club offers free beats with your eats here.
Fri 2 Sep. See www.digbethfirstfriday.com

Stirchley Late Summer Bash
Magic, Punch & Judy, Bouncy Castle, Bungee Run, Cup and Saucer Ride, Gladiator Duel, Mini Ferris Wheel, Community Stalls, Games, Food and Drink and the popular raffle with prizes include a Galaxy Tablet, Picnic Hamper, Colour TV and 2 Power Drills. This event is brought to you by the Friends of Stirchley Park and Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum.
Sat 3 Sep 11am at Stirchley Park, Pershore Road, Birmingham B30 2JT www.stirchley.co.uk/

Blues Club with The Fred Skidmore Trio at Hare And Hounds
Weekly live sessions from Birmingham’s foremost Jazz & Blues musicians with DJ’s Dylan Gibbons & Dave Le Moderne playing an eclectic mix of Reggae, Soul and Rhythm & Blues in between. This Weeks Specials Guests; The Fred Skidmore Trio.
Sat 3 Sep 4pm at Hare and Hounds, High Street, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7JZ hareandhoundskingsheath.

The Heels live at The Dark Horse Moseley
Live Ska. Reggae. Soul. Funk. Tipping a pork pie hat to the original masters of Jamaican ska, reggae and the soul funk grooves of the Meters, Mongo and more. Plus special guest DJ Jonnie Greaves (ruffer & tuffer radio show / rave against racism)
Sat 3 Sep 10pm at Dark Horse, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8JP www.facebook.com/

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.
Sat 3 Sep. See or preview here

Acoustic Sunday Social at The Old Crown
Awesome local sound providers Birmingham Promoters bring some of the region’s best acoustic artists to perform live in what will be a series of very special afternoons you won’t want to miss! Open mic slots also available.
Sun 4 Sep 4pm at The Old Crown, 188 High Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B12 0LD www.facebook.com/theoldcrownacoustic

Free Culture: Ikon Gallery, Birmingham.
A whole series of incredible exhibitions running until Sep 9, read our feature here

Free exhibition: Birmingham People and Change in the Inner City at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.
Fascinating exhibition running until 2017. Read our feature here