Fierce Festival free arts events
So many incredible free events at Fierce Festival this week but we particularly recommend A Very Fierce Grand Opening on Weds 18 (see below) featuring the now mythic naked hula hooping and Preach R Sun’s work, fusing art and activism with dramatic results, Thu 19. See here for our Fierce Festival preview and below for more details of the opening party.

Journey Film Club Presents Donnie Darko at Birmingham LGBT
The incredible cult classic has been playing with our minds for 15 years. Mind bending time warping existential angst or pretentious claptrap? Whatever your position there is no denying this is a film of extraordinary metaphysical power. Settle in with the warm conviviality of The Journey Film Club and decide where you stand.
Tue 17 Oct 7.30pm at Birmingham LGBT, 38-40 Holloway Circus, Birmingham B1 1EQ www.journeyfilmclub.co.uk

Chris Young’s Orbits at The Spotted Dog
Every week The Spotted Dog hosts some of the most exciting and innovative contemporary jazz music with an imaginatively curated lineup that never fails to dazzle our senses. Tonight local alto sax legend Chris Young brings his improv masters quintet The Orbits into our musical universe. When they visited in January it was incredible, we expect more of the same this time round.
Tue 17 Oct 8.30pm at The Spotted Dog, 104 Warwick Street, Birmingham B12 0NH www.facebook.com

A Very Fierce Grand Opening at the Quantum Exhibition Centre 
Fierce Festival kicks off with more bang for your buck firmly in mind, A Very Fierce Grand Opening is the principal event to start the relay. Venture to this year’s Fierce Festival Hub for a live art spectacular. In true Fierce fashion you can expect Hula Hooping, Spandex Cover versions, Rope Conjuring and oh-so-much-more, all for absolutely nothing. Read our Fierce Festival picks here.
Wed 18 Oct, 6pm – late at the Quantum Exhibition Centre on River St, Digbeth B5 5SA www.wearefierce.org

Fat Penguin present Pat Cahill at Patrick Kavanagh
Pat has been described variously as an idiot, an absurdist, weird and banal. He is all these things and possibly more, we’re not sure, his peculiarly Cahillesque vision of the world is by turns comforting and a little bit scary. We like it there though, especially when he starts singing. Also appearing are Friz Frizzle, Tom Christian and Jay Handley.
Wed 18 Oct 8pm at Patrick Kavanagh, Woodbridge Road, Moseley B13 8EH www.facebook.com

Better Than Never + Gilmour + Safest Spaces at Subside
It’s going to get noisy down at Subside tonight. Oxford’s Better Than Never headline and will fill the stage with a triumvirate of thrashing guitars and duelling vocalists as they belt through a set of powerful pop punk anthems. More sedate, but no less intense, support comes from the acoustic twiddlings of local band Gilmour and Safest Spaces.
Thu 19 Oct 7pm at Subside, 57 High St, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 6DA www.facebook.com

Manos Pa’Arriba at The Dark Horse
You know what’s lacking in your lives? A bit of Latin pizazz. Let Birmingham’s own Cumbian maestro’s Manos Pa’ Arriba bring some South American flair into your lives. The six piece band make a gloriously infectious noise and like it or not you will be waving your manos in the air.
Fri 20 Oct 9pm at The Dark Horse, 145 Alcester Rd, Birmingham B13 8JP www.facebook.com

UK Garage Special at The Hare and Hounds
Strictly Garage classics all night as Moschino Hoe, Versace Hottie (MHVH) take a break from tearing up Digbeth’s Spotlight to lock groove horns with Love the Life residents. In the cosy inner boom box of The Hare and Hounds this will get sweaty and real. Limited tickets so don’t hang about.
Fri 20 Oct 9pm at The Hare and Hounds, High St, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7LG skiddletickets.com