Showcasing the city’s finest Hip-Hop talents and world-class names, the free opening event for the annually excellent hip-hop festival B-SIDE alone offers a massive hit of beats, treats and family-friendly activities. A Hit the Ode poetry jam brought to you by rap auteur Juice Aleem’s AFROFLUX, featuring poetry and music performances from artists who’ve been exploring Afrofuturism long before Black Panther made it mainstream kicks the weekend off on Friday. Elsewhere there are break dance competitions, rap battles and family-friendly workshops, graffiti and street art in and around the theatre and live sounds from DJs and guest artists. Some events and workshops are ticketed and headline acts include the Red Bull BC Champion, Menno Van Gorp, Greenteck, Rasko, DJ Latifah, Henry Link, Drosha, Nao, Zookie and Emmavie (booking required).

Weds 9 May – Sun 13 May, The Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB. www.birminghamhippodrome.com