Jam Jah Mondays at The Dark Horse
The city’s, nay the world’s, greatest freebie reggae night Jam Jah returns to its spiritual home at The Dark Horse. Every Monday a stellar lineup of live MC’s and DJ’s present a wicked chilled out vibe and the best in booming reggae sounds. Tonight is a special birthday bash for Jam Jah stalwart Robidon with special guests Juggla, Myki Tuff and Lion Art.
Mon 7 Aug 9pm at The Dark Horse, 145 Alcester Rd, Birmingham B13 8JP www.darkhorsemoseley.co.uk

Stuart Baker Quartet at The Spotted Dog
Local bass hero and one time Birmingham Conservatoire student Stuart Baker brings his shiny new quartet to the city’s premier jazz hangout. With a superstar lineup including guitarist Rob Luft; drummer and fellow conservatoire alumni Jim Bashford, and award winning saxophonist Nadim Teimoori, expect musical fireworks.
Tue 8 Aug 8.30pm at The Spotted Dog, 104 Warwick St, Birmingham B12 0NH www.facebook.com

Fat Penguin Comedy presents Thomas Rackham at Patrick Kavanaghs
The Shard End boy and ex-club DJ has only been doing stand up for a few years but has already established himself as a bright star on the comedy circuit winning several awards along the way including 2016’s Comedy Gladiator. Check out Rackham’s hilarious Toad Radio podcast. The Fat Penguin gang continue to impress with the quality of their events and all for free. Of course we always leave a donation at the end.
Wed 9 Aug 7.30pm at Patrick Kavanaghs, 142 Trafalgar Rd, Birmingham B13 8BX www.facebook.com

Mini Activists – Teddy Bear Protest: A Family’s Guide to Protest at Impact Hub
Part of a series of summer workshops at Impact Hub exploring community, creativity and activism with your little ones. Aliyah Hasinah will be facilitating the session aimed at encouraging children to engage with the world around them and giving them the tools to become concerned and participatory citizens.
Thu 10 Aug 2pm at Impact Hub, Walker Bldg, 58 Oxford St, Birmingham B5 5NR www.eventbrite.co.uk

Trope at The Dark Horse
Seriously funky five piece Trope will be cooking up some serious grooves at the Dark Horse tonight. Stunning new album 5ive was released in April to much acclaim, a sophisticated slab of soulful tunes, check it out here. You may remember them from an amazing debut at The Mostly Jazz and Funk Festival in 2015, a band that are going places.
Fri 11 Aug 9pm at The Dark Horse, 145 Alcester Rd, Birmingham B13 8JP www.darkhorsemoseley.co.uk

Art Explorer Friday at Ikon
The return of these great fun family events at the Ikon that are themed around current exhibitions, this time the spray paint art of Australian maverick Sidney Nolan. In workshops kids can learn to paint and print just like the great man himself, you may even discover junior is an artistic genius and at the very least you’ll have some new artwork to stick on the fridge.
Fri 11 Aug 1pm at Ikon Gallery, 1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HS ikon-gallery.org

Lost Generation: A Photographic Exploration of Youth Culture launch at Tilt
Pinball themed bar TILT opens its doors to the new exhibition ‘Lost Generation’. Exploring the themes of British youth culture in an appropriately non-conformist space to escape the mundanities of everyday life and celebrate millennial counter-culture in all its gloriously anarchic forms. Read Charlotte Russell’s full preview here.
Fri 11 Aug 6pm at Tilt, 2 City Arcade, Warwick Passage, Birmingham B2 4TX www.facebook.com

The Goonies at Birmingham Cathedral 
A free mini outdoor film festival in the auspicious grounds of Birmingham Cathedral with street food, live music, themed fun and more pretty much floats all our boats at once. The space is always a hive of activity and bustling energy anyway but throw in some classic cinematics, live bands and top quality street food, plus a whopping great outdoor screen to light up the hallowed architectural masterpiece and community worship takes on a whole new meaning.
Fri 11 Aug 8pm at Birmingham Cathedral, Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2QB www.birminghamcathedral.com

Mondo Royale at the mac
The wonderful Impact Summer Sessions of free outdoor live music at the mac continues with the excellently monikered Mondo Royale. The six piece electro popsters produce catchy dreamy pop songs that will be perfect for the summer sunshine that is bound to be illuminating the mac’s outdoor arena. If it doesn’t, close your eyes and Mondo Royale’s good time grooves will make you think it has.
Fri 11 Aug 6.45pm at the mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH www.facebook.com