Valia Calda at The Spotted Dog
Tuesday nights down The Dog are really rather special, with an incredibly diverse array of renowned jazz musicians striking up on a weekly basis. Tonight sophisticated quintet Valia Calda will be performing their melodious blend of jazz, Greek folk, electronica and improvisation. Drifting seamlessly between styles there is an almost ethereal quality about their music shifting from uber jazz to tunes awash with a breezy mediterranean twang.
Tue 11 Jul 8.30pm at The Spotted Dog, 104 Warwick St, Birmingham B12 0NH www.facebook.com

Fat Penguin Presents: Will Franken & Gareth Berliner at The Patrick Kavanagh Bar
Great double bill from the Fat Penguin’s featuring two comedy heavy hitters. Will Franken is not your traditional stand up, his act encompasses a parade of fast paced vignettes populated by a multitude of characters. Oft critical of the bland safeness that has infested the chicken drumsticks; three comedians and a compere comedy club style, Franken possesses a welcome edge, oh we’d be careful before heckling. Local comic and Coronation Street star Gareth Berliner will be showcasing new material which we’re promised will be different from his normal style. We’re pretty certain it’ll still be hilarious.
Wed 12 Jul 8pm at The Patrick Kavanagh Bar, 142 Trafalgar Rd, Birmingham B13 8BX www.facebook.com

The Terry Clarke Band at The Blue Piano
An evening in the company of one of Birmingham’s finest purveyors of original jazz rhythms as well as a live repertoire that explores the musical highlights of such luminaries as Louis Jordan, Ray Charles and Jimmy Witherspoon. Sit back and chill in the glorious Blue Piano garden, one of the best in the city, and let the melodious swing grooves wash over you.
Wed 12 Jul 7pm at The Blue Piano,  26 Harborne Rd, Birmingham B15 3AA www.thebluepiano.co.uk

Sing Political at The Prince of Wales
It seems that we’re living in increasingly politicised times and whilst mass chanting at events like Glastonbury are a reflection of the burgeoning engagement with contemporary issues it’s all very basic. What you need are some proper songs and a place to belt them out. Join The Traditional Arts Team at The Prince, grab a copy of their political songster pamphlet and raise the roof with songs both old and new.
Wed 12 Jul 8.30pm at The Prince of Wales, 118 Alcester Rd, Birmingham B13 8EE www.tradartsteam.co.uk

BEAR, Death Remains & Tides Apart at Subside
A nice opportunity to check out the new home of Subside if you haven’t already. Four cracking fist tight metal bands co-headlined by Antwerp’s eardrum pummelers BEAR and the riotous Death Remains, whose new album Destroy/Rebuild is a monster sized slab of shredding riffs. Local noise warriors Tides Apart and the Trump Twitter meltdown inspired new boys Covfefe complete the bill.
Thu 13 Jul 7pm at Subside, 57 Digbeth, Birmingham B5 6DA www.facebook.com

Catwalk Villains at The Dark Horse
Moseley’s finest exponents of big dirty blues land at The Dark Horse for a riotous night of mile high riffs and powerhouse noise. The upstairs room will become a swamp of deep south rumbling as The Villains career through a set of covers and original material. Fantastic live band with an energy that ignites any venue. See you there.
Fri 14 Jul 10pm at The Dark Horse, 145 Alcester Rd, Birmingham B13 8JP www.darkhorsemoseley.co.uk