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

Inside Out Festival at The Symphony Hall
The Symphony Hall is opening up every nook and crannie within its cavernous interior for a one day festival that promises to utilise every inch within. Three stages will be available including the main stage and specially constructed performance spaces in the car park and loading bay. Visitors are encouraged to become explorers for the day and discover a mass of innovative art including beatboxing champion Grace Savage, funksters Lucinda and we’re particularly looking forward to joining in with local brass band Bostin’ Brass, bring your trumpet and get involved. The walk between stages will be crammed with all manner of eclectic art happenings with the emphasis during the day on more family orientated events including a Flatpack curated screening of children’s short films and even a silent disco for the little ones, do we think they’ll stay silent? Nah. Don’t panic; there’s a bar hidden away, your first quest is to sniff it out, see you there. The evening’s activities kick off with some killer drum and bass from HEADGEAR, live music from London Afrobeat Collective and local legends Misty’s Band Adventure. Digbeth Dining Club will be taking care of feeding needs. It’s quite incredible that so much has been squeezed into one day and we’ve only scratched the surface. Don’t get lost.
Sat 15 Jul 10am at The Symphony Hall, Broad St, Birmingham B1 2EA www.thsh.co.uk

The Summer of Sleaze Launch. Free Daytime Party at Rainbow Venues
The superbly renovated rooftop terrace at The Rainbow Venues plays host to a raft of top drawer DJ’s attending to all your house music needs whilst you kick back sipping on cocktails, strut your funky stuff and enjoy the best view in the city as the sun goes down. Amongst the tune spinning good vibe merchants are Callum Young, Shya Groove and The Vice is Nice crew. The perfect set up for the Colours event later in the evening. Read our full previews of both events here.
Sat 15 Jul 2pm at The Rainbow Venues,  29 Lower Trinity St, Birmingham B9 4AG www.facebook.com

Sam Redmore Takeover at The Old Crown
Birmingham’s number one selector brings his Dark Horse musical shenanigans to the city’s oldest boozer for a Saturday night takeover. Catch his glorious set of funked up soul, hip hop, reggae and anything else his eclectic freestyle mind throws into an always slick mix in the glorious Crown garden. Good times guaranteed.
Sat 15 Jul 7pm at The Old Crown, 188 High Street, Deritend, Birmingham B12 0LD www.facebook.com

Shabani & Hoopla Blue at The Dark Horse
Indie futurists, and Brum’s answer to the baroque harmonies and twisting structures of Grizzly Bear or Adult Jazz: Hoopla Blue are the second city’s hot ticket for enveloping, confounding guitar pop. Catch them at Moseley’s Dark Horse – for free, no less – and catch a taste of last year’s outstanding ‘Itch Be Still’ EP. (Words CD)
Sat 15 Jul 9pm at The Dark Horse, 145 Alcester Rd, Birmingham B13 8JP www.darkhorsemoseley.co.uk

Juice Aleem at The Wagon & Horses 
A collaboration of sound and light between local hip-hop prophet Juice Aleem and Brum-born illustrator Will Barras, this live exhibit looks like an afrofuturist banquet to overload all the senses. With Juice Aleem’s hotly-anticipated sophomore album Voodu StarChild due later this year, this is a perfect opportunity to see one of the UK’s finest underground MCs in his deeply-strange element – with plenty of other outstanding collaborators on hand too. (Words CD). *Update £5 OTD
Sat 15 Jul 12pm at The Wagon and Horses,  28 Adderley St, Birmingham B9 4ED www.facebook.com

Kings Heath Dining Club Street Closure (now £1.50) 
We love these events, a raft of the finest gourmet street food, market stalls full of funky stuff and all played out to the deliciously laid back tunes of the Leftfoot DJ’s. A mini street festival if you will, centred around the Hare and Hounds imbued with a fantastically relaxed vibe. When the sun shines there really is no better way to spend an afternoon. The only negative for us is there’s just too much choice, but Baked In Brick I think we’re heading for you. New licensing rules mean there’ll be no arts market and a small entrance fee of £1.50 will be charged. A small price to pay for one of the summer’s best events.
Sun 16 Jul 11am at The Hare and Hounds, 106 High St, Birmingham B14 7JZ www.facebook.com

Reggae Carribean Cookout 
Savour the delicious West Indian soul food served up by the sensational Mr Jerk. Throughout the afternoon the vibe levels will be set to hyper chilled as DJ’s spin the best reggae, ska and rock steady vinyl as you chow down, there’s even vegan options available.
Sun 16 Jul 12pm at Meriden Park, Birmingham B37 5TB www.facebook.com

Summer of Love Free 50th Anniversary Party at The Night Owl
The Night Owl roll back the years five decades to the height of the hippie revolution with a fun themed afternoon of sixties tunes, good vibes and Haight Ashbury inspired energy. The BBQ will be in full effect in the garden along with stalls, art and of course tons of glitter. Your groove guides are Ben Drummond, Richard Bamber, Dandy Randy and Mazzy. Free your minds, free your love, join the revolution and most importantly free your pockets from the oppression of the man. It’s going to be far out.
Sun 16 Jul 2pm at The Night Owl, 17 Lower Trinity St, Birmingham B9 4AG www.facebook.com