Extreme Chilli Festival at Brindley Place
Two days of all things chilli related to burn up your taste buds and scramble your senses at Brindley Place’s central square. We’re so excited we’ve already got our own special chilli bowl and spoon packed and ready to go. There’s live music; activities and plenty of bars, your mouth may need cooling, to complement the hardcore spice action. Places are still available for hardy adventurers wishing to abseil down the side of number four in aid of the Children’s Hospital, there’s a rock climbing wall and the chance to get up close with some lizards.
Fri 15 Sep to Sat 16 Sep at Brindley Place, 2 Brunswick St, Birmingham B1 2JF www.brindleyplace.com

Drones, The Decoy, Conor O’Rourke and Mixtape Saints at Subside
The second free Surprise You’re Dead gig of the week at Subside and what a lineup. Headlining is the powerhouse onslaught of hardcore punk noise warriors Drones; check out their latest video Territories for a taste, catch Welsh noiseniks The Decoy, new album Avalon is a raging blast of alt rock energy, Brummie singer songwriter Conor O’ Rourke and the heartfelt hardcore of Midland’s own Mixtape Saints.
Fri 15 Sep 7pm at Subside, 57 Digbeth, Birmingham B5 6DA www.facebook.com

This is Spinal Tap at The Mockingbird
The greatest mockumentary ever made. Enjoy the highs and lows of being rock gods with Derek, Nigel, David and a procession of exploding drummers as our heroes stoically overcome a raft of obstacles to become legends, sort of. Amps up to eleven and love pumps licked, we’re ready to rock.
Fri 15 Sep 9.30pm at The Mockingbird, The Custard Factory, Gibb St, Birmingham B9 4AA veezi.com

Vice is Nice Summer of Sleaze closing party at Rainbow Rooftop Garden
We can’t think of a better way to round off the summer than by waving our hands in the air and dancing our butts off to some choice beats atop the amazing Rainbow rooftop garden. Spectacular views, incredible cocktails and the coolest vibe anywhere in the city, if the sun shines it’s a very special place to be, you might want to pace yourselves if you’re going to the massive Colours event in the evening.
Sat 16 Sep 2pm at Rainbow Venues, 29 Lower Trinity St, Birmingham B9 4AG www.facebook.com

The Social Exchange: Utopia/Dystopia at the mac
A one day festival of youth culture and social action organised by the cutting edge wordsmiths and poetry jammers from Birmingham’s very own Beatfreeks. Expect performance, debate, art and so much more from the likes of award winning poet Anthony Anaxagorou, Amnesty International’s Sammie Brown and a host of other  special guests.
Sat 16 Sep 3pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH macbirmingham.co.uk

Birmingham Heritage Weekend Free Picks
We’ve planned your weekend starting Saturday bright and early (6am) with a tour of the soon to be demolished Wholesale Market and attendant Everything Must Go exhibit, followed by a visit to the beautifully refurbished Gunmakers Arms to explore Gun Manufacturing in Birmingham; take a tour around Key Hill Cemetery, “the Westminster Abbey of the Midlands”, spend your evening at Regency Wharf viewing canal related shorts and a special screening of the Alan Partridge episode ‘Watership Alan’ courtesy of Flatpack. On Sunday mosey on down to the B&M Institute and peruse an original collection of architectural drawings from the West Midlands, then climb aboard the Flatpack floating cinema at Gas Street Basin for a collection of short films.
Sat 16 Sep to Sun 17 Sep at various venues all listed events free but some require booking in advance, check the links or see www.birminghamheritageweek.co.uk for the full line-up.

Disc Selecta at Fletchers Bar
Come on you’ve been itching to dig out some vinyl and show off your skills on the wheels of steel for ages. Well now you can. Pop down to Fletchers in Kings Heath and grab your fifteen minutes of fame; no rules, no restrictions, just get spinning. Now where did we put those Mantovani records?
Sun 17 Sep 6pm at Fletchers Bar, York Rd,  Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7SA kitchengardencafe.co.uk