Gaming/Food/Club: Dead Pixels at Spotlight, Mama Roux’s
Retro gaming, big eats, raging beats and live art, it must be Dead Pixels time again. Some 10,000 games to plug your brains into and a stunning collection of Digbeth Dining street food to plug your faces into. The theme this time round is Doom and features a full on Gum and Tongue takeover. DJs will be spinning tunes until the early hours with artists including Obit, Real Dill and Captain Kris.
Sat 21 Apr 4pm at Spotlight, Mama Roux’s,  Lower Trinity St, Birmingham B9 4AG www.facebook.com

Gig: The Heels at The Dark Horse
The Heels bring their full brass sound to the upstairs room for a Friday night of Rocksteady fabulousness in Moseley. So dust off the pork pie hat and get yourself heeled and soled for there will be dancing, possibly even moonstomping. DJs will keep the good vibes ticking over into the early hours playing a mixture of ska, soul and rockabilly.
Fri 20 Apr 9pm at The Dark Horse, 145 Alcester Rd, Birmingham B13 8JP www.darkhorsemoseley.co.uk

Art/Film: O Yama O at Centrala
This is going to be so exciting. Japanese artist Rie Nakajima and collaborator Keiko Yamamoto will be leading a procession from the famous Ikon Gallery boat, moored at Minerva Works, and into Centrala, whilst Yamamoto performs and Nakajima creates a live soundscape. Following the performance the boat becomes a floating cinema for short films including Jim Hobbs’ collaborative work with Nakajima, Black Sun. Part of Flatpack festival, check out our feature for the pick of Flatpack’s other events here.
Sat 21 Apr 1pm at Centrala, Fazeley Street, Birmingham, Digbeth B5 5RS flatpackfestival.org.uk

Film: Short & Suite at Ace Dance and Music
Growing out of Flatpack Assemble’s Build Your Own Film Night programme that facilitates networking and support for budding film programmers comes an afternoon of wildly eclectic short films ranging from obscure arthouse to cute kitten videos. The event includes a power hour with industry experts for some cinematic networking, before long you will be planning your own film festival. Part of Flatpack, check out our feature for the pick of Flatpack’s other events here.
Sat 21 Apr 3.30pm at Ace Dance and Music, 54-57 Floodgate St, Birmingham B5 5SL flatpackfestival.org.uk

Art: Drink & Draw at Edwardian Tea Rooms
Drink & Draw is back to scribble and scrawl its declarations of funky creativity and social high jinks all over your heart. This very special event for self-confessed doodle-addicts, casual cartoonists and quick/slow-draw aficionados, aims to offer a perfect social space to let both your creativity and the good-times flow. Perhaps dabble with a little alcoholic inspiration while you free-flow express yourself all over the page, bring your posh pens and creative spirit, but paper and pens are also provided.
Sat 21 Apr 6.30pm at Edwardian Tea Rooms, BMAG, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3DH www.birminghammuseums.org.uk

Club: Prince, a tribute night at The Hare & Hounds
Has it really been two years since one of the most iconic figures in contemporary music passed away? Sadly Prince succumbed to a Fentanyl overdose on this day in 2016 and a true legend was lost. His legacy is a spellbindingly innovative and influential canon of exquisite songwriting and tunes. Celebrate Prince’s sublime genius with a host of local DJs playing all things  related into the early hours.
Sat 21 Apr 9pm at The Hare & Hounds, 106 High St, Birmingham B14 7JZ www.skiddle.com

Art/Food: We Are Balsall Heath Street Festival
Balsall Heath is coming along so nicely it’s easy to forget that not so long ago, in the nineties, it was riven with soaring crime and prostitution. The times have certainly changed and nowadays it’s a great place to visit or live with a thriving cultural heart beating most potently at Cafe Ort. Come and see for yourselves as the roadblocks come down on Moseley Road and the party starts with performances, street food, art and stalls.
Sun 22 Apr 11am at Moseley Road, Birmingham B12 9AT www.facebook.com

Also, check out Surge in Spring Festival at the mac this weekend for a raft of family-friendly free events from a spectacularly progressive global line-up of award-winning musicians, artists, poets, composers and emerging talent.