It’s set to be a scorcher all weekend, see our Free Splash Pads and Water Fun feature here and Wild/open swimming spots here, cool down and dive on in!

Gig: 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 the outstanding ‘Itch Be Still’ EP. (CD)
Fri 29 Jun 9pm at The Dark Horse, 145 Alcester Rd, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8JP www.facebook.com

Club/Food: Digbeth Dining Club Summer of Love Takeover at Spotlight 
The Acid Experiment present a double header that starts with Birmingham’s ubiquitous gastronomic overlords Digbeth Dining Club providing the finest street food experience the city (the world?) has to offer as hungry punters hark back to the glorious Summer of Love when Balearic beats, Acid House and Madchester had the universe dancing in hazy sunshine. Part two sees the beats, good vibes and energy move on to Lab11 till the early hours.
Sat 30 Jun 2pm – 11pm at Spotlight, Lower Trinity St, Birmingham B9 4AG www.facebook.com
Sat 30 Jun 11pm – 6am at Lab11, Trent St, Birmingham B5 5NL www.skiddle.com

Gig: for-Wards at Lozells Methodist Church
Birmingham born composer Simon Duggan has collaborated with community groups in Perry Barr to create a unique symphony using sounds discovered locally. It’s another step in the compellingly beautiful music project for-Wards that has seen communities and musicians harnessing locally found sound to construct stunning pieces of music. Duggan will be performing work stretching across genres as diverse as Bhangra, Celtic and Reggae. Read more about for-Wards here.
Sat 30 Jun 3pm at Lozells Methodist Church, 163 Gerrard Street, Birmingham B19 2AH www.facebook.com

Art/Gig: Showcase #1 at The Medicine Bakery and Gallery
A wonderful opportunity to network with like minded artists in an all day event geared towards making connections and providing a platform for fine music. Several artists will be performing during the afternoon with the main showcase event kicking off at 7pm, best of all the first 25 guests through the door will get free cake.
Sat 30 Jun 3pm at Medicine Bakery, 69 New St, Birmingham B2 4DU www.eventbrite.co.uk

Club: Summer of Love Party at The Hare and Hounds
Another recommended free Summer of Love event to get nostalgic beat, beeps and bleep freaks excited this weekend which will feature four decades of House music pumped out by DJs Lee Fisher, Jock Lee, Matty Smith and Bradski Love. Limited space so get in and book your free ticket sharpish.
Sat 30 Jun 11pm at Hare & Hounds, 106 High St, Birmingham B14 7JZ www.skiddle.com

Club: Disco Pussy at The Hare & Hounds
The Hare are throwing open their clubbing doors this weekend with the nostalgia overload of the Summer of Love in one room (see above) and going back in time even further to the glorious age of Disco in the other, it’s Studio 54 but its in Kings Heath, which I’m sure you’ll agree is much better, bring your dancing shoes and look out for the special Disco Pussy coasters dotted about.
Sat 30 Jun 10pm at Hare & Hounds, 106 High St, Birmingham B14 7JZ www.skiddle.com

Gig: Sunday Xpress at Centrala
The fizzy cultural mix that is Sunday Xpress returns to make Sundays in Digbeth that much better, skip the dinner and mosey on down to Centrala for your monthly blast of unbridled musical eclecticism that this time features Black Country noiseniks Balaban and the Bald Illeagles, The Light Programme and Carys Hannah amongst the usual array of open mic performances.
Sun 1 Jul 4pm at Centrala, Minerva Works, 158 Fazeley St, Birmingham B5 5RT www.facebook.com