Also see our week’s round-up of Halloween events for kids & families this week with free parties and arts events here

Monday Showcase: Bach, Brahms, Beethoven at Birmingham Conservatoire
Free lunchtime concerts of varied music performed by Conservatoire students.
Mon 24 Oct 1.05pm at Recital Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire, Paradise Circus B3 3HG www.bcu.ac.uk/

Monday Night Jazz at Yorks Bakery
Live jazz  in chic, stylish surrounds with great food, cocktails and craft beers. A Monday night winner.  7.15 – 9pm
Mon 24 Oct 7.15pm at Yorks Bakery Cafe, 29/30 Stephenson Street Birmingham B2 4BH www.yorksbakerycafe.co.uk/

Latin Jam Sessions at The Cuban Embassy
Free drinks as well as free entry for participating musicians.
Tue 25 Oct 7pm The Cuban Embassy, St. Mary’s Row, Moseley Birmingham, B13 8HW www.facebook.com

An evening with Chris Beckett at Waterstones
Chris Beckett is a university lecturer living in Cambridge. He is the winner of the Edge Hill Short Story competition, 2009, for The Turing Test, the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke award, 2013, for Dark Eden and has been shortlisted for the British Science Fiction Association Novel of the Year Award, 2015, for Mother of Eden. Chris will be in conversation with Tom Hunter. Tom is the director of the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the UK’s premier prize for science fiction literature.
Tue 25 Oct 7pm at Waterstones, 24 – 26 High Street Birmingham B4 7SL www.waterstones.com/

OFF THE RECORD at Cherry Red’s
Off The Record is a monthly event where a bunch of music-loving people get together to listen to a whole album in full – no distractions, no interruptions – and then talk about it afterwards. In a fast-paced world where we don’t make time for music, it’s about stopping and appreciating something new. We’ll be playing Say Anything’s “…Is A Real Boy”. Lyric sheets will be available and suggestions for future records are welcomed.
Tue 25 Oct 7pm at Cherry Red’s, 92 John Bright St, Birmingham B1 1BN offtherecord.club/

Jazz Tuesdays at The Spotted Dog in Digbeth
A grass-roots music night, hosted at The Spotted Dog with an emphasis on great music (& some hefty drinks discounts). Musicians and bands from all over the UK and further afield bringing their creative and innovative music to the heart of Digbeth, every Tuesday night. An open jam session hosted by different local musicians follows. Bring your horns!
Tue 25 Oct, 9pm at The Spotted Dog, Warwick Street, Digbeth Birmingham B12 0NH jazzatthespotteddog.co.uk/

Salt Brand New Reads with 4 authors at Waterstones
Neil Campbell will be launching his first novel, Sky Hooks. Kerry Hadley-Pryce wrote The Black Country whilst studying for an MA in Creative Writing at the Manchester Writing School at MMU, for which she gained a distinction and was awarded the Michael Schmidt Prize for outstanding achievement 2013–14. Alison Moore’s first novel, The Lighthouse, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the National Book Awards (New Writer of the Year), winning the McKitterick Prize. Jonathan Taylor’s new novel is Melissa, which was shortlisted for the East Midlands Book Award 2016.
Wed 26 Oct 7pm at Waterstones, 24 – 26 High Street Birmingham B4 7SL www.waterstones.com/

The Craft (dir: Andrew Fleming, 1996, cert 15) at the Nightingale
A newcomer to a Catholic prep high school falls in with a trio of outcast teenage girls who practice witchcraft and they all soon conjure up various spells and curses against those who even slightly anger them. Bring your own snacks.
Wed 26 Oct 8pm at Nightingale, Kent Street Birmingham B5 6RD www.nightingaleclub.co.uk/

Gregory Peck’s Jazz, Funk & Soul Open Mic Night at The Night Owl
The Night Owl is always a cool venue to spend time in, throw in some free live funk music and, if you’re that way inclined, bring along your own instruments to plug in and make some tuneful noise.
Wed 26 Oct 9pm at The Night Owl, Lower Trinity Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4AG. www.facebook.com

Poetry for Lunch at P Cafe
Compered by Jan Watts, Birmingham Poet Laureate 2011-12, an informal session where you can share and listen to poems with other poets and people interested in poetry.
Thu 27 Oct 12.30pm at P Cafe, 1464 Pershore Rd, Birmingham B30 2NT www.pcafe.co.uk/

King Kong Comedy Club at The Gunmaker’s Arms
This venue is fast establishing itself as a cultural hub featuring several free events a week. The comedy club is a riot, featuring 8 comedians of various competencies, and all kept ticking along good naturedly by compere Jonny Cocker.
Thu 27 Oct 8pm at Gunmakers Arms, Bath Street, Birmingham. www.facebook.com/events.

COGnitive Jazz Therapy at Cogs Bar
Every Thursday, Cogs Bar hosts a Jazz themed night which features live bands, music and amazing people. This night used to be hosted at the Yardbird in Birmingham City Centre.
Thu 27 Oct, 7pm at Cogs Bar, 61 Newhall Street, Birmingham B3 3RB cogsbar.co.uk/

Sheroes of History
Naomi Wilcox-Lee from Sheroes of History will be sharing the stories of some inspiring blacksheroes. Come along and learn about ‘fastest woman on earth’ Wilma Rudolph, amazing aviatrix – Bessie Coleman and more. This event is suitable for children 5+ and their families.
Thu 27 Oct 2pm, South Yardley Library, Yardley Road, Birmingham, B25 8LT. FREE www.birminghamblackhistorymonth.co.uk

Daniel Lebhardt at the Barber Institute
In 2014, at the age of 22, Daniel Lebhardt won 1st Prize at the Young Concert Artists (YCA) auditions in Paris, and 1st Prize at YCA’s International Auditions in New York. A year later he went on to be selected for representation by Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) in London and to make his debut at Wigmore Hall, under the auspices of the Royal Academy of Music’s Patron’s Award. Daniel makes his Barber Institute debut with a performance that includes Beethoven’s final piano sonata and Thomas Adès’s 1992 Darknesse Visible – a work that the composer describes as ‘an explosion of John Dowland’s lute song In Darknesse Let Mee Dwell (1610)’.
Fri 28 Oct 1.10pm at Barber institute, University of Birmingham Edgbaston B15 2TS barber.org.uk/

Fright Night: Poetry, Magic and Music with Walsall Poetry Society!
In its 2nd year by Public Demand fresh from its successful performance in August the WPS is proud to present in conjunction with Waterstones Fright Night! An Entertaining tongue in cheek Walk on the Dark-side using Poetry, Magic and Music to present a fun evening of mystery, illusion, suspense and horror. Hosted by the Founder of the WPS LaGrif, Author and Performing Poet often featured on Radio, TV and in magazines. Performing with him will be many celebrated and successful well known local performing Poets and Entertainers.
Fri 28 Oct 6.30pm at Waterstones, 24 – 26 High Street Birmingham B4 7SL www.waterstones.com/

Rhythms Del Toro – Live Latin Fusion Band the Cuban Embassy
Rhythms Del Toro consist of Colombian born resident members Edwin and Camilo who’s musical talents bring infectious Latin vibes to the dance floor. Recommended.
Sat 29 Oct 8pm at The Cuban Embassy, St. Mary’s Row, Moseley Birmingham, B13 8HW www.facebook.com/

The Sun In A Net (dir: Štefan Uher, 1962, cert 12) at Gunmakers Arms
We’re so excited by this. A public screening of the first film in the Czech New Wave. The Czech New Wave was a unique period in the sixties when Czech cinema produced an astonishing array of quality films as the communist regime entered a phase of liberalisation. Until 1968 when Brezhnev sent Russia’s tanks in to spoil the fun. The Sun In A Net is a beautifully cool film and possibly the most important Czech film ever made. Fajolo and Bela wait on their rooftop under a blistering sun for an impending eclipse. They exchange existential chat as their budding romance unfolds. As a set up it doesn’t promise much, as a film it delivers in spades. Screening organised by Brum Cinema Addicts and the Czech Club of Birmingham.
Sat 29 Oct 8pm at Gunmakers Arms, Bath Street, Birmingham B4 6HG FREE www.facebook.com/

Trick or Treat at the Old Crown
Birmingham’s oldest haunt is celebrating Halloween the only way we know how, with one helluva FREE party. Cut up your bedsheets (ask your mum first obvs), plaster yourself in fakeblood and come throw it down with us for a night you definitely won’t remember. To celebrate the release of the recent Blair Witch Project we’re going in on the decor and transforming the place into a spooky forest. Fancy dress, shocktails, boozy bobbing + tons more surprises (and we’re not talking about our resident ghosts!) Come and get lost in the woods. DJ’s Moschino Hoe, Versace Hottie, Lovethelife and Jordan Lott.
Sat 29 Oct 6pm at the Old Crown, 188 High Street Deritend, B12 0LD Birmingham www.facebook.com/

Black History Family Day
‘Inspiring a new generation’ featuring Black icons, arts auction, free arts and craft activities for children, cultural market, craft stalls, refreshments, performances and music.
Sat 29 Oct 12pm – 6pm, Nubyond Universal Creativity, Unit 4 The Square, Broad Street, Birmingham, B15 1AS FREE www.birminghamblackhistorymonth.co.uk

Sunday Social Halloween Special at British Oak
That’s spooky time of year is creeping up on us again so it’s time to dust off your fancy dress and brush up on those pumpkin carving skills. This year the British Oak is bringing you a whole day of spooky fun. Kicking off from 3pm we will have face-painting, a bouncy castle, apple bobbing and kids FANCY DRESS COMPETITION with super scary prizes to be won.  For the big kids we’ll have a haunting selection of cocktails and super special guests DJs including none other that Mr Switch – World DJ Champion (4x reigning world dmc dj champion) to take you through to end of the weekend.  Our Sunday Lunch menu will be available as usual with a few little surprises…BOOKING ESSENTIAL.
Sun 30 Oct 3pm at British Oak 1364 Pershore Rd, B30 2XS Birmingham www.facebook.com/