The Jewellery Quarter Festival
Birmingham’s quirkiest quarter brings out all its hidden and notso hidden gems onto the funky streets to create a sparkling weekend of creative fun. From comedy and kitsch to workshops, circus, theatre art and a massive helter skelter. It’s got it all. And all for FREE! See our full preview here

Brum Spirit at various venues
Family friendly, free or affordable events taking over the Moseley School of Art and various venues around town for a weekend of music, arts, film, food and creative exploration. See our preview here

Tilt Aerial & Physical Theatre Festival + Snakes & Ladders in Centenary Square
Raise your eyes to the skies this weekend and don’t be surprised to see all manner of acrobatic and aerial displays whirling and twirling in all their physical majesty and mastery. See our full preview here

Warwick Bar Summer Fete
Situated in Digbeth and surrounded by water on three sides the Warwick Bar is a great venue and is striving to create a venue with cultural and social value. Come and explore for yourself. There will be films, installations, open studios and family workshops, street food, art, DJs, beer and cocktails. What more do you want? Bring the sunshine and party!
Sat 23 Jul, 12pm at Warwick Bar, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 5 RS www.facebook.com/

Birmingham & Solihull Jazz & Blues Festival
Established for 32 years, the festival is 10 days of mostly free events featuring artists from across the world performing across the city. In addition to the excellent range of music there will be dance events and workshops, meet the author book events, exhibitions and photography. The Final Fling on Sunday night at 9pm with the Hotsy Totsy Five (Czech Republic) at Hampton by Hilton comes highly recommended. And if f you fancy one of the paid events our pick is The Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band at The Botanical Gardens Sun 24th July at 7pm, fun sounds in beautiful surroundings, if the sun shines it will be extra special.
Fri 15 Jul – Sun 24 Jul Various venues and mostly free.www.bigbearmusic.com See our top picks of all the gigs in our feature here

GMA Rockfest
The Gunmakers Arms array of cultural events is quite staggering and they really deserve your support. This Saturday their wonderful beer garden replete with newly developed stage will be hosting a rock festival. If the sun shines its a glorious place to sit and sometimes you can see Brum Kong climbing the Post Office Tower in the distance (this usually happens after consuming ample Two Towers brewery beer). Headline act is Harlequin’s Kiss with more rockers to be confirmed. Fingers crossed for the usual sublime street food.
Sat 23 Jul, 2pm at The Gunmakers Arms, 93 Bath Street, Birmingham B4 6HG www.facebook.com/

The Little Unsaid at mac Summer Sessions
‘A giddying conflation of folk, electronica and lavish orchestration’, John Elliott’s boys have been touring relentlessly for the last two years. Working on a new album with Radiohead engineer Graeme Stewart, we are thrilled and surprised to be able to see such a quality band for free. The mac Summer Sessions are an absolute treat. The performance will be followed by a chilled out set from DJ Gravebongaz.
Fri 22 Jul, 6pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH macbirmingham.co.uk/

The Paperdolls Craft Market at The Hare & Hounds Kings Heath
Our favourite little craft collective brings its exquisitely cute, kitsch, bespoke and beautiful hand-crafted wares to the cobbled yard of the Hare&Hounds. Not just your common garden craft fair this, expect fashion crafts, homewares, artisan food stuffs, kids crafts and desirable items to make your life look as Pinterest-perfect as possible. See our full feature here