Black Mekon at The Dark Horse
This is a rare event. The mysterious and elusive Black Mekon usually keep their dark scuzzy brand of fuzzed up dirty garage safely to themselves, which is just as well as exposure to their swamp-driven filthy blues is liable to induce seizures. Off the leash in Moseley this Friday and for nothing; not even a Treen shekel, so come and join Black Mekon and his brother Black Mekon, who together make Black Mekon. A godlike duo that will unleash an unholy symphony of distorted buzzsaw mayhem into your sense containers. Psycho rockers Terror Watts and DJ Priscilla B will be facilitating musical first aid.
Fri 2 Feb at The Dark Horse, 145 Alcester Rd, Birmingham B13 8JP www.darkhorsemoseley.co.uk

Shadow City Soundsystem at The Hare and Hounds
Birmingham’s funkiest party movers Shadow City Soundsystem are moving in to The Hare and Hounds to batter your dance muscles with the usual wide range of eclectic beats and bleeps, joining them with his own unique and soulful vibe is the beat bulging sonic master Salary Boy. Even a free ticket doesn’t guarantee entry, first come first served till the room is full, get there early and get moving.
Fri 2 Feb 10pm at The Hare and Hounds,  106 High St, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7JZ www.skiddle.com

Digbeth First Friday
The first DFF of the year features a raft of free events throughout Digbeth. All the cutting-edge crew including Centrala, Eastside Projects, Grand Union and Vivid Projects, offering exhibition openings, clubbing, immersive stuff, flyposters and more. Read our full feature here.
Fri 2 Feb at various venues

MODO at The Dark Horse
The Music Of Distinct Origin party animals are back with a techno and house special featuring Birmingham’s own rising hard beat talent Kubot, alongside him is new MODO resident Kingdom Kid. Always a cool crowd and pumped up atmosphere at MODO, with some big names promised for 2018 this year is going to get messy for Moseley’s techno titans, don’t miss out.
Sat 3 Feb 10pm at The Dark Horse, 145 Alcester Rd, Birmingham B13 8JP www.darkhorsemoseley.co.uk

Socialist Sounds at The Hare and Hounds
As Karl Marx famously quipped, ‘it’s time to put on your red shoes and dance the blues comrades’.* You can do just that this weekend as Sunday goes all socialist down at the Hare and Hounds, with an all dayer featuring great local bands and guest speakers from the Labour Party. Catch the sophisticated dream pop confection of Lycio, the merry folk troubadours Bonfire Radicals and the bizarre lounge adventures of Mistys Big Adventure amongst a sublime bill of Birmingham talent.
Sun 4 Feb 4pm at The Hare and Hounds,  106 High St, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7JZ skiddletickets.com
*we made that up.