Cathy Come Home 50th Anniversary at Thimbemill Library
Ken Loach’s standing as a committed filmmaker ready to tackle social injustice was really solidified with the broadcast of the Wednesday Play ‘Cathy Come Home’ in 1966. The gritty documentary style was a revelation and shocked a captive audience with its portrayal of homelessness and unemployment. Watched by an astonishing 12 million people, a quarter of the UK population at the time, viewers had never seen anything like it before. Though Loach himself has downplayed the influence of the film, it led to the formation of the homeless charity Crisis and raised awareness levels to a degree that had never been seen before.  Actress Carol White was given money in the street for years afterwards by people convinced she was actually homleless. A landmark in social realist filmmaking.
Mon 28 Nov 7.30pm at Thimblemill Library, Thimblemill Rd, Smethwick B67 5RJ www.facebook.com/

Fat Penguin present Tom Binns at Patrick Kavanagh Bar
Even if you think you don’t you will know the multi award winning comedian Tom Binns. A regular TV presence on shows such as Alan Partridge and IT Crowd in addition to a raft of appearances on radio, including famously being sacked from our very own BRMB (now Free Radio) for interrupting the Queen’s Christmas message to comment that the monarchy can’t be that good for tourism as the French executed all their royalty and people still visit France. He then played George Michael with the link ‘from one queen to another’. His alter ego, terrible hospital radio DJ Ivan Brackenberry, will open the show and Binns himself will headline.
Wed 30 Nov 8pm at Patrick Kavanagh Bar, Woodbridge Road Moseley B13 8EH www.facebook.com/

Nightingale Film Club
Apart from possibly possessing the clunkiest film title ever conceived To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (dir: Beeban Kidron, 1995, cert 15) is actually a great fun road movie. Three New York drag queens played deliciously by Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo are off to Hollywood to take part in the “Miss Drag Queen of America Pageant” and of course get involved in several comedy scrapes. With more cameos than you could shake a padded bra at, our favourite being Quentin Crisp as a pageant judge, To Wong Fo is a scream. The Nightingale is a wonderful welcoming venue and this is the kind of film best watched in a group. Oh and bring your own snacks.
Wed 30 Nov 8pm at Nightingale Club, Kent Street Birmingham B5 6RD www.nightingaleclub.co.uk/

Bob Latchford in conversation at Waterstones
It seems hard to imagine now but back in the seventies Midlands football was thriving with most of our local clubs in the top flight and powered by superstars like John Richards at Wolves, Tony Brown at West Brom and Bob Latchford at Blues. Bob was once the most expensive English footballer when the Kings Heath born player moved to Everton in 1974 for £350,000. In 160 games for Birmingham City he scored 68 goals and became a local hero. He’ll be discussing his life and new book ‘A Different Road’in what promises to be a real treat for blue noses.
Thu 1 Dec 7pm at Waterstones 128 New Street Birmingham B2 4DB www.waterstones.com/

Winter Social at The Bullring
A Winter wonderland of local independents and talent that couldn’t get much cooler. Promising ‘the best beers, views, DJs, food, hot chocolate and mince pies in Birmingham’ they’ve proved their point from the off on the DJ bookings alone. Birmingham’s finest selectors will be on hand to lift the musical mood, with the likes of Leftfoot and The Great Outdoors to Magic Door and Mazzy Snape taking a spin. Also on offer are classic Christmas movies silent disco style in the Dome Tent’s ‘Platform’ Silent Cinema with winter warmers from pop-up food outlets to hot chestnuts and mulled wine/warm spiced cider to choctails and traditional ale to keep the cockles tip top toasty.
Thu 1 Dec – Sat 24 Dec at The Bullring, located on The Balcony on St Martins Walk, Birmingham B5 4BU. 12pm – 9pm (closed Mondays). www.facebook.com

Eastside Projects Winter Art Fair
Have yourself an Xmas arts fest with two days of affordable pop-produce created both locally and further afield from artworks, artist books and editions to music and homemade refreshments. An eclectic gathering of West Midlands and national artists, curators and publishers, the Winter Art fair will celebrate and promote a diverse range of artistic practices. Black Pleasure bar will be taken over by Foodsketz, a project by artists Alison Clare & Cat Smith, who will be offering homemade food, tea, cocktails and conversations and music will be provided by Queerzone3000.
Fri 2 Dec, 6pm-9pm, Sat 3 Dec, 12pm – 5pm at Eastside Arts Projects, 86 Heath Mill Lane, Birmingham B9 4AR, www.eastsideprojects.org

Birmingham Originals Makers Market at Birmingham Municipal Bank
Locally created loveliness putting the cool back into Christmas with everything from exquisite hand-made gifts from local artists, artisans, designers and crafters, to traditional wreath making, portraits and a pop-up secret shaving club from the award-winning Barberology.
Fri 2 Dec – Sun 4 Dec, see our full preview here.

Digbeth First Friday at various venues
Creatively busting at the seams, Digbeth’s hot date night this month includes late night opening across the Custard Factory’s ace indie outlets and the visiting Etsy Market as well as an intriguing survivalists touring workshop Catching Rabbits & Starting Fires at A3 Project Space featuring bonfires, beans and anti-establishment style bonding. Centrala will also be hosting a late night opening with Polish food & drink alongside Aleksandra Natalia Koper’s funky new exhibition. See our full preview here.

Roy Lichtenstein at Wolverhampton Art Gallery
In the sixties there was a seismic shift in how art was produced, perceived and distributed. At the heart of this new movement were legendary figures such as Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns, but possibly the most unique exponent of Pop Art was the inimitable New York boy Roy Lichtenstein. Instantly recognisable his work appropriated comic strip aesthetics and popular advertising to gloriously subversive effect. We’re gutted ‘Whaam’ is not on display, you’ll have to go to the Tate Modern for that, but what is on display are 16 large scale screen prints, alongside pieces from Wolverhampton’s own Pop Art collection including our favourite ‘Purist Painting With Bottles’. Part of the Artists Rooms touring exhibition. Well worth a visit and it’s all free.
Sat 22 Oct to Sun 26 Feb at Wolverhampton Art Gallery Lichfield St Wolverhampton West Midlands WV1 1DU Free www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/