Category Archives: Entertainment

Entertainment

Man in Black comes to Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

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Fans of the ‘The Man in Black’ are in for a treat when a Johnny Cash tribute act takes to the stage in Sutton Coldfield. Cash Returns has been hailed hands down the greatest and most exciting Johnny Cash & June Carter Tribute in the UK and recently picked up ‘Best Tribute Band’ at the ‘Hot Country TV Awards`.
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The Sutton Coldfield Town Hall show on Saturday, March 16, is fronted by the award winning JP Mac as Johnny Cash.

He is joined on stage by Karen Martin as June Carter who brings all the vibrancy and onstage sassiness of June Carter complete with fantastic vocals.
Combined, JP and Karen along with their fantastic live band truly bring their audiences with them to a place and time when the iconic Cash & Carter reigned supreme.

Cash Returns have been playing in festivals, hotels and theatres throughout all of Ireland, UK and Europe for the past nine years, while also having appeared on various radio slots BBC, RTE 1 and national TV appearances, RTE, TG4 & NVTV.

The show is currently playing to sell out audiences all over the UK, Ireland and Europe. If you go along to one of their shows you will hear all the show stopping classics such as, ‘Folsom Prison Blues’, ‘Get Rhythm’, ‘ Walk the Line‘, ‘Hurt’ and of course the duo hit ‘Jackson‘.


So, if you’re a real Johnny Cash and June Carter fan, you simply cannot afford to miss this spectacular show when it rolls into a town near you!

Click here for information and tickets

Entertainment

The Beatles are back

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Did you miss The Beatles first time around? Don’t miss them now an book tickets for a special show at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall on November 12.

The Upbeat Beatles offers tight musicianship to recreate the magic of the Fab Four.

They recreate the harmonies and guitar solos all wrapped up in Scouse humour, the audience will be left on an emotional high. 

From the depths of The Cavern, through Beatlemania, conquering America, Sergeant Pepper to Abbey Road and finally the Apple roof top, their attention to detail will draw you into the world of the Beatles like no other show.

*Please note that as this is a live music event guests may stand and/or dance throughout the performance*

How to book your tickets


You can book your tickets online, by calling the box office or by visiting our box office in person
Online: https://www.ticketor.com/townhall/tickets/the-upbeat-beatles-258029#buy Box Office: 0121 296 9 10am-4pm ).In person: Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, Upper Clifton Road, Sutton Coldfield, B73 6DA

Entertainment, Lifestyle, News

Mayor joined panto cast . . . oh yes he did!

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VIP guest as preparations begin at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

The cast of Jack and the Beanstalk were joined by mayor of Sutton Coldfield Cllr Tony Briggs as they prepared for this year’ pantomime at the Town Hall.

Sutton Coldfield Town Hall will be hosting the production this Christmas, in partnership with TaleGate Theatre Productions.

And the mayor was on hand for the cast’s photshoot day.

Cllr Briggs said: “It was wonderful to spend time with the cast and crew who are working really hard to put on a fabulous show in December.

When does it begin?

“Everyone was really enthusiastic, and I look forward to seeing the final production in a few months’ time.”

The Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime runs from 9 to 31 December.

Auditions for the Youth Ensemble are taking place at the Town Hall on 26 August.

James Worthington, TaleGate Theatre Productions artistic director, said: This Christmas, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall will be transformed into the Royal Town of Suttonia. Oh yes it will!

What is the story?

“A bustling market town with a GIANT problem. ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ was first presented at London’s Drury Lane in 1819 and has continued to be one of the most popular pantomimes presented.

“With magic, adventure, thrills and spills – what is not to love about this wonderful tale.

“Together we will bring this story right up to date with pop songs for all ages, dazzling special effects and more glitter than milk in the diary. With Sutton Coldfield Town Hall’s beautiful venue and TaleGate’s pantomime know-how, the future is sparkling for panto in Sutton.”

For more information visit the Town Hall website or call the box office on 011 296 9543.

Entertainment

Foster & Allen in first show at Sutton town hall

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Irish duo take centre stage

Popular Irish duo Foster & Allen make their first ever appearance in Sutton Coldfield in November when they bring a wonderful night of melodic Irish music to the town hall main stage. 

The ever-popular duo – Tony Allen and Mick Foster – formed in 1975 and have enjoyed over 40 years of success in record and CD sales, TV performances and their hugely popular live concerts. 

They have released over 30 albums, many of which entered the UK Albums Chart.

The legendary partnership have performed sell-out shows all over the world. Their performance at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall will be part of their 20 date UK tour, entitled “We’ll Meet Again”. Tony Allen and Mick Foster will be supported by their regular full live Irish band. 

 Hear the masters of Irish ballads and traditional Irish music perform their many top hits, including “Old Flames”, “I Will Love You All My Life”, “After All These Years” and the classics, “Bunch of Thyme” and “Maggie” plus many more. 

They will include a rich array of well-known Irish songs in their Town Hall performance, including “The Fields of Athenry”, and other Celtic classics that will bring the green fields of Ireland a little nearer to Sutton Coldfield. 

Following on from the appearance of The Kilkennys at the Town Hall in April, which completely sold out six weeks in advance, tickets are expected to be in high demand for Foster & Allen. 

Tickets are on sale now from the Sutton Coldfield Town Hall box office in person (Monday to Friday, 10am – 2pm), online at: www.suttoncoldfieldtownhall.com or by ringing the box office on: 0121 296 9543.

Entertainment, Lifestyle, News

Musical magic at Sutton Town Hall

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Tribute to rock legends

Two of the biggest act in music are being celebrated at tribute shows at Sutton Town Hall in September.

Go Your Own Way is on stage on September 10 and is a spellbinding show featuring the music from the legendary multiple Grammy Award Winning Fleetwood Mac.

Their rock n roll legacy is beautifully performed by a highly talented and acclaimed ensemble of musicians who will take audiences on a powerful journey through their incredible song book.

Meanwhile, on Thursday 15 September, BILLY JOEL – The Piano Man is the ultimate celebration concert to one of the most iconic and best-selling artists of all time, Billy Joel.

In this brand-new touring theatre show Robert Schmuck (Billy The Kid) and his amazing 7 piece band perform breath-taking musical arrangements of multi-million selling songs such as ‘My Life’, ‘Uptown Girl’, ‘River Of Dreams’, ‘Tell Her About It ‘, ‘Still Rock n Roll To Me’, ‘An Innocent Man’, ‘Movin Out’, ‘Just The Way You Are’, ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’, ‘Piano Man’, ‘The Longest Time’ and many, many more, it’s a non-stop hits show!

The Fleetwood Mac show features hits including “Dreams”, “Don’t Stop”, “Everywhere”, “Rhiannon”, “Gold Dust Woman”, “Little Lies”, “Big Love” and many more.

Paying tribute to their “Rumours” line up of Stevie, Mick, John, Christine & Lindsey, which remains their most commercially successful to date, this show perfectly recreates the live energy and passion of Fleetwood Mac.

Tickets for both shows are now on sale – just click the ticket link box for online ticket sales, or call the box office on: 0121 296 9543, Monday to Friday, 10am – 2pm. 

Entertainment, Lifestyle, News

Get your brains in gear as quiz returns to Sutton Coldfield

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Amnesty International Quiz returns after two years

Amnesty International quiz back in town after a two-year pandemic absence.

A popular quiz is returning to Sutton Coldfield after a two year absence caused the the Covid pandemic. The royal town’s Amnesty International group is inviting you to pit your wits some of finest quiz brains when its annual quiz returns to Sutton Coldfield Football Club.

The group has held online events for the past two years due to Covid but is looking forward to being back in person for its blockbuster quiz.
Sutton Coldfield Amnesty International chair Andrew Hindle, who is also quizmaster, said: “We are so glad go be back with an in-person quiz and we’re hoping local people will come out in their droves
to support us.
“We aim for the quiz to cover as many subjects as possible from sport, music and television to current affairs, history and geography. It’s a fun event which also raises money for a great cause.”
Taking place on Friday 24 June from 7.30pm, entry is £5 per person which is paid on the door.Teams are a maximum of six people and there is also the chance to buy raffle tickets for a range of prizes.
Drinks and bar snacks are available at the bar of the Coles Lane football club.
All money raised goes to Amnesty International’s essential work supporting human rights across the world.
The Sutton Coldfield Amnesty International group meets at 8pm on the second Tuesday of every month (except August) in the Conference Centre, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 69 Lichfield Road,
Sutton Coldfield, B74 2NU and new members are always welcome.

For more information see https://www.amnesty.org.uk/groups/sutton-coldfield/about-0

Entertainment

Night fever comes to Sutton Coldfield

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Disco revival takes the stage at town hall

SATURDAY 2 APRIL 2022

Think of Disco and Saturday Night Fever, Disco Inferno or Le Freak may spring to mind. The huge phenomonen of the 1970s took the world by storm after springing up from the United States’ urban nightlife scene.

From the Bee Gees to Gloria Gaynor to Earth Wind and Fire its popularity was worldwide, and now a celebration is coming to Sutton Coldfield.

For all those who dreamed of going to New York’s Studio 54, Disco Inferno is the spectacular all singing, all dancing celebration of everything D.I.S.C.O., live at the town hall on April 2.

From the smoking hot girls to the guys in platforms, this electrifying show just screams glitter balls and good times.

You’ll be thrilled by pitch perfect harmony, high energy, slick choreography and Disco classics such as Blame It On The Boogie, Car Wash and It’s Raining Men.

You’ve all seen Abba, you’ve all seen Motown, but have you all danced to the ultimate UK Disco tribute and sang along to your favourites by Earth Wind and Fire, Barry White, Donna Summer, The Trammps, and many many more?!

Produced by Veritas, who excel in shows with crowd engagement and interaction, Disco Inferno has the wow factor that everyone will be talking about for months to come.

Tickets costs £22 and are selling fast and include FREE after show party

Show Starts: 7:30PM

House & Lounge Bar Opens: 6:30PM

Age Guidance: 16+ | Under 16’s must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Book your tickets here

Entertainment, News

Sun shines on Sutton town hall charity fete

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John S White played King Henry VIII at the event. Picture: Claire Taylor

1,000 turn out for Community Heritage event

More than 1,000 people enjoyed brilliant sunshine when they turned out to support a community fete at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall.

The inaugural fete, on 12 September, received a Community Grant from Sutton Coldfield Town Council to help set up the event.

The neighbouring Tudor Community Sports Trust provided activities such as Crown Green Bowling tasters on its recreation area as a linked event.

The fete, opened by the town mayor, Councillor Terry Wood, who said: “I was delighted to be invited to open the Town Hall’s first Community Fete. The weather was kind to us, which helped everyone get into the swing of the event.

“Having so many people turn out to support really does show just what a brilliant community we have here in Sutton Coldfield and one that we are all very lucky to be part of. The organisation of the fete was a great effort from everyone involved and I would like to say a sincere thank you to all the people who helped make it a great success.”

Local community groups and businesses rose to the occasion by adding activities to their stalls such as biscuit decoration, quizzes and messy play. The UP Creative Community ran an interactive craft tent on the theme of the town hall’s forthcoming pantomime Cinderella.

Action from the coconut shy at the town hall.
Picture: Claire Taylor

Sutton Coldfield Litter Action Group generated enough support for 23 more local roads to be adopted for litter picking and visitors were able to study old maps of the area with Folio Sutton Coldfield.

The Town Hall hosted a coconut shy and band stage, and staff member and carpenter Colin Troman created a wooden storytelling stage in the grounds for performances through the day and a pair of stocks.

As part of the national project ‘Heritage Open Days’, the town hall conducted five backstage and heritage tours over the day, which included rare access visits to the roof and the reportedly haunted ‘below stage’.

King Henry VIII, played by performance historian John S White, re-enacted the granting of the town’s charter to the delight of visitors and Andrew Mitchell MP joined him on stage to thank visitors for supporting the event.

The King also helped launch the town hall’s own charity mascot ‘Town Hall Tara’, a £10 fundraising toy based on a real Staffordshire Bull Terrier who was also there to meet and greet visitors through the day.

A live music stage featured local bands, co-ordinated by local musician Job Baker-Sullivan of Ceol Agency and was hosted by presenters Sam Rabone and Lauren Hill.

Entertainment, Lifestyle

Triple helping of laughter at town hall

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Comedy fans in Sutton Coldfield are in for a triple treat when a trio of comedians take the stage at the town hall. Rosie jones, Justin Moorehouse and Mrs Barbara Nice will present a night of comedy at the town venue on Thursday, November 18.

Rosie, currently appearing on the Last Leg Paralympics show, has quickly become a must-see act on the UK comedy circuit.
The ex-television researcher was awarded second place in the Leicester Mercury’s New Comedian Of The Year Award 2018 and has gone on to star on Live At The Apollo, The Jonathan Ross Show, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

She is also a regular on The Last Leg.

Justin has appeared on Live At The Apollo, Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights.
Justin brought back tiger-faced Young Kenny for the record-breaking run of Phoenix Nights Live at The Manchester Arena, which raised over £5 million for comic relief; told fantastic tales about Australia and Manchester on Live At The Apollo.

He won The Champion of Champions on BBC 5Live’s Fighting Talk; and appeared as Dean the rival cricketing landlord on Coronation Street. All this as well as helming his own critically acclaimed podcast About 30 Minutes, No More Than 45.

Mrs Barbara Nice was created by award-winning comedian and theatre director Janice Connolly, Barbara Nice is the overenthusiastic housewife alter-ego of Birmingham-based performer Janice, who previously appeared in Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights, and is well known on the circuit for her lively, upbeat presence.

Barbara performs playful, life-affirming shows for all the family. With the affectionate attitude of a playgroup leader at a wild Iggy Pop concert, she is guaranteed to warm the heart of any audience, say the organisers.

The show is hosted by Wayne Beese and is for over-16s only.
Tickets are still available and cost from £15-£18. The doors and bar open at 7pm, with the show starting at approximately 8pm

* Line-up may be subject to change, top quality comedy show always guaranteed

Entertainment, Food and Drink, Lifestyle, News

Thai restaurant opens doors

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The new Giggling Squid restaurant will open in Mulberry Walk on July 26

New venue opens in Mere Green with 50% discounts

Sutton Coldfield’s newest restaurant has announced the opening date for its new venue in Mere Green and is offering a 50 per cent discount during its first week.

The new Thai tapas-style restaurant, Giggling Squid, will take over from a former Italian restaurant in Mulberry Walk, and will open to the public on July 26.

As part of their launch celebrations, they will be hosting an exclusive first look at the restaurant over on their Instagram channel on July 23, before fully opening to the public on the following Monday.

Bookings are now open and diners will be notified the moment bookings go live for the opening week which includes a celebratory 50 per cent off all meals. For booking info, visit the new website at https://www.gigglingsquid.com/restaurant/mere-green/

The chain, began in the basement of a fishmerman’s cottage in Brighton in 2002,

Founded by Pranee and Andrew Laurillard, Giggling Squid now operates 38 venues across the UK.

A spokesperson for the chain said Giggling Squid has established a strong reputation for bold Thai cuisine, complemented by a stylish and relaxed setting. The varied menu comprises a competitively priced lunch menu and a more extensive evening offer, as well as separate children and vegan menus.

Co-founder, Andy said: “Thai mealtimes are energetic, informal, adventurous and where food is celebrated. It’s relaxed and there’s no standing on ceremony. Every Giggling Squid has its own personal touch to it, and this restaurant is no different; it’s a beautifully designed space that we hope will bring a lot of pleasure to our guests. We can’t wait to welcome everyone.”

The spokesperson added: “Catering to the community during the new normal, Giggling Squid guests will still receive the same great food, service and atmosphere the restaurant chain is known and loved for, but with even more stringent health and safety policies in place, making it the safest place possible for all guests and staff.”

Giggling Squid is expected to open Monday-Thursday 12pm – 10pm, Friday-Saturday 12pm – 10.30pm, Sunday 12pm – 9.30pm.

A wide takeaway menu will also be available for click & collect or telephone orders as well as delivery.