Our Brumbeat live music & DJ guide for Birmingham offers original and alternative nightlife, gigs, parties and music listings. We work with local promoters and venues each month to ensure you won’t be missing out on the very best this city has offer.
For our pick of the best gigs in Brum May 2018, check out our playlist below (auto-play or skip through). Scroll down for more listings.
Tuesday 1st – Sunday 6th May 2018
Her’s, Pizzagirl, Chartreuse 2nd May at Hare And Hounds.
Tiki Thursday -£4.50 Tiki cocktails, tiki specials & DJ Sam Redmoore & DJ Magoo playing the tropical tunes, 5pm – 2am at Island Bar. Colette’s Sundown Club with DJ Liam Roberts. Hibushibire (Japan) + One Unique Signal + yellow6 at Hare And Hounds. Teedra Moses at Hare And Hounds. Vundabar at The Sunflower Lounge 3rd. Kaleidoscope #4 – The Bank Accounts/GorillaBot/The Nature Centre at The Night Owl. Women in Music Club Nite at Actress and Bishop (official) all take place on 3rd May.
Henri Herbert and The Fury (live) + Emily C Smith ar The Night Owl 4th. Disco Strikes Back at 1000 Trades. DJ T-Bird playing the best in hip-hop, soul and rock ‘n’ roll, free entry 9pm – late in the main bar at Island. Le Club Fondue Present MDC Friday at Hare And Hounds. False Modesty, Pretty Thieving, Malone, The Bug Club, Sue at Actress and Bishop. Liquescent presents CIA records at LAB11. The Atlantic Players & Prodigal Scum at Hare And Hounds. Propaganda – Leeds fest ticket giveaway at Mama Roux’s. The Club Lounge Acoustic Sessions at The Bull’s Head. The Undercover Hippy (Full Band) + Special Guests at The Castle & Falcon. Come Together at The Night Owl. Daisy DJ at The Victoria. All take place on Friday 4th May.
May bank Holiday Weekend at The Victoria: Happy Hour All Weekend: Electric Bear Tap takeover at The Vic: Friday 4th-Monday 7th May. This long weekend, The Victoria will be having a Tap takeover ! With 3 kegs and 6 casks beers from Electric Bear Brewing – Brewery from Bath, they make delicious, new beers for the bold and the curious so save the date!
Bank Holiday Weekend DJs in the Beer Garden at The Old Crown 4th & 5th with DJs Liam Roberts and Jordan Lott.
The UAB Weekend Part 2: Friday 4th May – Monday 7th May. UAB street food / Djs / Live Sport / Beer garden / 3 bars / Ping Pong / Monday Roasts. Fri 4th – Loose Joints Birmingham Djs 5pm – close. Sat 5th – UAB Street Food Cart. DJs with #TLC w/ Dean Smith + guests & The UAB Selectors. Sun 6th – UAB Street Food Cart. Sunday Roasts. KITCHEN DISCO DJ set 2pm – close. Mon 7th – Relax, regroup, recoup! The BH Monday Roast is back!
Dig? Soul & retro club night at The Night Owl. DJ Tshimmy shimmy Ya playing the best in hip-hop, soul and rock ‘n’ roll, free entry 9pm – late in the main bar at Island. Pinkshinyultrablast / TVAM / Outlander (Birmingham) Castle & Falcon. Hot Wax – Plays the best in funk, Hip hop and r’n’b at The Victoria. The Attics / Not to Scale / The NewArkansans / Common Interest Actress and Bishop. Jazzie B (Soul II Soul) Hare And Hounds. Bruk Up 7th Year Birthday Party Hare And Hounds. AFTA DARK All Night Long – 12hr Bank Holiday Special at TWENTY2, Oxford St, Digbeth. All take place on Saturday 5th May.
We, Project Birmingham, are proud to present to you: Medicine Gallery: A jam-packed program of cultural events, spanning an entire weekend. Come and join us as we bask in the cultural heritage of our city. Expect Birmingham’s finest music, art and food woven together to create a truly memorable and unique experience. Launch weekend 5th and 6th May and then exhibition installed in the gallery until 14th May.
The Plough Harborne launch their summer Taco menu with super soulful latin disco vinyl DJs Ollie Yardbird Lloyd 4th, Lee Coliandris 5th and Damian UK Vibe 6th in their wonderful beer garden.
Wobble legendary house music night ft Jon Pleased Women, Ana Matronic (Scissor Sisters) and more at Spotlight. I Don’t Know What It Is, But It Sure Is Funky 1000 Trades. Drifting Boogie will be at The Ruin in Digbeth (Drifting Boogie is a new gathering of like minded people with an open minded music policy of soul, boogie, jazz, disco, psychedelic beats and balearic. Hosted by Tom Belte). Silent Disco at Actress and Bishop (official). Bank Holiday SKA & MOD Fest at Hare And Hounds. Missy Rodriguez is your DJ at Sun on The Hill. LAB11 Bank Holiday Showcase – Free Party. All take place on Sunday 6th May.
Hott Date: Hott Date brings together the best and most fun independent brands, DJs and cutting-edge bands together for one big mother of a party on Sunday 6th May! Live Bands: Table Scraps, High Horses, The Hungry Ghosts, Brain Food, Miles Cocker, Cave Girl. DJ’s: BAD GIRLS presents. DJ’s: Sassy & Classy party-starters, Brian Summers aka Ryan Winters (Ministry of Sound), CHICKS DIG JERKS. Mazzy & Bamber play alternative party tunes & dance around like the lunatics that they are. Cafe Colette’s Sundown Club. An education in laid back funk, jazz, hip hop and more from residents Liam Roberts & Ollie Lloyd. Holiday 80s funk, soul, pop and ‘tude from Sammy B. House of Jealous Lovers 00’s electro, indie-disco & more from Wayne Lango & Richard Buckley. I Dig Your Wig R&B, Soul and Garage Rock n’ Roll. Jonny & Joleaf. Killer Wave sound system spans all genres, classics and un-dug gems. Anything with a groove. Kaleidoscope Cosmic psych warriors. Keep The Faith Josh Halliley brings funk, soul and groove party vibes. Le Freak Delicious disco with a dollop of soul funk & boogie from Disco Daddy Lee Fisher & friends. Young Culture Sound Roots Reggae vibes & street food from our co-hosts. Digbeth Dining Club. 2pm til late, Lower Trinity Street*, Digbeth, B9 4AG. £5 early bird (limited) or £8 advance tickets from ticketlist.co.uk / more on the door. *Hott Date takes over 3 spaces on Lower Trinity St, Café Colette, Unit 4 and the Digbeth Dining Club Yard. **Ticket prices includes free after party at The Night Owl (limited capacity).
Monday 7th – Sunday 14th May 2018
Neighbourhd #14 at Night Owl. Anna Burch Hare And Hounds. Bank Holiday Monday – Happy Hour All Day at The Vic. Conan & Monolord at Mama Roux.
Goat Girl (Ages 14+) Hare And Hounds. Chk Chk Chk Hare And Hounds. Rookes + DIDI Double Headline Tour The Castle & Falcon. Protomartyr / Rattle (Mama Roux’s). 9th May.
Tiki Thursday -£4.50 Tiki cocktails, tiki specials & DJ Sam Redmoore & DJ Magoo playing the tropical tunes, 5pm – 2am at Island 10th.
Propaganda – Arctic Monkeys night | 11.05.18 / £4 G list at Mama Roux’s. DJ Sam Redmoore & DJ Magoo playing the tropical tunes, 5pm – 2am at Island. Bloxx w/ Iota, Rai Kah Mercury & Pink Lake / Castle & Falcon. The Teskey Brothers at The Sunflower Lounge. Baddies Boogie Ellie Poole + Francis + Gaby Kinney + Curtis + Claudia Whittle & Emily Taylor at The Victoria. Barefootin’ with Josh Pye, Dave Le Moderne & Adam Adam The Night Owl. This Feeling – Birmingham w/ Vida, The Mojo Filtres, Alex Ohm Actress and Bishop. 11th May.
Dig? Soul & retro club night with Glyn Preece & Sonny and Spare The Night Owl. RAIN (mod band) The Night Owl. DJ T-Bird playing the best in hip-hop, soul and rock ‘n’ roll, Tiki Hot Wax at Island. Riscas w/Paris Youth Foundation,Candid, The Clause & The Cosmics Castle & Falcon. Metz Jnr at The Bull’s Head. Rubella Moon / Kinds of Light / James Harriman / Highlite Actress and Bishop. FORMAT LAB11. 12th May.
Beer Blues Sunday – featuring Zoe Green Band Actress and Bishop. The Jigsaw Project(!!!) // Sunday Jazz at 1000 Trades Special! 13th.
Make It Reggae! Celebrating 50 Years of Trojan Records The Night Owl. The Night Owl are delighted to welcome Make It Reggae for a summer residency the second Sunday of every month starting Sunday 13th May! As if that wasn’t good enough we have the tip of the hat from Trojan Records as one of their official venues celebrating 50 years of Trojan! DJs playing classic reggae, ska and rocksteady from the Trojan vaults and beyond. Joe Turner (Make It Reggae!). Simon Cobb (Work Your Shot). Rob Chewy Wilson (Stomper). +Jerk BBQ +Kids Welcome. *FREE ENTRY* 2-8PM.
Monday 14th – Sunday 20th May 2018
Indigo Marshall LIVE at The Actress & Bishop. CARMODY + AFFIEJAME at Sunflower Lounge. 15th May.
Feet & co at The Sunflower Lounge. 16th May.
Ian McNabb at Hare And Hounds. Tiki Thursday -£4.50 Tiki cocktails, tiki specials & DJ Sam Redmoore & DJ Magoo playing the tropical tunes, 5pm – 2am at Island. 17th May.
Foliee – Joshua Puerta (Its All About The Music/Ride Music) at Lab 11. DJ T-Bird playing the best in hip-hop, soul and rock ‘n’ roll, free entry 9pm – late in the main bar at Island. M A R C (Single Launch) / Elk / The Ellipsis / BLVFF Actress and Bishop. Island + Club Kuru (The Castle & Falcon). Dig? Soul & retro club night with Rob Perrens & Sam Redmore The Night Owl. 18th May.
SWEDISH DEATH CANDY at Sunflower Lounge. Baddies Boogie + Birmingham Promoters presents: ARA + special guests – Extremely talented Ara is another emerging talent out of BIMM institute- Europe’s leading prestigious music college at The Victoria. Terry Hall DJ set & The GT’s Live & DJs at The Night Owl. DJ Lee Goodman : music such as alternative, funk, hip-hop, soul, disco at Island. Esther Turner at The Bull’s Head. Glass Ceilings / Strange Ghost / Early Days / And More The Castle & Falcon. District: LAB11 Launch Party. Psychedelia Birmingham with The Glissando Guitar Orchestra at Hare And Hounds. 19th May.
I Don’t Know What It Is, But It Sure Is Funky 1000 Trades. An Audience with Ash Sheehan plus guests Actress and Bishop. KH Walk Of Fame present Kast Off Kinks. Ty at Hare And Hounds. 20th May.
Monday 21st – Sunday 27th May 2018
Sam Evian at Hare And Hounds. The Underground Youth w/ Sarcoline History of sex & Exhailers The Castle & Falcon. Gaz Coombes at O2 Institute2. 21st May.
THE REGRETTES + SPECIAL GUESTS at The Sunflower Lounge. Sick N’ Beautiful – We C*m In Peace Tour The Castle & Falcon. 22nd May.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah ‘Some Loud Thunder’ Anniversary Tour at Hare And Hounds, 23rd May.
Peace at O2 Academy 2. Colette’s Sundown Club with Ollie Lloyd (The Yardbird) 24th. Lo Moon at Hare And Hounds. Japanese Breakfast at Hare And Hounds. CAPTAIN SUUN + THE HUNGRY GHOSTS at Sunflower Lounge. Tiki Thursday -£4.50 Tiki cocktails, tiki specials & DJ Sam Redmoore & DJ Magoo playing the tropical tunes, 5pm – 2am at Island. 24th May.
Le Freak Soul Train Special! at The Night Owl. Takin Care Of Business – DJ T Bird Jones at The Victoria. DJ Steve Jones – Soul and Funky music at Island. The Arosa / Bilk / Fruit / The Lids / Underground Storm The Castle & Falcon. This Feeling – Birmingham w/ Planet + Blvff Actress and Bishop. Magic Door at Lab 11. 25th May.
Gerd Janson, Alexander Nut & Byron The Aquarius at Hare And Hounds. Dig? Soul and Retro Club Night with Jo Prinsen & Richard Priest at The Night Owl. Midnight City Soul Band (live) at The Night Owl. DJ T-Bird playing the best in hip-hop, soul and rock ‘n’ roll, free entry 9pm – late in the main bar at Island. 26th May.
Battle of the Brits: Beatles V Stones at The Night Owl. The Destroyers (Bank Holiday – The Castle & Falcon, Birmingham). Electro Bank Holiday Special at Hare And Hounds. DDC & Only Jerkin’ presents: Dutty Wine n’ Dine Spotlight. GLAS presents Peace & Love Party – Bank Holiday at LAB11. 27th May.
Monday 28th – Thursday 31st May 2018
The Magic Numbers (Ages 14+) at Hare And Hounds. 28th May.
99 Flake: End of Exams Party at LAB11. Redfaces + Karkosa + The Life at Hare And Hounds. 29th May.
The Lovely Eggs at Hare And Hounds. Charles Watson (Slow Club) + Sivu at Hare And Hounds. 30th May.
TEKTU Presents: The Vacation at LAB11. 31st May.
Regular Weekly Events..
Cafe Colette takes place every Thursday with soulful DJs spinning to the vintage coolness of an art deco bar, with Digbeth Dining club providing the food treats. The city’s finest disco, soul, eclectic DJs at Digbeth Dining Club every Thurs, Fri and Sat. The Victoria and Island Bar host a wide variety of funk, soul, disco and indie DJs every weekend with occasional live gigs upstairs at the Vic (check out Tikki Thurs at Island). The Sun on The Hill offers the best in indie DJs on weekends. The Actress & Bishop provides live acoustic and gig nights throughout the month with late entry! Davenports bring live music to The Bull’s Head Club Room most weekends. The Stable hosts a variety of DJs and live music throughout the month.
A range of regular monthly DJ and jazz nights nights take place at 1000 Trades. Not forgetting the best in balearic, house, disco and soul from Dean Smith’s TLC Saturday afternoon/evenings and Collective, Soulshake, Loose Joints on Fridays at the Lord Clifden (don’t forget the best Sunday Roasts too!). The Ruin, Digbeth is home to some of the city’s finest disco, funk and vintage house DJs every weekend. Vintage Mixmasters ft DJ Damian (UK Vibe) is at Bourne & Co. every Friday and Saturday from 7pm- 1am, playing soulful jazz, latin house, boogie, disco, new electronica and rare-groove on vinyl. Catch Morais Vibes’s disco house and soul selection on the Bureau Bar rooftop most weekends too! Oops.. don’t forget the very best soulful & funky live jazz at The Spotted Dog, Digbeth every Tuesday and look out for their Sunday Classics with classical and jazz musicians from the Conservatoire.