Free gigs announced across West Midlands for summer fun
A summer of free music has been announced as venues in the West Midlands get set to host a series of gigs.
A total of 330 free 'big gigs' will be held across England, under Government plans announced today.
Venues including Baggeridge Country Park, in Sedgley; Walsall Arboretum and Deansfield Community School in Wolverhampton are all due to take part.
The concerts are free and aim to encourage people to listen to home-grown talent and continue the community spirit left behind by the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee.
Don Foster, communities minister said: "This summer hundreds of thousands of people across the country are going to see fantastic local performers play a huge variety of music from around the world right on their own doorstep, sometimes for the first time, and get to know other members of their community better into the bargain." The newly-restored Walsall
Arboretum will host a big gig on July 14 from midday to 5pm.
It will feature a mix of music from performers including The West Midlands Police Brass Band, Aziz Ibrahim and Chuck Micallef.
Baggeridge Country Park in Gospel End Sedgley will host a big gig on July 13, from 1pm to 5pm.
Deansfield Community School, in Deans Road, Wolverhampton, is getting involved with a visit from Zip Theatre Group on July 11 from 4pm to 6pm, where people will get to try their hand at a musical instrument.
Sandwell will host a number of events. On July 12 Thimblemill Library in Smethwick will feature acts including Scott Pawsey, and the Midlands Fretted Orchestra.
There will also be drumming, ukulele workshops and cigarbox guitar workshops, while Blackheath Library in Rowley Regis will have workshops, open mic sessions and a headline act from the Birmingham International Jazz Festival.
The Public, in West Bromwich, will showcase classical, rock, Asian and jazz music from 2-10pm on July 13.
On the same day, Greenholm Primary School in Great Barr will have a day of rock, pop, steel pans, and dhol drumming. Music acts and a drumming workshop will take place at Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery from midday to 4pm on July 13, while the Wednesbury Sant Nirankari Bhawan will hold a gig with the Birmingham International Jazz Festival.
