Cheers to the Black Country

Thousands sang, danced and cheered at the only party in town as all corners of the Black Country come together.

From brilliant live bands and acts to the best comics from Brierley Hill to Netherton – the Black Country proved it's got talent.

Hundreds of events, both big and small, took place this weekend for the Black Country Festival featuring parades, comedy shows and even monster trucks, in the build up to the big day.

Today marks Black Country Day with a range of shows, history talks, arts events and gigs taking place on only the second time the occasion has been marked.

Organisers today said they had been left stunned by the turnout by the public and the sheer numbers of events arranged to celebrate.

With so many events booked during July to mark the day itself, the Black Country Festival was born to bring the best arts and cultural activities under one collective celebration.

Festival founder, 'Black Country' Gaz Sawers, was today celebrating Black Country Day atop a double decker bus touring the region.

"I have been looking forward to this day for a long time and the build up could not have gone any better," said the 55-year-old from Pensnett.

"When I was out in Dudley and people were cheering, and when they wanted to take my picture and were hugging me I'm not ashamed to say that tears came to my eyes.

"It has been overwhelming to see so much support for the festival. So many people have held events it has been hard to keep on top of it but we are so grateful."

Dudley's Stone Street Square was awash with red, white and black, as hundreds visited market stalls and sideshows on Saturday.

Band The Empty Can clocked up one of its countless performances of the weekend as they whipped up the patriotic fervor.

Crowds sang along and waved Black Country Flags as the haunting anthem, I Vow to Thee Black Country, was played at the event on Saturday.

Other music acts included Jess Silk, Target By Numbers and Black Country Gaz.

Members of the Friends of Dudley Hippodrome group also had a stand with hundreds signing a petition to help protect the venue.

Other stalls sold t-shirts and the few remaining Black Country Flags to eager families.

Many dressed up in the flags as they enjoyed pints at the nearby Saracens Head pub.

The Red House Glass Cone in Wordsley proved a perfect venue to forge a fledgling celebration of Black Country culture with its industrial heritage.

The towering cone was packed for three days of live festivities including the revival of a Black Country tradition.

Its sculpted walls reverberated with laughter as crowds howled with laughter for music and comedy on Friday for the Black Country Night Out.

A stalwart of the stage, Aynuk, who has been performing for 50 years, was at the top of the bill, ably supported by chums such as Black Country Gaz, Emma Rollason and The Fizzogs.

As the audience enjoyed some half-time faggots and paes, Aynuk was clearly proud as punch to be helping to kick off the festivities on Friday.

He said: "Tonight is long overdue, we want to have more Black Country celebrations."

On Saturday, the venue was again a feast of entertainment as a varied line up of talent used the landmark site as their stage.

Black Country standard bearers The Empty Can were among the highlights which also included a fire eating demonstration as well as historian and metal artist Luke Perry in his other guise as a comedy performer.

Sketches were played out in a courtyard on the canalside as visitors enjoyed a host of famed Black Country ales at the bar.

"It is brilliant to be asked along and I think this festival is brilliant for the Black Country," said Mr Perry.

Empty Can singer and guitarist James Stevens, 37, said the band had been 'blown away' by residents responses to the anthem over the weekend.

Professional musician and youth worker James is joined in The Empty Can by Rachel Slater, 36, a nurse from Gornal, and 40-year-old guitarist and producer Steven Henley from Kingswinford who works for a local family business.

"It has been stunning. We have loved every second of it.

"We have worked hard as opportunities like this only come along once in a lifetime but we have made sure we grab it with both hands," said James.

Sunday was devoted to Black Country poetry and the spoken word at the Cone with Heather Wastie, Billy Spakemon and Brendan Hawthorne, among those who took part.

Ommer n Spake was also held at the Mushroom Green Chain Shop, in Dudley Wood, featuring poets, singers and storytellers.

Townsfolk also turned out in their droves for the annual Old Hill Festival which this year was also themed on the pride of the Black Country.

A parade took place from 11.15am on Saturday from Highgate Street featuring military veterans and cadets to kick off the celebrations.

This year's festival raised money for the Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital's Fisher House – a home away from home where severely injured military personnel.

The Black Country Arms pub in Walsall High Street held a beer festival all weekend with a selection of ales from across the area.

Today, Himley Hall was opening specially for the Black Country celebrations hosting an exhibition by Stourbridge artist, cartoonist and comedy writer Geoff Tristram.

Signed prints, cat art, jigsaws, greetings cards and comedy novels by Geoff, from Wollaston, are also available to buy at the exhibition The 40 Years Watching Paint Dry.

The Earl of Dudley Estate Collection - a major project celebrating eight centuries of history - was also due to be on display.

Bleakhouse Library, in Bleakhouse Road, Oldbury, is hosting a talk about life in the area on Monday from 2.30pm. There is also the Best of the Black Country Variety Show from 7pm to 9.30pm

For those wanting some hearty grub Hill Top Library, in West Bromwich, is holding a 'Tay and Caerke' event from 2.30pm to 3.30pm with Black Country bread pudding on the menu.

Also at Cradley Heath Library, in Upper High Street, staff were holding a 'Taste of the Black Country event' with grey paes and bacon, Grorty pudding and bread pudding.

The Robin 2 in Wolverhampton is putting on a Black Country Day Live Music Bash tonight that will see six of the area's best bands take to the stage. The event will include music from The Empty Can.