More Music News
-
Lynyrd Skynyrd bring 50th anniversary tour to Birmingham
Posted on Tue 21 Jan
-
Ultimate 30+ clubbing experience Bed By 10 comes to Birmingham
Posted on Thu 16 Jan
-
Bearded Theory announces second wave of acts for 2025
Posted on Wed 15 Jan
Birmingham's Town Hall and Symphony Hall are renowned for programming a broad range of quality festive offerings, and 2022 is no exception. You'll find something for all - young and old - in the lead up to Christmas. We've picked our top twelve but there are even more to choose from on the B:Music website. Go check it out!
CRAFT YOUR CHRISTMAS WITH SARA DAVIES - Birmingham Town Hall, Tues 6 December
Dragons’ Den star and Strictly Come Dancing contestant Sara Davies is heading for Birmingham - complete with a cornucopia of quality Christmas crafting tricks and tips.
Covering everything from gifts and garlands to cards and crackers - all via ‘a peek inside the Den’ and ‘a sprinkling of Strictly sparkle’ - Sara’s show will feature practical demonstrations, creative ideas and a healthy slice of down-to-earth know-how.
KATE RUSBY AT CHRISTMAS - Birmingham Town Hall, Sat 10 December
Folk singer Kate Rusby’s annual Christmas shows have become as much of a tradition for her fans as mince pies and mulled wine.
Despite her music enjoying something of a crossover appeal down the years - she’s been in the pop charts and even made the Mercury Prize shortlist - Kate Rusby has always been proud to call herself a folk singer, and more importantly, a South Yorkshire folk singer.
Those geographic roots have always played a huge part in her music, but particularly during her annual Christmas tours, when she performs a number of South Yorkshire carols alongside traditional favourites and her own festive compositions.
Read our recent interview with Kate HERE
ALJAZ AND JANETTE: A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER - Symphony Hall, Sat 10 December
Shake your tinsel & polish your baubles with Strictly stars Aljaz and Janette alongside dancers and singers. Expect lavish costumes and sets with favourite Christmas hits in an ultimate yuletide jukebox full of family-filled merry-making. The show's fabulous cast will create tidings and joy performing festive feasts from the Golden Age of Hollywood to Disney Christmas crackers. Celebrate with songs from Phil Spector, Mariah Carey, Michael Bublé, and a whole assortment of pop festive classics, carols and crooners.
HORRIBLE CHRISTMAS - Symphony Hall, Sun 11 December
The Horrible Histories team are back, this time to stab a sprig of holly through the heart of the yuletide season!
Famous festive favourites Charles Dickens, St Nicholas and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - not to mention Oliver Cromwell and King Henry VIII - are all present and correct in a good-humoured show that brings together Victorian villains, Medieval monks, Puritan parties and Tudor treats.
LIVE AT CHRISTMAS - Birmingham Town Hall, Tues 13 December
“Birmingham audiences tend to be very honest, which I think makes you be a better stand-up.”
So says French comedian and one-time second-city resident Celya AB (pictured), who’s here sharing the bill with the BAFTA-winning comedian Dylan Moran, Live At The Apollo star Rosie Jones and breakout Taskmaster star Mike Wozniak. “Because the city is in the middle of the country, you get a microcosm of the whole country in terms of what people like - like a Venn diagram. If something works in Birmingham, then chances are it’ll work in Manchester, Liverpool and London. When I’m in London, I can do jokes just about being in London, but then I can’t take them anywhere, and I’m really interested in jokes being sharp and working everywhere. It makes the writing process a bit slower, but it’s super-important, and I learned that from starting off here in Birmingham.”
A CBSO CHORAL WITH ALAN TITCHMARSH - Symphony Hall, Thurs 15 & Fri 16 December
The city’s highly acclaimed symphony orchestra and one of television’s most popular presenters is surely a match made in heaven when it comes to providing an evening of Christmas cheer. The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra are joined by CBSO Choruses as Alan Titchmarsh (pictured) presents a selection of ‘traditional carols, festive tunes, new Christmas classics, and even the chance to sing along’. Simon Halsey is the man with the festive baton.
EMMA BUNTON & FRIENDS - Symphony Hall, Sat 17 December
Emma Bunton’s Christmas Party will see her performing songs from her own back catalogue as well as some classic Spice Girls tracks and all your favourite festive hits. Emma will also be bringing along some very special guests, soon to be announced.
To date Emma has sold over 85 million records as a member of the all-conquering Spice Girls, the most successful female pop group of all time. Following the incredible Spice Girls reunion tour in 2019, Emma returned to music as a solo artist with album My Happy Place, her first new music in 13 years. As a solo artist she has had seven UK Top 10 hits and two UK Top 10 albums to date.
A SWINGING CHRISTMAS WITH THE CBSO - Symphony Hall, Wed 21 December
Watch the CBSO transform into a seasonal time machine with top West End vocalists singing the hit songs of Christmases gone by. Enjoy a host of festive classics including Frosty the Snowman, Jingle Bells, Sleigh Ride and of course White Christmas. Vocalists include Alice Fearn, Tim Howar and Rob Houchen. Michael England conducts.
CHRISTMAS AT THE MOVIES - Symphony Hall, Thurs 22 December
Join the London Concert Orchestra for an evening of music from festive films, including The Polar Express, Elf, Home Alone, White Christmas, Love Actually, It's A Wonderful Life and more...
A DICKENSIAN CHRISTMAS - Symphony Hall, Fri 23 December
Stephan Mangan reads excerpts from Dickens' A Christmas Carol whilst the London Concert Brass and Canzonetta Choir present a selection of Christmas carols and classics. Expect God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, Joy to the World, I Saw Three Ships and more...
A CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR - Symphony Hall, Sat 24 December
West End star Kerry Ellis and guest singer Ricardo Afonso provide the vocals in what promises to be a 'cracker of a show' complete with music, dance, lights and spectacle.
Music comes courtesy of the London Concert Orchestra whilst the Jingle Bell Dancers provide some festive choreography. The playlist for this matinee performance (3pm) includes Santa Tell Me, Winter Wonderland, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Fairytale of New York, Baby it's Cold Outside, Step Into Christmas and more...
THE GRUFFALO - Birmingham Town Hall, Tues 27 December - Sun 15 January
Take a stroll into the deep dark wood as a cast of deaf and hearing actors present a new staging of a much-loved children's tale.
With millions of copies of the book having been sold, it’s fair to say that Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s award-winning Gruffalo has captured the hearts and minds of children everywhere. Presenting songs, laughs and ‘monstrous’ fun for children aged three and upwards, this much-loved stage version of the terrific tale follows Mouse as he heads out on a journey through the deep dark wood, scaring away hungry animals with tall stories of the terrifying Gruffalo. Imagine his surprise, then, when he suddenly finds himself coming face-to-face with the very creature he’s imagined!