Get Out More...........................Musicals, Gigs etc

THE HARDER THEY COME, THE FALL - AND MORE

25-01-2008

Movie classic The Harder They Come which opened the world’s ears to Reggae is coming to Birmingham Hippodrome as a musical – and that’s just one of West Midlands forthcoming arty highlights.  We’ve also got online art from the Black Country, the Fall in Bilston, the chance to sing with CBSO and plenty more besides.

Getting THE HARDER THEY COME is a real coup for the Hippo.  It was premiered in London two years ago, and has already enjoyed a couple of sell-out runs at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East.

This time it will be revived at the Barbican, before coming to Birmingham for its only dates outside London.

The original 1972 film starred Jimmy Cliff as young singer Ivan Martin who went to Kingston with dreams of becoming a reggae star, but who becomes an outlaw instead.  Will music save him? 

Find out at The Hippodrome between Friday 11 April – Sunday 13 April.  Tickets are priced from £10-£25 and are available from at www.birminghamhippodrome.com

More vintage sounds – albeit with an altogether smoother edge – come to the NEC Arena when the MOODY BLUES come home on September 27; tickets go on sale this morning, priced at £32.50 (plus fees) from www.theticketfactory.com

Mark E Smith is another old-timer, but he’s never been one to revel in past glories.  When he comes to the Robin in Bilston with THE FALL on Tuesday 4th March, don’t expect a greatest hits collection, even though his best work over the past 30 years stands comparison with the best. 

The cantankerous Manc has been in fine, spiteful form on his most recent visits and can be relied on for a string of tracks from the fortcoming album – confirmed track titles include “Wolf Adult Kid”, “50 Year Old Man”, and “I’ve Been Duped.”

There are those, of course, who maintain that Smith can’t hold a note.  They’re right, of course.  Think you can do better?  Then here’s your chance to SING WITH THE CBSO along with a thousand others.  Not only that, but you can do it at Symphony Hall. 

All you have to do is line their pockets with £18 and turn up at 1.30pm on February 3, and after an afternoon’s rehearsal you’ll be on stage with the Orchestra and their Youth Chorus belting out “Carmina Burrana”.  Audience tickets for the 7.30pm show are just a tenner.  Tickets from www.cbso.co.uk

Symphony Hall has synth pioneer JEAN-MICHELLE JARRE marking the 30th anniversary of his “Oxygene” album on 27 March.  Tickets go on sale this Saturday from www.thsh.co.uk

The same venue is booking now for LEVEL 42 (12 October), THE ZOMBIES and THE YARDBIRDS (25 May) while over at the Town Hall, STEELEYE SPAN return for the umpteenth time on 15 May.

There’s a terrific initiative from Sandwell Council, which putting it’s collection of OIL PAINTINGS ONLINE.  Although there are plenty of pics on display at Wednesbury Art Gallery, there’s not enough room to show them all – except in cyberspace of course.  Visit www.museums.sandwell.gov.uk

Oh, and congratulations to BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET which picked up two gongs at the UK National Dance Awards -Desmond Kelly and Marion Tait were recognised for their work on Ballet Hoo! and soloist Carol-Anne Millar was awarded the Female Classical Spotlight Award for her outstanding performances during the last year.