Tuesday 30 July 2013

What A Winner!



Photo Credit: Ken Harrison Photography

It's official...Warley Woods is once again of the best green spaces in the country....that makes us very happy.

Viv Cole, Warley Woods Trust Manager told us that Warley Woods in Smethwick is on a par with the country’s finest parks and the Community Trust that manages the site has heard that it will receive a sought after Green Flag for the fifth year running.

Green Flag Awards recognise and reward the best green spaces in the country and sites are judged against eight criteria: a welcoming place; healthy safe and secure; clean and well maintained; sustainability; conservation and heritage; community involvement; marketing; and management.

“All the trustees, staff, volunteers and members of Warley Woods Community Trust are thrilled that the park has been recognised again in this way. The Trust has been focused on making it not just a good park, but a fantastic park for everyone to enjoy. The Trust has used the criteria of the Green Flag Award to help guide its plans and management and the Award proves that the Trust has achieved its aim in making Warley Woods one of the best parks in the country. Although this is our fifth year, we never rest on our achievements and each year we try to make the site look better, do more and involve more people.”

The Trust would like to thank everyone who made this possible, from those members of the community involved in running the park day to day, to those members of the public who just pick up litter to help keep the park looking good. The Trust would also like to thank Sandwell MBC for their support.

This year has seen the highest number of awards handed out – a record 1447 Green Flags and Green Pennants across the UK. Warley Woods Community Trust will be proudly flying its new 2013-14 Green Flag over the Pavilion on Lightwoods Hill shortly.

If anyone would like to join the Community Trust, or volunteer or just find out more then call 0121 420 1061 or join the “Warley Woods Community Trust” Facebook group.

Thimblemill Library's August Calendar!





Wednesday 24 July 2013

Hard Graft


We’ve heard on the Bearwood Grapevine that volunteers are needed for Brendan Hawthorne’s new musical community play, 'Hard Graft – All for twenty three bob!'

'Hard Graft' tells how between May - July 1913 there was a momentous struggle by the poor working class families of the Black Country to be paid on equal terms with their Birmingham counterparts.  

Now Bearwood’s got the chance to be part of their story! If you’ve ever wanted to show off your acting skills…ever wanted to share that singing voice…ever wanted to be involved in a new musical play..ever wanted to help with staging scenery and crowd scenes…ever wanted to help organise and event? This is for you!

There is comedy, there is tragedy and there is having a good time working on something local! You’ll get the chance to meet new people, make new friends and catch up with some old ones too.

To register an interest please send an email to Brendan at mooncrow@blueyonder.co.uk telling him why you would like to be a part of the production and what you could offer to it.

Please remember your inclusion in this production would be purely on a voluntary and unpaid basis.

Performance date: December 7th 2013

Bearwood's Got Talent!


There’s so much local talent in B-wood that Thimblemill Library are holding their Summer Showcase this coming Saturday (27th July).

We’ve got live music from folksters Ship of fools, Joe and Kim who we have fallen in love especially after watching them perform at Warley Woods Picnic in the Park, brand new act Brad and Louise, Rich Stokes and the wonderful Amelia Wallace (we can’t believe she can sing like that at only 14!).

There’s also open mic slots for all you aspiring musicians out there.

Mumford & Sons and Rhianna….watch out!

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Waterside Fun!



Waterside Fun at Stony Lane Family Picnic from last Saturday. 

With photos by Ken Harrison Photography

  There is nothing--absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."  Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows.

SoulAid





Clear the dance floor because this Thursday the legendary Soul Providers are coming to The Silvershine Jazz Club on Bearwood Road.

Playing soul classics from Atlantic Records and Stax this band are bound to get everybody up on their feet.

The night’s in aid of raising money for the charity, Uganda Interface, so we spoke to our favourite jazz club to find out more.

"The band features 3 Horns, bass guitar, drums, rhythm guitar, keyboards plus a male and a female vocalist. Musicians are from Birmingham and Black Country and four play in the Out of the Blue big band. the repertoire is classic Atlantic, Stax and other soul numbers.

Proceeds will go to Interface Uganda... ..this is a plastic reconstructive surgery charity which plays an important role in getting people back into work and into society in Uganda."

Only £5 entry too...Dance to the music!

Monday 22 July 2013

GlastonBEARy!




We can’t quite believe that Mick Jagger was strutting his stuff at Glastonbury almost a month ago! So if ‘you can’t get no satisfaction’ and you think ’it’s all over now’ there’s no need to to ‘paint it black’ because GlastonBEARy’s here!

We caught up with Vicky from The Bear Tavern and Andrew Whiteoak of The Up and Overs to find out more.

Vicky said "We're really excited! Wrist bands are on sale now for £2. It's starting at 1pm. We will have a DJ outside, BBQ food, a bottle bar and stalls including airbrushed tshirts, face painting and a psychic/Neals Yard stall. In the evening we have two bands the local Up and Overs at 6pm and at 8.30 Marquis Drive a 90s Brit pop cover band."


Andrew explained that "The Up and Overs is a five piece Rock Pop cover band. We cover artists such as Blondie,Fleetwood Mac,Foo Fighters,Kim Wilde ,Tom Odell , and even S Club7. All with a Rock edge."

"The band comprises of members from various departments of the Birmingham Rep Theatre. Over the years there has been various incarnations of a Rep Staff Band for Christmas parties and the like. This is the first incarnation to play for the love of playing. The Up and Overs were formed in November 2012 and played their first gig at a band members wedding. One of our lead singers fell pregnant so the clock was ticking to find an event for us to share our set."

"GlastonBEARy will conclude probably the shortest tour ever with our debut/final gig as Ros Adams our female vocalist will be 30 weeks pregnant. The rest of the band are excited that Ros gets a chance perform before the ickle one arrives.both Gerard swift (keyboard) and myself (lead guitar) are smethwick/Bearwood residents and are excited to finally play our local. The band looks to continue without Ros but with the door wedged firmly open as to when she wishes to return. We love playing and we hope the lovely people of Bearwood will enjoy what we got."

Wow!  All this for £2!  That would make it one hundredth of the price of this year's ticket to Glastonbury and you don't need to worry about finding your tent at 3.30am and the horrors of the toilets. 

Friday 19 July 2013

Fun = Learning

With the school holidays fast approaching we wanted to remind you about this.

Starting from Tuesday 6th August the ipad Summer School will be at Warley Woods Pavillions every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday morning.  Each session lasts 45 minutes and only cost £5 each (bargain!).

For more details contact Marie Bastable on 07530 695979 or email her at mariebastable@hotmail.com

P.S. You can read more about the summer school here.

Write On!

Write-On! Creative Writing Group have invited renowned story teller Cat Weatherhill to join in their 10th anniversary celebrations next Tuesday evening (23rd July) at Thimblemill Library. 

Cat is a best-selling author who has travelled the world telling her stories writing her very popular children's books along the way.

Fans of Cat will know that her tales of  Ariadne and the Minotaur recently premiered at the Hay Literary Festival.  Only the best come to Bearwood, you know!

The event is FREE (our favourite word!) and everybody's welcome. 

Thursday 18 July 2013

Straight Outta Warley


We couldn't wait to share these with you! 

Hot on the heels of their performance at Warley Woods Picnic in the Park on Sunday The Brothers Of Caedmon sent us this video of Run Away Train. No wonder people were lining up after their set to buy one of their CDs. (Only £1 too...that gets a big thumbs up from us).

The Brothers are playing at Brum’s Actress and Bishop this Friday (19th). So if you thought they were good at the Picnic make sure you catch their performance in town. It will blow you way! By the way the video comes courtesy of welovebearwood’s friend Jonathan Couch, who we reckon is next in line for pop video director, Chris Cunningham’s job.

Samantha Davis who runs Webb's of Bearwood lovely gift shop on Three Shires Oak Road, full of gorgeous goodies to buy, has just started her own Facebook Photography page, Rose and and Rainbow Photography.

Samantha sent us her photos of the Gareth Langtson Experience performance on Sunday. Wow! That girl and her camera will go far.

If you would like to see more of Samantha’s photos, make sure you visit her Facebook page.












Tuesday 16 July 2013

We love Warley Woods!


Well done Warley Woods! What a scorcher...what a success.


We had a glorious time in the sun (you should see our burnt bits...ouch!) at the Picnic in the Park on Sunday and would like to say a very big thank you to the Warley Woods Trust and their wonderful team of volunteers. 

We enjoyed listening to great bands courtesy of the brillant Bearwood Promoters team and being entertained by lovely Laurence compereing and DJ Craig spinning his wheels of steel. 

There was plenty to whet our appetite (big thumbs up to the samosa lady!) and to buy on the day too.   

Highlights have to be the Sapphire Dance School kids showing us how to bust some moves, Metz Jnr finishing his set with New York New York and getting the crowd to join in, our chat with the Urban Herbs stall, Kim and Joe serenading us, the girls in zebra costumes joining in the zumba classes, the best in class for waggiest tail, the very smart Brandhall Community Choir sharing their love of singing with us (we are very jealous of the choirmistress’s sparkly red shoes) and Brothers of Cadmon’s version of David Guetta’s Titanium.


Everybody looked like they had a fantastic time and we’re sure they'd agree with us that Warley Woods deserves a big round of applause for such a wonderful afternoon.

If you would like to support the Community Trust with a donation to ensure that Warley Woods keeping running such brilliant events you can support them by becoming a Trust member, by sponsoring your favourite tree, participating in Give As You Live, making a donation or simply volunteering.


You can also make a donation by simply texting WWCTT £(your donation amount) to 70070.


No excuses, it couldn’t be simpler.

For more information, please either visit the WarleyWoods website, email admin@warley woods.org.uk or by calling them on 0121 420 1061


All photos courtesy of Ken Harrison Photography. Thanks Ken....you're a star!

Thursday 11 July 2013

Dedicated Followers Of Fashion!

Wanted to renew your summer wardrobe? Want to try on the newest looks without the worry of buying online or the hassle of the High Street?

Well....Bearwood look no further because we’re in luck! The Rotary Club of Birmingham Breakfast are bringing their Charity Fashion Show to Thimblemill REC next Tuesday evening (16th July) in aid in of Dementia UK and Admiral Nurses.

The catwalk fun starts at 8pm but get there at 7.30pm to reserve your front row seat.

Tickets are only £4 each and can be purchased by contacting Chris Gregory on 07876 513712.

Wednesday 10 July 2013

Jazz in Bearwood

 Photo Credit: Ken Harrison Photography

Yesterday evening welovebearwood strolled over to Lightwoods Park Bandstand to see the Jazz Ramblers perform as part of the Birmingham International Jazz Festival.
  
 Photo Credit: Ken Harrison Photography

Many people (including Radio 6's Stuart Maconie...yes we know!) had the same idea as us and brought a picnic and had a wonderful time enjoying the evening sunshine listening to some summer jazz on our wonderful bandstand.
 
Photo Credit: Ken Harrison Photography
And that's not all folks....The Silvershine Jazz Club (at Corks Club, Bearwood Road) are paying tribute to the late great jazz legend Andy Hamilton this Thursday evening. 

The Blue Notes past and present will be playing Andy's Caribbean grooves and if it's half as good as the last Silvershine Andy Hamilton evening we went to you're in for a very special night. 

The music starts at 8.30pm and it's only £5 entry.

P.S. Thanks to Ken Harrison for the great photos of the Jazz Ramblers.

Tuesday 9 July 2013

Get Pimped!

Photo Credit: Ken Harrison Photography

Bearwood Shuffle stalwarts, Gucci Pimp, are busy getting ready for their headliner gig at Birmingham's Flapper and Firkin this Friday.  We caught up with them between rehearsals to find more about the band, their future gigs and what makes Lightwoods Chippy's chips orange.

Gucci Pimp have played at both Bearwood Shuffle I and Bearwood Shuffle V. What’s it like playing at Lightwoods Park Bandstand and what do the Bearwood Shuffles mean to you?

Adam – It’s a great honour to play the Shuffle twice and to grace the wonderful Bandstand. Most bandstands are now neglected so it’s great to see this one used for what it was built for. Our hats go off to all the organisers who work so hard on the shuffle; they have brought a great community feel to Bearwood which is exactly what was needed.

Steve – The whole atmosphere is great and great to see so many families enjoying the day. It’s also great as my young son can come along and watch us play though it seems he has better stage moves than the rest of us.

Dave – It’s great for us to play to a different audience and also a different type of venue. We’re more used to sweaty dark venues so to play where there is fresh air is something of a novelty. Though the smell from the burger bar made us all feel a little peckish.

Matt - It’s great for us as we get to play to people who probably would never have seen us play. It’s also a novelty playing only 5 minutes from where we live.

Photo Credit: Ken Harrison Photography

Gucci Pimp took a 12 month hiatus and are now back stronger than ever. Why did you make that decision, how have you changed as a band and what does the future hold for Gucci Pimp?

Matt – It was enforced decision to stop playing due to an issue I had with my voice. It had been the first time in 20 years of playing in bands that I had, had to take time off which was very frustrating not only for me but for the rest of the band. It now makes me appreciate playing more and just great to be back out playing shows. We’re now planning on getting into the studio to record an album which will hopefully see the light of day early next year with maybe a single or two prior to that.

Steve – We didn’t want to come back after nearly 12 months away with the same set of songs so we took the time we had to write and to also try a few different things which are now hopefully coming to fruition in the new stuff. Our manager is lining up more shows and we’ve been booked to play a festival in Wales that sees us share the same stage as T’Pau so that should be different. Not the usual type of band we play with put it that way

Dave – The one way we have changed is that we now have more pedals than we did 12 months ago. Not sure how they all work yet but they create a mighty new sound for us, but also means it takes Matt twice as long to set up and pack down.

Where does the name Gucci Pimp come from?

Matt – It’s from a song I wrote for an old band I was in and it’s about us all being wage slaves. Not sure I could remember how it went now though. When me and Ad formed this band we were obviously stuck for any inspiration so this name stuck.

Adam – We have thought of changing it over the years but never settled on anything we like especially as all of our ideas get vetoed by Dave.

Dave – That’s because all Ad’s ideas sound like they should be on Waylon Jennings album.

Adam - We did once get a threatening email from a rapper in the States who has Gucci as his name. I think he heard we were from downtown Bearwood so he never bothered us again.....Bless.


Which artist/s are your biggest influences? What’s the best album you’ve bought this year?

Adam – Difficult one to answer. If you were to ask the band they would say I’m Americana boy. My ears get submitted to far too many things to mention but favourites are Ryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Gaslight Anthem, Black Keys, Sigur Ros. The best two albums I have heard recently and would highly recommend are Algiers by Calexico and Rise ye sinking ships by We are Augustine’s truly amazing records. I have also dived into the world of Ska and Dub. The likes of the Pioneers and Toot and the Maytals can now be heard coming from the Pimp HQ on a regular basis.

Dave – I’m the Brit pop boy so the likes of Blur and The Stone Roses but Ad’s persistants to listen to new stuff has meant bands like Band Of Horses and Brighteyes now appear on my car stereo. In fact an album I’d recommend would be Mirage Rock by Band Of Horses is a great album.

Matt – Too many to list but Joy division and anything from Detroit. The Motown sounds mixed with the garage rock of The Stooges and the MC5 keep me happy. I Wanna Be Your Dog by The Stooges has to be one of the best songs ever written. If only it was ours.

Steve – Stevie Wonder and Terrovision. Now that would be an interesting collaboration.


Photo Credit: Ken Harrison Photography
Where and when can we see Gucci Pimp play next?

Flapper and Firkin, Birmingham, Friday 12th July.

New Quay Festival, Wales, Saturday 3rd August.

What’s the band’s connection with Bearwood? What do you think of the live music scene in Bearwood?

Adam – Me and Matt emigrated here about 5 years ago from other parts of the city to soak up the atmosphere and the culinary delights of 101 takeaways and also to be closer to Dave who then decided to move. Not sure what he was trying to tell us.

Matt – The free music is great and that’s testament to the organisers of the Shuffle and the Party in the Park, but it would be great to maybe see the Bear utilised more as they have a great room upstairs and we wouldn’t have far to lug all our gear.

Dave – We have fond memories of the bear from years ago when we were in another band together and we supported a Sex Pistols tribute band. That day will live with us forever especially the sight of two over 5o year old punks moshing at the front.

Adam – I’ve blanked that out of my memory.

Steve – I wasn’t even in that band but that sounds painful.

Please tell us your Bearwood All-Star. In other words what, who or where in Bearwood makes your smile?

Adam – The people of Bearwood make me smile. There are certainly a few characters that patrol the High St on a weekend. I also think Warley Woods is such a wonderful place to have on our door step. I love just sitting on one of the benches and watching the world go by. Well when I’m not chasing after my 20 month old daughter.

Dave – Got to be Karachi. I use to go there so much that I was on first name terms, and never had to queue for a kebab. Now I’m a fitness freak........Not!

Matt – I’ll agree with Ad the parks are pretty special and a great place to just chill out. Also some of the public houses serve some very fine beer.

Steve – Can’t forget about the shuffle.

We like to ask everyone this question. What makes Lightwoods Chippy’s chips orange?

Adam – I have to admit that I haven’t dived into the true Black Country delicacy of orange chips. Should I feel ashamed of myself?

Matt – Tango

Dave – I used to know the people who owned the chippy and they once told me but too many years of rock and roll has taken its toll on the old memory.

Steve – Maybe they tap into the fake spray salon and drain of any excess spray. I don’t know it’s late and I’ve had a long day!

Thursday 4 July 2013

Picnic in the Park


The long term weather forecast is hot hot hot...scorchio.. so with a fun filled programme for all the family, Warley Woods 12th Picnic in the Park on Sunday 14th July is bound to be a great afternoon

Welovebearwood managed to have a few words with Viv Cole, Warley Woods Trust Manager, about the day.

"Everyone is invited to bring a Picnic and spend the afternoon in the sunshine and fresh air. Music starts at 1pm and runs until 6pm.


There will be live music throughout the afternoon featuring local singers and bands: The line up includes, Metz Junior (who played with his band at the Walk for the Woods) Brandhall Community Choice, Less for Murder, Poppy Wilkes and Flat Stanley. The lineup also includes demonstrations from a local dance school. The music has been organised by Bearwood Promoters in their second year contributing to the community event at Warley Woods.”

There will be a range of children’s activities – lots of craft making opportunities as well as face painting, a bouncy castle and football. The number of stalls and activities have been increased on previous years – there will be golfing, a chocolate fountain, bouncy caslte, a bookstall and local crafts, lots of charities are bringing information, Dudley Zoo are bringing some small animals and the British Origami Society (now in their third year) will be showing people to how to have a go.
The Warley Woods regulars the Warley Woods Pacers (runners) and Kickstart Bootcamp will be offering fun activities and they have challenged each other to a tug of war. For those who don’t want the fuss of making their own picnic, or if they forget it - there will be a food van, jacket potatoes and a smoothie bar on site, so no-one will go hungry.

For the four legged park visitors, there is the dog show – anyone can bring their canine friend to enter. Classes include the dog that looks most like its owner and the waggiest tail. This year’s sponsor – Companion Care Vets of Oldbury has taken special charge of helping with the dog show, so there will be excellent prizes along with special categories for their customers.


We are really looking forward to this year’s event. Many thanks to Bearwood Promoters for organising the music, Companion Care Vets, Oldbury for sponsoring the whole event for the second year. Then with the all Warley Woods volunteers and supporter, we have a really strong community team working together to create a great event for everyone to enjoy.” 

Welovebearwood can't wait!

Wednesday 3 July 2013

House that! Bearwood scoops biggest lottery grant of the year!


As most of you will probably now be aware Bearwood's landed a huge £3.6 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (the biggest grant of its kind this year) with an additional £1.6 million coming from Sandwell Council which makes a banker's bonus busting £5.2 million. Kerching. It's all going towards the restoration of Lightwoods House and it's surrounding park, recently rescued from the evil clutches of Birmingham City Council (whooohahahah!) who seemed determined to let the whole place rot. Anyway, that was then and this is now. It's a massive amount of money and a much needed boost for the 'wood. Lightwoods House and Park is, in a way, Bearwood's front garden and given that a squillion people pass by it every day on the Hagley Road its renovation will undoubtedly make a considerable difference to how the whole place is seen. Most importantly of all hopefully it will become a focal point for the whole community to meet, mix, throw some shapes, have a nice pot of tea and a muffin, do a little interpretive dance, learn Swahili...you name it.

There was a brief celebratory announcement on the bandstand (this is also, thankfully, in line for restoration) yesterday and, for a lucky few a quick glimpse inside the House itself. It's going to be a BIG job (hope Poundland has plenty of Polyfilla in stock) but there seems to be enough of the old place left to enable a sympathetic restoration to be carried out, balancing the inevitable need for the place to be self financing with the responsibility of preserving a nationally important building. Bob Piper's already posted some great photos from inside the house, but here are a few more to give you a sense of the place.








And here...if it works...is a video taken inside what used to be the ballroom. Allegedly Brucie danced here when it opened way back in the 1700s...

 

Tuesday 2 July 2013

Back to the Bandstand


It's great to see Lightwoods Park Bandstand being used to its full potential again...there have been five Bearwood Shuffles, a wedding, Birmingham International Jazz Festival makes a return this month with the Jazz Ramblers and we've even seen morris men dance around it at Lightwoods Park's May Day Festival.

We're not the only ones thinking this way. We recently found out that The Other Way Works have created a Bandstand App featuring amongst others our Bearwood bandstand.

We spoke to Katie Day, Artistic Director at The Other Way Works, to find out more about the app, what she loves about bandstands and to get details of the Bandstand Audio launch in Lightwoods Park. Very exciting!

Bandstand Audio sounds like a fascinating idea. Please tell us more about the concept and where the idea originally came from.

Back in 2005 I made a site-specific audio theatre piece with a couple of friends called Wapping:audio. It was a guided walk around Wapping in east London. I've wanted to make similar work since then, and have been looking for a good opportunity.

I started noticing bandstands, and once you start, you see them everywhere.

I decided that I wanted to make a new audio theatre project for bandstands, but where the listener could only hear the piece when they were 'on location' at the bandstand.

I decided that the best way to do that was to use the GPS function in smartphones. Since making Wapping:audio in 2005 the technologies available have developed so much, so I thought I'd make use of the incredibly powerful devices that we all carry around with us - our phones.

So we have created the Bandstand App, which is now available to download (its FREE!) on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The app contains recorded audio theatre experiences written specially for individual bandstands, influenced by local history research and conversations with park users and local groups.

The Bandstand App invites you to bring these structures back to life by visiting a bandstand, listening to our stories contained in the app, and creating a new performance which places you the listener at the centre of the action.



We hear that there is going to be a Bandstand Audio launch at the bandstand in Lightwoods Park.  Please tell us when this is going to be and how Bearwood can get involved.

We are celebrating the launch of the Bandstand app on:

(drum roll.....)11th July 2013, 3-7pm – Lightwoods Park Bandstand, Bearwood, Sandwell
(we will be on the grass next to the bandstand)

You are welcome to drop in and join us in the afternoon or after work, enjoy some light refreshments, try out the audio experiences on the Bandstand App for yourself, and meet the artists behind the App.

If the summer is kind to us and the weather is nice, why not bring a rug and a picnic along and enjoy the park for a little longer.

Please RSVP to info@theotherwayworks.co.uk to let us know that you are joining us.

Please bring your iPhone or Android phone along if you have one (or can borrow one), and a pair of headphones. If you get a chance, download the Bandstand App in advance. We will have some MP3 players and headphones available to allow people without smartphones to listen to the audio experiences on the day. The event will be outdoors, so dress appropriately for the weather.


It will be great if you can make the launch events, but if you can't come then you won't miss out. You can download the app and visit the bandstand at any time to listen. So pick a sunny day and head over to the park to try it out. Don't forget a pair of headphones.

What do you particularly like about bandstands and why did you chose the bandstand in Bearwood?

Bandstands are a bit enigmatic - lonely, often empty stages, in parks and squares up and down the country. They seem resonant with what used to happen there in their heyday - music and dancing - and also ripe with possibility for what could happen there now.

The Lightwoods Bandstand is a beautiful, if slightly faded, example of this. I love the ironwork of the railings and the details on the pillars.

We are lucky to be working with Black Country Touring on this project, and they were keen for us to create an experience for this particular Bandstand.

Tom Naylor

We hear that local musician Tom Naylor is involved in the project. What role did he play?

We were really pleased to be able to get Tom (aka Mr Naylor) involved with the project. Our writer and researcher Katherine made the connection with him through the Friends of Lightwoods Park.

The story that we have written for Lightwoods Park references lots of the different types of people who use the park, and we really wanted to include the skate/bmx ramp in the story somehow. We had an idea for a skater character, and approached Tom to write some text for this part. He came up with some great stuff that Katherine was able to weave into the story. We also got Tom to perform his own text, so he features in the final audio as the skater.


What are the future plans for Bandstand Audio?

We are keen to create more original audio experiences for more bandstands in Birmingham and the Black Country, and beyond. We are also hoping to do a project in the future with local groups around Bearwood, where people can create their own responses to the Bandstand, and we'll create a similar kind of app to host these images, stories and sounds.

Further info at

Bandstand Audio
The Other Way Works
Black Country Touring

You can also follow Bandstand Audio on Twitter and on Facebook