Sutton Coldfield Festival of Arts

[ July 12, 2008; 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm. ] Sutton Coldfield folkie Bob Allaway, one of the town’s best kept secrets, steps under the spotlight at Sutton Library (Meeting Room 2) on Saturday July 12 from 1pm to 1.45pm.

Bob, a professional sign-writer, is far from the household name he should be, his CD Sundry Notes Of Music revealing a fiercely intelligent talent whose original songs sound [...]

[ July 12, 2008; 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm. ] Emerging Sutton Coldfield star Ben Drummond performs on the Main Stage at 13:30, July 12th.  He has just launched his much-anticipated debut EP in March with a performance at Jools Holland’s nightclub The Jamhouse in  Birmingham.

The self-taught artist, originally from Wednesfield but based in Sutton for the last three years, began playing bass at 12 and has [...]

[ July 11, 2008; 8:00 pm; ] Claret are an experienced Sutton trio who play an array of instruments with a large repertoire of folk and roots music from the British Isles with hints of jazz, and have an extra string to their bow - performing for ceilidhs and barn dances.

The lead instrument for the dances is accordion, accompanied by guitar, electric bass, [...]

Sutton-based Irish comedienne Sheila M (pictured top)will show her versatility by hosting a three-and-a-half hour session of music at M&S on Saturday July 12 - and performing some original songs herself.
Sheila, who runs a comedy night at The Place 2B, will be joined by guitarist Gregg Jones to showcase their compositions as The Sweet Peas between [...]

[ July 12, 2008; 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm. ] A thriving Sutton Coldfield musicians’ club which has given a stage to novice acoustic guitarists and some international stars will hold a demonstration in a marquee in The Parade on Saturday July 12 between 1pm and 1.45pm.

Three years ago Sutton Acoustic Guitar Club, which met at Sutton Sailing Club, was facing an uncertain future after [...]

[ July 13, 2008; 4:00 pm; ] THE GATE INN, SUNDAY JULY 13, 4pm

The quiet village of Marston on the outskirts of Sutton Coldfield is the backdrop to one of the finest CDs ever to have been released by a local performer.

Mike Gates, who lives there, has come up with the home-recorded gem Resistance To The Passage Of Sound, in league with [...]

[ July 13, 2008; 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] Sutton covers quartet The Full Act (pictured on the roof at The Gate!) will do a Festival stint at The Royal Hotel on July 13 between 6pm and 9pm, hosting their regular open-mic evening.

The group, comprising Siobhan Patton on vocals, Konrad Heywood on guitar, Steve Bird on bass and Andy Stones on drums, performs numbers [...]

[ July 12, 2008; 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. ] Matt Tyler will headline a special Songwriters’ Cafe day in the cafe at Woolworths in The Parade on Saturday July 12 as part of the Festival.

Sutton-born Matt, now based in Great Barr, is influenced by the styles of Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, David Gray, KT Tunstall, Damien Rice, REM, Bob Dylan, Travis and Oasis.

He performs [...]