Birmingham City University will play host to The Song Remains The Same, an evening of debate and live music, as part of B-side, a major national music campaign to create an ultimate top 20 ‘virtual album’ of tracks by West Midlands artists.

The free event includes a panel discussion in the Parkside lecture hall, featuring musicians and music writers, including Matt Everitt (BBC 6Music), Vix Vox (Vix and her MsChiefs and ex Fuzzbox) and music writer Pete Paphides (Guardian Music), which will be chaired by Prof. Paul Long (BCU School of Media).

Guests will discuss Birmingham’s place in popular music, and whether the city and region gets the credit it deserves.

Following the debate, the audience will then move to the roof terrace of BCU Parkside for drinks and live music from Midnight Bonfires.

Tickets for this event are free but are limited. They are available from www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-song-remains-the-same-when-will-birminghams-music-get-its-due-respect-tickets-12014709319

On July 9 the panel will meet at Birmingham Town Hall to consider hundreds of suggestions from the public, as well as championing a personal favourite track.

The hashtag #BsideBrum is being used on social media sites for followers to discuss nominations.

The resulting 20-song playlist will be announced a week later and available as a Spotify playlist.

Public nominations are open until midday on June 30 at visitbirmingham.com/bside; one entrant, chosen at random, will win a pair of tickets to the Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul festival in Birmingham on July 11.

B-side is an initiative by Visit Birmingham, the city’s official leisure tourism programme for Birmingham.