Birmingham's Southside district will host a series of festivals this summer.
Within walking distance of New Street Station and the Bullring Shopping Centre and encompassing Theatreland, Chinatown, Arcadian and the Gay Village, Southside has a busy calendar of cultural events all year round.
Sampad, an agency for South Asian arts based in Birmingham, has partnered with the Hippodrome to host a special event.
The agency promotes the appreciation and practice of talented stars from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and will present the Bollywood 100 Mela at The Arcadian on Saturday, June 22, from 12pm to 5pm, with a live music set from vocalist Ambika Jois.
The free outdoor family event will celebrate the Indian culture, drama and style of Bollywood.
Bollywood 100 has already held Bollywood's Got Talent on June 9 at the MAC and Bollywood the Cabaret at Solihull Arts Complex on June 11.
For film fanatics, the Shock & Gore horror and fantasy festival to the Electric cinema from July 19 to 25 to screen a selection of horror films.
The festival will also include the Shock & Gore All-Nighter with a screening of The Exorcist: Director's Cut and Dead Ringers on July 20 followed by Bram Stoker’s Dracula complete with a wine-tasting session on July 22.
Shock & Gore is holding a short feature film competition to find the most exciting and innovative film-makers from around the globe. The competition winner will be invited along to the 2013 festival for a special awards evening and their creation will be screened to a packed audience. For all details on how to enter this year’s competition, visit the Shock & Gore website.
Southside’s Le Truc Café will be hosting two events as part of this year’s Birmingham Jazz festival.
On Friday, July 5, The Barrett Brothers will bring their gypsy jazz style music, inspired by jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, to the restaurant. On Friday, July 12, Les Zauto Stompers De Paris will play a gig as part of a three-day visit to the UK. The French jazz band’s musical style infuses New Orleans jazz with cheeky Gallic charm.
Julia Chance, Southside BID manager said: "We’re excited to have such a vibrant mix of festivals at Southside for our visitors this summer. It goes to show that the district has something to suit all cultural tastes and styles which we are proud to embrace."
Southside BID was established in 2011 following a ballot of local business owners in the district. It is funded by a levy paid for by all qualifying business owners in the Southside BID area and operates on a not-for-profit basis.
To find out more about Southside, visit www.enjoysouthside.co.uk
