Birmingham's Black Sabbath super weekend: 'It's going to be really special'

BBC News

2 days ago

Update:
Date: 14:22 BST
Title: How to get up the Villa? Check your buses and trains
Content: As mentioned - its a huge weekend for Birmingham. Black Sabbath (along with Metallica, Slayer and Pantera) are playing at Villa Park on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Jeff Lynne plays his farewell hometown gig at the Utilita Arena on the same night and Billy Ocean is at the NEC.
Add the test cricket at Edgbaston and the Colmore Food Festival and you've got a city which is at 90% capacity.
Transport wise - Saturday and Sunday will see engineering work take place affecting rail services between Birmingham and Leicester.
All day on Saturday and Sunday, buses will replace trains between Nuneaton, Hinckley, Narborough, South Wigston, and Leicester, , externalNational Rail said.
For Sabbath fans going to Villa Park - extra trains and shuttle buses are provided.
Update:
Date: 14:00 BST
Title: Food Festival fun in full swing
Content: PJ EllisBBC Radio WM
PJ Ellis from Radio WM has joined in with the Colmore Food Festival fun in Victoria Square.
The event is in its 12th year and Heather Woodhouse, from Colmore BID who organise the event, says the festival is annual celebration of all the city's best food and drink.
Among her favourite foodie finds were crispy bao buns, hot curries and ice cream of every flavour, all of which are on offer over the weekend.
Update:
Date: 13:35 BST
Title: 'We got off the plane two hours ago, amazing to be in Ozzy's home town'
Content: Dave and Jennifer Pile arrived from Connecticut after they won tickets to the Sabbath gig in a competition run by an American radio station.
"We got off the plane two hours ago, it's amazing to be in Ozzy's home town, we're big fans," Jennifer said.
Dave has followed the band since he was young and said he enjoyed how "unique" the music was.
In comparison to the couple's home in United States, Birmingham was "like walking through a museum", he said.
"It's old, and we're [the United States] so new, we're going through the history of Birmingham here."
Jennifer added that she was "loving every second".
Update:
Date: 13:13 BST
Title: 'I moved to Birmingham because it's the birthplace of metal'
Content: Vivian Haider, 21, has been enjoying Colmore Food Festival with her friends, tucking into lamb kebabs, burgers and katsu noodles.
She chose to move to Birmingham to study as it was "the birthplace of heavy metal".
"I've been a fan since I was born, my parents love the classics so I grew up on Sabbath, [Iron] Maiden and ACDC."
She will be at Villa Park for Black Sabbath on Saturday and said she is "ecstatic".
"Honestly it's incredible, every second person you see is wearing some sort of metal shirt.
"People are happy and the music is great."
Update:
Date: 12:53 BST
Title: Birmingham bar serving up 'Ozzy burgers'
Content: Martin Fox owns Merlin's Cafe Bar on Corporation Street and has added an Ozzy burger to his menu.
The "loud, messy, legendary" burger is a beef patty, spicy mayo, Mexican cheese, beef chimichurri, lettuce, and black garlic mayo, all served in a linseed black bun.
Martin said the band were "the start of the metal scene" and attracted an "inclusive crowd".
"The last time I saw the city this busy was during the Commonwealth Games, we're seeing so many people in Birmingham and hotel capacities are up to max.
"This is a big big opportunity for independent businesses."
He added that the burger will remain on the menu even after Black Sabbath take their final bow.
Martin added that he was most excited about meeting people from all across the world.
"We've got people from America, Canada and it's a great time to meet like-minded people."
Update:
Date: 12:33 BST
Title: Follow the Black Sabbath tourist trail
Content: Birmingham has a lot going on this weekend, but the Black Sabbath gig has attracted a lot of interest.
And journalist Kirsty Bosley has a lot of tips as to where Sabbath fans can go when not at Villa Park.
She urges visitors to not to forget "amazing little venues" across the city that have supported the heavy metal scene and will be putting on events.
"Spend a bit of time there, spend a bit of money there and get a real feel for the very thing that connects us, which is in this case heavy metal," she added.
Other places of interest include Ozzy the bull, the Black Sabbath Bridge and the Crown pub, where the band played some of their first gigs.
Click here to find where Brum's Black Sabbath shrines and venues are.
Update:
Date: 12:05 BST
Title: There is a buzz to the city
Content: Jez Collins is the founder of the Birmingham Music Archive, an organisation that preserves and celebrates the city's rich music history.
He's been out and about in Birmingham says: "Everyone is excited, the city feels vibrant, we need more events like these".
'The queues for the Ozzy exhibition are massive, there will be 15,000 ELO fans, you've got the cricket at Edgbaston.
"I wish I could go and see Sabbath and ELO because I love them both, but I'm going to Sabbath."
Update:
Date: 11:45 BST
Title: Sabbath fan of 50 years to attend gig after cancer diagnosis
Content: Saturday's Sabbath gig is extra special for Coz Smith.
'I was diagnosed with cancer last year and didn't think I
would be here now," she said.
The 63-year-old from Willenhall said she had been a heavy metal fan for almost 50 years.
'I won't be moshing on Saturday as I've got a bad knee but I'm so excited.
'The heavy metal community is always where I've wanted to be.'
Update:
Date: 11:34 BST
Title: Mark Almond and Clean Bandit at Coventry's Godiva Festival
Content: While thousands make their way to Birmingham let's not forget there's another festival just down the road.
The Godiva Festival opens in Coventry later with Ocean Colour Scene, Mark Almond and Clean Bandit the headliners.
Prices for a standard day ticket for this year's event start from £15 - with weekend tickets from £49.50.
The three-day annual music event will take place at the city's War Memorial Park from Friday until Sunday.
The "flagship" event continues to be a "catalyst for cultural and economic activity" with the economic impact felt "beyond the festival gates," said Paul McMahon, of Visit Coventry.
Update:
Date: 11:20 BST
Title: Play gets under way at Edgbaston
Content: Charlotte BentonBBC Shropshire
Birmingham has seen thousands of cricket fans, some of them in strange attire, in the city.
The third day of the second test match between England and India is under way.
Akash Deep, who already has two wickets to his name, bowled the first over of the day.
But Root and Stokes are already out....
England need to reach 388 to rule out the follow on.
Update:
Date: 11:07 BST
Title: Working Class Hero: Queues expected at Black Sabbath exhibition
Content: Queues for an exhibition celebrating the career of Ozzy Osbourne are expected to be massive as visitors flock to the city, said Jez Collins, founder of Birmingham Music Archive.
Sharon Osbourne opened the Working Class Hero exhibition at Birmingham's Museum and Art Gallery last week.
The city centre was going to be "buzzing" with visitors, he said.
"Everyone's excited, it's vibrant, we need more of these events," he added.
Update:
Date: 10:51 BST
Title: Performances and face painting at the food festival
Content: The Colmore Food Festival opens in Birmingham's Victoria Square later this morning, with dozens of food and drinks traders preparing stalls for visitors.
Restaurants from all over the West Midlands will be offering their wares at cut down prices and hundreds of people are expected to attend.
Taking place from 11:00 until 20:00 BST on Friday and Saturday, the festival is free to attend and features live entertainment, music and kitchen demonstrations.
Organisers Colmore BID said families and children could also enjoy magician performances and face painting alongside other activities.
Update:
Date: 10:32 BST
Title: ELO bow out: 'There may be a few tears'
Content: While Black Sabbath are claiming the headlines ahead of their final show, another great Birmingham musician, Jeff Lynne, is also preparing to make his farewell appearance in the city.
Ann Gumery, from Solihull, who is going to watch the band with her husband, said the attention on ELO and Black Sabbath was good for the city's profile.
She is a big fan of ELO's music and said: "When I saw it was their last tour, you've got to go haven't you."
Ms Gumery also said there may be a few tears and with Black Sabbath playing too, "it's going to be crazy".
Update:
Date: 10:20 BST
Title: 'I will be at Villa Park tomorrow night.. Sabbath are the godfathers of metal'
Content: As many as 300,000 music, sport and food fans are expected in the region over the weekend.
Joel Abkin has travelled from Hamilton in Ontario, Canada to watch 'the godfathers
of metal' play on Saturday and says he can't believe he is here.
'I'm still pinching myself that I'm in Birmingham, the people
have been wonderful and I'm having the time of my life'.
"I will be at Villa Park tomorrow night.. Sabbath are the godfathers of metal"
Update:
Date: 10:10 BST
Title: Welcome to coverage of Birmingham's super weekend
Content: Charlotte BentonBBC Shropshire
Hello and welcome to our coverage of a bumper weekend of music, sport and festivities in Birmingham.
There is so much happening in the city this weekend - metal fans are arriving for Black Sabbath's gig on Saturday, Jeff Lynne's ELO plays his final gig in the city on the same night - and Billy Ocean is down the road at the NEC.
The Colmore Food Festival will keep everyone fed and watered - and don't forget, England are taking on India at Edgbaston. (Fans may need to visit the food festival to keep their spirits up).
Our reporters are out and about in the city, talking to visitors and enjoying the buzz.