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BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Mostly Jazz Festival generates £1m for economy, say organisers
An annual jazz festival in Birmingham generates £1m for the city's economy every year, according to its Jazz, Funk and Soul Festival brought 3,000 music lovers to Moseley Park from 11 to 13 July as they watched headliners Ezra Collective, War and Maribou manager John Fell said a record number of people attended the sold-out event this year, which supported a range of local businesses from hotels to food traders."We always try and promote the local economy, and businesses always say that over this weekend their revenue streams really go up," he said. The event has been held since 2010, starting off as a two-day spin-off from Moseley Folk Festival with headliners Sun Ra Arkestra and Courtney aimed to provide a platform for local talent alongside international acts, with between 1,000 and 1,500 people attending each day. Director Gerv Havill said he never expected it to become so popular as audiences travelled from the UK, Europe and the US to attend the festival every year."Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival is now firmly cemented in the city's cultural calendar," he said. One of the traders selling food at the festival was Sean McCabe, who runs the meatball food stall The StreetBaller. He described the event as one of the "highlights" of his year."Being a local lad where the population of Kings Heath and Moseley are there, it's a fantastic place to be," he Mr McCabe set up his business in 2024, he has sold food at venues across the Midlands and hopes to expand his customer base in the said that there was a real "sense of community" while selling food at the festival, as local traders supported each other and worked together."I had good sales over the whole weekend and lots of people visited who hadn't come before," he said. The Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath has been hosting official parties after the festival finishes each night most years since the event began in Matt Leftfoot said the pub always sees hundreds of people attending, with tickets sold out on the afterparties are held at its club venue upstairs, other festival-goers come in late at night for a casual drink the years, the pub has hosted DJs like Goldie, Herbert, Gilles Peterson and Craig Charles at its afterparties."We can wholeheartedly say it has a really positive impact on the local economy. It's very much a family affair, community-driven event," he said. The Bournbrook Inn in Stirchley said that the festival was a "good thing" to have locally, as it brought in extra customers to its hotel every has 53 rooms which are "always full" during the event, as the hotel sees a 10% rise in bookings compared to a normal weekend. "We get in more staff to look after the hotel; there are definitely benefits of the festival," the pub like Ezra Collective stayed at the hotel over the weekend while performing at the festival while other rooms were open so artists could use the showers in between performances."We're happy to host any guests; it's nice for the staff to have the artists but it's also quite low-key," the pub Jazz, Funk and Soul Festival is set to run in 2026 from 10 to 12 July, and artists could be announced at the end of the year. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Time Out
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Stevie Wonder at BST Hyde Park 2025: start time, tickets, potential setlist and what you need to know for London show
The third and final weekend of BST Hyde Park 2025 is shaping up to be a big 'un. If the first two weekends – with Olivia Rodrigo, Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan and Sabrina Carpenter – seemed geared towards younger audiences, the final few shows are for the legends. Neil Young, ELO and Stevie Wonder are closing out this year's fest. Stevie will be gracing the Great Oak Stage on Saturday with a stellar supporting lineup featuring the likes of Corinne Bailey Rae, Thee Sacred Souls and Time Out cover stars Ezra Collective. Got tickets to see Stevie Wonder at BST this weekend? Here's everything you need to know about the day, from timings and stage splits to, if you haven't yet got a ticket, any remaining availability. When is Stevie Wonder playing BST Hyde Park? The soul icon is at BST on Saturday July 12 2025. What time do doors open? Doors open for regular ticketholders at 2pm. If you've got a VIP or Primary Entry ticket, you'll be allowed in at 1pm, or around 60 minutes before general admission. The box office closes at 8pm, last entry is 8.30pm, and curfew is 10.30pm. There is no re-entry – once you're in, you're in. What time will Stevie Wonder come on stage? Wonder will take to the stage at 8pm, and he's scheduled to finish up at around 10.20pm. Festival map Here's a map of this year's BST Hyde Park festival site. Full lineup and set times Below you'll find all the artists playing BST on Stevie Wonder's headlining day, across the event's three stages. Great Oak Stage Corinne Bailey Rae – 2.30pm-3pm Elmiene – 3.30pm-4.10pm Thee Sacred Souls – 4.40pm-5.20pm Ezra Collective – 6pm-7pm Stevie Wonder – 8pm-10.20pm Birdcage Stage Jon Poppii – 3pm-3.30pm LULU. – 4.10pm-4.40pm Mica Miller – 5.20pm-6pm Rainbow Stage Hajaj – 4.10pm-4.40pm Durand Bernarr – 5.20pm-6pm Timings are subject to change. Setlist Don't like knowing a setlist in advance? Look away now. For an idea of what Stevie Wonder setlists are like, here's what he played in Cardiff earlier this week (according to Love's in Need of Love Today As If You Read My Mind Master Blaster (Jammin') Higher Ground Knocks Me Off My Feet I Just Called to Say I Love You You Are My Sunshine (Jimmie Davis cover) You Are the Sunshine of My Life Everybody Is a Star (Sly & the Family Stone cover) Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing Golden Lady Overjoyed Lately Stranger on the Shore of Love Living for the City Sir Duke I Wish I Can Only Be Me (sung by Mandla Morris) Do I Do Superstition As Can you still get tickets? Tickets are running low for Stevie Wonder at BST, but you can find remaining options on the BST website here starting from around £100. What's BST Hyde Park's bag policy? BST only permits small bags, which the fest defines as smaller than A4 size (297mm x 210mm x 210mm). Organisers' official advice is that if you can not bring a bag at all, that's the best option. Banned items These items are forbidden at BST Hyde Park this year. Golf umbrellas and parasols Chairs, seats, shooting sticks and tables Food or drink – apart from water in unopened plastic containers of up to 500ml Suitcases, luggage and large bags (anything larger than A4 size) Air horns, selfie sticks, spray cans, Chinese lanterns, fireworks, pyrotechnics and flags Dangerous or hazardous weapons/items Gas canisters Handheld communication devices like radios, radio jammers and scanners Glass High-viz Klaxons and other similar items capable of making loud noise Laser pens Drones Racist, xenophobic, political and religious propaganda materials, signs or inappropriate branded items Weapons, explosives, knives or anything that could be adopted for use as a weapon Promotional or commercial objects or materials Mechanical or electronic sound-emitting devices, such as megaphones Scooters, skateboards and bicycles Psychoactive substances and 'legal highs' Unauthorised professional photography or filming equipment Weather forecast London is heading for another weekend of intensely hot weather, so make sure you stock up on sun cream and stay hydrated in Hyde Park. Saturday is looking hot, with the Met Office reckoning that temperatures could get as high as 30C. Both UV levels and pollen levels will be 'very high'.
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Arsenal signs Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad
Arsenal on Sunday has confirmed the signing of midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad. The Premier League club will pay a total of around €65million (£55m, $76.5m) for the Spanish midfielder, more than his release clause — which was in the region of €60m (£51m) — after agreeing with Real Sociedad to pay for his transfer in instalments rather than in one lump sum. Advertisement Controlling the tempo. Martin Zubimendi is a Gunner ✊ Original music by Ezra Collective's Femi Koleoso. — Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 6, 2025 The 26-year-old, who rejected an approach from Liverpool last summer, came through the ranks at Sociedad before becoming a regular in its first team. The deep-lying midfielder - who played 236 times for the Spanish club, scoring 10 goals - has signed a five-year deal. Zubimendi helped his country win Euro 2024, coming on for Manchester City's Rodri at half-time in the final against England as Mikel Oyarzabal's goal claimed the trophy for Spain. He has 19 caps and has become a regular for Spain as a result of Rodri being sidelined last season by a serious knee injury.
Scotsman
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Fringe 2025: The biggest gigs to see at the festival in August
With August just around the corner, if you haven't already started booking tickets for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe - now is the time to start. But if you're not sure where to begin with the more than 3,000 shows already scheduled, we can help - or at least if you are musically inclined. There are a number of big name musicians set to perform during this year's festival, with many performing for one night only, making now the perfect time to book. From Pete Doherty at La Belle Angele to Ezra Collective at Fringe by the Sea in North Berwick, here are 26 of the biggest gigs to catch during the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe. 1 . Pete Doherty The legendary co-frontman of The Libertines will perform at La Belle Angele as part of the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe from August 12-13. | ANP/AFP via Getty Images Photo Sales 2 . Ezra Collective Their only 2025 Scottish tour date, Ezra Collective will perform at Fringe by the Sea on Saturday, August 9. | Getty Images Photo Sales 3 . Fantastic Negrito Three-time Grammy Award winner Fantastic Negrito will debut his latest album Son of a Broken Man during the 2025 festival. Catch him at La Belle Angele on Tuesday, August 19. | Getty Images for Americana Music Photo Sales 4 . Baby Lasagna Croatian star Baby Lasagna will make his Edinburgh Fringe debut at La Belle Angele on Monday August 25, where you can catch him singing Rim Tim Tagi Dim, the song which almost won Eurovision 2024. | Getty Images Photo Sales
Times
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Liberation review — it's Conclave, but for pan-African politics
In 1945 the fifth Pan-African Congress was held in Manchester. It began 41 days after the end of the Second World War: a liberation for Europe, but not for countries still under colonial rule. In her new play at the Royal Exchange, part of Manchester International Festival, Ntombizodwa Nyoni has seized on a historical occasion that is rich with dramatic potential and plump with political meat to chew on. It marries the neatly local (the congress takes place at Chorlton Town Hall) and the truly global, as activists and politicians gather for what will become a turning point in the fight for freedom and independence. Liberation is ambitious: there's a large cast, portraying real figures, as well as an enormous sweep of international struggle to condense into two hours' playing time. Sometimes the heavy work of making it all digestible is still too clearly visible — the first half can thud with exposition rather than sing with believable human interaction. Even in the more bantering, lively scenes set in a jazz bar (with delicious music by Ezra Collective's Ife Ogunjobi bubbling beneath) people tend to sound like mouthpieces for political tracts or conflicting positions. • Read more theatre reviews, guides and interviews But once the groundwork is laid, the second half takes off with the seeds of personal drama Nyoni has sown now sprouting. Individual ambition is pitted against commitment to the cause, as a new generation of leaders emerge: think Conclave but for pan-African politics. At the heart of the play is Kwame Nkrumah (Eric Kofi Abrefa), an impatient, wildly confident young Ghanaian determined to prove himself to the congress leader George Padmore (Eamonn Walker). But the personal cost of activism is also revealed in multiple ways, with Nyoni particularly good at centring gratifyingly complex women who, whether they lead or serve the movement, always get overlooked by men. Monique Touko's production, flowing over Paul Wills's honeycomb parquet floor, is blessed with excellent performances. Pamela Nomvete is particularly majestic as Amy Ashwood Garvey, bringing fierce charisma to anticolonial speeches and a comic lasciviousness that provides welcome laughs in this pretty talky play. Leonie Elliott intelligently inhabits the thorny contradictions of Alma La Badie, a social worker who deals out harsh truths but also yearns for black women in the movement to be softer, more supportive. Not every character feels this rounded — there just isn't time. But if Liberation is only intermittently satisfying, it is always interesting, animating a chapter of British history that deserves to be better known.★★★★☆140minTo July 19, @timesculture to read the latest reviews
