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B:Festive Christmas and New Year at Town Hall and Symphony Hall
Via Claire for B:Music
The decorations are up, the cards are written, and the presents are (mostly) bought – so why not let B:Music put the finishing touches to your festive season?
Whether it’s sparkling seasonal songs, festive family fun or the most magical of movies on your wish list this Christmas, it’s all waiting for you on the two world-famous stages of Town Hall and Symphony Hall in Birmingham.
So, gather up your loved ones and come along to the B:Music venues to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.
Black Voices: Christmas Extravaganza (7th December) Town Hall
Enjoy an evening of festive favourites with a cappella quintet Black Voices, which celebrate their African, Caribbean, and British heritage. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/black-voices-christmas-extravaganza.
Jools Holland And His Rhythm And Blues Orchestra (15th and 16th December) Symphony Hall
Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra return to Symphony Hall for two shows, with special guests including Birmingham’s own Ruby Turner. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/jools-holland-and-his-rhythm-and-blues-orchestra.
Candlelit Carols (17th December) Symphony Hall
The Mozart Festival Orchestra and Canzonetta Choir perform Candlelit Carols; a sublime concert of carols and seasonal classics, staged in an evocative candlelit setting at Symphony Hall. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/candlelit-carols.
Dance Peformance
Dancing in a Winter Wonderland with Aljaz and Janette (10th December) Symphony Hall
Strictly Come Dancing’s most celebrated couple, Janette Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec, take to the Symphony Hall stage with their show Dancing in a Winter Wonderland. Combining world-class choreography, fabulous costumes, and amazing sets with the greatest hits of Christmas, the Strictly legends will once again be joined by a supporting cast featuring some of the UK’s very best dancers and singers as they countdown to Christmas Day in this breathtaking spectacular. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/dancing-in-a-winter-wonderland-with-aljaz-and-janette.
Comedy Gigs
B:Music is providing the laughs this festive season with a plethora of comedy A-listers to choose from at Town Hall.
Kevin James Thornton (1st December) Town Hall
Rising TikTok/Instagram star with over 1 million followers and 500 million video views, Kevin James Thornton performs his stand-up show on 1 December. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/kevin-james-thornton
LadBaby: Live, Laugh, Love – Live (17 December) Town Hall
Expect a hilarious and engaging roller-coaster ride of an evening with LadBaby: Live, Laugh, Love – Live, as Mr. and Mrs. Christmas spread some much-needed festive cheer with plenty of singing, dancing, and audience participation. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/ladbaby-live-laugh-love-live.
David O’Doherty, Fern Brady, Jen Brister, Josh Pugh, Kyrah Gray: Live at Christmas (13th December) Town Hall
For one night only there are five comedians for the price of one at Town Hall, as Live at Christmas returns for a spectacular all-star festive show. Headlining is the one and only David O’Doherty, star of 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown and his own Channel 4 show Along for the Ride. Joining David in an astounding bill is Scotland’s comedy queen and breakout Taskmaster star Fern Brady, viral sensation Josh Pugh, fast-rising newcomer Kyrah Gray and the phenomenal Jen Brister as host. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/david-odoherty-fern-brady-jen-brister-josh-pugh-kyrah-gray-live-at-christmas
Live Music
A Cory Trilogy – Episode I: King Kong (3rd December) Town Hall
Join Cory Band on a spectacular journey of immersive music and dazzling multimedia entertainment in a first of its kind, A Cory Trilogy – Episode I: King Kong. In their reimagining of Charles Dickens timeless A Christmas Carol, Edwyn Scrooch is a mean-spirited brass band conductor. He is shown visions to encourage him to mend his ways, and the first is the classic Hollywood creation King Kong: The Eighth Wonder of the World. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/cory-band-a-cory-trilogy-episode-i-the-curtain-rises
The Amy Winehouse Band (21st December) Town Hall
B:Music is proud to be working with The Amy Winehouse Band to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Amy Winehouse releasing her debut album Frank to critical acclaim. Amy’s original band present an exclusive performance of the album played in full, track-by-track, performed by the musicians who stood alongside her on stages all around the world. In this exceptional and unique show, the band led by her long-term Musical Director and bass player Dale Davis, and fronted by the incredible young vocalist Bronte Shandé, celebrate Amy’s era-defining music and live performances. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/the-amy-winehouse-band-celebrating-20-years-of-frank.
New Year’s Eve Gala (31st December) Symphony Hall
Join the London Concert Orchestra with conductor Anthony Inglis for the annual New Year’s Eve Gala, a Symphony Hall tradition of great classics and fun to celebrate the New Year. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/new-years-eve-gala-2
BBC Radio 2’s Sounds of the 80s: The Live Tour (31st December) Symphony Hall
Continuing the festivities, see in the new year with legendary DJ Gary Davies as he brings the UK’s most popular 80s radio show, BBC Radio 2’s Sounds of the 80s: The Live Tour to Symphony Hall for a special New Year’s Eve celebration. Alongside his producer Johnny Kalifornia, they will take the audience back to the best decade in music. Party along to specially curated mastermixes and watch as the brilliant Sounds of the 80s dancers recreate classic scenes from 80s films and music videos, with special guests Carole Decker (T’Pau), Deniece Pearson (Five Star) and Toyah Willcox. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/bbc-sounds-of-the-80s-live.
Family events
Toscana Strings for The Snowman and The Nutcracker (17th December) Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space
Encounter these two family-favourites brought to life through music, dance, and a little help from the audience, in a performance which is perfect for all the family. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/toscana-strings-the-snowman-and-the-nutcracker-stories-set-to-music
Oh No! Shark In the Snow! (27th to 31st December) Town Hall
Come to Town Hall to meet Timothy Pope, his dad, and his trusty telescope as they embark on a thrilling quest to find the elusive Shark. Inspired by the beloved books by Nick Sharratt, a fresh, festive twist on the widely acclaimed touring production of Shark in the Park, Oh No! Shark In the Snow! is the exciting and enchanting new addition to this fin-tastic series. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/oh-no-shark-in-the-snow.
Live Orchestra performing to seasonal films
B:Music is bringing some of the most magical festive favourites to its stages this year, all with a live orchestra playing the famous musical scores performed live to the films:
The Muppet Christmas Carol (4th December) Symphony Hall
Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/the-muppet-christmas-carol-film-with-live-orchestra-2.
Love Actually (5th December) Symphony Hall
Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/love-actually-in-concert-film-with-live-orchestra-2.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (9th December)
Released over 20 years ago, yet still a Christmas classic, the story follows the Grinch who lives in solitude outside of the village of Whoville. He holds an extreme dislike for the townsfolk and Christmas so much that he sets out to terrorize all the festivities that go with it. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/how-the-grinch-stole-christmas-the-film-with-live-orchestra
The Snowman and Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers (23rd December)
Brought to life in spectacular fashion by the UK’s finest musicians. Alongside The Snowman film, a whistle-stop Christmas guide to the orchestra and a visit from the Snowman himself, join everyone’s favourite cheese-loving inventor, Wallace and his trusty companion, Gromit in Aardman’s multi award-winning film, The Wrong Trousers (including the best train chase sequence ever created). Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/the-snowman-film-with-orchestra-including-wallace-gromit-the-wrong-trousers
Other Highlights
The King’s Singers: When You Wish Upon A Star (20 December) Town Hall
A concert that celebrates the 400th anniversary of the Renaissance composer William Byrd and 100 years of the magic of Disney. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/the-kings-singers-when-you-wish-upon-a-star.
The Christmas Carol Singalong (23 December) Symphony Hall
Family festive fun with the very best Christmas songs and seasonal classics Christmas has to offer. Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/christmas-carol-singalong-3
Ex Cathedra 2023/24: Handel’s Messiah (3rd December) Symphony Hall
And the Ex Cathedra Choir and Baroque Orchestra, under the baton of Jeffrey Skidmore, bring Handel’s thrilling masterpiece Messiah to Symphony Hall, with a historically-informed performance that underscores the vitality and virtuosity of its much-loved choruses and arias.
To see the full programme and to book tickets, visit bmusic.co.uk.
