Entertainment News

Thousands of visitors will head to Birmingham on 25-26 July for the Lebara Sandwell & Birmingham Mela 2015.  The free festival, taking place at Victoria Park, Smethwick, is a weekend extravaganza in the heart of the community that combines live international music performances, stalls, food, arts, community showcases, workshops and a funfair. Over 100 artists and groups are set to perform at the event including Punjab’s superstar Roshan Prince, chart-topping artists Arjun, Roach Killa, Juggy D, Nesdi Jones and many more!

A section of the world's biggest scientific experiment – the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) – will be part of an interactive exhibition at Edinburgh's Dynamic Earth starting Friday 31 July. A life-sized mock up of part of the 27-kilometer particle accelerator will be on display at the attraction until 24 August – one stop on a national roadshow that celebrates the UK's involvement in the groundbreaking discoveries made by the LHC.

It’s back! The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing at Wolverhampton Art Gallery is howling again thanks to kind fundraisers who raised the cash to repair the unusual piece of art. The quirky mechanical sheep that emerges from the balcony of the gallery every hour before opening up to reveal a red-eyed wolf was commissioned in 1999 as part of the Millennium celebrations.

Calling all Families; be prepared to be blown away with an explosive Big Bang Bank Holiday Weekend full of fun at Royal Gunpowder Mills from Saturday 29 – Monday 31 August.  This bank holiday the industrial heritage site in Waltham Abbey have a pyrotechnical-tastic programme of family friendly activities planned for the August weekend. 

The £10.4 million redevelopment of Wolverhampton’s Civic Halls came a step closer today with the city council submitting its planning application.  More than £174.4 million of public and private investment in the city centre over the next 12 months has been laid down to stimulate economic growth and increase employment opportunities.

This summer Go Ape, the UK’s multi-award winning forest adventure company, has more than 55 adventures across its 28 UK sites to offer families and friends – including a brand new Forest Segway adventure at Whinlatter in the Lake District and a Tree Top Junior adventure due to open next month in the Forest of Dean.

As the summer warms the gardens of Britain, people habitually move their lives outside – and if you ever needed an incentive to enjoy an alfresco lifestyle the winning entries from this year’s British Pool & Hot Tub Awards, hosted by the UK Trade associations BISHTA and SPATA, provide a fabulous taste of what the UK’s world of wet leisure has on offer, reaching new heights in design and technology.

An increasing number of local school pupils are going on a voyage of discovery with Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Visitor numbers for primary school groups to the Lichfield Street gallery have increased again this year, with more than 8,000 students pouring through its doors over the academic year.

Oscar Wilde’s much-loved classic play, The Importance Of Being Earnest, will be broadcast LIVE to 350 cinemas across the UK and Ireland from London’s Vaudeville Theatre on Thursday 8 October 2015, with additional backstage footage and cast interviews exclusive to the cinema event. 

Dutch violinist André Rieu loves his to see his audience humming, singing and swaying to the music when he and the Johann Strauss Orchestra perform in major concert venues across the world. Rieu says his dream is to make classical music accessible to everyone because ‘there couldn't be a greater pleasure for a musician than to watch guests enjoying the music’.

This summer, Edinburgh's five star attraction Dynamic Earth takes on a tantalisingly tropical theme, with the arrival of four new animated animals, along with a whole host of rainforest-themed treats. On 1 July, the attraction welcomed some very special African visitors, namely a life-size Chimpanzee, Nile Crocodile, Western Green Mamba and Yellow-Casqued Hornbill. All four of the lifelike models are equipped with separate audio tracks, bringing the African rainforest to life.

A host of children's favourites will be making their way to West Park next month for an annual Family Fun Day. In the Night Garden's Iggle Piggle, Upsy Daisy and Makka Pakka, along with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Peppa and George Pig, Bob the Builder, Dora the Explorer, Hello Kitty, Spiderman, Olaf and Barney, the Mermaid Princess, Cinderella and even a Minion will be at the event organised by West Midlands Police and Wolverhampton City Council.

Marvel movie fans can now sit back and take their pick from the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is available exclusively on board Qatar Airways. The collection includes all 11 Marvel movies from Iron Man 1, 2 and 3 to The Incredible Hulk, Captain America 1 and 2, Thor and Guardians of the Galaxy. Passengers will also be able to enjoy both Marvel's The Avengers and the latest addition to the Marvel collection, Avengers: Age of Ultron.

The Eden Project is set to be taken over by a pack of rampaging beasts this summer (July 24 to September 2) for the Dinosaur Uproar season. The prehistoric programme will feature five times as many dinosaurs as last year's Dinosaurs Unleashed and comes on a wave of excitement following the release of the acclaimed Jurassic World film.

Following in the success of the Belgrade Mela 2014, JonquilsRose Events in association with Belgrade Theatre are delighted to announce the return of Coventry’s annual, one-day South Asian Arts Festival on Sat 25 July. Showcasing Coventry’s South Asian arts, artists and arts organisations, the Belgrade Mela will see representatives from Coventry’s diverse South Asian communities come together to celebrate South Asian arts in Coventry and to provide a showcase for emerging South Asian talent in the city.

Animal-loving kids are encouraged to capture photos of their favourite pets and great British wildlife this summer, as PDSA launches its 2015 photo competition. Running with the theme ‘amazing animals’ youngsters are being asked to submit their own photos to one of three age categories: under 10s, 10-13 or 14-16-year-olds.