The bandstand at Water’s Edge, Brindleyplace is really coming into its own this week – as a regular lunchtime venue for the 40th Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival.
Bands are playing daily at 12.30pm until Thursday 25 July, and you can watch the video of Monday’s performers Tenement Jazz Band (from Edinburgh) here:
The circular bandstand lies in a great position, nestled in between the Pitcher & Piano, All Bar One, the recently revamped Slug & Lettuce and the canal bridge to the ICC and Symphony Hall.
The Water’s Edge development won an ‘international top honour award’ for the ‘Best Regenerated Waterfront’ in 1995 from The Waterfront Centre, Washington DC, United States.
It’s most easily reached by a path from the Broad Street main entrance of The Brasshouse pub next to the Black Sabbath Bench. Or you can walk along the canal towpath from the Mailbox which takes you past Gas Street Basin and under Broad Street before arriving at the steps up to the bandstand (or 60 yards further to an often overlooked lift, if needed).
Alternatively, walk through the ICC from Centenary Square – the bandstand is directly opposite, over a footbridge bedecked with gorgeous flower boxes, although there are plenty of steps to tackle.
The nearest stops on the West Midlands Metro tram line are Centenary Square and Brindleyplace.
Founded in 1985 by ongoing festival director Jim Simpson, the 40th anniversary Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival opened on Friday 19 July and runs daily until Sunday 28 July.
The programme contains more than 230 mostly free performances. Visit this page for more details or call the hotline on 0121 454 7020.
This week’s forthcoming 12.30pm lunchtime performances at the Brindleyplace Water’s Edge bandstand include:
- James Oliver Band (Tuesday)
- Big Al Nicholls (Wednesday), and
- Django Chutney (Thursday).
Visit this page to watch a video on how the festival opened and to see some of the first weekend’s highlights.
Pictures and video for Westside BID by Graham Young
ENDS
