Yesterday I published my Birmingham round up of music and music-based events that are suitable to attend with the family – though obviously, different shows are suitable for your very young children, than those suitable for, say, you and your 14 year old to attend together! For the past year I have been doing these What’s On posts for Birmingham and Warwickshire together, but as time has gone on I have been including more and more venues, and the post has become absolutely enormous – and there is always even more entertainment on in December! So, I have decided to split my What’s On posts up, one for Birmingham and a separate one for Warwickshire. Read on for events in Warwickshire and if you are looking for events in Birmingham, then you might want to click on the post below:
December What’s On For Kids In Birmingham
Now, as this roundup can get quite long, I include below a list of the venues and shows that I cover in this post, so feel free to click on the shows/venues you are interested in on this list and it will take you straight there, or have a browse of the whole list of events. For each venue I give you a link to their own What’s On/booking information page and the listings follow on from this.
- Warwick Arts Centre
- Jazz Fridays on 1, 8 & 22 December at 5.30pm
- UoW Chamber Choir on 1 December at 6.30pm
- NYJO & Tim Garland on 1 December at 7.30pm
- Mini Creatives on 5 December at 10.30am
- The Gruffalo on 2 – 31 December at 10.30am & 1.30pm
- University of Warwick Symphony Orchestra and Chorus on 3 December at 4pm
- A Celebration of Music From Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit on 6 December at 8pm
- Lunchtime Concert Series: Kadialy Kouyate on 7 December at 1pm
- Open Mic: Word & Music on 7 December at 8pm
- The Unthanks In Winter on 8 December at 8pm
- The Young’Uns at Christmas on 9 – 10 December at various times
- Musical Picnics on 10 December at 11am
- Family Sundays on 10 December at 1.30pm
- The Halle Christmas Concert on 13 December at 7.30pm
- Gospel Christmas on 15 December at 8pm
- Met Opera X: Florencia en el Amazonas on 16 December at 1pm
- Royal Spa Centre & Town Hall
- Consone Quartet on 1 December at 7.30pm
- Joglaresa on at St Mary’s, Warwick on 5 December at 7.30pm
- In Dulci Jubilo! – A Baroque Christmas by Candlelight at St Mary’s, Warwick on 6 December at 7.30pm
- Jack and the Beanstalk on 9 December – 7 January at various times
- President’s Carols on 20 December at 7.30pm
- Carols by Candlelight at St Mary’s, Warwick on 21 December at 7.30pm
- Royal Shakespeare Company
- Stratford Playhouse
- Solihull Core Theatre
Warwick Arts Centre
Warwick Arts Centre is a multi-purpose arts centre based at the University of Warwick, that is actually based in Coventry rather than Warwick. It hosts music, drama, comedy, dance performances and more along with a number of different workshops and arts classes for the local community.
What’s On page and booking information: Warwick Arts Centre
Jazz Fridays on 1, 8 & 22 December at 5.30pm
We are delighted to bring back our weekly foyer programme of live jazz, hosted by The Aaron Moloney Trio plus special guest musicians.
As always, this event also features an open jam session for local musicians in the second half. Come and Play!
Free event.
UoW Chamber Choir on 1 December at 6.30pm
As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, this programme, presented by the University of Warwick Chamber Choir, explores numerous composers’ endless fascination with the latter part of the day.
With choral music inspired by the evening and night-time, there will be some well-known favourites alongside some lesser-known gems, with a couple of wintry and Christmassy numbers thrown in. Something for everyone.
NYJO & Tim Garland on 1 December at 7.30pm
NYJO joins forces with award-winning saxophonist Tim Garland to play the ground-breaking music of Chick Corea.
Garland’s work on Corea’s The New Crystal Silence album won him a Grammy in 2009 and makes him the best collaborator to honour the virtuoso composer. Joining him on stage is an 18-piece NYJO orchestra, directed by Mark Armstrong.
Regarded as one of the best improvisational jazz musicians of all time, American composer, keyboardist, and bandleader, Chick Corea is better known for his unforgettable works ‘Spain’, ‘500 Miles High’, and ‘La Fiesta’, which made him a jazz fusion pioneer.
This night of celebration is an opportunity to see an 18-piece jazz orchestra of up-and-coming talent in UK jazz commemorating the great Chick Corea!
About Tim Garland
Throughout an international career starting in the late 1980s, Tim Garland has become known as a unique polymath in the UK’s music scene. His first break as saxophonist was joining Ronnie Scott’s band age 23.
Later he was to join Chick Corea as a regular member of several globe-trotting projects over a seventeen-year period including The Vigil.
His concert works continue to celebrate the fertile ground between modern composition and jazz.
His creative arranging skills have won praise from diverse artists including Jean Luc Ponty, John Patitucci, The Royal Holloway and Westminster Choirs, the Catalan National Cobla Group, the LPO, and the London Session Orchestra.
His work is often inspired by, but not limited to, the jazz idiom, whilst his celebrated virtuosity as a saxophonist maintains his position as one the UK’s most unique and authentic jazz voices.
He has won awards from The Parliamentary Jazz Awards, The Worshipful Company Of Musicians, BASCA’s British Composer Awards and won CD of the Year 2016 from Jazzwise for his album One.
About NYJO
NYJO is a registered charity, whose mission is to empower young jazz musicians and inspire audiences across the UK, through engaging participation projects and impactful live performances.
Founded in 1965, NYJO has grown from a single jazz orchestra to a multifaceted organisation that is committed to supporting and developing musicians of all styles and standards. Whether you want to become the next emerging artist or simply play for fun – they’re here for it.
Throughout all its activities, NYJO are actively seeking to create a dialogue; between the established and the experimental – the past, present, and future – to build bespoke programmes which cater to old and new jazz fans.
Mini Creatives on 5 December at 10.30am
This season you can drop in each Tuesday morning from 10.30am – 12.30pm for weekly artist-led sessions designed for babies, toddlers and their grown-ups to explore the creative arts through interaction and play.
This season, armed with her banjo, clarinet, flute and an array of noise makers, Beth Hopkins, will weave responsive musical play with song, movement and sensory surprises at Warwick Arts Centre every Tuesday morning. Beth loves sharing songs and exploring international and intercultural music!
Beth is a singer and multi-instrumentalist who has a natural affinity with little people. She is musical director of participatory children’s theatre company Cloud Cuckoo Land. As well as composing music for and performing in shows, she is involved with sensory workshops, training and community events.
Free event.
The Gruffalo on 2 – 31 December at 10.30am & 1.30pm
A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood… Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
Searching for hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the high-spirited Snake.
Will the story of the terrifying Gruffalo save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures?
After all, there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo–is there?
Songs, laughs and monstrous fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups, in the much-loved show that’s toured Britain and the world!
University of Warwick Symphony Orchestra and Chorus on 3 December at 4pm
Join the University of Warwick Symphony Orchestra and Chorus as they explore music influenced by the toe-tapping syncopation of Latin America and the energy and joy of Maori celebrations.
With music including Lili Boulanger’s D’un Matin de Printemps and John Rutter’s Magnificat. Something to energise everyone on a cold, dark winter’s evening.
A Celebration of Music From Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit on 6 December at 8pm
They are the most beloved and recognisable big and small screen creations of all time – let alone just in the world of the Fantasy genre. Now the music of Game of Thrones,The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit will be celebrated in a special orchestral concert tour at Warwick Arts Centre.
The show, presented by Senbla by arrangement with Silva Screen Live, will be a celebration of the music from the most memorable moments from across the world’s of Middle Earth and the Seven Kingdoms. in 2017 Sci-Fi Bulletin called it “… a three-in-one précis of some great music”.
The stunning musical accompaniments will be performed live by a symphony orchestra and choir. Creating an immersive live concert experience that is every bit as thrilling as the twists and turns in the world’s respective histories.
Game of Thrones is a TV show like no other – the hit HBO series captured the hearts and minds of millions the world over, and its finale was perhaps the most talked about in television history.
Composer Ramin Djawadi began creating the music for the show in 2011, with most of the eerie, magnificent score back then being penned for a small string ensemble.
With the success of the next six seasons of the show, the music budget became bigger, allowing Djawadi to create even more emphatic pieces for large orchestras.
The success of HBO’s Game of Thrones is almost unfathomable. It drew in record numbers of viewers all across the world, and was awarded thirty-eight Emmy Awards.
One of the most successful film series of all time, The Lord of The Rings, as well as its prequel series The Hobbit, will also have their most memorable pieces performed live in the concert.
The original trilogy of The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, directed by Peter Jackson, are among the highest grossing film series of all time. As well as being critically acclaimed – winning a combined 17 out of the 30 Academy Awards they were nominated for.
Composed by Howard Shore, the soundtrack was music of unparalleled power and invention, and demanding of huge resources.
The soundtrack scored around 95% of the films’ length – eventually having over 12 hours of music released over various formats.
The success of the The Lord of the Rings’ soundtrack led Shore to also score Peter Jackson’s follow-up prequels to Lord of the Rings; The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug, and The Battle of the Five Armies.
Lunchtime Concert Series: Kadialy Kouyate on 7 December at 1pm
In the final Lunchtime Concert of the Series, make the most of lunchtime with a fabulous performance by vocalist and kora player, Kadialy Kouyate for only £5 (free for under 26s).
Afterwards there will be an opportunity to meet and talk to the artists over a free hot drink. All ages welcome to attend.
Born into the great line of Kouyate Griot in Southern Senegal, Kadialy Kouyate’s kora playing and singing style, both as a soloist and in different ensembles, have been appreciated in many prestigious venues including the Royal Festival Hall, the 02 Arena, the National Theatre, the Royal Albert Hall and Clarence House.
Kadialy has also played venues and festivals across the world, touring to Europe, Australia and North America. Kadialy has released several albums, and makes regular radio and television appearances.
Open Mic: Word & Music on 7 December at 8pm
Our Open Mic sessions are open to everyone.
If you’re a singer, instrumentalist, poet, MC or any other kind of musical performer then this is an opportunity for you. No need to pre-book, just sign up on the night, but do it early to avoid disappointment!
Free Event
The Unthanks In Winter on 8 December at 8pm
At this point in their almost 20 years together, it’s easy to imagine that The Unthanks must surely have done a seasonal winter album already, but no!
Known for their genre blurring creativity, The Unthanks premiere their dream-like winter fantasia. Embracing both the dark and the light in the most ritualistic of seasons – moving in and out of focus – like a memory – a hymnal to our shared winter experience.
The Unthanks are the perfect band to bring us an abstract new work capturing the magic and wonder of the turn of the year; the end and beginning of the circle of life.
The Unthanks have been described as “a take on tradition that flips so effortlessly between jazz, classical, ambient and post-rock, it makes any attempt to put a label on them a waste of time”.
Using the traditional music of the North East of England as a starting point, the influence of Miles Davis, Steve Reich, Sufjan Stevens, Robert Wyatt, Antony & The Johnsons, King Crimson and Tom Waits makes The Unthanks a unique band, earning them a Mercury Music Prize nomination and international acclaim along the way.
The Unthanks tells stories that capture children. They make music cutting edge enough to be BBC 6 Music regulars. They can equally be found on Radios 2, 3 and 4, reframing history and drawing together the worlds of folk, jazz, orchestral, electronic and rock music.
The believability of their storytelling is admired by some of our best storytellers – Mackenzie Crook, Elvis Costello, Maxine Peake, Nick Hornby, Martin Freeman, Robert Wyatt, Charles Hazelwood, Ben Myers and David Mitchell, to name a few.
At the nucleus of a constantly evolving unit is the traditional upbringing of Tyneside sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank and the arrangements and writing of composer, pianist, producer and Yorkshireman, Adrian McNally.
Support Act
The Unthanks will be supported by Katherine Priddy.
The Young’Uns at Christmas on 9 – 10 December at various times
The Young’uns’ live shows are renowned roller coaster rides.
With heart-on-the-sleeve storytelling, beautiful lyrics, warm harmonies and relentless repartee, Sean Cooney, Michael Hughes and David Eagle (the award-winning stand-up comedian) write and sing folk songs for today. Join one of the UK’s best loved folk groups for a special set of seasonal songs old and new.
Please note, this show is recommended for ages 12+.
Musical Picnics on 10 December at 11am
A wonderful monthly series of original, participatory family performances continue.
Come and enjoy making music with an eclectic mix of incredible musicians, musical styles, cultures, instruments and personalities.
Free event.
Family Sundays on 10 December at 1.30pm
Free creative activities for families.
Every Sunday, drop-in for creative workshops led by our featured artists-in-residence. Working across visual arts, dance, drama, spoken word and music, we invite you to come and spend time together as a family making, exploring and having fun!
Look out for Musical Picnics and Family Singing on select Sunday mornings too, so you can make a day of it at Warwick Arts Centre!
Schedule:
Every Sunday between 8 October and 10 December 2023.
On Sunday 19th November, look out for a special additional creative workshop in the Creative Learning Space led by the University’s Math’s department!
Free event.
The Halle Christmas Concert on 13 December at 7.30pm
Make your Christmas a more harmonious one with this festive spectacular from the Hallé – an essential part of your advent calendar.
Joining your genial host, Hallé Associate Conductor Stephen Bell is versatile baritone, Rodney Earl Clarke, whose velvet tone has been heard in a host of high-profile engagements, from opera houses and the BBC Proms to Twickenham and the West End.
Alongside vocal highlights from Handel, Mozart, Mel Torme and Les Miserables you’ll also enjoy a sack full of seasonal orchestral showpieces from the likes of Adam Saunders, Erich Korngold, Paul Campbell and Serge Prokofiev, with some classic cinematic magic in the shape of music from Home Alone and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Gospel Christmas on 15 December at 8pm
John Fisher and IDMC Gospel Soul Choir’s Christmas repertoire includes traditional Christmas favourites with a festive twist, infusing styles from Kirk Franklin, Aretha Franklin and many more, as well as music from their albums.
We look forward to celebrating the Christmas Season with you and your family.
About John Fisher:
John Fisher has been in the music business for over 40 years and has shared his gift, playing for some of the biggest names in gospel and soul music.
“Being the drummer behind people like The London Community Gospel Choir, Chaka Khan, Mica Paris, Alexandra O’Neal, Denise Williams has given me an amazing life” says John.
The son of a musician and preacher, John has kept his faith strong and believes that’s what made him who he is today – an award winning choir director, music teacher, and youth mentor by day. He has received a BEM honour from HM The Queen, as well as a Certificate of Recognition from the Mayor of Croydon.
About the choir:
The choir was formed in 1994 and is made up of christian people who work normal 9-5 jobs, but have come together to sing gospel and inspirational songs.
They have celebrated as finalists in the BBC Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year, winning Premier Gospel Radio Gospel Choir of the Year, and receiving an Urban Music Award for Best Gospel Act in 2018.
The choir have had many high-profile collaborations such as: Michael Bublé, Luciano Pavarotti, Jahmene Douglas, Avery Sunshine, X Factor, Jermain Jackman, Cilla Black, Heather Small, Jason Mraz, Sting, and The Variety Children’s Charity at Buckingham Palace.
Met Opera X: Florencia en el Amazonas on 16 December at 1pm
Sung in Spanish and inspired by the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez, Mexican composer Daniel Catán’s 1996 opera focuses on an opera diva, Florencia Grimaldi, who returns to her native Brazil to perform and to search for her lost lover, who has vanished into the jungle.
The Met premiere stars soprano Ailyn Pérez as Florencia in a new production by Mary Zimmerman that brings the mystical realm of the Amazon to the Met stage. The distinguished ensemble of artists portraying the diva’s fellow travelers on the river boat to Manaus features Gabriella Reyes as the journalist Rosalba, bass-baritone Greer Grimsley as the ship’s captain, baritone Mattia Olivieri as his enigmatic first mate, tenor Mario Chang as the captain’s nephew Arcadio, and mezzo-soprano Nancy Fabiola Herrera and baritone Michael Chioldi as the feuding couple Paula and Álvaro, with Yannick Nézet-Séguin on the podium.
Please note, this film is rated 12A.
Royal Spa Centre & Town Hall
A multi-purpose arts venue in Leamington Spa. Please note, any shows or events taking place at the Pump Rooms will also feature in this section.
What’s On page and booking information: Royal Spa Centre
Consone Quartet on 1 December at 7.30pm
Mozart Quartet in G K387
Arriaga Quartet No 2 in A
Mendelssohn Theme & Variations and Capriccio Op 81
Beethoven Quartet in F minor Op 95 ‘Serioso’
The first period instrument string quartet to be selected as BBC New Generation Artists, the Consone Quartet is fast making a name for its honest and expressive interpretations of classical and romantic repertoire. The Quartet comes to Leamington for its third visit, bringing favourites from Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Beethoven partnered with music by Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga – only twenty when he died in 1826 and often referred to as the “Spanish Mozart”.
Agata Daraškaite & Magdalena Loth-Hill violins
Elitsa Bogdanova viola, George Ross cello
Joglaresa on at St Mary’s, Warwick on 5 December at 7.30pm
Sing we Yule
Celebrate Yule effervescently with Joglaresa – and chase out the chill from the Celtic fringes of Europe – with traditional carols and wassails from Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. With fidel, harp, bells, bagpipes and voices, Joglaresa ring in Christmas and New Year in this joyful programme of carols, lullabies, dance tunes and wassails. Joglaresa’s cleverly imaginative programming transcends the limits of what is often thought of as early music, and the ensemble has made many visits over the years since its formation in 1992.
Jeremy Avis voice, Victoria Couper voice & harp, Jordan Murray percussion & dulcimer,
Louise Anna Duggan percussion, dulcimer & harp, May Robertson fidel
In Dulci Jubilo! – A Baroque Christmas by Candlelight at St Mary’s, Warwick on 6 December at 7.30pm
Few countries celebrate Christmas like the Germans do, although the city of Venice comes pretty close!
From the magisterial splendour of the Venetian baroque to the grand and huge scale works of the Michael Praetorius, one thing is certain – Christmas inspired composers to create the greatest tunes even back in the 16th & 17th Centuries! If you have never heard In Dulci Jubilo sung in 21 different parts, you must not miss this concert!
Programme includes:
· Venetian:
o Claudio MONTEVERDI – Magnificat a 6
o Claudio MONTEVERDI – Missa in Illo Tempore – Gloria, Sanctus & Benedictus
o Giovani GABRIELI – Audite Principes
· German:
o Michael Praetorius- Christmas Music:
- Puer Natus in Bethlehem
- Hymn – Von Himmel Hoch
- Adestes Fideles
- Hymn – Quem Pastores
- Post communion Hymn – Der Herr Sei
- In Dulci Jubilo
Jack and the Beanstalk on 9 December – 7 January at various times
Come and join us for a GIANT of a panto with Jack and the Beanstalk starring the fabulous JP McCue as Dame Dolly! The Trots are so poor they don’t have a bean to their name, and what is more there is a giant terrifying the village. Come and see if Jack can defeat the giant, win the heart of the girl he loves and turn the Trots’ fortunes around. We have all the ingredients for a perfect family panto, with a dastardly villain, a hapless comic and a hilarious panto dame, as well as fabulous musical numbers and bags of slapstick fun!
Signed Performance: 29th December, 5pm – with trained British Signed Language (BSL) signer standing to one side of the stage.
Relaxed Performance: 6th Jan, 10am – The relaxed performance is specially adapted for those who might benefit from a more relaxed environment, with a slightly shorter running time, no loud bangs and the house lights partially on.
President’s Carols on 20 December at 7.30pm
Following the sell out success of this event in 2022, we once again invite you to join a select group of Armonico Consort’s finest singers for this brand new and exclusive event as they welcome Christmas in the magnificent setting of the Great Hall at Warwick Castle.
Arrive through the beautifully lit courtyard, past glittering trees, to the Great Hall where you can enjoy a welcoming drink and begin your Christmas celebrations in exquisite style.(You could even go ice skating before if you are brave!)
Armonico Consort will perform traditional carols in this unique setting, steeped in history, featuring pieces which may have featured in festive celebrations at the castle throughout the past almost 1000 years!
Ticket info:
Price includes welcome drink
Carols by Candlelight at St Mary’s, Warwick on 21 December at 7.30pm
Carols by Candlelight has become a firm tradition of Armonico Consort’s festive programme over the past 22 years. What better way to enjoy the warmth and joy of the Christmas season than in the sublime candlelit setting of the Collegiate Church of St Mary Warwick for a feast of carols, combining traditional favourites and newly discovered works.
Don’t miss out on the chance to purchase Armonico Consort’s brand-new carols recording which will be available this Christmas.
In addition to well-loved Christmas music, the programme includes:
Star Song – Dove
O Magnum Mysterium – Lauredson
Jesus Christ – Poston
Shepherd’s Carols – Chilcot
On Christmas Night – arr. Willcocks
O Radiant Dawn – Macmillan
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company have 3 theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon, The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, The Swan and The Other Place.. They mostly stage productions of Shakespeare’s plays – a surprise to all, I know, but there are a number of other events on from time to time. I know from my time working there that while they are a theatre, their plays feature beautiful music from The Orchestra of the Swan, and that the Christmas productions are often fantastic events for the whole family – after all, this is where shows like Matilda the Musical started.
What’s On page and booking information: Royal Shakespeare Company
The Box of Delights on 6 November to 7 January at various times
‘There are tricks…and then there’s magic!’
After a seemingly chance encounter on a train, orphaned schoolboy Kay Harker finds himself the guardian of a small wooden box with powers beyond his wildest dreams. Caught up in a battle between two powerful magicians, Kay fights to save not just the people he loves but also the future of Christmas itself.
This fantastically festive production is directed by Justin Audibert (The Taming of the Shrew 2019, The Jew of Malta 2015) and designed by RSC Associate Artist Tom Piper.This production is based on the original stage production first produced by Wilton’s Music Hall and Hero Productions at Wilton’s Music Hall.
Suitable for age 7+
There is a Content Advisory page for this show available on the RSC’s website.
Stratford Playhouse
A theatre in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon hosting a variety of events on its stages.
What’s On page and booking information: Stratford Playhouse
A Winter Union on 2 December at 7.30pm
Five leading lights of the British roots scene join forces to create a festive folk band like no other. Expect soaring harmonies and exquisite musicianship as the 5-piece blast through a repertoire of brand new, specially written songs, fresh arrangements of traditional carols both well-loved and little-known, and seasonal classics from both sides of the Atlantic. Originally formed in 2015 for a one-off yuletide concert, A Winter Union have gone from strength to strength in the following 5 tours and now are fast becoming thought of as the pre-Christmas knees- up for folk & roots lovers all over the country. The band, that features members of The Willows, Gilmore & Roberts and Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage have gone on to play the likes of the Great British Folk Festival, Cecil Sharp House and were invited for a live session on BBC Radio 3’s inTune. The band release their third full length album in December 2022.Put on your glad rags and come and raise your voices with A Winter Union! “Wonderful…a perfect seasonal musical present!” – Laurel Canyon Music “Wonderful and hugely talented! They played a stunning festive set, mixing traditional Christmas songs with an added blue grass lilt!” – Folking.com “A Winter Union, a folk supergroup of sorts, featuring two established duos, Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, along with the superb singer Jade Rhiannon from The Willows, did this to the nth degree by reworking several seasonal songs during their impressive Saturday afternoon set.” – Northern Sky @ Great British Folk Festival 2018.
Jackie Oakes and John Spiers on 13 December at 8pm
Multi award-winning contemporary folk artists Jackie Oates and John Spiers meld together their shared love of English traditional folk tunes and songs with their fine voices and expertly played acoustic instruments.
‘Oates & Spiers left the gaudy, commercialised crass-ness at home … theirs is a Christmas for all’ – Bristol 24/7
[Jackie] ‘There’s a sweetness and melancholy to her voice that is like no other, and for which there is no known formula with which to replicate it.’ – Songlines
[John] ‘A blend of elegant, rhythmic and virtuoso playing and easygoing folk club banter. A quiet triumph’ – The GuardianAudiences can look forward to a fresh, uplifting and poignant evening. Their FESTIVE CONCERTS are a beautiful and heart-warming antidote to the materiality that can be a feature of the Christmas season. The duo perform captivating traditional Christmas carols and tunes from England and beyond.
Concerts AT OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR include music from the duo’s debut album, Needle Pin, Needle Pin, released in early 2020 and featuring songs from the Oxfordshire area which they have researched and arranged. Many of the songs were originally sung by lace-making factory girls to keep time whilst crafting lace and to add enjoyment to their work; the album title makes reference to a line from one of such songs. Beautifully in synergy with the handmade nature of the source songs, the CD comes as a limited edition, hand-stamped, entirely handmade album.
Although followers of British folk music will be familiar with Jackie and John from their other high calibre bands, this collaboration began quite innocently and spontaneously when the pair first started playing together for fun during guest spots at Nettlebed Folk Club in Henley-on-Thames. Recognising the potential, they began working together on material from their native county of Oxfordshire.
Aladdin! – A Musical Panto on 15 – 31 December at various times
Times are tough for Aladdin, his brother Wishy Washy and their poor mum Widow Twankey. That is until Aladdin finds an enchanted lamp with magical powers that can make all his wishes come true.
Now that Aladdin has a genie for a friend, the evil Abanazar will stop at nothing to get the lamp, so get ready to boo, hiss and cheer as Aladdin finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime!
Packed with some magic sparkles and singalong songs, Stratford PlayHouse’s magical and musical pantomime will be a firm festive favourite and we can’t wait to see you there!Come and join in the fun!
Solihull Core Theatre
A multi-purpose theatre attached to the Library of Solihull and just behind Touchwood Shopping Centre, Solihull’s Core Theatre hosts many different genres of shows, with something on for pretty much everyone. Please note, that shows are not booked to take place in the Core Theatre during December, and the shows available from The Core’s Box Office are taking place in alternative venues, noted below. Please check which venue the shows will be hosted in before booking your tickets.
What’s On page and booking information: Solihull Core Theatre
Solihull Music Concert 1 at Fentham Hall on 12 December at 7pm
The talented students from Solihull Music present a December concert at Fentham Hall.
Featuring Superstrings, Con Brio strings and Solihull Young Brass Band (SYBB).
Jack and the Beanstalk at Bromsgrove Artrix on 15 December – 7 January at various times
FEE FI FO FUM … guess what, folks, you’re in for some fun!
Dame Trott and her family have been selling ice cream at the annual fair for as long as anyone can remember. But when the ginormous giant puts the rent up, the family are forced to sell their beloved cow Pat for just a handful of beans…
Can Jack get his head out of the clouds for long enough to save the day? Will this huge adventure take them to new heights? Can Dame Trott stop life at the funfair from being so unfair?
The award-winning Little Wolf Entertainment are back with the biggest panto of them all, fiull of marvellous mooo-sic, cow-ntless costumes and an udderly ridiculous Dame, plus GIANT sized jokes!
Relaxed Performance on 21 December, see website for more information.
Solihull Music Concert 2 at Fentham Hall on 19 December at 7pm
The talented students from Solihull Music present a December concert at Fentham Hall.
Featuring SYWO, WindStarters, Allegro Strings Guitarisstas and 1st frets
Solihull Music Concert 3 at Fentham Hall on 21 December at 7pm
The talented students from Solihull Music present a December concert at Fentham Hall.
Featuring Junior brass band, Vivace, Core Windband.
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