mac’s Arena reopens next month for its first shows since mac’s £15m refurbishment, with an exciting programme of performances and events, starting with the Congo Allstars on 10 July.
Bringing their Rumba Soukous Tour to Birmingham, the international Congo Allstars create an irresistible mix of funky rumba beats and cutting-edge dub reggae, bringing Congolese dance music bang up to date.
As well as live music, the Arena will be the venue for a mac’s first ever Silent Disco on 30 July. Every member of the audience will be given a set of wireless headphones and will be able to select from three different channels of music – funk, soul and Motown flavours, a poptastic 80s mix and the public nominated guilty pleasures tracks – you can remain anonymous!
Add your favourites to our playlist on online music service Spotify – http://tinyurl.com/2we9m5o , blog and Facebook page or if you’re on Twitter, tweet them to @mac_birmingham.
The following night, taking time out of his hectic festival circuit, Birmingham-born and nationally recognized spoken word artist Polarbear is bringing his Bear’s House to the Arena, showcasing some of Birmingham and the UK’S finest spoken word and musical talent. Expect a relaxed atmosphere, high quality rhymes, stories and songs and maybe even a little present and a splash of sunshine. It’s going to be special, so tell your friends.
Tickets for Bear’s House and the Silent Disco are a bargain at £5 each in advance, or £8 on the door.
And on Friday 13 August, twisted pop wonders Tunng will be headlining the arena with support from local heroes Health & Efficiency. Presented with Capsule, the experimental folksters will be performing songs from their new album ‘…and then we saw land’. Expect something a little bit different.
Amanda Roberts, Arts Development Director at mac said: “This summer we’re trying to use the whole of mac in new and creative ways, and that includes all of the outdoor spaces, whether it’s the Terrace and the Arena or even out in Cannon Hill Park.
“People that know the Arena best for its international programme of live music that you often can’t stop dancing to, won’t be disappointed, they will still find that in this year’s line-up; but we’ve also added a few equally special events like the Silent Disco and Bear’s House, to give Birmingham something different, a unique experience that only mac’s Arena can offer. More exciting plans for 2011 are already underway – so watch this space!”
ENDS
30 06 2010
Press Enquiries: Neil Holland, PR & Online Officer 0121 446 3237, 07590 929936 neil.holland@macarts.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
Images and interviews available on request.
Show details:
The Congo Allstars
Saturday 10 July, 7.30pm
Tickets: £12 (£9)
Silent Disco
Friday 30 July, 7.30pm
Tickets: £5 (adv), £8 on the door
Bear’s House
Saturday 31 July, 7.30pm
Tickets: £5 (adv), £8 on the door
Tunng
Friday 13 July, 7.30pm
Tickets: £13 (£10)
Jointly funded by Arts Council England, Birmingham City Council and a mac and sampad fundraising campaign, the £15 million mac and sampad Building Project has resulted in a newly refurbished, and much improved, arts centre built to meet the needs of both artists and the region’s vibrant community.
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