In Emma, Jane Austen wrote of Birmingham as “not a place to promise much.” Indeed, with big bleak buildings, often overly bustling streets, and an accent that few ever find appealing, it’s never been seen as the most attractive of locations. But honestly, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

As the country’s second largest city, there are more than enough places to explore. There are more canals than Venice, more parks than any other European city, and a music scene capable of claiming your heart faster than a basket full of kittens on Valentine’s Day. Birmingham is a place that can constantly surprise you. Cliched though it might sound, there really is something for everyone on these darkened city streets…

GIGS
Birmingham’s music scene is one of the most vibrant you can encounter. Of course, lots of people can say that about their local music scene, but for the sake of this article, this time it’s true. With venues ranging from huge arenas to the top floors of pubs, there’s always somewhere to go and someone to see. The National Indoor Arena is located by the city centre canals, and hosts some of the biggest bands to grace the country.

Similar in size, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) is situated near Birmingham Airport, showcases a wide variety of events – clothes shows, pet shows, motorbike shows, and huge capacity concerts, to name but a few. These immense venues have showcased some spectacular acts over the years, from the likes of hometown heroes Black Sabbath, through to northern sweethearts Arctic Monkeys and pop icons such as Lady Gaga – whatever successful sensations float your boat, chances are you can find them here.

For concerts on a slightly smaller scale there’s the O2 Academy or The Institute. With three rooms apiece, there’s always something going on at these establishments to capture your attention. And if it’s live music in a more intimate setting that you’re after, venues like The Rainbow, Hare & Hounds, and The Sunflower Lounge are pretty safe bets.

With a local music circuit that’s been continuously bursting at the seams, there’s always a band worth encountering about to float across your radar. You’ve just got to be in the right places at the right times to catch them all. Here’s hoping.

SHOPS
Left For Dead is one of the city’s most beloved record stores. Whether you know what you what to buy, or simply want to browse, hours (and cash) can easily be willed away here. Located in The Custard Factory (opposite Alfie Birds), why not spend an entire afternoon in this delightful setting? Swordfish Records is another prime haunt, and with a history dating back well over half a century, The Diskery is also worth a visit.

The neighbouring town of Redditch is home to Death Or Glory Records, and it’s most certainly worth taking the time to make the short trek to visit this establishment. With a brilliant collection on sale, a host of in-store performances and shows, and great support for local music, there are numerous reason to visit this store. The shop also holds a number of music-related events (I gave a talk on Music Journalism there towards the start of this year, and the store continues to host similar industry events), and could easily become your new favourite place to exchange money for music. Keep an eye on social media to see what’s occurring and when.

NIGHTLIFE
For your clubs, pubs, and generic ‘piss up’ haunts, Broad Street is your place. With music pumping out of what seems like every building, you’ll never be short of places to go as you stumble intoxicated down the street. However, you might quickly run out of patience as you have to try navigate your way through the throngs of wasted masses trying to make it through the night. There are certainly plenty of places within the city with plenty more character. Whether you want a laid back pint, catch-up cocktails, or a wild night out, follow this handy list below for suggestions on where to go.

MONDAY – The Sun At The Station might be a little out of the way (located in Kings Heath), but with it’s ‘not so secret garden’ and oft-stellar gig listings, it’s worth making the short jaunt out of the city centre. Since buses are regular and run for 24 hours, find me a reason not to, I dare you. Perfect for a pub lunch or partying into the night, it’s a gorgeous place to while away any evening.

TUESDAY – Turtle Bay is another place that’s great any day of the week. With two-for-one cocktails during happy hour (which despite its name lasts from 12pm-7pm and 10pm-close daily), you’ll never run out of drinks to try. They serve great Caribbean food too, should you be hit by a case of the munchies. What more could you ask for on a weeknight?

WEDNESDAY – Snobs is something of a habit. Good? Bad? No one is ever too sure. But as the number of nights spent at the club quickly tally up, it’s clear there’s got to be something that keeps drawing us back. Having recently moved location, the club is currently sleeker and suaver than ever before. With cheap drinks and a playlist that’s barely changed in the past decade, there’s no better place to dance away until the morning light. With a number of nights on offer, Snobs is best experienced away from the hustle and bustle of the weekend crowds.

THURSDAY – No matter where I plan to be on an evening, I often end up stopping at The Sunflower Lounge. It’s conveniently positioned down the road from New Street Station, making the bar within walking distance of more-or-less anywhere you could want to go in the city centre. With inexpensive drinks, good music, and more often than not, a decent gig on downstairs, what else do you need to on a night out?

FRIDAY – The Rainbow is home to a comfortable bar, some great gigs, and some hella-fun club nights. See the monthly Zombie Prom for example, ideal to sedate all your indie sing-a-long desires. As a venue it’s seen some incredible shows – speak to anyone about that time Peace played at Christmastime and security had to crowd surf the barriers out of the room for crowd safety…

SATURDAY – The Dragon Inn is a great place to start your night. Located close to New Street Station, this Wetherspoons pub is the perfect stop off point for cocktails before a gig or nightclub jaunt. There’s also The Briar Rose and The Square Peg within walking distance of the station, all providing the familiar Wetherspoons service we’ve come to appreciate in our pre/post hangover stages. Perfect.

SUNDAY – Alfie Birds is an ideal place to see out your week. Not yet a year old, this venue is already making a bold name for itself. With a pizzeria on the ground floor, a gig room through the bookcase, a cocktail bar on the second storey, a further bar on the floor above, and balconies and a shallow pool outside for some blissful ambience, this venue can suit you even if you’ve no idea what it is you’re looking for.

LINGO
Birmingham is famed for the little-loved accent that fills it’s city streets. To anyone not a native (like me), there are a lot of phrases that seem completely foreign. For example, what the hell is a “gambol“? (answer: it’s a forward roll – who knew?). “Ay it” is another phrase you’ll hear a lot (the Birmingham equivalent of an affirmative “isn’t it”). “Bab” is a term of endearment (“babe” without the ‘e’), and if you’re a “yam yam” you’re from the Black Country area (though if you’re being called such, chances are you don’t need any of this explaining to you).

DID YOU KNOW
Birmingham was the first city outside of London to have BBC Radio and BBC Television services. It’s home to the UK’s oldest working cinema, The Electric, and it’s location heavily influenced J R R Tolkien whilst writing The Lord Of The Rings. Perhaps most infamously, though – in the context of a music website especially – we’d be amiss if we didn’t mention that the city is the home of heavy metal. Black Sabbath and Judas Priest both hail from the city, and the location still boasts some of the country’s most explosive up-and-coming bands (get yourself to a Black Mekon or God Damn show to witness something truly incredible).

Venues of every shape and size mean there’s always going to be something playing for you somewhere – hopefully this guide will have taken the first step towards showing you where to look. Steeped in history, Birmingham is still one of the most exciting places to be, and now, you should have some idea why.

Jessica Goodman
@alotlikejessica