What's On in Birmingham
Thursday 30 July 2026 · This weekend · City guide
Thursday in Birmingham is pulling out all the stops this week, and the city has that unmistakable end-of-week electricity crackling through its venues. From the soulful streets of New Orleans landing in Kings Heath to a late-night dancefloor that has been the heartbeat of Birmingham's LGBTQ+ scene for decades, there is a version of tonight that will suit exactly who you are and exactly how you want to feel.
Highlights
The 19th Street Band — Kick your Thursday evening into life at the beloved Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath, where The 19th Street Band bring their groove-soaked sound to one of Birmingham's finest independent music venues. Whether you are a longtime fan or just wandering in on a whim, this is the kind of warm, live music night that reminds you why going out on a weekday is always worth it. Doors from 7:30pm and at just £11, it is an absolute bargain for a proper live experience.
Hot 8 Brass Band — If there is one act that could make an entire room forget their troubles and start moving, it is the Hot 8 Brass Band, the legendary New Orleans outfit whose thunderous horns, deep second-line grooves, and sheer joyful chaos have been blowing roofs off stages around the world for years. Catching them in a room as intimate and characterful as the Hare and Hounds Kings Heath is genuinely a privilege — this is not an arena show with distance between you and the music, this is sweat and brass and rhythm at close quarters. Get there for 7:30pm and treat yourself; at £25 it is worth every penny.
Nightingale Club Thursdays — When the live music winds down, the night is still very much young at the Nightingale Club, Birmingham's iconic LGBTQ+ venue that has been creating safe, euphoric, unforgettable nights since 1992. Thursdays here have a devoted following for good reason — expect a welcoming, high-energy dancefloor where everyone is invited and nobody is judged. Doors at 10:00pm and entry just £5, this is the perfect place to let the week dissolve entirely.