What's On in Birmingham

Halloween family fun at Herberts Yard — For a spooky afternoon that won't give anyone actual nightmares, Herberts Yard is throwing open its doors at 12:00pm for a Halloween family bash that keeps things gloriously fun rather than frightening. At just £5 a head, it is one of the most wallet-friendly ways to get the kids into the spirit of the season before the darker side of Halloween takes over the city. Expect a warm, indie-venue atmosphere turned wonderfully seasonal — the sort of afternoon the whole family will still be talking about at half-term.

The Mary Wallopers — If you have never experienced the chaotic, roaring joy of The Mary Wallopers live, Thursday night at the O2 Academy Birmingham is your moment — and what a night to do it. The Irish trad-punk outfit treat every gig like a riotous session that might just tip over the edge, drawing in crowd members from hardcore folk fans to people who simply cannot resist music played with that much glee and abandon. Doors open ahead of a 7:00pm start, so get there early and plant yourself near the front.

Transvision Vamp — Pure late-eighties lightning in a bottle — Transvision Vamp take the stage at the O2 Institute Birmingham at 7:00pm, and if their recent shows are anything to go by, the energy in that room will be absolutely electric. Wendy James and the band bring the kind of glamorous, buzzing rock and roll that sounds oddly timeless and entirely right for Halloween week. Check the website for tickets and do not leave it too long.

DEL CAMINO + Salsa Taster Thu 29th Oct Live at The Jam House Birmingham — Here is the Thursday night wildcard that could genuinely change your evening plans for the better: DEL CAMINO bring their irresistible Latin heat to The Jam House Birmingham at 6:00pm, paired with a salsa taster that means even complete beginners get to join in. The Jam House is one of those venues that always feels like a proper night out — intimate, atmospheric, alive — and the combination of live music and a dance lesson is the kind of thing that sounds like a story you will want to tell. Check the website for ticket details.

China Crisis - Warped 2026 — Over in Kings Heath, China Crisis bring their Warped 2026 tour to the much-loved Hare and Hounds at 7:30pm, and for anyone who grew up with Bigger The Punch I'm Feeling or Wishful Thinking, this is a genuinely unmissable evening. The Hare and Hounds has exactly the right character for a show like this — intimate enough that you feel close to the music, warm enough that it becomes a real event rather than just a gig. At £31 it is serious music for serious fans, and worth every penny.

F*CK ME It's Halloween - Birmingham — When the rest of the city winds down, LAB11 is only just getting started — this is Birmingham's big Halloween club night and it arrives at full volume from 10:00pm. Costumes are practically compulsory, the production will be massive, and the crowd will be exactly the kind of mix of committed Halloween obsessives and people who just want to dance until they forget what day it is. Tickets are priced at £10–£20, so grab yours before they go — because they will.