Odds and sods

A few hours ago I finally got to watch the feature film, Fateless, a Hungarian production focusing on the life of a young Jew who was forced to endure life in the concentration camps of Auschwitz and Buchenwald. I was expecting a real tear-jerker, especially as it was accompanied by the haunting melodies of the greatest film composer on the planet, Ennio Morricone - and there's no-one else alive who can bring tears to my eyes just by listening to their music. However, I was surprised by a film that is very much understated and low-key and which chooses to tell its story without sensationalism and whilst it is beautifully filmed, it doesn't strike to the heart as much as I'd normally expect from a holocaust movie. Nevertheless, well worth watching. To read more about the film, click here.

A few dates for your musical diary: Yaz Alexander is performing later tonight (7 September) at the Rainbow, Digbeth, Birmingham, start at 8pm as part of the 3rd Anniversary Event in memory of Mikey Powell who died in police custody. A new CD from the makers of the film Injustice will be launched at the event, featuring music, spoken word and poetry, and will include Yaz's This World track. Yaz has some other gigs lined up including a session at the Ipanema Bar in Broad Street, Birmingham on Sunday, 17 September, and an appearance at the African Heritage Arts Day in Birmingham City Centre on Saturday 21 October.

This coming Saturday (9 September), Birmingham's finest reggae sons, Steel Pulse, will be meeting and greeting the public as they take part in the grand re-opening of the Handsworth Public Library at 2pm. The day begins at 10am and continues until 4.30pm including various workshops for all ages. Handsworth is the district where the band members went to school and grew up. Saturday also sees the annual Birmingham Arts Festival and later that evening, at around 9.30pm, Gabbidon will take to the stage in Centenary Square with their fusion of reggae, rock and ska.