Birmingham Artsfest

We still seem to be really lucky with the weather, I keep reading on other blogs about cold temperatures and rain, but apart from a couple of cool mornings we've been enjoying blue skies and full sunshine with hot temperatures to boot. Long may it last!

We also seem to be really lucky as every time we come into Birmingham there's some sort of event on in the city centre.  This weekend it's Artsfest 2012 and there's free live music and art and dance exhibitions on all over town.

Centenary Square is just outside the ICC and Symphony Hall which is beside the canal near Gas Street Basin.  Yesterday they erected 2 large stages here and there have been acts on throughout the day.

Indian drum band "Dhol Crew"

Over in Chamberlain Square is another large stage. There are tiered steps all round the square where you can sit and watch the groups.

In Victoria Square is the Bandstand. This was a Bluegrass Swing band called Knoxville Highway.

Apart from the music stages there were lots of  stalls dotted around the city centre either selling pictures or jewellery or promoting up-coming theatre productions & concerts.  There was a large marquee with exhibitions of Bollywood and Belly dancing. The whole city centre was buzzing.

There were plenty of activities for children too;  from the usual face painting and kids participation art stands to this climbing wall which looked like a lot of fun and had a long queue.

On the way back home to the boat we stopped to watch this guy in Centenary Square.  His name was Sam Eden and he sounded like James Blunt.

Our next stop was the Prince of Wales pub which has also had live acts on throughout the day.  It was doing a roaring trade and was so busy that we only stopped for one pint.