Karolina Pliskova joins star-studded Edgbaston line-up.

New Nature Valley Classic champion crowned world women's tennis number one.

Exhibition aims to show Birmingham at its best.

Monika aims to become international Face.

HD Brows add city centre to their list of academies.

Steve Beauchampé doesn’t like what he’s hearing on the airwaves.

Peter Lowe, Managing Editor of Sky News, is to be chairman of the judging panel for this year’s Midlands Media Awards, shortlisted nominations for which will be announced on Monday, May 13.

The Birmingham Look Book – a go-to resource for journalists designed to raise the profile of Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull with national and international media

The sudden shutdown of all channels of Greece's national broadcasting company by the Greek government is 'unacceptable for an EU democracy', says West Mids and Warks Lib Dem MEP Phil Bennion.

Gaz & Liam have exclusive session with Justin Townes Earle this week, who sat in with The Blues Kitchen and played an acoustic rendition of ‘Flint City Shake It’ from his new LP – ‘The Saint Of Lost Causes’.

There’s also blues from Otis Spann & Junior Wells, new music from Leon Bridges & Lukas Nelson & cult classics from The Litter and, err,.. Cher?

 Here’s the link to watch David Crosby live on Jimmy Fallon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYbaUdtMlYQ

To see the Justin Townes Earle performances in full, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BluesKitchenLondon 

When you've caught up with the podcast, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/BluesKitchenTV

Email the show: radio@theblueskitchen.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, Mixcloud, Acast & many more…

Gaz & Liam run Jack White & Dan Auerback head to head this week.

There’s also an exclusive Blues Kitchen session with Multiple Grammy Award Winning ‘Fantastic Negrito’ alongside some classic cuts from The Watts 103^rd St Rhythm Band, Clarence Reid, Townes Van Zandt, Larry Williams & Little Richard.

** Join Liam & Gaz for a live recording of The Blues Kitchen Podcast **

Limited £5 tickets from: bit.ly/bkpodcastlive

Weds 16th October 

7pm – 9pm / The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch

When you've caught up with the podcast, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/BluesKitchenTV

Email the show: radio@theblueskitchen.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, Mixcloud, Acast & many more…

Rare and unseen British TV footage to be shown at anniversary event.

Help Acorns - by order!

Richard Lutz gets lost in Shakespeare country.

This week, we talk with Todd Kreidler, the writer behind the Broadway musical based on the life and music of 2pac, ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’. Kreidler was tasked with taking on the legacy of legendary MC 2Pac Shakur, an initially daunting prospect. Through his use of 2Pac’s songs, spirit, and description of the world around him, Kreidler crafted a musical that doesn’t shy away from tough topics, that tackles issues such as gun violence and racism head on — through the lens of a community that fights against outside pressure together, that feels its pains together. Kreidler saw the musical as a chance to take the “I” away from the music and take a look into the universe of characters that lived within 2pac’s songs. Comparing 2Pac to Shakespeare, Kreidler spoke of the worlds 2Pac created with his lyrics — ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’ gets the chance to give pieces of 2Pac’s dialogue and story to many characters, building a community around them similar to the one 2Pac himself got to experience and absorb in his own life

We talk with Kreidler about the process of writing the play, the similarities between Pac and Shakespeare, why certain songs were chosen and certain songs left out, and more

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/72/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we talk to Christopher Jackson, one of the lead actors in Broadway’s ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’, the musical based on Tupac’s legacy. When ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’ first hit Broadway, it was marketed as not just a story about Tupac’s music, but as a story about love — and that’s just what it is, a story about love within a world similar to that which Tupac lived, experienced, and rapped about. The play tackles issues such as gun violence, poverty, and racism head-on — all through the lens of a community that feels its pains together. ‘Holler’ is a play that fights against Broadway’s increasingly homogenized landscape, daring to tell a story that doesn’t fit into the cookie cutter Broadway mold.

We talked to Broadway vet Christopher Jackson, Vertus in the production, about Broadway’s changing landscape, the significance of co-star Saul Williams’ work as a slam poet and actor, the cultural relevance of Pac, and how ‘Holler”s reviews revealed an ugly truth about Broadway culture today.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/73/ for full show notes and comments.

Most people know author Adam Mansbach from his 2011 “children’s book for adults,” Go the Fuck to Sleep. It became a sensation and led to readings by Werner Herzog and Samuel L. Jackson, a movie deal, a popular GTFTS-themed Obama ad, and countless morning show appearances. Now he returns with a sequel, You Have to Fucking Eat — a funny and realistic take on a whole new parenting challenge.

Regular listeners know that Adam does much more than write books with curses in the title. We discussed his literary novels and life in jazz in our first talk. This time, we talk screenwriting, thrillers, middle grade books, and the best child rappers of all time.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/85/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, our guest is Benjy Melendez, founder, President, and singer of the Ghetto Brothers. He is joined by his co-author and friend, Amir Said.

The Ghetto Brothers were one of the largest and most powerful street gangs in the Bronx in the late 1960s and early 70s - a time when the borough, and New York City as a whole, had plenty to choose from. At its height, the organization had around 2,000 members city-wide.

But after one of their key figures got killed by rival gangs, Benjy devoted his efforts to peace, and held a now-famous peace treaty meeting at the Hoe Avenue center in the Bronx in 1971 - a gathering that set the stage for the ending of the gang era and the beginnings of hip-hop.

In addition to being a powerful organization, the Ghetto Brothers were also a rock and roll band. They only released one album, 1971’s Power Fuerza, but it became a prized collectors item, notable for its surprisingly sweet lyrics and Beatle-esque melodies, Latin percussion, and unique backstory.

While parts of Benjy’s story have been shared in the new documentary Rubble Kings and even in a graphic novel, the new book by Benjy and Amir Said, Ghetto Brother: How I Found Peace in the South Bronx Street Gang Wars, is the first place Benjy shares his entire life story.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/114/ for full show notes and comments.

Torae Carr has been a mainstay on the underground hip-hop scene since his debut mixtape, 2008’s Daily Conversation. Since then, he has released a number of excellent and varied projects, both solo and with collaborators like Marco Polo and Skyzoo. He also hosts his show The Tor Guide six days a week on Sirius XM satellite radio.

Torae’s superb brand-new album is called Entitled. We talk about that, but also take it way back to his earliest raps, his wild ride through the record industry, and much more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/139/ for full show notes and comments.

Anton Pukshansky’s name may be unfamiliar to hip-hop fans, but you definitely know his work. He was a key person at Power Play Studios in Queens, New York, and was deeply involved as an engineer, musician, and producer on classic performances by Kool G. Rap and Polo, Main Source, Eric B. and Rakim, Organized Konfusion, Akinyele, and more.

He also got a front-row seat to the development of soon-to-be iconic talents like Nas and Mobb Deep, who he worked with at the very beginning of their careers. Anton worked hand-in-hand with one of hip-hop’s greatest producers, Large Professor, and has also won Grammys for his work with Santana and Ozomatli.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/147/ for full show notes and comments.

Andre “Doctor Dré” Brown is best-known for his time co-hosting Yo! MTV Raps with Ed Lover, a job he held down from 1989 to 1995. He and Ed used their chemistry and comic sensibility to bring hip-hop, and the artists who made it, to a worldwide audience.

But, as you’ll hear, there’s much more to Dré than his time at MTV. He was a key part of the group Original Concept, one of Def Jam’s early signings. He played a key role in the lives of some other early Def Jam acts, Public Enemy and the Beastie Boys. He’s made movies, worked in radio, and done pretty much everything else you can imagine.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/185/ for full show notes and comments.

Stevie Stone is an emcee who is part of the Strange Music family. However, his gravely voice and powerful vision make him stand out even among that talented crew. Stevie started out signed to Eazy-E’s Ruthless Records, but quickly joined the Strange family—an appropriate move, since for his very first show, he shared the stage with the label’s co-founder and flagship artist Tech N9ne.

Since then, Stevie has made a series of powerful and often experimental albums, including 2015’s Malta Bend, which explored his mother’s childhood in the small Missouri town of that name. His new album, out this past Friday, is Level Up.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/204/ for full show notes and comments.

Tom is the “Tommy” in Tommy Boy Records—he founded the label in 1981. After several early hip-hop and dance records, the label found success with “Planet Rock.” But it was in hip-hop’s Golden Age of the late 1980s and early 90s that the label would really blow up, signing acts like Queen Latifah, Digital Underground, House of Pain, Coolio, Naughty by Nature, and De La Soul.

Silverman also founded the New Music Seminar, the influential and long-running music conference whose annual rap and DJ battles would become the stuff of legend. His latest project is Tracklib, a whole new way of dealing with sampling.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/208/ for full show notes and comments.

Aldrin “DJ Toomp” Davis began his career as a DJ and producer for early Atlanta rap acts like Raheem the Dream and MC Shy-D. But it was when he met a friend’s cousin named Clifford Harris that things really got started. Harris rapped under the name Tip—which he would later change to T.I. to avoid confusion, after signing to the same record label as Q-Tip.

T.I. and Toomp would together sell millions of records, create classics, and even help start a whole new genre. A whole new generation in Atlanta and beyond would take inspiration from the sound and title of Toomp and T.I.’s 2003 album Trap Muzik, and a style bearing that name would come into being.

But that’s far from the end of Toomp’s accomplishments. He also played a key role in the creation of Kanye West’s 2007 album Graduation, and a whole lot more besides.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/209/ for full show notes and comments.

“Maximising your Return on Investment from a Good Idea”

Leaders from some of Europe’s largest companies will be gathering in Birmingham to discuss the role that open innovation and collaboration can play in boosting the economy

Financial advisers from across the West Midlands attended a course on auto enrolment yesterday – the new regime for workplace pensions that has begun to roll out.

The Midlands based rail champion, Campaign for Rail will be holding its inaugural Annual General Meeting tomorrow at the Atrium, Moor Street Station

Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt are joined by Actor Todd Lowe of True Blood and Nick Papadakis live in studio. Both are also members of a band called LA Hottenany.

This podcast is brought to you by:

Onnit.com. Use Promo code CHURCH for a discount at checkout.

Nature Box. Visit Naturebox.com and use promo code Joey for 50% off your first order.

Naileditlife.com - Get 20% off a vapor pen by mentioning the Church.

Meundies.com Go to meundies.com/joey before September 1 for 20% off.

Recorded live on 08/13/2014.

Music:

Johnny Cash, Cocaine Blues

Tom Segura, Comedian and Co-Host of the "Your Mom's House" podcast, and Bert Kreischer, Comedian and Host of Trip Flip on Travel Channel whos season premier is June 2nd at 8pm. joins Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt live in studio.

This podcast is brought to you by:

Onnit.com. Use Promo code CHURCH for a 10% discount at checkout.

Iron Dragon TV. A New Roku channel with all the best martial arts films. Use Code word joey for two free rentals.

HITecigs.com For a better tasting, longer lasting e cig go to HITecigs.com. Use Promo code joeyschurch for five Hit E Cig's for $50

Naileditlife.com - Get 20% off a vapor pen by using code word joeydiaz.

Joey Fillato, Friend of Joey and Big Al, Former Criminal who was working at the same time as Joey F and Joey Diaz call into the podcast to Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt.

This podcast is brought to you by:

Onnit.com. Use Promo code CHURCH for a 10% discount at checkout.

HITecigs.com For a better tasting, longer lasting e cig go to HITecigs.com. Use Promo code joeyschurch for five Hit E Cig's for $50

Naileditlife.com - Get 20% off a vapor pen by using code word joeydiaz. They are also produce some of the best edibles on the market, Los Gummies Hermanos

Recorded live on 07/13/15

Music: 

For The Love OF Money - The O'Jays

Wanna Be Around - Tony Bennet

Tony Hinchcliffe, comedian and writer who is releasing his first special, "One Shot" Friday January 15th on Netflix joins Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt live in studio.

HITecigs.com For a better tasting, longer lasting e cig go to HITecigs.com. Use Promo code joeyschurch for five Hit E Cig's for $50 

Alberto Crane, the first American to recieve a black belt from the Gracie Barra Academy and Owner of Legacy Jiu Jitsu in Burbank joins joins Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt live in studio. 

This podcast is brought to you by:

Tom Rhodes, a comedian for more than 30 years, joins Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt live in studio.

Tom Segura, Comedian seen on Netflix and heard as the co-host of the "Your Mom's House" podcast, joins Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt live in studio.

This podcast is brought to you by:

Tom Rhodes, a comedian for more than 30 years and the host of the "Tom Rhodes Radio," podcast, joins Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt LIVE in studio.

Bethany Ashton Wolf, the screenwriter and director of the new movie,"Forever My Girl," joins Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt LIVE in studio.

See "Forever My Girl" in theatres this weekend!

Tom Rhodes, a touring comedian for more than 30 years and the host of the "Tom Rhodes Radio," podcast, joins Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt LIVE in studio.