Should private companies be undertaking police work? Dave Woodhall argues not.

Help and advice for new businesses.

Name change reflects wide range of events for 2019.

The Midlands Media Awards is this year to take place at The Holte Suite, Aston Villa FC’s prestigious hospitality centre.

Liam & Gaz continue to record The Blues Kitchen Podcast from opposite sides of London...

There's new music from Mavis Staples, Jeff Tweedy & Arthur Ahbez alongside classics from Fleetwood Mac, Howlin' Wolf, Creedence Clearwater Revival & Gil Scott Heron.

There's also a special new 'Live Request' feature starting this week. 

Email your requests over to radio@theblueskitchen.com

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

Check out The Blues Chronicles:
https://theblueschronicles.com/events/

Email the show: radio@theblueskitchen.com

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

New music on the show this week from Laura Marling & Alison Mosshart.

Liam & Gaz also pay tribute to John Prine who very sadly passed away this week. 

Expect classic tunes form The Rolling Stones, Otis Spann, Sam Cooke & a Blues Kitchen archive session track from The Texas Gentlemen, playing their version of 'The Shape I'm In' originally written & recorded by The Band.

Ciara Haidar closes the show this week, with one of our listeners requests, performing a version of 'St James Infirmary Blues'.

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

Check out The Blues Chronicles:
https://theblueschronicles.com/events/

Email the show: radio@theblueskitchen.com

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

New music on the show this week from Howie Payne.

Liam & Gaz also pick out some classics from Little Walter, Cyl Johnson, Little Feat, The Little Shadows, John Prine & Lightnin' Hopkins.

Ciara Haidar closes the show once more, with one of our listeners requests, performing a version of 'Didn't It Rain'.

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

Check out The Blues Chronicles:
https://theblueschronicles.com/events/

Email the show: radio@theblueskitchen.com

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

Liam & Gaz play new music this week from Nick Waterhouse, The Texas Gentlemen & Orions Belte.

There's also a live Blues Kitchen Archive Session track from Nathaniel Rateliff alongside some classics from T Bone Walker, Magic & ZZ Top. 

Ciara Haidar continues taking listener requests this week, with a Bruce Springsteen cover.

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

Check out The Blues Chronicles:
https://theblueschronicles.com/events/

Email the show: radio@theblueskitchen.com

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

Birmingham's hidden industrial heritage saved from the skip.

Richard Lutz takes his pew at the Royal Shakespeare Theatrefor that most famous of revenge plays.

The inimitable Brownsville representer Sean P gives us a rundown of his long-awaited album, Mic Tyson.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/23/ for full show notes and comments.

“Prince” Paul Huston is one of hip-hop’s most notable producers. He began in the mid-1980s as a teenage DJ with Stetasonic, “the hip hop band.” But his career really took off in 1989 when he produced De La Soul’s classic debut 3 Feet High and Rising.

Paul helmed the group’s first three albums, and went on from there to release a wide variety of projects under his own name, as a producer, and as part of a group. Just a short list of his collaborators reads like a who’s-who of musicians and comedians: RZA, Queen Latifah, Bernie Worrell of P-Funk, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Big Daddy Kane, and even Cat Power, to name only a few.

In the first half of our conversation, we talk about Stetsasonic, De La Soul, his relationship with a pre-Wu-Tang RZA, his surprising-sounding 2003 solo album Politics of the Business, and much more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/98/ for full show notes and comments.

In Part 2 of our epic sit-down with Prince Paul, we talk Psychoanalysis and A Prince Among Thieves; making records with Everlast, MF DOOM, MC Paul Barman, and Dino-5; and even the cult tv show that cemented his bond with Dan the Automator. 

We also find out what was behind his most disturbing song, what it’s like at the lows between career peaks, and, of course, the kind of presents John Waters sends to his daughter. Plus, he shares his reaction to the “Blurred Lines” verdict, and gives us an exclusive peek into his upcoming projects.

If you missed Part 1 of our interview with Paul, you can find it here.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/99/ for full show notes and comments.

Al “Blueprint” Shepard is a Columbus, Ohio-based emcee and producer. He got his start in that city’s vital scene in the late 1990s, along with talents like RJD2, Copywrite, and Camu Tao. However, most rap fans first heard his unique voice, freestyle skills, and creative, melodic beats either via his work on the influential Rhymesayers label, or in his duo with RJ called Soul Position.

Blueprint has been all over the map musically – from straight ahead boom-bap to electronic experimentation to jazzy instrumentals to full-length tributes to his favorite bands. But he’s brought his unique musical sensibilities and inquisitive, ever-searching nature to all of it.

His latest album, released this past April, is King No Crown.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/110/ for full show notes and comments.

Prof is a Minneapolis-based rapper whose fun and deceptively intricate tracks and entertaining, sometimes chaotic live shows have been entertaining fans since the mid-2000s. He has an outsized, outrageous comic persona, but that doesn’t stop him from frequently rapping movingly and artfully about his difficult childhood and family life.

Prof quickly rose through the hip-hop ranks in his hometown, and is one of only a handful of rappers - local or otherwise - who can sell out Minneapolis’ biggest venues. His success led to him joining forces with the city’s pre-eminent hip-hop label, Rhymesayers. Prof’s debut album on the label, Liability, just dropped this past Friday, October 16th.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/125/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we talk to April Walker. She’s the founder of Walker Wear, a clothing brand that was worn by all of the top entertainers and athletes of the early 1990s, from Tupac to L.L. to Mike Tyson to her neighbor Biggie Smalls.

Walker began her career with a small custom shop in Brooklyn. But early on, she started attracting hip-hop’s elite, and she soon began a styling division that dressed artists in countless videos, motion pictures, album covers, tours and photo shoots.

She began her own line, Walker Wear, in 1992. It became a huge success, and a favorite brand of many, many stars. Walker Wear ended in 1998, after the oversaturation and subsequent collapse of the urban fashion world. But in 2013, Walker brought back her eponymous company, and now sells both retro and new pieces online.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/133/ for full show notes and comments.

Jermaine Dupri got his start in hip-hop very young. As a pre-teen, he was a dancer on the Fresh Fest tours of the mid-1980s. He went from there to rapping himself, but quickly found that his real talent lay in writing and producing hits for others.

J.D. had his first real success with the group Kriss Kross, who he discovered in 1991. He formed So So Def Records, where he guided the careers of Xscape, Da Brat, Jagged Edge, and Bow Wow. He also had many hits as a producer with the likes of Mariah Carey, Destiny’s Child, and Usher. Dupri is now a key part of two unscripted TV shows, The Rap Game and Music Moguls.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/167/ for full show notes and comments.

Soundset is a festival in the Minneapolis area put on by the Rhymesayers label. It’s been running since 2008, and has grown from a show in a warehouse to a day-long outdoor event featuring some of music’s biggest acts.

This past May, we went to the festival to hang out and talk to the performers, and on this episode and the next one, you’ll hear the results. This time, you’ll find conversations with Rapsody, Grieves, K-Salaam, Sa-Roc, and Prof. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the first half of The Cipher’s Soundset special.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/241/ for full show notes and comments.

Greg Proops, Comedian who's Album, "In The Ball Park" will be released on Friday November 27th, joins Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt live in studio

This podcast is brought to you by:

Texture. Go To texture.com/joey to get a free trial for the Texture App. The Texture App gives the use access to hundreds of magazines.

Greg Proops, Comedian, seen on "Whose Line Is It Anyway," and the Host of the "Smartest Man in the World" podcast, joins Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt in studio.

Jake Ellenberger, a retired UFC fighter and Marine, joins Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt live in studio. We also have a special visit from Kate Quigley.

This podcast is brought to you by:

April Macie, a stand up comedian seen on Last Comic Standing and recently released her special as part of 'Tiffany Haddish: She Ready' on Netflix, joins Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt LIVE in studio. 

A stroke of luck made the rocker's instrumental track "Sirius" one of the most recognizable intro songs in sports history. Continue reading…

Rockers ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Elton John speak of the pioneer's impact. Continue reading…

Partnership aims to build communities through sport.

Ros Dodd reports these will be only the second brood of osprey chicks in 400 years in this area of Wales.

Polish artist to create new work.

Richard Lutz is dragged into the world of Restoration noir at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Considerate Behaviour campaign launched on cross city line.

Iconic Birmingham company takes on its first apprentice for twenty years.

Employability project invests in local people helping to fulfil all-important roles.

People at home urged to take part in anniversary celebration.

New Central Library: Founding a Friends Group, Thursday 4 July

Young people feel ignored by power, but would still turn out to vote.

Cancer charity will benefit from Asia expedition.

Funding kickstarts construction of 26 housing units in Kings Heath.

Don't put next generation of manufacturing talent on lockdown says Make UK.

Fashion industry the focal point of new action.

Extinction Rebellion Youth to host 'die-in' at Primark and HSBC New Street.

Joint Lib Dem and Conservative call for demolition plans to be scrapped.

Richard Lutz take his pew for a fanfare of classics.

Conservatives demand council and police act on growing menace.

Chance to watch programme from dance company.

2019-2020 Arts & Science Festival concludes with a season dedicated to hope.

"Deliciously entertaining" cookery comedy play coming to Birmingham.

BE at Home invites online audience participation.

Pioneering digital engagement provides for hundreds of young people across the West Midlands.

New multicultural lifestyle complex to be unveiled in Birmingham.