Detectives in Birmingham are appealing for help in tracing two men who assaulted and robbed a man in his own home.

The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday 25 March in Cheapside, Highgate, after the 40-year-old victim had been out drinking in Digbeth on the Saturday evening. He befriended two men whom he invited back to his flat shortly before midnight.

The men took advantage of the victim’s hospitality by punching and kicking him in the face, causing a fractured jaw. They also stabbed him with an unknown weapon causing superficial injuries to his head and arm.

The offenders left the address with the victim’s laptop, mobile phone, wallet and watch.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Gareth Holmes said: “This was a callous attack on a man who had trusted these men and invited them into his home.

“They repaid his hospitality by leaving him injured, and although the physical wounds will heal, he has been left afraid to return home and is staying with relatives.

“We hope that someone will come forward to help us identify the men responsible.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Force CID on 101 or information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The Bay Leaf is looking forward to welcoming Jamie McGrane’s photography exhibition later this month. Jamie has been a proud Mod since 1984, and will share this passion using his amazing photography.

This is set to be the coolest arts launch ever, so make sure to pop down to the Bay Leaf to check out his work!

This is part of Bay Leaf’s commitment to promote local artist with free exhibition space – get in touch if you would like to display your work.

An afternoon of some famililar classics and some lesser known standards by Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin and more, performed by two trios.

Exams will be nearly over, so put on your top hat, white tie and tails and come and celebrate. Anything goes!

Trio #1 – The Music of Cole Porter
Allan Young: guitar
Stuart Barker: double bass
Alicia Gardener-Trejo: saxophone

Trio #2 – Music Associated with Fred Astaire
Ben Lee: guitar
Nathan England-Jones: drums
Alicia Gardener-Trejo: saxophone

Due to its success, Matt and Pete will be running Photo Walks through Digbeth during the summer:

• The Digbeth North Walk covers the area around Fazeley Street to the left of Digbeth High Street.
• Digbeth South explores the roads to the right of the high street, and they hope to access a roof for some skyline shots.

Both walks cost £5 and end at the legendary Spotted Dog. For more information and to book your place, click here to visit the website.

If you like the idea of a photo walk, but don’t fancy joining a guided tour, Matt and Pete suggest using Birmingham Flickrmeets.

Changes are afoot with DRA, so if you can make only one meeting this year make it this one!

Please find links to documents for this meeting below:
Agenda 14.05.12
Minutes 02.04.12

Minutes 05.03.12
Minutes 13.02.12 (AGM)

See you there!

Monday, 14th May
ALL-ACOUSTIC SHOW
Adam & Eve
Free Entry
The Railway Social Club
Farisle
Lauren Pryke

Tuesday, 15th May
Jazz at The Spotted Dog – Lluis Mather Trio
Music Starts at 9pm
Free Entry
Luis Mather – Tenor Sax
Rob Anstey – Bass
Dave Hamblett – Drums

Wednesday, 16th May
Adam & Eve
Free Entry
Gucci Pimp
Dru-Amelia

Friday, 18th May
Hennesseys
SILVERSIDE
Silverside are a local band from Coventry playing upbeat popular covers including The Kaiser Cheilfs, Kings of Leon, The Fratellis, Sterophonics, and The Killers.

Sunday, 20th May
Music in the Garden
The Spotted Dog
An afternoon of some famililar classics and some lesser known standards by Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin and more, performed by two trios.

SILVERSIDE

After its inauguration in 2011, Espirito Brum is coming back to Digbeth later this year. The festival is the UK’s answer to Espirito Mundo based in Brazil, and acts as a cultural exchange between the two countries.

With over 20,000 Brazilians living in Birmingham, and with Digbeth at the heart of the city’s creative quarter, it is an obvious choice of location. Espirito Brum provides artists and musicians with a meeting point to create, share and explore talent alongside artists from a far removed cultural context. Click here to see a selection of posts about last year’s festival to gain an idea of what to expect, or see Nicky’s photos from last year’s launch party below.

Organisers of the UK leg are currently on the look out for artists and musicians who would like to perform at this year’s Espirito Brum festival alongside a roster of Brazilian talent; if you or anyone you know are interested in taking part, head to the Espirito Brum website to apply.

The Spotted Dog are continuing their run of Single Handed on Monday:

Eilish Burke’s two-year-old son Conal is abducted, apparently by her ex-husband Padraig, though her family are unpopular locally as they are travellers with form and Jack’s lazy superior has already given the child up as dead.

As ever, it’s free entry, and your lovely host and landlord John will serve free tea and cream buns. Mmm…

The Bay Leaf restaurant in Digbeth’s Custard Factory is hosting a live music event tomorrow, Saturday 12th May. The event is intended to take place outside, busker-style, in front of the restaurant. The Bay Leaf’s owner, Aftab Rahman, is a great supporter of local music, and has really engaged with local musicians through regular jazz and acoustic nights at his restaurant.

The music is being organised by local musician, Ronan Fitzgerald, from the band Nerve Centre. Ronan is no stranger to music events in Digbeth, having played a sold out gig at the HMV Institute with Nerve Centre, regularly hosting gigs at the Adam and Eve, and organising the music at last summer’s Digbeth Fun Day.

• Jimmy Eff: the solo acoustic alter-ego of Nerve Centre lead guitarist, James Foster.
• Kris Halpin: singer songwriter from Tamworth.
• Dennis: acoustic duo playing lively originals and covers.

The music starts at 1pm.  If the weather doesn’t want to be nice, the music will be moved into the restaurant.  With the Vintage Fair taking place in the Custard Factory at the time, it promises to be a fun and busy event.

After being inundated with entrants from a bevy of Birmingham’s finest beauties they took on the hard task of choosing the two lucky winners; Emily Jones, of Streetly, and Simon Lee, of Sutton Coldfield. The two new faces, who are both new to the modelling world, will front Urban Village’s Spring/Summer collection.

Urban Village are now organising the first photo shoot which will be taking place around Digbeth (when the weather picks up), including psychedelic mannequins on scooters – all shall be revealed soon!