It’s all go in the BCT office and in many of the arts organisations around Sandwell.

Sandwell Arts Festival officially launches today, you can catch the Bollywood Brass Band around West Brom town centre and the official opening of the festival coincides with the opening of The Public’s summer arts show this evening. For a full schedule of events, follow this link.

Meanwhile in the BCT office we are all getting ready for our main event of the festival. This Thursday and Friday Untied Artists are performing ‘Al Bowlly’s Croon Manifesto’ in West Bromwich Town Hall.

The workshops have happened, the dances learnt, the tickets have been sold and we are currently running around madly trying to sort out programmes, tea and to keep everything themed, the 40′s stewarding uniform that everyone is excitedly trying on, so that the whole event at West Brom Town Hall has a great period feel. You’ll have to get to the show to see the full effect of the uniforms, but if I mention they involve wrap around pinnies and headscarves – I’m sure you can imagine the rest…

The company opened the show at Lichfield Festival and there has been great coverage on the radio.

I saw an early version of the show, when it was in preparation and it was looking terrific then. Jake Oldershaw croons his way through the Al Bowlly classics to the beautiful accompaniment of the Gramophone Party – the story of his life unfolds alongside the songs revealing a strangely contemporary tale in this wonderful period setting.

So (nearly) everything is set, the lights are dimmed and we are ready to go.