21st March 2022: Following four years of success, Sutton Coldfield town centre BID’s July ‘Month of Music’ has grown into the ‘Year of Music’ (YoM), spotlighting local musicians and town centre venues throughout 2022.

Sutton BID has broadened the scope of the popular summer music festival and will be featuring at least one band/ musician and venue each month on its www.whatsonsuttoncoldfield.co.uk website and social media channels.

Kicking off YoM at Coffee #1 at 11am on 26th March is 18 year-old gifted ukulele player and song writer Dawn Peters, finalist in SCTC BID’s first Sutton Has Musical Talent back in 2017.  A local girl, Dawn combines her music career with her A-Level studies and plans to study Animal Behaviour and Welfare at University.

Coffee #1 is situated at 69-73 The Parade in the town centre and prides itself on making each store locally loved, featuring photos and memorabilia from the area displayed throughout. Originally starting out in Cardiff in 2001, Coffee #1 opened in Sutton in 2017 and has quickly become a town centre favourite for its award winning coffee and space to spread out over two floors with a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Dawn commented:  “I’m delighted to be back in the town centre working with the BID, doing what I love. Sutton audiences are always so friendly and welcoming.”

Second on the YoM 2022 line up is new local duo Phil England and Nigel Bullock performing at The Duke Inn on 1st April.  

Committed and passionate music professionals with 40 years experience each, Nigel and Phil first met at the Tamworth Folk Club around 15 years ago, although didn’t start playing together until relatively recently.  In 2019, they met up again at the Twinwood Festival, which describes itself as the ultimate vintage festival for music, dance and fashion and is where lots of jazz and swing is enthusiastically enjoyed.  They got chatting about different music styles and quickly realised that they had a common interest in jazz style.  Subsequently they decided to join forces.

Phil said:  “Our plan to play as a duo was initially thwarted when the country was plunged into its first lockdown. However, we now perform as a duo regularly and are looking forward to performing at The Duke Inn as part of the BID’s Year of Music.”

The Duke Inn on Duke Street, Sutton Coldfield was named after the Iron Duke, the 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852).  The plot where the Duke now stands was originally purchased in 1853 by local championship jockey John Wells, who built a stylish new house for himself and his family. The property included a large garden and extensive stables as well as other outbuildings.  Opposite, on what was then called Sadler Street, a public house called The Old Duke Beer House was erected and it was because of this pub that the street was later named Duke Street. The pub thrived and when the tenancy of the much larger, ‘Wells’ house across the road became available, the landlord moved his business across and the ‘new’ Old Duke Inn was established at its current location in around 1866.

As a result of the ‘Yes’ vote from businesses themselves, the new Sutton Coldfield Town Centre BID this year commenced its third term, with a focus on ‘investing in Sutton’ and working to deliver the Masterplan with Birmingham City Council and Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council. 

Keith Ward, Town Councillor and SCTC BID Board Member explained:

“As Sutton BID enters its third term, our Business Plan focuses on the town centre being ‘Vibrant & Promoted’, ‘Safe & Secure’ as well as supporting ‘Business Growth and Investment’.  We are delighted that the Month of Music was such a success – it was a no brainer to expand it to Year of Music with our close community of trusted town centre venues and our many local music contacts.”

Angela Henderson, manager of the Gracechurch Shopping Centre and Chair of the BID added:

“The BID’s vision is to work with others to define, develop and promote the identity of Sutton Coldfield,  reflecting its strengths, attributes and heritage, whilst ensuring that the town remains vibrant and safe for all who visit, work or shop in the town.  The town’s businesses, stakeholders and local residents are already proud of their town and the BID intend to build on this pride working with Birmingham City Council and Sutton Town Council and other organisations to promote what the town has to offer.”

Businesses across Sutton Coldfield Town Centre voted in favour of renewing their status as a Business Improvement District (BID).  Businesses with a rateable value of £7,500 or above will pay a levy based upon their rateable value, creating a collective fund of more than £1.3 million to spend over the next five years.

For more information, please visit www.whatsonsuttoncoldfield.co.uk