Defiant organisers of the Walk of Fame said that the fire that recently destroyed the former Ritz Ballroom will not halt their plans to celebrate King's Heath's amazing musical heritage this summer.
A whole series of events are planned throughout the summer including:-
♦ inducting The Move founder Trevor Burton as the next star on the Walk of Fame on 3rd June at the Hare & Hounds. Trevor will be presented with his star at an Award Ceremony at 4 p.m. that everyone can attend for free. This will then be followed by a concert at 7.30 p.m with the current line-up of The Move featuring Bev Bevan and Trevor Burton and The Trevor Burton Band. The Move regularly played at The Ritz when they first started up and the last few remaining tickets for the gig are now on sale price £7 from www.hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk
♦ monthly Lazy Sunday Afternoon sessions at Fletchers Bar directly opposite the former Ritz Ballroom themed around artists who played at The Ritz:
June 9 - Rock 'n' Roll Revival commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Gene Vincent playing The Ritz. Jerry lee Lewis and Bill Haley are also known to have performed there.
July 7 - All things Kinky commemorating The Kinks performance at The Ritz
Aug 4 - Girls Afternoon Out commemorating, Dusty Springfield, Sandie Shaw, Helen Shapiro and Cilla Black who all played at the Ritz.
♦ an all day Rolling Stones Fest on Saturday 14 Sept at Fletchers Bar and other venues around King's Heath to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Stones gig at the Ritz with films as well as live and recorded music.
The first ever Birmingham Civic Society Music Heritage plate (photo opposite courtesy of Ell R Brown) commemorating the Ritz Ballroom has survived the fire and these summer events are intended to keep the music and memories of the 1960's alive while the future of the building is decided.
Organisers Bob Prew and Ken Whittaker said, “The Ritz Ballroom building may have been destroyed but we are determined that the memories and music will carry on. It is vital that the key role the Ritz played in Birmingham's musical heritage is not forgotten. All the great bands of the 1960's played at The Ritz. These live events will keep the spirit of The Ritz well and truely alive”.
Both Toyah Willcox's pavement star and the Birmingham Civic Society Misic Heritage Plate have been removed for safekeeping while the whole building awaits demolition. For more images by Ell R Brown like the one featured opposite, please visit the Flikr page here
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