ABOVE: The Rolling Stones photographed in 1963 just before their Ritz Ballroom Gig

Come along to RollKings Stones Fest 2016 on the afternoon of Sunday 18 September at Fletchers Bar on King's Heath's York Road and help celebrate the 53rd Anniversary  of the Rolling Stones first ever performance in Birmingham at the old Ritz Ballroom.

Formed in London in 1962 by Brian Jones after he met up with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards who had been childhood friends, the Rolling Stones started out as a blues group taking their name from the title of a song by Muddy Waters. For the whole of 1962 they played exclusively in the London area. But all that changed on 7 June 1963 after they released their first single a cover of Chuck Berry's "Come On". Just a few months later on 14 September 1963 they played one of their first ever gigs outside London and their first ever in Birmingham at King's Heath's Ritz Ballroom. Joining Brian, Mick and Keith on the tiny stage were Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. The day after they returned to London to play at the Great Pop Prom at the Royal Albert Hall! And when they returned to Birmingham the following year they played the much larger venues of the Hippodrome and the Town Hall. They then went onto become the world's greatest Rock and Roll Band in the world selling over 200 million albums.

From 3 to 6 pm some great local musicians including Acoustica, Nanker Phelge, SwiftBeat, The Mighty Crawdaddys and Harmonica Bob and Oz will perform their interpretations of classic Rolling Stones songs at  Fletchers Bar & Eatery directly opposite the burnt down ruins of the old Ritz Ballroom.

Get your tickets now for this hugely popular annual event that usually sells out in advance.

Tickets cost just £4 in advance from the Kitchen Garden Cafe,

£4.40 from www.wegottickets.com/event/369168

or £5 on the door if any are left