The Visit Of Oz

06/07/2025

All good things come to an end, but let's give The Visit Of Oz the send off it deserves!

Coming up today:
1pm Fair Deal Music - Birmingham: The UK home of Rock & Roll Discussion and Q&A with Cissy Stone, Jaci Davis, Des Tong, Roy Davis and Pete Francis
3pm The Brasshouse on Broad St. Birmingham - Jamie Thyer & The Worried Men
6:30pm Birmingham Rocks at Snobs Birmingham - Out of the Blue Big Band

05/07/2025

Day 3 of The Visit Of Oz is upon us!

Get ready for a rip-roaring, rocking and rolling day of music - and even an intimate Q&A with Black Sabbath's first manager, Jim Simpson!

Here's today's specials:
5pm The Brasshouse on Broad St. Birmingham - Stuart Maxwell's Blues Raiders
7pm Barbara's Bier Haus Birmingham - Slide Boy Roy
7:30pm Brindley Cruises (Embark canalside outside The Sea Life Centre) - "Black Sabbath: The Early Years: Q&A with first manager, Jim Simpson [£6.50]

04/07/2025

Day Two of The Visit Of Oz is upon us and it’s already bursting at the seams with madness, music, and pure wonder. Grab a pint of Black Sabbath IPA from The Brasshouse and sample the finest music on offer throughout this city and the wider region. The adventure is far from over, so dive right in!
Take a look at today’s menu:

• 4pm: The Shakedown Brothers at Hennessey’s
• 5pm: Uptown Jukes at the Brasshouse
• 7pm: Snakebite at Barbara’s Bier Haus
• 7pm: Sabbra Cadabra at The Bartons Arms
• 7:30pm: Slide Boy Roy at West Bromwich Central Library
• 8pm: Melvin Handcox Band at O’Neills Broad Street
• 8pm: The 10th Global Black Sabbath Convention with live music from Sabbotage and a Q&A session with Black Sabbath’s original manager Jim Simpson at Ye Olde Foundry, Dudley

Wherever you end up tonight, let the riffs, the cheers and the raw energy take over — this is your night, make it loud.

Shakedown Brothers Sabbra Cadabra .birmingham .birmingham

03/07/2025

Day one of The Visit Of Oz is finally here — and it’s gonna be wild!
Get ready for heavy riffs and grooving beats, all guaranteed to move your feet! Honestly, you’d be nuts to miss this.
Here’s what’s in store for Tonight:
 5 PM: Smokin’ Eskimo gets The Brasshouse groovin’.
 5:30 PM: The Uptown Jukes tear it up at Snobs Bar.
 7 PM: Chickenbone John & Harmonica Dave jam at The Barrel Store.
 7:30 PM: Back On The Road keeps it rolling at Wednesbury Library.
 7:30PM:Join Santu, A week full Of Mondays and Montarray at The Victoria (£8 advance, £10 OTD)
 8 PM: Hang with Honeyboy Hickling Blues Band at The Lord Clifden.
 8:30 PM: Finish strong with The Shufflepack back at Snobs Bar.
So, round up your crew, grab a drink, and let’s make some stories worth telling. See ya out there! And if you see a programme, snag it! It’s your guide to catching all the best shows.
⚠️Important: Rich Dickinson’s Driving Force will no longer be performing at Nortons as originally scheduled ⚠️

27/06/2025

Celebrate the homecoming of Black Sabbath with the extensive range of merchandise and products available online at Big Bear Music. Now available are Earth T-Shirts, as well as the new album ‘Earth: The legendary lost tapes’ is available to pre-order as CD or Vinyl. In addition to this there are Black Sabbath T-Shirts and postcards, which feature rare photos taken by the band’s first manager Jim Simpson.

Also available is the legendary live album ‘Brum Beat: Live at the Barrel Organ Vinyl Double Album’, which captures the impressive Birmingham rock music scene at the very start of the 80’s.

There is also the classic Dirty Stops Out Guide to Birmingham editions for 1970’s and 80’s. These guides provide a comprehensive guide to what it was like to be in Birmingham during some of its most exciting and defining moments.

There is also the autobiography of Jim Simpson, founder of Big Bear Records who has been involved in the music business for over 60 years, as well as a musician, bandleader, promoter, record producer, festival director, manager, journalist and photographer. In his book Don’t Worry ‘Bout The Bear, written with Ron Simpson, he spills the beans on some of the many memorable experiences he’s had in that time.

26/06/2025

THE VISIT OF OZ
We're Gonna Rock This Town.

From Thursday the 3rd to Sunday the 6th July, Birmingham’s Rock musicians will deliver multiple performances throughout the city to welcome home our most prominent ambassadors of Rock, Black Sabbath.
With an appropriate celebration of music, the city will be swarming with rock and roll visitors, as additionally that very weekend of the 5th and 6th July another titan of the Birmingham rock scene, Jeff Lynne, is set to bid farewell to his fans at the Utilita Arena.

We see no alternative than to welcome these visitors with open arms and to celebrate Birmingham’s rock talent – the best in the UK – with an extravaganza of fine music and a plethora of additional activity.

For those fine, sunny July days, the eyes of the entire Rock & Roll world will be on Birmingham – let’s give them something to talk about.

25/06/2025

Meeting for the first time in over 40 years and ahead of the upcoming Visit of Oz festival, Pete Francis, owner of , and Jim Simpson, owner of , discussed the four day celebration of Black Sabbath and Jeff Lynne as they both play homecoming final gigs. Pete Francis has recently bought John Birch Guitars, but he has been a stalwart of the Birmingham music scene. He even owned The Barn, where Black Sabbath regularly recorded throughout the 80's.

To hear more about Pete's story and experience, come on down to on Sunday 6th July at 13:00. Alongside him other titans of the Birmingham music scene will feature, such as Cissy Stone, singer of funk, soul and disco, as well as touring extensively across Europe and sharing the stage with legends like Irma Franklin and Marvin Gaye J, Des Tong, bassist for Sad Café as well as being involved in production and writing the novel "Whatever it takes Babe", Roy Davis and Jaci Davis, co-owners of the Asylum Venue. They also run the Uprawr weekly club night and Rehearsal Room. Roy was the bassist in Shy, legends of the Birmingham rock scene.

25/06/2025

Don't miss out on the discussion and Q&A at Fair Deal Music at 13:00 on the 6th July!!!

With the upcoming final performance of Black Sabbath, we're on the edge of history right in the city where it all started. A band that inspired many to follow in its wake and added to Birmingham's rich history, it's our chance to be a part of this historic moment.

Join us on July 6th, 1 pm-2 pm, for a live Q&A discussion with special guests to celebrate Black Sabbath. The event is free for all to attend and enjoy, so there's no excuse not to make an appearance.

Joining us at the event to take questions and regale you with stories will be Cissy Stone, Des Tong and Roy Davis. Hosted by Jim Simpson.

Hosted by Black Sabbath's original manager Jim Simpson, will lead the charge with unique insights into the band’s early days.

25/06/2025

There's craic-a-plenty at Nortons Digbeth across The Visit Of Oz, 3rd to 6th July!

Thursday 3rd July sees Rich Dickinson's Driving Force take to the stage, playing blues-rock originals and covers in the style of Joe Bonamassa, Gary Moore and Rory Gallagher. Rich has a long pedigree in the Blues industry and has toured with many big names including Blackfoot, Frank Marinos Mahogany Rush and Skinny Molly. Be prepared to have your face melted!

🎟 £5 Tickets: https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Birmingham/Nortons-Digbeth/The-Visit-of-Oz-at-Nortons-Digbeth---Rich-Dickinson/41121288/ 🎟

Friday 4th July will feature singer/songwriters Jack Banting & Faye Bagley, and on Saturday 5th July there is a marathon of live music from early afternoon to late into the wee hours with Heed and Devil in the Whiskey leading the line.

24/06/2025

Celebrate the home of UK Rock N’ Roll with the Visit of Oz festival, alongside the great celebration of Black Sabbath with the photos adorned on The Crown pub and the murals on Navigation street, as well as the portrait of Ozzy near the Custard Factory, the whole of Birmingham is celebrating the homecoming final performance.

The whole of Birmingham is celebrating the homecoming of Black Sabbath, murals have been put on the side of The Crown pub, where Black Sabbath played their first gig [Photo credit: Stacey Barnfield]. Alongside this a 120ft mural of the band has appeared on Navigation Street.

What better was to celebrate the homecoming final performance of Black Sabbath with a celebration of their music, and celebration of upcoming and tribute bands in and around Birmingham? This vital celebration of the music scene in Birmingham is the best send off.