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Japanese whisky, a drive-in cinema, ballet and Gladys Knight – it’s all going on. Oh, and Take That love Birmingham so much they are back for more.

Idina Menzel

June 22

Symphony Hall, Birmingham

0121 345 0600

She is best known as the voice of Elsa in Frozen, singing that song you’ll know all the words to if you have young children. But Idina knows better than to Let It Go, as that’s what audiences want to hear as she takes to the road on a world concert tour, along with songs from musicals like Rent and Wicked, covers of her favourite songs and a few original numbers. It looks like it’s sold out but click here to check for returns.

Read more about Idina here.

Take That

June 22-23

Genting Arena, Birmingham NEC

0844 338 8000

Take That were triumphant when they played five nights at the Genting last month, and demand is so high that now they’re back for another two nights. It’s a spectacular, visually stunning show that includes almost all their hits.

Here’s what we thought of the Take That trio last time round.

Suzanne Vega

June 22

Birmingham Town Hall

0121 345 0600

The American singer/songwriters returns to one of her favourite venues, the Town Hall, 30 years after the release of her eponymous debut album. Expect to hear hit songs like Luka, Toms Diner and Marlene on the Wall, with support from Ben Montague. Click here for tickets.

BE Festival

June 23-27

Birmingham Rep

0121 236 4455

The best of European theatre is presented in this annual festival, which is worth seeing for two reasons. Firstly you enter by the back door of the Rep and see the behind-the-scenes areas of the set construction workshop. Performances take place in The Studio and The Door (or outside in Centenary Square in the case of brilliant Spanish trampolinists Bot Project on Wednesday) while everyone eats dinner together on the main stage in the interval. Click here for tickets.

Here’s more about what to expect.

BRB Sylvia

June 24-27

Birmingham Hippodrome

0844 338 5000

Birmingham Royal Ballet presents Sylvia, described as ‘a time-travelling romantic comedy’. The God of Love, disguised as a gardener, takes Count Guiccioli and his wife back in time to ancient Rome to reconcile their differences and teach them a lesson. Expect a colourful cast of gods and goddesses, slave girls and pirates and a lovely score by Delibes. For tickets, click here.

Beer Club

June 24

The Church, Jewellery Quarter

The theme of the night is ‘Beer as wine’, so an Everards expert will guide diners through the event, pairing beer perfectly with six courses of food from Peel and Stone.

Andrew McBurney

June 25

Actress & Bishop

0121 236 7426

InfoWow is a new comedy night which launches tonight at the Actress and Bishop, describing itself as “an alchemical assortment of high-concept errors and brazen silliness”. The first show is headlined by Andrew McBurney with Jo D’Arcy, Russ Milligan and Ian Crawford. The pricing policy is to pay what you want.

Japanese Fight Night

June 25-26

The Wellington, Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham

0121 200 3115

Over two nights, The Wellington will pit two Japanese distilleries against each other to determine who makes the best whisky. Each night, three whiskies from Nikka and Yamazaki will go head-to-head to determine a winner. Expert Craig Mills will taste and ponder each dram along with you, to help you determine your vote.

Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular

June 25

New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

0844 871 3011

Unleash your inner Frank Sinatra as the coolest trio ever – Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Junior – swing into town. With a live orchestra and plenty of Vegas showgirls, expect classics like Come Fly With Me, Sway, That’s Amore, Fly Me To The Moon and Mack the Knife. Click here for tickets.

Rob Rouse

June 25

mac, Cannon Hill Park

0121 446 3232

The latest of the mac’s EdinBrum Previews, in which comedians try out their Edinburgh Festival shows, features Rob Rouse. The star of shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats and Celebrity Juice is appearing with Angela Barnes. Click here for tickets.

Barbara Nice

June 25

Memorial Hall, Kings Heath

0121 444 3608

And talking of Edinburgh shows, Kings Heath housewife Mrs Barbara Nice, aka comedian Janice Connolly, was a big hit there last year with her show Squirrel Proof. Now she performs it on home turf, exploring the battle to keep nature at bay and an obsession with getting rid of squirrels.

David Arnold

June 26

Symphony Hall, Birmingham

0121 345 0600

From James Bond to Sherlock and Independence Day to Godzilla, some of the best music on TV and film today has been composed by David Arnold. Now he joins CBSO to perform some of his most memorable scores, including Casino Royale, Hot Fuzz and Tomorrow Never Dies. For tickets, click here.

Drive-in cinema

June 26-27

The Rainbow, Digbeth

The 42nd Street to Paradise Film Festival kicks off at the Rainbow with a drive-in night of movies including the horror films TerrorVision and Deadbeat at Dawn. Food is provided by Digbeth Dining Club, so we know that’ll be good. The fun continues on the Saturday with more cult films at the Mockingbird Theatre at the Custard Factory.

John Legend

June 26

Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham

0844 338 8000

This singer is becoming, excuse the pun, a bit of a legend thanks to songs like his platinum-selling All of Me. Now the nine-time Grammy winner and Oscar winner (for writing Glory from the film Selma) is including Birmingham in his biggest tour to date. Click here for tickets.

Gladys Knight

June 28

Symphony Hall, Birmingham

0121 345 0600

The seven-time Grammy winner embarks on her first UK tour in six years. She’ll be performing all her classic hits, from Midnight Train to Georgia and Help Me Make It Through the Night to Licence to Kill and You’re The Best Thing. The event may be sold out but check the box office for returns.