Events This Week in Birmingham

Birmingham has a genuine claim as the birthplace of heavy metal — Black Sabbath formed in Aston and played their first gig at a pub on Hill Street in 1968, a heritage the city still marks with its "Home of Metal" mural trail. For live shows today, bp pulse LIVE and Utilita Arena Birmingham handle the biggest touring acts, Symphony Hall (rated among the finest-sounding concert halls in the country) hosts the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and Birmingham Hippodrome — one of the busiest single theatres in the UK — is home to Birmingham Royal Ballet. The Glee Club, founded here in 1994, was the first dedicated comedy club to open outside London. Whatever the show, TheShowFinder tracks tickets across every major provider so you can compare prices before you buy.