And 2012 is looking just as big. January, February and March will see the likes of  like Larse, Jordan Peak, Maja Jane Coles, DJ W!ld, System of Survival and many many more all taking up their place behind the decks at the three roomed Rainbow (Birmingham) this party calls home.

If you’ve been before you’ll be there again; if you haven’t yet you are truly missing out…

Check out the lineups below, and keep checking back on the website, we have an exciting giveaway coming soon…

February 4 – FACE

Maya Jane Coles, Adam Shelton, Tristan & Frenchy + Residents

It’s an all nighter at Face this week, with 2020 Vision and Hypercolour heroine Maja Jane Coles headlining.

With a debut album about to drop MJC couldn’t be hotter right now. Here deep vocal house is catchy as hell and has been caned by DJs all over the world. The woman herself is a fine spinner, too, so is a welcome guest.

She will be joined by Back to Basics resident legends Tristan and Frenchy, whilst local lad and One Records boss Adam Shelton is also on the line-up.

Feb 11 – The Room Swap – FACE Meets Zutekh

with Residents, plus Dolce Vita in The Courtyard

Manchester night Zutekh is a close brethren of Face and tonight all the respective residents get together for a house party like none other, this time taking place in the Cellar part of the venue whilst Dolce Vita crew take to the Courtyard. Its called ‘The Room Swap’ and is something highly anticipated by many FACE regulars.

Feb 18 – FACE Meets FREQ

Bunny, Dave James, Cormac (WYS), Jordan Fittz, + Cellar Door Meets Vikings

Face Meets FREQ this week, with residents from both camps chipping in their house and techno wares alongside Bunny, Dave James and WetYourself man, Cormac. London night – Vikings take to the Cellar for the first time too.

Feb 25 – FACE Meets Filth

Larse, Jordan Peak, Luke Pompey, Cubiq (Live), Danny Savage, + Cellar Door Meets FOH

Leeds night Filth is one of the biggest in the country, and tonight they pop over to Birmingham with resident and founder Danny Savage, plus residents Cubiq and Luke Pompey all playing alongside One Records young sensation, Jordan Peak. His rough and ready tech house sound has taken hi all over Europe recently.

Germany’s Larse is the main headliner though, with his releases on Noir and We Love This he has carved out a niche for himself – one you want to get lost in on the dancefloor, for sure…

March 3 – FACE 

DJ W!ld, System of Survival, Anthony Collins, Adam Shelton & Nisekay

(With Cream Classics in The Warehouse & Lots More)

It’s another partnership with Cream that defines this weeks party at The Rainbow, with DJ Wild, System of Survival, Anthony Collins, Adam Shelton and Nisekay all lining up.

Cocoon man DJ W!ld is a Circo Loco regular out in Ibiza and crafts floor ready house and tech like few others today on labels like Luna, Robosoul and more.    He will be joined by another Frenchman in the form of Anthony Collins whose classy house on Culprit and Curle has made him a talent to be reckoned with, whilst System of Survival add another Circo Loco force to the line-up.

Their own productions have found homes with Freak’n'Chic, Tenax and Blau Motif to name a few, as well as being picked up for compilations such as Moon Harbour’s Circo Loco Anniversary CD or both Loco Dice and Marco Carola’s TimeWarp Series.

Finally, One Records head honcho and Below founder Adam Shelton adds his rugged tech vibes to proceedings and Nisekay completes the line-up.

March 10 – The Room Swap – FACE Meets Shadow City

Oneman, + FACE residents in Cellar Door

Expect house, bass, techno and more at this week’s Face party which sees them join forces with Shadow City and have rudeboy Rinse FM star Oneman come play his future garage, post dubstep sounds to the sweaty, skanking masses. FACE resident crew hit the cellar part of the venue for some serious underground House vibes.

March 17 – FACE Presents… VIVa MUSiC

Italoboyz, Darius Syrossian, Smak Pony, Elliot Croft & Scott Bleepz

It’s time for another Face presents ViVA spectacular on march 17th when Steve Lawler sends his finest troops to do their tech house damage at The Rainbow.

Headliners and Mothership/Trapez artists Italoboyz ply an instrument rich, quirky and funky sound with their DJ sets, EPs and LPs and always make for a lively show where ever they play, be it Fabric, XOYO or anywhere across the states.

Joining them will be the tireless Darius Syrossian with his deep record bag which encompasses house music from across a broad spectrum, as will Smak Pony and residents Elliot Croft and Scott Bleepz.

“Amuseum Studies” runs from 3-19th February at Pedestrian Arts, LCB Depot, Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1RE. Entry is free and the exhibition is open from 9am – 5pm Monday – Saturday. Further information is available by visiting www.comedy-festival.co.uk

Paul Wood’s cartoons give Leicester buildings a quirky twist, giving them a flavour from famous past masters including Monet, Salvador Dali, Damien Hirst and Antony Gormley. Paul left school with no qualifications but after a few years of doing very little he began studies at Walsall Foundation College before working as a fine art painter. This work didn’t provide sufficient income for Paul to survive so he decided to start drawing cartoons and hasn’t looked back since. His work appears regularly in UK magazines and newspapers and he is one of the few UK cartoonists to get work in the New Yorker magazine.

Paul Wood said “as a cartoonist who makes his living drawing for magazines, I’m used to everything being reduced to almost the size of a postage stamp. Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival has enabled me to go large, at last I feel I can shout, “I am big, and I am clever!” My only regret is that none of Damien Hirst’s assistants were available to help with the colouring in.”

Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival Director, Geoff Rowe, said “I’m delighted that we’re able to work with Paul to produce this exhibition of brilliant Leicester landmark buildings. The exhibition presents the city in a new and hilarious way and I hope lots of people will visit it during the 17 day festival.”

Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival 2012 runs from 3-19th February. Full programme information will be available from www.comedy-festival.co.uk

Tickets are £8 earlybird, head here to purchase!

Facebook page – www.facebook.com/fairlightclub

Twitter – www.twitter.com/fairlight__

The world-class East Midlands track will host Round Two of the BTCC on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th April. The Ninth Round of the BSB comes to Donington Park’s famous 12-turn track for three days of exceptional motorbike racing from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th September.

Tickets are also on sale for the Donington Historic Festival (Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th May), and the SBK Superbike FIM World Championship (SBK), which takes place at Donington for the second year running with the circuit hosting the sixth round of the international series on Friday 11th, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th May.

Plus, visitors to Donington have an exciting opportunity to witness the fastest off-road motorcycle sport in the world as ‘Grasstrack – Donington Demon’ returns to Donington Park after nearly 20 years, taking place on the Saturday over the SBK weekend (Saturday 12th May).

Advanced adult ticket prices for each of these thrilling events start from as little as £10.00, and individual hospitality packages for exclusive viewing are priced from £79.00.

Donington’s new season ticket launch marks the start of a busy 2012 racing calendar at the Park, which will see the world class circuit host more than 30 events including the FIA British Truck Grand Prix, British F3 and GT Championships and the European Le Mans Series.

Donington Park Managing Director, Christopher Tate comments: “The British Touring Car Championship, World Superbike Championship and the British Superbike Championship are three of the most prestigious and exciting events in the UK racing calendar and the tickets are always in strong demand. Donington has an exceptional racing pedigree – the circuit’s famous corners and inclines make it a real favourite with competitors and spectators alike, and have produced some of the most memorable racing moments ever seen on both two and four wheels, so these events are not to be missed. Donington’s race calendar for 2012 is our best yet, with World, European and British racing events right through the season, and we look forward to a great year of exciting racing from the very best drivers and riders in the world.”

All tickets are available to buy online at www.donington-park.co.uk or by calling the ticket hotline on 0844 873 7343.

Saturday’s event was the grand finale of the Cirque du Spiceal programme, which began on Monday 23rd January. Throughout the week between 7pm – 9pm diners at Spiceal Street have been entertained by a group of chimps, surprised by an invasion of a yeti and King Kong and watched on as fire breathers lit up the sky.

The ‘Caravan of Lost Souls’ was unleashed on St Martin’s Square bringing with it twisted circus acts including fire breathers, contortionists and a one man band performing tricks and illusions.

Diners at the restaurants on Spiceal Street – Browns Bar and Brasserie, ChaoBaby Thai Restaurant, handmade burger Co., Nando’s, Pizza Hut, Jamie’s Italian, wagamama and Mount Fujji – were treated to a series of 20 minute performances between 7pm – 10pm whilst Kerrang! Radio breakfast hosts, Loz and Keith, provided the soundtrack to their evening as they broadcasted live to the nation.

Louise Hamer-Brown, Head of Marketing at Bullring, commented: “The Cirque du Spiceal event has kept our shoppers and diners thoroughly entertained throughout the week with all kinds of weird and wonderful sights. At Bullring we’re known for doing things a little differently and therefore thought this was the perfect event to take place at Spiceal Street, which has firmly placed itself on the map of the city as a socialising hotspot.

Photo’s by Stu at See Yourself Online.

Dizzee Rascal, the No.1 multi-platinum selling artist will headline this year’s Splendour Festival at Wollaton Park, Nottingham on Saturday 21st July 2012. Nottingham City Council is pleased to be working again with DHP to bring Splendour back for a fifth year. Joining Dizzee Rascal on the mainstage will be BRIT award winners Razorlight and rising dub/pop starlet Katy B. Headlining the second stage at this year’s festival will be alternative favourites The Levellers.

Splendour’s full line up across three live music stages and comedy stage will be announced soon and festival goers can expect another special day for all the family with entertainment for children, fairground rides, food and craft stalls and bars. Once again Splendour is teaming up with NUSIC.org.uk, who helps young Nottinghamshire musicians get exposure and experience within the music industry, with a competition for a local act to take the opening slot on the main stage at Splendour. Details of how to enter will be available shortly.

Splendour saw its most successful turnout last year with capacity topping the 20,000 mark. The festival has sold out for the past three years so those wanting to get their hands on tickets are advised to buy sooner rather than later! Tickets go on sale next week – from 1st February (Wednesday) from 9am with discounts for city residents with a valid Citycard.

 Set in the stunning grounds of Wollaton Hall, the festival has grown to become one of the region’s biggest music events, attracting over 20,000 people of all ages. Previous headliners to grace the stage include the Scissor Sisters, Blondie, Pet Shop Boys, Madness, Calvin Harris, The Pogues, The Charlatans, Paolo Nutini and Ash.

Councillor Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council said: ‘Being able to bring Splendour back for a 5th year is great news for the City Council and great news for the City. It’s become one of the region’s most popular and high profile music events and attracting such a world class headline act shows that Splendour is making waves nationally and internationally. It’s a great event, in a great location, with great music, a great family feel and at a really great price. We’re really pleased to be able to work with our partners DHP to put on such a good show for Nottingham.’

George Akins Chairman of DHP said: “We are really excited about this year and feel that this is the strongest line up we’ve put together to date with even more diversity for the whole family. We expect this year to sell out in record time.”

To keep up to date with all the latest Splendour head to their website or like Nottingham Splendour Festival on Facebook.

Lawrence Barton, who already runs the Loft Lounge, Penthouse and Village Inn venues in Southside, took over the running of the Nightingale in January after it went into administration.

He has pledged to invest more than £1 million in the Kent Street venue and is starting with £200,000 refurbishment of the club’s top floor.

The refurbishment is the first phase of plans to remodel the venue, and will take place in February.

He said: “When I bought the Nightingale I pledged to invest money back into the venue and this is the start of an exciting programme of improvements to totally revamp the club and put the Nightingale back on the map.”

The buy-out by the Birmingham-born businessman secured 50 jobs at The Nightingale, a popular city centre venue, which dates back more than 40 years and has attracted stars such as Graham Norton, Alan Carr and Sir Ian McKellen.

The club in the heart of Birmingham’s gay village first opened in 1969 and has built up a loyal following among the gay community.

Mr Barton, who is Birmingham Pride’s director and sits on the board of Southside BID, added : “‘We’re very excited about bringing a new energy and clubbing spirit back to the top floor which will reinforce the Nightingale’s and therefore Birmingham’s ‘superclub’ status and ensure that we are right at the top of our game.”

Licensees from across Nottingham city centre have joined forces to launch a festival of live music and entertainment as part of this year’s Light Night.

More than 23 venues will be hosting events on Friday 10 February, which will also feature light installations and projections across the city.

The venue entertainment has been organised and co-funded by We Are Nottingham, the business improvement district for licensed premises in the city centre. Some of the highlights of the evening will include a special light show and DJs at Saltwater and a UV extravaganza at Walkabout, featuring UV cannons and bubbles. There will also be an evening of art projections in conjunction with Nottingham Trent University, blended with an eclectic mix of folk, soul and rock acts at The Bodega Social Club.

Commenting on the line-up, Sylvia Oates, chief executive of We Are Nottingham, said:

“The live music and entertainment programme adds a new, dynamic aspect to Light Night. The response level from licensed venues has been overwhelming and it’s great to see so many people joining together to show that Nottingham is a welcoming and vibrant city at night.

“The licensees have worked hard to create a really varied set of events that cater for all tastes and ages and it goes to show that the city centre really does offer something for everyone. We’re going all out to make it a night to remember.”

Now in its fifth year, Light Night is organised by Nottingham City Council and supported by We Are Nottingham.

Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Tourism at Nottingham City Council, said: “We are delighted that We Are Nottingham are bringing this new twist to Light Night.

“The programme of live music they have organised will bring a great mix of variety to the night.

“Our programme of activities for Light Night is already taking shape and is bursting with many free, unique activities and events to suit everyone.”

Light Night 2012 will feature a varied programme of events, including illuminated characters on the city streets, an exciting dream walking event where people can follow a map to find hidden, glowing dream images, a selection of family activities including sword fencing and crafts, and much more.

We Are Nottingham is committed to working alongside licensed venues to make the city a vibrant and safe place to visit. Aside from Light Night, We Are Nottingham is responsible for a large number of initiatives, including the Nottingham Food and Drink Festival, the Taxi Marshal and Street Ambassador projects, and changes to city centre CCTV and lighting.

To view the full Light Night programme for 2012, visit www.mynottingham.gov.uk/lightnight

To create Elektro Kif French-based Spaniard Blanca Li has drawn together eight award-winning dancers to conceive the first ever theatrical presentation of the uniquely Parisian streetdance style Electro – a dazzling blend of breaking, disco, vogue, popping and locking – mixing it up with some theatre and contemporary dance. Accompanied by a commissioned score by Tao Gutierrez that mixes techno with electro house, afrobeat, sampling, and classical music Elektro Kif is a show about the hopes and fears, friendships, fights and rivalries of the all male cast, following them through a typical day at college.

Barely a decade old, Electro is an urban streetdance style that was born in the nightclubs of the south-eastern Paris suburb of Val-de-Marne, and is, it is claimed, the first new dance to come out of France since the Can-Can. Characterised by free-flowing steps with fast arm and hand movements, Electro remains anchored in the Greater Paris region and is rarely performed outside of France.

Born in Granada Spain, Blanca Li studied dance in New York and then relocated to France where she founded her own company in 1993. Since then she has created and produced a wide range of dance and non-dance projects featuring flamenco, feature films, classical ballet, multi-media exhibitions and hip hop. In 1999 she created the award-winning Macadam Macadam featuring 11 hip hop dancers, roller skaters and a BMX biker.

Outside of her own company Blanca has choreographed and directed for many international arts organisations including Opéra de Paris, the New York Met and the Biennale de Lyon. She was also ballet-directrice at Komische Oper Berlin and for three years the artistic director of the Andalusia Dance Centre in Seville.

In recognition of her innovative contributions to contemporary dance, Blanca Li is a recipient of the Manuel de Falla Award, the Globe de Christal and the Premio Max and was named Chevalier de l´Ordre du Mérite and Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture.

“I love to be a witness to a new style… and that’s how I gathered eight electro dancers, most of them coming from Val-de-Marne where the first signs of electro style were born”. Blanca Li

Check it out here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM3Fo7761tE

Dates: Monday 13 & Tuesday 14 February, 8pm

Tickets: £8.50 – £18.00, Family ticket (max 2 adults) £50

Box Office: 0115 941 9419 | www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk