This week on Heath Talk, the two Chrises are talking Tolkien, train stations and trying (and failing) to pronounce a local artist's name correctly. Kings Heath's new train station is getting some seriously cool artwork courtesy of illustrator Charlotte Ellen Jenkins, featuring nods to local history including JRR Tolkien's Kings Heath roots and The Beatles' Birmingham debut on York Road — prints are available if you fancy some local culture on your wall. There's also a new Jamaican restaurant on York Road, Eber Kitchen, complete with an outdoor smoker doing the jerk, plus volunteering opportunities at Change Kitchen CIC and Kings Heath Community Centre for anyone wanting to get more involved locally.

Looking ahead, it's a packed week in Kings Heath, Birmingham. Hot 8 Brass Band bring their New Orleans jazz energy to the Hare and Hounds, there's a Young Engineers summer camp for kids aged 6-12, and free bus travel kicks in for under-16s throughout August. Saturday's a big one — the regular All Saints Square farmers market, a children's clothing sale at Kings Heath Community Kitchen, and a psychedelic music all-dayer at the Hare and Hounds. Highbury Hall opens its doors (and gardens) for free over the weekend, there's a cartoon and art club for kids at Loco Lounge, plus a summer holiday club at the Community Centre running every Wednesday. And mark your calendars for the partial solar eclipse on August 12th — just please don't stare directly at the sun.

Got something going on in Kings Heath? Email heathtalkpodcast@gmail.com — voice memos welcome.

Your weekly guide to what's on, what's up, and who's who in Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK. This week Chris and Chris are wading through a bumper crop of local events — starting with the Kings Heath Comedy Fest, which takes over venues across the neighbourhood all week long. There's a mobile tip truck rolling into Billesley, the Birmingham Jazz and Blues Festival kicking off city-wide, a community picnic at Dalbury Corner complete with silent disco, and an 80s murder mystery improv night that's very much worth the £16.75. Elsewhere: a meditation and ink art workshop at the Kitchen Garden Café, a police-themed family fun day with actual alpacas, and Kings Heath Park picking up its Green Flag status with a celebratory litter pick. Recurring regulars get a shout too — the Billesley Ark food pantry, Dalbury Corner's community garden, and Hare and Hounds' Wednesday quiz night. Plus last week's catch-up: free breakfast club at the Loco Lounge, a rough sleeping support resource worth bookmarking, and an update on the Kings Heath Park consultation results. Whatever you're into this week — comedy, jazz, litter picking, or just a decent quiz — Kings Heath has got you covered.

Your weekly guide to what's on, what's up, and who's who in Kings Heath. This week the two Chris's celebrate York Supplies' star turn in a BT Business video, a Kings Heathens single parent friendship group you might not know exists, and Kings Heath Community Kitchen hitting 1,000 meals served.

Then it's on to a stacked weekend: an alt rock gig at Hare & Hounds, a mobile waste centre, a secret family film night, an 80s party, the Kings Heath Cat Rescue summer fair, a dementia support info morning, kids' gardening, a local artist's exhibition, soul and disco nights, a Britain in Bloom volunteer morning, and — fingers crossed for England — the World Cup final.

Got something on in Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK? Send us a voice note or email, we'd love to feature it.