Words by Ed King
Erdington’s long running arts and music showcase, the Evening of Creativity, was launched back in May 2017 by the Erdington Arts Forum. The idea was simple, to bring art and music into a public setting, and deliver a creative live programme led by the artists themselves.
But what started as a passion project soon became an internationally recognised platform for Erdington’s homegrown creative talent artists – giving them the chance to perform alongside a variety of acts from across the world.
Having never missed a month – not even during the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread lockdowns – the Evening of Creativity is now one of the longest running live events in Birmingham and another bright feather in the cap of Erdington’s proud creative heritage.
“It came from frustration really,” explains Jobe Baker Sullivan, Erdington multi-instrumentalist and co-founder of the Evening of Creativity (EoC) events. “It came from a place saying we can have this, but you need to put the groundwork in. You need to work for it.”
A talented Erdington musician, who struggled finding supportive venues on the “quite fallow ground” of his home turf, Jobe came up with the idea for a regular arts and music showcase event whilst attending a jazz festival at the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC).
“We can have this,” he told his longstanding creative collaborator, Claire Marshall, was the MAC’S Creative and Partnership Director at the time. And three weeks later the pair had programme their first ever Evening of Creativity, to be held at Okios Café on Erdington High Street.
“I didn’t want it to be just another consultancy, or a dry meeting,” explains Jobe, “where people who don’t practice the arts tell you how to run arts – because they’re sitting on a fund. I wanted it to be arts in action, very directly, where everyone can access it.”
He adds: “It was my way of rebelling against what I refer to as the ‘lanyard wearers’, who are the people who tell us how to do arts between 9-5pm. Then go home and don’t think about it anymore.”
May 2017 saw their opening night at Oikos Cafe, presenting a varied line up of music, poetry, and arts that would become the EoC trademark.
Jobe and Claire looked at venues across the Erdington constituency they could host further EoC events in, but it seemed the first cut was the deepest. On 19 September Oikos Café will open its door for the hundredth consecutive EoC event, with all taking place at the Erdington High Street café apart from the series of socially distanced live streams that got them through the Covid pandemic.
“We tried [running EoC events] in various places,” tells Jobe, “but we realised that it was Oikos who were going to continue to provide the care and in-kind support we really needed. Oikos just got it.”
In the past eight years, the Evening of Creativity has brought artists from across the works to join local musicians form in and around Erdington. And whilst Jobe feels “it’s too early to tell the impact the Evening of Creativity will have” on the performers cutting their teeth at the events, the list of luminaries they have had on their stage is impressive.
It’s also too long to list here, but let’s just say it includes a BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year and four Birmingham Poet Laureates.
But one of the proudest achievements for the team behind the Evening of Creativity events, aside from its uninterrupted tenure, are the opportunities it creates – both on stage, and off.
“The fact that there’s a team… that we’ve grown from just a grass roots live presentation,” explains Jobe, “and now there’s a live stream, sound recording, lights… and there are so many ways for people to get involved. This is something really special.
“It is unlike any other open mic night; it brings all this opportunity,” he adds, “and this is a great achievement. It is truly a community event.”
Evening of Creativity hundredth show – Friday 19 September
The Evening of Creativity (EoC) celebrates its hundredth show on Friday 19 September 2025.
On this very special anniversary, the long running arts and culture showcase will be welcoming back some old faces and introducing you to some new ones, performing live at the EoC’s regular home turf venue on Erdington High Street.
Birmingham’s alt-folk fourpiece, Kings of Spain will be playing a unique headline live set with blues and soul influences. Current lineup features John McElwee (aka Mac) as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Deryck Wilson on bass, Stephen Thorne on percussion, with harmonies and backing vocals from Melonie Paige-Gibbins.
International performance artist and visual creative Tereza Bušková will be coming back to Erdington, soon after her Mothers Without Hands project, to showcase a special film at the Evening of Creativity’s hundredth show.
Moseley born and bred gospel singer Sandra Daniels, and one of the first ever artists to perform at an Evening of Creativity, will be bringing her powerful vocals to the EoC stage – singing live with an ensemble of local musicians and multi-instrumentalists.
Come and join the local artists, musicians, and audience members as the EoC ushers in its hundredth consecutive event since its launch back in 2017.
Date: Friday 19 September
Times: Doors open from 6pm, with performances and music running until 9pm
Ages: All ages are welcome
Venue: Oikos Café, 58 High St, Erdington, Birmingham, B23 6RH
Tickets: £5 / Bought in advance through Eventbrite – or pay on the door. Donations also welcome
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PICTURE GALLERY: Evening of Creativity from 2017 to 2025
The Evening of Creativity hundredth show will be held at Oikos Café on Erdington High Street, on Friday 19 September – as promoted by the Erdington Arts Forum.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/ErdingtonArts
For more information on Oikos Café visit www.oikoscafe.co.uk
