Encore Midlands: supporting creative futures

17 November 2009
Making music for Acorns
City workers looking for a break from the office and shoppers seeking a relaxing retreat from the high street will be able to put their feet up and relax while raising money for Acorns Childrens Hospice at a series of live music events in Birmingham City Centre.
Organised by local music agency Encore Midlands and Newhall Street-based coffee shop Coffee Costes, the events will showcase some of the most promising up-and-coming classical, jazz and acoustic musicians across the region.
The fortnightly performances begin on Wednesday 18 November and will see a variety of local muiscians performing half hour sets between 4pm and 7pm.
Commenting on the new series, Elizabeth Green, founder of Encore Midlands, said: “I’m really excited about the series and am looking forward to listening to some of the fantastic musical talent we have in the area.
“Live music always adds a certain magic to any environment and we hope this new series will provide a valuable performance platform while creating a relaxing haven for city visitors and raising money for a very worthy cause.
Chris Wrapson, Business development manager at Coffee Costes, added: “Working with Encore Midlands to showcase the wealth of talent in the city is a core part of our communtiy values. Supporting Acorns Children’s Hospice is particularly poignant at this time of year and so therefore we feel that our guests can relax and unwind while at the same time “give something back” ”.
Chris Ryder, community fundraiser for Acorns said: “We’re delighted that Encore Midlands and Coffee Costes have chosen to support Acorns Children’s Hospice. We rely on the community to help support over 80% of our income and generate vital awareness for us. We hope that lot’s of people will visit Coffee Costes to see the performances.”
Any musicians interested in taking part in the series should contact Elizabeth Green at info@encore-midlands.com. For further information about the series and programme information visit www.coffeecostes.com.
ENDS
For further information, please contact elizabeth@encore-communications.co.uk or call 07740 872852
Notes to Editors:
Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust offers a network of care to life-limited children and support for their families across the heart of England. The charity has three hospices, situated in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, and a Community Team that offers practical and emotional support to families in their homes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Encore Midlands is Midlands-based music agency, formed in 2007. Specialising in classical music and jazz, Encore is committed to supporting young musicians at the start of their professional careers, providing performance opportunities to help bridge the gap between professional training and a full-time performance career. The agency matches talented musicians with local performance opportunities, encouraging young musicians to develop a base in the region and play an active role in the region’s cultural and professional community.

Coffee Costes is situated in the heart of the Colmore Business District at 58 Newhall Street providing a relaxing oasis in the heart of the city’s business and shopping areas. The café is committed to using the finest quality, organic, locally-sourced ingredients and, with free wifi and even a boardroom on site, business customers may never need to go back to the office again