If you want a flavour of what to expect, then Martin Pickard’s has a load of lovely photos from the rehearsals.

A side note: I saw a complaint on Twitter about The Voyage not being very well advertised (from someone who heard about it, went along and enjoyed it). I wasn’t there but I’ve heard crowd estimates of between 3,000-4,500 people, which sounds pretty good for something starting at 10pm on a less-than-balmy evening. This pic certainly makes Victoria Sq look pretty full.

I’m not dismissing the comment out of hand though. I’ve heard quite a lot about The Voyage over the past few months, but then I’m plugged into pretty much every possible source for this kind of news. I wonder if the problem is that we just haven’t got enough ways to get the news out around Birmingham at the moment.

It’s being produced by the Hippodrome and created by Motionhouse and Legs On The Wall. The latter’s website says:

It involves six performers from Legs, twelve from Motionhouse, a choir of 40, an all women brass band and 140 community performers. It is co-directed by Legs On The Wall’s Artistic Director Patrick Nolan and Motionhouse’s Kevin Finnan.

Sounds impressive.

Incidentally, this is a good example of how to do a website for a project that hasn’t launched yet. None of this ‘watch this space’ or ‘come back when we’re ready’ nonsense. Instead grab a website visitor’s contact details so you can let them know as soon as there’s any news.

Oh, and I’ve also been reminded that Stan’s Cafe are doing a Cultural Olympiad-related project called The Voyage. That one will be on 6 May.

If you want to dance your way into 2012, there are plenty of clubs offering NYE nights. Gatecrasher have got 2manydjs, Eric Prydz, AN21 and Max Vangelli, Bigger Than Barry are at The Old Crown, Eclectricity at the HMV Institute with Chase & Status and Annie Mac, Hott Date are doing a thing at Hennesseys and Glas will meet Face at The Rainbow. Everywhere else has got a thing going on though.

If you’d rather keep things slightly more pub-based, then Island Bar and The Victoria are getting together for a joint celebration. Sam Redmore and This is TMRW are looking after the Hare and Hounds and there’s a ‘live fast and die young’ fancy-dress night at The Fighting Cocks in Moseley. Your local will probably be open too.

Not to be outdone, Birmingham City Council are putting on “low level pyrotechnics” in Victoria Square while the Big Screen will show the BBC One New Year Celebrations between 10pm and 12.30am.

Music is covered too, with The Subterraneans at The Jam House, The Father Teds at The Irish Centre, Soul Survivors at Sutton Town Hall, and Symphony Hall’s New Year’s Eve Gala.

And finally if you need a laugh after this long year, there’s comedy at The Glee Club, Highlight and Jongleurs.

The film was commissioned by THSH, with the support of the DMC McDonald Foundation, and was created by animator Chris Randall at Second Home Studios to a poem by Symphony Hall’s poet-in-residence Julie Boden.

The Mechanical Musical Marvel is currently being shown on Birmingham’s BBC Big Screen in Victoria Square, and has already been selected for the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival which runs 21 – 30 October.

First up is Simmer Down on 16 July in Handsworth Park.

Featuring Ken Boothe! I like him, especially his covers of Is It Because I’m Black and You Keep Me Hanging On.

Then on 23 July as part of the Open Weekend shenanigans there’s Jamaica Live (which I think was orinally called Jamaica Raw) in Victoria Square.

Ostensibly welcoming the Jamaican Olympic team to Birmingham, this one will feature Levi Roots and other chefs, the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra, Steel Pulse and Monique.