'A great line up of bands': West Bromwich Indoor Market is launching a free live music night - and it’s a real tonic for the January Blues

A renowned live music club is launching a new series of free nights of entertainment at the Black Country’s West Bromwich Indoor Market.

The event is set to be held every Friday to help support the local night-time economy.

Henry’s Blueshouse will be running the weekly gigs at West Bromwich Indoor Market from Friday January 16, with Rich Dickinson's Driving Force lined up for the official launch.

The live blues music will play from 7 to 10pm and stallholders will stay open until 9pm to offer tasty street food, cocktails and other drinks to make sure the audience don’t go hungry or thirsty.

The roots of Henry’s Blueshouse stretch back to 1968 when Jim Simpson of Big Bear Music opened it at The Crown pub on Station Street in Birmingham city centre.

The legendary venue’s most famous early band was Earth, whose members Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Edwards and Bill Ward went on to form Black Sabbath, initially managed by Mr Simpson.

The club, which also once featured the likes of Jethro Tull, Status Quo, and Thin Lizzy, already runs live gigs every Tuesday at Snobs Bar on Broad Street, Birmingham.

West Bromwich Indoor Market launched last August with queues out of the door - and the return of celebrated Black Country bakery Firkins, renowned for its pineapple creams.

The new indoor market on High Street replaced one in Kings Square. It is one of the centrepieces of Sandwell Council’s  West Bromwich Masterplan, created to deliver a modern and vibrant destination for both traders and shoppers. 

Councillor Peter Hughes, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for Regeneration and Infrastructure, said: “We were really proud to open the new West Bromwich Indoor Market in 2025 and to welcome many thousands of visitors eager to discover the fantastic range of stalls and items on offer.

“Supporting businesses big and small is a key part of this, and we’re excited to have these music events with Henry’s Blueshouse coming soon on Friday evenings, to entertain visitors and create a wonderful, inviting atmosphere for everyone.”

'A great line up of bands'

Mr Simpson said: “We’re thrilled to be extending Henry’s to the Black Country and look forward to seeing music fans join us every Friday.

“A big thanks to Sandwell Council for forming this new partnership with us to bring regular live blues to West Bromwich High Street.

“We already have a great line-up of bands for January and February, and will soon have bookings stretching into the spring and beyond.”

Henry’s Blueshouse will run at West Bromwich Indoor Market from 7 to 10pm every Friday, with live blues, street food and drinks available. The bands appearing in January and February are:

• 16 January: Rich Dickinson's Driving Force

• 23 January: Jamie Thyer & The Worried Men

• 30 January: Slide Boy Roy

• 6 February: The Shufflepack

• 13 February: Honeyboy Hickling Blues Band

• 20 February: The Shakedown Brothers

• 27 February: Chickenbone Blues Band

The first band on 16 January is led by Rich Dickinson, who has a long pedigree in the blues industry and has toured with many big names including Blackfoot, Frank Marino's Mahogany Rush and Skinny Molly. Rich also helped launch the Hendrix Signature series Marshall amp, based on Jimi's original that he owned.

For full listings of Henry’s Blueshouse gigs, and to sign up to a weekly Henry’s Bluesletter, visit www.bigbearmusic.com/hbhouse/.