Uniting Birminghams worldwide through friendship and heritage
On Tuesday, September 24th, Birmingham, UK, celebrated the inaugural International Day of Birmingham (IDOB), an event spearheaded by renowned comedian and proud Brummie, Joe Lycett. This historic day aimed to unite Birminghams worldwide through “Friendship Agreements,” linking Birmingham, UK, with various other cities, towns, and villages named Birmingham across North America, forming the ‘United States of Birmingham’.
The day commenced with a civic reception at Birmingham Council House, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham. Joe Lycett, along with a delegation of his American counterparts from other Birminghams, local dignitaries, and notable figures from Birmingham’s rich cultural history, including members of Black Sabbath, UB40, and Dexy’s Midnight Runners, were in attendance. The event highlighted the shared Brummie heritage with a collective chant of “Alright Bab.”
Festivities continued in Victoria Square, where a grand Brummie celebration took place. Joe Lycett, joined by his international Brummie guests, paraded through the crowd, led by a brass band performing their rendition of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.” The event culminated with the hoisting of the United States of Birmingham flag, designed by Joe himself, accompanied by buglers playing the specially composed United States of Birmingham Fanfare.
Joe Lycett expressed his hopes for the International Day of Birmingham to become an annual tradition, celebrating the culture, pride, and history of Birminghams worldwide. The event will feature in Sky’s new series ‘Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham,’ set to launch in 2025 on Sky Max and NOW, documenting Joe’s mission to unite Birminghams across the globe.
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