I went to Joe Lycett's 'International Day of Birmingham' in Victoria Square and it felt like a protest


Perhaps it's because dhol drumming is just so stirring, and seeing Brummies all together, grinning, is my favourite thing, but I felt little prickles in the corner of my eyes as I heard Joe Lycett's parade heading on to Victoria Square from Colmore Row this afternoon (Tuesday, September 24). I always cry at celebrations, I'm terrible for it, but this felt like more than just a celebration.

The Kings Heath legend was in town for his new Sky TV show, in which he's travelled to all the Birminghams in America to get them all to sign a treaty before returning home to our Brum, where the mayor added his scrawl to the docket. You can read more about that here.

The finale is what we were in Victoria Square for, waving our new United States of Birmingham flags while Joe, joined by delegates from the Birminghams of the world, hoisted the flag up over Victoria Square. We reported live here, if you'd like to see photos and videos.

READ MORE: Birmingham city centre live as crowds gather in Victoria Square

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As the cream No.11 bus pulled on to the square, Joe on the top deck in a fabulously frilly outfit, my eyes were instead drawn to all the Brummies that went before them. A daft, Tatvision-designed effigy of Mr Egg, Tatvision artist himself, Well Douglas, dressed as what I can only assume was a matador alongside a three-person Chinese dragon-style bright orange bull.

READ MORE: International Day of Birmingham with Joe Lycett

There were Birmingham Tigers cheerleaders, the Heavy Beat Brass Band playing Brummie bangers from the likes of Black Sabbath and Musical Youth, stilt walkers and, in pride of place on an open top motor, some drag icons: Ginny Lemon, Yshee Black and Don One.

It wasn't lost on me that Joe had let all of these artists go before him. I remember when he launched his new TV show and he decked the whole place out, top to bottom, with the work of local artists. Joe was the star, but he shared his platform by placing members of the LGBTQIA+ community where they could be seen, their work appreciated. He did the same for Hardev, the guy who runs his local shop.

At the parade, he shared the limelight once more. This time, letting the bright, colourful and life-giving art that nourishes our city explode up ahead of the 'dignitaries'.

That's why I wanted to cry, I think. This year, when the council went bankrupt, it pulled funding from our arts and culture scene. Not just a bit, a devastating amount. And yet, in front of the grand, beautifully-designed building in which the council sits, art was what was bringing us joy. The puppetry, the music, the community groups. It felt, in a way, like a protest - art cannot be crushed.

I can't know for sure whether I'm just reading too much into today's parade. Maybe it was just a silly old get-together to promote a Sky TV show and I'm a sentimental idiot. That's the beauty of art, I suppose; it's partly about what you make, and partly about what you make of it.