Love or hate New Year’s resolutions, we’re closing out the second week of 2026, and everyone is talking about them. We are fairly neutral on the resolutions front, however, this year we have challenged ourselves to implement some music resolutions, and maybe we can convince you to join us.. 

Go and see live music 

Looking for things to do in the West Midlands? Go and watch a gig at your local venue. There are some fantastic grassroots venues in the West Midlands; The Hare & Hounds, The Night Owl, The Sunflower Lounge, The Tin Music & Arts, Dead Wax, Glee Club Birmingham, BMusic, Nortons (just to name a few), working with an array of local promoters to bring quality live music to our doorsteps. Even when we’re feeling lazy and don’t want to get off our sofas, we always leave live shows feeling elated that we went. Browse venue listings and pick a gig as a unique date idea or a catch up with friends.

Want to find gigs in Birmingham? Check out our upcoming shows here. 

Buy more physical music 

Buying physical music is a great way to support artists, particularly emerging artists. This can be as simple as a CD, a vinyl to display in your home, or buying merch from shows. Being an artist in the current climate isn’t easy, and it’s great to support as and when you can. 

Supporting artists financially is often key, but if you can’t do so, commenting on their social media posts and recommending their music to your friends is a quick and easy route to take. Your favourite superstar won’t see your comments or shares, but your new favourite local will, and it might make their day. 

Listen to albums, not just playlists

We don’t know about you, but we are guilty of adding a song to a playlist and waxing lyrical about how good it is, only to never listen to anything else by that artist. 

Now, don’t get us wrong, we LOVE a playlist, but discovering a new album, or potentially a new favourite artist, all from one song? That’s so exciting. The algorithms of top music streaming services are powerful and good at recommending songs tailored to your listening history, so check out the album of that artist you didn’t know existed – you’ll likely love it. 

(p.s. we are living proof that this resolution is a standout; currently listening to Now Would Be A Good Time by Folk Bitch Trio, after the track The Cathode Ray has been on heavy rotation in our playlists since summer. And guess what? We love it!) 

Dance!

Finally, dance! Studies show that dancing reduces stress, increases serotonin production (the feel-good hormone) and helps develop new neural connections, especially those rooted in executive function, long-term memory and spatial awareness. 

Feeling self conscious? Whack on your favourite dancing tune first thing in the morning and shake out some moves alone in your room. Not only does this start your day on a positive note, but the more you repeat the actions, the more comfortable you’ll become. You’ll be out and about dancing (hopefully in Moseley Park with us) in no time. 

Team Moseley Folk & Arts are always looking to explore new ways of experiencing music or discovering new people. Please send any requests or suggestions onto info@moseleyfolk.co.uk.