PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen 2022 Heat 3 starring Linda Bengtzing, Faith Kakembo and Anders Bagge

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: Saturday 19 February 2022 8pm UK/9pm CET Update: Covid means all shows will now be from Stockholm

WHERE? Linköping Saab Arena WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play

Bengtzing returns to the scene of her greatest success for an 8th attempt at the Melodifestivalen win that has eluded her with such fan favourites as Jag ljuger så bra (I lie so well), Hur svårt kan det va? (How hard can it be?) and E de fel på mig? (Is there something wrong with me?).

  • Read on for reasons including Faith Kakembo, Lisa Miskovsky and Anders Bagge
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THEATRE REVIEW: Bring It On – The Musical starring Amber Davies & Louis Smith at Southbank Centre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 15 January (matinee), runs to Saturday 22 January 2022

We’re here because Lin-Manuel Miranda co-wrote this musical and we’re big fans of his In The Heights rather than his mega hit Hamilton.

  • Read on for reasons including why you should catch this stand-out show while you can
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen 2022 Heat 2 starring John Lundvik, LIAMOO and Tone Sekelius

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: Saturday 12 February 2022

WHERE?: Scandinavium, Gothenburg WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play UPDATE: Covid means Stockholm will now be the venue for all 2022 events

Lundvik (pictured above) is the 2nd of 3 returning former winners to this year’s 60th Melodifestivalen but we wonder whether the 1st trans contestant in its history, Tone Sekelius, closing this heat (read further down this article) might steal the pre-show headlines?

  • Read on for reasons including for LIAMOO, Lisa Ajax and Browsing Collection
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen 2022 Heat 1 starring Shirley Clamp, Robin Bengtsson & Omar Rudberg

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN? Saturday 5 February 2022

WHERE? Malmö Arena WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play UPDATE: Covid means Stockholm will now be the venue for all 2022 events

We’re at the venue of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest final, our last live Eurovision, and our highlight is the 1st appearance in 8 years on a Melodifestivalen stage for the legend that is Shirley Clamp.

  • Read on for reasons including MF winner Robin Bengtsson and TV star Omar Rudberg
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THEATRE REVIEW: Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Piccadilly Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 1 January 2022, opens 20 January, booking to 28 May 2022

Garlanded with 10 Tonys in 2020 and based on Baz Luhrmann’s brilliant 2001 film, this jukebox musical focuses on the spectacle of the story of a visitor to Paris in 1899 who falls in love with a performer at the titular club at the expense of the tale’s romance.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a feast for the eyes rather than the ears
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PREVIEW: Spain’s Eurovision selection show Benidorm Fest starring Azúcar Moreno 

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By Neil Durham

WHEN?: 26, 27 and 29 January 2022

WHERE?: Watch on TVE

2021 Eurovision winners Måneskin were selected at Italy’s San Remo Festival and Spain, looking for its 1st Eurovision victory since 1969, has revived its own Benidorm Fest for 2022.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is Spain’s best ever selection and where our douze points is going
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PANTOMIME REVIEW: Pantoland at the Palladium starring Julian Clary, Donny Osmond, Jac Yarrow & Gary Wilmot

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Sunday 26 December 2021, runs to 9 January 2022 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

A year ago we reviewed a preview of Pantoland at the Palladium, a production which never opened officially, because theatres were closed as part of the December 2020 Covid lockdown.

  • Read on for reasons including Donny Osmond and what is different about this 2021 production
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My music best of 2021 and tip for 2022

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Andrew Mosley

It’s easy to become despondent at the state of music, what with fame-hungry talent show contestants a safer bet for any record company than some raucous indie rocker and cliched lyrics about believing in yourself, flying high and touching the sky as abundant as fruit flies in July.

  • Read on for reasons including The Coral, Sleaford Mods, Redskins and Yard Act
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