GIG REVIEW: Years and Years, Cat Burns & Queer House Party at OVO Arena, Wembley

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Thursday 26 May 2022, tour runs until 12 November 2022

SETLIST: Night Call; Sweet Talker; Consequences; Sooner Or Later; Shine; Muscle; Play; Sunlight; Sanctify; Worship/Rendezvous; Desire; Hallucination; Up In Flames; Here; 20 Minutes; Eyes Shut; It’s A Sin; Crave; Starstruck; If You’re Over Me; King

Years and Years’ frontman Olly Alexander appears onstage in a see-through telephone box singing Night Call, the title track of his new 3rd album, and it immediately makes us think of Doctor Who.

  • Read on for reasons including everything we’re hoping for from Years and Years’ Glastonbury show
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THEATRE REVIEW: Company directed by Antonio Banderas at Teatre Apolo de Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Friday 20 May, runs to 12 June 2022 RUNTIME: 180 minutes (with 20-minute interval)

Robert is single but dating and on his 35th birthday we see his life through his interaction with multiple couples.

  • Read on for reasons including how this faithful interpretation of the 1970 original is unexpectedly moving
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Dance Fever by Florence and the Machine (May 2022)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

TRACKLIST: King; Free; Choreomania; Back In Town; Girls Against God; Dream Girl Evil; Prayer Factory; Cassandra; Heaven Is Here; Daffodil; My Love; Restraint; The Bomb; Morning Elvis

Choreomania is a social phenomena that took place on mainland Europe between the 14th and 17th centuries where sometimes thousands of people would gather and dance into a frenzy that would end through exhaustion or injury.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see F+TM on tour later this year
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GIG REVIEW: Pet Shop Boys at The 02, London

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Sunday 22 May 2022, tour runs until 16 October 2022

SETLIST: Suburbia; Can You Forgive Her?; Opportunities; Where The Streets Have No Name; Rent; I Don’t Know What You Want But I Can’t Give It Anymore; So Hard; Left To My Own Devices; Single – Bilingual; Domino Dancing; Monkey Business; New York City Boy; You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You’re Drunk; Jealousy; Love Comes Quickly; Losing My Mind; You Were Always On My Mind; Dreamland; Heart; It’s Alright; Vocal; What Have I Done To Deserve This?; Go West; It’s A Sin; West End Girls; Being Boring

We popped our Pet Shop Boys live cherry in 1989 at the old Wembley Arena and this greatest hits gig means we’ve seen the duo, we think, 14 times across each of the last 5 decades.

  • Read on for reasons including how, amidst all the hits, there were 2 very special moments
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for June 2022 starring Glastonbury Festival and the legendary Diana Ross

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  1. Diana Ross plays Glastonbury legends slot

2022 marks the 1st Glastonbury Festival since 2019 and will be our 7th visit with headliners including Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar. We’re particularly looking forward to catching Pet Shop Boys and Years and Years as well as Diana Ross in the legends slot. But it’s always about so much more than the music with the atmosphere being unrivalled. Tickets are sold out

  • Read on for reasons including Emilia Clarke in The Seagull, Lorde, Culture Club and Agnes does Mighty Hoopla
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GIG REVIEW: Suede at Razzmatazz, Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Thursday 19 May 2022, tour runs until 24 May 2022

SETLIST: Trash; Filmstar; Lazy; By The Sea; She; Beautful Ones; Starcrazy; Picnic By The Motorway; The Chemistry Between Us; Saturday Night; It Starts And Ends With You; Killing Of A Flashboy; Can’t Get Enough; The Power; Flytipping; We Are The Pigs; The Wild Ones; So Young; Metal Mickey; Animal Nitrate; New Generation

Most of the gigs we go to these days are in London by Tube and it’s a joy to be able to walk door to door on a balmy evening from Raval to Poble Nou in less than 50 minutes.

  • Read on for reasons including everything we know about Suede’s new album
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THEATRE REVIEW: A Chorus Line directed by Antonio Banderas at Tivoli Theater, Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Wednesday 18 May, runs to 29 May 2022 RUNTIME: 135 minutes without interval

Two years ago Oscar-nominated actor Antonio Banderas revealed he was in negotiations to bring this Spanish language production of the classic musical to Broadway (see clip below).

  • Read on for reasons including why this Spanish production of A Chorus Line would be a Broadway hit
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THEATRE REVIEW: Legally Blonde starring Courtney Bowman at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

WHEN?: Friday 13 May, opening 19 May and booking until 2 July 2022

RUNNING TIME?: 165 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

This musical opens with our titular heroine Elle anticipating her boyfriend’s marriage proposal – and then being crushed when he actually breaks up with her.

  • Read on for reasons including how Courtney Bowman rocks as Elle
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