ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Wildfire by Loreen (April 2026)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Tracklist: Where Do We Go From Here?; Feels Like Heaven; Weapons; Is It Love?; Can’t Pull Me Down; Melt; Wildfire; Coming Close; Set Me Free; Tattoo; Lose That Light; Kiss The Sky; True Love

It’s been almost 3 years since Loreen became the 1st woman to win Eurovision twice and, despite the wait, this album’s exceptional quality makes it all worthwhile.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is easily Loreen’s best and most cohesive album
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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest 2026 Semi Final 2 starring Delta Goodrem, Antigoni, Dara & Atvara

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By Neil Durham

WHEN? 14 May 2026 HOW TO WATCH? BBC1 in the UK at 8pm

WHERE? Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna

The final half of this 2nd semi final is Eurovision at its most competitive and 1 of our favourites is sure to miss out but we do think superstar Delta Goodrem’s is the performance to watch out for here because the song is contest-winning worthy.

  • Read on for reasons including Søren Torpegaard Lund, Jonas Lovv & Simón
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THEATRE REVIEW: Kate Butch at Wilton’s Music Hall

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Thursday 9 April, runs through 17 May 2026 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

‘Give me a shout if you’ve never heard of me before’, asks the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World runner up as part of the audience warm-up. ”Don’t they sound sad?’

  • Read on for reasons including how Butch is definitely our favourite and wittiest queen from Drag Race
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GIG REVIEW: Pet Shop Boys Obscure at Electric Ballroom, Camden

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WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Tuesday 7 April, runs through 10 April 2026

Setlist: The Theatre; Will-o-the-Wisp; Two Divided By Zero; Jack The Lad; To Face The Truth; After The Event; Hit And Miss; Always; One In A Million/Mister Vain; Sexy Northerner; Young Offender; Through You; It Couldn’t Happen Here; Bet She’s Not Your Girlfriend; King Of Rome; King’s Cross; Love Is The Law; Why Don’t We Live Together?; The Performance Of My Life; Your Funny Uncle; The Way It Used To Be; Later Tonight; A Dream Of A Better Tomorrow

The international juggernaut that is the Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Tour celebrates its 4th birthday next month while rolling on and Obscure is alternatively a run of 5 nights in this 1,500-capacity venue of B-sides, album tracks and fan favourites.

  • Read on for reasons including how we can’t imagine any other band being as wilfully unexpected as Pet Shop Boys
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THEATRE REVIEW: A Doll’s House starring Romola Garai at the Almeida

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 4 April, opens 8 April and runs through 23 May 2026 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

We had tickets to see Jessica Chastain in Jamie Lloyd’s version of this Ibsen classic before Covid hit in 2020 and sadly it never made it to the Playhouse Theatre in London although it did run on Broadway.

  • Read on for reasons including how rather than being in miniature this Doll’s House construction is a gigantic must-see
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THEATRE REVIEW: FLYBY starring Stuart Thompson & Poppy Gilbert at the Southwark Playhouse

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: **1/2

WHEN?: Friday 3 April, opens 9 April and runs through 16 May 2026 RUNTIME: 110 minutes (without interval)

We’re here because its star Stuart Thompson (Radiant Boy: A Haunting, Southwark Playhouse) is brilliant in everything we’ve seen him in and here plays an unpredictable engineer who disappears into the void.

  • Read on for reasons including how the writer/composer has worked with artists including David Byrne and Jacob Collier
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THEATRE REVIEW: Slippery starring John McCrea & Perry Williams at the Omnibus Theatre, Clapham

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN? Sunday 23 March, runs through 11 April 2026 RUNTIME: 80 minutes (no interval)

What would you do if the ex-boyfriend you ghosted for 10 years put you down as his emergency contact and the hospital called to ask you to pick him up after an accident?

  • Read on for reasons including how this captivating 2-hander refuses to let its audience out of its vice-like grip
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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest 2026 Semi Final 1 starring Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen, FELICIA, Vanilla Ninja & Senhit ft Boy George

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By Neil Durham

WHEN? 12 May 2026 HOW TO WATCH? BBC1 in the UK at 8pm

WHERE? Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna

Juries return to the semi finals for the 1st time since 2022 and the 1st semi is notable for the appearance of the contest’s runaway favourite at the time of writing – Finland (pictured) – and controversial inclusion of Israel.

  • Read on for reasons including Akylas, Satoshi & Noam Bettan
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THEATRE REVIEW: One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest starring Aaron Pierre, Giles Terera & Kedar Williams-Stirling at the Old Vic

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Thursday 2 April, opens 15 April and runs through 23 May 2026 RUNTIME: 160 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Film One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest starred a dynamic Jack Nicholson and won 5 Oscars in 1975 but director Clint Dyer (Death Of England: The Plays) has chosen instead to go back to the 1962 novel for inspiration.

  • Read on for reasons including how those who thought they knew this story may just have their minds changed by this powerful and emotional reinvention
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THEATRE REVIEW: Our Town starring Michael Sheen at Rose Theatre, Kingston

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN? Saturday 28 March (matinee) and runs through 28 March 2026 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

‘No other play I’ve read or seen performed has ever affected me in quite the same way,’ writes star Michael Sheen (Nye, National Theatre) of this revival of a classic as the 1st production of the Welsh National Theatre.

  • Read on for reasons including how there’s a world where there is a West End transfer for this show
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