Month: June 2020

GIG REVIEW: Alphabeat, 86 metres above Copenhagen, Denmark

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: 26/6/20

WHERE?: 86 metres above Copenhagen

SETLIST: I Don’t Know What’s Cool Anymore; Vacation; The Spell; 10,000 Nights; Sometimes 2020; Shadows; Fascination

Singers Anders SG and Stine plus band members Anders B, Rasmus, Anders and Troels must enjoy playing midsummer gigs because a year ago they performed their first UK gig since 2013 while at the weekend they staged a Danish show on a hotel roof.

  • Read on for reasons including how to watch this high-rise 27-minute show

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FILM REVIEW and ALBUM REVIEW: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga starring Will Ferrell

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

OUT now on Netflix

This film is well-timed because in the 65-year history of the Eurovision Song Contest it has been held annually apart from 2020 when Covid-19 caused its cancellation.

  • Read on for reasons including why we shed a little tear at this film’s surprising and moving conclusion

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for July 2020 starring I May Destroy You

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. I May Destroy You continues

Box sets and binge watching have highlighted how much brilliant TV there currently is but this series, written, co-directed and starring Michaela Coel has actually benefitted from a dripfeed release of 2 30-minute episodes per week. Give it a chance because we really weren’t sure about it until episodes 5 and 6 (aired in the UK Monday 22/6 and Tuesday 23/6/20) which drew on some rather complicated strands and pulled them tight to devastating effect. There’s 6 episodes to go and all are aired on the next 3 Mondays and Tuesdays on BBC1 and available at BBC iPlayer. We should’ve known it would be good because we last saw Coel dancing on stage at one of our favourite gigs.

  • Read on for reasons including new Rufus and The Streets albums and the return of Like 1999

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SONG OF THE WEEK: Take Care Of You by Ella Henderson (week beginning 21 June 2020)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

OUT: now

Last year Ella had a top 10 hit with Jax Jones as a featured artist on his song This Is Real and the tropical house of this new self-penned single feels like a conscious decision to try to repeat that success.

  • Read on for reasons including why it’s time for Ella to release that second album

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our Best Song of 2020 so far

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

We awarded 14 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2019 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2020 so far and what’s to come. Goodbye To Yesterday by Stig Rästa and Elina Born, Can’t Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake, New Rules by Dua Lipa, Make Me Feel by Janelle Monae and C U Next Tuesday by Shakespears Sister are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 5 best songs of 2020 so far and our hopes for the next three months

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SONG OF THE WEEK: My Freedom by Magnus Carlsson (week beginning 14/6/20)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LISTEN?: ****

OUT: now

Former Alcazar frontman Carlsson references two of his biggest Melodifestivalen hits in this positive, high-energy tale of coming out and finding happiness which is, appropriately, this year’s Stockholm Pride anthem.

  • Read on for reasons including a chance to listen to My Freedom and hear which former hits he namechecks

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our Best Album of 2020 so far

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

We awarded 14 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2019 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2020 so far and what’s to come. Florence and The Machine’s How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, Lady Gaga’s Joanne, Lorde’s Melodrama, Saara Aalto’s Wild, Wild Wonderland and Sigrid’s Sucker Punch are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 5 best albums of 2020 so far and our hopes for the next three months

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