SONG OF THE WEEK: Dark Hearts by Annie (week beginning 1/9/20)

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

OUT: now

We’ve only seen Norwegian electro pop star Annie live once we think, supporting St Etienne in October 2009 at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire.

  • Read on for reasons including everything we know about other new Annie songs American Cars and The Bomb

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for September 2020 starring Talking Heads

  1. Talking Heads at the Bridge starring Monica Dolan and Imelda Staunton

Alan Bennett’s original series of monologues aired on BBC1 in 1988 to much acclaim with a second season debuting on the same channel a decade later. Two new scripts were written for a third BBC1 series in 2020 during which 10 of the originals were remade. To celebrate, the Bridge Theatre stages eight of the latest 12 in four pairs beginning 7/9 and running to 31/10 starring two winners of our Best Theatre Actress monsta Monica Dolan and Imelda Staunton. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Sara Pascoe at the Greenwich Comedy Festival, Andrew Scott and new Hurts 

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SONG OF THE WEEK: Fingers Crossed by Agnes (Week beginning 28/8/20)

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

OUT: now

Fingers Crossed goes immediately for the pop jugular with a hook that is so captivating in its high-pitched kookiness it could be a sample of Kate Bush or Florence Welch at their most commercial – but probably isn’t.

  • Read on for reasons including why we’re long overdue an Agnes renaissance

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our best performance of a song in 2020 so far

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. I’m Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman, Getting Married Today and Tight Connection To My Heart are previous winners in this category.

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

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SONG OF THE WEEK: Impact by SG Lewis, Robyn & Channel Tres (week beginning 21/8/20)

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

OUT: now

What do you get if you introduce arguably the world’s most exciting pop star of the moment to a British singer-songwriter and a Compton rapper/producer?

  • Read on for reasons including why Impact is the sound of this summer’s dancefloors

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THEATRE REVIEW: Jesus Christ Superstar: The Concert at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

WHEN?: 16/8/20 (matinee), until 27/9/20

The simple fact that this concert version of this venue’s award-winning production has made it back to the stage at all when most theatres have been closed since March is reason enough to celebrate.

  • Read on for reasons including how we saw Pepe Nufrio (pictured) and Ricardo Afonso in the lead roles

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our Best Film of 2020 so far

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. Booksmart, The Happy Prince, God’s Own Country, The Pass, and Amy are previous winners in this category.

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

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THEATRE REVIEW: Blindness at the Donmar featuring the voice of Juliet Stevenson

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Donmar Warehouse RUNTIME: 75 minutes (no interval)

WHEN? 8/8, matinee booking to 22/8/20, now extended to 5/9/20

Juliet Stevenson was supposed to be playing the lead in The Doctor in the West End this summer but here she stars as a character known only as the doctor’s wife.

  • Read on for reasons including how social distancing works during our first theatre visit for 21 weeks

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SONG OF THE WEEK: Time Storm by Blow Monkeys (week beginning 6/8/20)

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

OUT: now

Get Yourself Together, the lockdown collaboration between Blow Monkeys’ frontman Dr Robert and Youth, was the first time we’d listened to any of the band’s new work for a long while.

  • Read on for reasons including how to sign up for exclusive access to the making of the new album

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Best gig of 2020 so far

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. Suede, Shura, Bananarama, Suede again and the Divine Comedy are previous winners in this category.

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

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