- Sister Act starring Beverley Knight and Jennifer Saunders at the Eventim Apollo
Knight (The Drifters Girl, Garrick Theatre) steps in for original star Whoopi Goldberg and leads a stellar cast including the hilarious Jennifer Saunders (Blithe Spirit, Harold Pinter Theatre), amazing Keala Settle (& Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre) and fabulous Lizzie Bea (Hairspray, The Coliseum). This revival of the musical based on the Goldberg-starring film runs at the Eventim Apollo 19 July through 28 August 2022. Tickets
- Read on for reasons including 101 Dalmatians, Lady Gaga, Duran Duran and Tears For Fears live
2. 101 Dalmatians at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
This venue is quite simply London’s best venue to see a live show when the weather is good and this new musical based on the beloved book stars Kate Fleetwood (Ugly Lies The Bone, National Theatre). Runs 12 July through 28 August 2022. Tickets
3. Lady Gaga returns to London
Lady Gaga is we think our only 3-time monsta winner for Best TV/Film Actress for House of Gucci in 2021 and A Star Is Born 3 years earlier as well as Best Album for Joanne in 2016. We’ve seen her live 6 times but not since 2015 with Tony Bennett at the Royal Albert Hall thanks to Covid-19 and other cancellations. She plays 20 Chromatica Balls across the world this summer including 2 nights where we join her in London, everything crossed, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Tickets
4. Duran Duran play Hyde Park
A Humdrum Mum last reviewed Birmingham’s original fab 5 in 2016 in Southampton and then mr monstagigz saw them as surprise headliners at a Christmas show at the Eventim Apollo later that year. We’ve found previous Hyde Park gigs too big and soulless (Madonna in 2012) but are excited for this 10 July show which also promises Nile Rodgers and Chic. Tickets
5. Tears For Fears play 02 Shepherds Bush Empire
The Tipping Point was the band’s first new LP in 18 years and this summer they are playing a world tour including a relatively intimate gig at the 02 Shepherds Bush Empire, 1 of our favourite venues, in London on 4 July. The LP was an album of the month for us in February and tickets are on sale for an international tour stretching out to September 2022. Tickets
6. Patriots at the Almeida
A new play by Peter (The Crown) Morgan starring Tom Hollander in his 1st theatrical role since wowing in Stoppard’s Travesties in the West End 5 years ago and this is giving us chills. Hollander plays the kingmaker behind Vladimir Putin in what sounds like a pertinent play. Runs at the Almeida 2 July to 20 August 2022. Tickets
7. Apple TV airs new series of Trying
Rafe Spall is truly an understated comic actor to cherish. We marvelled about him as the lead in the rewrite of To Kill A Mockingbird which is still going strong in the West End and here he stars in the 3rd series of a delightful adoption comedy set in present day Camden. Arrives on Apple TV 22 July.
8. New Bananarama album
Keren and Sara’s 12th studio album is called Masquerade and is released 22 July. We see them this week on their 40th anniversay tour supporting Culture Club at Kenwood House in north London and in August at album launch shows at London’s Lafayette. Tickets
9. The return of Stranger Things
The 1st season of this 80s-set sci-fi/horror blockbuster won our Best TV monsta in 2016 and this latest season has been particularly strong with its memorable use of Kate Bush’s atmospheric Running Up That Hill, riffing on 80s film classics as well as ambitious and memorable storytelling. A further 2 episodes are available on Netflix from 1 July.
monstagigz 
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