AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best New Musical of 2022

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2022? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our 8th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2022.

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GIG REVIEW: Sigrid at OVO Arena, Wembley

By Neil Durham

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

WHEN?: Saturday 12 November, tour runs until 24 November 2022

SETLIST: It Gets Dark; Burning Bridges; Risk Of Getting Hurt; Sucker Punch; Mine Right Now; Thank Me Later; Dancer; Head On Fire; Dynamite; Bad Life; Mistake Like You; A Driver Saved My Life; Everybody Says They’re Fine; High Five; Plot Twist; Don’t Kill My Vibe; Strangers; Grow; Don’t Feel Like Crying; Mirror; High Note

‘I’m not even from the UK but you guys have made me so welcome,’ says 26-year-old Norwegian Sigrid Solbakk Raabe as she realises a childhood dream to play Wembley Arena.

  • Read on for reasons including how she loves touring so much and is so good live we can see her playing Wembley Stadium
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Performance Of A Song 2022

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2022? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our 8th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2022.

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9 reasons why we can’t wait for December 2022 starring Paul Mescal in A Streetcar Named Desire

  1. A Streetcar Named Desire directed by Rebecca Frecknall starring Paul Mescal

Frecknall directed Cabaret which still runs at the Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre and whose EmCees have included an Olivier-winning turn from Eddie Redmayne, Fra Fee and Callum Scott Howells. The star of the Tennessee Williams classic she has chosen to follow it up with won a Best TV/Film Actor from us in 2020 for Normal People (pictured above). Streetcar runs at the Almeida 12 December 2022 to 4 February 2023. Tickets Streetcar review Mescal currently stars in film Aftersun Review Note: now opens Saturday 17 December as leading lady Lydia Wilson withdraws for health reasons to be replaced by Olivier winner Patsy Ferran (Camp Siegfried, Old Vic)

  • Read on for reasons including Julian Clary, Sir Ian McKellen and Jack O’Connell
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Venue of 2022

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2022? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our 8th annual Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2022.

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GIG REVIEW: Sam Ryder at Sala Apolo, Barcelona

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Tuesday 8 November, tour runs until 4 April 2023

SETLIST: Tiny Riot; Whirlwind; Somebody; Put A Light On Me; Deep Blue Doubt; You’re The Voice; All The Way Over; More; Everybody Wants To Rule The World/I Want To Break Free/September/The Way You Make Me Feel; SPACE MAN

Before this show we thank Ryder for turning around the UK’s Eurovision fortunes and ask him whether he will be playing a part in the 2023 event in Liverpool next May and he doesn’t yet know.

  • Read on for reasons including how we think Ryder deserves to take part in Liverpool 2023 for bringing Eurovision to the UK
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GIG REVIEW: Stereolab at Sala Apolo, Barcelona

By Neil Durham

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

WHEN?: Monday 7 November 2022, tour runs to 3 December 2022

SETLIST: Supah Jaianto; Laissex Faire; Eye Of The Volcano; Refractions In The Plastic Pulse; U.H.F. – MF; Miss Modular; Mountain; Hamonium; I Feel The Air (Of Another Planet); Pack Yr Romantic Mind; Super-Electric; Gus The Mynah Bird; French Disko; Simple Headphone Mind

The 1st words lead singer Laetitia Sadier utters are: ‘F*ck the oligarchs’ and as we contemplate an imminent World Cup in a Quatar beset by human rights violations we can’t help but concur as FIFA counts its TV viewing rights receipts.

  • Read on for reasons including how it’s the bands politics that make us better appreciate them
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SONG OF THE MONTH: I’ll Be Waiting by Cian Ducrot (November 2022)

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

RELEASED: Thursday 10 November 2022

We’ve seen Irish-born Ducrot perform twice in the last few months and this uptempo, 80’s-inspired, keyboard-led number is always a live highlight.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Ducrot live at KOKO in Camden next year
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FILM REVIEW: My Policeman starring Harry Styles, Emma Corrin & David Dawson

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

RELEASED: 4 November 2022, Prime Video

You join us in 1950s Brighton as Styles’ dashing policeman Tom Burgess meets Emma Corrin’s schoolmistress Marion, teaches her to swim and they fall in love.

  • Read on for reasons including how Styles’ acting is naturalistic if a little rabbit-in-the-headlights
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Podcast of 2022

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2022? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2022.

  • Read on for the nominees for the monsta for Best Podcast of 2022 2021 winner Second Cherry
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