Month: July 2024

THEATRE REVIEW: The Grapes Of Wrath starring Cherry Jones & Harry Treadaway at the National Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Tuesday 30 July 2024, opens 31 July and booking until 14 September 2024 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Sharing the milk of human kindness is very much the essence of this theatrical adaptation of John Steinbeck’s beloved 1939 novel.

  • Read on for reasons including how this production is exquisitely performed and executed with a visual flair that makes for a feast for the eyes as well as the mind
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GIG REVIEW: Madness & Lightning Seeds at Uptown Festival, Blackheath

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Lightning Seeds setlist: Change; Sugar Coated Iceberg; Sense; Perfect; Whole Wide World; You Showed Me; Lucky You; Pure; The Life Of Riley

Madness setlist: One Step Beyond; Embarrassment; The Prince; C’est La Vie; NW5; My Girl; The Sun And The Rain; Hour Of Need; Wings Of A Dove; Lovestruck; Run For Your Life; Bed And Breakfast Man; Shut Up; Round We Go; Mr Apples; House Of Fun; Baggy Trousers; Our House; It Must Be Love; Madness; Night Boat To Cairo

The Uptown Festival returned for its 2nd outing on Blackheath in south-east London and Camden’s ska/pop band Madness were the suitably raucous headliners.

  • Read on for reasons including how this was a hugely enjoyable event on our doorstep in beautiful weather that we would like to see return to this brilliant venue year after year
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GIG REVIEW: Toto at Poble Espanyol, Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Friday 26 July, tour runs through 29 November 2024

SETLIST: Girl Goodbye; Hold The Line; 99; Pamela; Jake To The Bone; Georgy Porgy; Burn; I’ll Be Over You; Stop Loving You; Little Wing; I’ll Supply The Love; Little Wing; A Thousand Years; Stop Loving You; Home Of The Brave; With A Little Help From My Friends; Rosanna; Africa

It’s a perfect summer night for an outdoor gig and this American super group arrive on stage shortly after this unusual venue’s advertised 9pm opening time.

  • Read on for reasons including how this was a well-honed, hits-based set that was definitely worth seeing in such a beautiful outdoor venue like this
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TV PREVIEW: 6 reasons why you should watch Lost Boys and Fairies (and why we need a 2nd series)

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2 years ago we recommended Netflix’s Heartstopper and in many ways Daf James’ BBC iPlayer 3-parter is its older, more flawed yet completely relatable grown up older brother.

  • Read on for reasons including Sion Daniel Young, Fra Fee and Elizabeth Berrington
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SONG OF THE WEEK: My Oh My by Kylie Minogue, Bebe Rexha & Tove Lo (week beginning Wednesday 24 July 2024)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

‘When you asked: ‘What’s your name, what’s your sign?’ ‘I’m Kylie, it’s Gemini.’ ‘What’s your drink, let me buy.’ ‘You had me when you said: ‘Hi!’ ‘Hi!’

  • Read on for reasons including how we can see this becoming a UK summer hit
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for August starring Death Of England: The Plays

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  1. Death Of England: The Plays @SohoPlace

Death Of England: Michael, Death Of England: Delroy and Death Of England: Closing Time were written by Clint Dyer and Roy Williams and were originally performed at the National Theatre. Delroy won monstas for our Best New Play in 2020 and Best Theatre Actor for Michael Balogun in 2020. You can see these plays starring Paapa Essiedu (The Effect, National Theatre) and Erin Doherty (Crave, Chichester Festival Theatre) singly or in combinations during this innovative run. Runs 15 July through 28 September 2024. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including new musical Why Am I So Single?, Victorious Festival and A Chorus Line
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GIG REVIEW: Rufus Wainwright at Les Nits De Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Sunday 21 July, tour runs through 28 July 2024

SETLIST: Agnus Dei; Montauk; Millbrook; Sanssouci; He Loved; Peaceful Afternoon; The Art Teacher; Old Song; Early Morning Madness; Gay Messiah; Ready For Battle; So Long, Marianne; Poses; Dinner At Eight; Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk; Going To A Town; Hallelujah; La Complainte De La Butte

Tomorrow is Wainwright’s 51st birthday and the only gift he asks from us is our forgiveness that he’s not playing the song Barcelona from his debut album.

  • Read on for reasons including how this gorgeous outdoor venue was as classy as the superstar that graced its stage
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Vertigo by Griff (July 2024)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

TRACKLIST: Vertigo; Miss Me Too; Into The Walls; 19th Hour; Astronaut; Anything; Pillow In My Arms; Cycles; Tears For Fun; Hiding Alone; Hole In My Pocket; Everlasting; So Fast; Where Did You Go

We 1st saw Griff supporting Dua Lipa at The 02 in May 2022 and almost exactly 2 years later she opened for Taylor Swift (pictured left with Griff right) at Wembley Stadium.

  • Read on for reasons including how this collection fully justifies her long-awaited promotion from superstar stadium support act to thrilling headliner
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PREVIEW: My Victorious Festival 2024

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By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: August Bank Holiday extravaganza with world-class music, comedy and heaps of family fun

My Victorious this year comprises: Fatboy Slim (pictured 2nd from right above with A Humdrum Mum far right), Wet Leg, Pixies, Welly, Sugababes, Yard Act, Maxïmo Park, Idles, Futureheads, Panic Shack, Soft Play, Barrioke and I might even pop over to see SpongeBob! 

  • Read on for reasons including how to get tickets for this festival by the sea next month
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GIG REVIEW: Suede & the Manic Street Preachers at Alexandra Park

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Thursday 18 July 2024, co-headline tour runs until 19 July 2024. Suede booking until 23 August 2024. Tickets Manics booking until 24 August 2024 Tickets

SETLIST: Manics: You Love Us; Everything Must Go; Motorcycle Emptiness; This Is Yesterday; You Stole The Sun From My Heart; To Repel Ghosts; Little Baby Nothing; Your Love Alone Is Not Enough; Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier; A Design For Life; La Tristessea Durera; Walk Me To the Bridge; Kevin Carter; Orwellian; From Despair To Where; No Surface All Feeling; If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

Suede: Turn Off Your Brain And Yell; Trash; Animal Nitrate; The Drowners; We Are The Pigs; The Only Way I Can Love You; Still Life; New Generation; Film Star; Antidepressants; Saturday Night; She Still Leads Me On; Shadow Self; The Wild Ones; So Young; Metal Mickey; The Beautiful Ones

The concept of a two-for-one deal is well understood and tonight a couple of bands who rose to UK chart-topping fame in the 90s each complete 17-song sets.

  • Read on for reasons including how this was a winning combination in a beautiful location with a bargain gig to ease the cost of living
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