Month: November 2024

AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Song of 2024

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2024? Over the next 2 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or 10th annual monstas if you will, of 2024.

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GIG REVIEW: Bryan Adams at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Tuesday 12 November 2024, tour travels to India, New Zealand, Australia, US, UK, Europe and runs through 5 July 2025

SETLIST: Kick Ass; Can’t Stop This Thing We Started; Somebody; 18 ’til I Die; Please Forgive Me; One Night Love Affair; Shine A Light; Take Me Back; Kids Wanna Rock; Heaven; Go Down Rockin’; It’s Only Love; You Belong To Me; Cloud Number 9; Rock’n’Roll Hell; The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You; Here I Am; I Will Always Return; When The Night Comes; When You’re Gone; Always Have (Always Will); Everything I Do (I Do It For You); Back To You; So Happy It Hurts; Run To You; Summer Of ’69; Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?; Cuts Like A Knife; Straight From the Heart; Hey Baby; All For Love;

You can tell Adams is a photographer because this is the most beautifully visualised arena show we think we’ve ever seen.

  • Read on for reasons including where else in the world you can catch this tour
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Tension II by Kylie Minogue (November 2024)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

TRACKLIST: Lights Camera Action; Taboo; Someone For Me; Good As Gone; Kiss Bang Bang; Diamonds; Hello; Dance To The Music; Should’ve Left Ya; Edge Of Saturday Night; My Oh My; Midnight Ride; Dance Alone

Minogue’s purple patch continues with this 17th album a mere 12 months after its predecessor perpetuating the Tension-era vibe of electronic dance music with a very commercial edge.

  • Read on for reasons including how and where to see Kylie on tour in 2025
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THEATRE REVIEW: Priscilla, Reina del Desierto at Teatro Tivoli, Barcelona starring Sharonne

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

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

WHEN?: Sunday 10 November and runs through 4 January 2025 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (with 20-minute interval)

We last saw Jason Donovan (Joseph, Palladium) in 2009 in the West End production of this 1994 Oscar-winning musical and here Drag Race Espana winner Sharonne (Benidorm Fest 2023) takes the lead.

  • Read on for reasons including why we we join the standing ovation at this absolutely joyous show’s close
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SONG OF THE MONTH: Warning Signs by Loreen (November 2024)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

The artist known in full as Lorine Zeineb Nora Talhaoui is the only woman to have won Eurovision twice and here releases an uptempo 3rd follow up to 2023 winner Tattoo and we hope there’s an album coming soon.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Loreen on tour in 2025
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FILM REVIEW: The Substance starring Demi Moore

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Be careful what you wish for is the sentiment that comes to mind as Demi Moore’s faded celebrity Elisabeth Sparkle is dismissed from the aerobics TV show she hosts on her 50th birthday.

  • Read on for reasons including how this has an over the top climax that seems apt given the madness that has preceded it
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: Best Album Of 2024

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2024? Over the next 2 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or 10th annual monstas if you will, of 2024.

Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: The Devil Wears Prada: A New Musical starring Vanessa Williams & Matt Henry at Dominion Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Tuesday 5 November 2024 and booking through 31 May 2025 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (includes a 20-minute interval)

This musical of a beloved 2006 film with a star turn by Meryl Streep goes down a storm at this cavernous venue particularly whenever Williams (City Of Angels, Garrick Theatre) as fashion editor Miranda Priestly emerges striking a pose through the stage’s trapdoor.

  • Read on for reasons including how you will be as absolutely swept up and bowled over by this as we were
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THEATRE REVIEW: Fly More Than You Fall starring Keala Settle at Southwark Playhouse (Elephant)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 2 November (matinee), runs through 23 November 2024 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Settle (& Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre) plays Miss Coddle, a new character created for the film Wicked released later this month and she’s by some distance the best reason to catch this new musical at this 300-seater venue.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is worth seeing for Settle but manages to be both big-hearted and yet heavy-handed
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THEATRE REVIEW: Brace Brace starring Phil Dunster & Anjana Vasan at the Royal Court

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 2 November and runs through 9 November 2024 RUNTIME: 70 minutes (without interval)

Dunster (pictured right above) is arguably best known for playing Mancunian striker with a heart Jamie Tartt in Apple’s brilliant comedy Ted Lasso and here shows his versatility as an unsympathetic newlywed who freezes during a plane hijack.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is worth a look for its strong cast bringing more to an implausible script than it merits
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