Author: mrmonstagigz

FIRST LOOK THEATRE: Midnight At The Never Get starring Ben Platt at the Menier Chocolate Factory

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: Awards potential

WHEN? Monday 13 July, opens 20 July and runs through 12 September 2026 RUNTIME: 100 minutes (no interval)

As this musical reaches its conclusion we can hear sniffing, stifled sobbing and crying around our front row seat showing the work’s immediate emotional impact.

  • Read on for reasons including Midnight At The Never Get will make you think, make you laugh and make you cry
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GIG REVIEW: David Byrne & Ezra Collective at Cruilla Festival, Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Friday 10 July, festival runs through 11 July 2026

Former Talking Heads frontman Byrne is 1 of the headliners at Latitude Festival in a fortnight and this is simply 1 of the best gigs we’ve ever seen.

  • Read on for reasons including how Byrne revels in taking part in the complex choreographed dance routines that enhance each song
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GIG REVIEW: Suede, Garbage & Pixies at Cruilla Festival, Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

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

WHEN? Thursday 9 July, runs through Saturday 11 July 2026

Festival organisers are giving away free sombreros as temperatures surpass 40 degrees – the highest recorded for 112 years – and Suede compliment this vast crowd on their enthusiastic singing along.

  • Read on for reasons including our 1st time seeing both Garbage and Pixies live
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GIG REVIEW: Sigrid at Cruilla Festival, Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Wednesday 8 July, festival runs through 11 July and Sigrid tours through 5 September 2026

SETLIST: I’ll Always Be Your Girl; Burning Bridges; Plot Twist; Sucker Punch; Jellyfish; High Five; Head On Fire; Mirror; Don’t Feel Like Crying; Do It Again; Have You Heard This Song Before?; Home To You; Dynamite; It Gets Dark; Fort Knox; Don’t Kill My Vibe; Strangers

It’s over 30 degrees in Barcelona’s Parc del Fòrum by the sea as Sigrid takes to the stage as 1 of the opening acts of this 4-day festival which means ‘crossroads’ in Catalan.

  • Read on for reasons including how Cruilla is the perfect soundtrack to both England and Spain progressing to next week’s World Cup semis
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GIG REVIEW: Duran Duran, Scissor Sisters, Nile Rodgers & Groove Armada at BST Hyde Park

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN? Sunday 5 July 2026, Duran Duran tour through 3 November 2026

This must be the 8th time we’ve seen them; the last a year to the day at Chelmsford Racecourse. And I always say “They’re better than ever before”.

  • Read on for reasons including Scissor Sisters, Melanie C, Nile Rodgers & Chic & Groove Armada
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for August 2026 starring Cate Blanchett

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Cate Blanchett in Electra/Persona

Blanchett (The Seagull, Barbican) stars opposite Nina Hoss (The Cherry Orchard, Donmar) in Benedict Andrews’ (Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Apollo Theatre) production fusing ancient myth and modern psychology at the Lyttelton at the National 19 August through 10 October 2026. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Abigail’s Party, Kimberley Akimbo and Letitia Wright in The Story
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Confessions II by Madonna (July 2026)

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WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Tracklist: I Feel So Free; Good For The Soul; One Step Away; Bring Your Love; Danceteria; Read My Lips; Everything; Love Sensation; Love Without Words; Bizarre; School; Fragile; My Sins Are My Saviour; Betrayal; The Test; L.E.S Girl

Confessions II is the mostly misleading title for this album which isn’t Madonna’s best album for the 21 years since Confessions On A Dancefloor but her best … ever.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the best album of 2026 so far
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GIG REVIEW: Robyn at The 02

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Friday 2 July, tour runs through 24 November 2026

Setlist: Blow My Mind; Fembot; Talk To Me; Hang With Me; Ever Again; Dopamine; Honey; Life: Love Is Free; Sexistential; Really Real; Love Kills; Be Mine; It Don’t Mean A Thing; Sucker For Love; Light Up; With Every Heartbeat; Missing U; Call Your Girlfriend; Dancing On My Own; Show Me Love

Prince’s Little Red Corvette plays throughout this 20,000 capacity venue as all 5 ft 3 inches of Robin Miriam Carlsson, better known as Robyn, prepares to take the stage for her biggest London gig yet.

  • Read on for reasons including what are the results of switching up to arenas with an album designed to remind of the Body Talk era
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SONG OF THE MONTH: Danceteria by Soft Cell (July 2026)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Danceteria is the name of the New York nightclub where Soft Cell‘s young Marc Almond and Dave Ball would party until the small hours after recording sessions for their 1981 debut LP Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret.

  • Read on for reasons including Almond’s thoughts on the upcoming final album and its Madonna link
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