The People’s Lounge, Portsmouth supporting Arms Around the Child at Victorious Festival

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: August Bank Holiday 2023

Trading a glitter makeover for an interview, I discover this is Erika’s second year volunteering at The People’s Kitchen in the World Music Village, at Victorious Festival – the south coast event held on August Bank Holiday by the sea in Portsmouth.

  • Read on for reasons including more about the Global Music Village at Victorious Festival
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AWARDS LONGLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2023 so far (part 1 of 2)

You, dear reader, are given the chance to vote in 16 categories from November this year to tell us your favourite theatre, music, TV, film and podcast of 2023.

  • Read on for reasons including 8 of 16 categories of our Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2023 so far
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Freak Me Now by Jessie Ware & Roisin Murphy (week beginning 1 September 2023)

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

That! Feels Good! is our favourite of Ware’s 5 albums and this 4th single from it features former Moloko frontwoman Murphy.

  • Read on for reasons including everything we know about Murphy’s new album and where to see her in London in 2024
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GIG REVIEW: Victorious Festival 2023 day 3 starring Hard-Fi, The GO! Team, Dara O’Briain & The Freestylers

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Sunday 27 August 2023 (press pass)

Hard-Fi rock the Common Stage at their first festival in 11 years. Singer Richard Archer informs us that they usually specify to only play in places with a roof, but they let us off today, thankfully.

  • Read on for reasons including The GO! Team, Dara O’Briain and The Freestylers
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GIG REVIEW: Victorious Festival 2023 starring McFly, Kaiser Chiefs, Inspiral Carpets and The Dhol Foundation (Day 2)

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Saturday 26 August 2023 (press pass)

It’s all about you. A while ago, rumours suggested that the special guest slot was going to be none other than 00s pop/rock boy band sensation McFly.

  • Read on for reasons including Kaiser Chiefs, Inspiral Carpets and The Dhol Foundation
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for September 2023 starring Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends

  1. Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends starring Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga

Last year’s televised show celebrating the work of the late great Sondheim was a real thrill and this month stars including Peters and Salonga perform some of the composer’s best-loved songs alongside Haydn Gwynne (The Welkin, National Theatre), Janie Dee (Follies, National Theatre) and Jac Yarrow (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, London Palladium). Runs at the West End’s Gielgud Theatre 16 September through 6 January 2024. Tickets Update: Performances now begin 21 September without Gwynne. Review

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GIG REVIEW: Victorious Festival 2023 starring Jamiroquai, Pete Tong Orchestra, The Charlatans & Welly (Day 1)

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Friday 25 August 2023 (press pass)

Disco isn’t dead. The first year for a full Friday, kicking off for us with a drumming workshop from DrumNation Tribe at the People’s Lounge.

  • Read on for reasons including Jamiroquai, Pete Tong, The Charlatans and Welly
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GIG REVIEW: Victorious Festival 2023 starring Cian Ducrot, Mae Muller, Welly & Billy Nomates (Day 1)

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: **** (press pass)

WHEN?: Friday 25 August 2023

A fortnight ago Cian Ducrot’s debut album topped the charts in both the UK and his native Ireland and this afternoon he opens his set on the Castle Stage with the title track from it, the appropriately titled Victory.

  • Read on for reasons including Mae Muller, Britain’s best new band Welly, Billy Nomates and The Charlatans
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GIG REVIEW: Welly at The Scoop, Tower Bridge

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

SETLIST: It’s Not Like This In France; Take 5; Home For The Weekend; Shopping; Deere John; Me And Your Mates; Flowers; A Right Royal Show; Big In The Suburbs

WHEN?: Thursday 24 August 2023, tour continues until 22 September 2023

We’ve not fallen quite so much in love with and head over heels for a band as we have with Welly since Pulp in the early 90s.

  • Read on for reasons including why Welly are your next favourite band and will be as big as 90s Blur in 18 months
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