Author: mrmonstagigz

ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Prioritise Pleasure by Self Esteem (August 2022)

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

TRACKLIST: I’m Fine; Fucking Wizardry; Hobbies 2; Prioritise Pleasure; I Do This All The Time; Moody; Still Reigning; How Can I Help You?; It’s Been A While; The 345; John Elton; You Forever; Just Kids

A cheat, perhaps? It’s taken us a while to ride the buzz to this sophomore album but thanks to a friend’s recommendation this has barely been off our playlist all summer.

  • Read on for reasons including how we’d love for Prioritise Pleasure to win this year’s Mercury Prize
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THEATRE REVIEW: Tom, Dick and Harry starring and co-written by Andrew Pollard at the Alexandra Palace Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 6 August (evening), booking until 28 August 2022 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

The authors of Tom, Dick and Harry visited the National Archives in London to find the documentation surrounding the World War Two escape from Stalag Luft III best known perhaps as 1963 film The Great Escape starring Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough.

  • Read on for reasons including how your reviewer lent a hand and had a ball with several elements of audience participation
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THEATRE REVIEW: Jerusalem starring Mark Rylance and Mackenzie Crook at the Apollo Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 30 July 2022, runs until 10 August 2022

My companion whispers in my ear at curtain down: ‘Best living actor in this country in a role of a lifetime’ and that does feel like a suitable 12-word summary.

  • Read on for reasons including how to get tickets for this must-see show
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GIG REVIEW: Bananarama at Lafayette London

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Thursday 4 August 2022

SETLIST: Masquerade; Stay Wild; Intoxicated; Every Shade Of Blue; Move In My Direction; Velvet Lies; Looking For Someone; Let’s Go Outside Audience Q&A Stuff Like That; Bad Love; Brand New; Favourite; Look On The Floor; Waiting For The Sun; Forever Young; Running With The Night; Love In The First Degree

Bananarama may be best known as a trio but it’s easy to forget that they’ve actually been a duo – Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin – for 30 years.

  • Read on for reasons including how the band have other surprises in store to celebrate their 40th anniversary
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THEATRE REVIEW: Sister Act starring Beverley Knight & Jennifer Saunders at Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 30 July, runs to 28 August 2022

This 3,500-seater venue has 3 times been host to our Best Gig monsta winner (in 2017, 2018 and 2019) but it just feels too big from our Circle seat to do justice to this film turned musical.

  • Read on for reasons including how Hairspray star Lizzie Bea really grabbed our attention
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Ms Humdrum’s picks for Victorious Festival, Portsmouth starring Self Esteem, Suede and James

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By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Friday 26 to Sunday 28 August 2022

This year, in stark contrast to other years, the Humdrums are not chasing the main acts at this year’s south coast seaside festival. I’m sure Stereophonics, Paolo Nutini and Sam Fender will do a great job bringing the crowds in, but this time, it’s the smaller acts lower down on the bill, retro acts and the comedy which we are really looking forward to. 

  • Read on for reasons including Self Esteem, James and Suede
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GIG REVIEW: Lady Gaga Chromatica Ball at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Friday 29 July 2022, tour runs until 17 September 2022

SETLIST: Bad Romance; Just Dance; Poker Face; Alice; Replay; Monster; 911; Sour Candy; Telephone; LoveGame; Babylon; Free Woman; Born This Way; Shallow; Always Remember Us This Way; The Edge Of Glory; 1000 Doves; Fun Tonight; Enigma; Stupid Love; Rain On Me; Hold My Hand

We’re on the pitch for Lady Gaga’s 1st UK concert in 7 years and she immediately breaks the Pet Shop Boys’ golden rule of touring by opening with the 1st 3 of her 6 UK number ones.

  • Read on for reasons including how Lady Gaga walked through the crowd to dazzle on a mid-arena satellite stage
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Masquerade by Bananarama (July 2022)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

TRACKLIST: Favourite; Stay Wild; Velvet Lies; Masquerade; Running With The Night; Bad Love; Let’s Go Outside; Brand New; Need A Little More Time; Forever Young; Waiting For The Sun To Shine

Masquerade is, quite simply, Bananarama’s best album since their 1987 hits-packed, career-high Wow!

  • Read on for reasons including how to see the band on tour this summer
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for August 2022 starring Divine Comedy

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. The Divine Comedy at the Barbican

Frontman Neil Hannon celebrates 30 years of his band by performing 10 of his albums in full across this 5-night residency in the Barbican in central London. The run begins on 31 August and continues on successive nights until Sunday 4 September. We last saw the band at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith in 2019 at a show which won our Best Gig monsta that year. Barbican residency review Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Victorious Festival, a new play by Andrew Pollard and Bananarama gigs
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