Author: mrmonstagigz

GIG REVIEW: Pet Shop Boys at The 02, London

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Sunday 22 May 2022, tour runs until 16 October 2022

SETLIST: Suburbia; Can You Forgive Her?; Opportunities; Where The Streets Have No Name; Rent; I Don’t Know What You Want But I Can’t Give It Anymore; So Hard; Left To My Own Devices; Single – Bilingual; Domino Dancing; Monkey Business; New York City Boy; You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You’re Drunk; Jealousy; Love Comes Quickly; Losing My Mind; You Were Always On My Mind; Dreamland; Heart; It’s Alright; Vocal; What Have I Done To Deserve This?; Go West; It’s A Sin; West End Girls; Being Boring

We popped our Pet Shop Boys live cherry in 1989 at the old Wembley Arena and this greatest hits gig means we’ve seen the duo, we think, 14 times across each of the last 5 decades.

  • Read on for reasons including how, amidst all the hits, there were 2 very special moments
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for June 2022 starring Glastonbury Festival and the legendary Diana Ross

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  1. Diana Ross plays Glastonbury legends slot

2022 marks the 1st Glastonbury Festival since 2019 and will be our 7th visit with headliners including Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar. We’re particularly looking forward to catching Pet Shop Boys and Years and Years as well as Diana Ross in the legends slot. But it’s always about so much more than the music with the atmosphere being unrivalled. Tickets are sold out

  • Read on for reasons including Emilia Clarke in The Seagull, Lorde, Culture Club and Agnes does Mighty Hoopla
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TV REVIEW: 6 reasons why you should watch Heartstopper on Netflix

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WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Author Alice Oseman’s web comic Heartstopper may have seemed unlikely source material for 2022’s best show of the year so far but below are 6 reasons with clips about why you should catch it on Netflix now.

  • Read on for reasons including Olivia Colman, Fisayo Akinade and a heartwarming first love story
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GIG REVIEW: Suede at Razzmatazz, Barcelona

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Thursday 19 May 2022, tour runs until 24 May 2022

SETLIST: Trash; Filmstar; Lazy; By The Sea; She; Beautful Ones; Starcrazy; Picnic By The Motorway; The Chemistry Between Us; Saturday Night; It Starts And Ends With You; Killing Of A Flashboy; Can’t Get Enough; The Power; Flytipping; We Are The Pigs; The Wild Ones; So Young; Metal Mickey; Animal Nitrate; New Generation

Most of the gigs we go to these days are in London by Tube and it’s a joy to be able to walk door to door on a balmy evening from Raval to Poble Nou in less than 50 minutes.

  • Read on for reasons including everything we know about Suede’s new album
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THEATRE REVIEW: A Chorus Line directed by Antonio Banderas at Tivoli Theater, Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Wednesday 18 May, runs to 29 May 2022 RUNTIME: 135 minutes without interval

Two years ago Oscar-nominated actor Antonio Banderas revealed he was in negotiations to bring this Spanish language production of the classic musical to Broadway (see clip below).

  • Read on for reasons including why this Spanish production of A Chorus Line would be a Broadway hit
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TOP 5: BARCELONA: A top 5 restaurants and bars to visit

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By Neil Durham

Two years ago we wrote a prequel to this listicle after a September 2019 visit to our favourite city and little did we know then that Covid-19 would mean we would not return until March 2022.

  • Read on for reasons including how a former El Bulli chef has opened a new restaurant in Barca’s Raval district
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THEATRE REVIEW: Legally Blonde starring Courtney Bowman at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

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By Neil Durham

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

WHEN?: Friday 13 May, opening 19 May and booking until 2 July 2022

RUNNING TIME?: 165 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

This musical opens with our titular heroine Elle anticipating her boyfriend’s marriage proposal – and then being crushed when he actually breaks up with her.

  • Read on for reasons including how Courtney Bowman rocks as Elle
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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest 2022 Final starring Cornelia Jakobs, Sam Ryder and Chanel

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud and Neil Durham

WHEN?: Saturday 14 May 2022

WHERE?: PalaOlimpico, Turin, Italy

HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC1 8pm (UK time)

Rousing anti-ballad Hold Me Closer by Sweden’s Cornelia Jakobs (pictured) is our pick to take home the 66th Eurovision Song Contest crown on Saturday.

  • Read on for reasons including where we think the Semi 1 qualifiers will finish on Saturday
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THEATRE REVIEW: My Fair Lady starring Amara Okereke, Harry Haddon-Paton & Vanessa Redgrave at the Coliseum

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 7 May, booking to 30 August 2022 RUNTIME: 190 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

‘By George, she’s got it.’ Remember the name Amara Okereke who was flawless in the titular role at its 1st preview.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a faithful recreation of a beloved musical with a great cast
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SONG OF THE MONTH: Hold Me Closer by Cornelia Jakobs (May 2022)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

We’ve now watched rehearsal clips of all 40 entries into next Saturday’s Eurovision Song Contest and this is both our favourite and the song we think will win.

  • Read on for reasons including who we think will finish top 5 in 2022’s Eurovision Song Contest final
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