WHERE?: On Blackheath
WHEN?: 13 and 14/7/19 (press tickets)
‘After gallivanting around the world twice, it’s nice to be home,’ says Jamiroquai mainman Jay Kay at the start of this 1st UK gig of the year.
By Carron Stacey
WHERE?: Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith
WHEN?: 30/6/19
It’s been a week since we saw them and my opinion is still the same – one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen. Here’s why.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE? SSE Wembley Arena
WHEN? 2/7/19
SETLIST: Dirty Computer; Crazy, Classic Life; Take A Byte; Screwed; Django Jane; QUEEN; Electric Lady; Prime Time; Pynk; Yoga; I Like That; Don’t Judge Me; Make Me Feel; I Got The Juice; Cold War; Tightrope; Come Alive
We are standing towards the back of this 12,500-capacity venue by the mixing desk when we see Lupita Nyong’o wearing sunglasses flanked by security guards rush by.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE? Wembley Stadium
WHEN? 30/6, tour runs to 2/11/19
SETLIST: Get The Party Started; Beautiful Trauma; Just Like A Pill; Who Knew; Funhouse; Hustle; Secrets; Forest; Try; Just Give Me A Reason; River; Just Like A Fire; What About Us; For Now; 90 Days; Time After Time; Walk Me Home: I Am Here; F**kin’ Perfect; Raise Your Glass; Blow Me (One Last Kiss); Can We Pretend; So What; Glitter In The Air
We marvelled at the acrobatics of the cast in the Bridge Theatre’s production of `A Midsummer Night’s Dream recently but US pop star P!nk takes those skills to the next level here (see picture above).
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE? London Palladium RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including 20-minute interval)
WHEN? 29/6, opens 11/7, booking to 8/9/19
We know we’re in safe hands when the always reliable Sheridan Smith channels Eric Morecambe from behind a fake moustache, confiding to the audience: ‘It’s still me.’
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE? Oslo, Hackney
WHEN? 28/6/19
SETLIST: 10,000 Nights; Fantastic Six; Vacation; Love Sea; Always Up; Boyfriend; What’s Happening; Goldmine; Shadows; Go Go; The Spell; DJ; TMTU; Sing A Song; Heat Wave; Fascination
The afternoon on the day before this gig we discover that its venue has changed from the Borderline in Soho to this upstairs venue at a Scandinavian-named site miles across town in east London.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE? Victoria Park
WHEN? 26/5 and runs to 2/6/19 (Christine and the Queens tour until 31/8/19)
We 1st saw Christine and The Queens the morning after the Brexit vote and here the French act take to the stage as the results of the unexpected 2019 European elections are announced.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
WHERE? Omeara
WHEN? 27/4, tour runs until 2/5 (and then regular gigs continue until 25/8/19)
SETLIST: Love Don’t Live Here; I’m On Fire; Love In Stereo; Every Shade Of Blue; Summer Night City; Movin’ On; Dance Music; Feel For You; Tonight; Look On The Floor; On Your Own; Cruel Summer; Love Comes; Move In My Direction; Venus; Looking For Someone; Love In The First Degree; Stuff Like That
You can never have enough Bananarama in your life and, as if to prove it, the band take audience questions for 45 minutes in what would normally be the support slot before headlining for more than 80 minutes.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE? Alexandra Palace
WHEN? 12/4, tour runs until 17/8
SETLIST: Send To Robin Immediately; Honey; Indestructible; Hang With Me; Beach 2k20; Ever Again; Be Mine; Because It’s In The Music; Love Is Free; Between The Lines; Dancing On My Own; Missing U; Call Your Girlfriend; Trust Me; Stars 4 Ever; With Every Heartbeat; Human Being; Who Do You Love?
Fellow blogger A Humdrum Mum makes clear exactly what sort of fan she is when she reviews a gig and, in tribute, we’d explain here that we think Robyn’s 2010 Body Talk is 1 of our favourite ever albums but that the 8-year wait for follow up Honey meant it could never live up to the heightened expectation.
By Carron Stacey
WHERE? Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea
WHEN: 28/3/19
I have to start every review by saying what sort of fan I am of the band’s music. Well, I’m not actually. This is not my kind of music really, but I’ve gone with Mr Humdrum.
