Covid-19 and the lockdowns that have followed in its wake have meant gig-going has been impossible for most but the arrival of vaccines mean our chances of live concerts this summer are increasing.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: livestreamed 7/11/20 and repeated 31/12/20
SETLIST: Magic; Come Into My World; I Love It; In Your Eyes; Light Years; Supernova; I Should Be So Lucky; Dancefloor Darling; All The Lovers; Say Something; Real Groove; Slow; Monday Blues; Where Does The DJ Go?; Love At First Sight; Last Chance; Magic
Kylie recently appeared on Dua Lipa’s Studio 2054 which reportedly won an audience of more than 5 million smashing all records for a livestream.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHEN?: 20/12/20 via livestream
SETLIST: Lighthouse; Fight For It; Flowers; Tea and Toast; Sober; Run; Fairytale Of New York; I Don’t Know; It Doesn’t Feel Like Christmas; Lucky Stars; Lightning; Don’t Know Nothing About The Blues; Choices; Stick The Kettle On; I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles); Unsinkable
Spraggan’s social media reaction immediately after this show tells you everything you need to know about what it meant to her: ‘It’s been a year since I played with my full band, last night was like a complete dream and there is nothing I love more than making music with those guys.’
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: 19/12/20
SETLIST: Karma Chameleon; It’s A Miracle; I’ll Tumble 4 Ya; Everything I Own; Move Away; Time (Clock Of The Heart); We Are Gathered Here Today; Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?; Miss Me Blind; Rainbow In The Dark; Church Of The Poison Mind; Girl Gone Bad; Get It On; Karma Chameleon
The fate of this appropriately titled concert very much mirrored what a difficult year it has been for gigs because of Covid-19 – it was postponed in November because of lockdown, switched from the Royal Albert Hall and at the last minute its socially distanced audience was advised not to attend.
By Carron Stacey
WHEN?: 5/12/20
WHERE?: Livestream from The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
Well, there are seated gigs. And there are seated gigs.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
WHEN?: Via livestream 27/11/20
SETLIST: Future Nostalgia; Levitating; Pretty Please; Break My Heart; Untitled (with FKA Twigs); Physical; Boys Will Be Boys; Cool; New Rules; Prisoner (with Miley Cyrus); Un Dia (with J Balvin, Bad Bunny and Tainy); Fever (with Angèle); One Kiss; Real Groove (with Kylie Minogue); Electricity; Rocket Man (Elton John); Hallucinate; Don’t Start Now
Lipa, who was shortlisted for 6 Grammys this week, was originally slated to tour 2nd LP Future Nostalgia this spring/summer with 2 dates at London’s 02 Arena.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE?: Theatre Cafe
WHEN?: Available 22/10/20 from 8pm until 29/10/20
SETLIST: Don’t Rain On My Parade (Funny Girl); On My Own (Les Miserables); Whatever (Legacy Falls); Day Of Cries (original); Breathe (In The Heights)
Atkinson was enjoying her 1st West End leading lady role when the world locked down but she’s keen to stress it was no overnight success and urges others not to give up when pursuing their dreams.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE?: Barbican RUNTIME: 60 minutes (no interval)
WHEN?: 14/10/20, new Barbican shows planned for 1-5/9/21 (ticket details below)
SETLIST: Absent Friends; Norman and Norma: National Express; Something For The Weekend; Songs Of Love; Your Daddy’s Car; To Die A Virgin; Becoming More Like Alfie; To The Rescue; A Lady Of A Certain Age; Charmed Life; Tonight We Fly; Our Mutual Friend
‘This has been f**king brilliant. I’ve loved it. Good for the soul,’ remarks Divine Comedy frontman Neil Hannon. ‘Thank you – that’s the end of the tour.’
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: 1/10/20
SETLIST: Who I Am; Blame It On Me; Good Enough; Escape; Fearless (with Nadia Rose); Overload; In And Out Of Love; Into You; Nowhere To Run; Here I Am; End Of Everything; High Heels (with Sink The Pink); I Turn To You
‘The 10-year-old in my head has absolutely collapsed. While 27-year-old me feels the same,’ says south London rapper Nadia Rose (pictured above left) as she joins Melanie C onstage during this internet gig to preview the latter’s new album out today.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE?: London Coliseum
WHEN?: 25/9/20 RUNTIME: 50 minutes (no interval)
The great singers make what they do seem effortless, that anyone could do what they do, and so it is with Carrie Hope Fletcher.
