We were there at the old Wembley Arena for the first Bananarama World Tour in 1989 but founder member Siobhan Fahey took no part in the 40-plus gigs. See her for the first time on tour with the band this winter.
This year will be our fourth Glastonbury in a row and, although there’s far too much to be excited about to list here, we’d probably pick our first Emeli Sandé gig as the thing we’re most enthused by at the sold-out event which runs from 22/6 to 25/6. Katy Perry’s new album Witness is out 9/6 and Lorde’s Melodrama 16/6 and they both also feature.
We predicted nine of the 10 semi 1 qualifiers with only our favourite, Finland, being the one we got wrong.
The final of the 62nd contest takes place in Kiev, Ukraine, on 13/5 at 8pm on BBC1 and the pre-contest publicity has been dominated by the host country’s banning of Russia’s entry. Check out the search box for our predictions for this year which include the contest’s most surefire winner: Occidentali’s Karma by Francesco Gabbani (pictured above).
Our most anticipated theatrical event of the year. Marianne Elliott (War Horse, Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time) directs a stellar cast including Nathan Lane (The Producers, The Birdcage), Andrew Garfield, Denise Gough, James McArdle and Russell Tovey in this two-part Tony Kushner classic at the National Theatre from 11/4. Runs to 19/8. Tickets
We’ve never seen 42nd Street but are very excited by the West End debut casting of Sheena Easton who we remember as far back in her career as 9 to 5 (see below) and her duet with Prince. Opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane 20/3 and booking through July. Tickets Picture via Facebook courtesy 42nd Street.
Europe’s premiere Eurovision selection show launches on 4/2 at 7pm English time with the return of 1999 winner Charlotte Perrelli, who also won Melodifestivalen in 2008, MF favourites Ace Wilder, Dinah Nah and Boris Rene. 2012 Eurovision winner Loreen also competes in heat 4 25/2. Prime-time Saturday nights in February sorted. Picture via YouTube from the Take Me To Your Heaven performance in 1999’s Eurovision.
This solo star and former member of bands Alcazar and Barbados has tried, and failed, to represent Sweden eight times in the Eurovision Song Contest. The Eurofest club night at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern has boasted Melodifestivalen stars including Linda Bengtzing and Shirley Clamp. On 13/1 it throws open its doors to Carlsson. Tickets
Paul O’Grady, Julian Clary, Amanda Holden, Lee Mead, Nigel Havers and Funny Girl understudy Natasha J. Barnes star in this panto at the Palladium 10/12-15/1/17 and we can’t think of a better Christmas present. Tickets Picture via Facebook courtesy London Palladium.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: BFI
WHEN: 8/11, out 11/11
Idris Elba didn’t need to be in small independent film 100 Streets, which he stars in and produces, but it was the writing that convinced him.
