ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Disco by Kylie Minogue (November 2020)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

RELEASED?: 6/11/20

TRACKLIST: Magic; Miss A Thing; Real Groove; Monday Blues; Supernova; Say Something; Last Chance; I Love It; Where Does The DJ Go?; Dance Floor Darling; Unstoppable; Celebrate You

It’s only by experimentation that true pop genius can be appreciated and, if Kylie’s 2018’s album Golden and its shimmy with country was a misstep, then its follow-up, Disco, is more sure-footed for it.

  • Read on for reasons including why Disco is Kylie’s best album for years

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SONG OF THE MONTH: Sober by Lucy Spraggan (November 2020)

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

OUT: now

We were supposed to be seeing the 29-year-old singer-songwriter from Buxton, Derbyshire, this month at the 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire but COVID-19 has now pushed that back to April 2021.

  • Read on for reasons including why new album Choices is shaping up nicely

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THEATRE REVIEW: Crave starring Alfred Enoch & Erin Doherty

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WORTH A LOOK?: **1/2

WHEN?: 2/11/20, runs to 7/11/20 (audience will be online only from 5/11/20)

WHERE?: Chichester Festival Theatre (via Royal Court Theatre online)

RUNTIME: 50 minutes without interval

The 4 main characters in this 1-act play by author Sarah Kane are haunted by subjects including rape, incest, paedophilia, anorexia, drug addiction, mental instability, murder and suicide.

  • Read on for reasons including how this was a brutal introduction to Kane performed engagingly by a fine cast

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PREVIEW: Second Cherry 2020 song contest

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WHEN?: 7/11/20 UPDATE: England’s second lockdown means the RVT show is cancelled but there will be an online show 14/11/20

WHERE?: Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London, and online

Former Melodifestivalen winner Anna Bergendahl (pictured above) is arguably the biggest name in November’s Second Cherry 2020 song contest which concludes, fingers crossed, with a live event in London next weekend.

  • Read on for reasons including where our douze points is going and our other highlights
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for November starring A Christmas Carol at the Bridge Theatre

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  1. A Christmas Carol starring Simon Russell-Beale and Patsy Ferran

There are at least 2 other A Christmas Carols in London this festive season but we have chosen this 1 because Russell Beale is always good value and Ferran is an Olivier Best Actress award-winner. Runs 27/11 through 16/1/21. Tickets UPDATE: The 2nd lockdown means this run will now start on 3/12/20

  • Read on for reasons including new Steps album, Rent in Manchester and Kylie’s Disco set
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INTERVIEW: Nicki French on new single Haunted Heart, Christmas show and Eurovision

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SINGLE OUT: 26/10/20

‘I think everyone is really keen to get back out there to entertain people and to be entertained,’ says monstagigz favourite Nicki French as she launches new single Haunted Heart.

  • Read on for reasons including details of Nicki’s Christmas show with Gareth Gates and Eurovision

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THEATRE REVIEW: Night Cap starring Aimie Atkinson with Paul Taylor-Mills

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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.

  • Read on for reasons including how Atkinson has learned piano in lockdown and written her own songs
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THEATRE REVIEW: Death of England: Delroy starring Michael Balogun at the National Theatre

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WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE?: National Theatre RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

WHEN: 21/10/20, opens 5/11/20, runs to 28/11/20 STOP PRESS: The 2nd lockdown means the last performance will now be 4/11/20 Watch this production for free on YouTube from 27/11/20 for 24 hours from 7pm

It’s a big week for UK theatre with the rescheduled Olivier Awards on Sunday and tonight (Wednesday 21 October) the National Theatre re-opened for the 1st time since lockdown in March.

  • Read on for reasons including what National Theatre director Rufus Norris took to the stage to say
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Dark Hearts by Annie (October 2020)

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

OUT: 16/10/20

TRACKLIST: In Heaven; The Streets Where I Belong; Dark Hearts; Miracle Mile; Corridors Of Time; Forever ’92; American Cars; Mermaid Dreams; Stay Tomorrow; The Countdown To The End Of The World; The Bomb; The Untold Story; It’s Finally Over

Anne Lilia Berge Strand released single The Greatest Hit with house producer/soon-to-be boyfriend Tore Kroknes in 1999 and, two years later before they could release an album, he died from a congenital heart defect.

  • Read on for reasons including how Dark Hearts contains some of the most thrilling music of the year

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GIG REVIEW: Divine Comedy at the Barbican

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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.’

  • Read on for reasons including how to see them on tour next year

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