TV REVIEW: The Crown starring Olivia Colman, Helena Bonham Carter, Erin Doherty, Emma Corrin & Gillian Anderson

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE?: Netflix from 15/11/20

There can be few women more associated with the 80s than Princess Diana and Margaret Thatcher – they are so iconic that it was always going to be difficult to know how one of the most popular series on TV would cope with their arrival.

  • Read on for reasons including how Emma Corrin and Gillian Anderson do in the Diana and Margaret roles

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ALBUM OF THE WEEK: Infinite Things by Paloma Faith (week beginning 15/11/20)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

RELEASED: 13/11/20

TRACKLIST: Supernatural; Monster; Gold; Falling Down; Infinite Things; If This Is Goodbye: Better Than This; Me Time; If Loving You Was Easy; Beautiful & Damned; I’d Die For You; Living With A Stranger; Last Night On Earth

We first saw Paloma Faith live by chance when we were waiting for another main stage act at Lovebox in east London a decade ago and it was her personality and way with her hometown crowd that initially drew us in.

  • Read on for reasons including how Sigrid and MNEK are co-writers here
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Straight To The Morning by Hot Chip featuring Jarvis Cocker (week beginning 14/11/20 )

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

OUT: now

Hot Chip caught our ear earlier this year with a fine remix of Daði Freyr’s Eurovision winner-that-never was (clip below) but it is with this dancefloor juggernaut that they really strike gold.

  • Read on for reasons including how Cocker injects the sex here

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BOOK OF THE MONTH: Really Saying Something by Bananarama (November 2020)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

WHEN?: released 29/10/20

Really Saying Something is the story of the childhood friendship at the heart of the UK’s most successful all-female group.

  • Read on for reasons including how the band might celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2022

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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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