AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our Best Song of 2020 so far

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

We awarded 14 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2019 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2020 so far and what’s to come. Goodbye To Yesterday by Stig Rästa and Elina Born, Can’t Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake, New Rules by Dua Lipa, Make Me Feel by Janelle Monae and C U Next Tuesday by Shakespears Sister are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 5 best songs of 2020 so far and our hopes for the next three months

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Glastonbury Festival remembered: 1994, 1995, 2015, 2016 and 2017

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

Do you remember the first time? Glastonbury Festival was due to celebrate its 50th birthday this month and to celebrate we’re casting our mind back to the highlights of the five years we’ve attended.

  • Read on for reasons including our highlights from 5 Glastonbury Festivals including the rise of Jarvis Cocker

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SONG OF THE WEEK: My Freedom by Magnus Carlsson (week beginning 14/6/20)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LISTEN?: ****

OUT: now

Former Alcazar frontman Carlsson references two of his biggest Melodifestivalen hits in this positive, high-energy tale of coming out and finding happiness which is, appropriately, this year’s Stockholm Pride anthem.

  • Read on for reasons including a chance to listen to My Freedom and hear which former hits he namechecks

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our Best Album of 2020 so far

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

We awarded 14 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2019 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2020 so far and what’s to come. Florence and The Machine’s How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, Lady Gaga’s Joanne, Lorde’s Melodrama, Saara Aalto’s Wild, Wild Wonderland and Sigrid’s Sucker Punch are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 5 best albums of 2020 so far and our hopes for the next three months

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Understudy starring Russell Tovey, Sheila Atim, Sarah Hadland, Mina Anwar, Layton Williams and Stephen Fry

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

OUT: now

Covid-19 may have closed theatres in March but technology means social distancing can still be observed if audiobooks are recorded.

  • Read on for reasons including how to buy a ticket to listen to this online play

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SONG OF THE WEEK: Backfire by Dotter (week beginning 7 June 2020)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

OUT: now

Regular readers of monstagigz will be familiar with Swedish singer songwriter Dotter, real name Johanna Jansson, not least through bringing her idiosyncratic brand of indie pop to the last four Melodifestivalens.

  • Read on for reasons including to listen to Backfire and our hopes for what Dotter does next

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GIG REVIEW: Aimie Atkinson at the Other Palace

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Other Palace RUNTIME: 93 minutes

WHEN? shown 31/5/20

Atkinson was starring as the titular Pretty Woman (pictured above) in what was arguably her first West End leading lady role when Covid-19 forced curtain down at the Piccadilly Theatre.

  • Read on for reasons including which stars from Atkinson’s past contributed to this greatest hits show

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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Chromatica by Lady Gaga (June 2020)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

OUT: 29/5/20

TRACKLIST: Chromatica I; Alice; Stupid Love; Rain On Me; Free Woman; Fun Tonight; Chromatica II; 911; Plastic Doll; Sour Candy; Enigma; Replay; Chromatica III; Sine From Above; 1000 Doves; Babylon

Madonna will be fuming at our Mother Monster (or the ‘monsta’ from ‘monstagigz’) as final track Babylon draws on Madge’s hit Vogue and with it Gaga crowns a triumphant and euphoric return to pop’s dancefloor.

  • Read on for reasons including where Gaga is due to play in London next

LIVE REVIEW: Beverley Knight via Leave A Light On

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? online at Leave A Light On RUNTIME: missed 20 minutes, saw 25

WHEN? 29/5/20

I haven’t seen my mum since lockdown, our phone call lasts longer than I expected and I miss the first 20 minutes of the finale of this 10-week musical theatre livestream fundraising triumph.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Knight in the West End next

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t/couldn’t wait for June (2020) starring Lady Gaga

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Lady Gaga’s Chromatica album

This blog was named in part after ‘Mother monster’ and album number six features single Stupid Love and Ariana Grande duet Rain On Me. Chromatica‘s release was postponed from April and is now due to be unleashed 29/5. Tickets for her Chromatica Ball at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London are still onsale for July although it looks likely to be postponed.

  • Read on for reasons including Will Ferrell Eurovision film, Bertie Carvel festival, Old Vic podcast and Lena Philipsson album

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