WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
Think How Soon Is Now guitars by The Smiths and a shuffling drumbeat like Sit Down by James topped by a high-pitched vocal that is very Brett Anderson and you’re halfway there.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHEN?: 5 gigs, each night between Wednesday 31 August and Sunday 4 September 2022
Divine Comedy frontman Neil Hannon had 1 word to describe fans joining the band for 5 consecutive concerts at this prestigious London venue to hear 10 of the act’s studio albums in full – ‘weirdos’.
Guest review by Alfie, 13 years
WHEN?: Sunday 28 August 2022
Little Man Tate I have waited years to see this band so we fought our way through the crowd waiting for Becky Hill and got to the front.
By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum
WHEN?: Sunday 28 August 2022
So this year, the line up wasn’t totally to my liking but the introduction of the huge names to the comedy tent really piqued my interest.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
WHEN?: Sunday 28 August 2022
Lean, mean and urging the audience to join in, Suede frontman Brett Anderson seems absolutely on fire during this main Common Stage slot as the sun sinks on a gorgeous day on Southsea seafront.
By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum
WHEN?: Saturday 27 August 2022
How to fill a field with an atypical festival band and get everyone down really early? Book Sugababes!
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
We’re reminded of Rami Malek’s Oscar-winning turn as Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody by Butler’s (pictured above) performance here as the King of Rock’n’Roll.
By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum
WHEN?: Friday 26 August 2022
This year’s Victorious Common Stage was opened by Primal Scream, who last featured in 2015’s lineup, but we arrived as the crowds were heading out post-set.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2
WHEN?: Saturday 20 August 2022 (matinee), runs to 4 September 2022 RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including 20-minute interval)
We’re here because this venue describes this as ‘perfect for fans of the Greenwich Theatre pantomime’ and while there are lots of similarities that lightning hasn’t quite been captured in this (rum) bottle here – although it’s an apt description.
Suede may have reformed in 2010 but they’ve never mattered to us in the same way as they did when we 1st saw them at Portsmouth Pyramids in 1993 – until now. Singles She Still Leads Me On and 15 Again show a flair and consistency we’ve not seen this century. New album Autofiction is released 16 September and we see them the night before at a special gig at PRYZM, Kingston. Tickets
monstagigz 