By Carron Stacey
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: The Brook, Southampton
WHEN: 2/10
I knew he was good live (I saw him at Portsmouth’s Victorious Festival) and I knew the likely set list (I’ve done my research). Yet still Hooky managed to blow my mind with his buzzing set that leaves me, two days later, almost in shellshock. (See what I did there?)
WHERE: BFI
WHEN: 3/10
‘You might think that; I couldn’t possibly comment.’ It’s the phrase common to both the original BBC show and the US remake of House of Cards. Beau Willimon, creator and show runner of the US version, is explaining during the BAFTA – BFI Screenwriters’ Lecture Series that it’s included in the reboot as homage to its source material.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2
WHEN: 2/10 runs to 18/10
Looking for something truthful, utterly of the West End yet edgy, heartfelt and celebratory? Look no further than Ushers – the front of house musical.
You may have read recently about plans for a tour by a hologram of Whitney Houston, well here the latest 3D technology and digital media makes it appear as if Dusty Springfield is actually singing before us. The hologram performs three songs and a giant screen means archive footage is also used throughout the production to ensure the image of the actual 60s singing sensation is rarely out of our thoughts.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHEN: Screening nationwide from 2/10
#BestGameOfThronesEpisodeEver? Obvs – yet more beautifully shot and with greater poetry.
New Order – Music Complete *****
Disclosure – Caracal ***
CHVRCHES – Every Open Eye ***
There are three new albums out this week vying to top Friday’s albums chart and, although our money would definitely be on electronic duo Disclosure, New Order’s Music Complete is the welcome surprise – a fantastic return to form.
Leslie Bricusse is an 84-year-old British composer, lyricist and playwright with a songbook bursting with tunes that you’ll remember predominantly from musicals or films but not necessarily know he penned. Running at the St James Theatre until 17/10 (we saw the 30/9 matinee), this show features a cast of five singing some of his best-loved songs as characters in a series of scenes without a great deal of dialogue but some storyline. There’s much emotion on show and Goldfinger could be incongruous but is played for laughs in a segment paying tribute to this and his other Bond work. Writing’s On The Wall? Nowhere close.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Alexandra Palace
WHEN: 25/9
SETLIST: What The Water Gave Me; Ship To Wreck; Shake It Out; Rabbit Heart; Third Eye; Delilah; You’ve Got The Love; How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful; Cosmic Love; Long and Lost; Mother; Queen Of Peace; Spectrum; Dog Days Are Over; What Kind Of Man; Drumming Song.
It’s 9.20pm, we’re running 20 minutes late, there appear to be problems with the video screens and Florence and the Machine are due to be off before the 11pm curfew.
Hurts’ third album Surrender is out 9/10 and includes singles Lights (YouTube clip above, and Hurts’ best single since Wonderful Life) and Some Kind Of Heaven. We’ve also heard tracks Rolling Stone, Slow, Nothing Will Be Bigger Than Us, Weight Of The World and the title track and saw the band for the tenth time at their last UK gig at the Scala in June. We’d imagine this album would be their best because it’s the most pop. They play Brixton Academy in February. Tickets here.
WORTH A LOOK: *****
OUT: 25/9
In July we predicted last Little Mix single Black Magic would top the charts throughout the school summer holidays.
