ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Light It Up by Will Young (August 2024)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

TRACKLIST: Falling Deep; Light It Up; Feels Just Like A Win; Midnight; Me Without You; The Worst; No Man’s Land; Talk About It; Everything But You; I Won’t Let You Down

He’s not had a top 40 hit single since Jealousy made the top 5 in 2011 yet, perhaps ironically, Young has never been more lyrically and musically interesting than he is on this, his 9th album and 1st of new material for 5 years.

  • Read on for reasons including how it feels like a win to have him ploughing his own furrow and worrying less about fitting in
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THEATRE REVIEW: Red Speedo starring Finn Cole at Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Friday 9 August and runs through 10 August 2024 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (without interval)

Professional stage debuts are always exposing but Cole from TV’s Peaky Blinders and Animal Kingdom completes his in only 2 pairs of the titular swimming trunks.

  • Read on for reasons including how Red Speedo is an intense highboard dive into a world where the stakes are high and the emotions heightened
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SONG OF THE MONTH: The Feeling by Kygo & Sigrid (August 2024)

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

Welcome to the debut collaboration of 2 of Norway’s biggest pop exports and it’s a dancefloor banger in keeping with Kygo’s previous work but a step away from what you might expect from Sigrid.

  • Read on for reasons including how now is a really interesting time for Sigrid fans as we await indications of what her eagerly-awaited 3rd album might sound like
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THEATRE REVIEW: A Chorus Line starring Carly Mercedes Dyer at Sadler’s Wells Theatre

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 3 August (matinee) runs through 25 August 2024 and then tours

It’s the part of Cassie – the leading actress seeking a part in the titular chorus line from director Zach who she has previously been in a relationship – that we think is pivotal to this show’s success.

  • Read on for reasons including where to see this production as it tours the country after this London run
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Grapes Of Wrath starring Cherry Jones & Harry Treadaway at the National Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Tuesday 30 July 2024, opens 31 July and booking until 14 September 2024 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Sharing the milk of human kindness is very much the essence of this theatrical adaptation of John Steinbeck’s beloved 1939 novel.

  • Read on for reasons including how this production is exquisitely performed and executed with a visual flair that makes for a feast for the eyes as well as the mind
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GIG REVIEW: Madness & Lightning Seeds at Uptown Festival, Blackheath

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Lightning Seeds setlist: Change; Sugar Coated Iceberg; Sense; Perfect; Whole Wide World; You Showed Me; Lucky You; Pure; The Life Of Riley

Madness setlist: One Step Beyond; Embarrassment; The Prince; C’est La Vie; NW5; My Girl; The Sun And The Rain; Hour Of Need; Wings Of A Dove; Lovestruck; Run For Your Life; Bed And Breakfast Man; Shut Up; Round We Go; Mr Apples; House Of Fun; Baggy Trousers; Our House; It Must Be Love; Madness; Night Boat To Cairo

The Uptown Festival returned for its 2nd outing on Blackheath in south-east London and Camden’s ska/pop band Madness were the suitably raucous headliners.

  • Read on for reasons including how this was a hugely enjoyable event on our doorstep in beautiful weather that we would like to see return to this brilliant venue year after year
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GIG REVIEW: Toto at Poble Espanyol, Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Friday 26 July, tour runs through 29 November 2024

SETLIST: Girl Goodbye; Hold The Line; 99; Pamela; Jake To The Bone; Georgy Porgy; Burn; I’ll Be Over You; Stop Loving You; Little Wing; I’ll Supply The Love; Little Wing; A Thousand Years; Stop Loving You; Home Of The Brave; With A Little Help From My Friends; Rosanna; Africa

It’s a perfect summer night for an outdoor gig and this American super group arrive on stage shortly after this unusual venue’s advertised 9pm opening time.

  • Read on for reasons including how this was a well-honed, hits-based set that was definitely worth seeing in such a beautiful outdoor venue like this
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TV PREVIEW: 6 reasons why you should watch Lost Boys and Fairies (and why we need a 2nd series)

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2 years ago we recommended Netflix’s Heartstopper and in many ways Daf James’ BBC iPlayer 3-parter is its older, more flawed yet completely relatable grown up older brother.

  • Read on for reasons including Sion Daniel Young, Fra Fee and Elizabeth Berrington
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SONG OF THE WEEK: My Oh My by Kylie Minogue, Bebe Rexha & Tove Lo (week beginning Wednesday 24 July 2024)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

‘When you asked: ‘What’s your name, what’s your sign?’ ‘I’m Kylie, it’s Gemini.’ ‘What’s your drink, let me buy.’ ‘You had me when you said: ‘Hi!’ ‘Hi!’

  • Read on for reasons including how we can see this becoming a UK summer hit
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for August starring Death Of England: The Plays

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  1. Death Of England: The Plays @SohoPlace

Death Of England: Michael, Death Of England: Delroy and Death Of England: Closing Time were written by Clint Dyer and Roy Williams and were originally performed at the National Theatre. Delroy won monstas for our Best New Play in 2020 and Best Theatre Actor for Michael Balogun in 2020. You can see these plays starring Paapa Essiedu (The Effect, National Theatre) and Erin Doherty (Crave, Chichester Festival Theatre) singly or in combinations during this innovative run. Runs 15 July through 28 September 2024. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including new musical Why Am I So Single?, Victorious Festival and A Chorus Line
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