GIG REVIEW: Cian Ducrot at KOKO

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Monday 20 March, tour runs until 28 April 2023

SETLIST: Make Believe; Victory; Not Usually Like This; Aftertaste; Him; Crocodiles; Endless Nights; How Do You Know?; Hello Gorgeous; Part Of Me; All For You; I’ll Be Waiting

Last night Ducrot played a sold out show at the 2,400-capacity KOKO in Camden and has re-arranged his tour schedule so he can support Ed Sheeran at gigs including The 02 in London on Friday and Saturday this week.

  • Read on for reasons including how we can’t wait for Ducrot’s debut album
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Live In A Village Hall by Welly (March 2023)

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By Neil Durham

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

TRACKLIST: Me And Your Mates; Home For The Weekend; Deere John; Take 5; Michelangelo; Locally Made Jam; Flowers; 501

‘The sweet smell of Lynx and regret.’ Remembering. Misremembering. Nostalgia. Youth. Cities by the sea. Welcome to Welly, your new favourite singer/band.

  • Read on for reasons including why you should see Welly in a village hall because they’ll be playing larger gigs next
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Breaking The Circle by Sophie Ellis-Bextor (week beginning Saturday 18 March 2023)

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

This single marks Ellis-Bextor’s return to working with Ed Harcourt who co-wrote her Wanderlust and Familia albums before her greatest hits and Kitchen Disco eras.

  • Read on for reasons including everything we know about Ellis-Bextor’s new album Hana
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THEATRE REVIEW: La Jaula De Las Locas (The cage of the crazy) at Teatre Tivoli, Barcelona

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 11 March (matinee), runs through 23 April 2023 RUNTIME: 180 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

We take our 4th row seats and notice steps leading down from the stage into the centre aisle and a terrifying fear about being invited onstage and interrogated in a language that is not native to us grips us.

  • Read on for reasons including how this Zaza – director Àngel Llàcer – compares with others we have seen including Graham Norton, John Barrowman and John Partridge
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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final 1 starring Loreen, Käärijä, Mimicat & Luke Black

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WHEN?: 8pm 9 May 2023

WHERE?: Liverpool Arena

HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC

‘Irregular voting paterns’ in 6 jury votes last year means this year’s semi finals will be televote only with this being the toughest semi and tasked with finding 10 finalists from a field of 15.

  • Read on for reasons including 2012 Eurovision winner Loreen and why this is 2023’s toughest semi
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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest Final starring Mae Muller, La Zarra & Blanca Paloma

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WHEN?: Saturday 13 May 2023 8pm (GMT)

WHERE?: Liverpool Arena

HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC1

We’ve now heard all the songs by the 6 countries pre-qualified for May’s Eurovision Song Contest final and below we predict where we think they will finish there.

  • Read on for reasons including how we think the entries from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Ukraine would fare at Eurovision this year
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THEATRE REVIEW: Medea starring Sophie Okonedo @sohoplace

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: 25 February (matinee) and runs through 22 April 2023 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

We’re in the front row of this intimate venue and Okonedo’s Medea points at us, locks eyes with us and asserts: ‘Watch and keep silent.’

  • Read on for reasons including how members of the cast sit in the audience and call out to those on stage in this production
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Fever by Alison Goldfrapp & Paul Woolford (week beginning 6 March 2023)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

Leeds-born Woolford had a top 5 hit in 2020 with Looking For Me with Diplo featuring vocals from Kareen Lomax – and this new single feels far more current than Alison Goldfrapp’s recent collaboration.

  • Read on for reasons including details of Alison Goldfrapp’s next London and Glastonbury Festival gigs
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