GIG REVIEW: Cian Ducrot at Lafayette, London

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Tuesday 20 September, tour runs to 25 October 2022

SETLIST: I’ll Be Waiting; Not Usually Like This; F*cked Up All The Time; Endless Nights; Crocodiles; Make Believe; Both Of Us; Yellow; How Do You Know?; Hurt So Bad; Something About You; All For You

There is a magical moment during this gig when Ducrot steps away from his microphone, straps on an acoustic guitar and sits in the audience as he plays a song they will eventually sing along with.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Ducrot performing on his UK tour this year
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Autofiction by Suede (September 2022) and GIG REVIEW: Suede at PRYZM

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WORTH A LOOK?: *****/****

WHEN?: Thursday 15 September 2022, touring until 25 March 2023

TRACKLIST: She Still Leads Me On; Personality Disorder; 15 Again; The Only Way I Can Love You; That Boy On The Stage; Drive Myself Home; Black Ice; Shadow Self; It’s Always The Quiet Ones; What Am I Without You?; Turn Off Your Brain And Yell

SETLIST: She Still Leads Me On; Personality Disorder; 15 Again; That Boy On The Stage; I Don’t Know How To Reach You; Black Ice; Shadow Self; What Am I Without You?; Sabotage; Outsiders; It Starts And Ends With You; Turn Off Your Brain And Yell; Life Is Golden

It’s the night before Suede release their 9th studio album Autofiction and the run-up to it could have not been more perfect if more than a little rough around the edges – although that, of course, is the point.

  • Read on for reasons including why Autofiction is exactly the sort of album Kate Bush would make if she was wanting to go punk
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for October 2022 starring Tammy Faye at the Almeida

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  1. New Elton John, Jake Shears and James Graham musical

Tammy Faye Messner was an American evangelist, singer, author, talk show host, and television personality. This musical about her life includes music by Elton John, lyrics by Jake Shears and a book by James Graham (Ink, Almeida and BBC1’s Sherwood). It stars Katie Brayben and Andrew Rannells (The Prom and The Boys In The Band). Runs 13 October through 3 December. Tickets Review

  • Read on for reasons including Brown Boys Swim, Simon Russell Beale and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
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THEATRE REVIEW: The P Word at the Bush Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 10 September 2022, opens 14 September, runs to 22 October 2022 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval) Update: run extended to 29 October 2022

Bilal – or Billy as he prefers to be known (pictured right above) – is 31 and has lots of anonymous sex but wonders why he’s never found the 1 or even a boyfriend.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is 1 of the best new plays performed this year
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AWARDS LONGLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2022 so far (part 2 of 2)

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You, dear reader, are given the chance to vote in 16 categories from late November this year to tell us your favourite theatre, music, TV, film and podcast of 2022.

  • Read on for reasons including 8 of 16 categories of our Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2022 so far
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THEATRE REVIEW: Eureka Day starring Helen Hunt and Ben Schnetzer at the Old Vic

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Tuesday 6 September 2022, opens 23 September, runs to 31 October 2022 RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Eureka Day opens with a headteacher and parent governors in the seemingly liberal titular private US school debating at length the inclusivity of a drop-down menu describing the pupils’ ethnicity.

  • Read on for reasons including our thoughts on Helen Hunt’s London stage debut
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GIG REVIEW: The Divine Comedy at the Barbican Centre (5-night residency overview)

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Wednesday 31 August to Sunday 4 September 2022

‘Same time, same place – this is starting to feel like a full-time job,’ reflects The Divine Comedy frontman Neil Hannon as he arrives on stage at this prestigious venue at 7.30pm for a 5-night residency that will see his band play a total of 113 different songs.

  • Read on for reasons including how Hannon would do a 6-night residency once the band’s released a new album
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SONG OF THE MONTH: That Boy On The Stage by Suede (September 2022)

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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.

  • Read on for reasons including why new Suede album Autofiction is shaping up to be 1 of 2022’s best
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GIG REVIEW: Divine Comedy at the Barbican Centre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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’.

  • Read on for reasons including why you wouldn’t need Desert Island Discs if you were shipwrecked with The Divine Comedy
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