GIG REVIEW: Declan McKenna at 02 Brixton Academy

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WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Friday 17 September 2021

SETLIST: Beautiful Faces; Rapture; Sagitarrius A; Emily; Make Me Your Queen; The Kids Don’t Wanna Come Home; Twice Your Size; The Key To Life On Earth; My House; Listen To Your Friends; Humongous; Isombard; You Better Believe; Be An Astronaut; Daniel, You’re Still A Child; Why Do You Feel So Down; Eventually, Darling; Brazil; British Bombs

It’s a Friday night and the excitement in the venue is palpable as 22-year-old McKenna steps out on stage in front of a screaming crowd of predominantly teenage boys and girls for what he describes as the biggest solo gig of his career so far.

  • Read on for reasons including how you can see McKenna on tour this year and next
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GIG REVIEW: Idles at Portsmouth Guildhall

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WHEN?: 12 September 2021

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

Reminiscent of my ex-goth’s conundrum of what to wear to a Cult gig when you’re the wrong side of 40, Mr H was in a quandary as to whether to buy a merch t-shirt. Attired in the überfan Steve Lamacq’s Going Deaf for a Living shirt (Lammo famously championed Idles), Mr H decided to wear the new Idles t-shirt on top. Job done.

  • Read on for reasons including whether A Humdrum Mum rubbed shoulders with the band in their Exeter youth
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SONG OF THE WEEK: This Was Me by Holly Johnson (week beginning 15 September 2021)

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WORTH A LOOK?: *****

The film of musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie drops on Amazon Prime on Friday (17 September) and swaps out 1 of our favourite songs for this new 1.

  • Read on for reasons including how this features in film Everybody’s Talking About Jamie out Friday
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THEATRE REVIEW: Back To The Future: The Musical at the Adelphi Theatre

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WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Sunday 12 September 2021 (matinee), booking to February 13 2022 RUNTIME: 160 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

‘Great Scott!’ Michael J. Fox starred as hero Marty McFly in 3 Back To The Future films which made more than 900 million dollars in the 80s and 90s.

  • Read on for reasons including how this musical is big on spectacle but short on memorable songs
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THEATRE REVIEW: Camp Siegfried starring Patsy Ferran and Luke Thallon at the Old Vic

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

WHEN?: Saturday 11 September, opens 18 September, runs to 30 October 2021

RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

Playwright Bess Wohl penned this play last summer during the pandemic while staying outside New York as Donald Trump’s presidential re-election campaign kicked into gear.

  • Read on for reasons including how Olivier Award-winning Ferran’s indoctrination is centre stage here
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SONGS OF THE MONTH: I Still Have Faith In You and Don’t Shut Me Down by ABBA (September 2021)

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

The Swedish supergroup had 9 UK number 1 singles between 1974 and 1980 while last effort proper was Under Attack which reached a far less lofty 26 in 1982.

  • Read on for reasons including why we’re sold on the album but unsure about the ABBA-tar concerts
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THEATRE REVIEW: Pippin starring Ryan Anderson at the Charing Cross Theatre

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WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN: Saturday 4 September, (matinee), runs to 3 October 2021

The reason we’re here is because the music and lyrics for Pippin were written by Stephen Schwartz who is behind musical Wicked which re-opens in the West End at London’s Victoria Apollo Theatre on 15 September 2021.

  • Read on for reasons including how we felt Charing Cross Theatre was a most unwelcoming destination and we wouldn’t recommend a visit there
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GIG REVIEW: Will Young at EartH, Hackney, east London

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

WHEN?: Monday 6 September 2021, tour runs until 8 July 2022

SETLIST: Crying On The Bathroom Floor; Light My Fire; Losing You; Changes; ‘Til There’s Nothing Left; Who Am I; Jealousy; Come On; You And I; Elizabeth Taylor; Daniel; Leave Right Now; Your Game

We’ve been to Q&As before but never 1 where an audience member has proposed to her boyfriend and the act has invited them onstage as Will Young did here.

  • Read on for reasons including whether Ade accepted Leanne’s marriage proposal
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The local side to Victorious Festival 2021

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By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

Live music. That’s what we go to festivals for. But we all love to wander around in between bands, and it’s here that you can find the local independent traders, the heart of the city. In the past, I’ve interviewed Leather Heather, Pie and Vinyl, Fisherman’s Kitchen, Tonic Music For Mental Health Choir, Beats & Swing and many more. This year was the turn of the eco-friendly clothing brand Humble and natural skincare producer Southsea Bathing Hut.

  • Read on for reasons including details of the Humble clothing brand
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GIG REVIEW: The Primitives at The Lexington

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 4 September, tour runs until 19 September 2021

SETLIST: I’ll Stick With You; Thru’ The Flowers; Spin-o-rama; Stop Killing Me; Sick Of It; Lose The Reason; Petals; Rattle My Cage; Run Baby Run; Where The Wind Blows; Buzz Buzz Buzz; Really Stupid; I’ll Trust The Wind; Empathise; You Are The Way; Nothing Left; Crash; Way Behind Me; Spacehead; Everything’s Shining Bright

We’re in a room above a north London pub not far from where we first saw The Primitives at the height of their commercial success in May 1988.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is our 5th time seeing the band in 33 years
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