Art

THEATRE REVIEW: Teeth ‘n’ Smiles starring Rebecca Lucy Taylor – Self Esteem – and Phil Daniels at Duke Of York’s Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 14 March, opens 25 March and runs through 6 June 2026 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Three-quarters of the way through this revival of a David Hare play with music which originally starred Helen Mirren its new star Rebecca Lucy Taylor, better known as Self Esteem, sits on the steps leading up to the stage and plays a new song she has written herself solo on the guitar as her character finds her voice.

  • Read on for reasons including how Self Esteem updates this work with new material that brings real soul and authenticity to it
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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest pre-qualified finalists 2026 starring Look Mum No Computer

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WHEN? 16 May 2026 HOW TO WATCH? BBC1 in the UK at 8pm

WHERE? Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna

No Spain this year which is 1 of 5 countries to boycott 2026 because of Israel’s participation and it’s the UK’s Look Mum No Computer (pictured) which is giving us the most interesting entry of the pre-qualified finalists.

  • Read on for reasons including the UK’s Look Mum No Computer
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GIG REVIEW: The Divine Comedy at Sala Apolo, Barcelona

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Thursday 5 March 2026, tour runs through 22 August 2026

SETLIST: Achilles; The Last Time I Saw The Old Man; Rainy Sunday Afternoon; Norman and Norma; Your Daddy’s Car; Bang Goes The Knighthood; I Want You; A Lady Of A Certain Age; Songs Of Love; At The Indie Disco; Neapolitan Girl; Mar-a-Lago By The Sea; Bad Ambassador; I Like; The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter; Absent Friends; Becoming More Like Alfie; Generation Sex; National Express; Our Mutual Friend; Invisible Thread; Tonight We Fly

Rainy Sunday Afternoon is the title of the latest album by The Divine Comedy and it’s a thundery Thursday evening in Barcelona.

  • Read on for reasons including how this was a a very European expression of musical joy
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PREDICTIONS/PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen Final 2026 starring A-Teens, FELICIA, Greczula & Sanna Nielsen

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WHEN?: Saturday 7 March 2025 7pm UK time WHERE TO WATCH? SVT

WHERE?: Strawberry Arena, Stockholm

Melodifestivalen cements its position as Eurovision’s greatest selection show with this 66th final that includes the return of 2 former winners, a boy/girl group reunited after more than 20 years apart, a novelty TV character and 1 song capable of winning in Vienna in May.

  • Read on for reasons including A-Teens, FELICIA, Greczula & Sanna Nielsen
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for March 2026 starring Aidan Turner in Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Aidan Turner and Lesley Manville in Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Turner (Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Harold Pinter Theatre) and Manville (Oedipus, Wyndham’s Theatre) star in Marianne Elliott’s (COCK, Ambassadors Theatre) take on Christopher Hampton’s sexy adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’ classic novel. Runs at the National’s Lyttelton Theatre 21 March through 6 June 2026. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Rachel Zegler live, Self Esteem and Sadie Sink in the West End
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PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen Heat 5 2026 starring Sanna Nielsen, Vilhelm Buchaus and AleXa

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WHEN?: Saturday 28 February March 2025 7pm UK time WHERE TO WATCH? SVT

WHERE?: Gärdehov Arena, Sundsval

The final heat of Melfest 2026 is its most competitive with the return of a former winner and the arrival of the sole American Song Contest victor.

  • Read on for reasons including Bladë, Juliett and Lilla Al-Fadji 
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PREVIEW/Q&A : How To Get To Heaven From Belfast starring Lisa McGee at BFI Southbank

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WHEN? Tuesday 10 February 2026

HOW TO WATCH? Episodes available on Netflix from Thursday 12 February 2026

McGee created Derry Girls and her follow-up – How To Get To Heaven From Belfast – is about 3 women in their late 30s who investigate the mysterious death of the former schoolfriend they haven’t seen for 20 years.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is recognisably by the creator of Derry Girls but throws a little Scooby Doo-style mystery into the mix as well as some reflection on youth
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PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen Heat 2 2026 starring FELICIA

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WHEN? Saturday 7 February 2026 WHERE TO WATCH? SVT

WHERE?: Scandinavium, Gothenburg

We predicted last weekend’s Heat 1 100 per cent correctly but think Heat 2 covers such a vast array of different musical styles it’s far less easy to call.

  • Read on for reasons including Arwin, Laila Adèle, Robin Bengtsson and Brandsta City Släckers
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GIG REVIEW: Agnes at KOKO, London

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Wednesday 28 January, tour returns to Mighty Hoopla 30 May 2026

Setlist: 24 Hours; Here Comes The Night; Milk; Trigger; Ego; Balenciaga Covered Eyes; Fingers Crossed; Love And Appreication; Release Me

Scandipop appears to be having a moment in the UK currently with Zara Larsson’s Lush Life in the top 10, A-Teens returning to Melodifestivalen with something special and the release of the 1st great album of the year, Beautiful Madness by Agnes.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Agnes live in London this summer
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Beautiful Madness by Agnes (January 2026)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Tracklist: Interlude; Beautiful Madness; Trigger; Got Any?; Milk; Focus; Wake Up; Balenciaga Covered Eyes; Not Capable; Ego; Masterpiece; Sign It; Pre; Lovesongs; Uterus & Universe

‘Life is a beautiful madness, and it’s when we stop chasing perfection that the truly interesting things happen,’ says Agnes as she releases this new album and prepares to headline London’s KOKO next week where we join her.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is the 1st great album of 2026
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