Hurts

PREVIEW: 5 reasons why we can’t wait for new Hurts album Desire

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  1. They’re ever more LGBTQ friendly

Happiness. Exile. Surrender … and now Desire – all four of Hurts’ album titles have spoken to what it is to be an outsider. As their lyrics and music do. Their LGBTQ audience has never been more embraced than for the video for the first single of this campaign (still above, clip below) Beautiful Ones. Fans of recent BBC1 drama Rellik will be familiar with the story line playing out in reverse.

  • Read on for reasons including the video for their best new single for years

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for September

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Young Frankenstein re-animates the Garrick

The Garrick Theatre had some success earlier this year with Griff Rhys Jones/Lee Mack comedy The Miser and this musical re-working of the Mel Brooks classic looks like it will be puttin’ on the Ritz with a cast including Ross Noble (see above) and Lesley Joseph. Runs 28/9 to February 2018. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Sir Ian McKellen, new Hurts and Strictly Comes Dancing does Annie

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our best single, album and gig of 2017 so far

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We awarded 12 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2016 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2017 so far and what’s to come. Lady Gaga, Shura, Suede and Florence and the Machine are among the previous winners in these categories.

  • Read on for reasons including our favourite songs, albums and gigs of 2017 so far

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LIVE REVIEW: Top 7 Glastonbury Festival 2016 acts

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  1. Adele headlines

She did it. We had our doubts about whether her Saturday Pyramid-headlining set would be uptempo enough but in the end it was the mix of revealing banter, heartfelt material and an exceptional voice which made the muddiest ever Glastonbury memorable for so much more than the weather.

  • Read on for acts including Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs, Hurts and Shura

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LIVE REVIEW: Hurts

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: 02 Brixton Academy

WHEN: 13/2, European tour runs to 16/3

SETLIST: Surrender; Some Kind of Heaven; Miracle; Why; Somebody To Die For; Weight of the World, Blood, Tears and Gold; Evelyn; Illuminated; Affair; Rolling Stone; Lights; Sunday; Sandman; Wonderful Life;  Better Than Love; Wings; Nothing Will Be Bigger Than Us; Stay.

The last time we saw Hurts at this venue five years ago there was a real sense of triumph in the air not least because Kylie Minogue dropped by to duet on two songs.

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for February

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Zawe Ashton stars in The Maids at Trafalgar Studios 

Ashton was shortlisted for a 2015 monsta for best theatre actress for Splendour at the Donmar and headlines here with Orange Is The New Black‘s Uzo Aduba in Jean Genet’s tale of the help for Downton Abbey‘s Laura Carmichael. Performed by the Jamie Lloyd Company, we’re expecting something spiky and stylish. (Pic via Facebook courtesy Jamie Lloyd Company)

  • Read on for reasons including Melodifestivalen, Hurts live and the Oscars

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AWARDS SHORTLIST: Album of the year

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It’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2015? Over the next fortnight we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 11 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2015. Read on for the nominees for the monsta for album of the year.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Surrender by Hurts

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WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Out: 9/10

Tracklist: Surrender; Some Kind Of Heaven; Why; Nothing Will Be Bigger Than Us; Rolling Stone; Lights; Slow; Kaleidoscope; Wings; Wish; (deluxe version only) Perfect Timing; Weight Of The World; Policewoman.

Two years ago Hurts topped the singles chart as featured artists on Calvin Harris and Alesso club banger Under Control.

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PREVIEW: 8 reasons to be excited about October

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. New Hurts album Surrender

Hurts’ third album Surrender is out 9/10 and includes singles Lights (YouTube clip above, and Hurts’ best single since Wonderful Life) and Some Kind Of Heaven. We’ve also heard tracks Rolling Stone, Slow, Nothing Will Be Bigger Than Us, Weight Of The World and the title track and saw the band for the tenth time at their last UK gig at the Scala in June. We’d imagine this album would be their best because it’s the most pop. They play Brixton Academy in February. Tickets here.

  • Read on for reasons 2-8 including Medea, Years and Years, Teddy Ferrara, John Grant and Jeremy Hardy

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