AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Venue of 2024

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2024? Over the next 3 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

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AWARDS LONGLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film & Podcasts of 2024 so far (part 1 of 2)

You, dear reader, are given the chance to vote in 17 categories from October this year to tell us your favourite theatre, music, TV, film and podcast of 2024.

  • Read on for reasons including 9 of 17 categories of our Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2024 so far
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GIG REVIEW: Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey at the IndigO2

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

SETLIST: In The Name Of Love; Science Fiction; Lies; Lay Your Hands On Me; Runaway; If You Were Here; Shooting Star; Psycho Killer; The Gap; Day After Day; Sister Of Mercy; No Peace For The Wicked; You Take Me Up; Who Can Stop the Rain; Doctor! Doctor!; Hold Me Now; We Are Detective; Storm On The Sea; Love On Your Side

WHEN?: Friday 17 May 2024, tour runs through 28 July 2024

We tell Bailey before this gig that the 1st concert we ever went to was the Thompson Twins at the old Hammersmith Odeon, now the Eventim Apollo, on our 14th birthday 40 years ago and he’s genuinely thrilled.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the most comprehensive set we’ve seen Bailey give
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for May 2024 starring Dominic West in A View From The Bridge

  1. A View From The Bridge in the West End

Transferring from Bath’s Theatre Royal, this Lindsay Posner production stars Dominic West (TV’s The Crown), Kate Fleetwood (Ugly Lies The Bone, National Theatre) and Callum Scott Howells (Cabaret, Kit Kat Club) in this Arthur Miller play about 1 man’s place in the close-knit American-Italian community of 1950s New York. Runs 23 May through 3 August 2024 at Theatre Royal Haymarket. Tickets Our preview review

  • Read on for reasons including Olly Alexander, Boys From The Blackstuff and Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey
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GIG REVIEW: Ed Sheeran at the IndigO2

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

WHERE: IndigO2

WHEN: 19/2, on tour until 10/11/18 including 4 gigs at Wembley Stadium this summer

SETLIST: Castle On The Hill; Eraser; The A Team; Don’t; Dive; Bloodstream; Happier; Tenerife Sea; Galway Girl; Feeling Good; How Would You Feel?; Photograph; Perfect; Nancy Mulligan; Thinking Out Loud; Sing; Shape Of You; You Need Me, I Don’t Need You

An unforgettable gig is always about its details rather than its headlines.

  • Read on for reasons including the last time Ed played the Indig02

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MONSTAS SHORTLIST: Gig of the year: 2016

It’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2016? Over the next fortnight we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 12 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2016.

  • Read on for nominees for the monsta for gig of the year. 2015 winner: Suede Camden Roundhouse

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ALBUM REVIEW: Cast in Steel by a-ha

TRACKLIST: Cast in Steel; Under the Makeup; The Wake; Forest Fire; Objects in the Mirror; Door Ajar; Living at the End of the World; Mythomania, She’s Humming a Tune; Shadow Endeavours; She’s Giving up the Ghost.

WORTH A LISTEN: ****

OUT: 4/9.

Five years after splitting up following a comprehensive world tour, a-ha are back with their 10th studio album and another chance to see them live.

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