AWARDS: Winners of the 2021 monstas are …
monstagigz readers have been voting throughout December for their favourite pop, theatre, TV, film and podcasts of 2021 from our shortlists. Read on for details of our 2021 monstas winners …
Read MoreJourney To You
AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Album of 2021
It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2021? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 15 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2021.
- Read on for the nominees for the monsta for Best Album of 2021 Previous winners 2020: SAWAYAMA by Rina Sawayama, 2019: Sucker Punch by Sigrid, 2018: Wild, Wild Wonderland by Saara Aalto, 2017: Melodrama by Lorde, 2016: Joanne by Lady Gaga and 2015: How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful by Florence and the Machine.
GIG REVIEW: The Blow Monkeys at 229
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHEN?: Friday 9 October, touring until 27 August 2022
SETLIST: Celebrate (The Day After You); OK Have It Your Way; One More Time; Crying For The Moon; More Than A Miracle; It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way; Choice; It Pays To Belong; Out With Her; Dust At Her Feet; Said Too Much; Time Storm; Digging Your Scene; Wait; The Wild River; Earthbound; Touching Distance; Superfly; Man From Russia; You Don’t Own Me
‘It doesn’t mean a thing if you can’t make it sing,’ observed the dearly departed Curtis Mayfield on tonight’s opening song and, while we’re massively missing his input, as well as Sylvia Tella’s vocals on her hit duet with the band and some of the sharpest backing vocals of the 80s, this is still a joy of a gig to behold.
- Read on for reasons including how we would have loved the band’s iconic saxophone to have been louder tonight
9 reasons why we can’t wait for October 2021 starring Saoirse Ronan in The Tragedy of Macbeth
- Saoirse Ronan makes London stage debut
Ronan is an Irish/American actress who starred opposite Kate Winslet and James McArdle (Angels In America, National Theatre) in film Ammonite earlier this year. She’s been shortlisted for an Oscar 4 times (including for 3 of our favourite films Brooklyn, Lady Bird and Little Women) and makes her London stage debut this month at the Almeida opposite McArdle again in The Tragedy Of Macbeth which runs 1 October to 20 November 2021. Review Tickets
- Read on for reasons including Stockard Channing, The Blow Monkeys’ tour and new Bob Marley musical
ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Journey To You by The Blow Monkeys (September 2021)
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
RELEASED: Friday 24 September 2021
TRACKLIST: Dust At Her Feet; Time Storm; More Than A Miracle; One More Time; Each and Every One; Earthbound; Touching Distance; Unicorn Kisses; Journey To You; Teardrop Rock
The Blow Monkeys found fame in the late 80s by marrying a saxaphone-heavy dance pop sound with lyrics often criticising then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and it’s interesting that the muse for this 1st new album in 4 years is once again female but this time about love rather than hate.
- Read on for reasons including how to see The Blow Monkeys on their UK tour later this year
9 reasons why we can’t wait for September starring The Normal Heart (2021)
- The Normal Heart beats at the National
This revival of Larry Kramer’s play about the American AIDS crisis is timed beautifully after the National’s unforgettable Angels In America in 2017 and Channel 4’s It’s A Sin earlier this year. Starring Ben Daniels we’re excited for the return of monsta winner Daniel Monks (Teenage Dick, Donmar), director Dominic Cooke (Follies, National) and Dino Fetscher (Torch Song, Turbine Theatre). Runs 23 September to 6 November 2021. Tickets
- Read on for reasons including Saoirse Ronan’s London stage debut, Jennifer Saunders, new Blow Monkeys album and Jamie film released finally
SONG OF THE WEEK: Dust At Her Feet by The Blow Monkeys (week beginning Friday 25 June 2021)
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
RELEASED: 25 June 2021
We’ve had a listen of The Blow Monkeys’ new album Journey To You released in September and this 3rd single from it is the 10-track collection’s opener as well as a brilliant introduction.
- Read on for reasons including our thoughts on the band’s most recent singles More Than A Miracle and Time Storm
SONG OF THE MONTH: More Than A Miracle by The Blow Monkeys (April 2021)
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
OUT: Friday 16 April 2021
Think classic Blow Monkeys and there’s probably a funky saxophone bossing the groove and coincidentally there’s 1 at the heart of More Than A Miracle, the 2nd single from the band’s new album Journey To You.
- Read on for reasons including where The Blow Monkeys will tour in the UK in October
INTERVIEW: Dr Robert of the Blow Monkeys on new album Journey To You
WHEN?: Thursday 25 March 2021
We interview Dr Robert, lead singer of the Blow Monkeys, as the band prepares to release a new album and tickets for a tour to celebrate their 40th anniversary have gone on sale.
- Read on for reasons including what to expect from that tour, the uplifting album and next single
