GIG REVIEW: Loreen at Parel-Lel 62, Barcelona

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Saturday 8 March, tour runs through 16 August 2025

SETLIST: Jupiter Drive; Gravity; Forever; Warning Signs; Hate The Way I Love You; Statements; I’m In It With You; Dreams; Coming Close; Euphoria; Is it Love?; Tattoo

It’s International Women’s Day and while Sweden is choosing its Eurovision entry for 2025 the only woman to have won the competition twice is performing in Barcelona as part of an extensive European tour that reaches the UK and Ireland for 8 dates later this month.

  • Read on for reasons including how this up-for-it crowd responded magnificently to an artist clearly revelling in their enthusiasm for her
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for March 2025 starring James Graham’s Punch

  1. James Graham’s Punch at the Young Vic

Author Graham (Boys From The Blackstuff, National Theatre) is enjoying a prolific run of theatre and TV writing including Brian And Maggie most recently on Channel 4. This transfers from Nottingham Playhouse and is based on a book by Jacob Dunne about an impulsive punch that leads to fatal consequences at the Young Vic. Runs 1 March through 26 April 2025. Tickets Cast includes Coronation Street‘s Julie Hesmondhalgh. Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Lady Gaga and Welly albums and double Eurovision winner Loreen live
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SONG OF THE MONTH: Warning Signs by Loreen (November 2024)

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

The artist known in full as Lorine Zeineb Nora Talhaoui is the only woman to have won Eurovision twice and here releases an uptempo 3rd follow up to 2023 winner Tattoo and we hope there’s an album coming soon.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Loreen on tour in 2025
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Song of 2023

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2023? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 16 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2023.

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SONG OF THE MONTH: Is It Love? by Loreen (October 2023)

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

It’s 5 months since Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui, better known as Loreen, won Eurovision for the 2nd time, becoming the 1st woman to achieve the feat.

  • Read on for reasons including how this single raises expectations for a strong new album
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AWARDS LONGLIST: MONSTAS Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film & Podcasts of 2023 so far (Part 2 of 2)

You, dear reader, are given the chance to vote in 16 categories from late November this year to tell us your favourite theatre, music, TV, film and podcast of 2023.

  • Read on for reasons including 8 of 16 categories of our Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2023 so far
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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: Eurovision 2023 Final starring Loreen, Mae Muller, Käärijä, Noa Kirel & La Zarra in Liverpool

By Neil Durham

WHEN?: Saturday 13 May 2023 8pm (UK time)

WHERE?: Liverpool Arena

HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC1

The UK hasn’t won the Eurovision Song Contest for 26 years and we think this year’s entry – Mae Muller’s I Wrote A Song – is its best shot since then although it does have 2012 winner Loreen (pictured) to beat.

  • Read on for reasons including out thoughts on other acts including Noa Kirel and La Zarra
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SONG OF THE MONTH: Tattoo by Loreen (May 2023)

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

The potential of a Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden in 2024 – the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s Waterloo win – rests on the shoulders of 2012 victor Loreen.

  • Read on for reasons including why we think Tattoo by Loreen is no Euphoria but is a potential 2023 Eurovision winner
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for May 2023 starring Eurovision in Liverpool

  1. Eurovision Song Contest 2023 from Liverpool

We have our tickets and UK Eurovision entry I Wrote A Song by Mae Muller was April’s song of the month for us and is the country’s best effort since the almighty (Ooh Aah) Just A Little Bit by Gina G. Our favourite however is Tattoo by Loreen (pictured) for Sweden. Check out our Semi 1, Semi 2 and Final predictions for the 1st Eurovision in the UK since Dana International won in Birmingham 25 years ago. Tickets Rehearsals start on 30 April and we’ll be refining our predictions as we see footage. Final predictions

  • Read on for reasons including Brokeback Mountain, Groundhog Day returns, Alison Goldfrapp LP and Eddie Izzard’s Great Expectations
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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final 1 starring Loreen, Käärijä, Mimicat & Luke Black

By Neil Durham

WHEN?: 8pm 9 May 2023

WHERE?: Liverpool Arena

HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC

‘Irregular voting paterns’ in 6 jury votes last year means this year’s semi finals will be televote only with this being the toughest semi and tasked with finding 10 finalists from a field of 15.

  • Read on for reasons including 2012 Eurovision winner Loreen and why this is 2023’s toughest semi
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