WORTH A LOOK?: ****
It’s on repeated listens that the downbeat melancholy charms of this lead single from a new album have revealed themselves.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Last date of tour Monday 7 April 2025
Setlist: Polari; I Know; Make Me A Man; If You’re Over Me; Whisper In The Waves; Cupid’s Bow; Archangel; King; Dizzy; Starstruck; Worship/Breathe; Desire; All For You; It’s A Sin; Eyes Shut; When We Kiss; Sweet Talker; Heal You; Shine
The voice of Sir Ian McKellen (Player Kings, Noel Coward Theatre) opens the show explaining Polari, the title of Alexander’s debut album, and the actor’s here tonight waving at the delighted crowd from the box above us.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHEN? Sunday 6 April, runs through 7 April 2025 Update: New gigs at this venue in June Details
This is the 200-capacity east London venue where we saw our 1st post-pandemic gig and our best show of 2024 but we never dared dream we’d see the 1st concert in a quarter of a century by 1 of our favourite bands here.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHEN?: Sunday 23 March, tour runs through August 2025 Tickets
Setlist: Big In The Suburbs; Knock And Run; Soak Up The Culture; Shopping; Country Cousins; Life Is A Motorway; It’s Not Like This In France; Me And Your Mates
Debut album Big In The Suburbs has been in the world for less than 72 hours and we hear 3 songs from it tonight that we’ve not heard Welly play live before.
By Andrew Mosley
WHEN?: Saturday 29 March 2025, tour runs through 8 May 2025 Tickets
It’s a roar of defiance, a statement of intent and, as it introduced the fantastic Songs of Strength and Heartbreak album 25 years ago, so it does proceedings at a packed Brudenell Social Club tonight.
By Andrew Mosley
WHEN?: 20 March 2025, tour runs through 19 September 2025
As Conor McGregor vows to stand for the Irish presidency on an anti-immigration platform after meeting Donald Trump, it shouldn’t need The Mary Wallopers or myself to point out the stupidity and ignorance behind his message.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: Saturday 17 May 2025
WHERE?: St Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland
HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC1 at 8pm in the UK or eurovision.tv or SVT
Former child star Melody (above and below) threw everything including the kitchen sink at her victorious Benidorm Fest, Spain’s national selection, performance and below we predict how it and the other pre-qualified finalists will fare in the Eurovision Song Contest final.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: Thursday 15 May 2025
WHERE?: St Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland
HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC1 at 8pm in the UK or eurovision.tv or SVT
We think this is by far the tougher of the 2 semi finals and also that it will be much more difficult to lose 6 of these songs ahead of Saturday’s final rather than the 5 that will go home early in Semi 1.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: Tuesday 13 May 2025
WHERE?: St Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland
HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC1 at 8pm in the UK or eurovision.tv or SVT
Rather too many men in this easier of the 2 semi finals with the much tougher and saucier semi 2 taking place on the following Thursday.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
Tracklist: Disease; Abracadabra; Garden Of Eden; Perfect Celebrity; Vanish Into You; Killah; Zombieboy; Love Drug; How Bad Do U Want Me; Don’t Call Tonight; Shadow Of A Man; The Beast; Blade Of Grass; Die With A Smile
Lady Gaga’s 7th studio album pulls the magician’s trick of reminding fans of Mother Monster at her most successful while also pushing her boundaries musically into more credible territory before, we anticipate, a greatest hits album, world tour and then a career break.
