News

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: International by Saint Etienne (week beginning Tuesday 9 September 2025)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Tracklist: Glad; Dancing Heart; The Go Betweens; Sweet Melodies; Save It For A Rainy Day; Fade; Brand New Me; Take Me To The Pilot; Two Lovers; Why Are You Calling; He’s Gone; The Last Time

What do Haircut 100’s Nick Heyward, Yazoo’s Vince Clarke, Xenomania’s Tim Powell, Erol Alkan, Chemical Brothers and Orbital have in common?

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the final Saint Etienne album
Read More

INTERVIEW: Rick Witter from Shed Seven on hairbrush singing, Showaddywaddy, Duran Duran & Victorious Festival

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

I like to explain what kind of fan I am before a review/interview. I tell Rick I’m dead nervous as I’m such a fangirl. We’ve seen the Sheds many times, here at Victorious, in local venues and at the Shiiine On Weekender many times in Butlins. “Don’t be nervous,” he tells me. “I’m a nice guy. We’ll just have a nice chat like we’re round a pub table.” And he is a nice guy.  

  • Read on for reasons including how to select a festival setlist from material going back to the 90s
Read More

Victorious Festival 2025 Day 2 starring Shed Seven, Utah Saints, Public Service Broadcasting, The Pill & Betty Boo

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Saturday 23 August 2025 (press ticket)

In our attempt to fill the sad Welly gap, before we realised that Hot Wax were possibly the new best thing, we knew The Pill, who opened the Common Stage today, were a cert. We’d seen them support Welly in Southampton earlier this year, and we could see and sense the potential.

  • Read on for reasons including Shed Seven, Utah Saints, Public Service Broadcasting & Betty Boo
Read More

SONG OF THE MONTH: Spike Island by Pulp (May 2025)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

We last saw Pulp live at Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo in July 2023 and wrote: ‘We absolutely yearn for new material as good as those songs like Common People which soundtracked and shaped our adulthood’.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Pulp live at London’s The 02 this summer
Read More

PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final 2 starring Erika Vikman, Go-Jo, Sissal, Laura Thorn & ADONXS

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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.

  • Read on for reasons including who are the 10 acts we’re predicting will make it to Saturday’s final
Read More

9 reasons why we can’t wait for February 2025 starring Jonathan Bailey as Richard II

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Jonathan Bailey is Richard II

Bailey (film Wicked and COCK, Ambassadors) stars in this Shakespeare directed by Nicholas Hytner (Giant, Royal Court and transferring to the Harold Pinter Theatre) at the Bridge Theatre. Runs 10 February through 10 May 2025 Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Cate Blanchett, Patti LuPone, Olly Alexander and Nicola Walker
Read More

AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Song of 2024

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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 2 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or 10th annual monstas if you will, of 2024.

Read More

ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Tension II by Kylie Minogue (November 2024)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

TRACKLIST: Lights Camera Action; Taboo; Someone For Me; Good As Gone; Kiss Bang Bang; Diamonds; Hello; Dance To The Music; Should’ve Left Ya; Edge Of Saturday Night; My Oh My; Midnight Ride; Dance Alone

Minogue’s purple patch continues with this 17th album a mere 12 months after its predecessor perpetuating the Tension-era vibe of electronic dance music with a very commercial edge.

  • Read on for reasons including how and where to see Kylie on tour in 2025
Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: The Devil Wears Prada: A New Musical starring Vanessa Williams & Matt Henry at Dominion Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Tuesday 5 November 2024 and booking through 31 May 2025 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (includes a 20-minute interval)

This musical of a beloved 2006 film with a star turn by Meryl Streep goes down a storm at this cavernous venue particularly whenever Williams (City Of Angels, Garrick Theatre) as fashion editor Miranda Priestly emerges striking a pose through the stage’s trapdoor.

  • Read on for reasons including how you will be as absolutely swept up and bowled over by this as we were
Read More