Steps

PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for November starring A Christmas Carol at the Bridge Theatre

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  1. A Christmas Carol starring Simon Russell-Beale and Patsy Ferran

There are at least 2 other A Christmas Carols in London this festive season but we have chosen this 1 because Russell Beale is always good value and Ferran is an Olivier Best Actress award-winner. Runs 27/11 through 16/1/21. Tickets UPDATE: The 2nd lockdown means this run will now start on 3/12/20

  • Read on for reasons including new Steps album, Rent in Manchester and Kylie’s Disco set
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SONG OF THE MONTH: What The Future Holds by Steps (week beginning 9/9/20)

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

OUT: now

It’s quite something that pop star and songwriting genius Sia thought her tune What The Future Holds would be best sung by this reformed boy/girl band quintet.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Steps on tour next year

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for January (2020) starring Madonna

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  1. Madonna brings Madame X to the London Palladium

2019’s Madame X collection made our Album of 2019 shortlist and was Madonna’s best since 2005’s Confessions. We were at her last London gig at The 02 in 2015 and are looking forward to the shift from arenas to theatres for this 15-gig run. Tickets The tour opened in the US in the autumn and, despite the late starts, promises much. We’re just glad we don’t have to be up early after what is shaping up to be a late night albeit in thrall to the Queen of Pop.

  • Read on for reasons including new Pet Shop Boys album, Richard Armitage’s West End return and VAULT Festival

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for February 2019

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Gillian Anderson and Lily James star in All About Eve

Anderson was unforgettable in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire at the Young Vic in 2014 and James was unmissable on film in 2018 for work including Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again. Runs at the Noel Coward Theatre from 2/2 to 11/5/19. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Chita Rivera live, Claire Steps album and musical Come From Away 

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GIG REVIEW: Claire Richards at the Union Chapel

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Union Chapel

WHEN?: 6/12/18, last night of current tour

SETLIST: 7 Billion; End Before We Start; My Wildest Dreams; One For Sorrow; These Wings; All Out Of Love; Ruins; Deep Water; I’ll Never Love Again; Brave; Deeper Shade Of Blue; Liar; In My Blood; Don’t Leave Me In This Love Alone; Shame On Your; River Deep Mountain High; On My Own

While Steps bandmate Faye Tozer is kicking up a storm on Strictly Come Dancing, Claire Richards has completed a 4-date UK taster tour for a debut album that appears to be (almost) strictly power ballads.

  • Read on for reasons including which cover started it all for Claire in her Steps audition over 20 years ago

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INTERVIEW: Saara Aalto on her European tour, life after Eurovision & what happens next

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One of our favourite stars of the year embarks on a 24-date European tour this Autumn, reflects on Eurovision and what happens next for her in our interview below.

  • Read on for reasons including what Saara Aalto’s message for the readers of monstagigz is

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GIG REVIEW: Steps & Saara Aalto at Greenwich Music Time

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Greenwich Music Time

WHEN: 5/7, touring to 20/7/18

SETLIST: Summer Of Love; Better The Devil You Know; 5,6,7,8; Say You’ll Be Mine; It’s The Way That You Make Me Feel; Chain Reaction; Heartbeat; Stomp; Glitter and Gold; No More Tears On The Dancefloor; Better Best Forgotten/Last Thing On My Mind; Neon Blue; Love U More / You”ll Be Sorry / After The Love Has Gone / Love’s Got A Hold Of My Heart; Deeper Shade Of Blue; Scared Of The Dark; One For Sorrow; Tragedy

Greenwich’s Old Royal Naval College sitting imperiously on the south bank of the Thames is a stunning outdoor venue and Steps are a fitting headline act for day 3 of the week-long Greenwich Music Time festival.

  • Read on for reasons including how Saara Aalto’s support slot went down

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for July

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Sacha Dhawan in new Alan Bennett play

Sacha Dhawan (pictured above) won our Best Film/TV Actor monsta last year for The Boy With the Topknot and is here reunited with playwright Alan Barnett and former History Boy Samuel Barnett in a play at the Bridge Theatre marking the 70th birthday of the NHS. Runs 11/7 to 28/9/18. Tickets

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  • Read on for reasons including Sigrid, Mamma Mia 2, Years and Years in Camden and Importance Of Being Earnest

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MONSTAS SHORTLIST: Song of the year: 2017

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It’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2017? Over the next month we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 13 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2017.

  • Read on for nominees for the monsta for Song of the year. 2016 winner: Can’t Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for November

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in London (not Sheffield) this time

Dan Gillespie Sells is frontman of The Feeling and we gave his debut musical the full 5* when we saw it in Sheffield in February. It’s a real celebration of mothers and sons and transfers to the West End 6/11 booking to 21/4/18. Tickets. The soundtrack is an absolute treat but our favourite is cross-dressing musical-within-a-song The Legend Of Loco Chanel. Don’t. Miss.

  • Read on for reasons including Bananarama reunited, Cinderella in Greenwich and Steps on tour

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