9 reasons why we can’t wait for May 2025 starring Kylie Minogue

  1. Kylie brings Tension tour to The 02

Ms Minogue’s Tension show arrives in London for 4 gigs at The 02 this and next month as part of a world tour which runs through 26 August 2025. Tickets We 1st saw her live on the Enjoy Yourself tour at London’s now-no-more London Arena in 1990 and have seen her since at the old Wembley Arena, Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, new Wembley Arena and many times at The 02 – but not since 2014. Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Eurovision Song Contest predictions, Scissor Sisters reunite and Imelda Staunton
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best Gig of 2024

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

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GIG REVIEW: Charli XCX at The 02

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Thursday 28 November 2024, tour runs through 18 June 2025

Setlist: 365; 360; Von Dutch; Rewind; I Might Say Something Stupid; Club Classics; Unlock It; Talk Talk; Apple; So I; Spring Breakers; Girl, So Confusing; Welcome To My Island; Everything Is So Romantic; Speed Drive; Sympathy Is A Knife; Guess; 365; Party 4 U; Vroom Vroom; Everything Is Romantic; Welcome To My Island; 360; Dancing On My Own; Track 10; I Love It;

Charli XCX describes her biggest London gig to date as a moment she’ll never forget after she duets with Robyn and takes a back seat during an emotional encore including the kindred spirit’s Dancing On My Own.

  • Read on for reasons including how XCX absolutely convinced as an arena act
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for December 2024 starring Sigourney Weaver

  1. Sigourney Weaver’s West End debut in Jamie Lloyd’s The Tempest

Weaver who starred in the original Alien movies but not this year’s fine newcomer to the franchise Alien: Romulus makes her West End debut as Prospero in this Jamie Lloyd (Romeo and Juliet, Duke Of York’s Theatre) version of The Tempest which we’ve previously seen starring Simon Russell Beale at the Barbican in 2017. Will it be ‘such stuff as dreams are made?’ Runs at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane 7 December through 1 February 2025. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including the Palladium pantomime, Welly’s biggest London show and Oliver!
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for November 2024 starring Ncuti Gatwa

  1. Ncuti Gatwa stars in The Importance Of Being Earnest

‘A handbag …?’ New Doctor Who Gatwa stars alongside Best Theatre Actress monsta winner Sharon D Clarke (Caroline, Or Change?, Hampstead Theatre and TV’s Lost Boys and Fairies) and Hugh Skinner (The Trial, Young Vic and film Wicked Little Letters) in Max Webster’s (Minority Report, Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith) production of the Oscar Wilde classic comedy at the National Theatre’s Lyttelton Theatre 20 November through 25 January 2025. Tickets Vote for Doctor Who to win Best TV of 2024. Our Earnest review

  • Read on for reasons including the Greenwich pantomime, The Producers and the Steps musical
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GIG REVIEW: Depeche Mode at The 02

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: 27 January 2024, tour runs through 8 April 2024

SETLIST: My Cosmos Is Mine; Wagging Tongue; Walking In My Shoes; It’s No Good; Policy Of Truth; In Your Room; Everything Counts; Precious; Before We Drown; Home; Somebody; Ghosts Again; I Feel You; A Pain that I’m Used To; Behind The Wheel; Black Celebration; Stripped; John The Revelator; Enjoy The Silence; Waiting For The Night; Just Can’t Get Enough; Never Let Me Down Again; Personal Jesus

This is our 1st time seeing Depeche Mode since 1986’s Black Celebration and 1988’s Music For The Masses tours at the old Wembley Arena.

  • Read on for reasons including which new song made its live debut at this gig
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for January 2024 starring Plaza Suite

  1. Plaza Suite at the Savoy Theatre

Sarah Jessica Parker makes her West End debut in Neil Simon’s comedy about marriage Plaza Suite opposite her husband Matthew Broderick at the Savoy Theatre 17 January through 30 March 2024. Tickets Broderick is the winner of 2 Tonys and Parker 2 Emmys. Our review

  • Read on for reasons including film All Of Us Strangers, Depeche Mode live and The Hills Of California
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GIG REVIEW: S Club at The 02

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Friday 27 October, tour moves to the US and Canada where it finishes 16 November 2023

SETLIST: S Club Party; Love Ain’t Gonna Wait For You; You’re My Number One; Natural; Sunshine; You; Stronger; Bring The House Down; Friday Night; Don’t Stop Movin’; Bring It All Back; Two In A Million; These Are The Days; Have You Ever; Alive; Reach; Never Had A Dream Come True; S Club Party

Bookending The Good Times Tour setlist with 2nd single and number 2 hit S Club Party gives the perfect idea of the vibe aimed for and achieved here.

  • Read on for reasons including how presenting as S Club 5 inevitably invites Steps comparisons
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SONG OF THE WEEK: These Are The Days by S Club (week beginning Thursday 17 August 2023)

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

One of the saddest stories of the year was the death of former S Club 7 member Paul Cattermole by natural causes aged just 46 shortly after his band announced a 15-date UK tour reunion this autumn.

  • Read on for reasons including where to see S Club on their Good Times tour
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