music
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An Evening With Dave Haslam At Birmingham Town Hall
If there was a World Cup dedicated to having quite a life, then Moseley born Dave Haslam would certainly be into the knockout stages. DJ at the legendary Hacienda, DJ for the Stone Roses (also legendary) Spike Island concert when it seemed all the youth of the world were Baggy, and also a talented best selling author and raconteur, Dave really has been there, done that and got the t-shirt (or maybe the record.) Last week Dave returned to Birmingham to promote his latest book, a memoir with the brilliant title ‘Sonic Youth slept on my floor.’ An intimate audience of friends and fans gathered together on the stage of…
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The Rat Pack – The Sands Hotel 1960 Comes To Birmingham
If I could choose a time to go back to, the Las Vegas 1960 would be where I would head. The Rat Pack were in town to film Oceans 11, and Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin were playing to packed houses at the Sands Hotel. Their blend of unforgettable songs, dance and chat, complete with a bar on stage, was the show to see, and the front row was often packed with the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Kim Novak and Lauren Bacall. It was the height of glamour, and is brought to life in wonderful style by The Rat Pack show that is currently showing at Birmingham’s…
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Hootenanny 2017 – Beth Ditto and Jessie Ware
Jools Holland’s Hootenanny has become the traditional way to end the year, a guarantee of some good music to make any knees up go with a end of year bang. And even if your party consists of you and the wife/hubby due to being a parent, and if your New Year’s outfit is actually your pyjamas, when George McCrae is ringing in the new year singing ‘Rock your baby’ all is right with the world. You have the best disco in the world right there in your living room and all you need to is continue into the night playing your retro cheap vinyl (not Cds and definitely not an…
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Grease at Wolverhampton Grand – Good Fun
A new touring production of the classic musical Grease opened at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre last night, and although it was a real crowd pleaser with the appreciative audience simply loving it, you may not recognise all the songs and scenes if you are a fan of the musical film version. There can’t be anyone (my husband aside) who hasn’t seen the film version of this much loved musical at least once. The story of a holiday romance between Danny and Sandy, that is hampered by Danny’s ego and friends, and Sandy’s squeaky clean persona when she just happens to start at his school, Rydall High, after the summer, is…
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Cilla the Musical: A Star is Born
Cilla the Musical opened at Birmingham’s New Alex Theatre last night and proved to be the best new musical of the year. The story of the rise to fame of the legendary Cilla Black, and her love story with Bobby Willis is an astounding piece of theatre that combines the best music of the 1960s with a poignant story, and, with incredible performances from the whole cast, this musical is set to be a new classic. It’s 1962 and Priscilla White is a Liverpool typist who longs to be a singer. Plucking up the courage to get up on stage with a local band, she is spotted by local boy…










