Entertainment

It was a busy Theatrical week for me last week. I went to three different shows on successive evenings. I’d never seen any of them before, which made it even more exciting.

Nick Winston's award-winning cult-sensation at The Palace Theatre plays fast and loose with the 1967 original.

The Octagon Theatre, in Bolton, is one of the treasures of the North West Theatre scene.

The sky is the limit for this five-star, meticulously-crafted musical and it might just be one of my new favourites!

The band formed in October 2021 and consist of  bass player Charlie Lawless, drummer Gabriel Preston, guitarist Henry Williamson, guitarist Mikey from Carrbrook and singer Frank Williams. 

The Wizard of Oz remains a cornerstone of ageless storytelling, arguably ranking among the most beloved, iconic musicals of all time.

I was recently joined on my afternoon show on Tameside Radio by Simon Nelson, founding member of The Milltown Brothers, who despite being one of the most underrated bands of the late 80's and early 90's, were still without a doubt an integral part of the Northern music scene in Britain at the time. The band were formed in Colne, Lancashire, and in 1989 released their first independent EP entitled 'Coming From The Mill'. 

Can you believe that the MGM film, Wizard Of Oz, premiered in 1939? It cost $2.7 million to make and until a decade after it’s release, it seemed destined to make a loss, despite being nominated for five Academy Awards.

In January 2023, we launched our popular 'Local Music Spotlight' feature on Tameside Radio and across the local printed newspapers. I knew how important a feature like this was to support new and unsigned musicians and artists, but the response we've had has been nothing short of amazing. Now, almost 18 months on, we have featured over 60 local bands and artists, playing their music on every main daytime show for a full week, along with a live session and interview on my Monday night indie and new music show.

This Saturday, April 20th, the hugely popular music event the After All Festival returns to Manchester city centre.

Following the Ellis Mano Band's European tour last year in support of the critically acclaimed "Luck of the Draw" album, fifteen songs recorded in Germany and Switzerland have now been released on their first live album "Live: Access All Areas".

The first of two films based on that Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew hit Netfllix this week, and Scoop was a five star treat in my book. Based on three chapters of a book by producer Sam McAlister, who arranged te interview at Buckingham Palace and has since said it was "hard to keep a poker face" while he was speakin

This week, I watched The Social Dilemma on Netflix, and I would highly recommend that you give it a whirl. As one of the quotes at the beginning says: "Nothing vast enters the life of mortals without a curse" (Sophocles), and if you're anything like me, you'll be left questioning how much information you've given away to social media platforms over the years

Back when we only had three TV channels, everyone watched the Eurovision Song Contest. I remember watching, with my Mum, when 18-year-old Dana won the contest with All Kinds of Everything. Fifteen years later, I used that song as my theme tune when I made my broadcasting debut on Hospital Radio. I’ve had quite the career since then. 

"Fortuna", the long-awaited studio album from the British Blues rock roots guitarist and vocalist Bex Marshall, is a ten-track blues tapestry that bulges to the edges with addictive hooks and story lines.

Not a lot makes the headlines from Belgium, but this week, a collection of cassette tapes was unearthed in the city of Ostend containing unreleased Marvin Gaye songs. The BBC reports it has potentially been there for over 40 years, and there are thought to be 66 demo songs.

If you're a John Wick fan, there will inevitably be comparisons with pulpy new action film Monkey Man, which is out this weekend. Armed with little more than a monkey mask and a shedload of grit and determination, Dev Patel's Kid won't rest until the men who took everything from him get what's coming to them.

Stockport based NK Theatre Arts head to New Mills Art Theatre for the very first time with their production of Rock Of Ages. 

What a week! I’ve just spent a few days down in the West End enjoying several big Musicals. It can be very expensive to enjoy an experience like that, though with a bit of creativity in ticket buying, driving down rather than going by train and cheap hotels, it is possible.

Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction and I think that applies to the story behind Come From Away, the Musical which ran so successfully on Broadway and in the West End and is now touring around the country.

This is the time of year when you are spoilt for choice if you want to have an evening in the theatre. March is the month when the big musicals take to the stage at our wonderful Am/Dram societies.

In a strange twist of fate, I've written in my other column this week about the troubles facing the Royal Mail in hitting delivery targets and turning a profit, as parcels take over and letters fade into the background.

Event cinema is pretty popular, with reports that Queen Rock Montreal (IMAX) raked in over $4 million, split across the USA and the rest of the world. Clearly, the lure of a remastered Queen concert from 1981 is strong.