Originally published by L.S. Media. February 16th 2011.
It has been the best part of 23 years since New York singer songwriter Robin Beck made any type of impact with her music in Britain. Although chiefly remembered for her only U.K. number one, the power ballad First Time, the quiet American has released albums which have done well in her native homeland and in other parts of Europe but not touched the consciousness of the record-buying public in this country.
Originally published by L.S. Media. February 16th 2011.
Cast: Sarah Belcher, Dan Ford, Katie Lightfoot, Matt Tate, Neal Craig.
There is only one way to describe Analogue’s production of Beachy Head and that is shockingly powerful, a play that will have audiences leaving the theatre having their perceptions changed about the way we look at the way someone takes their own life.
The Unity Theatre once more played perfect host to a troupe of actors and a story that is swept under the carpet and not discussed openly in any home. The intimacy of the stage reflecting perfectly how the main character of Stephen Mitchell, played with stunning grace by Dan Ford, and his story, as told initially by the other actors on the stage.
Orginally published by L.S. Media. February 16th 2011.
The last few years has seen a multitude of iconic 80’s pop bands return with brand new material and willing to re-enter the hectic lifestyle of touring to packed audiences up and down the country. Sheffield pop stalwarts The Human League have been extremely successful in their approach over the period of time and their music has become even more popular to a brand new audience whilst at the same time holding on to the original fans that bought singles and albums in their millions. Duran Duran, once the darlings of the New Romantic scene tour extensively throughout May and countless others continue to ply their musical trade amongst some of the most loyal fans around.
Originally published by L.S. Media. February 23rd 2011.
Bob Geldof has for so long been associated with the ideals of political activism and one of the great modern philanthropists that for some people his days as a Punk/ Rock rebel and musician are long in the distant past. In certain quarters the songs that he created with the Boomtown Rats may seem like a relic to the man he no longer is, and it is has been such a long time since he recorded anything of note that those critics may have a point.
Picture from everymanplayhouse.com
Originally published by L.S. Media. February 23rd 2011.
Cast: Anthony Barclay, Sean Buckley, Ian Drysdale, Mark Frost, Christopher Hogben, Louise Jameson, Eoin McCarthy, Alex McSweeney, Simon Merrells, Vincenzo Nicoli, Anthony Ofoegbu.
If you’re going to start off a new season of plays then they don’t come much bigger in terms of minimalist style and historical significance than the first true great piece of tragedy performances, Sophocles’ Oedipus.
Picture from everymanplayhouse.com
Originally published by L.S. Media. February 23rd 2011.
Cast: Lou Dalgleish, Michael Weston King, Gladstone Wilson.
We are all familiar with the idea with obsession, so much so that in a way we can all claim to have one, but what happens when the fixation takes over your life and takes you to places that should be well left alone. In the Everyman Theatre’s new season of productions They Call Her Natasha looks at this obsession from the point of a fan gripped with Liverpool raised musician Elvis Costello.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. February 26th 2011.
Originally published by L.S. Media. February 26th 2011.
With other bands from the 80’s pop scene making waves with talks of come backs and releasing new albums for their fans in what can be seen as a blaze of glory, there is one band that has quietly been going about its business and creating a new album that stirs the desire for the Synth Pop era that they were at the forefront of at the time.
Blancmange gained a reputation for their style of recording great, memorable songs and even covering tracks by Abba’s The Day Before You Came to great critical effect.
otograph by Ian D. Hall
Originally published by L.S. Media. March 4th 2011.
In the space of five days The Liverpool Academy plays host to three bands that symbolise the desire and want for change that permeates through the news in these austere times. With Liverpool’s own Amsterdam playing on the Saturday and then one of the finest bands to ever step foot on a stage, The Stranglers, on Tuesday, there couldn’t have been a better band to open up this three day mini spectacular than The Levellers.
Originally published by L.S. Media. March 7th 2011.
Once Ian Prowse gets going there is very little that anyone can do to stop him, he has proved it time and time again with his band Amsterdam and before this as member of the now legendary Liverpool band Pele. In 1992, Pele released their debut album Fireworks. A generation has come and gone without hearing this album in full and it was fitting that Ian and Amsterdam gave one of the performances of their career.