Sunday 09 February 2025.

Sunday 09 February 2025. WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS live at The Palladium. My first time at this theatre awards since 2016. A full on Red Carpet event as security everywhere , barriers, a press pen and dozens of gawping tourists are here. The show was on for 3 hours over two sets of 1 hour 20 mins and 1 hour 40 mins. Everyone had a free programme on their seat. Hosts Mazz Murray and Gina Murray were very entertaining . The 24 piece orchestra on stage sounded fantastic. There were several songs from theatre shows , in-between the awards being given out. MJ The Musical and Hadestown did a a good song each. I saw Starlight Express back in the day, but the revived version at Wembley Troubadour Theatre won the most awards tonight , with seven, including Best Musical Revival. ,so must try and get along to see that. Six won Best West End Show. Mean Girls won Best New Musical . Guest presenters included Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber , Dame Arlene Phillips , Tasmin Outhwaite and Mel Giedroyc. A very enjoyable evening. For a full list of nominees and winners. www.whatsonstage.com - Visit their website here. ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Sunday 09 February 2025. Happy Birthday to JIMMY PURSEY who is 70 today. I have seen Sham 69 over 20 times , including three times in 1977, and two of those shows were supporting The Clash at The Rainbow in December 1977. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Friday 07 February 2025. THE REYTONS live at Brixton Academy . Indie rock band from Rotherham are touring their third album. All three of their albums have made the UK Top 20. Kids off the Estate (2021) hit No 11 on the charts. What's Rock and Roll (2023) hit No 1 on the charts. Ballad of a Bystander (2024) hit No 2 on the charts. The last big indie/rock pop band to break through to a mainstream audience was Sheffield band Arctic Monkeys, nearly twenty years ago. Since that time, it has been a barren period for groups in this genre. Thankfully, things seem to have turned around with the arrival of another south Yorkshire band, the Reytons. With no support from a major record company and apparently no huge budget to support their ascendancy, the band toured solidly and played gigs across the country, in the process building up a robust fan base. The Reytons sold out the 12,000-capacity Sheffield Arena for a homecoming gig . --------- With so many female and male singer-songwriters everywhere, it's great to see a newish English band selling out this 5000 capacity venue...Pretty much looks like a 90% male crowd. FREDDIE HALKON and band on at 8.15pm for 30 mins. A newcomer but it's handy he is good mates with the headliner , so gets a nice chance to play to a big crowd, despite only releasing his debut single last year. A good indie pop set. He played his recent single ' Route 26'. THE REYTONS arrived on stage at 9.20pm for their 75 mins . It soon gets very lively front stalls with moshing. They certainly do sound like The Arctic Monkeys, as they whizzed through their indie rock pop tunes. Highlights included 'Kids off the Estate' and 'Broke Boys Cartel'. A really good set. Full REYTONS setlist played tonight... Red Smoke Adrenaline Let Me Breathe Harrison Lesser Retro Emporium Headache Low Life 2006 Market Street Knees Up Cash In Hand & Fake IDs Slice of Lime On the Back Burner Billy Big Bollocks Kids Off the Estate Uninvited Broke Boys Cartel

Posted 8th February 2025