Wednesday 08;July 2026.

Wednesday 08 July 2026. JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS live at The British Airways ARC at Olympia , West Kensington, London. Joans first UK headline tour for 16 years. I have seen Joan Jett four times with The Runaways and a few times with her own band. 1976 - The Runaways and Surburban Studs at The Roundhouse - two shows. 1977 - The Runaways and 999 - Hammersmith Odeon. 1978 - The Runaways and The Dickies - Lyceum . I saw Joan Jett headline Hammersmith Odeon in 1982 One of the other times I saw Joan Jett was a very nice three band package where I saw Joan Jett as the first band on supporting Alice Cooper and Motorhead in 2007. Support band tonight is THE MEFFS. ------------ This lovely new air conditioned 3800 capacity venue is not sold out , but looks pretty full. Great to see several friends throughout the evening. KIRK BRANDON was here. THE MEFFS arrived on stage at 7.45pm for their 30 mins set. This m/f duo from Colchester played a lively punky influenced set. They have released two albums, but their six song set still included two nice cover versions. Stamp It Out Business Breathe (The Prodigy cover) Broken Britain, Broken Brains Identity ( X‐Ray Spex cover) Clowns JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS arrived on stage at 8.45pm for their 90 mins set. Joan is backed by an all.msle band. There is a nice big digital screen showing pre recorded images . Joan is now aged 67...Joan was aged only 17 when she was in The Runaways . A great mix of songs from her 50 years career. Really good to hear those Runaways classics again. Joan still.plays a Gary Glitter track , as it was a hit for her . The overall sound could have been a bit louder. A few tracks in the middle were a bit average but overall a great show . Tape intro track - Rebel Girl (Bikini Kill song) and vintage videos of Joan on the big screen. Victim of Circumstance Cherry Bomb (The Runaways song) Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah) (Gary Glitter cover) You Drive Me Wild (The Runaways song) (I'm Gonna) Run Away The French Song Light of Day (Bruce Springsteen cover) (Make the Music Go) Boom Fake Friends Androgynous (The Replacements cover) Oh Woe Is Me Lie to Me Love Is Pain Long Time If You're Blue Everyday People ( Sly & the Family Stone cover) I Love Rock 'n' Roll ( The Arrows cover) Crimson & Clover (Tommy James & the Shondells cover) I Hate Myself for Loving You Bad Reputation (Joan Jett song) ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Tuesday 07 July 2026. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR - press/VIP night - London Palladium, London W1. The award-winning Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar comes to the iconic London Palladium. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar follows the events of the last days of the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the legendary score includes ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Gethsemane’ and the iconic title number ‘Superstar’. It is on at The Palladium from 20 June to 05 September 2026. ------------- SAM RYDER is really good as Jesus in the lead role. The camped-up Herod (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) brings a Drag Race aesthetic. Later performances feature different Herods (Richard Armitage, Boy George, Layton Williams and Julian Clary) and the show moves to Theatre Royal Drury Lane and then on tour after its performances at the Palladium Boy George watched the show, but did not bother with the party after . The show was on for 1 hour 40 mins over two sets , that seemed a bit short compared to other musicals these days , but was very enjoyable to watch. We were given a nice big complimentary programme of the show. then 10pm to 12pm Was the opening night party at The Ham Yard Hotel , London W1. Must be over 300 guests here A few well known faces are here , including , Andrew Lloyd Webber , Sam Ryder , Christopher Higgins, Leslie Joseph, , Brian Conley, Kathy Lette, Anneka Rice, Jonathan Shalit and no doubt a few more I missed. The two lanes of ten pin bowling are open and is popular with guests. This venue has a cinema , and they are showing the original Jesus Christ Superstar film, but only a dozen are watching it when i pop my head in a couple of times. Complimentary wines,beers, soft drinks, canapes , desserts. We left at midnight, but it was on until 1am.

Posted 6th July 2026