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Whats on at The Stables - February 2012
The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes
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YolanDa Brown
Thursday 23 February,
Tickets £16.50
Double MOBO Award-winning saxophonist YolanDa Brown is widely regarded as the emerging voice of mainstream jazz in the UK. She is one of our most exciting, in-demand live performers, touring with The Temptations, Errol Brown, Courtney Pine and Diana Krall and collaborating with Mica Paris and Soweto Kinch. She also appears as part of Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. She is a celebrity ambassador for HRH The Prince of Wales and The Prince’s Trust and appears here at The Stables with her full live band and backing vocalists.
Sticky Wicket & His Swing Orchestra present
“We Got Rhythm”
Friday 24 February,
Tickets £20
An all-star swing show and drum ’n’ dance spectacular hosted by Mr John Bly from BBC TV’s Antiques Roadshow (come and see John as you’ve never seen him before!) and featuring top international big band drummer Garry Allcock, piano man James “Boogie Blues” Bly and special guests the incredible Attic Cats lindy hop dance group. The Orchestra is led by ex-Chris Barber drummer Sticky Wicket and is a top attraction at 1940s events, festivals and on the British swing dance scene. For this concert Sticky is proud to present the orchestra’s wonderful new vocalist Linda Morris.
Jordan Reyne
Friday 24 February,
Tickets £10 in advance, £12 on the door
Jordan Reyne’s live shows - described by one promoter recently as folk noir - are a layered mix of acoustic guitar riffs, found sounds and real life folk tales. Jordan's taste for innovation brings to mind Imogen Heap, while her love of folk rock and Celtic melody draws from the likes of Dead Can Dance and Sinead O’ Connor. She has the power to lure and fascinate, to pull the listener into a world of bloodlust and haunted past lives. Jordan embarks on her first UK tour supporting her new album Children Of A Factory Nation.
"I'd be loath to categorize music this original. PJ Harvey springs to mind, but the style is 100% Jordan’s. Her vocals are astounding." The Mix
The Red Bullets
Saturday 25 February,
Tickets £14.50
The Red Bullets are returning to The Stables after a couple of years away whilst they have been writing and recording their debut album with producers Chris Porter and Gavin Monaghan. This show will be one of the first times they will have performed the whole album live along with many of your favourite Red Bullets songs spanning the past four and a half years. They will be joined by some special guests.
Stile Antico
Wednesday 29 February,
Stile Antico is an ensemble of young British singers and one of the most exciting new vocal groups. Here they embark on a fascinating exploration of stunning yet neglected music; the wealth of Tudor and Jacobean sacred music written for private performance. Not only does this music chart a course through a period of remarkable historical and religious events, but it gets to the heart of the original concept of chamber music – music-making by a small of group of people in a private dwelling - inviting audiences to eavesdrop on this profound and moving musical experience.
“An ensemble of young British singers, pure of voice, their texture thick and sweet as pudding.” LA Times
Box office: 01908 280800
Book online: www.stables.org
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WHATS ON AT THE MILTON KEYNES IN FEBRUARY/MARCH
26 FEB - HORMONAL HOUSEWIVES
Join Beverly Callard and the other hormonal housewives as they battle against all the joys of being a 21st century girl!
27 FEB – 03 MAR – DERREN BROWN – SVENGALI
Dubbed a ‘psychological illusionist’ by the press, Derren Brown is a performer who combines magic, suggestion, psychology, misdirection and showmanship Following sell-out performances across the UK Derren returns to Milton Keynes with his critically acclaimed production Svengali.
04 MAR – THE HOLLIES – 50 YEARS ON THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES
Still pure Hollies bringing their Classics to Milton Keynes – The Air That I Breathe, Bus Stop, Carrie Anne, Just One Look, He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother and much more.
06 – 10
The
12 – 17
David Suchet stars alongside Laurie Metcalfe in Eugene O’Neill’s Pulitzer prize-winning masterpiece Long Day’s Journey into Night, one of the greatest American plays written in the 20th century.
20 – 24
Enjoy a trio of operatic masterpieces, La Traviata, Beatrice and Benedict and The Marriage of Figaro
25
Don’t miss the American’s brutally honest, shockingly uninhibited performance from one of the most celebrated comedians in the world
26 – 31
Starring Michael Simkins and Graham seed and written by the original writers of the smash-hit TV show In a world of spin, Blackberrys and ‘sexed up’ dossiers, the PM is staring disaster in the face can he pull the country back from brink of financial meltdown?
Box office 0844 871 7652 (bkg fee)
Calling All Creatures of the Night!
ALL TICKETS £5
On Saturday 25 February, the good people at the Hawthorne Theatre, Welwyn Garden City, would like, if they may, to take you on a strange journey…
And if you recognize that reference, you’ll know straight away that the film we’re talking about, is the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show (12A)! Filmed in 1975 yet completely timeless, Rocky features iconic performances from Richard O’Brien, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Meatloaf and, of course, Tim Curry. With more quotable lines than there are holes in a fishnet tight, it is perfectly understandable that this film is a Midnight Classic the world over. After all, it carries the Charles Atlas Seal of Approval!
And then there’s the music - Hot patootie, bless my soul! I really love that rock n' roll (you could say)! The Time Warp, Sweet Transvestite, I Can Make You A Man, and more – you’ll be jiving in your seats!
Which is not to say that you have to stay calm throughout. Rocky Horror has picked up a devoted following who interact with the film throughout and the Hawthorne Theatre has said – against the advice of other theatres – that they are not going to search people going in or confiscate items. So, rice, confetti, toast, kit kats, toilet roll – all the paraphernalia of a good Rocky experience are allowed!
Plus there’ll be a prize for the audience member with the best RHPS costume - so you’ve no excuse, guys, to not wear your fishnet and basque! I see you shiver with antici... pation.
So remember, if you want to know Whatever Happened To Saturday Night, get your tickets now. It’s astounding, time is fleeting – but this is one night you can’t afford to miss!
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (12A) will be showing at the Hawthorne Theatre, Welwyn Garden City on Saturday 25 February at 8pm.
Hawthorne Theatre
Campus West
The Campus
Welwyn Garden City
Hertfordshire
AL8 6BX
Arnie Somogyi’s Ambulance plays Herts Jazz Club
Sunday 26 February at 7.45 pm
Campus West, Welwyn Garden City
Arnie Somogyi is one of the UK's most in-demand bass players and has played on over 50 albums. He has performed with a wide variety of musicians from Amy Winehouse and Jamie Cullum to Charlie Watts and John Martyn, and has gigged, toured and recorded with many leading international jazz musicians including Bobby Hutcherson, Art Farmer, Arturo Sandoval, Bud Shank, Charles MacPherson, Stan Tracey, Chris Botti, Herb Ellis and many others.
Self-styled “specialists in musical accident and insurgency”, Ambulance undertake their first tour for almost 3 years. On their launch at Ronnie Scott’s Club in 2004 they received critical acclaim, toured with American saxophonist Eddie Henderson in 2006 and 2008 and were also nominated in both the Parliamentary Jazz Awards and BBC Jazz Awards in 2008. The evening’s music will be a mixture of originals and arranged standards. The original music will be drawn from compositions featured on their previous CDs, together with some new material.
Arnie Somogyi – Bass, Paul Booth – Tenor, Tim Lapthorne – Piano, Dave Smith - Drums
Tickets: JUST £5 for students and under-21s; £11 online; £13 at the door; £8 members.
Book online at http://www.hawthornetheatre.co.uk/whatsonstage.html
Rock ‘n’ Roll Legend Joe Brown Returns To The Alban Arena!
Joe, with his five piece band including his son and record producer Pete Brown, will be on stage all evening and the musical styles incorporated into his show are as unique as the man himself. This sensational show, set to sell out at The Alban Arena Sunday 26 February 7.30pm, is packed with timeless classics, rockabilly, gospel, country, folk, and rock ‘n’ roll, all interwoven with Joe’s effervescent delivery and humorous reminiscences.
You may have seen Joe performing with Jools Holland (also returning to The Alban Arena Thursday 10 May 7.30pm), at the cinema playing his part closing the show at the Concert For George Harrison, or perhaps have witnessed his critically acclaimed set at Glastonbury Festival or caught him on tour. If you have, you’ll already know just what a terrific live talent he is; if not why not check this MBE awarded rock ‘n’ roll legend out live on stage at The Alban Arena! Don’t miss this eclectic musical journey!
Alban Arena Box Office 01727 844488
Book Online www.alban-arena.co.uk
The Counterfeit Stones
The Counterfeit Stones celebrate their 21st anniversary with yet another “Sham Rock” experience, 19th BOGUS BREAKDOWN at The Alban Arena Friday 2 March 8.00pm. Their skilfully mixed cocktail of classic hits, retro costume and humour continues to intoxicate young and old alike - 100% proof that a good shot always hits the target. This hooky masterpiece, hilariously "mockumenting" the history of the Rolling Stones from 1962, will take you back if you were there; or make you wish you were, if you weren't.
Why pay a fortune to see originals as ants in a mega-dome, when for a fraction of the price you can smell the sweat of faking brilliance?
It's phony rock 'n' roll but a real bargain at only £19.50!
Alban Arena Box Office 01727 844488
Book Online www.alban-arena.co.uk
THEY WILL ROCK YOU!
The supreme Queen live concert show that’s rocking the nation
Starring Queen B plus Terry Nash’s famous MEAT LOAF live concert show
Friday 2nd March, ~
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Read our interview with Terry Nash on our i
nterviews page
Tie your mother down, a crazy big thing called They Will Rock You! is coming to town. . .
The live concert show celebrating the music of Freddie Mercury and Queen also stars Terry Nash’s world-acclaimed Meat Loaf show.
“Be prepared to be regally rocked till you drop,” says show producer Michael Taylor.
“Queen B, who play Queen, and Terry Nash are both famed for their live productions.”
Both Queen B and Terry’s Meat Loaf concert show specialise in whipping crowds up into a frenzy of audience participation.
“They both combine superb musicianship with audacious stage antics,” says Michael.
“This is the first time they’ve appeared together on one stage. Watch out Bucks music fans - they will rock your world!”
They Will Rock You! recreates the fun, musicianship and showmanship of Freddie Mercury and Queen’s legendary live performances. Indeed, just like Queen, the cast have performed at Wembley Stadium. . . twice.
This is a show with an impeccable musical pedigree, Queen B having performed before Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Richard Branson while The Sun newspaper describes Terry Nash as “. . .the dead spit of Meat Loaf” and The Daily Mirror “impressive”. The TV Times was moved to say: “Something comes alive when he is singing. . . you can see it in his eyes”.
The audience is invited to journey back to a time when Queen reigned supreme with Another One Bites the Dust, We are the Champions and, of course, Bohemian Rhapsody.
When Meat Loaf topped the charts with Bat Out of Hell, Dead Ringer for Love, I’d Do Anything for Love, You Took the Words, Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad, I’d Lie for You and It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.
“They Will Rock You is a crazy big thing, a scintillating night out. Prepare to be entertained, exhilarated, rocked till you drop,” says producer Michael Taylor.
Box office: 01494 512000
BLAKE 'LOVE LIFTS US UP'
The greatest love songs of all time, in perfect harmony, with Brit-Award winning singers BLAKE
“Four Voices in Perfect Harmony”
Superstar vocalists ‘BLAKE’ prepare to take the audiences’ breath away with their spectacular show at The Alban Arena Saturday 3 March 7.30pm. Famous worldwide for creating unique harmony versions of pop, classical and West-End anthems, the four charismatic British singers take audiences on a 2 hour musical rollercoaster. The evening features the most uplifting and romantic love songs of all time, plus exclusive new material from their hugely anticipated 4th album, all mixed together with their famously humorous observations on life, love and music. Prepare to laugh, cry and be amazed by BLAKE.
Alban Arena Box Office 01727 844488
Book Online www.alban-arena.co.uk
Damon Brown’s “Ugetsu” plays Herts Jazz Club
Sunday 4 March 7.45 pm
Campus West, Welwyn Garden City
Damon is a very active trumpeter based in Paris and linked through his European playing with an international range of jazz stars including Steve Grossman, with whom he runs a quintet. He's also a member of popular funk band Push and the award-winning Killer Shrimp.
Damon has toured Japan three times with Yutaka Shinna and worked in Europe and South Korea regularly with Martin Zenker. A special connexion has grown between the three of them over recent years and led to the birth of this new project. All three contribute original compositions to the programme and have a shared love of the great Hard Bop composers and performers. The spirit and energy of the seminal recordings of Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard and Wayne Shorter were the inspiration for the group’s name but the music is wholly of its own.
Damon Brown – Trumpet, Yutaka Shiina – Piano, Martin Zenker – Bass, Andreas Bauer – Drums
Tickets:
Book online at http://www.hawthornetheatre.co.uk/whatsonstage.html
They Wrote the Songs
Grove Theatre, Dunstable
Sunday 4th March 7.30pm
The acclaimed Barry Walker and Smackee who in the past have brought you such sensational productions as Phantom & The Musicals and Abba The Show, are now touring with a brand new production that combines the music of four of the greatest piano singer songwriters in one fabulous show.
Barry Walker as the ‘Piano Man’ along with his award winning group Smackee, will perform in words and music five decades of the greatest hits from Neil Sedaka, Barry Manilow, Billy Joel and Elton John. All the classic hits of today and yester-year will be featured, along with a few personal favourites of the artistes from Barry himself.
So if you were foot tapping to Oh Carol and Calendar Girl in the fifties and sixties, singing along to Can’t Smile Without You in the seventies, dancing to Uptown Girl in the eighties, or smooching to Sacrifice in the nineties, you can now re-live all these classic hits and more from the stars that made The Whole World Sing.
This brand new production will be at the Grove Theatre on Sunday 4th March and brings together the music of four of the greatest piano singer songwriters in one fabulous show.
Tickets: £17, £19
Box Office: 01582 60 20 80
Book Online: www.grovetheatre.co.uk
The Billy Fury Years
Sunday 4 March 7.30pm
An exciting 2 hour show appears at The Alban Arena Sunday 4 March 7.30pm
The whole show is further enhanced by fantastic audio and video effects plus various costume changes depicting the ever changing image and face of the Fury phenomenon. The band also perform several unforgettable British sixties hits throughout the show keeping the audience entertained and enthralled for the entire evening.
'The Billy Fury Years' really is the definitive Billy Fury stage show.......ever ! ...
Arena Box Office 01727 844488
Book Online www.alban-arena.co.uk
The Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular
Its fun all the way as the “Purveyors of Cool” swing into Welwyn Garden City Hawthorne Theatre on Friday 9th March with a sensational show featuring the greatest music of the 20th century.
Wonderful memories of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Sammy Davis Junior in a fabulous production that continues to be successful all over the world.
The great news is - it's all totally live and every song is an absolute classic - Come Fly With Me, Under My Skin, Mr Bojangles, Lady Is A Tramp, That's Amore, Mack The Knife plus many more of your favourites.
With an abundance of class & style they take you on a trip back in time to vintage
The
Tickets are £20
To book please call 01707 357 117
Don't be late the fun starts at
To see, hear and get more information about the Rat Pack, visit their website at www.ratpack.biz
Jive Talkin’
Grove Theatre, Dunstable
Friday 9th March 7.30pm
Jive Talkin' unites the UK's hottest talent for a truly inspiring evening of everything Bee Gees. This is the show that Bee Gees fans everywhere have been waiting for.
This tribute to the Bee Gee’s features the stunningly convincing vocals of brothers Darren and Gary Simmons as Barry and Robin Gibb, and Jarrod Loughlin as Maurice Gibb. With stunningly convincing vocals, these three leading men create a truly emotional musical journey in this fantastic show.
Career highs of these talented leading men include starring in London’s West End, numerous world wide TV appearances and they have also performed live with the Bee Gees themselves.
The Jive Talkin' band features some of the greatest performers in the country today and recreates to perfection the extensive Gibb Brother's repertoire. Never before has there been a more complete Bee Gees experience, making audiences' both young and old feel as if they are actually at a Bee Gees concert.
The Bee Gees greatest hits are brought to life in this truly amazing concert, performing hits including Stayin Alive, Jive Talkin’,
Tickets: £18.50
Box Office: 01582 60 20 80
Book Online: www.grovetheatre.co.uk
Classic Love Story Wins New Audiences
The Vienna Festival Ballet presents Swan Lake at the Hawthorne Theatre, Welwyn Garden City on Saturday 11 March at
It has fascinated and attracted people for over a century. It has been interpreted in many ways – as a psychodrama on film, as a metaphor for the breakdown of a marriage, as an all-male love story. But the story of Swan Lake always shines through and wins over the heart.
Now, the acclaimed Vienna Festival Ballet bring their own production of Swan Lake to the Hawthorne Theatre, Welwyn Garden City. With lavish costumes, stunning scenery, international stars, and Tchaikovsky's glorious music, theirs is very much a traditional telling, but one that does every justice to the great love story. Capturing the full range of human emotions, from hope to despair, terror to tenderness, melancholy to ecstasy, Vienna Festival Ballet give a vitality, energy and freshness to every performance.
The Vienna Festival Ballet was founded by the celebrated Austrian dancer Peter Mallek with the aim of bringing classical ballet to the public at affordable prices, thereby developing and encouraging new audiences to experience the power and grace of the art form. Judging by their legions of fans across the world, it’s a goal they are achieving.
Sure to be one of the best selling performances in the Spring Season at the Hawthorne Theatre, Swan Lake will also be an unforgettable experience for ballet fan and ballet novice alike.
Hawthorne Theatre
Campus West
The Campus
Welwyn Garden City
Hertfordshire
AL8 6BX
Jackson – Live in Concert
Grove Theatre, Dunstable
Thursday 15th March
Amir Sharma’s portrayal of Michael Jackson in his prime has to be the most vocally and visually accurate tribute to the King of Pop to have ever toured UK theatres.
Amir is joined on the stage by a cast of musicians, singers and dancers who work their way through all the hits. He’s got the look, the moonwalk and above all, the voice. His renditions of Thriller, Beat it and Billie Jean are truly sensational, pure MJ.
Michael Jackson, who received multiple Grammy Awards, AMA Awards, Brit Awards and many others throughout his career is one of music’s most famous names, responsible for such hits as Wanna Be Startin' Somethin, Man in the Mirror, Beat it and Thriller as well as many more hit singles and albums.
Come and experience this fantastic tribute to one of music’s biggest icons with Jackson – Live in Concert at the Grove Theatre on Thursday 15th March.
Tickets: £16, £18
Box Office: 01582 60 20 80
Book Online: www.grovetheatre.co.uk
Hormonal Housewives
Starring Margi Clarke
Friday 16th March 7.30pm
The Grove Theatre, Dunstable
Hormonal Housewives is an hilarious comedy written by husband and wife team Julie Coombe and John McIsaac and follows the lives of three women as they battle against weight gain, weight loss, mood swings, wine, PMS, men, going to the gym, waxing, stretch marks, men, chocolate, upper-lip hair, chocolate, men, chocolate ... and all the other joys of being a 21st Century girl….did we mention chocolate and men.
In the Eighties, Liverpool-born Margi Clarke was the lead singer of various punk bands, once supporting Adam And The Ants. After starting as a presenter for Granada, she moved into acting with a role in Channel 4 soap Brookside, before finding recognition in 1985 with a role in cult British film Letter To Brezhnev, widely regarded as one of the most important British films of all time which went on to become a huge international hit.
Her TV acting credits include Tyrone Dobb's mum in
Also starring in Hormonal Housewives is Kay Purcell who is well known for her role as Gina Conway in the highly successful Tracy Beaker series, Candice Smilie in Waterloo Road and Cynthia Dogget in Emmerdale. She also appeared in Celebrity Fit Club.
Tickets: £19, £21
Box Office: 01582 60 20 80
Book Online: www.grovetheatre.co.uk
That’ll Be The Day
Grove Theatre,Dunstable
Saturday 17th March 7.30pm
That’ll Be The Day, the nation’s favourite Rock ’N’ Roll variety show is back by popular demand with their hit 2012 production at the Grove Theatre on Saturday 17th March.
This hugely entertaining Rock ‘N’ Roll spectacular features an all new line up of knock-out hits from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Mixed with hilarious, zany comedy routines, the show produces that real ‘feel-good party atmosphere’.
That'll Be The Day is the UK's number one Rock & Roll production, written and directed by founder and on-stage director Trevor Payne. The show is now in its 26th successful year of touring and has performed at many venues across the UK. Trevor is constantly looking for new ideas to make the show bigger and better each year.
Be sure to join us at the Grove Theatre for an evening of fantastic entertainment with That’ll Be The Day.
Tickets: £19.50, £22.00
Box Office: 01582 60 20 80
Book Online: www.grovetheatre.co.uk
The Chinese State Circus
Grove Theatre, Dunstable
Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th March
Fri
From the land of legends and warrior Shaolin monks comes the incredible new Chinese State Circus production - the live acrobatic spectacular Yin Yang.
To say the Chinese State Circus is merely a show, is to grossly underestimate it; it is the embodiment of a traditional art form which can trace its history back over 2000 years. The presentation lives and breathes with the enthusiasm of its acrobatic artistes whose whole lives centre in the performance.
The Chinese State Circus presents Yin Yang in its UK premiere which will be an opportunity not to miss. This unique extravaganza showcases only the best in entertainment; witness acrobats defying gravity in an array of elaborate, explosive and highly choreographed presentations of power, poise and agility. Yin Yang will not only keep the audience on the edge of their seats but show the more delicate and beautiful side of Chinese tradition with the silk aerial act, parasol juggling, eye catching Lion Dance and the amazing legendary ‘Bicycle Act’ in which 10 talented artistes manoeuvre onto a single bicycle.
Witness the unpredictable and exhilarating twists of foot juggling with drums, the famous Chinese poles, the sensational contortionist and the dynamic hoop divers with their amazing somersaults, leaps and jumps which all go towards completing this action packed programme.
The Chinese State Circus is suitable for an audience of all ages, with evocative sets, soaring musical score and extravagant new costumes that will entertain the entire family.
Tickets: £16, £19.50, £22.50, £25.00
Box Office: 01582 60 20 80
Book Online: www.grovetheatre.co.uk
Curtis Stigers
Let’s Go Out Tonight
April 6
The Stables, Wavendon - Box Office 01908 280800 www.thestables.org
April 7
Stevenage Concert Hall- Box Office on 01438 363200 www.gordon-craig.co.uk
Multi-million-selling US singer/saxophonist Curtis Stigers releases Let’s Go Out Tonight, his seventh album on Concord Music Group. A departure from Stigers’ previous projects, Let’s Go Out Tonight sidesteps the Great American Songbook completely. Rather, it includes a vibrant cross-section of pop, folk, country and soul songs from songwriters ranging from Bob Dylan, Eddie Floyd and Richard Thompson to Jeff Tweedy, Hayes Carll and David Poe, whose Everyone Loves Lovers was crafted expressly for Stigers.
Though jazz has been integral to Stigers’ musical vocabulary throughout his career, his transformation from rock/pop headliner (of the sort that filled stadiums and made Leno and Letterman appearances) to jazz vocalist is barely a decade old, dating from the release of his debut Concord album Baby Plays Around in 2001. Stigers is often placed at the forefront of post-millennial jazz singers, but isn’t a pure jazz artist in the tradition of, say, Mark Murphy or Mel Tormé. Nor does he want to be. Critical to his unique vocal style and his inimitable interpretative skills is his ability to draw upon his checkered professional past and his wide-ranging musical tastes to synthesize myriad influences, coloring tracks with various shades of pop, country, folk, blues and classic R&B. Stigers’ genre-blurring instincts have never been never been more defined than on his latest album, Let’s Go Out Tonight.
Stigers also describes the new projects as, “probably the most autobiographical album I’ve ever made. It hits so many places I’ve been and things I’ve gone through and am currently going through.” Ironically, given its deeply personal nature, Let’s Go Out Tonight is the first album since 2003’s You Inspire Me that includes no original Stigers songs.
While shaping the playlist with producer Larry Klein, Stigers says he, “played him a few songs I’d written, but I hadn’t been writing that much. It’s been a tumultuous year, and I haven’t been able to focus on songwriting. He didn’t think the ones I played fit in with what we were going for, and I had to agree with him.” Instead, Stigers and Klein each drew up long lists of song possibilities. “Then,” Stigers explains, “I started flying down to L.A. [from Boise,
The set opens with Stigers’ rendition of Bob Dylan’s Things Have Changed, Dylan’s Oscar-winning song from the film Wonder Boys. From the Eddie Floyd canon, Stigers selected the relatively obscure Oh How It Rained, originally recorded by Floyd in 1971. You Are Not Alone was written by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy for Mavis Staples. Another standout is the Neil Finn/Crowded House song Into Temptation, about which Stigers says, “Give me a song about sex any day of the week.”
The David Poe song, Everyone Loves Lovers, on which Poe sings harmony, is, says Stigers, “A song I wish I’d written. Instead, David wrote it for me to sing, after hearing me with my band at The Blue Note in
Stigers closes with the title track, The Blue Nile’s Let’s Go Out Tonight. “I’ve been a fan of The Blue Nile since their first album. Everything they’ve recorded is so understated and haunting. Basically, this song is about that unfortunate place that a relationship gets to, where you know everything is broken but all you want to do is pretend that it’s not. I spent years doing that. It’s about the saddest thing I can think of, and every time I hear it, I get choked up.”
______________________________________________
AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE
The Grove Theatre, Dunstable
Saturday 14th April 2012 ~
Grove Park, Dunstable,
AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE COMES TO TOWN
WIN TICKETS TO SEE THIS SHOW ON OUR COMPETITIONS AND OFFERS PAGE
Direct from London’s West End, the UK’s first and only touring burlesque show is coming to town.
Showcasing award-winning talent from across the country, it’s an opportunity to see some of the world’s biggest burlesque stars in the flesh.
Theatregoers are promised corsets, killer heels and stockings aplenty. “An Evening of Burlesque features an all-star cast of beautiful and elegant performers,” says show producer Michael Taylor.
sparkling with couture costumes recalling the golden eras of burlesque, it’s the most glamorous show on tour.”
Michael, who produces other hit stage shows The Magic of Motown and Thank You for the Music, says the production owes its success to a combination of “sultry vocals, breathtaking choreography, mischief, magic, frivolity and fun.”
“It’s all tease, no sleaze,” says Michael, “and for that reason audiences are predominantly female.”
Bringing variety back to the theatre, the show’s combination of musical and theatrical parody, magic, comedy and dance with the art of striptease saw its extensive 2011 UK tour enjoy rave reviews.
An Evening of Burlesque comes to town fresh from an international tour at the beginning of 2012.
“Its content – sparkling glamour, physical humour and a dynamic score need no translation,” says Michael. “There’s a thriving burlesque scene in London’s West End. We’re proud to be bringing the cream of burlesque talent to a far wider audience.”
Stars of An Evening of Burlesque include:
Amber Topaz – the Yorkshire Tease, the leading lady, her powerful vocals and an uncompromising stage persona are the epitome of burlesque
Kiki Kaboom – the evening’s most welcoming compere, winner of the Best Newcomer at London Burlesque Week, the songstress is a cabaret star in her own right
Miss Hotcake Kitty – winner of the Burlesque Idol competition, the all round glamour kitten”
Chrys Columbine – an accomplished classical pianist and fan dancer extraordinaire, Beethoven’s 3rd Piano Concerto in C Minor is given a frenzied climax
Slinky Sparkles – as seen on ITV and
Ginger Blush – the English rose is a picture of Victorian impropriety at a tea party with a twist
Kalki Hula Girl – her explosive, show-stealing hula-hoop performances defy the laws of gravity leaving audiences in an old-school vaudeville spin
“For over-18s only, An Evening of Burlesque will be the talk of the town for months to come,” says Michael. “Book your tickets now and enjoy the ultimate tease.”
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY:
Amber Topaz, star of An Evening of Burlesque. . . “Every inch the moving, shaking, dancing sex bomb” - Sarah Duguid, The Mail on Sunday
“Pale flesh, flame haired and lurid red lipstick, great panache, proving sexy and touching. Sings with wit and passion” - Charles Spencer, The Telegraph
“It was sequins, stilettos, stockings and a whole bucket of sauciness as An Evening of Burlesque sent temperatures soaring”
“Sizzling striptease with balloons, feathers, fans, hula hoops and even a bit of Little Bo Peep. . . an evening of rather elegant entertainment”
“Fun and witty. . . beautiful and rather moving”
“Teaming fantastic costumes, hair and make-up with performances that oozed attitude and confidence, these girls seem to transport us back to a classier, more elegant time.”
Amber Topaz: “A sprightly comic” - Michael Billington, The Guardian
“Jaw dropping”
“Highly entertaining”
Amusing and absurd, titillating and toe-curling”
“Sultry vocals formed the backdrop to a sensationally sensuous show which celebrated the female form as art”
Kalki Hula Girl: “had heads in a spin with a breathtaking routine”
“. . . tickled the fancy of gentlemen and sent waves of giggles amongst ladies”
Box office: 01582 602080
Bob The Builder’s In Town – And He Needs Your Help!
Premier Stage Productions presents Bob The Builder at the Hawthorne Theatre, Welwyn Garden City on Saturday 7 April at 1pm and
Everyone’s favourite building contractor, Bob The Builder, is coming to the Hawthorne Theatre, Welwyn Garden City, and he’s got a big job on his hands!
In the Premier Stage Productions live show, the Fixham Theatre is set for a grand re-opening. Local talent Dickie Olivier needs Bob’s help to fix up the stage for his brand new musical – but when Spud decides he wants to be the star of the show, the job doesn’t go exactly to plan!
Will the theatre be ready? Will the show go on? Bob’s going to need help from his friends, including all those in the audience. Can we fix it? Yes we can!
Featuring well-known songs and three new exclusive songs, Bob The Builder is a fun live show for all the family.
Hawthorne Theatre
Campus West
The Campus
Welwyn Garden City
Hertfordshire
AL8 6BX
Sensation - ABBA Tribute Band live
Sensation are one of the UK's premier ABBA tribute bands, bringing the authentic sound of ABBA back to life! With particular attention to detail, Sensation combine high quality musicianship, authentic replica costumes, exciting choreography, sizzling performances and a sprinkling of light-hearted humour to produce a dynamic jaw-dropping show with universal appeal. The band even speak Swedish on stage!
See this amazing band Live in Hertfordshire
Saturday April 28th
Goffs Oak Comrades Club,
EN7 5ET
01707 875317
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Saturday June 2nd
RSPCA. ,Southridge,
EN6 3LZ
0300 123 0704
