Bucks Fizz - Paradise Regained - Late Summer Shows

More than thirty years after they stormed charts across the globe with a string of hits, Cheryl, Mike and Jay are once again set to tour the world with a 70-date World Tour to remind everyone that there is more to Cheryl, Mike & Jay formerly of Bucks Fizz than Making Your Mind Up!

The band's original line-up was classic Eurovison, 2 boys/ 2 girls to whom Bucks Fizz were inevitably compared. Having performed together since 2009 when "girl next door" Cheryl Baker and "cheeky pin-up boy" Mike Nolan reunited with "The Raunchy One" Jay Aston, the trio are being joined for their "Paradise Regained Tour" by a fourth vocalist - coincidentally called Bobby. The fourth member of 1981's Eurovision winning line-up was Bobby G.

Cheryl says "Having performed several gigs with our friend Stephen Fox, Mike, Jay and I realised that people expect to see four on stage when they see Fizz, so we are delighted to introduce Bobby McVay as our guest singer for the tour".

She explains that Bobby and Fizz go back a long way. He was one third of 1983's UK entry to Eurovision, Sweet Dreams. In fact he was invited to join them a few years ago, but he was unable to commit to joining them at that time. "I feel he will be a real asset to the band" she adds.

Bandmate Jay agrees, "As a four piece, the songs will be heard as they were intended to be heard, with four voices rather than three and the dance routines will have the full effect again".

She adds, "We are really looking forward to being on the road again. Performing in a theatre gives us the chance to produce a show we can be proud of, and we truly hope our audiences enjoy hearing the hits once more, together with a few of our lesser known album tracks.
  
With an album of new studio material and single releases in the pipeline, the future is looking extremely bright for Cheryl, Mike & Jay formerly of Bucks Fizz. The prospects are bubbling over as Cheryl excitedly declares "New representation, new tour, new singer, new merchandise, maybe a new album...... A new beginning! Whoop whoop!

Like a good champagne, their performances have matured, and they still manage to hold all the fun, vitality and passion for performance of the record breaking tours of the 1980's. Recent appearances at the nostalgia festivals, Here and Now, Rewind and forthcoming Let's Rock have reminded the Great British public of the power of the Fizz, as every person in the crowd finds themselves singing along and dancing to hits they thought they had forgotten, and with a rapidly growing following on social media they decided it was time to tour again.

Originally put together as the perfect winning act, Bucks Fizz went far beyond their original Eurovision remit and as one of the biggest selling bands of the 80's, became a global phenomenon. Making Your Mind Up became a number One hit across the world selling more than four million copies... The legendary skirt-ripping routine propelled them to overnight success, charting at No.1 in many countries beyond the UK with countries like Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia falling to Bucks Fizz's charms.

 "Paradise Regained" will be their most comprehensive tour since the 80's, with more than 70 dates in the UK, Ireland, Europe and beyond... including Australia, where in spite of not being part of Eurovision territory, Bucks Fizz had a massive following. It will be the first time the band have performed there since 1986.

Remaining live dates

Friday 4th September                  NORWICH – Maddermarket Theatre                Box Office No: 01603 620917

Saturday 5th September              LEEDS – City Varieties                                  Box Office No: 0845 6441881
                                                                                                                     or online here

Friday 18th September                BILLINGHAM - Forum Theatre                         Box Office No: 01642 520240

Echo and the Bunnymen Play Wakefield This October

The near legendary ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN are to play WAKEFIELD’s – Warehouse 23 on Friday 16th October 2015!

2014, saw Echo & The Bunnymen release their twelfth studio album; Meteorites, their first studio record in five years to worldwide critical acclaim, - 'Uncut Magazine' calling it "Starry-Eyed Anthemic Rock" & The Quietus -  "Classic Bunnymen Pop".

 Meteorites contains ten new songs written by frontman Ian McCulloch and performed with fellow original band-member Will Sergeant on guitar and was produced by Youth, who has in the past produced The Verve, Shack & The Orb.

 Formed in Liverpool in 1978, Echo & The Bunnymen have been responsible for some of the most celebrated singles in all music history – Rescue, The Killing Moon, Lips Like Sugar, The Cutter, The Back of Love & Nothing Lasts Forever to name but a few  – The Bunnymen have recorded many classic albums in their long illustrious career, albums like their debut Crocodiles in 1980, the majestic Heaven Up Here in '81, Porcupine (produced by Ian Broudie) in 1983, the orchestral-rock masterpiece 'Ocean Rain' in 1984, their classic comeback album 'Evergreen' in 1997 & the haunting 'What Are You Going To Do With Your Life' ? in 1999.

2014 saw Echo & the Bunnymen play a sell-out North American tour & performed "Holy Moses" on 'The Late Show With David Letterman', the band’s loyal and ever growing following is showing no signs of abating. The album ‘Meteorites’ is a key addition to their repertoire and sees them continue to be one of the most seminal British rock acts in modern history.

Recent setlists have shows no shyness in revisiting past glories so here at Just Music we thoroughly recommend this, sure to be a fantastic night.

For more information on ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, check out the following website / social media links:
Website - http://www.bunnymen.com/
Facebook  - https://www.facebook.com/thebunnymen
Twitter - https://twitter.com/OfficialEATB

Tickets for the WAKEFIELD – Warehouse 23 show are available from:

Wakefield – Warehouse 23   
Box Office No: 01924 724523
Website – http://warehouse23.co.uk/events/echo-the-bunnymen/
Tickets - £26 advance  
Doors Open – 7.30pm

Happy Valley returns with major new talent

Sarah Lancashire and James Norton are joined by a wealth of acting talent including Katherine Kelly, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Shirley Henderson, Kevin Doyle & Amelia Bullmore.
Filming will start next week for the hotly anticipated second series of multi award-winning BBC One and Red Production Company’s outstanding smash hit Happy Valley, a gripping, complex and unmissable drama from multiple BAFTA award-winning writer Sally Wainwright (Last Tango In Halifax, Scott & Bailey) for BBC One.


Sarah Lancashire (Last Tango In Halifax, The Paradise), Siobhan Finneran (Benidorm, Downton Abbey) James Norton (Life In Squares, Granchester), George Costigan (Scott & Bailey, Homefront), Karl Davies (Emmerdale, Game Of Thrones), Charlie Murphy (Love/Hate, The Village) return to the six-part drama and will be joined by Katherine Kelly (Coronation Street, Mr Selfridge), Julie Hesmondhalgh (Coronation Street, Cucumber), Shirley Henderson (Southcliffe, Jamaica Inn), Amelia Bullmore (Scott & Bailey, Twenty Twelve), Kevin Doyle (Downton Abbey, The Crimson Field), Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter, The Syndicate,) Con O’Neill (Cucumber, Uncle) and Vincent Franklin (Cucumber, The Thick Of It).

As series two opens, we join Catherine (Sarah Lancashire), the no-nonsense police sergeant who is back heading up her team of dedicated police officers in The Calder Valley in West Yorkshire. With Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) firmly behind bars, Catherine suspects there may be another serial killer on the loose and makes a gruesome discovery that will have shocking repercussions for her and her family. Meanwhile, a new detective, DS John Wadsworth (Kevin Doyle) arrives on the block with his own set of problems, and despite being firmly under lock and key, Tommy forms a bond with a mysterious female admirer (Shirley Henderson).

Last year, the critically acclaimed multi-layered series was a huge ratings hit for BBC One during its six-week run, pulling in a weekly consolidated audience of almost 8 million viewers and an average overnight audience of 5.5 million.

Happy Valley has been nominated for and won over 30 awards, including winning the prestigious Best Drama Series award at this year’s BAFTAs with writer Sally Wainwright also named Best Writer at the 2015 BAFTA Craft Awards. The series won Best European Drama at The Monte Carlo Television awards and Sarah Lancashire was also awarded Best Actress in the series. Happy Valley won Best Drama at last year’s Broadcast Awards, Writer’s Guild of Great Britain Awards and TV Choice awards. Sarah Lancashire also won Best Actor for Happy Valley at the RTS Awards.

Writer and Executive Producer Sally Wainwright says: “I am thrilled to be embarking on a second series. We were delighted and overwhelmed with the viewers’ response to series one and it’s clear that there’s a huge appetite to see more of the characters and drama among the TV-viewing public.”

RED Production Company’s Founder and Executive Producer Nicola Shindler adds: “Sally created a truly magnificent series with very real, complex characters, an engaging plot and breathtaking storylines. I am delighted and excited to be delving deeper into Catherine’s world in series two.”

Happy Valley series 2 began filming today in Yorkshire and will broadcast on BBC One in 2016.

Emmerdale Stars at Charity Launch Event, Leeds September 2015 - Great Night, Top Prizes

You are invited to…

Luv2supportU Launch Event
Date: 4th September 2015
Venue: Ciao Bella, Leeds
Time: 7pm-11pm
Dress Code: Smart Casual

Luv2supportU is a small fundraising team, all linked to Hft’s Luv2meetU, set up to support the only friendship and dating agency for adults with a learning disability and/or autism in West Yorkshire. Luv2supportU aims to help cover some of the costs of Luv2meetU, raise funds to run events for members and cover volunteer expenses and keep Luv2meetU running for all of our members.

Luv2supportU supports Luv2meetU. Hft’s Luv2meetU helps its members to socialise, make new friends and develop relationships. We do this by organising social events and supporting members on one-to-one dates. We aim to improve the confidence of our members and increase their levels of independence through support with socialising and travel, amongst other things.

Tickets for the launch event are £25.00 and include a gorgeous 3 course Italian meal and a glass of fizz.

Michelle Hardwick (plays Vanessa Woodfield) and Laura Norton (Kerry Wyatt) from Emmerdale will be joining us!

On 12th June 2015 they presented Luv2meetU with the Tenfold ‘Making a Difference Award’ and we can’t wait to see them again at the launch event! 

Picture courtesy http://www.ollievision.co.uk:

There will also be entertainment and prizes to be won, including:

·         A Michael Kors Necklace, donated by Berry’s Jewellers

·         A voucher for personalised silver jewellery, donated by Cora Keepsakes

·         Top indie band Shed 7 signed memorabilia

·         A vintage afternoon tea, donated by Just Grand! Vintage Tea Rooms, Leeds

·         A Shellac manicure, donated by Hands Tanned, Leeds

·         A box of cupcakes, donated by Love Rouge Bakery, Leeds

·         A silver necklace and earring set, donated by Snob’s Boutique, Leeds

·         Holmfirth Vineyard Tour and afternoon tea

·         Bottle of prosecco

All monies raised will go towards helping Luv2meetU support adults with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum conditions develop friendships and relationships and lead fulfilling social lives.

For any further information please contact L2SU@hft.org.uk

There is the option to book tickets at www.hft.org.uk/luv2supportulaunch. Don’t forget to book your place by 23rd August!

We very much look forward to seeing you there!

The Luv2supportU Team

BBC to broadcast The Story Of Indie

This October, BBC Four tells the definitive story of indie music with a series about the genre that became the soundtrack to a generation.

The channel will broadcast a new three-part documentary series, The Story Of Indie (working title), which charts the evolution of alternative music from the its inception in the late 1970s with the explosion of independent record labels and their associated acts, to the boom of the genre in the ‘80s, onto its demise following the mainstream success of its Britpop successor in the ‘90s, and finally its legacy and influence in the current music scene. This inside story on the pioneering approach to music is a must for music lovers, and features the best songs of the era, archive video footage and exclusive anecdotes from the people who were there and central to the scene.

The series is presented by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Mark Radcliffe and features exclusive interviews with performers including James Dean Bradfield of Manic Street Preachers, Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos, Carl Barat of The Libertines, Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder, Suede’s Bernard Butler, ska icon Pauline Black of The Selecter, Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Buzzcocks’ frontman Pete Shelley and Joy Divison/New Order’s Stephen Morris, plus key music industry figures.

Presenter Mark Radcliffe says: “This is really a story that's been waiting to be told. We're always hearing about the seismic shifts the music business is undergoing, but in many ways, this was the first – when the egalitarian independent spirit of punk and DIY broke the stranglehold of the men in suits in the posh offices of the major labels in that there London, creating the soundtrack of our lives along the way.”

Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor of BBC Four, says: “Following on from the success of BBC Four’s acclaimed Rock ‘n’ Roll America season, comes another new three-part music documentary series on the channel. This time, the focus is indie. The series is a must-watch for music lovers as it is the definitive inside story of the genre of a generation. BBC Four is delighted to celebrate this pioneering musical movement as part of its much-loved Friday night music schedule.”

The hour-long programmes will air on Fridays from early October.

The opening episode of the series explores the origins of the UK’s alternative music scene with the emergence of independent record labels and the eclectic sound hubs they spawned in cities across the country. It starts in 1977 with punk music on the wane, and the seminal release of the Buzzcocks’ Spiral Scratch EP, the first independently produced and distributed release of the era. The Manchester group self-funded an initial pressing of just 1,000 copies, which instantly sold out. The idea of selling records without the support of a major label was born, and kick-started a revolution in the way bands made and distributed their music.

The episode charts the rise of independent record labels across the UK such as Manchester’s Factory, Zoo in Liverpool, Glasgow’s Postcard, and Rough Trade and Mute in London – each with its own identity and associated acts. They began to resonate with a population hungry for new sounds, leading to the emergence of the first wave of DIY bands including Joy Division, Aztec Camera, Echo and the Bunnymen, Big In Japan, and Orange Juice.

Episode two looks at the 1980s, when the independent labels transformed from cottage industries into real businesses that could compete with the majors. It examines the evolution of independent music into “indie” – a guitar-based genre of music with its own sound, fashion and culture. The programme also features the first cross-over of alternative music into the mainstream chart, as well as the fanzines where aspiring music journalists could access their favourite indie stars at the small and intimate gigs where they performed. The episode concludes in the late ’80s and the Madchester scene, which was inspired by indie rock and the emerging acid house rave culture that spawned a new crop of bands such as The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays.

Episode three begins with the original independent labels struggling in the wake of acid house, allowing the major labels to move in on 'indie cool' with Britpop and the subsequent rise of early ‘90s heavyweights Blur and Oasis. Bands with an old indie ethos, such as Suede, were still breaking through but switched from independent labels – creatively thriving, but in crisis financially – to majors which, although conservative, were commercially astute, thus guaranteeing international recognition and success. By the mid ‘90s, this move away from the independents, along with the demise of many of the era’s defining bands as a result of money problems and creative divisions, meant the spirit of the DIY boom had all but gone and for now 'indie' became a genre/sound rather than an alternative approach to making and releasing music.

The series also highlights how many of the acts on the independent scene didn’t have what we now see as the classic 'indie' sound and image, such as ska and reggae label 2 Tone Records, the bubblegum pop hits produced by independent song-writing and producing trio Stock Aitken Waterman, and the multi-million-selling acid house tracks by The KLF. It also explores the current indie renaissance, the enduring appeal of the movement’s first wave of bands, the return of labels such as Rough Trade, and the new crop of independent labels that have learnt from the mistakes of the past and are teaming creativity with commercial success, such as Domino, which manages Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand. It ends with the legacy of this pioneering musical era and an examination of bands today who learnt about music from the artists of the DIY boom.

The series features exclusive interviews with a host of music names including Joy Division/New Order’s Stephen Morris, New Order’s Gillian Gilbert, Buzzcocks’ frontman Pete Shelley, Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Malcolm Ross of Aztec Camera/Orange Juice, The Jesus And Mary Chain’s Jim Reid, ska artist Pauline Black, The KLF’s Bill Drummond, Cabaret Voltaire’s Richard Kirk, Jayne Casey formerly of Big In Japan, Throbbing Gristle’s Genesis P-Orridge, Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti (all episode one), James Dean Bradfield of Manic Street Preachers, Shaun Ryder, Suede’s Bernard Butler, Stuart Murdoch of Belle And Sebastian, Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde, Talulah Gosh’s Amelia Fletcher (episode two), Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, The Libertines’ Carl Barat, and Bob Stanley of Saint Etienne (episode three).

The programmes also include interviews with a number of influential music industry figures such as Pete Waterman, Factory Records’ designer Peter Saville, music entrepreneur Seymour Stein, music producer and Mute Records founder Daniel Miller (episode one), former Happy Mondays manager Nathan McGough, journalists Alexis Petridis and Sian Pattenden, record sleeve designer Vaughan Oliver (episode two), James Endeacott formerly of Rough Trade Records and founder of Sony BMG subsidiary record label 1965 Records, Heavenly Recordings’ Jeff Barrett, Creation Record’s Alan McGee, and indie music author Richard King (episode three).