The Baby & Toddler Show returns to Manchester this March. With an unbeatable line-up of big name brands, unique innovative products, local companies and services and experts to give you a helping hand in parenthood and make sure you and your little one are happy, safe and importantly, on trend too!
This exciting time in your life has been all wrapped up at the show where you can meet lots of other like-minded mums-to-be and new mums and enjoy all this...
Save money and stretch your budget with unbeatable deals on the 150+ top brands and baby essentials.
We are told there are guaranteed best prices on car seats, prams, buggies and furniture - find all the big name brands in one place including Bugaboo, iCandy, Maxi Cosi, Silver Cross, Quinny, Mamas & Papas, UPPAbaby, Britax, Joolz, Cosatto, Babystyle, Orbit Baby, Mee-Go, Cybex, BeSafe, Bloom, Jané, Babyjogger, ickle bubba, Boori and many more
With so many products on show, including 100s of unique handy products you won't find on the high street, you can have a fabulous day out shopping and find the right products for you and your baby, for whichever stage you are at
Test, try, compare and buy - meet knowledgeable experts and have hands-on demos
Hear from expert speakers giving new & expectant parents everything they need to know on sleeping, feeding, budgeting, babywearing, nutrition, first aid and more
Best of all, save money!
Save 1/3 on tickets
Quote NBT18 at http://babyandtoddlershow.co.uk/manchester/
Adult tickets £8
We hope to be visiting and will be bringing you more previews and a full review in due course.
Springsteen’s fifth album, and his only double studio offering, The River remains an important part of his back catalogue. Somewhat overlooked, it lives under the shadow of the likes of Born To Run and Born In The USA, but of all his projects it has perhaps the most interesting genesis. In 1979 he handed a single album – The Ties That Bind – into Columbia as his follow-up to Darkness On The Edge Of Town. Almost immediately he took it back again and continued working in the studio for a year. What eventually emerged commercially as his follow-up album was a 20 song, double disc offering, The River.
"I was trying to link this stuff up in a way where I thought I could save myself from my darker inclinations by moving into an imagined community where people were struggling with all of these things in a very real way, and that was the community I created on The River". – Bruce Springsteen
This new box set is far more than your usual compilation of off-cuts and spot the difference demos, it poses a question; was Springsteen correct in second guessing himself?
The Boss claims The Ties That Bind didn’t feel big enough, and wasn’t as exciting as his live shows, something he had yet to capture in the studio. If that was his modus operandi he certainly improved on his initial effort when The River was released. For the first time here, the commonly bootlegged The Ties That Bind has been released as originally intended alongside its big brother and 20 outtakes. This isn’t a fan’s interpretation of what the record would have sounded like, this is that single album as handed to Columbia in 1979, and now the real comparison can be made. Very few box sets of this type can claim to have such a compelling narrative at their core.
Is The Ties That Bind a better record? No, although it is more concise by its nature and contains a full band version of ‘Stolen Car’, which may be superior to the version found on The River. You can also understand why three songs were eventually omitted from the earlier track listing and replaced with the likes of ‘Out In The Street’ and ‘Independence Day’. It’s more than a curio though, as it gives an insight into the narrative Springsteen was trying to create. He wanted to populate his world with characters and also provide the music they would hear in bars and clubs at night. That’s what makes the fourth disc of outtakes here so interesting, eleven of these songs have never commercially seen the light of day before, and really they should have.
Of particular note is ‘Roulette’, which Springsteen concedes in the documentary portion of this box set, should have replaced ‘Crush On You’ on The River. There’s also ‘Stray Bullet’, which may well be one of The Boss’ finest ever songs, it’s almost amazing this kind of material was still sitting there in the vault. Indeed none of these outtakes are half formed ideas, the 20 songs on the fourth disc are perhaps best regarded as the flipside of the coin from The River, and they certainly work as an album in their own right.
Unlike other collections that are exhaustive, none of the material here feels like scraping the bottom of the barrel. it’s also worth remembering there are still River-era songs that no-one has heard. The context provided by the accompanying Thom Zimny directed documentary and its acoustic snippets, an incredibly lavish hardback book, replica lyric notebook, and two DVD’s of a live show from 1980, do mean a complete picture of the creative is provided though. Along the way even the most dedicated fan will discover new facts (‘Hungry Heart’ was written after meeting The Ramones), but unlike so many of these re-issues that are aimed squarely at the die-hards, I’d argue this provides value for money for anyone with even a passing interest in Springsteen. It’s a hefty price tag for any of the formats on offer, which is likely to dissuade some, however I’d happily sit and listen to this any day of the week, rather than 15 microscopically different versions of the same song which tends to dominate the content of similar box sets.
Appealing both to a new generation of viewers and fans of the series since the beginning, this 30-years-later sequel to 1983's Return of the Jedi is a thrilling adventure. Filmmaker J.J. Abrams has managed to capture the tone of the original trilogy while telling a story about young, vibrant new characters whose connection to the overall saga deepens intriguingly as events unfurl.
Over the past three decades, the Empire has regrouped, forming the First Order to crush the Old Republic for good. And the plucky Rebellion hasn't offered much resistance since leader Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) disappeared. The Empire's top henchman Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is searching for him just as diligently as the rebel leader General Leia (Carrie Fisher). But the real action is happening out of their grasp, as disaffected storm trooper Finn (John Boyega) teams up with rebel pilot Poe (Oscar Isaac) and then feisty scavenger Rey (Daisy Ridley) and expressive droid BB-8. Along the way, Han Solo and Chewbacca (Harrison Ford and Peter Mayhew) find themselves back in the fray. And everyone is startled when there's a strong stirring in the force.
Abrams beautifully recreates the scruffy, clanky mechanical atmosphere of the original trilogy, infusing scenes with witty banter and John William's soaring score to throw us right back into that familiar galaxy. This includes the saga's main themes: the temptation of power, how true heroism is often accidental, and the tension between parents and children. Combine this with a plot that propels itself with a series of unexpected adventures and battles, all centred on the characters, and the film taps strongly into the teen in all of us.
Newcomers Boyega and Ridley are solid in the leading roles as young people who think they know what they want to do with their lives, but have no idea what might happen next. Energetic, inventive and wildly gifted, they make terrific new heroes who fit seamlessly alongside the veterans. Ford and Fisher bring layers of time to their iconic roles. Isaac shines as a rogue good guy. And Driver nicely balances his conflicted villain.
In the end, the film manages to have all of the whizzy visuals you could possibly want from a fantasy epic, but with added character depth and thematic resonance. And for fans of the original trilogy, there's a lot more here, including constant echoes of memorable moments from the classic films. Sometimes this may feel a bit overdone, perhaps because Abrams is such a superfan himself, but it adds an extra kick to the film that's already one of the most skilfully made, massively entertaining movies of the year.
Did you know much about the show before you joined?
I was aware of it but I don’t watch television, so I didn’t know too much about it. I also had my own preconceived perceptions of these types of shows. I didn’t believe a TV show would cultivate the creativity that it actually does. The only bad part, format-wise, is having to get rid of people. It’s really difficult. I’ve got an extremely talented team. That will teach me for being greedy! They are all misfits and I can’t even contemplate losing any of them.
How are you different from previous female coaches on The Voice UK?
I don’t like female comparison. I feel every human being is different regardless of gender and I’d like people to compare me to Tom Jones as well. I think I wear better skirts than Tom!
What type of coach are you?
I think I am quite nurturing but I am also quite upfront about my thoughts on stuff. I am pretty clear about my feelings on life. I’m direct but I hope no one takes offence. No one has so far!
Was there a particular type of voice you knew you would push your button for?
All along I always wanted to have a very different diverse group of voices that would reflect my musical tastes. I knew I wanted some soul, I wanted some rock voices and some more indie stuff. That’s what I listen to so I went for that. But when it gets down to my final three, that’s when it gets really difficult. I am going to pick who I like, not who I think the British public might like. I think the British public might be quite surprised what I do, I don’t go for the obvious. I go for people who speak to me emotionally more than who the best singers are. I think what makes me different from other coaches, and George too because we talk a lot. I don’t care if someone’s pitchy, it doesn’t bother me because I am. What’s really important is the feeling behind stuff and what people have to say. That’s what’s engaging to me.
How is it working with Boy George?
We are really similar. We text each other all the time to have a gossip. I think we come at this with similar attitudes. I look at George and think that what he has done in the past is like what I am doing now. I feel like if I was in the 80s I would have been doing the same as him, we would have been at the same clubs and things like that. He feels the most like me out of all of the coaches. He’s someone I respect a lot, he’s the type of person I would play one of my songs to and ask him what he thinks.
You’ve been friends with Ricky for a while, is it nice to have him beside you?
Yeah it’s nice to have that support and familiarity. I did already know George before the show as well, so that was nice. I’ve met will.i.am before so I wasn’t worried about joining the show.
What’s it like working with will.i.am?
I think his comments are quite funny because he’s quite futuristic but I’m quite nostalgic. Somewhere and somehow we are quite similar.
What’s the banter like between all the coaches this year?
We are all quite quick. We’re very evenly matched in wit, there’s nobody’s head anything goes over. Everyone is quick-witted and pick up on things. Ricky is pun-tastic. I think it’ll be entertaining for the audience as well as us.
Are you excited to be on television screens every Saturday night?
I think quite a lot of people will enjoy me on the telly. Most of my success has been based on television appearances. Times when I have done best have always been when I have done an interview on TV, my single will climb the charts based on a conversation I have had. I hope that says people like me and not that I am crap at singing!
The highest rated singing TV show of 2015, The Voice UK is back, with Boy George, Paloma Faith, will.i.am and Ricky Wilson. International superstars Boy George and Paloma Faith join returning coaches will.i.am and Ricky Wilson for the fifth series of The Voice UK on BBC One and we catch up with both, today Boy George and tomorrow, Paloma Faith joins us..
So George, what attracted you to The Voice UK?
I love singers. It’s an area that I feel I have expertise in and I’m passionate about. Actually, the thing that’s surprised me the most about the show is the fact that it’s very organic and you do get to say what you want to say, you do get to be heard and see the effect of the advice you give. It’s very interesting.
Were you a fan of the show before you joined?
It’s a great show. I’ve watched it for years and even had exchanges with the people who run the show’s Twitter account. I’m opinionated when it comes to this show. Some people may think you’re too cool to be doing a reality show like this, what do you say to that? I suppose that’s a compliment but being cool doesn’t pay the bills! I always felt like I should be on one of these types of shows. I’m a singer, it’s what I have been doing for 30 years, it makes sense, so I always wondered why I hadn’t got the call to do it earlier. I see people getting the job and I’m thinking, I’ve got more experience than you. For me it’s like a duck to water.
Did you have an idea of who you were looking for when you started the show?
I’m a very emotional performer and that’s what I am looking for in my team. There’s no accident to who you get. It’s so interesting to see who ends up on your team. Even the people you get because you’re the only person who turns, when you put them with the rest of the team it makes total sense.
Is it hard because you can’t see them?
It’s so weird sitting in that chair because you think to yourself that you will know what’s what as soon as I hear the first note, but you don’t. Sometimes you turn for people and you see them and think you would have turned for them if you had been able to see them. Often I couldn’t make a connection between what was coming out of their mouth and how they looked. It’s naive to think that the way someone looks doesn’t matter, it makes a big difference. Hearing the voice is the beginning of an adventure.
How have you found working with Paloma Faith?
I’ve been impressed by some of the song choices Paloma made in the Battle rounds. I would take my hat off to her but my hair is messy! She’s shown herself to be really musical, that’s really cool. You learn stuff about people doing this show. When you come onto a show like this it’s like taking friends who don’t know each other that well on holiday together. You find out all their character flaws!
How much do you want to win?
Oh, I want to win more than life! I chant every day to make sure I win! But if someone great wins and they are not on my team then I will be equally happy. There are a couple of other people who are not on my team and I think if they won then I wouldn’t be upset. I’ll be magnanimous in the sense that, you know, if it’s right and proper that someone else should win then I’ll feel that. But this is my first time so I have no idea what’s going to happen, it’s fascinating. I watch these type of shows and when the winner is announced I go, Really? OK - and think how you wouldn’t have turned for that person. But then when you are in it it’s a whole different thing, because you don’t necessarily choose someone in the battles because they sang better, which is bonkers because it’s The Voice. There’s no hard and fast rules with show, it’s all up in the air.
How fabulous are your outfits going to be for the shows?
Obviously I love dressing up and one of the good things about doing this show is that you get to dress up! That’s one of the things me and Paloma have in common, we love dressing up! My hats are getting bigger and bigger throughout the show. I just can’t help myself, I’m always looking for things other people don’t have.
PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT ANNOUNCE SPRING 2016 UK DATES OF NEW ORDER’S “LOW LIFE” (1985) & “BROTHERHOOD” (1986) PLUS AN OPENING SET OF ‘JOY DIVISION’ MATERIAL!
Back by popular demand, Peter Hook & The Light takes to the road for a string of dates in Spring 2016 to perform New Order’s third and fourth albums, “Low Life” and “Brotherhood”, returning to many venues where the band's previous shows have sold out and been very well received, calling at Wakefield for what is sure to be a sell out show.
After appearing to widespread acclaim at Pontefracts Crooked Ways we wrote "Hooky owns the stage and has a suprsieingly good singing voice that lends itself well to a set...that focuses on Joy Division but brings us all the New Order classics we want to hear"
Having recently returned from touring the albums in across the world, the shows mark the opportunity to see the LPs performed in full in England.
As has become standard, Hooky and The Light will be supporting themselves at the concerts performing a selection of Joy Division material.
The concerts will include the singles and B-sides from New Order’s most prolific period. From August 1983 up to 1987, taking the audience from “Confusion” to “True Faith”, with both “Low Life” and “Brotherhood” performed in full alongside all the other tracks from that fans consider New Order’s greatest period including “Thieves Like Us” “Bizarre Love Triangle”, “The Perfect Kiss” and many more.
Both the singles and the albums for this period stand out as some of the finest work ever produced by the band and marking the high period of New Order artistically. The critical plaudits heaped upon “Power, Corruption & Lies” were followed by similar notices for “Low-Life” and “Brotherhood”, which are considered as a trio as the band’s greatest albums.
Releasing “Low Life” in 1985 alongside epic single “The Perfect Kiss”, whose 9 minute 12 inch mix is considered one of the best of the decade, “Low Life” has made many regard it as New Order’s most complete single album. Aside from the singles, the album contains many great records that have entered the canon, including “This Time Of Night”, “Sunrise”, “Elegia”, “Sooner Than You Think”, and the album’s closer “Face Up”, an energetic club track.
“Brotherhood” itself took a unique approach, splitting the rock side of the band to the first side of the album, with tracks “Paradise”, “As It Is When It Was” and “Way Of Life”, whereas the flip side was electronic, taking in the two singles and also “Every Second Counts”.
The Light’s concerts run up to 1987 when New Order enjoyed their biggest international hit “True Faith”.
Peter Hook & The Light’s “Lowlife” & “Brotherhood” shows chart New Order’s final stage of evolution from the post punk of Joy Division to defining themselves as electro pop pioneers at the cutting edge of the emerging club scene in the mid to late Eighties.
Friday 4th March 2016
COVENTRY - The Copper Rooms (Warwick University)
Website - http://www.thecopperrooms.com
Box Office: 08444 77 1000
Saturday 5th March 2016
WAKEFIELD - Warehouse 23
Website - http://warehouse23.co.uk
Box Office: 0844 249 1000
Friday 11th March 2016
NORWICH - The Waterfront
Website - http://ueaticketbookings.co.uk/
Box Office: 01603 508050
Tickets for all 3 dates go on-sale on Friday 5th December 2015
For videos and concert footage from The Light check -www.youtube.com/peterhookandthelight
www.peterhook.co.uk / www.facebook.com/peterhookandthelight
Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott have announced dates as part of the Forestry Commission’s Forest Live music series where an eclectic mix of acts perform in unique woodland locations around the country each summer.
Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott’s latest top ten album, ‘Wisdom, Laughter and Lines’ includes the singles ‘I Don’t See Them’ and ‘The Austerity of Love’ which was ‘Record of the Week’ on BBC Radio 2. This follows their critically acclaimed, certified gold debut in 2014, ‘What Have We Become,’ their first recording reunion since the multi-million selling days of The Beautiful South classic albums ‘Miaow’, ‘Blue Is The Colour’ and ‘Quench’ with witty and ironic hits such as ‘Rotterdam’, ‘Don’t Marry Her’ and ‘Perfect 10’. The Forest Live gigs will see them play material from their new album and songs from The Beautiful South and the Housemartins.
Forest Live is an independent programme organised by the Forestry Commission to bring forests to new audiences. Income generated from ticket sales is spent on protecting, improving and expanding England’s forests and woodlands and increasing their value to people and wildlife. Over Forest Live’s 15 years history, money raised has contributed to a wide range of projects, from wildlife conservation to making improvements for visitors. With everything required for a great night out, including full catering and bar facilities, the gigs are renowned for their relaxed atmosphere.
Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott plus guests.
Friday 24 June Sherwood Pines Forest, near Mansfield, Notts.
Friday 1 July Delamere Forest, near Northwich, Cheshire.
Saturday 2 July Thetford Forest, near Brandon, Suffolk.
Saturday 9 July Cannock Chase Forest, near Rugeley, Staffs.
Tickets £32.50 (plus £3.75 booking fee) go on sale 9am Friday 11 December from the Forestry Commission box office tel 03000 680400, or buy online at www.forestry.gov.uk/music.
