Friday 7 April 2017

Wakefield Hosts Space * Slade * Peter Hook * We Are Scientists

With apologies for the delay we have previously mentioned, but here, a mega catch up of events here in our home City of Wakefield, courtesy of the delightful Maria x

Space - Slade - Peter Hook and the Light - We Are Scientists

SPACE play WAKEFIELD – Warehouse 23 on this Friday, 7th April 2017!
‘Give Me Your Future’ Tour.

Displaying image001.pngSpace released the much anticipated new studio album “Give me your Future” in May 2016 and embarked on a new tour of the same name in April – June across the UK and Ireland.

The new album was recorded and produced by Grammy and Brit award winning producer Steve Levine who has worked with The Clash, Culture Cub, Beach Boys, Deniece Williams and Gary Moore to name a few.

2015 was a good year for the band with ‘Female of the Species’ making the top of the album charts with the “TFI Album” – (Number 1 in June 2015).  Followed by the release of the “Strange World” single and the sold out 30 date UK tour of the same name..

Tommy said he was very proud of the Strange World single and the video shot by Mark McNulty, “it is a return to the true origins of the band, the tour has been mental with the whole audiences joining us on stage for the final encore of Female, just amazing nights with the fans, very special for me, for me it’s all about playing new music to new and old fans and playing them the hits”.

The bands last album release was ‘Attack Of The Mutant 50ft Kebab’- their first new album for nine years. Tommy’s influence for the new songs stemmed from his infamous fascination with science and horror films, and he likens the album to a ‘Fifties B-Movie’ for the ears.

Proud to note how Space have always stood out from the ‘normal,’ Tommy concedes that their last album has the usual signature Space quirkiness, with some extra ingredients added to the mix – he describes the songs as a mish-mash of SKA, Punk and the classic Space sound. “When we tour, we love playing the old stuff, but I always knew I wanted to record some new material. We know the fans like to hear the old classics from our multi-million selling albums ‘Spiders’ and ‘Tin Planet’, but we wanted to give them something extra.”

“The title track on the album is my favourite song from the record and is the story of how a fifty-foot kebab from a side street takeaway shop wreaks its revenge on the ailing high street. It’s a message about survival in a tongue-in-cheek way. The first single from the album is a track called ‘Fortune Teller’ – keeping up with the mystic vibe!”

Space have sold over 2 million albums world-wide with titles including “Spiders, “Tin Planet” “Suburban Rock and Roll” and “Attack of the Mutant 50ft Kebab” and also released 10 top 40 singles and host of other single releases to-date with titles including “Neighborhood” “Female of the Species”, “Me and You Vs. The World” “Avenging Angels” “Dark Clouds”, and “Begin Again” The band continue to write gritty edgy pop songs that captive the imagination of the listener, The band release the Album “Give me your future” in May 2016 followed by the Box Set to include the 5 released Albums plus the un-released “Love you More Than Football” in 2017.

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

Friday 7th April 2017
WAKEFIELD – Warehouse 23  
Box Office No: 0844 249 1000
Website – http://www.eventim.co.uk/cgi-bin/space-wakefield-Tickets.html?affiliate=EUK&doc=artistPages%2Ftickets&fun=artist&action=tickets&key=1701337%248645649&jumpIn=yTix&kuid=524606&from=erdetaila
Tickets - £16.50
Show – 7.45pm

cid:image001.png@01D2A413.6EADBF20SLADE - Without  doubt  one  of  the  most  exciting  bands  to  come  out  of  Great Britain in the past 30 years. With their unique blend of perfect pop-rock'n'roll,
outrageous  flamboyance  and  pure  fun,  and  no  less  than  23  Top-20  singles  of which  6  were No-1  smash  hits....plus  6  smash  albums,  Slade  have  become  a firm favourite in the hearts of pop fans all over the world.

SLADE'S chart career has spanned 3 decades and their enduring songs "Cum On  Feel  The  Noize"  and  "Coz  I  Luv  You"  are  still  featured  today  in  TV
commercials for some of the Worlds biggest companies.

SLADE first hit the road in 1966, touring throughout Great Britain and Europe and  becoming  a  regular  concert  attraction.  Joining  forces  with  the  former Animals bass guitarist and Jimi Hendrix Experience manager, Chas Chandler, Slade achieved their first chart hit in May 1971 with the Bobby Marchan song "Get Down And Get With It" then, released in October of the same year "Coz I Luv You" was the bands first No-1 and a huge hit across Europe.

Throughout  the  seventies,  Slade  became  one  of  Europe's  biggest  bands, touring and recording continually and making regular trips to America, Japan and other parts of the world. Slade's catalogue of hits are synonymous with the era:- "Take Me Bak 'Ome", "Mama We'er All Crazee Now", "Cum On Feel The Noize",  "Gudbye  T'  Jane", along  with  the  many  others  provided  a  soundtrack to   the   Glam   Generation   and   are   still   today,   heavily   featured on   any retrospective of the time.

At the beginning of the eighties, Slade were invited to appear at the Reading Rock  Festival,  a  massive  annual  event  which  attracted  over  100,000 people. They literally stole the show, giving some of the worlds biggest rock bands a serious  run  for  their  money  whilst  kindling  new  interest  from  a whole  new audience.  As result,  the  band  signed  a new  record  deal  and  unleashed  the anthem "We'll Bring The House Down", which reached the Top
-10 in the UK in January 1981. Slade were back!

Not  content  to  rest  on  their  Glam  laurels,  Slade  began  forging  a  new  path through  the  hugely  influential  British  heavy  rock  scene.  A  second successful appearance  at  Castle  Donnington  in  1981,  before  a  crowd  of  over  200,000 2 people,  consolidated  the  bands  position  and  paved  the  way for  the  single "Lock Up Your Daughters", and the album "Til Deaf Do Us Part".

While  Slade  were  busy  in  the  UK  releasing  the  massive  hit  "My Oh  My"  to huge  acclaim,  LA  metal  band  Quiet  Riot  were  spreading  the  word  Stateside with  their  version  of  "Cum  On  Feel  The  Noize",  which  proved so  successful that  they  followed  it  up  with  "Mama  We'er  All  Crazee  Now".  Throughout  the rest of the eighties Slade toured and recorded due to them once again being a major force in British pop'n'rock.

The early ninties saw the bands "Radio Wall Of Sound" hit the UK Top-30 and thereby give Slade a solid 20 year chart run!

In  1993,  due  to  the  continual  demand  from  around  the  world, founder  Slade members Dave Hill and Don Powell decided to return to touring by playing a few select dates in Europe prior to embarking on what turned out to be a very successful two month tour of Australia.

SLADE  have  continued  to  tour  the  world.  They  are  firm  favourites on  the lucrative   German   festival   scene   and   undertake   an   annual   UK   "Merry Christmas Everybody" tour in December. They also have a huge following of fans  and  regularly  play  concert  dates  in  Russia,  Poland,  Belgium,  Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, France and the Czech Republic.

Led by founder members Dave Hill and Don Powell, the bands latest additions are ex Mud bass guitarist John Berry, frequently spied in the guise of the Big Issue seller in Eastenders, and new lead vocalist Mal McNulty. Mal has had an extensive career, he featured with Rockin Horse in the 70s, heavy rock band Golden Night, German rock band Hazzard, and he was a founder member of London   fun-pub   band   Paddy Goes To Holyhead.  Having formed The Wandering Crutchless with Tino Troy of Preying Mantis,  Bruce  Bisland  of Sweet   and  occasional guest Andy Scott, Mal  joined  Sweet  in which he eventually became lead vocalist.

Slade today is still one of the most exciting bands on the road, and their stage performance  is  a  dynamic,  powerful  and  exhilarating  roller-coaster  ride  of
pure unadulterated rock'n'roll.

SLADE – December 2017 -  UK Tour Dates are:

Friday 8th December                        
SHEFFIELD – Foundry     
Box Office No – 0114 222 8777
Website – https://foundrysu.com/ents/event/10692/

Saturday 9th December                        
WAKEFIELD – Warehouse 23      
Box Office No – 01924 200162
Website – http://warehouse23.co.uk/events/slade/

Sunday 10th December                        
NORWICH – Waterfront       
Box Office No – 01603 508050
Website – https://thewaterfront.ticketabc.com/events/slade-2/

Thursday 14th December                        
SALISBURY – City Hall      
Box Office No – 01722 434434
Website – http://www.cityhallsalisbury.co.uk/index.php?page=1776

Saturday 16th December                        
WREXHAM – William Aston Hall       
Box Office No – 0844 888 9991
Website – https://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/Events/eventlistings/Slade-2.htm

Sunday 17th December                        
MANCHESTER – Academy 2       
Box Office No – 0161 832 1111
Website – https://www.manchesteracademy.net/order/tickets/13325257/slade-manchester-academy-2-2017-12-17-19-00-00

Thursday 21st December                        
OXFORD – 02 Academy        
Box Office No – 0844 477 1000
Website – https://academymusicgroup.com/o2academyoxford/events/958908/slade-tickets

Friday 22nd December                        
LIVERPOOL – Hangar 34        
Box Office No – 0844 477 1000
Website – http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/slade-tickets/274337

Saturday 23rd December                        
HULL – Welly       
Box Office No – 0844 477 1000
Website – http://giveitsomewelly.com/slade.html


cid:image002.jpg@01D12BBA.C17AB190PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT announce new UK Tour Dates Of Substance - The Albums Of Joy Division & New Order for December 2017 playing WAKEFIELD – Warehouse 23 on Saturday 16th December!

Tickets On General Sale - Friday 24th March - http://bit.ly/PeterHookTheLightSubstanceTickets

Peter Hook & The Light play more UK dates in December  2017 on their widely acclaimed world tour performing both Substance albums by Joy Division and New Order.

Having  just wrapped up a widely celebrated tour, the band  are to  perform in Norwich, Salisbury, Bristol, Wolverhampton and Wakefield with a massive end of year tour homecoming concert also just announced for Manchester Academy 1.

In addition, a special London return has been announced as The Light's final show of the year at The Roundhouse, Camden where they will be playing Joy Divisions' two albums in full along with a support set of New Order material.

Critical reaction from fans and media alike have been very strong with many commenting on the strength of the shows and performances. The debut Manchester Apollo show was awarded five stars from the Manchester Evening News - "the place is packed and the atmosphere electric" -  and similar reviews and reactions have followed the band on their travels so far.

"In the two-and-a-half hours Peter Hook & The Light were on stage, it was hard to fathom how many hits New Order and Joy Division had. Just within the first hour, there were enough songs that some artists today wish they could both write and have in their arsenal. That is what great chemistry in a band does."  Huffington Post

"A brilliant night, a celebration of the music of Joy Division and New Order. That is Hooky's mission and this was easily mission accomplished."   Everything Flows

Tickets for the WAKEFIELD – Warehouse 23 show taking place on Saturday 16th December are available from:

Saturday 16th December 2017
WAKEFIELD - Warehouse 23
Website - http://warehouse23.co.uk
Box Office: 0844 249 1000 
Tickets - £22.50 
Doors – 7.00pm

cid:image002.png@01D29E4E.E04A5050WE ARE SCIENTISTS play WAKEFIELD – Warehouse 23 on Friday 21st July 2017!
Formed in 2000, Rock band, We Are Scientists, aka ‘W.A.S’ comprises of Keith Murray (Guitar & Lead Vocals) and Chris Cain (Bass Guitar & Backing Vocals)
play Wakefield – Warehouse 23 on Friday 21st July.

Having issued four albums with one of the way, the band are back on tour having performed constantly across America and Europe.

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

Friday 21st July 2017
WAKEFIELD – Warehouse 23  
Box Office No: 0844 249 1000
Website – http://warehouse23.co.uk/events/we-are-scientists/
Tickets - £16.50 (advance)
Doors – 7.00pm






Monday 3 April 2017

Liverpool Sound City 2017 Reaches New Heights

Liverpool Sound City have announced the huge lineup for their 2017 event. Celebrating the festival's 10th anniversary in style, the likes of Metronomy, The Kills, White Lies, The Kooks, Slaves and many more will take to the stage over the weekend. Check out the full lineup poster below.

Image result for liverpool sound city 2017For us the pick is the opening night, Thursday 25th which sees 80s new wave legendary outfit The Human League headline but of equal, arguably more interest in support from the seminal Art of Noise rebooting the classic In Visible Silence lp. With A Certain Radio opening this is night to remember. Tickets will fly...we advise early purchase and subscribers will get an email tonight with the offer of discounted rail travel and a very short number of hotel rooms at truly unbeatable rates.

Meanwhile music legend John Cale is due to take to the stage on Friday with the only European performance of The Velvet Underground & Nico.


A limited number of additional tickets have now been released for the sell-out gig which is a 50th anniversary celebration of one of the most important albums of all time.

Acts further down the bill include Gigwise's favourite newcomers Cabbage, along with The Japanese House, Local Natives, The Sherlocks, Carl Barat & The Jackals, Milburn and Peaches.

Tickets for the Human League are £45, and John Cale £50.

Sound City Saturday and Sunday are £35 per day, or a weekend ticket for both days is £65.


More details via the http://www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk website HERE.

Tuesday 28 March 2017

We wish to apologise for the lack of updates to this blog. It was never our intention.

Unfortunately we were first hit with an attack on our site which disabled us for a few weeks, then a complaint, unfounded was made to Google which mean we couldnt post.

In among the bad news, we lost some staff, thats good news because they got real jobs helped we hope in no small part by the sterling work they did for this site. Congratulations, Jane, Rich and Mo!

And lastly, we are proud parents to our baby daughter, Jessica Ellen, born 26/1/17.

This week we have recruited Luke and Emmy who will be helping us on catch up this week.

Thanks for your patience, normal service resumed very soon!

Dave
Editor

Tuesday 7 February 2017

Y Not announces first wave of line up: Stereophonics, Two Door Cinema Club and Vaccinces headline

Y Not Festival Reveals First Wave of Line-Up
Stereophonics, Two Door Cinema Club & The Vaccines to headline


Clean Bandit, Jake Bugg, Slaves & Maximo Park also unveiled

Derbyshire’s finest festival Y Not (27-30 July) has announced the first wave of acts for this year’s festival and it already looks like the best yet with legends the Stereophonics, Two Door Cinema Club and The Vaccines topping the bill.

With a remarkable 20 year career and nine seminal albums behind them, Welsh rockers Stereophonics have an incredible back catalogue to delve into and with the promise of some brand new material and a reputation for jaw-dropping live performances their headline set at Y Not is going to be a highlight.

Award-winning three piece Two Door Cinema Club, known for their infectious indie-pop anthems, are certain to go down a treat with Y Notters. With plaudits still pouring in for last years hit album Gameshow their show is definitely not to be missed.

No introduction is required for the final headliner The Vaccines. The platinum selling post-punk outfit will be delivering an aural assault with their inimitable brand of power pop with a set destined to be a Y Not classic.

Also announced today are electronic/classical crossover Clean Bandit, indie-folk troubadour Jake Bugg, nu-punk outfit Slaves, Geordie alt-rockers Maximo Park, Feeder psych-rock experimentalists Nothing But Thieves, EDM stalwarts Example & DJ Wire, Scottish alternative rock act Twin Atlantic, indie-rock upstarts The Hunna, Cast, Sundara Karma and Brit Award winning singer/songwriter Kate Nash.

Elsewhere on this already awe-inspiring bill is Palace, Cabbage, Fickle Friends, Pulled Apart By Horses, Tom Grennan, Jaws, Beans on Toast, Tigercub, Muncie Girls, Banfi, Crows, King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys, Everly Pregnant Brothers, and Trash.

Said festival director Simon Mawbey: “We are immensely proud of this year’s line up. We’ve worked really hard to secure the very best acts – bands and artists we personally love.”

We have a diverse range of amazing internationally renowned artists and our headliners are literally next level. It’s going to be a legendary weekend - the best Y Not yet – we can’t wait for the summer!”

Bringing the spectacular Peak District countryside to life from 27-30 July, Y Not is a beautiful gathering of like-minded people who love great music and know how to party. Complete with stunning panoramic views, a fully stocked bar of local ales and ciders, a mouth-watering selection of food and more live music than you could ever possibly take in, Y Not is a firm favourite in the festival calendar for those in the know.

This year’s event is seeing the greatest demand for tickets with tier one and two already sold out. A limited amount of tier three tickets are currently on sale, priced at £104.50 (inc. booking fee) for adults (Children aged 12 and under go free) and available via the festival’s official website. Tier four tickets are likely to sell out fast. Purchase now to avoid disappointment.

Website:     http://www.ynotfestivals.co.uk/2017-tickets/
Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/ynotfestival/

Thursday 19 January 2017

Sing for your dinner - Fat Friends Is A Musical!

The much loved TV drama Fat Friends has been adapted for the stage by prolific Leeds writer Kay Mellor with original music by Nicholas Lloyd Webber
Fat Friends will open at Leeds Grand Theatre on 7 November 2017 before embarking on an extensive UK tour in 2018, with full tour dates and venues to be announced soon.

The TV cast of Fat Friends
The TV Cast of Fat Friends
Long term readers of our Just Families publication may recall that Fat Friends scooped the board in our 2000 end of year awards for best new show and again in 2003 for best recurring! The news that the show is to return – as a musical is sure to appeal to fans up and down the country. As Kay told us “About once or twice a week I get asked if Fat Friends is going to come back on the television. I’m always flattered that people loved the characters and premise. It ran for four series with a Christmas special and although I felt it had run its course on television, I always secretly thought there could be a musical using those characters and
looking at weight. It’s such a topical subject matter, more so today than ever. Everybody you meet is on some kind of diet or knows someone on a diet”

Packed full of warmth, life and weight loss, this brand new stage show reunites our favourite foodie friends in an original musical bulging with hopes, humour and heart. Join the infamous group of loveable characters as they are put through their Zumba paces at their local branch of Super Slimmer’s by the lovelorn Lauren whilst Kelly fantastises about fitting into the wedding dress of her dreams. Fat Friends offers a generous serving of hilarious fun with a sprinkle of romance on top!

The award-winning Jodie Prenger will lead a star company in the beloved role of Kelly Stevenson with further casting to be announced. Jodie landed the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh's revival production of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane after winning BBC 1's I'd Do Anything.

Fat Friends first hit television screens in October 2000 and folowed the lives of a group of overweight friends as they struggled with the absurdities of modern dieting. Running for five years on ITV, the show starred Alison Steadman, Sheridan Smith and Lisa Riley and also launched the careers of James Corden and Ruth Jones. Written by Kay Mellor, the show was nominated for multiple awards including the BAFTA for Best Drama Series.

“The musical is funny and sad with a big story and some meaty and memorable songs. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to work with Nick Loyd Webber who absolutely gets my characters and world. Together I think we’ve created something rather unique. I’m absolutely delighted and thrilled for the premier of Fat Friends The Musical to be held at Leeds Grand Theatre. Not only is Leeds my home town, but it’s where I set the television series and the stage musical. I love Leeds with a passion and the people of Leeds inspire me every day, so it fills me with pride to know that the musical will be seen by the people of Leeds before it goes on a national tour in 2018.’

LISTINGS INFORMATION 
Fat Friends
By Kay Mellor Director: Kay Mellor
Music by Nicholas Lloyd Webber

Leeds Grand Theatre
46 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NZ
Tue 7 November – Sat 2 December 2017
Priority Members on sale: Wednesday 18th January
General on sale: Wednesday 25th January
Monday – Saturday, 7.30pm
Thursday & Saturday matinees, 2.30pm
Tickets from £21
Box Office: 0844 848 2700
Book Online: www.leedsgrandtheatre.com


Wednesday 7 December 2016

Marc Almond announces an All The Hits tour

Marc Almond yesterday announced his Hits and Pieces tour for 2017 – tagged All the Hits , a 60th year celebration. This accompanies the February release of his Greatest Hits package of the same name.

This a short five date tour as the former Soft Cell frontman is planning something more substantial for the Autumn. The gigs though should be fantastic nights, featuring ‘every hit you want and more – some for the last time and some for the first, and last time’

The tour calls at 
London Roundhouse - 22 March
Perth Concert Hall – 25 March
York Barbican – 26 March
Buxton Opera House – 27 March
Warrington Parr Hall – 28 March

There is a presale tomorrow (Thursday), follow @marcalmond for the links (as at time of this being posted it wasn’t known) otherwise normal sale from Friday 9th December

Event; An Evening With the REAL Class of 92 - Leeds United Champions

On 26th April 2017 it will be 25 year since Sgt Wilkos troops went out at Bramall Lane to play Sheffield United in the most bizarre of games. That game ended 3-2 and (barring the little matter of Liverpool beating Man U later that afternoon – which they did) meant that Leeds United were Champions of England. The Last Champions is one tag given to that side, the following year football changed for ever and money became absolute king.

In recent years, those pretenders from over the hill have been masquerading their young players of that era as The Class of ’92. Well that class in dismissed, the real Class of ’92 is that team of players that against the odds delivered the title to Leeds

To commemorate and celebrate that fantastic achievement, MJK Sports Event will be hosting a special evening with that class.


Manager and chief architect of that team Howard “Sgt Wilko” Wilkinson will be there to relieve his memories of a fantastic season. He will be joined by midfield maestro Gary McAllister. The four man defence that frustrated so many that season will also be there, marauding right back and rocket like free kick taker Mel “Zico” Sterland, cultured left back Tony Dorigo and the centre backs, Jon Newsome and Chris Whyte. Midfield general and contributor of crucial goals, Steve Hodge joins the initial group of players announced.

The audience with.. style event will see all of the players interviewed before being joined by Sgt Wilko of an extended insight into that monumental season. An audience Q and A will follow and during the evening there will be extended videos of that season unfolding.

VIP seats, of which they are just 96 will also get the opportunity for a personal meet and greet / photo opportunity with the players and boss

The Real Class of 1992: Leeds United, Champions will be held in Keighley on 26th April 2017
For more information visit http://mjksportsevents.co.uk/event/the-real-class-of-92/ and follow MJK for future player appearance announcements @mjksportsevents