Film: Blended - Lazy with a hint of charm

Even with its inane script and limp direction, this film is watchable simply because Drew Barrymore is present to humanise Adam Sandler. How she does this is a mystery, but the fact remains that he's annoyingly unlikeable without her. And history proves the point: Sandler's best-ever performances were in two films opposite Barrymore, 1998's The Wedding Singer and 2004's 50 First Dates. Although this movie isn't quite in that league.

They play Lauren and Jim, who meet on a disastrous blind date and vow never to see each other again. But they end up inadvertently sharing a safari holiday to South Africa when Lauren's best pal (Wendi McLendon-Covey) and Jim's boss cancel a holiday with their five kids. Which is handy since Lauren has two energetic sons (Braxton Beckham and Kyle Red Silverstein) while Jim has three needy daughters (Bella Thorne, Emma Fuhrmann and Alyvia Alyn Lind). Of course, the children are happy to have same-sex role models along, even if Lauren and Jim can't bear to be around each other.

Watch the trailer here: There isn't a split-second when we don't know exactly where this plot is heading, even though the script veers wildly between wacky slapstick mayhem and sappy lesson-learning sentimentality. Every scene is carefully concocted to elicit either laughter or tears, and the manipulative filmmaking occasionally works. Although the movie's funniest moments are offhanded gags that feel improvised between Barrymore and Sandler. The child actors are all decent, carefully cast so each each simplistic character can have his or her corny journey to some sort of personal discovery.

While it's just about watchable, the movie's so under-powered that it feels like director Frank Coraci (who also made The Wedding Singer) was asleep at the wheel. He wastes ace scene-stealers like McLendon-Covey and Kevin Nealon (as a fellow tourist), and somehow manages to make an African safari look dull. In other words, everything about this film feels lazy, and yet with Barrymore and Sandler on-screen it still manages to drum up a hint of charm.

Film: Legends of Oz: Dorothys Return, only for the very young

Despite substandard animation, this brightly coloured sequel has a strong enough sense of both its story and characters to hold the audience's attention. And kids might not mind the quality, as they are re-introduced to classic characters in an all-new adventure based on the book Dorothy of Oz by Roger S Baum (great-grandson of L Frank).

Watch the trailer here:

It starts the morning after Dorothy (voiced by Lea Michele) gets back home to Kansas after her iconic adventure. Her panicky friends Scarecrow, Tinman and Lion (Dan Aykroyd, Kelsey Grammer and James Belushi) summon her back to Oz, where considerable time has passed while a crazed Jester (Martin Short) kidnaps good witch Glinda (Bernadette Peters) so he and his army of flying monkeys can launch their reign of terror. On her long journey back to Emerald City, Dorothy has a series of adventures with Wiser the owl (Oliver Platt), Marshal Mallow (Hugh Dancy), the China Princess (Megan Hilty) and the old tree Tugg (Patrick Stewart), who all help her take on the Jester.

Yes, the plot is rather simplistic (the Jester merely seems evil for evil's sake), but the real problem is that the animation is badly under-developed. Characters are painfully thin, with no gravity to them at all, which makes it impossible for them to properly interact visually. Fortunately there are some clever touches to the design work, such as the way everything in Oz looks battered and broken, which adds a badly needed dark edge to the otherwise sunny silliness.

Meanwhile, the voice cast provides plenty of personality, infusing the characters with humour and texture that are lacking in the script. So while the musical numbers are forgettable, even with a cast full of terrific singers like these, there are some deranged moments along the way that add a momentary blast of real life just when it's needed. If only the filmmakers had worked a bit harder to design and animate characters who were more detailed and engaging. Because this lower level of quality will only work on very young audiences.

Jurassic World - Confirmed Plot Preview

JURASSIC WORLD
We were a little sceptical about last week's plot leak regarding Jurassic World, not least because Universal had done a pretty great job of keeping a lid on things so far. However, it's with a heavy heart that director Colin Trevorrow has confirmed that the rumors leaking online were in fact accurate.



A downbeat Trevorrow said: "When I was a kid, you got to discover everything at once, it washed over you and blew your mind. Now it only takes one person to spoil it for everyone else. I hope whoever leaked it is actively trying to undermine what we're doing. Because if they're trying to help, they're doing it wrong."

The filmmaker - whose only other previous credit is the comedy-drama Safety Not Guaranteed - called the leak "discouraging", saying, "not because we want to hide things from the fans, but because we're working so hard to create something full of surprises."

Don't read on should you not want to know anything about Jurassic World.

The details leaked last week suggested 'Jurassic World' will be a real running theme park with monorail, shops, rides and shows. To get there, visitors need to take a shuttle boat from Florida. Attractions include a Dino petting zoo - which must breach health and safety regulations!

Things begin to go wrong when the greedy park staff fuse together a T-Rex, raptor, snake and cuttlefish to create a monstrous new dinosaur. Of course, it breaks loose and takes over the park. 

Trevorrow gave some further details of the new dino, saying, "...there will be one new dinosaur created by the park's geneticists. The gaps in her sequence were filled with DNA from other species, much like the genome in the first film was completed with frog DNA. This creation exists to fulfill a corporate mandate - they want something bigger, louder, with more teeth. And that's what they get."

He also revealed that Jurassic World will take place 22 years after the first movie and will explore two primary themes: greed and our indifference toward scientific discovery. 

"What if, despite previous disasters, they built a new biological preserve where you could see dinosaurs walk the earth.and what if people were already kind of over it? We imagined a teenager texting his girlfriend with his back to a T-Rex behind protective glass. For us, that image captured the way much of the audience feels about the movies themselves. 'We've seen CG dinosaurs. What else you got?' Next year, you'll see our answer."

Jurassic World stars Chris Pratt, Vincent D'Onofrio, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jake Johnson and Judy Greer. It hits theaters on June 12, 2015. 

Culture Club Reform, UK Dates this winter..

The 80s revival continues to grow apace, an era of unforgettable songs and performers. There is not a country in the world that doesn’t know the names of Boy George and Culture Club. 

Grammy Award winners Culture Club sold in excess of 100 million singles and over 50 million albums, and were one of the biggest pop bands of the 1980s. 

They achieved seven straight Top 10 hits in the UK, nine Top 10 singles in the USA and nine Top 20 singles in Australia.  They had number 1 singles in over a dozen countries and multi platinum album sales across the world, and were first group since The Beatles to have three Top Ten hits in America from a debut album.  They were also the first group in music history to have an album certified diamond in Canada. 

We are thrilled to say that the original line-up consisting of Mikey Craig (bass guitar), Roy Hay (guitar and keyboards), Jon Moss (drums and percussion) and flamboyant front man Boy George (lead vocals.) have confirmed they are to play live dates across the UK in 2014 for the first time in over 15 years.  Prior to these live dates Culture Club will be going into the studio to record new material, with producer Youth (Paul McCartney, The Verve, Embrace) for an album to be released early in 2015.

Boy George also recently released his first solo album in 20 years, 'This Is What I Do', and said being sober for six years has helped him to focus more on his career.

He said: ''Certainly being sober clears things up, it gets rid of all the cobwebs in the clouds and you start to think about things in a more professional, functional manner. It's more a question of following my instincts. As an artist, you just follow what you feel, and it felt like the right time.''

Joining Culture Club on this tour will be very special guest Alison Moyet, well renowned musical icon, who has amassed sales of more than 20 million records both as a solo artist and half of influential duo Yazoo.  In 2013 Alison returned to her electro roots with her album ‘the minutes’ which was co-written and produced by Guy Sigsworth.  ‘the minutes’ was a Top 5 hit in the UK and Alison toured throughout the last quarter of the year visiting UK, Europe, USA and South Africa topping it off with a triumphant show at the Royal Albert Hall in April 2014.

Now we are trying to establish if Alison will actually be joining Culture Club, taking the role of Helen Terry, the amazing voice that supplemented those early Culture Club records. There's no doubt that being a veritable artist in her own right, she could fill Ms Terrys boots without trouble.. Imagine her belting out those bits on Black Money..

Anyway, those shows..

Monday 1st December, Glasgow The SSE Hydro
Tuesday 2nd December, Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Thursday 4th December, Leeds First Direct Arena
Friday 5th December, Manchester Phones 4U Arena
Saturday 6th December, Nottingham Capital FM Arena
Monday 8th December, Liverpool Echo Arena
Tuesday 9th December, London The O2 *
Thursday 11th December, Brighton Centre
Friday 12th December, Birmingham National Indoor Arena
Sunday 14th December, Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
Monday 15th December, Bournemouth International Centre

All venue tickets: £38.50 & £48.50
* Except London The O2: £37.50, £42.50 & £55.00

Tickets available from Friday from:

Livenation.co.uk and Ticketmaster.co.uk

Watch the superb Black Money performed Live at the Bands 20th anniversary concert

Michael Jackson - Xscape Review - feels a little pointless

Michael Jackson is the self declared King of Pop, this presumably done on the basis of some of the most well-known pop songs under his name. His 1982 album 'Thriller' still stands as the biggest selling album of all time. We now see his second posthumous album of previously unreleased material in the form of 'Xscape'. 

There are two trains of thought when it comes to posthumous albums. On the one hand, they're a great opportunity for people to listen to music that otherwise would never be heard. On the other hand, the artist isn't here to help make any improvements and give the album their blessing and so posthumous albums run the risk of being poorly executed with the quality solely coming down to how the songs are produced, not how the artists can better them. This can ruin the legacy of an artist for some people, but for others it's merely songs pilling onto a back catalogue. So does 'Xscape' spoil the "legend" of Michael Jackson?

It begins with the single 'Love Never Felt So Good' which leads with its disco beat accompanied with warm strings, classy piano, rhythmic clicks and lush guitars that get you in the mood for a good time but sounds very dated. The song gives a half hope that this album could be something great but, sadly, that hope quickly diminishes. After second song 'Chicago', an average R&B number featuring well-crafted but clearly recently added synth-pop elements, the album goes downhill with some tracks that are just plain boring.

'Loving You' lacks any imagination or excitement due to chorus lyrics as lazy as, 'Loving you, that's what I wanna do'. 'A Place With No Name' initially peaks an interest, with beats reminiscent of Stevie Wonder through an electronic filter, but it gets dull when these beats take a backseat. 'Do You Know Where Your Children Are' is a disappointment with Jackson seemingly trying to tell a gripping story of missing children, but it comes off as a bit daft with synth-pop elements and his signature high-pitched 'hee-heee'.

Its easy to see why these songs originally never saw the light of day.

The album regains a modicum of strength on 'Blue Gangsta' which conjures up old magic, taking a darker tone and having an echo of 'Earth Song' and 'Billie Jean' about it with bursts of quiet horns; it's quite intense, but the album falls once again on the title track and final song. 'Xscape' has a low beat that coincidentally sounds slightly similar to Massive Attack's 'Angel', but the rest of the production and instruments sound tired and overused at this point, making it rather forgettable.

The verdict of this posthumous collection is that, while it has a few raverage songs, namely 'Love Never Felt So Good', 'Chicago' and 'Blue Gangsta', the rest are well below average and have been polished as much as they can be which feels a little pointless. It's not bad enough to damage Jackson's legacy, but it doesn't hold a candle to the likes of 'Bad' and 'Thriller'. You'll probably listen to the whole album once, then go back to listening to his classics that will never get old.

Movie Review: Godzilla - Cranston steals the show

For a blockbuster about gigantic radioactive monsters, this is a remarkably humane movie. But then that's no surprise for a film from Gareth Edwards, whose micro-budget Monsters (2010) showed that effects-based movies don't need to sacrifice characterisation and real emotion. So while this film is still a big action romp, it's also cleverly grounded by believable people.

It centres on Ford (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), whose life was upended in 1999 by a nuclear accident in Japan that killed his scientist mother (Juliette Binoche) and turned his father into a conspiracy-theory nutcase. Now just as Ford returns from military service to his wife (Elizabeth Olsen) and young son, he's called back to Japan as his dad spots tremors similar to those 15 years earlier. And as three terrifying creatures rise out of the earth, Ford is drafted in to help protect humanity. Following the beasts via Hawaii and Las Vegas to an epic confrontation in his hometown San Francisco, Ford works with scientists (Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins) and military commanders (David Strathairn and Richard T. Jones), eventually realising that the big-daddy monster Godzilla might actually be trying to help.

One of the more interesting aspects of Max Borenstein's script is that it reveals fairly early on that humanity is responsible for all of this and also helpless to avert the coming cataclysm. And yet the military machine does what it can, firing pathetic bullets and mobilising nuclear warheads because that's all it knows how to do. This approach adds a moral complexity that plays out in the decisions the characters have to make along the way. Taylor-Johnson is fine as the bland but muscled everyman at the centre, but Cranston steals the film with a far more textured role. Watanabe proves to be a master at the distant stare, while everyone else just runs and/or yells like real people would.

There are some contrived plot points and the pacing drags badly in the middle, but the film is livened up by witty directing touches that include references to all kinds of genre films, plus Alexandre Desplat's superb monster-movie score. Impressively, Edwards resists letting the film slip into a full-on effects extravaganza, keeping the visuals gritty and real-looking. Even the monsters have an earthy gravity to them: when was the last time a climactic battle between duelling animated characters was genuinely moving?

Watch the trailer

Prince opens tour with amazing set....

Prince & 3RDEYEGIRL opened their ‘Hit and Run Tour - Part II’ last night, May 15th 2014, at the LG Arena in Birmingham, England.  Prince and the band (guitarist Donna Grantis, bassist Ida Nielsen, drummer Hannah Ford-Welton with additional musician’s keyboardists Joshua Welton and Cassandra O'Neal) took to the stage to play an astonishing set that mixed brand new songs, rarely performed tracks and old school classics from Prince's massive catalogue to a rapturous reception from the West Midlands Arena.   

The enigmatic icon arrived from America just yesterday and was escorted from the airport straight to the arena for a brief soundcheck and last-minute rehearsal.  Forty minutes later than the scheduled concert start time Prince holding a huge bunch of purple and cream balloons released them to the roof as the band launched into 2014’s ‘FUNKNROLL’.  A turbo charged medley ensued with ‘Take Me With U’, ‘Raspberry Beret’, ‘Kiss’ and ‘Lets Go Crazy’ before Prince declared ‘soundcheck over!’ and the band moved into brand new material including a riotous version of the title track of the highly anticipated forthcoming 3RDEYEGIRL album ‘PLECTRUMELECTRUM’ which is set for release this year.  Lead track from the album ‘PRETZELBODYLOGIC’ was performed fully live for the first time.

Running for nearly two and a half hours the set was a masterclass in the very best of Prince – incredible singing, electrifying guitar playing, breathtaking showmanship and some seriously funky moves!  As well as leading the band Prince also took things down a notch with an evocative solo piano set which included ‘How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore?’ and ‘Diamonds and Pearls’, before bringing the band back for a selection of catalogue classics including ‘Controversy’, ‘1999’ and ‘Little Red Corvette’.  After mixing it up with more hits the night closed with ‘Purple Rain’ and a curfew-defying version of ‘Play That Funky Music’.

The ‘Hit and Run Tour - Part II’ follows on from Part I which saw Prince & 3RDEYEGIRL take over special and intimate venues in London and Manchester this February for a series of history making spontaneous shows announced at the 11th hour via Twitter.  Legendary venues included Ronnie Scotts, Electric Ballroom and Shepherds Bush Empire, with the band often playing up to three shows in one night.  The Guardian said it best, describing the Electric Ballroom shows in this way: “These are performances by one of the greatest funk-rock bands ever.”  The group has been showered in 5-star reviews from all major reviewing media.

Now with ‘Hit and Run – Part II’ these exclusive arena shows in Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Leeds are his first since Prince’s sold out residency at The O2 London in 2007.  This will be the first time Prince has ever performed in Leeds and is also the first time he has headlined a show in Birmingham and Glasgow in 19 years.  His Manchester show follows two nights at the Academy in February. 

Bingley Music Live - Day Splits Received.

The north's last big party of the summer, Bingley Music Live, has revealed the day split of its acts...and its as we predicted last month.


The three-day weekend tickets - priced at just £49 plus booking fee - have been selling well for the Bradford Council-run festival, so organisers are this year releasing day tickets earlier than ever before.

Bradford Council, who run the event, have announced the day split of acts set to perform alongside headliners, the internationally acclaimed Pet Shop Boys, chart-topping hip-hop artist Example and Yorkshire band Shed Seven.

This year, Bingley Music Live boasts an eclectic line up, covering just about every genre, including the best of new talent and promises the most complete line-up in its history.

Headlining the main stage on Friday, 29 August are 90s Britpop stalwarts Shed Seven with special guest Gaz Coombes (Supergrass). Other acts include rising star MNEK, The Selector, Joel Compass and Coasts.

The Second Stage presents Eliza and Bear, Champs, We are Catchers, Prides and Woman's Hour.

The party hots up on Saturday 30 August with one of the UK's biggest dance anthem hit-makers Example headlining the main stage. Other acts include Gorgon City, The Strypes, Jess Glynne, Bi Polar Sunshine, Catfish and the Bottlemen, John Lennon McCullagh, Dexters and Avec Sans. Power ballad DJs Ultimate Power will be hitting the decks between acts.

Saturday's Second Stage will see performances from critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Nuck Mulvey. Joining him will be Natasha North, Young Kato, Renegade Brass Band, Emma Garrett, Bird to Beast, Bridie Jackson and the Arbour, Warme and The Mispers.

Six times Grammy Award nominees The Pet Shop Boys, who have sold more than 50 albums worldwide, will take the stage by storm on the final night on Sunday 31 August. Other main stage acts sharing the bill with them are: Naughty Boy, Simon & Oscar (from Ocean Colour Scene)- playing acoustic versions of their hits, Chloe Howl, Etta Bond, D/C, Night Engine and Charlie Cunningham. 

The final acts on the Second Stage are: The South, Kyla La Grange, The Wytches, Neon Waltz, Ramona Flowers, Georgia Harrup, Port Isla, Carla and The Sherlocks.

Winners of the Emerging Talent competition, which pitches local upcoming acts against one another to win a place on the BML bill, will be announced after the final on 16 May.

Phil Barker, Bradford Council's Assistant Director for Sport & Leisure, said: "We decided that tickets were selling so well that we can now tell people when acts are playing, in case they can only commit to one day. They can then pick which day best suits their musical tastes and book a ticket."

For more information on BML, see the website - www.bingleymusiclive.com

80s and 90s Legends of Pop hit Scarbrough Open Air this Summer

Scarborough Borough Council has announced that Scarborough Open Air Theatre will step back in time on Saturday 2 August 2014 for a very special concert featuring seven of the most popular acts of the 1980s and early 1990s.

‘Legends of Pop’ starring Bananarama, Jason Donovan, Rick Astley,  Sonia, Hazell Dean, Brother Beyond’s Nathan Moore and Undercover, will transport the audience back in time to the dizzy heights of the electric pop era.  Audiences should get ready to party along to smash hits like ‘Nothing Can Divide Us’, ‘Love In The First Degree’, ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ and ‘Better The Devil You Know’ as well as exciting new material from the artists’ latest albums.




In 2012 Bananarama celebrated 30 years in the business and their achievements speak for themselves. To date they have had 32 Top 40 UK hits, have released 10 albums and sold 30 million records.  


Jason Donovan’s career successes have spanned across the music industry, stage and screen.  He has had four UK No.1 singles, sold over three million records in the UK, starred in West End musicals, finished third in the 2006 series of ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’ and to this day still presents his own radio show every Sunday on Heart FM.  


Rick Astley holds the record for being the only male solo artist to have his first eight singles reach the Top 10 in the UK and by 1993, has sold around 40 million records.  His first solo single, ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ was an immediate success spending five weeks at the top of the British Charts and was a number one hit worldwide. 


Sonia has released 15 singles and 5 albums.  Her highest selling single was her debut single ‘You’ll Never Stop Me Loving You’ which reached No.1 on the UK charts back in 1989.  In 1993, Sonia represented the UK in Eurovision with ‘Better The Devil You Know’ finishing in second place, narrowly missing the top spot by one point. 

Hazel Dean achieved her biggest success in the 1980s as a leading Hi-NRG artist.  She is best known for the Top 10 hits ‘Searchin’, ‘Whatever I Do’, which gave Stock Aitken Waterman their first Top 10 hit, and ‘Who’s Leaving Who’.  To this day, Hazell continues to perform live.

As the lead singer of boyband Brother Beyond, Nathan Moore shared in the success of the band’s Top 10 hits ‘The Harder I Try’ and ‘He Ain’t No Competition’ and their album ‘Get Even’ topped the charts.  In 2008 he returned full time to live performance and now performs around 100 shows a year.


Undercovers first single, a cover of "Baker Street" reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart in September 1992,the second single was a cover of Andrew Gold's "Never Let Her Slip Away",


Tickets for Legends of Pop, priced at £35, are on sale at the Open Air Theatre Box Office in person or by telephone: 01723 818111.  The office is open 11am to 4pm weekdays (school term time) and 11am to 6pm weekends and school holidays.

Tickets are also available from the Tourism Bureau by telephone: 01723 383636.  The bureau is open:  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 9.00am to 5.00pm and Wednesday 9.30am to 5.00pm.  A £2 to £2.50 booking fee per ticket sold will apply.

More information about Scarborough Open Air Theatre and ticket sales can be found at www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com

Blondie - Ghosts Of Download (Review)

Marking Blondie’s 40th anniversary, their first LP in three years is as fresh as anything they’ve ever released, and that's some statement.

I have had the privilege of listening to Ghosts Of Download for a few days now while travelling and even now I feel like double-checking that opening track Sugar On The Side is actually by the band, you know, Blondie. The track featuring Colombian collective Systema Solar, isn't immediately recognisable as being by Blondie, until the unmistakable voice of Debbie Harry reassures that this most definitely is them. It does, however, offer a taste of what’s to come.

A host of guest artists are featured including Beth Ditto who the band collaborate on A Rose By Any Name. It results in a chorus you’ll have trouble forgetting ‘If you’re a boy or if you’re a girl, I love you just the same, wherever you go, all over the world, a rose by any name’.

Those who saw Blondie live last year will remember their surprise cover of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Relax, the  harmonies combine with a haunting piano refrain beautifully anticipates the disco-like beat that eventually kicks in.

Of the remaining tracks, Take It Back stands out as something the band might have released in their 1999 Maria era: melody with an edge and an infectious energy.  Backroom finishes the album by bringing us back down to earth in the manner of a chill-out room rather than with a bump.

One thing to take from Ghosts Of Download is that out of twelve brand new tracks, no two sound alike.  By the end of one song you’re itching to hear what’s coming next.  Touches of reggae, Latin, dance, disco, pop and yes, electro-punk, are all audible throughout the album. This may sound like a rather eclectic mix but Blondie make it work in a way only they can.

Ghosts Of Download may be the band’s tenth studio album but with it nobody could accuse Blondie of being boring.  It’s lively and fun with little surprises around every corner. The legendary New Yorkers have pushed their sound forward to produce something that is recognisable as a Blondie record but not at the cost of abandoning their roots.

While established fans will undoubtedly appreciate this fresh new sound, it’s also likely to attract a whole new generation of Blondie fans.

Watch Debbie and the band on 40 years of Rock n Roll (via BBC)

Madness announce Leeds Arena Xmas Show

Madness have today announced details of a brand new UK tour, M.A.D.H.E.A.D, which will be coming to the Leeds first direct arena this winter. 

Tickets for the Thursday 11 December show go on sale this Friday, priced from £35.00.

The last couple of years have been incredible for the nutty boys responsible for hits such as House of Fun and Baggy Trousers. Last year saw Madness play London’s iconic Alexandra Palace, said goodbye to one of London’s most recognisable landmarks, BBC Television Centre, performed a series of outdoor shows and released their tenth acclaimed studio album Oui, Oui, Si, Si, Ja, Ja, Da, Da. Not only that, they have had the chance to produce their own ales ‘Gladness’ and ‘Night Boat’.

Since their Alexandra Palace date last September Madness have been locked up the studio making brand new music. We are told to watch this space……

Regarding the new tour frontman Suggs said:

‘I know when to go out, I know when to stay in and get things done…..GET YOUR M.A.D.H.E.A.D ON, WE ARE GOING OUT!!!!!’ 

To book tickets for this event, visit www.firstdirectarena.com, phone 0844 248 1585, or book your tickets from the first direct arena box office, located in Trinity Leeds Customer Service Lounge, from 9.30am Friday 16 May. On the experience of my recent Prince tickets purchase I would recommend ticket agaencies mobile apps as that saw me checked out with tickets 1 minute after they went on sale.

ITV announce World Cup Coverage

ITV has named its World Cup squad for Brazil and plans for covering the tournament, with a varied collection of names ready for kick-­‐off on June 12.

Joining presenter Adrian Chiles on the plane to Brazil to lend their alleged experience and expertise to ITV’s tournament coverage will be regular pundits Roy Keane and Lee Dixon as well as Sunderland manager and former Uruguay international Gus Poyet, Scotland manager Gordon Strachan, former England international Ian Wright, World Cup winner Patrick Vieira, former England manager Glenn Hoddle, Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill and most oddly, roaming football gypsy Andros Townsend, star of England’s World Cup qualifying run, whose bid to play at the tournament was sadly ended through injury.

ITV says it is looking forward to bringing viewers a carnival of football with all the action, drama, colour and atmosphere from across Brazil. Reporter Gabriel Clarke, presenter Matt Smith, commentators Clive Tyldesley and Sam Matterface as well as co-­‐ commentators Andy Townsend and Clarke Carlisle will also be on the ground and in the stadia in Brazil throughout the tournament.

ITV will have a studio base in Rio de Janeiro to bring home to viewers the impact of the tournament from one of Brazil's iconic cities, but the team will criss cross the vast expanse of the country to deliver build-­‐up, live coverage and analysis of some games from in and around the stadia in the various tournament locations to give viewers a taste of the rich diversity of the country.

Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said: "Excitement is building as we draw closer to what promises to be a special World Cup, taking place in this most iconic of football countries, defined by its passion for the game. Our pundit team bring a rich variety of perspectives on football to our coverage and they can’t wait for kick-­‐off on June 12 and to bring you the best of the action and the atmosphere throughout the tournament.”

The tournament begins on ITV with coverage of the opening ceremony at the newly-­‐ built Arena de Sao Paulo before the action kicks off with favourites Brazil taking on Croatia in the first match.

A number of mouth-­‐watering fixtures from the opening stages will be featured on ITV, with the hosts appearing again in their final group game against Cameroon, as well as two of England’s group games [against Uruguay and Costa Rica], the much-­‐ fancied Germany side taking on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, a chance to see Ronaldo’s rival for the mantle of world’s best player, Lionel Messi, as Argentina take on Iran, and two of many experts’ dark horses, Belgium’s matches.

Twenty matches from the group stages will be shown live on ITV and ITV4 and 34 games in total will be broadcast live during Brazil 2014.

But viewers will be able to watch and engage with our World Cup coverage at any time on ITV Player with all our live matches streamed on the ITV player on itv.com and available on demand.

Our responsively designed World Cup site – itv.com/worldcup – will bring Brazil to life particularly for mobile and tablet users. This content will include highlights packages of all 64 matches, in-­‐match video clips, all the latest news, extra analysis from our must-­‐watch pundits, and live statistics.

Madness Tour Hits Leeds This December

Madness have today announced details of a brand new UK tour, M.A.D.H.E.A.D, which will be coming to the first direct arena this winter.  

Tickets for the Thursday 11 December show go on sale this Friday, priced from £35.00.

The last couple of years have been incredible for the nutty boys responsible for hits such as House of Fun and Baggy Trousers. Last year saw Madness play London’s iconic Alexandra Palace, said goodbye to one of London’s most recognisable landmarks, BBC Television Centre, performed a series of outdoor shows and released their tenth acclaimed studio album Oui, Oui, Si, Si, Ja, Ja, Da, Da. Not only that, they have had the chance to produce their own ales ‘Gladness’ and ‘Night Boat’. 

Since their Alexandra Palace date last September Madness have been locked up the studio making brand new music. Watch this space…… 

Regarding the new tour frontman Suggs said:
‘I know when to go out, I know when to stay in and get things done…..GET YOUR M.A.D.H.E.A.D ON, WE ARE GOING OUT!!!!!’  

To book tickets for this event, visit www.firstdirectarena.com, phone 0844 248 1585, or book your tickets from the first direct arena box office, located in Trinity Leeds from 9.30am Friday 16 May.

Movie Review: Bad Neighbours... a rare comedy

There's a blast of raucous energy to this lively comedy that sets it apart from the pack; aside from a willingness to get deeply rude and incorrect, the movie is actually very funny. It helps that it's packed with snappy characters and witty dialogue, and that the cast makes the gratuitously vulgar humour come to life in surprising ways.


It opens with happy couple Mac and Kelly (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne), whose idyllic life with their ridiculously cute baby is interrupted when a frat house moves in next door. They want to be cool about it, so introduce themselves and nicely ask the fraternity leaders Teddy and Pete (Zac Efron and Dave Franco) to keep it down. They even indulge in a bit of partying themselves. But the noise only gets louder, and when Mac and Kelly call the cops in a moment of desperation, they spark a war that escalates into a series of crazy practical jokes. This also gets the fraternity in trouble with their university administrator (Lisa Kudrow), which only fuels the battle.

Director Nicholas Stoller (The Five-Year Engagement) keeps things moving briskly, packing every scene with shamelessly coarse humour. For every joke that falls flat (like a breast-feeding set-piece), there are five more gags immediately following that generate gut-busting laughter. While the plot is little more than a series of elaborate pranks, there's an unstoppable momentum that builds to a riotous party climax. Even more important is the way the actors are allowed to twist their stereotypical characters to add some meaningful subtext.

Efron and Franco represent irresponsible youth longing for a bit of stability, while Rogen and Byrne are adults who aren't quite ready to be grown-ups. None of this is terribly deep, but it gives the movie just enough weight to hold the interest, especially as each character is forced to confront his or her expectations about life. Thankfully, Stoller and his screenwriters never get sentimental about any of this, remembering that their first responsibility is to make the audience laugh. And it's a rare comedy that does the job quite this well.

Watch the trailer here:

Broadchurch returns for second series - confirmed.

Update 13/5/14 14.55
Internationally acclaimed actress Charlotte Rampling to star in new series of Broadchurch

Legendary film and television actress Charlotte Rampling is to take a lead role in the new series of Broadchurch, broadcaster ITV, Kudos and Imaginary Friends announced today.

The phenomenally successful and multi award winning series, which captivated viewers when screened on ITV in 2013, begins filming in the UK in the coming weeks.  

Charlotte Rampling will play a pivotal role in the new series.  The details of her character and how she impacts on the drama and small community are being kept under wraps by ITV and the production companies, Kudos and Imaginary Friends.  Broadchurch creator and executive producer Chris Chibnall is delighted Charlotte Rampling has taken the role.

"Charlotte Rampling! We've been keeping this secret for months, it's been agony!” said Chris. “We have another big story to tell this year, and that meant finding exceptional actors for new roles. There's none more exceptional than Charlotte: to be writing for her is a dream come true. As you can imagine, Charlotte's character is an integral part of our new story -- but that's where we're drawing a veil, for now..."

Broadchurch is commissioned for ITV by Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea.


“We’re delighted Charlotte is joining the Broadchurch family,” said Steve.  “She’s the first of some exciting additions to the ensemble for the new series.”

After months of speculation ITV, Kudos and Imaginary Friends have confirmed the returning cast for the new series of Broadchurch, which begins filming in Dorset shortly.


In keeping with the first series, secrecy and intrigue surrounds the story of the award winning drama written by creator and acclaimed screenwriter Chris Chibnall.  

David Tennant will return as Alec Hardy, whilst Olivia Colman resumes her role as Ellie Miller, last seen having her life torn apart as husband Joe confessed to murdering local schoolboy Danny Latimer. 

Jodie Whittaker and Andrew Buchan, who play Danny’s parents Beth and Mark Latimer, will also return to their roles, alongside Arthur Darvill as local vicar Paul Coates.    

No other details have yet been revealed.

ITV’s Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea have commissioned the new series.

“We’re delighted Broadchurch is back in production, but we’re remaining tight-lipped about how the story develops,” said Steve.  “Suffice to say Chris has delivered as always and the scripts are just as exciting as the first series.”

Broadchurch will be executive produced by Chris Chibnall (The Great Train Robbery, Torchwood) for Imaginary Friends and Jane Featherstone (Utopia, The Hour, Spooks) on behalf of Kudos, a Shine Group company.  The Producer is Richard Stokes (Silk, Law & Order: UK) who also produced the first series. James Strong, who directed 5 episodes of the first series including episode one, will be directing episodes one and two of this new series. 

“The reaction to Broadchurch from UK viewers has been incredible,” said Jane. “So we’d like viewers to enjoy the new series knowing as little as possible about what’s to come and for the story to unfold in real time.”

The South (ex Beautiful South) Live Wakefield 9/5/2014

Its said that the former members of the Beautiful South just didnt want to give it up... On the evidence of tonight, a) I dont blame them and b) hope they keep loving it.

Whilst its true that in the latter albums, The Beautiful South had it seemed grown musically weary, joyless even at times, in the South they have rediscovered that joy, that the love for the songs is just as strong.

Any accusations that they were merely milking the revival cash cow must surely be so far wide of the mark, at most they seem to be rivalling the Polyphonic Spree, as 9 members, including a nifty brass section are on the stage. 

A near full Warehouse 23 greets the band like old friends and from then on the set and crowd never drop. Even when songs from the bands new album pepper the set, they still have that unmistakable Beautiful South sound and hook, you wouldn't know that there was over 20 years between those and the older songs.

Of course not all the songs were originally sung by either Alison (or predecessors) or Dave but again, where changes are to be made its without any noticeable difererence. A case in point is Old Red Eyes... originally sung by Paul but now by Alison, and superbly so. In fact, I would venture to say, its better than the original.

Otherwise the hits are all present and correct, A Little Time couldnt have been sung louder, more emphatically, more passionately than if it were the English world cup song and we had just that minute lifted the Jules Rimet trophy..

Watch Song For Whoever Live at Wakefield

Woman In The Wall has always been one of my favourites, I remember it so fondly from one of the original bands very first shows, seemingly the whole band donning fancy dress n for an extended joyous run through. Tonight its in the set again, and one of Daves' favourites. Its no less darkly joyous.

Good as Gold has an unmistakeable feelgood tone it, who doesn't want their sundrenched windswept Ingrid Bergman kiss.... and the Carry on Regardless refrain is belted back at them as a final finale.

Watch Good As Gold Live At Wakefield

Anyone who ever had any love for the Beautiful South will see that love rekindled many times over with The South. As gigs go they dont get much better...

Watch the new single, Pigeonhole below.

BBC unveil "unrivalled" World Cup Coverage

BBC Sport will deliver the first 24/7 World Cup from Brazil, bringing audiences enhanced live coverage, every single goal, expert analysis, breaking news, exclusive online content and interactive features – all available across any device, at any time.


Fans can share in all the excitement at bbc.co.uk/worldcup and through the BBC Sport apps for mobiles and tablets and on connected TVs – whether it’s getting the latest updates from Brazil on a mobile during the morning commute, joining in the match-day build-up from a PC at work, watching matches on the biggest screen in the house or the late kick-offs in bed on a tablet.

The live World Cup page also complements the BBC’s broadcast coverage, as audiences can open it up on a handheld device or laptop whilst watching the match on TV or connected TVs. This allows people to join the conversation with BBC experts, watch in-game rolling highlights and access a wealth of data and interactivity:

Watch live video for every BBC TV game, choose from alternative match commentaries, including BBC Radio 5 Live, and relive the key moments through our in-game highlights

Be a part of the atmosphere: Join in the match-day build-up and live coverage with the BBC’s expert reporters and pundits, alongside the best comments and opinions from social media, email and SMS

Keep in touch with the action: Faster-than-ever match stats and text commentary will bring audiences even closer to the action, and when watching isn’t an option, automatic goal alerts are available for all World Cup nations via the BBC Sport mobile and tablet apps

Have your say: Take part in live polls on the game’s key talking points through the live World Cup page or directly from social media accounts – simply listen out for instructions from the BBC’s live broadcast and online coverage.


BBC Sport will also use its live technology to recreate some of the home nations’ greatest World Cup matches online, as though they’re unfolding in real-time. Audiences will be able to experience or relive the 1966 World Cup final, Archie Gemmill’s wonder goal in 1978, the ‘Hand of God’ in 1986, Gazza’s tears in 1990, and Gerry Armstrong stunning Spain in 1982.

These classic matches will be replayed in full and will be given the BBC’s full live treatment, including ‘live’ video, text commentary and contributions from special guests with unique perspectives on the action, including Gary Lineker.

All matches will be available to watch across four screens – PC, tablet, mobile and connected TV – at bbc.co.uk/worldcup or through the BBC Sport apps for mobiles, tablets and connected TVs:

Friday 30 May, 12pm: England v West Germany, 1966 final
Saturday 31 May, 3pm: Scotland v The Netherlands, 1978 group match
Wednesday 4 June, 12pm: England v Argentina, 1986 quarter-final
Saturday 7 June, 3pm: England v Germany, 1990 semi-final
Sunday 8 June, 3pm: Spain v Northern Ireland, 1982 group match
Online and catch-up

To help audiences keep up-to-date with all the action and major talking points, a range of interactive features and exclusive online and catch-up content will be available, including:

A daily ‘World Cup breakfast’ video: Available online each morning from the BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer, on connected TVs, and to download via the BBC iPlayer app. Perfect for watching over breakfast or on the commute, it will sum up the previous day’s events and looking forward to what’s coming up

An interactive guide to World Cup penalty shootouts with Gary Lineker: A BBC iWonder guide will explore where every penalty has been taken in World Cup shootout history. Combining video, graphics and text, the guide will analyse everything there is to know, such as how many have been taken, success rate, top nation, worst nation, best keeper and, most important of all, where best to place one

The BBC Sport website and connected TV app will offer highlights of every single match as soon as the final whistle blows, full match replays for BBC TV games and a range of other clips. All World Cup TV programmes broadcast on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Three will also be available for catch-up on BBC iPlayer.

BBC Sport will offer a range of activities and content across its Facebook, Google+, Instagram and Twitter accounts. This will give fans a chance to get even closer to the BBC’s coverage, presenters and special guests with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and daily live Q&A sessions. Users can also take part in match analysis through polls by voting directly from social media accounts or the BBC Sport live World Cup page – simply listen out for instructions from BBC presenters during live broadcast and online coverage.

The BBC will also curate the best contributions from across social media, sharing comments and user-generated content and including them in the BBC’s live broadcast and online coverage. In addition, BBC Sport will provide curated lists of the BBC’s expert journalists and talent, alongside players and teams at the World Cup to give users even more insight.

The BBC Sport connected TV app is now available on over 550 devices and will offer a dedicated World Cup 2014 Homescreen that includes:

Live streaming of BBC matches including options to select alternative match commentaries
A guide to live matches available to watch each day and a selection of full length games for catch-up
Match highlights and headlines
Full ‘live’ coverage of the World Cup Rewind matches. Available to watch in full length on-demand afterwards
The daily 10 minute ‘World Cup breakfast’ video available from 5am in the morning each day of the World Cup to watch before heading to work
Fixtures, Scores, Results & Tables
BBC Red Button will offer a range of additional coverage, including a number of archive matches in the run-up to the tournament, selected full match replays including all England games, and match highlights throughout the World Cup.

24 Live Another Day - maybe not a final farewell

Jack Bauer returned to save the world last night, but is this series really the final outing for ’24’?

Jack Bauer came bounding back to our screens last night in ’24:Live Another Day’, but is the limited event series a final farewell to our hero? Maybe not, as co-creator Robert Cochran has been telling the press that this might not be the end of Jack Bauer.

Speaking at the show’s premiere, Cochran said that if ‘Live Another Day’ is successful we could expect to see more Bauer on our screens in the future.  "I think if this does well, I can't see any reason not to do another 12,” he told the news channel.

The show, which had ended in 2010, was originally going to be resurrected for a movie but when that idea fell through it was finally decided that Jack would come back home to the small screen once again.

Although the film idea never came to fruition, a movie could still be in Bauer’s future as Cochran stated it was still “possible.” However, he then added that the real time format of ’24’ lends itself to TV better saying, “I'll take whatever happens,” then adding, “but I'd like to see it come back on TV.”


Actress Mary Lynn Rajskub, who plays Chloe O’Brian on the show, also feels ’24' has more life left in it, saying, “I can't imagine that there wouldn't be a little bit more now that they've gone through the trouble of bringing it back."

As for star Kiefer Sutherland, he’s admitted he was “massively” nervous about reprising his role as Jack Bauer, revealing he spent months,”scared to death”, thinking “why would we open this up again.” The actor also added that he was yet to suffer an on-set injury this time around, escaping so far with “just a couple of cuts.”

The return of Jack Bauer and ’24’ has so far received praise from critics and fans alike, with viewers voicing their approval on twitter using the JackisBack hashtag. '24' consists of 12 episodes this time and sees Bauer now on the run in London. Alongside its Fox premiere last night, UK viewers were also able to watch it on Sky 1 this morning at 1am. For those who couldn't stay up, it will be repeated tomorrow evening at 9pm.

Interview: Former Mad Dog Philip Glenister

We caught up with Philip, the former Mad Dog and Life On Mars star (amongst many others) during a break in filming the new BBC show From There To Here. (broadcast date / time tbc)


The drama begins in June 1996 on the day an IRA bomb destroyed much of Manchester's City Centre - the same summer England was united in optimism for Euro ‘96. From There To Here tells the story of a city, an era and two families from different sides of the tracks whose lives are brought together in the aftermath of the bomb. The story spans the four years that changed Manchester and the country forever - from ‘Football’s Coming Home’ in 1996, Britpop, to New Labour sweeping to power in 1997, and finally to the hangover after the Millennium celebrations of 2000.


With an epic sweep, From There To Here charts the tragic and comic misadventures of two families as Manchester is being rebuilt.

What attracted you to the script?

Peter Bowker is a friend and neighbour of mine funnily enough, and I’ve always been a huge admirer of his work. I think he’s one of our finest writers. So to get a script written by him, you know you’re in for something quite exciting, and I wasn’t wrong. It’s a page turner. And after the first episode, I read the second, the third one, and that’s always a sign there’s something pretty hot on the page.

Tell us about your character.

I play a character called Daniel Cotton, and I suppose the story is seen through his eyes and his journey. He was adopted from an early age by Samuel, played by Bernard Hill, and they have a family business in the sweet industry, confectionery, and it’s a successful business. He’s happily married with two grown-up children who are making their own way in the world and doing very well. So all seems pretty rosy.

Tell us about the scene that you’re filming today?

The scene that we’re filming today is when I’m trying to bring together the family, particularly Samuel and Robbo (Steven Mackintosh). I’ve arranged to have them both meet me in a hotel, in the centre of Manchester, just to try and bring us together. And we’ve got Euro ‘96 about to start. I want us to all sit down as father and sons and watch the football and bond basically.

What’s his relationship like with his father, Samuel?

I think when you combine family and business you’re always going to get conflict of interest in some shape or form. But he’s also the appeaser really, he’s trying to bring the family together - in particular the relationship with Samuel and Robbo, who has a very fractious relationship with Samuel. He’s the dark sheep of the family, and Daniel is seen as the golden boy really through Samuel’s eyes. So I think Daniel’s trying to redress that a little bit and bring Robbo into the frame and act as a peacemaker between the two of them.

What does it mean to you filming in Manchester?

I know that Peter says it’s “a love letter to Manchester,” which I think is very true. For my own personal point of view I've done so much work in Manchester it’s been an incredibly important and significant city in my career. I haven’t been back for a few years since I finished filming I think Life On Mars. So it’s lovely to be back. What’s extraordinary is each time I come back, even though it’s been about six years now, how much the city evolves and changes in time. It feels like my adoptive second city.

Bingley Music Live - Final Line Up

Bingley Music Live have announced their final lineup for 2014 and it’s huge. This hidden gem of a festival, now in its eighth year, has ensured the very best of new talent have joined global stars like Example and the legendary Pet Shop Boys.

Nick Mulvey, Woman’s Hour (currently on a European tour supporting Metronomy) and The Mispers, are included in the final additions to this year’s incredible Bingley Music Live – probably the best value for money festival in the country at just £49 for three days.
The festival boasts its biggest ever lineup for 2014. The Pet Shop Boys attendance is a real coup for Bingley Music Live as it is the only UK festival appearance for the six times Grammy nominees in their five mainland UK dates of their Electric World Tour. 

Not only jam packed with some of the biggest acts of today, Bingley Music Live is celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Britpop with acts like Shed Seven, former Supergrass frontman, Gaz Coombes, and Simon and Oscar from Ocean Colour Scene as they deliver amazing acoustic versions of some of the band’s greatest hits.

The very best of new talent is represented this year with acts like MNEK who is on an incredible rise and recognised by just about everyone in the music industry as about to blow up stellar, and Jess Glynne the singer behind two of the biggest hits of the year having appeared on Clean Bandit’s and Route 94’s massive Number Ones.

Guitars are (thankfully) back at Bingley with a charge led by The Strypes, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Eliza and the Bear, Dexters and The Mispers, whilst The Selecter add some class heritage to the lineup that includes pop troubadours Chloe Howl, Bipolar Sunshine and Young Kato. Singer Songwriters Nick Mulvey and Charlie Cunningham now join John Lennon McCullagh on the bill.

The best of the current urban and dance scenes are represented with Sam Smith partner Naughty Boy making an appearance as well as Gorgon City, Etta Bond, Joel Compass.

The festival even has the changeovers covered with sets from Ultimate Power, legendary music journalist Simon Price, Pet Sounds, and Bingley stalwart Joel Young, whilst Goldblade frontman John Robb will compere the event.

The full lineup can be seen at http://www.BingleyMusicLive.com