> BARBARA DICKSON LIVE

Medina Theatre, IoW
11 March 2020

In this special acoustic performance, Barbara Dickson and pianist Nick Holland explored her catalogue of songs at an intimate level. The pair let the words and melodies take ‘centre stage’ as they performed a wonderful range of material drawing on Barbara’s folk roots, contemporary greats, and some of her classic hits.

Emerging from the Scottish folk scene of the late 1960’s, Barbara had enjoyed mainstream chart success with hits including ‘Answer Me’, ‘Another Suitcase in Another Hall’, ‘Caravan’ and the million-selling number one single, ‘I Know Him So Well’. Nick Holland joined Barbara’s touring band in the mid 2000’s playing keyboards and they have recently started working as a ‘duo’ where she plays guitar and piano, with Nick adding keys and harmonies to Barbara’s own wonderful vocals.

A lovely evening of songs and storytelling from Barbara and Nick. The duo kept the small, but enthusiastic audience enthralled with their beautiful stripped back arrangements. I was also impressed with the team and facilities at the Medina Theatre, a really good contemporary performance space with a surprisingly good sound system too! Top night out!

10 out of 10

> A STORY OF INDIA

Southern India
18 Oct - 1 Nov 2019

One of the oldest civilisations in the world, India is a mosaic of multicultural experiences. With a rich heritage and a myriad of attractions, this country is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. We pack our bags, open our minds and head off - for a once in a lifetime opportunity to get to know the real Story of India!

We enjoyed a truly unforgettable holiday with Carl and Annette. Spectacular scenery, incredible food, amazing experiences and beautiful people. What more could you wish for?

Full itinerary to follow soon.

10 out of 10

> ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL 2019

Isle of Wight
14 - 16 June 2019

The Isle of Wight Festival 2019 - for a magical moment the Island throbs to the sound of popular music from across the charts. Firm favourites, old rockers, local bands and even some new electronic acts cross the Solent to entertain the crowds. We love it!

This has been our second festival weekend. The weather was good and the crowds were up for a fantastic festival weekend. We popped along Friday evening to enjoy the dance acts in the Big Top. Sigala and Jax Jones pumped out their chart bangers while Freya Ridings kept the fans happy with her grown up songs and ballads. On Saturday we enjoyed Picture this in the Big Top. The main stage was also really good - George Ezra did a great set, as did Bastille. Fatboy Slim certainly had the loudest set and some amazing production too, a great end to a fun day. Sunday was a little more relaxed with the wonderful Sigrid on the main stage... we drifted for the rest of the day, enjoying some local bands and general people watching while walking about with a pint of cider. Another fun festival and great to bump into so many friends too.

10 out of 10

> A NIGHT AT THE MUSICALS

Soho Theatre, London
23 March 2019

The Soho Theatre - A Night at the Musicals is a tortured love letter to the glorious genre of musical theatre. High glamah, intense silliness, divine costumes and raggedy choreography are guaranteed in a night you’ll never remember!

Le Gateau Chocolat and Jonny Woo - Dubbed the ‘Ebony and Ivory of drag’ by the Australian press. Olivier winning star of La Clique & La Soirée, these two return home to London to finish their award winning sold out world tour. Hilarious hi jinks and shady shenanigans abound as they ‘Les Misérmassacre’ all the musicals you know and love. Le Gateau Chocolat and Jonny Woo dragged us through the back catalogue of fabulous musicals for a raucous night of ballsy ballads, delightful duets and slaughtered show tunes. From Gypsy to Grease, Annie to Lion King – no show was safe.

Brilliant fun and lovely to be back in the centre of Soho...

9 out of 10

> KATE SIMKO: OPUS 1

Barbican Hall, London
27 Nov 2018

Kate Simko and Jamie Jones: Opus 1 - Club culture infiltrates the concert hall as Jamie Jones and Kate Simko present OPUS 1 – a collaborative performance that brings together a live orchestra with electronics. 

This amazing evening at the Barbican saw an expanded 25-piece version of Kate Simko’s London Electronic Orchestra perform new material and recomposed originals, with Jones on electronics and the London Contemporary Orchestra’s Robert Ames acting as conductor. With DJ Jamie Jones regarded as a true innovator of his pursuit, and Kate Simko possessing a truly unique background in both Chicago house music and the classical sphere, this collaboration promises to be a genre-defying spectacle.

Tonight I went solo! Dave was Island bound (and I missed him so)... luckily, I was working in London, a quick trip east to the Barbican was easy for me. Fabulous show, lovely sounds - classical and beats... a match made in heaven.

10 out of 10

> LONDON CULTURE CATCH UP

London
16-18 Nov 2018

After Benidorm Live, we need a more sophisticated hit. It's time for a London culture blast!

There is always so much culture to enjoy in our Capital City. We decide to book a weekend in town to catch up on a few of the must-see's. We stay up in town Friday night and enjoy a very raucous session at Piano on Kensington High Street... Amy and Robert treat us to a fantastic eve.

We are running behind schedule... Saturday morning is a little slow due to all the fun we had the night before. Eventually we get going and head straight to our first culture hot spot...

Inside Oceania at the RA 

At the RA - Oceania
Marking 250 years since Cook’s first voyage to the Pacific, this amazing show celebrates the dazzling and diverse art of the region of Oceania, from the historic to the contemporary. Oceania brings together around 200 exceptional works from public collections worldwide, and spans over 500 years. From shell, greenstone and ceramic ornaments, to huge canoes and stunning god images, the show explores important themes of voyaging, place making and encounter. The exhibition draws from rich historic ethnographic collections dating from the 18th century to the present, and includes seminal works produced by contemporary artists exploring history, identity and climate change.

A brilliant show from the team at the RA... amazing production and some wonderful artifacts too.

Later in the day we stroll up towards Charlotte Street and enjoy a pizza before heading to our next culture hot spot...

 TOM

At the Sadlers Wells - Lilian Baylis studio, Wilkie Branson - TOM
Set in a hinterland between the civilised world and the wilderness, TOM tells the story of one man’s journey to rediscover who he really is. TOM is a dance for camera installation created by award-winning choreographer, film-maker and New Wave Associate Wilkie Branson. In this new work, Wilkie explores storytelling using the hip hop language of b-boying, bringing it together with cutting-edge technologies including animation, projection mapping and sound design.

An incredibly moving piece of immersive,  projected film... stunning stuff indeed.

10 out of 10

> KYLIE GOES GOLDEN

The O2, London
28 September 2018

Kylie Minogue - This year, the princess of POP went golden. It's her 50th year, and her latest album is a country-pop sensation. Kylie knows how to satisfy her fans... BIG TIME!

Another fabulous show from the Princess of Pop. Beautiful styling, elegant choreography and sparkly stetsons... what more could you possibly want from a night out at the O2? Kylie, as always, sang her little heart out. A good mix of classics and strong new songs made for a enjoyable set list too! Some nice new reworkings sat well with the 'pop-country' feel of the evening... a nice way to end the summer!

Kylie turns on the Lasers!

Saturday the 28th - We decided to make the most of being in London and catch up on a bit of culture. One of our favourite Galleries, the Haywood, on the South bank is always a great space to visit. 

Space Shifters is a major group exhibition of sculptures and installations that explores perception and space.Featuring 20 artists and spanning a period of roughly 50 years, the exhibition included innovative, minimalist sculpture from the 1960s as well as recent works that extend the legacy of this ‘optical’ minimalism in different ways. It also featured new commissions that have been made in response to the architecture of the Hayward Gallery. Many of the artworks in this exhibition have been constructed from translucent materials such as glass, acrylic and polyester resins. Others involve the use of reflective materials, including stainless steel, polished bronze and, in one case, engine oil. Luscious and seductive – and often demonstrating huge technical accomplishment – these objects act as optical devices that enable us to see our surroundings in new and unexpected ways. In bringing together artworks that activate our perception of Hayward’s unique building, Space Shifters provided a dramatic and fitting conclusion to the gallery’s 50th anniversary year.

Alicja Kwade - WeltenLinie, 2017

10 out of 10

> ALICANTE SUNSHINE

Alicante, Spain
9-16 July 2018

Alicante - A quick trip over to Spain to chill in the warm sunshine... Alicante has it all! Turquoise waters, blue skys, yellow sandy beaches ... and every other colour in between.

REPORT TO BE POSTED SOON!

10 out of 10

> ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL 2018

Seaclose Park, Newport IOW
21-24 June 2018

The Isle of Wight festival 2018 - it's the Festivals' BIG Birthday... we go along to help celebrate 50 fabulous years, and it's our first time too... Why did we leave it so long?

The Isle of wight festival is a thing of legends! Starting in 1968, stories of this festival are still being told, back then - there was only10,000 party people in attendance... The modern festival has been running since 2002 and now attracts audiences of 60,000+, it's only taken us 16 years to catch up!

We enjoyed two days of wonderful music in the sunshine! AND... all this just a twenty minute bus ride from home!

Here are the artists we rocked-out with over the weekend:
Saturday 23rd -  Tokio Myers, Various DJ's around the Cirgue de la quirk area, a selection of great bands in the Kashmir Cafe, curated by Quay Arts. Also heard a bit of Soul II Soul, we really wanted to enjoy Hacienda Classical but they were on way past our bedtime!

Sunday 24th - Hurts, sounding fab as ever, a few tunes from Sheryl Crow, and a smattering from Camila Cabello. Some great artists in the Kashmir Cafe. Lany in the Big Top then Sigrid at sunset - AMAZING!

10 out of 10

> 100% SCOOTER

Brixton Academy, London
6th May 2018

Scooter -  the bouncy German techno group that have been making hardcore dance floors smile for more than 2 decades hit London... 25 years wild and wicked and no sign of slowing down yet!

It's a hot sunny day in London, what better way to cool down than with a room full of happy hardcore dance fans?? Yep, 100% Scooter certainly is a fun way to bounce yourself silly for a couple of hours. Thank you to Viqui for organising the tickets and to Andy for making the journey all the way from Prague. (Thanks to Dave also for escorting me to Brixton ;-)

All the hits, all the bonkers lyrics and all the big phat base lines, synth chords and borrowed bits from some of the biggest dance tunes in history. It can only be Scooter wild and wicked! May there be 25 more years of insanity!

Before the gig, we had a bite to eat and a drink at Pop Brixton... urban cool in the sweltering City! Earlier in the day, we took a trip to our favourite old stomping ground in London, Greenwich Park... This place always feels like home, it was for 10 years! So special to be back!

10 out of 10

> LAURIE McVAY LIVE

Ventnor, Isle of Wight
24th March 2018

The Ventnor Arts Club - One of our Island's finest cultural hot spots... this beautiful venue is cool, relaxed and brimming with live Music, Performance and Atmosphere. Laurie McVay kept things town-tempo and very, very chilled.

We never say no to an opportunity to enjoy a bit of Ventnor time! Great to be able to share our favourite Island town with good friends Carl and Annette. We all love our music!, very happy we were able to enjoy the laid-back set from Laurie McVay in the stunning surroundings of the Ventnor arts Club. A perfect chilled eve!

Laurie McVay at the Ventnor Arts Club

10 out of 10

> ALISON MOYET LIVE

O2 Guildhall, Southampton
28 November 2017

Alison Moyet - The Lady with the 'big voice' and epic back-catalogue hits Southampton. We enjoy a trip down memory-lane and discover new wonders too.

Geneviève Alison Jane Moyet is a wonderful wordsmith. Dark in places, her songs are all very special, they tell stories.

I have loved Alison's voice for many years. Starting with Yazoo in 1982, the 21 year old was the perfect vocalist and writer to balance the synths of Vince Clark. Her solo career started with the release of 'Alf' in 1984, since then she has created a wonderfully rich body of work. 'Other', her latest album was released in 2017 - the story continues!

This live show was fantastic. A hefty mix of classics stood-up well against more recent compositions. The production and design of the show was minimal - with a very atmospheric edge... dramatic lighting and a beautifully balanced sound system helped. Drama and energy in every song... Simply brilliant! The support for our eve was Hannah Peel. This Northern Irish singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger is a fabulous find... Also, look out for her alta-ego Mary Casio!

10 out of 10

> VINTAGE TROUBLE

The De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill
2nd June 2017

Vintage Trouble are an American soul and blues-rock four-piece. Reminiscent of Chuck Berry and Otis Redding, this California-based band give old-school soul music a new lease of life and certainly know how to rock a venue...

We enjoy a wonderful trip down to Bexhill and funk out to Vintage Trouble. Our chums Carl and Annette gave us the nod re this band, they are official 'trouble makers'. The seriously funky foursome raised the roof at the beautiful De La Warr Pavilion. Ty Taylor, the charismatic front Man, whipped his adoring audience into a frothing, funking frenzy... Fantastic! 

Here is some info about the band:
Vocalist Ty Taylor and guitarist Nalle Colt, friends of over 14 years, had regularly played together before forming Vintage Trouble in 2010. With the addition of mutual friend and bassist Rick Barrio Dill and drummer Richard Danielson, the group began recording in their own D.I.Y home studio in Venice Beach, California. Soon after, Vintage Trouble began playing local dates and late night speakeasies, delivering their brand of ’50’s soul and blues music that owes as much to Otis Redding as it does The Rolling Stones. Following three days of intense recording the group released their debut output “The Bomb Shelter Sessions” in July 2011.

In an attempt to make a name and history for themselves, the group headed to Europe and landed shows opening for Brian May and Bon Jovi on their huge arena tours. The shows raised Vintage Trouble’s international profile, as did an appearance on “Later… with Jools Holland” in early 2011. The band’s debut full-length subsequently rose to No. 13 on the iTunes Best Selling Digital Albums Chart.

Following shows opening for The Who in North America and Europe, the band released the album “The Swing House Acoustic Session” in 2014. More high-profile shows followed including supporting Paloma Faith and AC/DC before the band returned to the studio to release “1 Hopeful Rd.” in August 2015. The rest, as they say, is history... (in the making)...

> Earlier that same day, we enjoyed a quick visit to RHS Wisley. Always a favourite, this riot of colour, form and clever planting continues to blow our socks off... We will never tire of this important horticultural hot spot!

Beautiful Aliums at RHS Wisley

Prickly wonders in the Glass House

The spectacular Mysore trumpet vine

 The dream like Jade vine (and Dave)...

10 out of 10 for both!