By Joy McKay Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story was one of the very first ‘Jukebox Musicals’ premiering in 1989. It is part biopic, part gig and 100% celebration of the incredible and tragically short career of the Incongruously bespectacled Rock ‘n’ Roll legend Buddy Holly. After six years the...
Entertainment Reviews
Review: The Isle of Wight Festival, 2023
Words by Nick Mabey (Friday) & Lewis MacLean (Saturday & Sunday). Additional reporting by Paula Wilson. Main image by Chloe Hashemi. Friday by Nick Mabey. Friday at the festival and Newport was rocking. The sun shone, the crowds swarmed, everything was as it should be. For me it...
Review: Isle of Wight Festival, Friday 16 June
by Nick Mabey. A Different Class Friday at the festival and Newport was rocking. The sun shone, the crowds swarmed, everything was as it should be. For me it was all about Jarvis Cocker but more of that later. First things first; a minor rant. For package holiday makers,...
Review: Arctic Monkeys, Ageas Bowl, Southampton – June 14
by Nick Mabey. On Tuesday at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton, Arctic Monkeys were in town bringing sun, great music, and Alex Turner’s iconic Sheffield strut. Crowds arrived early and in massive numbers to enjoy everything the evening had to offer. The food may have been a little overpriced but...
Review: The King and I, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, 13 June 2023
By Catherine Collins I remember singing along whilst watching the film, The King and I, on the TV as a child, so I was excited to be in the audience when it opened at Mayflower Theatre tonight. Set in 1860s Bangkok, The King and I tells the story of the unconventional...
Review: Wish you were Dead, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, June 6
by Nick Mabey. Shaun Mckenna’s adaptation of Peter James’ latest DCI Grace novel is an enjoyable romp in the French countryside. Our protagonist takes his young family and their friend/nanny on a much needed holiday, only to find themselves stuck in a dark, almost gothic chambre-d’hote, whose owners are...
Review: My Morning Jacket at Kentish Town Forum
Words: Tom Williams. Image: Austin Nelson. Note-perfect performance from Jim James and band “There will be bigotry,” sings My Morning Jacket’s Jim James “And there will be open minds”. He’s not wrong, and even the crowd for tonight’s show demonstrates as much; nine tenths of those at Kentish Town...
Review: Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, 31 May 2023
The new musical adaptation of Winnie the Pooh – which opened at Mayflower Theatre today – brings Pooh, Piglet, Kanga, Roo, Owl, and Tigger, to the stage. Deep in the Hundred Acre Wood, a new adventure is about to begin as we join Pooh and friends on a series...
Review: Leftfield, Bournemouth O2 Academy, May 27th 2023
Leftfield in Bournemouth: Hauntology, not nostalgia Words by Tom Williams. Image by Steve Gullick. Leftfield are one of a handful of acts who I got into largely because their ‘Leftism’ album- with its distinctive shark’s jaws cover- appeared in the CD collections of slightly older, much cooler friends when...
Creative Connections exhibition – Southampton City Art Gallery
by Martin Brisland. Last night (May 25th) saw more than 250 people attended the launch of the Creative Connections exhibition at Southampton City Art Gallery. This is a National Portrait Gallery led project to explore the city through portraiture and runs until 30 September. The standard is excellent and...