Wednesday 14 November 2018

Don't miss HAZEL O'CONNOR & BREAKING GLASS - Rare screening of cult film, Q&A AND live performance!


Don't miss HAZEL O'CONNOR & BREAKING GLASS - Rare screening of  the cult film, Q&A AND live performance! Special Meet & Greet  after the show.


Fans of the cult film BREAKING GLASS will be rubbing their hands in glee because this month it's time to enjoy a RARE screening of  cult classic film Breaking Glass as well as a Q&A session with Hazel O'Connor  PLUS  a special live performance from Hazel O'Connor  accompanied by Clare Hirst  ( (Bellestars, Communards, David Bowie) on Sax , Sarah Fisher (Eurythmics) on keyboards and Josh Blackmore (Troyka/Strobes )  on Percussion. ) There will also be a Meet & Greet after the show.

It's Manchester tonight (NOV 14)  rest of the dates below! Don't miss - it will be a night of brilliance. Hear those timeless memorable songs from the film ( including Eighth Day, Will You, Decadent Days etc) 
Image may contain: 2 people, text



Hazel was certainly catapulted into fame in 1980 in the iconic film Breaking Glass, She not only made her lead role her own, but also wrote all the unforgettable songs. The soundtrack to Breaking Glass went double platinum during its 38 week chart run!

Breaking Glass -  starring Hazel O'Connor, Phil Daniels and Jonathan Pryce.  written and directed by Brian Gibson, co-produced by Dodi Fayed

Image result for hazel oconnor breaking glass



Those all-important links:
https://www.hazeloconnor.com
https://twitter.com/hazel_oconnor
https://www.facebook.com/HazelOConnorOfficial/

Image result for hazel oconnor breaking glass

Friday 24 August 2018

Bank HolidayWeekend Blues? Get to NEWARK NOTTS For The Very First 'STONEDEAF' Festival - be there Sat 25th Aug!

        The VERY FIRST Stonedeaf Festival is almost upon us, (SATURDAY 25th August) and it looks like it will be a rockin' roarsome awesome event! This is  going to be a real rockfest for real rock fans and my use of the word real is because this festival intends to keep it real without all the commercialised fancy schmancy that  has crept into other festivals, because this festival is proudly organised by rock fans for rock fans. what's not to like about that?

So who can you see at the inaugural  Stonedeaf  Festival?

Compere   KRUSHER JOULE will be proudly introducing on the Tommy Vance Stage these great acts


*SKID ROW* 

*THE QUIREBOYS*

*WOLFSBANE*

*GRAHAM BONNET BAND*

 *ANVIL*

*MASSIVE WAGONS*

 *HAND OF DIMES*

 *CHROME MOLLY*

 *FALLEN MAFIA*

SKID ROW are ready to ROCK YOU
Hey YOU - come see the QUIREBOYS

Wolfsbane will make you HOWL for more!





There is STILL time to get tickets! 

Neil  one of Stonedeaf's organisers says: About 18 months ago a bunch of us from the Donington Vets page on Facebook started talking about how expensive festivals had become and that whilst they (the festivals) are great fun the music has become the side show.  The heavy rock family spirit has been diluted and we wanted a bit of it back. Stonedeaf was born.

This weekend won’t be huge numbers wise (2000 plus), the stage won’t be the size of a block of flats and it wont be anywhere near the intense and overwhelming experience a lot of us had at the old Monsters Of Rock shows. ...... BUT what we hope it will be is a throwback to that rock community feeling that being a "HEAVY" meant to us all. A show primarily about our love for heavy music and our fellow rockers and not for some sideshow entertainment  :) A festival you can let your hair down at and not care, take a few beers into the arena, not get ripped off, park for free, not be bothered about the size of bag you take in, chat to other rockers and generally chill out like we used to. Old school stuff we all miss.

Its been a rollercoaster ride for all the committee members, production team and volunteers but its now here. It's now only a few days away. If you’re coming then see you soon, if you know of someone still unsure then see what you feel like on Saturday and just jump in your car and pay £50 on the gate. You wont regret it, it's gonna be a blast.

For more info : http://www.stonedeaffestival.co.uk/

Twitter https://twitter.com/Stonedeaf_fest

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/237397456749576/

Posted by Marilyn Michaels  -  Twitter:  @RadioGirlProds

(With thanks to Jenny Duncan of Stonedeaf Fest) Twitter: @jennystonedeaf 

Friday 27 July 2018

Paul Carrack Announces New Album ‘These Days (Sept 2018)’ plus UK tour dates for 2019

How is this for fabulous news??!!

Singer/Songwriter Paul Carrack Announces New Album ‘These Days’, plus UK tour dates (dates listed further below)




Paul Carrack returns with a brand new studio album and is ready to reach new heights with 'These Days’, which will be released on 7th September on his own record label, Carrack-UK. ( available to pre-order on CD & Vinyl. )



In addition to the release of These Days, Paul will embark on an extensive 30-date UK tour for 2019, which begins on 18th January in Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall, and ends on 24th March at The Lowry in Salford.



These Days’ is Paul's 17th album, a run that began way back in 1980, but which has been building real, independent momentum since he formed his record label in 2000 with the landmark 'Satisfy My Soul' album release.



A brief glimpse into the career...

 Paul’s breakthrough moment came when he wrote and sang 'How Long', the much-covered 1974 classic from his days with Ace, and was the voice of 'Tempted' from his tenure with Squeeze. Then came such hits with Mike + the Mechanics as 'The Living Years' and 'Over My Shoulder', the latter a co-write with Mike Rutherford. Not to mention that another co-write, 'Love Will Keep Us Alive', was covered by the Eagles and won a hugely prestigious ASCAP Award as Song of the Year.



Diana Ross, covered Carrack's co-write with Nick Lowe, 'Battlefield', and as an in-demand collaborator, Paul's decades of distinction include sessions with the Smiths, Roxy Music, B.B. King and countless others, culminating in a request from Eric Clapton to join his touring band. That rare honour comes up-to-date in the summer of 2018 with their homecoming performance in London's Hyde Park.



Since the turn of the century, instead of making other artists look great, Paul has quietly built a huge, loyal fan base, an audience that not only devours his albums, but turns out to see his frequent, extensive tours in their thousands. He's done that the only way he knows; making high-quality, accessible pop-soul with unmissable hooks and lyrics that say something about all of our lives.



That's truer than ever on 'These Days'. The album's stunning line-up features Paul on keyboards and guitar and regular bandmate Jeremy Meek on bass, joined by Robbie McIntosh (Paul McCartney, Pretenders, Norah Jones, John Mayer) on lead guitar and drummer Steve Gadd, Paul's Eric Clapton bandmate who has graced the work of everyone from Steely Dan to James Taylor.



As if their exemplary playing wasn't enough, the album's horn section is hand-picked and overseen by the mighty Pee Wee Ellis, the American saxophone ace who was an integral part of James Brown's shows and records of the vintage 'Cold Sweat' era. Five tracks on 'These Days' have lyrics by Paul's friend, former Squeeze bandmate and consummate wordsmith Chris Difford.



As usual, the new songs started in Carrack's home studio, but they came to life in a different and exciting way this time. “I don't write a song and then do a demo,” he explains. “It's a little nugget of an idea and I start messing about with it, chipping away and it becomes something. Usually, that's completed and that becomes the album.



In this case, I took a lot of the songs quite a way, but then we decided we wanted to make it a bit more performance-based and with some other influences. I've been playing with Eric for about five years now, and I just mentioned it to Steve Gadd, was it something he might be interested in, and he was very keen.”



When Gadd said he'd be coming through the UK on the way home from a European tour with Chick Corea, Paul seized the moment and booked into Air Studios in London for three days to cut a dozen tracks as a band, before taking it back to his home studio.



Plenty of the songs, from the title track to 'Where Does The Time Go', 'The Best I Could' and 'Dig Deep' strike a glass-half-full, pensive mood about the long road travelled and the adventures still to come. “When I think about it, we've come a long, long way,” as Paul sings on the typically catchy and beguiling 'Amazing'.



There was another moment of reflection when Carrack came to choose the striking cover image for the album, as he rifled through a box of his late father's photographs. “When you go through these things, you realise you've come a hell of a long way,” he muses. The gorgeous image is of Paul's brother. “That's us on holiday,” he says. “We're living it large there; I think it's probably the Isle of Wight. Man, that was exotic back in the day. We had pretty humble beginnings.”



These Days’ is grown-up pop music made by, and for, people who've had the ups and downs that life unfailingly provides. “It's about getting to an age, and appreciating what you've got,” says Carrack. “I hope it will resonate with people who are going through the same stuff. It's not being frightened of it, and just trying to enjoy it.”


The full list of Paul Carrack’s European tour dates are as follows:


2018



19 Aug            Henley-on-Thames      Rewind South                        



13 Oct             Enschede, NL             Muziekcentrum Enschede      



14 Oct             Amsterdam, NL          Theater CarrĂ©             



15 Oct             Zwolle, NL                 Theater De Spiegel                 



17 Oct             Arnhem, NL                Musis Parkzaal Arnhem         



18 Oct             Eindhoven, NL           Muziekgebouw Frits Philips  







2019  Tour Dates



18 Jan              Liverpool                     Philharmonic Hall                              



19 Jan             Liverpool                     Philharmonic Hall                              



20 Jan              Leeds                          Leeds Town Hall                   



25 Jan              Birmingham                Symphony Hall                      



26 Jan              York                            The Barbican                          



27 Jan              Gateshead                   The Sage                                            



01 Feb             Perth                            Perth Concert Hall                             



02 Feb             Hull                             Hull City Hall            



03 Feb             Cambridge                  Corn Exchange                                  



08 Feb             Bournemouth             Pavilion                                              



09 Feb             Plymouth                     Pavilions                                 



10 Feb             Swansea                      Brangwyn Hall                                   



14 Feb             Nottingham                 Royal Concert Hall                



15 Feb             Milton Keynes            Milton Keynes Theatre          



16 Feb             Margate                       Winter Gardens                      



22 Feb             Edinburgh                   Edinburgh Festival Theatre    



23 Feb             Dunfermline                Alhambra Theatre                  



24 Feb             Glasgow                      Royal Concert Hall                



01 Mar             Southend                     Cliffs Pavilion            



02 Mar             London                       London Palladium                 



03 Mar             Birmingham                Symphony Hall 



08 Mar             Guildford                    G Live                        



09 Mar             Aylesbury                    Waterside Theatre                              



10 Mar             Cardiff                        St David’s Hall                      



14 Mar             Sheffield                     City Hall                                



15 Mar             Leicester                      De Montfort Hall                               



16 Mar             Brighton                      Brighton Centre                                 



22 Mar             Middlesbrough            Middlesbrough Town Hall                 



23 Mar             Harrogate                    Convention Centre                             



24 Mar             Salford                        The Lowry                 







Tickets for all dates are available to buy at www.paulcarrack.net/tour/ .





‘These Days’ track listing:



1. Amazing

2. Life In A Bubble

3. In The Cold Light Of Day

4. Dig Deep

5. These Days

6. You Make Me Feel Good

7. Tell Somebody Who Cares

8. Where Does The Time Go?

9. Talk To Me

10. Perfect Storm

11. The Best I Could





Twitter:  @PCarrack 

Facebook : facebook.com/carrack.net

Posted by Marilyn Michaels   - Twitter @RadioGirlProds

(with thanks to Dave from Planet Earth Publicity. )

KAISER CHIEFS play WINDSOR – Race Course Saturday 25th August 2018!





Brit Award winners Kaiser Chiefs are back this Summer for an action packed day out performing at Windsor – Racecourse on Saturday 25th August.




  Dance into the evening to the fabulous Kaiser Chiefs in concert for an action packed day out!   Here is a  gig not to be missed…..



Tickets for the WINDSOR – Race Course show are available from:



Saturday 25th August 2018   

WINDSOR – Racecourse

Box Office No:  0844 249 1000

Website – http://www.vmstickets.co.uk/

Gates Open – 4.00pm

Ticket price - £39.00



For further information on KAISER CHIEFS, check out below and  the following websites / social media links:


Website – http://www.kaiserchiefs.com


Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kaiserchiefs


Twitter -  https://twitter.com/KaiserChiefs   


You Tube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/KaiserChiefs  


“Kaiser Chiefs have done rather well out of having ideas above our station,” decides frontman Ricky Wilson, “Making our first album, we weren’t trying to be the best indie band in Leeds. We weren’t even just competing with guitar bands. Almost by accident, we were competing with Girls Aloud”.

Funny how things turn out. Fast-forward through the years and the girlband have split, reformed and split again. Kaiser Chiefs, meanwhile, have managed to lose only one member and presented multiple albums

. “Groups are often at war — with their label, their management, with each other — and you can’t write great material when you’re like that.” 

Tracks such as  Oh My God kick-started a run of hits that also includes I Predict A Riot, Everyday I Love You Less And Less, Never Miss A Beat and the Number One single Ruby.

Mercury nominated debut album Employment propelled the band to three Brit Awards wins and its successor, Yours Truly, Angry Mob, went twice-platinum in the UK alone. 

Then, of course, came 'The Wobble', including the departure of founding member Nick Hodgson. The pop history books all warn us that this should have signposted the end of the band on a creative and commercial level

Most sane people would have given up,”  says Ricky, but in a chapter of the Kaiser Chiefs story that might as well be titled Escape From Indie Landfill, Ricky appeared on primetime television as a coach on The Voice.

Shortly afterwards the band’s fifth album Education, Education, Education & War became their first Number One in seven years. When it did so, Ricky tweeted: “I love it when a plan comes together.”

It’s tempting to place all the credit on Ricky’s increased UK media profile, but that doesn’t explain the album also becoming Kaiser Chiefs’ first Number One in New Zealand, and the highest-charting of their career in the US.

We suddenly thought, wow, we weren’t dead weight after all,” Ricky laughs. “It was about proving it to ourselves as much as to anyone else. Thinking about it now, that success was all about turning the boat around”.



“We might never get to the point where we can sit in an armchair with our arms behind our heads and go: ‘lads, we’ve done it’. But at the same time, maybe that’s why,  later, Kaiser Chiefs are still here”.




Posted by Marilyn Michaels  -  follow on Twitter: @RadiogirlProds  https://twitter.com/RadioGirlProds

( With thanks to  Maria of MP Promotions )











































































Thursday 26 July 2018

THE LEVELLERS SHOWS CANCELLED THIS WEEKEND (JULY 28/29) DUE TO SINGER MARK CHADWICK ILLNESS


LEVELLERS – Hull Zebedee’s Yard show cancelled this weekend.


No band ever likes to cancel a show , but health comes first.  Get well soon Mark! 

JUST ANNOUNCED :

short notice cancellation of Levellers  show in Hull on Saturday July 28 and at the Y Not Festival on Sunday July 29 - due to frontman Mark Chadwick falling ill.





An announcement from the Levellers:


"Sadly we are going to have to cancel our shows this weekend - in Hull on Saturday, and we will not be performing at the Y Not Festival on Sunday.  Mark Chadwick is unwell and it’s become clear over the last 48hrs that he needs more time to recover - he will not be well enough to perform this weekend. 
Refunds will be available from your point of purchase for the show in Hull, we are not able to reschedule the date. Thank you for your understanding, apologies from us and we’ll let you know as soon as we have any further updates. x

Levellers website: https://www.levellers.co.uk/  https://www.levellers.co.uk/news

INFO From INNER CITY LIVE:
From all of us at InnerCityLive & VMS Live we wish Mark all the best and speedy recovery.



TICKETING

As a result of the cancellation of their appearance by the Levellers on Saturday July 28th at Inner City Live in Hull we are unfortunately cancelling this event and ticket refunds will be made for ticket holders from point of purchase, however, if you would prefer tickets for any of our future Inner City Live events in August for shows with the Happy Mondays & Peter Hook & The Light (August 24th) or The Wombats & The Rifles (August 26th) please contact your ticket agent, these tickets are subject to availability and any variation between the face value of each ticket will be need to met by the customer.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter.  - ends


----- Thanks to Maria at MP Promotions for the heads up .---

Marilyn Michaels
Twitter: @RadioGirlProds

Monday 2 July 2018

UK temperatures will soar for the next four weeks



The UK is not somewhere we usually think of when it comes to a 'heatwave' but even so, we are set to bake and bask in the sun for around another four weeks according to weather forecasters  who are expecting 'very little rain and high temperatures throughout the month',

 There is a heightened risk of grass and forest fires as the hot temperatures continue to soar. At Saddleworth Moor, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are still tackling blazes  dozens of fire crews and soldiers remain on the hills between Tameside and Oldham as the enormous moor fire continues.


 Hosepipe bans are already in place in some areas such as Northern Ireland where householders have been banned from using hosepipes to water  flowers and lawns and face fines of up to £1,000 if caught. doing so. (The use of watering cans is still allowed )

 These bans are likely to spread to other parts of the UK.  It is vital we all try to conserve water., a sensible approach means taking measures such as not leaving the tap running while you are brushing your teeth, taking a quick shower instead of a bath and watering your garden with rain from a water butt can make a huge difference to water supply levels. Water is precious. We can not waste it.

(c) Marilyn Michaels 2018






Thursday 10 May 2018

Wilko Johnson - New album 'Blow Your Mind' - live show at Manchester Academy May 12 2018

(photo: Richard Young Rex )



"Wilko may not be as famous as some other guitarists, but he's right up there. And there are a lot of people who'll say the same. I can hear Wilko in lots of places. It's some legacy." - Paul Weller















The original Dr Feelgood guitarist known for his incredible distinctive chopping guitar style.  Wilko had gone on to find further success with Ian Dury & The Blockheads and after teaming up with Roger Daltrey on 2014’s Going Back Home.  An album of the year it featured reworkings of songs from Wilko’s Dr Feelgood days such as ‘All Through The City’ and ‘Going Back Home’.


 In Sept 2017, Wilko celebrated his 70th birthday by playing a sold-out show at the world famous Albert Hall in London.

I’m supposed to be dead!’  - In 2012  Wilko was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Despite the doctors’ worst predictions, he continued to perform.  In 2013, Wilko announced that thanks to a second opinion and subsequent life-saving surgery, he was cancer-free.



Recently  Wilko  & I braved telephone technical traumas* to have a chat about his forthcoming new album Blow Your Mind (out June 15th) and his May tour (with Hugh Cornwell and a host of others as special guests ) (*Ok, suffice to say HE braved it, I got rather flustered and ended up nervous, as there is nothing worse when trying to do an interview by phone, and there are problems with said phone! Upside to that was I got an impromptu lesson in breathing exercises, so can add that next to getting my rain-soaked hair towel dried by James Brown & his bodyguards at Glastonbury, filed under Weirdly Wonderful Interview Moments ;-) )

This interview aired on Radio Deeside May 7th 2018 and variations of it will be airing on a couple of other radio stations, a full transcript is forthcoming but for now, enjoy a taster below :

MM:   You're about to embark on a tour in May, this tour is obviously to promote your new album: Blow Your Mind, are you looking forward to the tour? 
WJ:  I just really like playing you know. I'm just really glad to be out doing gigs. We've just done a tour of Finland, we were putting in the new songs from the new album and going very good, yeah that's what it's about for me. Finland, now there's a place, I like it there, very very mysterious.
 MM: This album (Blow Your Mind) is the first one in thirty years?
WJ:   (starts laughing) You see that's what they're saying after roughly asking me how many records, I mean I haven't made many records right, and I think I forgot 2 or 3, (laughs) so they worked out it's been 30 years but maybe it just feels that way!

'We did it in November, in 2 weeks, using more or less the same  kind of set up that we used for the Roger Daltrey album, and yeah we just bashed it out in 2 weeks, it takes so long for them to actually make it into a record,but I;m very very pleased with it'' - Wilko Johnson on 'Blow Your Mind'  
MM: You mention the Roger Daltrey record, that was 'Going Back Home', that was 2014, what was that like to work on? 
WJ:  That whole album is really strange to me you know, because I was expecting to die of cancer, they told me I had 10 months, I think it was in  the 11th month, Roger got in touch with me and said 'let's do this album' so we just went and did it. I never even thought I would see it released, then, in fact, it was enormously successful, most of which I missed because by then I'd had my operation and  I was lying in hospital in a stupour, so I kind of missed it all so that whole album is kind of strange, good though!





WJ:  I remember arriving at  Heathrow airport from somewhere or other  and we were just driving out of the airport and there was these huge hoardings for the new HBO series, and there was one for Game Of Thrones:  a big picture of Sean Bean's face , and then looming in the background is my glorious self (laughs)   - Wilko Johnson on Game Of Thrones

Catch Wilko Johnson and special guests at Manchester Academy Saturday May 12. 

WILKO JOHNSON
with special guests
HUGH CORNWELL (band)
MIKE SWEENEY & THE SALFORD JETS
& MOLLIE MARRIOTT
MANCHESTER – Academy 1 on Saturday 12th May 2018!

R&B legend Wilko Johnson plays Manchester – Academy 1 on Saturday 12th May with special guests Hugh Cornwell & Band, Mike Sweeney & The Salford Jets and Mollie Marriott and more tbc.

Wilko Johnson Links:

Website http://wilkojohnson.com  Twitter @WilkoJohnson  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WilkoJohnsonBand


HUGH CORNWELL & BAND
www.hughcornwell.com


Hugh Cornwell is one of the UK's finest songwriting talents and accomplished live performers. As the original guitarist, singer and main songwriter in the British rock band The Stranglers, he's enjoyed massive success with 10 hit albums and 21 Top Forty singles, etching himself into Europe and the USA's musical psyche with classic songs, including Peaches, No More Heroes, Golden Brown, Nice N’ Sleazy, Always the Sun and Duchess.

This electric band performance will feature songs spanning his career from early Stranglers to the current day.

MIKE SWEENEY & THE SALFORD JETS

Classic old skool post punk rock whose single 'Who You Looking At' was global hit across the whole of Manchester in the 1980s as well as breaking the band in the national charts.  The band reformed in 2003, still fronted by the mighty Mike Sweeney - vocals, guitar and former Piccadilly Radio DJ (now broadcasting on BBC Radio Manchester), and Diccon Hubbard on bass and vocals.


MOLLIE MARRIOTT
www.molliemarriott.com 


Having supported and backed some of the best rock stars in the industry including Robert Plant, The Faces, Mark Knopfler and Paul Weller, Mollie  is set to take the industry by storm with her debut album Truth Is A Wolf later this year.








Tickets available from:

MANCHESTER – Academy 1
Box Office No – 0161 832 1111
Doors – 4.30pm  /  On-Stage from 5.00pm
Tickets - £25.00 advanc