ANTHEMIC classics such as Baggy Trousers by Madness and Watching the Detectives by Elvis Costello are set to be aired at Worcester's Marrs Bar tonight as rockers Funky Skunk take to the stage. The seven-piece band consists of members from many a local
MUSIC fans can be prepared to be blown away as a couple of stars, whose careers have spanned the decades ,take to the stage at Worcester's Huntingdon Hall. American singer-songwriter Janis Ian began playing piano at the tender age of two-and-a-half, taking
FANS of talented rock artist Van Morrison, pictured below, will be delighted to hear he is booked in to play Cheltenham this month. The legendary musician - who has had a string of hits over his 30-plus-year career including Gloria and Have I Told You
THE sounds of Black Country comedy and music will be heading to Worcester this month as the city's Huntingdon Hall plays host to a couple of big-name acts. The cream of Black Country entertainment will be appearing at the venue on Friday, September 17
NEIGHBOURS are set to lock horns as underdogs Droitwich Spa RFC take on hot favourites Bromsgrove in the quarter finals of the North Midlands Cup. Relegation threatened Droitwich face an uphill task if they are to book their place in the semi-finals by
UP-and-coming Worcester band Rainmaker are looking to create a storm on the music scene with their explosive new sound. The three-piece rock 'n' roll band formed in January this year after 24-year-old drummer Jamie May, from Perdiswell, Worcester, received
Stourport Swifts 2 Bromsgrove Rovers 1 BROMSGBROVE'S five game unbeaten run in the league was brought to an abrupt halt by a youthful Swifts side containing several Bromsgrove old boys on January 3. Former Rover Mark Atkinson was a mini-marvel for the
THERE were a few dishevelled figures wandering among the giant foam footballers and ever-present waft of hot dogs on Sunday morning. Big Brovaz, The Divine Comedy, and Athlete were the first three bands to open Sunday's festival on the V Stage. They were
Fairfield Villa 2 Littleton 1 STRIKER Lloyd Dawkins marked his return to the Recreation Ground by scoring the winning goal in January 3's battle. Dawkins, on his debut since returning from his unsuccessful move to Barnt Green Spartak, fired home the winner
TWO exciting music names have announced live gig dates at Wolverhampton Civic Hall. Finnish rockers The Rasmus and cool cats Franz Ferdinand will both be playing at the venue on separate autumn tour dates. The Rasmus, whose music has been described as
A WORLD class British jazz singer will be joined by a trio of top musicians when a special charity night is held to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief. Vocalist Lee Gibson will be accompanied by pianist Geoff Eales, bassist Roy Babbington and drummer
IT was great to see the young folk of Kidderminster Operatic and Dramatic Society's youth section (KODYS) so obviously enjoying themselves while entertaining us last week. This was a shortened version of the Gilbert and Sullivan favourite, but most of
A HARD House DJ competition is gearing up for its final round at Worcester's Caesar's Nightclub. Three DJs beat of stiff competition from 12 other contestants when the first round of the event took place a fortnight ago. Now it will be all hands to the
ALL eyes will be on Birmingham this Sunday when a boy band search for a fourth male singer, to release a charity single. New boy band All Eyes, will be in The Bull Ring from 10am. They are set to release their first single, She's A Vision, in October
WORCESTERSHIRE-based groove-rock band The Fever are rehearsing for their latest tour of Midlands' venues. The band consists of Neil Ivison on vocals and guitar, George Elliott on bass and vocals, Adam Barry on organ and piano and Lee on drums. They have
WHO can forget classic rock ballads such as Summer Of 69, and Heaven? Well, Bryan Adams, singer of the above chant-along hits will be returning to The NEC Arena for a live show of such hits on Tuesday, October 26. Bryan Adams' career spans more than 25
ELKIE Brooks, whose career took off after supporting The Beatles on the early 1960s, will be the star name on the bill when she plays on the first night of the Worcester Festival. Elkie who embraces rock ballads, blues and jazz, is the biggest-selling
ON Friday night, after Duncan Honeybourne's performance of his Piano Sonata number one, composer John Joubert commented: "That was exactly right" - praise indeed. And that phrase sums up the entire programme, which was well-balanced, mixed between popular
THE Relics will take people on a trip down memory lane when they play music from the 60s and 70s in aid of Cancer Research. The four-piece will be playing at The Vine pub, Ombersley Road, Worcester on Sunday at 7.30pm. Admission is free, and there will
THE best New Year's resolution parents can make this January is to be on the lookout for head lice, Worcestershire residents are being told. This time of year is when head lice are most commonly transmitted, and parents are urged to look for them and
ANYONE who did not enjoy Saturday's concert must be very hard to please. We enjoyed a relaxed evening of music-making, featuring not only our Valentines, but the Blaenavon Male Choir, Russell Painter and Jonathan French. The men did well to get through
STRATFORD lads Antihero have just released their latest single, Don't Trust The DJ. The record has been released through Alpha Engineering Records, and it can be ordered from any shop in the country with the following details - Band: Antihero, Single:
FOLK lovers should make a date in their diary for a visit by talented singer and guitar player James Keelaghan. James is renowned for looking to the past for musical inspiration and his most celebrated songs tell the stories of extraordinary events from
RESIDENTS in Worcestershire are being urged to don their trainers and get adventurous to raise money for county kidney disease sufferers. "The new year is often a time for life-changing decisions, but yours do not need to be that radical to make a difference
A NUMBER of acts signed to Kidderminster College's MAS Records will be wowing the crowds when they take part in the 2004 Ross-on-Wye International Festival. Episonic, from Bristol, will be joined by other MAS acts The Boswells, Girls Love Ponies, King
A PLANNING application to build a single-story side extension to a property in St Joseph's Close, Droitwich, will be considered by Wychavon District Council.
FOR an evening of breathtaking stunts, juggling dexterity and exhausting acrobatics, there can be no better place than at ringside of the circus. From the opening tumblers, we knew we were in for some exciting entertainment, and were soon treated to a
SINCE the release of her debut album Call Off The Search last autumn, Katie Melua has gone from being an unknown artist to the most successful artist in Britain this year. Following on from her debut sell-out tour here earlier this year, festival appearances
THE New Year will kick off in style with a performance of classical music at Droitwich Concert Club. The Dante Quartet will play music by Beethoven, Brahms and Rubbra at Droitwich Spa Methodist Church, Worcester Road, on Saturday, January 8, at 7.30pm
MALVERN based DJ Ad Lib returns to the Octagon Bar at St Ann's Well Cafe, Great Malvern tonight to deliver a selection of chilled beats & funk-soul grooves. n A night of roots and dub, old school and new DJs will be taking place against the glorious
DROITWICH residents thinking of a career in childcare can attend an informative workshop to be held in Hampton Lovett. The Step One into Childcare course will run at De Salis Court on Wednesday, January 19, between 9am and 3pm. Step Two of the course
SEX, drugs and the media were just some of the issues discussed by pupils during a Citizenship Day at a Worcester school. Students yesterday returned to Christopher Whitehead High School after the Christmas break to find the usual timetable swapped for
THIS country pub near Telford was "the" place to be for any self-respecting indie fan last Thursday night when Babyshambles came to the Midlands for a hastily arranged and very secret gig. If you don't know, Babyshambles is the side-project of Libertines
PEOPLE who enjoy a good dance to music as diverse as Travis, Paul Weller, The Kinks, Reef and Britney, will find that Worcester band Medford are just the ticket. Medford will be bringing their popular and hip cover versions to Worcester's Marr's Bar,
JAZZ-lovers can enjoy a live performance by violinist Ralph Allin and his band at Croome Park, near Upton-upon-Severn, tomorrow. The event is taking place at the Church of St Mary Magdalene, in the park, and kicks of at 7.30pm. Gates open at 6.30pm, and
JUDITH Standing forsook her usual position as musical director to take the title part in this happy musical, handing over her baton to Tim Hackett. Claire Worboys also stepped over the footlights, as director and choreographer. When I say Judith appeared
ON stage and on screen funnyman Matthew Cottle has been keeping audiences entertained for years. And his trip to Malvern Theatres next week is no exception. Best-known for his role as inadequate banker Martin in the hit 90s sitcom Game On, Matthew Cottle
CHRISTMAS has come early for two talented young dancers from Worcester who have won parts in the nation's favourite festive production The Nutcracker which begins a 13-night run at the Birmingham Hippodrome tonight. Amy Gwynn and Thomas Edwards, both
WHILE the rest of us are busy finalising our Christmas card list and totting up how many presents we need to buy this year, the festive celebrations are temporarily at the back of the minds of two of the stars of this year's Swan Theatre pantomime. Although
THE angry, late 1970s will be revisited when the city's first big punk rock festival shakes the walls of Worcester Arts Workshop tomorrow. There will be 25 acts, and gig-goers will be able to see top UK touring bands play alongside Worcester bands in
THERE are bossy women, very bossy women, and then there is Emma Hornett, who could boss for England. Joan Wakeman excels as the matriarch of the family, whose domineering actually derives from her love of, and ambitions for, her family. She has for so
NICK Cave and the Bad Seeds will be gigging at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Sunday, November 7. Nick, the son of an English teacher and a librarian, brought a rare intelligence to the post-punk scene of the early 80s. His pre-Bad Seeds band The Birthday
KELIS, R & B's most appetising songstress will be stepping up to complete the V2004 bill fresh from her monster chart hit Milkshake. Also joining Kelis in the festival line-up, will be Kevin Mark Trail, Fried, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, and Rooster. Kelis
TICKETS for the Swan Theatre Amateur Company's production of Alan Ayckbourn's Joking Apart are selling like hot cakes despite the fact it does not even start its two week run at the Swan Theatre until February. But there is a slight problem - the company
SU Pollard is remembered by millions as loveable cleaner Peggy in the hugely popular sit-com Hi-de-Hi. But she is a highly talented and versatile actress with numerous television and stage credits. Her most recent role, for which she has won rave reviews
PARTY-poopers are not the sort of audience expected to turn up to a Disciples gig, as the band like to see everyone strutting their stuff on the dance floor. The Disciples, who play cover versions of all types of songs, ranging from rock 'n' roll to punk
A RENOWNED ghost hunter has made it his mission to pursue the paranormal across the length and breadth of Britain and nowhere has been ignored - including Worcestershire. Richard Felix, star of Living TV's Most Haunted, visited the county as part of his
EVERYONE knows the saying, never judge a book by its cover, but that's exactly what critics did when it came to the Alarm's new record. After 21 years in the rock and roll business, the band knew the possibility of being snapped up on the critics hit
FANS of BBC 1's Monarch of the Glen will instantly recognise Lloyd Owen as Hector's illegitimate son Paul who has recently taken up the role as laird of Glenbogle. But as well as seeing the heart-throb grace TV screens on Sunday nights, audiences at Malvern
Dig out your glam rags, funky flares, and glitter at the ready, for T.Rextasy, the ultimate tribute band to Marc Bolan & T.Rex are about to hit Worcester. T-Rextasy are not to be mistaken for any of the current cabaret style bands that don wigs just
TOP Gun becomes Shogun in this epic tale of honour and conflict between eastern and western cultures. Tom Cruise stars as American soldier Nathan Algreb who is headhunted by the Japanese Emperor to defeat the country's Samurai warriors so an arms treaty
WHAT do you do when three women you know all reach a stage in their lives when they develop an interest in New Age beliefs? Kim and Lynn Davies, a husband and wife team from Evesham, claim to know three such women and used them as inspiration for a fascinating
NEARLY 40 years after Jack Wild shot to fame as the Artful Dodger in the hit Oscar winning 60s musical Oliver!, his fans are in for a double treat. At Christmas, not only is Jack starring as Baron Hardup in Worcester Swan Theatre's pantomime Cinderella
IT is little wonder this movie, which charts the effects of the American Civil War on a group of people whose lives are intertwined by love, desperation and sheer hopelessness, has been nominated for 13 BAFTAs and is expected to shine at the Oscars. Boasting
VIRTUOSO violinist Beverley Davison and her female musicians Hot Strings have taken the performance of classical music, given it a kick up the backside and made it fun. Forget the staid and stuffy traditions you might expect from a stereotypically sophisticated
POP legends Status Quo are gearing up for their concert at Ragley Hall, near Alcester, next Sunday. Quo have had worldwide sales of more than 112 million, and have enjoyed 22 top 10 British hit singles. I caught up with the band's guitarist Rick Parfitt
HEREFORD duo, BiZali will battle three other bands in Nottingham on live television tonight. The pair won over judges when they appeared in the semi-finals of ITV1 Central's new series, Music (Uncovered) last Friday, reaching the show's grand final. Throughout
Manha de Carnaval. Guitar Music from Brazil. Graham Anthony Devine, guitar. Naxos DDD8.557295. THE guitar has played a huge part in the musical traditions of Brazil, especially in the last 100 years or so. Guitars were transportable, and the instrument
AN unusual CD of Icelandic traditional music has been recorded by a Worcester woman who was born in north Iceland. Soprano Bra Grmsdttir, has recorded songs learnt from her father, and grandparents, as well as music found on manuscripts. She believes
Il Campanello - Gaetano Donizetti. Historic recording from 1949, featuring Sesto Bruscantini, Renato Capecchi, Miti Truccato Pace and Orchestra Lincae Coro de Torino della RIA. Warner Fonit 5050467-1044-2-6 Gaetano Donizetti was born of poverty-stricken
THE Lightness are a tribute band to The Darkness and even dress like the lads. The band, who hail from Kidderminster, Bewdley and Bridgnorth, are beginning to tour the country, and have been playing such places as Edinburgh, Swansea and Liverpool. Now
WHILE it does not cater for everyone's tastes and takes some getting used to, there is no escaping the hilarious allure of spoof fly-on-the-wall documentary Bo Selecta once you're hooked - and I am. The second series of the show following celebrity stalker
A FEAST of well known stars from stage and screen are heading for Bewdley for the picturesque riverside town's 17th festival. The nine-day festival, which takes place from Friday, October 8, to Saturday, October 16, is jam-packed with entertainment for
Dave Brubeck - Chromatic Fantasy Sonata, Five Pieces from Two Part Adventures, Tritonis, The Salmon Strikes, Rising Sun. Soloist - John Salmon, piano. Naxos 8.559212 THE memory of feeling very sophisticated and avant-garde came rushing back at the opening
So the Festival has finished for another year. We always greet the final fireworks with a mixture of sorrow that's it's all over, and relief that we can start getting our lives back to something like normal, or as normal as it ever is working for Huntingdon
My Love. Soloist Malena Ernman. Guitar soloist/accompanist Mats Bergstrom. Bis NL CD 5020. Here is a compilation of some very varied and very different music. It is sung by Swedish mezzo-soprano Malena Ernman - and what a find she is! She has a wonderfully
POPULAR entertainer and television celebrity Les Dennis is set to take to the stage in Birmingham in a star-studded performance of the hit show Kiss Me Kate. The star - who made his name through popular ITV game show Family Fortunes - will be playing
RENOWNED singer and songwriter Jamie Knight is set for his big break after being chosen to be part of an international music compilation in aid of charity. The Greatest Music You've Never Heard, Volume 1, is to help raise money for breast cancer research
Curtain Up! The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Ball, Jose Carreras, Mary Carewe and others. Warner Classics 2564 61330-2. IF you enjoy the musicals and your choice of venue would be Broadway or Leicester Square for a night on the town, then this
THE cornerstone of Warren Mitchell's career has been the ability to play a character much older than himself and he's still at it at 78. The man who was only 40 when he erupted on to British television as the shock and awe pensioner Alf Garnett in 1965
JON Amor is an artist worth checking out as his song-writing style and performance has been compared to great names such as Paul Weller, Beck and Led Zeppelin. The musician has been writing and performing his own material since the beginning of 2000.
Historic Saxophone - Claude and Odile Delangle. Bis CD -1270 Digital. TO many, the saxophone would be considered a "new" instrument, and in many ways they would be right. Invented by Belgian musician Adolphe Sax- who played the clarinet and flute - it
THEY liked it so much, they're doing it again. Great Witley Operatic Society is to repeat the formula of its Golden Jubilee concert, which had audiences enthralled at Worcester's Swan Theatre two years ago. Billed as A Celebrity Gilbert and Sullivan Concert
PEOPLE who enjoy Celtic, Balkan, Gypsy, Spanish, or Cornish music will be able to hear these influences in the sounds of 3 Daft Monkeys. The Cornish band, who write their own songs, have varied musical backgrounds which range from dance, ska, and reggae
THE winter season promises six months of entertainment thanks to a season of concerts organised by the Warwick Arts Society. The International String Quartet series at the Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa, features ensembles from across Europe, kicking
Great Opera Recordings: Tosca by Puccini. Maria Callas, Guiseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi. Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan, conducted by Victor de Sabata. Naxos ADD 8.110256-57. MARK Obert-Thorn is one of the most respected transfer artistes/engineers
PENELOPE Keith, one of the best-loved actresses and television personalities of the last 30 years, makes a return appearance at Malvern Theatres next week. Enduringly famous for her roles in the BBC sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born, Penelope
Benjy's Bop to bounce in to the Marr's SINGER and songwriter Jules Benjamin will be launching his latest album after returning from a mini-tour of Norway. The album, Benjy Bop, has been recorded since Christmas, in Jules' studios at Worcester's Marr's
IT'LL be a battle of the soap stars when Frederick Nott's classic crime thriller Dial M For Murder opens at Worcester's Swan Theatre on September 13. Because the cast is full of "I remember him/her" characters. He/she was in..." Brookside, Neighbours,
IT'S the sort of sight you're always likely to come across walking through a Malvern park in mid-summer - a beautiful slave girl, a 6ft Chinese widow with day-glo make-up and a fellow in a suspect suit with a skunk sitting on his hand. It certainly caught
PEOPLE who have always fancied being part of a theatre production will now have the opportunity to do so in one performance - thanks to the interactive show HMS Pinafore From Scratch. London Operetta will be presenting its famous Gilbert and Sullivan
ARTISTS in all fields are invited to the Arthouse caf in Worcester's CrownGate tonight to join in the first anniversary celebrations of Phillip Newth, a city based art project that specialises in alternative cabaret. A year ago, two Worcester-born youths
A STALWART actress, renowned for her feisty and glamorous roles is due to take to the stage in Worcester. Kate O'Mara will play Mary Stuart in Shadow in the Sun, a dramatisation of the events leading up to the execution of The Queen of Scots and her relationship
A SINGER who has previously won the Best British Vocalist category at the British Jazz Awards, will be showing off her talents when she comes to Worcester's Huntingdon Hall. Claire Martin won the Best British Vocalist category in 1995 at the British Jazz
DJ Pin-Up, a former model, will be making a welcome return to a Worcester club when she plays at Caesar's, Westside, next Friday. Lisa is world famous among fans of her favourite dance genre, hard house, and is also a respected producer, who writes and
THE ninth Cheltenham International Jazz Festival will be bringing some of the hottest names in jazz to town, as well as providing a platform for some of the best new talent. Ranging from international legends to home-grown British stars, artists to hit
THE epitome of Englishness will be on show when a Noel Coward play hits the theatre next week. Design for Living will be the latest production to be staged at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton. The play runs at the venue from Tuesday, August 10, until
SHOPPERS in north London's Brent Cross area could be forgiven a few double takes the other day, because even in this age of cross-dressing a figure in men's trousers and women's stiletto heels is not a common sight. Nevertheless, Paul Nicholas struggled
COMEDY'S hottest property is appearing in Stratford this October for a week-long laughter fest. Jimmy Carr, Mark Thomas and, for the kids, James Campbell are amongst the line-up hitting the RSC's Swan Theatre from October 22-30. Also appearing is Rob
EVERY now and then, Have I Got News For You's Paul Merton and his nemesis Ian Hislop are upstaged by a genuinely ultra-witty personality. As was the case when Linda Smith appeared on the show. With an almost child-like delivery, the comedienne's razor-sharp
A SPECTACULAR show of lights, lasers and special effects will provide the backdrop to this year's acclaimed Classical Spectacular at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena. More than 250 performers are involved in the concert of all concerts on Saturday,
A FEAST of ballet and opera courtesy of international performers is scheduled to sweep Wolverhampton's Civic Hall off its feet next season. The line-up starts with Compagnia d'Opera Italiano di Milano performing Puccini's Madame Butterfly on Wednesday
JIVE bunnies are invited to don their dancing shoes and get down to Tewkesbury's Roses Theatre for a night of nostalgic musical mayhem. The Red Hot Blue Jeans Band are paying homage to a host of stars at their next show on Saturday, August 14, singing
DISTINCTLY diverse interpretations of a work of art by a husband and wife provide the backbone to a new play taking centre stage at next month's Worcester Festival. Mouthpiece presents the UK premire of Ugly Art, by American playwright Terry Roueche,
YOUNG Thespians from Hereford's Courtyard Senior Youth Theatre are busy preparing for one of Shakespeare's "problem plays", Measure for Measure, which runs from Tuesday to Saturday, July 27-31. The company, which impressed audiences with One Flew Over
WHY lug a double bass around school when you can send shivers up the spines of the opposite sex with a few blue notes from the sassy sax? And why fork out for a bulky £1,200 tuba when you can become the next Jimi Hendrix for a couple of hundred quid and
MALVERN Theatres has put together what it calls its "biggest and most varied programme yet" for the autumn season. Considering the track record of the area's top theatrical venue, this is some prediction. So let's scan the list. Malvern favourite Penelope
HUNTINGDON Art's larger than life director Chris Jaeger belts across the Swan Theatre foyer, "this isn't a music festival, nor an arts festival - it is a celebration of life." It's the launch of the second Worcester Festival, which hits the Faithful City
A MAN tried to snatch handbags from two women in Headless Cross, hitting one of them in the face. The women were walking in Evesham Road at about 1pm on Sunday, December 5, when the man approached them from behind. One woman fell to the ground after she
ONE of the most successful musicals in early British theatre history marks its 50th anniversary in Droitwich next week. Salad Days originally opened on May 1, 1954 at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre after being pencilled in for a three-week run. But fate
ONE of Britain's best-loved comedy performers, Nicholas Parsons is taking part in a show being staged at Worcester's Swan Theatre by youngsters of a city amateur dramatics group. He is to be the newsreader in Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society Youth
FOLLOWING sell-out seasons in the West End, Moira Buffini's wicked comedy Dinner comes to Malvern Theatres on Monday as part of a national tour. Paige, hostess extraordinaire, has invited an artist, a scientist and a sexpot to celebrate the publication
YOU'LL like this - but not a lot" is not exactly how Paul Daniels hopes to go down when he does an appearing act in Worcester next week. Although the notoriously cheesy magician fell out of favour with the nation during the early 90s with the rise of
Review - Jack and the Beanstalk at the Birmingham Hippodrome (until January 30) HAVING completely missed I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! I hadn't warmed to Joe Pasquale the way the rest of the nation has. That was until I saw him in the eponymous
SIMON Trinder's Bolton drawl and laid back expletive-littered attitude to life does little to justify the stereotypical image of your average thesp. But that's exactly what the 25-year-old former Worcester schoolboy has been for near on two years in a
WHO hasn't dreamt of being woken up by a kiss from a charming, handsome prince, only to be roused by a snorting pig? To many, the idea behind Sleeping Beauty may be as far-fetched as Evening News letter writer extraordine George Cowley ever getting it
IT'S not often you hear a classical musician describe the genre as needing a good "kick up the backside". But Beverley Davison, or as she describes herself, 'Dawn French on the violin', prides herself on her off-the-wall attitude to her forte and her
OPERA lovers have the chance to see Rossini's magical work Cinderella sung in Italian by Romanian opera stars. Between Thursday, May 13 and Saturday, May 15, Le Cenerentola is being performed by the Romanian State Opera Brasov in its mother tongue at
PATRONS of Huntingdon Hall shouldn't be surprised tonight if they are stopped at the door and asked to pop a topic into a bucket. For this evening's legendary entertainment is no other than king of the one liner, Barry Cryer, who is out to prove he can
SOMERSET Maugham's classic comedy The Constant Wife, one of London's biggest hits last summer, comes to Malvern Festival Theatre next week. Beautifully designed, costumed and performed, the revival pleased audiences so much on its initial run at Shaftesbury
TOP comedienne Jo Brand has put a Herefordshire arts centre at the top of her menu. Ms Brand, who is famous for her sharp wit and cutting tongue, has agreed to become an honorary patron of The Courtyard, Herefordshire's Centre for the Arts, as it nears
THEY walked the slow, studied, theatrical walk through Malvern's Priory Park for the benefit of the television cameras. Heads slightly bowed, as though in earnest conversation, like a couple discussing an impending divorce. Happily when Michelle Collins
WHILE neither outstanding nor unpredictable, the US remake of the cult British film starring Mark Wahlberg in Michael Caine's role of Charlie Croker was both fast-moving and tense enough to hold my attention throughout. Despite only 20 minutes of The
REVENGE was sweet for Redditch United after their Boxing Day blues turned into a happy New Year on Monday afternoon. Moor Green travelled to the Valley with some confidence after Jae Martin's solitary goal was enough to hand his side a much-needed three
THE opening chorus of Now's The Time for Fun and Laughter from The Bartered Bride got this programme off to a rousing start, but it really came to life when Mary Sinclair led Can't Help Lovin' That Man from Showboat. There were many highlights in this
CHARLIE and Jamie are two advertising gurus with major hang-ups: they are spending too much time at work and not enough at play (with their kids). So, when their latest campaign "Veggio's-the vegetable cereal kids love to eat!" falls flat, losing them
FOR all you Jim Carey fans out there who, like me, have been disappointed with his films of late - your prayers have been answered. Bruce Almighty is his best work since Dumb and Dumber and Ace Ventura. Yes, the rubber-faced madman is on back top form
THE latest offering from Kidderminster Operatic and Dramatic Youth Section was packed with nostalgia for older members of the audience, but must have seemed strange to the youngsters on stage, as the songs were a far cry from today's music scene. In a
PLAYS by amateur writers performed by professional actors? At times one might have been fooled into thinking it was the other way round at this showcase of new work by the Swan Playwrights, resident at The Rose. In terms of writing, Kate Shaw's Flight
MOVE over Skippy, there's a new marsupial in town - Kangaroo Jack. This is a fun movie with non-stop action and side-splitting laughs for little and big kids alike. The plot of this outback adventure sees two lifelong best friends (Charlie and Louis)
STOURPORT Choral and Operatic Society's spring concert comprised songs from musicals, such as The King and I, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, Carousel and Oklahoma!. Knowing all these shows well, I could picture the characters when every song was performed
THE band made a shaky start to this concert in aid of the Kidderminster Mayor's charity fund, making an error at the end of the National Anthem, and they didn't appear to know how to end Olympic Fanfare and Theme by John Williams. However, they settled
THE Nonentities' inaugural offering of 2003 is perhaps a debatable choice - and one not helped by the decision to try to adopt American accents for David Mamet's script about desperate salesmen. Glengarry Glen Ross tells the story of four estate agents
HERE'S a tip: Don't go near actor Paul Bettany if you're feeling even the slightest bit insecure about yourself, because this man sums up the phrase ''having it all''. Good looks, a thriving career, a bouncing baby boy and married to one of Hollywood's
Tom Cruise - Hollywood superstar, Mr Nice Guy and all-round onscreen hero. But the A-lister seems to be shaking off his clean-cut image and showing a darker side - onscreen, at any rate. Following his recent role as a haunted American civil war veteran
WHEN actress Sophia Myles walks into the room, we aring a plain, white shirt and jeans, you do wonder whether her choice of nondescript outfit was a deliberate one. Because this is the young woman whose name will soon be synonymous with everything pink
Steve Coogan is one of Britain's most popular and successful comedians but lately the joke's fallen a bit flat for the 39-year old funnyman. His marriage to 32-year-old society beauty Caroline Hickman has collapsed after just 16 months in the wake of
Confessions of a teenage drama queen (pg) Lola Cep (Lindsay Lohan) is forced to move from glamorous New York to a new school in New Jersey. Odeon, Worcester (1.40, 4.00, 6.10, 8.20 Fri & Mon-Wed). UCI Merry Hill (11.10 Sat/Sun) 1.20, 3.40 VAN HELSING
Just how lucky can a girl get? Actress Saffron Burrows is stunningly beautiful, has a figure to die for, and a flourishing stage and screen career. But forget all that. The reason this London-born star is the envy of just about every woman in the world
ASHTON Kutcher may have a very impressive Hollywood career already, but there's no denying he's more famous for his romance with Demi Moore than for his acting. Despite roles in films like Cheaper By The Dozen and Just Married, with former girlfriend
A CASH boost of more than half a million pounds for environmentally friendly waste disposal in Worcestershire and Herefordshire will be used for the good of residents, a leading county councillor has announced. The county council, its six district councils
A POSSIBLE Redditch United and Studley final is shaping up in the Worcestershire Senior Cup. The Bees beat more higher league opposition in round two of the competition after they saw off Evesham United at Common Road on penalties. The Bees held the home
Dr Seuss will be spinning in his grave. This lurid adaptation of his popular tale The Cat In The Hat bears only scant resemblance to the original rhyme, which has been embellished with all manner of crude humour and narrative padding. After 20 minutes
A GOVERNMENT Minister has personally apologised to Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff for failings in the tax credit system which have left families penniless for Christmas. Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo called Mr Luff to apologise during the festive
A GENEROUS donor left an extra special Christmas gift following a Worcester concert - a cheque for £100,000. Worcester Cathedral Choir treated 130 guests to a festive feast of entertainment during a traditional Christmas concert at Madresfield Court to
AN 11-YEAR-OLD boy is appealing for help to find his Christmas present after the remote control aeroplane was lost on its maiden voyage. Joshua Hemming, of St Peter's, was out flying his new toy over Diglis playing fields on Sunday, when the plane took
FLU victims Colin Hoyle and Pat Lyons remain major doubts for Worcester City's rearranged Nationwide North clash at lowly Bradford Park Avenue tonight (7.45). The pair missed last Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Nuneaton after contracting the illness, which
IT was a case of unlucky 13 for Cutnall Green as they were thrashed 13-1 by promotion-chasing Nunnery Wood Sports in the Worcester and District Football League Sunday Division One. Ian Townsend led the rout with five goals, while Steve Coopey grabbed
FREE-scoring Droitwich Spa made it six Midland Combination Division Two wins in a row with a 7-0 victory at Nunnery Wood Sports, featuring an Andy Keenahan hat-trick. Kevin Blaber's side, who have now scored 24 goals in the process, went ahead through
MOTOR racing's answer to Pop Idol is revving up for a new lap of the television circuit. The 2004 World F1 Drivers' Challenge will be aired on BSkyB next weekend as the 2005 event prepares to get underway. Previously, the competition -- which aims to
MORGANITE kept up the pressure on New Raiders at the top of the E & E Engineering Worcester Friendly Skittles League Wednesday Division One with victory over Legionaires. Division One Rams 413(20) I Bruford 41, Vics 379(0) G Jinks 45; Here' Bulls
NEIGHBOURS are set to lock horns as underdogs Droitwich Spa RFC take on hot favourites Bromsgrove in the quarter finals of the North Midlands Cup. Relegation threatened Droitwich face an uphill task if they are to book their place in the semi-finals by
GIFTED Droitwich full back Sean Walker can test his mettle against some of Britain's finest young players after being selected for the England College's squad. The talented 17-year-old, who has already burst onto the first team scene at the Glynn Mitchell
EVERYONE agrees that some action needs to be taken over the derelict Lido Baths in Droitwich. There are three options on the table - l Remove the buildings and fill in the pool, and re-landscape the area with flower beds and parkland. This would seem
THE disgraceful scenes outside the Birmingham Repertory Theatre shortly before Christmas just shows the trouble we are storing up for ourselves. Are we to allow Sikhs or any other foreign nationals to curb the freedom of expression and speech which we
YOU can forget about Little Britain or Eastenders because for most of us Bromsgrove District Council have been producing their own comedy soap opera over the past few months. The new recycling campaign has been one comedy of errors after an other. The
CATS were cited by Keith Hobson last month as being a major problem on the Westlands estate in Droitwich. What a stupid, irresponsible, inaccurate statement to have made in print. Cats on the estate have in the past been injured and in one case killed
Woodrush A 34 Alcester A 10 WOODRUSH and Alcester arranged a post New Year's Day get together as both clubs were eager to run off their holiday excesses before the important league action starts again. Woodrush took advantage of some half-hearted Alcester
ROVERS manager Jimmy Mullen is keeping his fingers crossed that key defender Ross Collins is fit for Saturday's home game with Cinderford Town (3pm kick off). Collins' reassuring presence in the back four was missed as Rovers slipped to a 2-1 loss to
Stourport Swifts 2 Bromsgrove Rovers 1 BROMSGBROVE'S five game unbeaten run in the league was brought to an abrupt halt by a youthful Swifts side containing several Bromsgrove old boys on January 3. Former Rover Mark Atkinson was a mini-marvel for the
Bromsgrove Rovers 4 Bedworth United 1 TWO LATE goals blew away an industrious Bedworth side in a game that was turned on its head by gale force winds on Saturday. Once again Rovers huffed and puffed to kill off a relegation battling side at home, but
Fairfield Villa 2 Littleton 1 STRIKER Lloyd Dawkins marked his return to the Recreation Ground by scoring the winning goal in January 3's battle. Dawkins, on his debut since returning from his unsuccessful move to Barnt Green Spartak, fired home the winner
A CASE of the home jitters has posed Kidderminster Harriers boss Stuart Watkiss plenty of questions ahead of another Aggborough test on Saturday. Harriers have crashed to two home defeats in a row, 5-1 to Swansea City and then 3-1 to Southend United on
IN Animal Crossing everything occurs in real time, courtesy of a 24-hour clock and both seasonal and daily variations occur. Even when you're not playing Animal Crossing, things are still going on. This is a more realistic life simulator than The Sims
EVERYONE agrees that some action needs to be taken over the derelict Lido Baths in Droitwich. There are three options on the table - l Remove the buildings and fill in the pool, and re-landscape the area with flower beds and parkland. This would seem
CATS were cited by Keith Hobson last month as being a major problem on the Westlands estate in Droitwich. What a stupid, irresponsible, inaccurate statement to have made in print. Cats on the estate have in the past been injured and in one case killed
SHOWDOWN is without a doubt the wrestling fan's wrestling game. Graphics beautifully recreate legends such as Andre The Giant and Jimmy Snuka, while gameplay is sluggish and true to the reality of wrestling as opposed to the fast-paced arcade action witnessed
AS fans eagerly await the release of Gran Turismo 4 at the end of the year, Sony release a taster of what fans can expect in the form of Gran Turismo 4 "Prologue." Gamers can expect what can be described as "diet" Gran Turismo or a glorified demo. Glorified
FUN and laughter is guaranteed when Droitwich Spa's Norbury Theatre stages its annual pantomime. Jack and the Beanstalk opens at the Friar Street venue tomorrow night for a dazzling 14-show run. The production, featuring a cast of around 25, comes complete
A REDDITCH firm took the heat out of a big problem recently when it sent a huge oven on its way to Oman. JLS Ovens Ltd, based in Trafford Park Industrial Estate, had received a website inquiry from Oman Cable Industry, which needed a new oven for its
REVENGE was sweet for Redditch United after their Boxing Day blues turned into a happy New Year on Monday afternoon. Moor Green travelled to the Valley with some confidence after Jae Martin's solitary goal was enough to hand his side a much-needed three
WORCESTERSHIRE'S Labour MPs are trendsetting again. Anything good to come out of the county is directly attributable to their hard work... despite being only two of them. Forget the electorate which lobbies and petitions - we obviously are ineffective
Wednesday January 5 FILM: Motorcycle Diaries, mac, Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston, Birmingham, 6pm. EXHIBITION: 1960 - 2004 Bromsgrove and Birds, Bromsgrove Library, Stratford Road, Bromsgrove. SINGLES: Live Wyres, New Inn, Ombersley Road, Worcester, 8.45pm
I HAVE heard GP practices described as private businesses by people who might be expected to be more discerning. Both the words private and business must be misplaced. NHS medical practices cannot be private because their raw materials are health services
SUCCESS is in the air at a Midlands' gallery. The New Gallery in Birmingham's St Paul's Square celebrates its first birthday with a second winter exhibition featuring gallery favourites and work by some of Britain's most collectable artists including
SINCE September, I have been regularly volunteering to help organise a pantomime at Warndon Community Centre. This would not have been possible without our Community Centre and the staff who work there. In fact, one of the youth workers produced and organised
Our president Marion Walter greeted us on December 9 for party time. Apologies were received from two members, and Greta Bowers read the minutes of the last meeting. Frances Ford gave the skittles news - we won our latest match against Pinvin. She also
COUN Bob Peachey's letter headlined "Tories' long history of destroying city" is, as usual, very misleading. Many of the things he states the Tories failed to carry out didn't come in until the early 1980s. Huntington Hall would be gone by now if what
WE start the new year with a cine film show with our old friends, Mike and Audrey Flavell, who have been visiting the club for many years, and we always have an excellent night with them. This year's show is entitled 'From Stephenson to Riddles', two
WITH regard to your article announcing that all the tenants of Reindeer Court are overjoyed that Worcester council has turned down the plans to upgrade the centre, as a new tenant of the court, I was disappointed by the report. Reindeer Court is unique
THE December meeting, being our Christmas party, was well attended, with members and visitors enjoying the festive season. Our president for 2005 was unable to attend but stepping in was Joyce Karle, doing a grand job. Previous records were read, also
PLANS to turn an eyesore pool into a beauty spot are under way in Redditch. A man-made marl pond in Hopyard Lane, Winyates, was full of rubbish and the residents and children took part in a big clean-up. Now Redditch Development Corporation has started
January 7, 1905 AT Bromsgrove police court last week, before Mr J Green, Samuel Jones, a retired publican, 258 Mount Pleasant, Redditch, was charged with being drunk at the Crescent, New Road, Bromsgrove. The attention of the police was called to the
OUR Give a Can a Home Christmas appeal - to provide festive food parcels for local animal rescue centres - proved a resounding success with our offices in Bromsgrov and Droitwich, in particular, overwhelmed by the generous respone from animal loving readers
VISITORS to a popular Bromsgrove park over the Christmas holidays found themselves inconvenienced because the loos were locked. Sanders Park, off Kidderminster Road, is always popular. But at Christmas it is packed with mums and dads watching their children
A COMPANY van containing the week's takings from a shop in a Bromsgrove village was stolen from outside the premises. The theft occurred at around 6.10am on Tuesday, December 22. The vehicle had been parked outside the One Stop Shop in Woodrow Lane, Catshill
YOUNG patients at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch have been given toys to keep them amused, thanks to the generosity of folk in the Bromsgrove area. Every Christmas, Bromsgrove Round Table's musical sleigh, with Santa on board, delights thousands of
more than £700 was raised for a children's charity when a town bank held a raffle. Prizes at the Lloyds TSB raffle included a West Bromwich Albion signed football, a meal for two at the Hilton Hotel, Birmingham Road, and two tickets for Bromsgrove Rovers
BROMSGROVE could be hit by a plague of rats unless something is done to tackle a build-up of dumped bin bags. That's the warning from Dr David Simon-Jones, an environmentalist who lives in Rock Hill who is concerned that the bags, which are being left
A GROUP of 20 scuba divers from Bromsgrove is back on dry land after a brush with death when the Asian tsunami flooded their dive centre and hotel in Sri Lanka. Now the group from the Millennium Dive Centre in Chesworth Road, Harwood Park, are hoping
KIND-hearted Droitwich Spa residents are rallying round for the victims of the devastating tsunami, which struck South East Asia on Boxing Day. A host of fundraising events are being held across the town to raise money for the disaster's emergency appeal
WORKERS at MG Rover have been given some New Year cheer as job fears have been eased. According to some reports, job losses had been feared when workers at the Longbridge plant, many of whom live in the Bromsgrove area, heard how the jobs of around 1,600
After the First World War, when production of munitions, armoured cars, ambulances and trucks came to a halt, the factory found times hard and the receivers were brought in. The new managers they installed made Austin unwelcome and he spent more time
INITIAL plans to bring new shops to the Salters Shopping Centre in Droitwich Spa look set to get the green light at a meeting next week. Wychavon District Council's planning committee is expected to agree to the first phase of plans to extend the town's
SCORES of vulnerable and elderly people in and around Bromsgrove, who feared their vital lifeline to the outside world was in danger of being axed, can look forward to a happier New Year. Thanks to the intervention of Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride, they
DROITWICH Spa couple Robert and Margaret Cooke have no excuse to forget their wedding anniversary because it falls on New Year's Day. Mr and Mrs Cooke marked 50 years of marriage with a celebratory lunch at the Chateau Impney with family last Saturday
A Home Office pathologist told a murder trial jury yesterday (Tuesday) that the death of alleged salt victim Christian Blewitt was the 'most complex' case he had ever been involved in. Dr Peter Acland said the halo effect of 11 areas of bruising found
DROITWICH Spa's MP is throwing his weight behind plans to build a new health centre and one stop shop in the town. Peter Luff expressed his concerns about the constant delays in getting work on the site of the redundant magistrates' court in Ombersley
HUNT supporters are confident they are winning the battle for public support after record numbers heeded their call to turn out to watch the area's two Boxing Day meets. With the ban on hunting with dogs set to come into force on February 18, hunt officials
KIND-hearted townsfolk have donated bucket loads of money for the tsunami appeal since the tragedy on Boxing Day. Now the group from the Millennium Dive Centre is planning to raise £50,000 or 10 million rupees, to buy the people of Hikkaduwa a new fishing
A POPULAR Droitwich Spa teaching assistant has stepped down after more than three decades on the job. Shirley Dandy has retired after 35 years working at St Peter's First School, in Church Lane. Her nephew, Daryl Bradford, said she joined the school in
THE number of street collections in Droitwich Spa could be reduced to just one a month in a bid to boost funds for town charities. Droitwich town councillors discussed how to reduce the number of charities carrying out street collection in coming years
Considering the prequel to this game was labelled as a fear evoking psychological experience which would reduce grown men to a cowering wreck, it is a tough task for Konami to create a game even parallel to the mighty Silent Hill 2. Yet again gamers are
A GROUP of Redditch scuba divers who narrowly survived the catastrophic Asian tsunami which killed more than 150,000 people are desperate to repay the debt they owe the Sri Lankan villagers who saved their lives. About 20 divers from the Millennium Dive
GROUPS and organisations across town have been raising thousands of pounds to help the countless victims of the Asian tsunami disaster. Redditch Kingfisher Rotary Club held a collection in the Kingfisher Centre on Friday and raised more than £9,000 from
THIEVES smashed their way into a Redditch charity shop, stealing small items of cash and breaking items for sale. The break-in happened at the Primrose Hospice Shop in Alcester Street overnight on December 30 and was discovered by shop manager Ann Odell
A REDDITCH youngster will be treating his family to the holiday of a lifetime in Egypt after scooping first prize in a national competition run by the Disney Channel. Matthew Sparks, 12, of Winyates East, entered the competition in September to design
AN inquest into the deaths of two Redditch women with legionnaire's disease heard the source of the outbreak had never been found. Barbara Harris, of Ilshaw Close, Winyates Green and Joy Billingham, of Hewell Road, Enfield, died after developing symptoms
FROM the Matrix-like black robed figures at the start to the red-eyed wolves that roam the forests of the mind - this was a magnetic Beauty and The Beast back once again at Stratford. Surprisingly humour played a large part. There was an hilarious introduction
IT was Redi-steady-go for eight Redditch mums who turned into computer whizzkids and received an honour at a SureStart graduation ceremony. Redditch Mayor Jack Cookson presented the women with their European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) at the Redi
"TOUCH but my lips with those fair lips of thine" - thus Venus beseeches Adonis in Shakespeare's sensuous and voluptuous theme. The Other Place was host to an hour of magic in this masque for puppets. The beautifully crafted proscenium was an ever-changing
VOLUNTEERS at a Matchborough school have been rewarded for hours of commitment to the community. Year 13 pupils at Arrow Vale Community High School received Awards for Excellence after completing 200 hours' service through Millennium Volunteers. Claire
THE arts in Studley has been given a major boost for the new year and beyond after a community project won a three-year grant. Escape: Community Art in Action was launched at Studley Youth and Community Centre as a pilot project in the village early last
ANTISOCIAL behaviour has featured prominently in the headlines recently but very little has been said about those working to combat it. One person particularly worthy of such praise is Bekkyi Reacord, youth worker and recent winner of the Alvechurch Young
AT the December meeting, there was a talk on the history of shopping from Ned Williams. He traced shops from their humble origins as converted front rooms of houses serving a local market to today's modern precinct. He illustrated his talk with examples
A WARMING glass of Trixie and Pat's homemade mulled wine, together with president Sue and her flashing Christmas Tree earrings, welcomed members and visitors from Naunton Beauchamp WI and Kington with Dormston WI to the December meeting. Barbara kept
BEFORE lunch on December 8, members stood for a minute's silence in memory of life member Mrs P McClellan. Speaker Dennis Charlton has lived in Studley for 40 years and is involved with the Swan Players, formerly the Cygnet Players, who perform in the
THE speaker at the November meeting was the Rev Tony Wherry, who retired from the position of Worcester county archivist earlier this year. His subject was What the Vicar Wrote, which turned out to be an amusing (if sometimes sombre) series of examples
THE old saying 'February fill dyke' had not lived up to its name in 1904. The wettest month had been May when 4.01 inches had fallen. The month had also seen the wettest day of the year when 2.20inches had fallen on the 27th. October had been the driest
FORMER Alcester High School student Mark Wilkinson was enjoying Christmas on the beach on a tiny island off Thailand when the tsunami struck. Mark and his friends, including a number from Alcester, are taking a post-university gap year and had rented
ON Saturday former Young Voices Russell Painter, Beth Dunn and Laura Bassett, led the youngsters in a concert performance of a condensed version of Leonard Bernstein's masterpiece, and it was brilliant. As Tony, Russell treated us to a superb rendition
THE third in the series of Classical Music Society recitals featuring artistes from Birmingham Conservatoire was, as always, of a very high standard. Previous concerts in the series featured pianist David Quigley, and a wind trio called "No Strings Allowed
AS far as I am concerned, you can never go wrong with Gilbert and Sullivan, so I was delighted to see that the first half of this anniversary evening was a potted, concert version of HMS Pinafore. Mike Birch was brilliant as Sir Joseph Porter KCB, and
LIKE David Bowie before him, Nick Cave has won a huge cult following by balancing his love of discordant, semi-avant garde songwriting with melodic pop songs which retain the twist heart of his most daring work. Sunday's show in Wolverhampton leaned towards
SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has slashed £80m off hundreds of products across its stores. The latest round of price cuts coincides with a new TV advertising campaign to highlight Tesco Price Checker. The Tesco Price Checker checks the prices of products against
BUSINESSES in the two counties are being asked to give disabled people the best possible start to the New Year - access to their premises. With 90,433 disabled people in Worcestershire alone, firms in Hereford and Worcester were urged today to make sure
Nice blokes, The Finn Brothers. They drink what appears to be mugs of tea on stage, sing songs about how they grew up together, loved their mum and cherish their families and give fans the hits which made them famous as one half of Crowded House. Monday's
LAST weekend the Zutons cancelled the remaining dates of their UK tour after drummer Sean Payne was struck down by a severe viral infection. And having been fortunate enough to catch them in action in Wolverhampton, I would strongly advise anyone with
IT is often difficult to bring radio or television shows to the stage but, with its format of great chat and intimacy with the audience, Test Match Special is made for the stage. Host Ralph Dellor introduced cricketing legends Jonathan Agnew, Mike Gatting
STEPHEN Wicks and Mark Welford retired as principal dancers with the Royal Ballet 10 years ago, and opened a very successful flower business in Covent Garden. This entertaining roadshow allows their love of theatrical artistic expression to continue to
BOOGIE Nights is back - and this time it's the 1980s with stiletto heels, padded shoulders, puffball skirts, Bob Geldof and Maggie Thatcher. The whole feel of the decade is really brought to life in this musical which has an all-star cast of David Essex
WE were transported back to the days of the Palm Court orchestra at Kidderminster Library on Friday evening, in the first of the Classical Music Society's collaborations with the CBSO, which included the familiar strains of Fritz Kreisler's Liebesfreud
SHUFFLING samba, mambo mayhem and bundles of bossa nova will be coming to Malvern next month as the town hosts a Brazilian night. The event is the brainchild of student Barnaby Simons, who grew up in nearby Birtsmorton and has been DJing for about four
THE term 'it's a small world' springs to mind when you hear how two members of the up-and-coming music act Angel Brothers met. Percussionist and co-founder member Keith Angel, from a small pit village near Doncaster - was travelling around Spain about
A HOST of musicians are getting ready to play notes for notes in Worcester - as the city gears up for two major charity gigs. A total of six bands are set to grace the stage at Worcester's Marr's Bar, in Pierpoint Street, for the Cream Festival on Sunday
"JOLLY hockeysticks" abound in this tale of a "posh" girls school, where the students are horrified to learn that an elementary schoolgirl has won a scholarship to their establishment. Among the pranks and midnight feasts, there is much snobbery, and
WHO would have thought a couple of men singing soul and rhythm and blues numbers wearing dark suits, shades and hats would have gained such a cult following? However the music from the film The Blues Brothers has proved the critics wrong and endured the
ATTEMPTING to mimic the sound of such a hugely-influential rock and roll band as Led Zeppelin and gain the backing of their fans would appear enough of a challenge. To then also win over the band itself and have its members appear at your gigs would just
AWORCESTER musician whose brother was in an horrific car accident last year is organising a musical extravaganza in the city to raise funds for the charity that saved his life. Thirty-year old Jeremy May, of Perdiswell, Worcester, spent six weeks in hospital
BILL Kenwright's new production is a polished show with all the essential ingredients of a theatrical smash. The world premiere of the musical charting the last seven days of Christ's life boasted a striking musical score and strong cast, including former
THE NEW Tracey Chapman, Sheryl Crow, Indigo Girls... the complimentary comparisons are coming in thick and fast. But then when you hear Bristol-born singer-songwriter Amy Wadge's distinctive voice - which has also been likened to Joni Mitchell's - you
IT WILL be a case of "Back with Sax" as opposed to "Back In Black" next week as the renowned contemporary saxophonist Scott Hamilton brings his silky-smooth musical skills to Worcester. The fifty-year-old performer was born in Providence, Rhode Island
I DON'T like being uncomplimentary about a concert which was a great idea and for a wonderful cause, but this lacked organisation, with little attention to timing, balance or musical content. The concert was organised by Operation Homeland to mark the
IT'S not every day you get to see a 65-year-old man reeling out tunes such as Teenager in Love to a huddle of adoring fans. But that is exactly what renowned musician Marty Wilde will be doing when he plays Worcester's Huntingdon Hall on Saturday, October
WHAT can I say that has already not been said about this fantastic show? As always I left the theatre feeling I had been to a wonderful party. This version is the "proper" one, the Bill Kenwright production which has been around for over 20 years, and
THERE will be plenty of "Stones" in the Malvern Hills next week as legendary rocker Bill Wyman rolls into the town. No one could argue that the former bassist with one of the most influential British bands of all time - The Rolling Stones - lacks experience
A MUSICIAN whose trademark brand of bittersweet love songs has won the hearts of many a listener is hoping to win over the nation - and put Worcester firmly back on the musical map. Talented singer Jamie Knight, from St John's, Worcester, has been singing
A CUDDLY baboon stole the show on Saturday night, having been taken along by Mary Baulk, who runs the Butterfly Puppet Theatre. Throughout the evening, when the emphasis was on fun for children (of all ages), Mrs Baulk and her collection of animals encouraged
THE sweet melodic sounds of instrumental jazz will be coming to Malvern as the Gareth Hall Quintet get set to stage a concert in the town. The group - who will be playing as a duo - combine historic standards from the 50s to the present day with some
ANTHEMIC classics such as Baggy Trousers by Madness and Watching the Detectives by Elvis Costello are set to be aired at Worcester's Marrs Bar tonight as rockers Funky Skunk take to the stage. The seven-piece band consists of members from many a local
DEDICATED musician Clive John has battled against adversity following an horrific childhood accident to reach the final of a prestigious songwriting competition. Twenty-nine-year-old Clive, of Quest Hills Road, Malvern, suffered severe burns after putting
ROCK band The Ferret Convention sang their hearts out for charity in a fund-raising gig in Evesham over the Bank Holiday Weekend, helping to raise £900 for the Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust. The gig was held at The Railway Hotel in the town, on Saturday
FANS of talented rock artist Van Morrison, pictured below, will be delighted to hear he is booked in to play Cheltenham this month. The legendary musician - who has had a string of hits over his 30-plus-year career including Gloria and Have I Told You
WORCESTER residents need never miss their weekly fix of celebrity gossip again as Hello! Magazine offers its readers the chance to reads news on their favourite stars as its happens. The service is being run through the magazine's online extension - Hellomagazine.com
ONE of Birmingham's landmark comedy venues will be serving up a barrel of laughs this month to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The Glee Club has hosted more than 8,000 performances throughout its years, with big name acts such as Peter Kay, Lee Evans,
UP-and-coming Worcester band Rainmaker are looking to create a storm on the music scene with their explosive new sound. The three-piece rock 'n' roll band formed in January this year after 24-year-old drummer Jamie May, from Perdiswell, Worcester, received
THERE were a few dishevelled figures wandering among the giant foam footballers and ever-present waft of hot dogs on Sunday morning. Big Brovaz, The Divine Comedy, and Athlete were the first three bands to open Sunday's festival on the V Stage. They were
TWO exciting music names have announced live gig dates at Wolverhampton Civic Hall. Finnish rockers The Rasmus and cool cats Franz Ferdinand will both be playing at the venue on separate autumn tour dates. The Rasmus, whose music has been described as
IT was great to see the young folk of Kidderminster Operatic and Dramatic Society's youth section (KODYS) so obviously enjoying themselves while entertaining us last week. This was a shortened version of the Gilbert and Sullivan favourite, but most of
A SPECIAL gig tonight will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of John Coltrane's recording of A Love Supreme. A Love Supreme is a spiritual jazz song, and the DJs at the event will be playing a selection of other songs in the same music genre. DJs Ape
