Tag Archives: Newcastle.

The Stranglers, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Newcastle.

Baz Warne of The Stranglers at the Newcastle o2 Academy, March 2016. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Baz Warne of The Stranglers at the Newcastle o2 Academy, March 2016. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Not everything in life is Black and White but it must be safe to say that for many who have grown up, grown alongside and grown older disgracefully with The Stranglers, you either love them or you haven’t had your electricity switched on for the past forty years; for how else can you explain not having a soul in which to celebrate one of Britain’s finest bands, the longevity and the love that comes out of the Punk Rock wash whenever the Stranglers come to town.

The Alarm, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Newcastle.

The Alarm's Mike Peters at the 02 Academy, Newcastle, 2016. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

The Alarm’s Mike Peters at the 02 Academy, Newcastle, 2016. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

In troubled times, when the glow of the knife edge seems to radiating heat and venom beyond that which is tolerable in the world, Mike Peters words to The Alarm song Where Were You Hiding When The Storms Broke? seems to take on a meaning that makes the nerve endings in the spine shudder but with steely resolve not to be found wanting when the hard decision is put your way. It is in the courage of conviction to make the choice which will either see you popular or see you determined by history to be right.

All’s Well That Ends Well, Theatre Review. Theatre Royal, Newcastle.

 

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Charlotte Cornwell, Alex Waldman, Joanna Horton, Jonathan Slinger, Nicolas Tennant, Cliff Burnett, Kiza Deen, Greg Hicks, David Fielder, Mark Holgate, Chris Jared, John Stahl, David Fishley, Karen Archer, Natalie Klamar, Rosie Hilal, Michael Grady-Hall.

The Boomtown Rats, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Newcastle.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

For those that found themselves in the company of Simon Crowe and Garry Roberts in the Bilston Robin 2 as they thrilled discerning audiences as part of From The Rats  in August 2008 the thought that 4/5ths of The Boomtown Rats line-up would tour together during 2013 would have seemed like a dream that could never come true in a million years, an impossible fantasy you would have bet against from the start but slowly and surely the superb Garry Roberts and Simon Crowe have been joined by Bob Geldof and Pete Briquette and with the very talented Darren Beale adding a touch of youthful exuberance to the cause on guitar, The Boomtown Rats took the packed Newcastle 02 Academy and with just a couple of songs performed from a top notch set list, you could see that they had gone down a storm.