Monthly Archives: October 2025

Todd Rundgren – Alexandra theatre, Birmingham, UK, 28/10/25

Posted on October 29, 2025 by garylongden

It is to Todd’s credit that he elected to play an intimate 1340 seater music hall, inevitably sold out, to provide his fans with an opportunity to enjoy his show close up Rundgren bestrides the rock and pop era as … Continue reading →

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Billy Mitchell & Bob Fox The hub, St  Marys Church Lichfield- 24/10/25

Posted on October 29, 2025 by garylongden

After fifty years gig going this was my first proper folk gig apart from Barry McGuire in the eve of Destruction era and Lindisfarne who I would describe as folk rock The Hub is a superb venue only 20 minutes … Continue reading →

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Haunting Julia – Sutton Arts theatre, Sutton Coldfield

Posted on October 23, 2025 by garylongden

***** Haunting Julia- Sutton Arts Theatre A welcome revival of Alan Ayckbourn’s  1994 play, the first part of a trilogy  of Things That  Go Bump. The 2002 play Snake in the Grass ,and  Life and Beth,  being parts two and … Continue reading →

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Sunny Afternoon- Alexandra theatre, Birmingham

Posted on October 22, 2025 by garylongden

Sunny Afternoon- Alexandra theatre Birmingham ***** This is a terrific hybrid of the jukebox musical genre  featuring a band, the Kinks, who were at the heart of the 1960’s Great British musical invasion, and their inspiration, Ray Davies. Their story … Continue reading →

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Radio Costello – The Hub, St Mary’s Church, Lichfield

Posted on October 19, 2025 by garylongden

I first saw Elvis on the Bunch of Stiffs tour in 1977, forty seven years ago. Forty seven years prior to 1977 lies 1930. A time before the establishment of the Weimar Republic  and Adolf Hitler in Germany, George Vth … Continue reading →

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Boomtown Rats – Symphony Hall Birmingham

Posted on October 12, 2025 by garylongden

I have always been a massive rats fan and was there for their first full UK tour in 77. Thy were the best live band around when punk broke – and that includes The Jam and the Clash. Their star … Continue reading →

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Top Hat – Nottingham Theatre Royal

Posted on October 12, 2025 by garylongden

Autumn is here. Its becoming cold-  surely a cue for some old style Hollywood glitz? If you like song and dance, particularly tap dance, then this is your show. Visually it is  a sparkling, frothy  fizzy cocktail of mistaken identity … Continue reading →

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The Great Gatsby- Derby Theatre

Posted on October 7, 2025 by garylongden

**** Hitherto The Great Gatsby has been defined by the original  F Scott Fitzgerald novel and the 2013  Baz Luhrmann film.  For this production  which debuted earlier in the year at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Elizabeth Newman has adapted the … Continue reading →

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Diana Krall – Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 4/10/25

Posted on October 5, 2025 by garylongden

I have been a fan for many years and own many of her albums but this was my first opportunity to see her live Sadly ,I was disappointed. I expected a Jazz, not MOR  easy listening set. However we experienced … Continue reading →

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