Author Archives: garylongden

Mazz Murray sings Dusty Springfield , “I only want to be with you”- Birmingham Symphony Hall

Posted on November 22, 2024 by garylongden

The first in a duo of gigs , her second coming at the Adelphi Theatre in London, in which Musical theatre star  Mazz  sings from the Dusty songbook. An impossibly young looking fifty year old she has a formidable stage … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic Gigs | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Doing the 92

Posted on November 14, 2024 by garylongden

Doing the 92 It started in 1968, Belle Vue Stadium, Doncaster Rovers v Barnsley, an evening game in front of a crowd of 18,000, I was aged 10, totally unaware that it was a local Derby, but enthralled by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Transformer – Lou Reed ( a retrospective)

Posted on November 8, 2024 by garylongden

It is a great album, and an astonishing document for its time. David had a long time love for the Velvet underground, and  their songs  “Waiting for the Man” and  “White Light White Heat” were live staples for long periods … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

10cc Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Posted on October 19, 2024 by garylongden

My younger brother liked 10cc as we grew up in the 1970’s. I was not so sure. Their music was unquestionably exquisitely crafted, their lyrics ranged from the sometimes banal to the often sublime. They were the British Steely Dan,  … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic Gigs | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Life on Tour with Bowie: A Genius Remembered – Sean Mayes. Book review

Posted on October 7, 2024 by garylongden

I am a very hard to please Bowie, and music, fan. The vast majority of music biographies and auto biographies are poorly written and lack insight. Biographies all too often are written merely to piggyback on the success of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ben Elton, “Authentic Stupidity” tour – Wolverhampton Grand theatre

Posted on October 3, 2024 by garylongden

**** After spending time living and working in Australia, Ben is back. Back in England and back performing stand up comedy on the “Authentic Stupidity” tour, a vehicle for him to rail against the madness of contemporary life. Such is … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

An Officer and a Gentleman – Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

Posted on September 24, 2024 by garylongden

** A musical , prodigy  of  the success of the eponymous 1982  film, dominated by the image of Richard Gere in a  white naval officer’s uniform. Pre -show, some Reagan soundbites are broadcast to transport us into 1980’s mode. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Dracula – Derby Theatre

Posted on September 20, 2024 by garylongden

Dracula- Derby Theatre **** The phrase “landmark production” is much abused and  over used. For once, here, it is justified. One hundred years ago, on 15th May 1924, Hamilton Deane’s stage production of Dracula premiered  at the Grand Theatre Derby … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Here You Come Again- Alexandra theatre Birmingham

Posted on September 11, 2024 by garylongden

Here you come again Alexanda Theatre, Birmingham *** Dolly Parton is a musical phenomena whose  star originally rose in America from Country and Western in the 1960’s. Thereafter, it has continued to rise in concerts, television, film, a theme park, … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Dial M for Mayhem – Derby Theatre

Posted on September 4, 2024 by garylongden

This tour presents  a world premiere of  Middleground Theatre’s comic pastiche of the  Frederick Knott 1950’s classic  “Dial M For Murder”. Someone thinks that it would be a good idea to debut their play in the wilds of Scotland on … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment