Author Archives: garylongden

Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs- Lichfield Garrick theatre

Posted on December 3, 2022 by garylongden

**** This is the seventh consecutive pantomime produced by  Evolution productions for the Garrick, with an eighth already booked in for next Christmas, “Sleeping beauty”. This year the season is its longest ever, from 25th Nov  through until 8th Jan … Continue reading →

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Elton John – Hammersmith Odeon, London England Dec15th 1982.

Posted on December 1, 2022 by garylongden

The early 70’s was not short of singer songwriters. Elton John, Bowie, Rod Stewart, Leo Sayer, Gilbert o Sullivan, Brian Protheroe, and  the greatest piano singer songwriter from the 60’s, Neil Sedaka, still around. Elton was not destined for global … Continue reading →

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Wind in the Willows- Derby theatre

Posted on November 30, 2022 by garylongden

**** The Wind in the Willows is a quintessentially  English children’s novel by  Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. It takes us into the fantasy pastoral  world  of Mole, Ratty, and Badger as they try to help Mr. Toad, and … Continue reading →

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Tina Turner- Portman Rd  stadium,  Ipswich, England 25/7/90

Posted on November 29, 2022 by garylongden

East Anglia was honoured to have Tina pay her first ever visit to the area for a two night stint at Ipswich Town’s handsome football ground for her Foreign Affair tour(also known as the Foreign Affair: European Tour 1990) It … Continue reading →

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Lou Reed  Hammersmith Odeon, London, England Oct 18th 1979

Posted on November 17, 2022 by garylongden

Lou Reed was an enigma. A name associated with the Velvet Underground, some of whose records I owned, his wonderful Transformer album produced by David Bowie whom I admired. His Live albums “Rock n Roll Animal” and “Live” were, and … Continue reading →

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Television / the Only Ones – Hammersmith Odeon London, April 17th 1978.

Posted on November 16, 2022 by garylongden

Television / the Only Ones – Hammersmith Odeon London, April 17th 1978. Much talk was made of American/ New York punk, in the Uk. With the exception of the Ramones and Richard Hell and the Voidoids, its impact was insignificant. … Continue reading →

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Graham Parker & The Rumour – Leeds University, April 23rd 1978

Posted on October 25, 2022 by garylongden

The mid to late 70’s was an incredibly diverse time for music. The early 70’s was experimental and primarily featured disco building upon 60’s soul, prog rock developing hippy rock and hard rock, pop, and Rnb rock n roll. .  … Continue reading →

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The Cher Show Musical Revue, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

Posted on October 17, 2022 by garylongden

I was fortunate enough to see Cher on her epic 326 date Farewell tour in 2004. It was one of the greatest rock and pop shows that I have ever seen. She introduced the show with these words: “Ladies and … Continue reading →

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Cher- Birmingham NEC May 15th 2004

Posted on October 17, 2022 by garylongden

I didn’t own a single Cher single or album, yet somehow she has been omnipresent in my awareness of music. As a child I remember the tweeness of “I’ve got you babe”, but also the darkness of “Bang Bang”. I … Continue reading →

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The Commitments – Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

Posted on October 12, 2022 by garylongden

**** I saw the original Alan Parker film, but this represented my first time seeing the stage show. Its artistic credentials are impeccable. The Commitments film was released in 1991  as  a musical comedy-drama film based on  the eponymous  1987 … Continue reading →

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