Author Archives: garylongden

Henry Normal/ Jan Brierton- Buxton Pavilion Arts centre, 20/11/25

Posted on November 21, 2025 by garylongden

– Buxton is colloquially described as a place where winter arrives early and summer arrives late. On a freezing November Thursday evening an audience arriving in coats and scarves were testimony to the fact that winter had arrived. However it … Continue reading →

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Curved Air – Robin, Bilston, Wolverhampton 16/11/25

Posted on November 21, 2025 by garylongden

Curved Air- Robin Bilston, Wolverhampton – This was a legacy show for me. As the classic rock and pop era draws to a close so I pick off the odd group I missed first time around. – I was never … Continue reading →

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Moulin Rouge – Birmingham Hippodrome

Posted on November 15, 2025 by garylongden

***** Wow. The most spectacular stage musical I have ever seen. The most expensive theatre ticket I have ever bought- for the most lavish production that I have ever seen. there is probably an equivalence there. Could the zany opulence … Continue reading →

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The sensational 60’s Experience – Buxton Opera House

Posted on November 14, 2025 by garylongden

  A variety show  splitting the Fortunes and Vanity Fare in the first half and the Trems and Beaky Mick and Tich in the second. The first half was boosted with ensemble versions of “Spirit in the Sky” and “You … Continue reading →

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La Palma- Netflix mini series

Posted on November 11, 2025 by garylongden

**** An oddity , a big budget Norwegian disaster movie which isn’t a Noire. Four episodes, and under four hours it is tightly scripted, pacy and with enough twists and turns to overcome the fact that we all know that … Continue reading →

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Deliver me From Nowhere- Springsteen Biopic film review

Posted on November 4, 2025 by garylongden

If you like Springsteen you will like this film, if you don’t, you wont. It certainly lacks the crossover appeal of Dylan’s “Complete Unknown”. I have been a fan since Born to Run, fifty years. Essentially this is the story … Continue reading →

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Pin Ups- David Bowie, album review

Posted on November 4, 2025 by garylongden

I bought this on release, and loved it. I still do. – As stand alone interpretations of songs it is hit and miss, as an insight into  what influenced Bowie it is essential and invaluable. – Contemporaneously two factors were … Continue reading →

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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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