Top Of The Box

Back before Mick Hucknall became a fanny magnet to the stars, Simply Red released their debut album Picture Book, a brilliant collection of songs which included their first hit single Money’s Too Tight To Mention.

Holding Back The Years was the second of the two standout tracks on the album and was released in 1986, reaching number 2 in the UK charts.

Simply Red – Holding Back The Years

Here is a classic reggae tune from one of the masters of the craft, Gregory Isaacs performs Night Nurse on home turf at the Reggae Supersplash in Montego Bay, Jamaica back in 1983.

He is being backed by the more than adequate Roots Radics on this performance, ensuring a top quality vocal and sound, unlike the video clip! But listen anyway, its worth it.

Gregory Isaacs – Night Nurse – Live 1983

Here is a brilliant performance from Soft Cell taken from the Oxford Road Show in 1982.

Having conquered the UK charts in 1981 with their reworking of the classic 1964 Gloria Jones track Tainted Love, the song was a monster hitting number one in seventeen countries including the UK.

Say Hello Wave Goodbye was the final track on the 1981 classic album Non Stop Erotic Dancing, which also featured Tainted Love and Bedsitter as well as the controversial Sex Dwarf.

The album was recorded on a low budget in New York at the height of the Manhattan gay club scene and the early days of the drug ecstasy which was allegedly used by Soft Cell throughout the recording.

Although the recording took place in New York the content unashamedly reflects the seedy underworld of eighties England.

Soft Cell – Say Hello Wave Goodbye

cirque du soleil

It all started back in 1982 when a group of street performers known as the Club des Talons Hauts (The High Heels Club) decided to organise a street entertainers festival in Quebec.

Within two years Cirque Du Soleil was born, creating a new concept that incorporated the street entertainers flair within a striking, dramatic circus environment.

Operating within the confines of Canada for a few years, the group performed in North America’s Californian state in 1987 with its We Re-invent The Circus tour, capturing a new audience that would encourage them to travel around the world with their unique arts and theatre productions during the following years.

The unique and colourful entertainment designed by Cirque Du Soleil has led to the group receiving awards in every year since 1987, including the Best Theatre Production in 1998 awarded by Live Award for their London show.

As you will have guessed Cirque Du Soleil bears little resemblance to what we in the UK call a circus, but is a massive no expense spared entertainment extravaganza that incorporates the thrills of circus performance into an innovative and forever changing family show.

As well as creating original live performances the company also uses its innovative spirit to produce music, TV, DVD and film which are marketed by Cirque Du Soleil around the world, often helping to develop the careers of emerging artists.

Arriving in the UK to perform their Saltimbanco show, Cirque Du Soleil will wow the crowds across the country from May 20th to June 11th, with no less than twenty performances in four city arenas.

Starting the tour in Sheffield with five  shows at the Sheffield Arena, the performance moves to the Echo Arena in Liverpool for six shows, six more in Glasgow’s SECC and finally three shows at Manchester’s MEN Arena.

This is a unique oportunity to experience real and original family entertainment, the show is designed to thrill and captivate the audience through music dance and circus theatre and Cirque Du Soleil – Saltimbanco tickets are now on sale for all the UK performances.

Viagogo make it easy to buy and sell Cirque Du Soleil tickets online. Every ticket transaction is supported by their customer service team which can be contacted by phone and e-mail.

Here is one of the best live versions of the Sam Cooke classic Change Is Gonna Come, performed by the incredible UK R&B artist Beverley Knight backed by the Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.

This spine tingling version of the song was performed on Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny a few years ago.

Beverley Knight – Change Is Gonna Come – Live