British punk icon Toyah Willcox gained a reputation as a rebellious extrovert throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Now more mellowed but no less talented or charismatic, the much-loved singer and actress is performing at Babbacombe Theatre next month.
In a career spanning 30 years, Toyah has had 13 top 40 singles, recorded 20 albums, appeared in over 40 stage plays, made 10 feature films and presented such diverse television programmes as The Good Sex Guide Late, Watchdog and Songs Of Praise.
She is now touring new show ‘Toyah Acoustic — Up Close and Personal’, described as an ‘unplugged/storyteller’s style’ performance.
The concert will comprise of an acoustic set of her hit singles and classic songs alongside recalling stories from her colourful, 35-year career with projections on to a big screen showing clips of films and videos she has appeared in.
• Continue reading at the Torquay Herald Express. Also available, as It’s no mystery why singer Toyah has staying power, at the West Morning News.
Best Of The Vintage TV Sessions: Vintage TV: Friday 5th June: 11pm
We’re so spoilt for choice when it comes to bringing a ‘best of’ sessions selection together for your live listening pleasure. With so many incredible artists passing through, including Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Alvin Stardust, Toyah Willcox, Ralph McTell and Lisa Stansfield, it has felt like our own Vintage hall of fame. Here we pick more stunning performances from this treasure trove which has all the decades and genres covered.
Martin Phipps and Natalie Holt with presenter Toyah Willcox and publishers Christopher Gutch and Jonathan Channon at the 2015 Ivor Novello Awards.
• Browse more photos from the event at The IVORS. (Photo © Mark Allan/The IVORS)
The It’s A Mystery, Thunder In The Mountains and I Want to Be Free star will be appearing at Hertford Corn Exchange on Saturday night.
The acoustic gig is part of Toyah Willcox’s Up Close & Personal tour.
It will be a special night for support act Alysha Hutchings.
The 15-year-old from Roydon, Essex, was asked by organiser Joolz Addison to perform.
Alysha will be talking about the songs and what they mean to her and why she has chosen them.
This, she hopes, will be in keeping with Toyah, the night’s headline performer, and will allow the audience to relate to her experience, to inspire them and provide hope in their lives.
Alysha will be performing at 8pm, followed by Pat Crilly and then Toyah.
• Continue reading at the Welwyn Hatfield Times.
Mum’s battle inspires young Alysha to sing with Toyah
A 15-year-old girl has used her mother’s fight against a brain tumour as inspiration ahead of a landmark in her fledgling music career.
Teenage singer Alysha Hutchings has been invited to support Toyah Willcox at the Corn Exchange in Hertford this weekend. Alysha, from Roydon, was asked to perform by Joolz Addison, manager at the venue in Fore Street, after two outstanding performances at The Corn Exchange’s Sunday live sessions and a fundraiser for the Brain Tumour Charity.
Moved by Alysha’s loss of her mother to the condition in 2013, Joolz has been working with Alysha and another songwriter, Ashley Tomlin, to help Alysha develop her own style and tell her story through music.
Alysha’s dad, Paul Hutchings said: “Alysha is very aware of the privilege she has been given to perform at her age with such a famous artist and is very much looking forward to meeting her”.
• Continue reading at the Hertfordshire Mercury.
Hundreds of people descended onto Wymeswold over the Bank Holiday for one of the biggest tribute act festivals on the planet.
Festival-goers adorned their most outrageous attire with Where’s Wally, Super Mario Brothers and Lord of the Rings costumes.
And special guest Toyah Willcox tore up the main stage with her back catalogue and terrific rendition of Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell.
• Continue reading at the Loughborough Echo. (Photo © Loughborough Echo/PRMedia.com)
Party in the Gardens brings Bucks Fizz, Toyah and Rick Astley to Franklin’s Gardens
Thousands of people went back to the 1980s for the Party in the Gardens concert at Franklin’s Gardens to mark the end of Northampton Saints’ season.
Some the decade’s biggest acts went on stage on Bank Holiday Monday. Nostalgic stars included Rick Astley, Hot Chocolate, Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston formally of Bucks Fizz, Toyah and Katrina (ex of the Waves).
• Continue reading at the Northampton Chronicle. (Photo © Northampton Chronicle/Andy Taylor)
Toyah Willcox and more than 10,000 music lovers party at Glastonbudget
Copycat moves, shiny costumes, big wigs and even bigger puns were out in force at the annual Glastonbudget festival.
The three-day event, which took place in Wymeswold from Friday until Sunday, attracted more than 10,000 people, all eager to see their favourite music acts, past and present, reincarnated on stage in a field in Leicestershire.
Acts performing over the weekend included Antarctic Monkeys, Fleetwood Bac and the real Toyah Willcox. Music fans all said the laid-back atmosphere and spot-on mockstars made Glastonbudget one of the best events in the festival calendar.
• Continue reading at the Leicester Mercury.
Pick Of The Pops: BBC Radio Two: Saturday 6th June: 1pm
Pick Of The Pops: BBC Radio Two: Thursday 11th June: 3am
Tony Blackburn presents a selection of classic chart hits from 1960 and 1981, including tracks from George Harrison, Toyah, Anthony Newley, Kim Wilde and Vangelis.
Toyah is guesting on the Richard Green Show this afternoon on BBC Radio Devon.
Richard Green: BBC Radio Devon: Sat 23rd May: 1pm
Toyah. Nearly 40 years on, She’s STILL the feisty Princess of Punk, TOYAH, joins Richard Green on The Retro Show. Toyah’s going “Up Close and Personal” on her forthcoming summer tour which brings her to Devon, but first she’ll reveal a few things to Richard.
Plus there’s the classic album, some live recordings and a pop princess of the late 80’s provides the 12 inch mix of the week. So for a dip into the past, but with the freshness of today listen in to Richard Green’s Retro Show
• Listen live at the BBC Radio Devon website or catch up later at BBC iPlayer.
The 60th Ivor Novello Awards – also known as The IVORS – took place yesterday afternoon at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Toyah attended and presented the award for Best TV Soundtrack, which was won by BBC drama The Honourable Woman by Natalie Holt and Martin Phipps.
• Read a report on the event at NME.com. Visit The IVORS website. See Toyah’s tweet about attending here.
My Vintage with The Fripps airs again at the beginning of next month on Vintage TV. A great hour of chat and classic music choices from Robert and Toyah. Here’s the full Fripp Playlist from My Vintage:
Salisbury Hill – Peter Gabriel, Rapture – Blondie, Heroes – David Bowie, Fashion – David Bowie, Imagine – John Lennon, Bridge Over Troubled Waters – Simon & Garfunkel, Angels – Robbie Williams, I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston.
My Vintage: Vintage TV: Monday 1st June: 10.30pm
Toyah and Robert. Husband and wife team, punk princess Toyah and guitarist and record producer Robert Fripp, invite My Vintage viewers into their home for their top record picks.
• Lorraine’s High Street Fashion Awards: Toyah attended Lorraine’s High Street Fashion Awards yesterday. The event was held at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London. View photos of Toyah from the event at Getty Images.
• Lorraine’s High Street Fashion Awards: There’s also a great photo of Toyah at Contact Music…
• Live 2015: More live dates, including new Autumn 2015 concerts, have recently been added to Toyah’s gig schedule – Browse the complete list here…
• Birmingham Mail: Nostalgia – A look back at May 18 in years gone by: Birthdays – Miriam Margolyes, actress, 74; Nobby Stiles, former footballer, 73; Rick Wakeman, rock musician, 65; Chow Yun-Fat, actor, 60; Toyah Willcox, singer/actress, 57; Holly Aird, actress, 46; Martika, singer and actress, 46; Tina Fey, actress/comedian/writer, 45; Danny Mills, former footballer, 37.
Eighties punk-pop legend Toyah Willcox will be the top entertainer gracing the main stage of Glastonbudget as it celebrates its 10th anniversary in style
With just two weeks to go before one of the biggest ever tribute act festivals kicks off in the county, organisers have announced a very special guest star.
Eighties punk-pop legend Toyah Willcox will be the top entertainer gracing the main stage of Glastonbudget as it celebrates its 10th anniversary in style.
The pint-sized singing sensation will perform a variety of her most popular and biggest hits including It’s a Mystery, Thunder in the Mountains and I Want to be Free, along with songs from her most recent album, Has God Ceased to Dream You. Toyah will excitedly headline the festival taking place from May 22 to 24 at Turnpost Farm, Wymeswold, near Loughborough.
• Continue reading at The Hinckley Times.
The Millers’ home will welcome busloads of talent during June and July — but not just of the footballing kind.
Two events will feature singers and more gracing the ground to showcase their skills. The annual Children’s Festival will end on Wednesday, July 8 with One Voice — a concert featuring 2,500 Rotherham youngsters, singing a programme of popular songs.
The recital will be hosted by TV presenter and music idol Toyah Willcox and is expected to draw 5,000 people. Tickets cost £5 each and are available now from the stadium’s box office.
• Continue reading at the Rotherham Advertiser.
Toyah’s iconic imagery from 1980/The Blue Meaning is currently being referenced as an influence on Tesco’s new womenswear trend/range at their F&F clothing/fashion webstore.
AW13 Depeche Mode: 80s chic meets modern attitude in our edgy new collection, Depeche Mode. Sportswear styles and couture silhouettes in a fresh colour palette make for a look that’s luxe yet easy to wear.
Key Pieces: Take inspiration from the 80s. Singer and actress Toyah Willcox mastered edgy chic.
• Click below to visit Clothing at Tesco/F&F.
See Toyah Willcox, The Christians and Jim Diamond in Revenge of the 80s
Toyah Willcox will headline Revenge of the 80s at the Mayflower Theatre this month.
This special evening of live music on Sunday, May 31 at 7.30pm will also feature The Christians and Jim Diamond with their greatest hits from the 1980s and beyond.
Step back in time to experience three 1980s icons and their chart-topping smash hits live in concert once more. Tickets are available from the box office on 02380 711811 or online at mayflower.org.uk.
• Continue reading at the Basingstoke Gazette.
Photos from Toyah’s Acoustic, Up Close & Personal gig at Haverhill Arts Centre, which took place on the 1st May. View larger versions of these photos, and more, at the Live 2015 page at Dreamscape’s Gallery. (Thanks to John & Julie | Photos © John Weston)
Dirty Sexy Funny: Olivia Lee: Comedy Central Extra: Saturday 23rd May: 3.25am
Olivia Lee stars in this hidden camera sketch show. Deaf Bubba makes a mess of things at the marina, Door Bitch takes a punt and Elaine Caine meets Toyah Willcox.
Sending Best Wishes to Toyah on her birthday. Have a fantastic day x
Toyah to perform acoustic and story telling gig at Enginuity
Household name, pop icon, TV presenter and actress Toyah is to perform at Enginuity in Coalbrookdale on Friday 2 October. ‘Acoustic, Up Close & Personal with Toyah’ is a wonderful chance to experience the 1980s pop superstar up close and personal at a lively song and storytelling style gig.
She will also be recalling stories from her varied and colourful 35 year career with conversation and film clips; Toyah’s roles on stage and screen have included parts in Calamity Jane, Cabaret, Peter Pan, Jubilee and Quadrophenia. After the show Toyah will sign autographs and pictures.
Tickets to ‘Acoustic, Up Close & Personal with Toyah’, which are priced at £20 per person, are available in advance only.
• Continue reading at the Shropshire Live.
