Toyah’s legendary Ieya is included on the new compilation CD/Download Extend The 80s Alternative.
Essential 12″ and Extended Mixes of 80s Alternative Tracks.
The 30-track album is released by BMG tomorrow and also includes extended versions of:
Club Country, and Party Fears Two by The Associates, The More You Live The More You Love by A Flock Of Seagulls, No Mercy by The Stranglers, Can’t Get Used To Losing You by The Beat, She Blinded Me With Science by Thomas Dolby, Waiting For A Train by Flash & The Pan, Absolutely Immune by Act, Going Left Right by Department S, Amour Amour by The Mobiles, Duel by Propaganda, Terry by Kirsty MacColl and many more.
• Further info at Amazon.
A Toyah first! She’s playing live in Finland for the very first time. Women Power features Toyah, Liz Mitchell of Boney M, Suzi Quatro and Finnish singing legend Muska Babitzin.
The closest Toyah ever previously got to playing a gig in Finland was on the Good Morning Universe European Tour tour when the band played Stockholm on 1st December 1981.
There are two Women Power concert dates in Finland but Toyah is playing in Helsinki only on 28th September. The others also play Oulu – in North West Finland – the next day.
The venues are big in both towns, the Helsinki one Jäähalli (literally Ice Hall) is a massive ice hockey arena which is used for the big name concerts.
Toyah Willcox has been called The Princess Of Punk for good reasons. In her 40 year career she has released 13 Top 40 singles, recorded 24 albums, written two books, appeared in over 40 stage plays, acted in over 20 feature films and been in hundreds of TV programmes. Toyah’s hit singles are It’s A Mystery, I Want To Be Free and Brave New World. During this year she celebrates her 60th birthday as well as 40 years in the show business.
• Further info here. (Many thanks to Keijo Seppänen and Min Kay for the info)
The biggest 80s festival to rock the Isle of Wight is back for a sixth year!
Hold on to your 80s ra-ra skirts for a little while longer and don’t chuck your roller boots away just yet, as the Isle of Wight is gearing itself up for the ultimate feel-good festival!
Jack Up The 80s is a three-day retro pop festival in its sixth year and provides a family weekend of musical entertainment from household chart names, food, attractions, kids arts and crafts and stalls.
The event is fast making a name for itself as the most fun festival on the South Coast. It offers an unbeatable atmosphere and is completely safe, inclusive and affordable for all. In excess of £20,000 has been raised in the past 2 years for local charities and good causes.
Pop punk princess, Toyah Willcox joins Jack Up The 80’s line up. Toyah is one of the most iconic artists of the decade with a career spanning over 35 years. She has had 13 top 40 singles, recorded 24 albums and toured live across the world.
• Continue reading at Visit South East England. Visit the Jack Up The 80s website. Browse our Jack Up the 80s news.
It’s hard to believe that Punk is well over 40 years old, largely heralded by the release of the Sex Pistols ‘Anarchy in the UK’, in the Britain at any rate. Punk meant different thing to different people: to the Sex Pistols and The Clash it was a working-class reaction or counter-reaction, to Malcolm McLaren it was a marketing ploy and to the likes of Vivienne Westwood it was a fashion statement. For art film director Derek Jarman it became an anarchic artistic statement.
Of course Jarman himself was not a punk, but he certainly tapped into the spirit of the age and was even able to insert his own brand of camp into the punk scene with his film Jubilee (1978). The BFI release of Jubilee is released in addition to the BFI’s recent 6 film box-set release, ‘Derek Jarman Volume One: 1972 – 1986’ to observe the films 40 year anniversary.
The narrative of the film is sometimes hard to follow, but makes more statements than having any narrative or even making much in the way of sense. It opens with Queen Elizabeth I (Jenny Runacre) being transported to 1970s London by her occultish aide, Dr. John Dee (Richard O’Brien) and find a place riven with political and social unrest. We are then introduced to some of the key figures in the film: punk girls Mad (Toyah Willcox) and Amyl-Nitrate (Jordan), along with Kid (Adam Ant, real name Stuart Goddard), Crabs (Nell Campbell), Chaos (Hermine Demoriane) and Bod (Runacre again in a dual role). They get up to all sorts in the flat and include killing a one-night stand in a asphyxiation game. All sorts of adventures take place including starting a punk band called Scum while revolt and social unrest, including police brutality increases.
• Continue reading at Filmwerk.
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, with Toyah and Tony Blackburn, which originally aired in October 2011 on BBC Two, is showing again in early July on Really – Sky 142, Virgin Media 129, Freeview 17, Freesat 160, Sky (Ireland) 155 – Click below to view larger screen caps. (Photo © BBC)
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip: Really: Saturday 7th July: 12pm
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip: Really: Monday 9th July: 6pm
Series 1, Episode 4. Tony Blackburn and Toyah Willcox take to the road with antiques experts Charlie Ross and Charles Hanson. Their journey starts in the historic town of York and ends up with an auction in Stansted, Essex.
The first series of The Older Woman, the six-part radio drama which was originally broadcast in 1993, begins airing again on BBC Radio 4 Extra from today.
Toyah plays Elsa, alongside Martun Clunes and Zoë Wanamaker as Roy and Jane in this excellent, and slightly surreal, drama by Tony Bagley. Toyah also performs the theme song to The Older Woman.
The series, produced by Paul Schlesinger, also features David Troughton, Geoff McGivern, David Holt, Keith Drinkel and Melanie Hudson in a variety of roles.
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Monday 25th June: 7am/5pm
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Tuesday 26th June: 5am
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Saturday 30th June: 12pm
Episode 1 of 6. Local hack journalist Roy Hitchcock meets his former English teacher, and sets out on a crusade to win her heart against all odds. Stars Zoe Wanamaker, Martin Clunes and Toyah Willcox. From January 1993.
• Below are a couple of Radio Times clippings with a little more detail about the series, published when The Older Woman originally aired in January 1993. (Thanks to Anthony Lewis)
Toyah is celebrating her 40th year in music and her 60th Birthday later in the year with four special gigs, one of which takes place at The Fleece in Bristol on 1st November. Click on their promo image below for full details of all four gigs at Toyah’s Official Gigs page.
Dreamscape’s Gallery section will be returning to the site in the not too distant future. There are 1000s of photos of Toyah to browse at the gallery from her mindbogglingly vast and eclectic career. Click below for a look at just one of the many Gallery pages – Toyah 2010 –.
Thanks to Sharon Dickson, Kevin Slyfield, Becky Varley, Claire Wade, Barry Delaney and Claire (FestivalFolkie) for the fantastic photos above of Toyah at Rewind Scotland 2011, Rebellion Festival 2011, Here & Now 80s Concert, Ascot and Wickham Festival 2011. (Great photos and fantastic memories!)
Toyah was a guest at yesterday’s V&A Summer Party. The annual party took place last night at the famous museum itself in South West London. Here’s a couple of press reports featuring photos of Toyah. The Telegraph reported: Singer Toyah Willcox opted for a summer floral midi dress, which she paired with a cobalt clutch.
A previously unpublished photo of Toyah is included on the new official promo image for the Acoustic, Up Close & Personal concerts.
The Acoustic… gigs are now in their fifth year of playing venues around the country, having debuted in February 2014, and show no sign of ending anytime soon!
Many thousands of people have enjoyed hearing Toyah talk about her career, and perform songs from her vast discography acoustically via these gigs.
An update today from Official Toyah on Toyah’s Acoustic… date(s) at Trading Boundaries in October:
Toyah will now be doing two nights at Trading Boundaries, in East Sussex, LIVE this October.
Both evenings will feature a three-piece acoustic band and feature unplugged version of Toyah classics including the recently added Angel & Me, Race Through Space and We Are.
Dining tickets have sold out for 13 October but are now available for 14 October.
• Further info/Book tickets at Trading Boundaries Music. (Photo © Toyah Willcox)
Headliners announced as town prepares to host L Fest
The UK’s only lesbian festival has revealed its two headline acts for the event in Llandudno next month.
Katrina Leskanich and Toyah Willcox will headline a long list of performers at L Fest which will be held in Bodafon Fields between July 13 and 16.
Best known for signing in Katrina and the Waves, Katrina Leskanich won the 1997 Eurovision song contest with Love Shine a Light after rising to prominence with her 1985 hit Walking on Sunshine.
Willcox is an award-winning rock legend as well as a much-loved stage/screen actress and music composer. She has had 13 top 40 singles, recorded 24 albums, written two books, appeared in more than 40 stage plays, acted in 20 feature films and presented hundreds of TV programmes.
• Continue reading at the North Wales Pioneer. Visit the L Fest 2018 website.
Dreamscape’s Gallery section will be returning to the site in the not too distant future. There’s 1000s of photos of Toyah to browse and I’ve been asked numerous times when it will be available again. Click below for a look at just one of the many Gallery pages – Toyah Live 2015.
Thanks to Brian Marsh, Official Toyah, Chesney Hawkes, Paul/P A C Photography, Damon King, Angus Turner, Ian Davis, Mark Evans and Rewind Scotland for the great shots above.
Sparkling set from Toyah closes Devizes Arts Festival
The stage of the Devizes’ Corn Exchange was set for a spectacular performance on Saturday night and Toyah didn’t disappoint. She took the audience, many of whom were lifelong fans, through her back catalogue of hits, including ‘It’s a Mystery’ and ‘I want to be free’. Toyah was 60 earlier this year but you wouldn’t have thought it as she danced and jumped around, wearing a gold dress which sparkled as she moved.
Her performance was even more impressive when she revealed that this was her second gig of the day!
Many of Toyah’s fans have a connection with her which goes back nearly 40 years and they loved every minute of the gig.
It was a night to remember and a fitting end to the main programme of this year’s Devizes Arts Festival.
• Continue reading at the Gazette & Herald.
Absolutely stunning photos of Toyah from her gig on Saturday at Devizes Arts Festival. Please click on them to view larger versions. (Thanks to Angus | Photos © Angus Turner)
• Take a look at just some of the great Toyah Live photos Angus has contributed to Dreamscape over the years… Amazing! Thanks again to Angus.
A fab weekend of concerts for Toyah: “THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! to everyone who made Minehead, Lets Rock Leeds, Devizes and Bognor the best weekend ever! 4 concerts in 3 days…..bring it on xxx photos courtesy Gail Foster“. Click below to visit Toyah at Twitter.
Two great photos of Toyah onstage at Let’s Rock Leeds yesterday afternoon (below right) and at Devizes Arts Festival (left) last night. (Photos © Devizes Arts Festival / Let’s Rock Leeds Official)
Our patron Toyah Willcox visits The Old Rep
A friend of The Old Rep and patron Toyah Willcox visited us on Friday 8 June to see her dedicated seat plaque in our auditorium.
Greeted at stage door by our Executive Director Michael Penn and General Manager Gary Stevens, Toyah was extremely excited as this was her first time back at the theatre in almost 30 years, back when she used to attend our Old Rep Drama School at the age of just 14.
Toyah’s dedicated seat plaque is located in our stalls, it reads:
‘a space where true happiness was found’
Willcox went on to thank The Old Rep for their hospitality, and said “This is where it all began for me, thank you”.
• Continue reading at The Old Rep Theatre. (Photo © Toyah Willcox)
Another busy weekend of concerts for Toyah, with a pair of 80s Weekender shows last night and on Sunday, a visit to Let’s Rock Leeds this afternoon and a band gig on the penultimate day of Devizes Arts Festival this evening. The festival runs from 31st May – 17th June. Toyah’s gig takes place at Devizes Corn Exchange.
Toyah & her Full Electric Band
Saturday 16th June: Corn Exchange: 8:00pm | £20 Standing only
From punk princess to cult stage actress and high priestess of TV, Toyah Willcox is a uniquely gifted performer and an inextinguishable flame. Charismatic, outspoken and impossible to categorise, she is one of Britain’s iconic household names – an award-winning rock legend as well as a much-loved stage/screen actress and music composer. In a career spanning over 35 years she has amassed 13 top 40 singles, recorded 24 albums and toured live across the world.
In this lively and energetic concert with her full live electric band you can expect to hear hit singles Good Morning Universe, Thunder In The Mountains and It’s A Mystery alongside classics Neon Womb, Danced and Ieya.
• Continue reading at the Devizes Arts Festival website.
Headliners announced for world’s biggest lesbian festival
L Fest takes place in Llandudno next month and two stars form the 80s are topping the bill
The headline acts for “L Fest” the world’s largest lesbian festival have been confirmed. Toyah Willcox and Katrina from Katrina and the Waves will top the bill at the concert which is being held at Bodafon Farm Park, Llandudno between Friday July 13 and Monday July 16.
With a month until the festival gets underway, the organisers have announced the two “global 80’s icons” who will take centre stage. Katrina will headline on the Saturday and Toyah Willcox will top the bill on Sunday.
• Continue reading at the North Wales Daily Post. (Photo from 1985 © Daily Record)
Toyah Willcox and Katrina from Katrina and the Waves to headline world’s biggest lesbian festival
Toyah Willcox and Katrina and the Waves will be headlining “the world’s biggest lesbian festival” in July. L Fest, which takes place in Llandudno, north Wales, is going back to the Eighties to provide entertainment for its queer female audience.
“ONE MONTH TO GOOOOO and we have something to shout about, we are sooo excited at HQ. Here are our headliners for L Fest 2018 and as we know how so many of you love your 80’s, we have not one but two GLOBAL 80’s ICONS for you!” wrote L Fest on its Facebook page.
• Continue reading at Pink News.
“Managed to visit the building where it all started for me. Birmingham Old Rep Theatre. It was wonderful to be back, thank u xxxx” – See the full photo at Twitter. (Photo © Toyah Willcox)
