Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

More news to come in the coming days…. #Toyah #CrimsonQueen

The Official Toyah LP Countdown concludes today with a special announcement about In The Court Of The Crimson Queen – great news on a limited edition vinyl album, with amazing new artwork and photos, to be released for RSD, Record Store Day 2019.

REIMAGINED CRIMSON QUEEN VINYL FOR RECORD STORE DAY

On Sat 13 April, Toyah will release a special re-imagining of In The Court OF The Crimson Queen on Demon Records for Record Store Day UK #RSD. The 11-track LP features brand new opening track Dance In The Hurricane and completely new artwork. Toyah and producer/co-writer Simon Darlow have remixed all tracks and added new instrumentation to all of the songs. These mixes appear for the first time on vinyl, pressed on Translucent Purple 180g Vinyl and limited to just 1500 copies!

• Further info, and larger versions of the new In The Court Of The Crimson Queen vinyl artwork photos, at the Official Toyah Instagram and Facebook pages. See also toyahwillcox.com.

The Official Toyah website has been updated today with two new photos of Toyah, including a previously unseen shot, below left. (Photos © Official Toyah)

Missed This! Toyah guested on Carla Greene’s show on BBC Radio Lincolnshire on 31st January. This guest spot was in relation to the Doncaster Dome gig on 2nd February. Please be quick as the interview is only available for another two days at BBC Sounds.

Hits & Heads from 1984 & a mystery year, Toyah, the music of Buddy Holly & The Cricketers.

Toyah talks about her career, new album, her Mother, the differing generations, being lucky at the start of her career and more.

• The interview begins at approximately 1hr 43minutes into the show, with a play of It’s A Mystery, and runs for around 10 minutes. Listen here.

Two photos from a new Toyah photo shoot have been revealed over the last two days at the Official Toyah Twitter and Facebook pages. These are in anticipation of a news announcement tomorrow! (Photos © Official Toyah)

It’s the penultimate day of the 40th Music Anniversary Official Toyah LP Countdown. Over the last few days there have been entries for Kiss Of Reality, Take The Leap!, Dreamchild, 90s Compilations, Velvet Lined Shell, We Are The Humans, This Fragile Moment, Sugar Rush and Strange Tales. Check in tomorrow for the final entrie(s)… See our previous posts about the countdown here and here. Click below to visit the Official Toyah Instagram.

A new photo shoot, Toyah on green screen, and the message: “News is on its way… #thursday“. It can all only mean one thing… #Excitement! (Photo © Official Toyah)

Toyah has a number of Acoustic, Up Close & Personal dates scheduled for the next four months, including a Sold Out show at Ravenshead Village Hall, Nottingham.

There are also dates, among others, at The McMillan Theatre, Bridgwater; The Roadmender, Northampton; Fairkytes Arts Centre, Hornchurch and Acapela Studio, Cardiff.

15th March: Aldershot West End Centre
23rd March: Otley Courthouse
29th March: Nottingham Ravenshead Village Hall
5th April: Bridgwater McMillian Theatre
6th April: Northampton Roadmender
10th May: Godalming  St. John’s Church
24th May: Hornchurch Fairkytes Arts Centre
27th June: Chester Alexander’s Live
28th June: Cardiff Acapela Studio

• Browse further info on all of the above Acoustic, Up Close & Personal dates, and many more confirmed concerts and festival appearances, at The Offical Toyah Willcox Website.

Check out Toyah’s full panto history/career at the new website – The Panto Archive.

All things panto with thousands of handbills, pantomime news, reviews, character galleries and the Panto Hall of Fame and more!

Toyah Ann Willcox (born 18 May 1958) –  An English singer and actress. In a career spanning more than thirty years, Willcox has had 8 Top 40 singles, released over 20 albums, written books, appeared in over forty stage plays and ten feature films, and voiced and presented numerous television shows.

Between 1977 and 1983 she fronted the band Toyah, before embarking on a solo career in the mid-1980s. Her biggest hits include “It’s a Mystery”, “Thunder in the Mountains” and “I Want to Be Free”.

• Continue reading at The Panto Archive.

Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Wednesday 6th March: 12pm
Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Saturday 9th March: 1.30pm
New Romantics. Toyah Willcox and Billy Bragg are among those examining the New Romantic movement, from The Human League and Adam Ant, to David Bowie and Ultravox. (Series 1, Episode 16)

Why have one retro Toyah interview from 1981 when you can have a quadruple? Click below to listen online or download My Top 12, The Annie Nightingale Show and Talkabout – all from BBC Radio One, plus an interview from BFBS Radio from December of that great year.

1. Radio One: My Top 12 (Nov 1981): Toyah chooses her favourite songs and talks about her life, music, hobbies, childhood, fans, career… 2. Radio One: The Annie Nightingale Show (Aug 1981): Toyah talks to Annie about her life, 1981 and new single. 3. BFBS Radio: (Dec 1981): Toyah interviewed in Europe at the end of her successful 1981. She talks about the year, her future plans, Christmas and the band’s new EP ‘Four More From Toyah’. 4. Radio One: Talkabout (Feb 1981): A Valentine’s Day special.

A rare photo of Toyah with, German band, Kiss Of Reality was posted by Official Toyah at their current Toyah LP Countdown feature. Toyah collaborated with KOR in 1993 on an album that is one of a number of lesser-known treasures included in Toyah’s magnificent 40-year discography:

The Toyah LP Countdown touches 1993 and the third entry for a side project from the core albums released under the ‘Toyah’ artist name. The band Kiss Of Reality consisted of David Pittaway, Volker Rehn & Jörg Schwickerath. David had previously toured across the world with Robert Fripp and The League of Crafty Guitarists in the late 80s/early 90s.

Toyah asked German progressive rock trio Kiss Of Reality if she could write lyrics to some of their music and collaborate with them in 1992. After laying down some demos Toyah recorded six tracks for the album in early 1993. The CD was only released in Germany by M+D Records and is very sought after by fans. Toyah features on six of the eleven tracks, for which she also wrote lyrics…

• Continue reading at The Official Toyah Instagram. (Photo © David Pittaway)

It’s a double-whammy anniversary/birthday celebration today for two of Toyah’s legendary career landmarks! Sheep Farming in Barnet (the album rather than the AP) was released on this day in 1980, and Toyah played At The Rainbow on The College Tour this very evening in 1981…

There are two gigs for Toyah this weekend: Tonight she plays a sold out concert at Brudnell Social Club, Leeds and tomorrow she plays 80’s Live at Preston Guild Hall, alongside Tight Fit, Brother Beyond, Hazell Dean, Owen Paul, and Black Lace’s Dene Michael! A night of 80’s pop hits! Tickets for that are available here or by clicking below. See Toyah’s tweet about her busy weekend.

The Official Toyah 40th Music Anniversary feature on social media continues with entries for Love Is The Law, Toyah Toyah Toyah – All The Hits, Mayhem, Minx, The Lady Or The Tiger, Desire, Prostitute, Ophelia’s Shadow, Kneeling At The Shrine… with more still to come. See our first post about the countdown here. Click below to visit the Official Toyah Instagram.

Yesterday was the 25th Anniversary of the death of Derek Jarman. Numerous events were held to mark the occasion including a memorial at The Tate and an unveiling of a new blue plaque in London.

A blue plaque marking the site of the studio where artist and filmmaker Derek Jarman lived and worked in the 1970s has been unveiled at Butler’s Wharf.

Once Butler’s Wharf ceased to be used as a warehouse in the early 1970s, it was rented out to artists and others at low rents. Speaking at the unveiling on Tuesday, English Heritage trustee David Olusoga said: “Jarman’s connection with this building lasted between 1973 and 1979.

“The building suffered a series of fires but it survived. It was converted to apartments, offices and a restaurant in the 1980s.” He added: “Today’s unveiling to Jarman marks 25 years since his death, and February also marks LGBT History Month.

“To me as a filmmaker, Jarman was a pioneer … you felt clever because you watched his films and pretended you fully understood them.”

• Continue reading at London SE1. Browse Dreamscape’s Derek Jarman News Archive.

Here is everything that’s going on in Leeds this weekend.

There’s always something to do in Leeds, so if you find yourself at a loose end this weekend, or any other for that matter, just whack Leeds-List in your search bar and find our guide to what’s on. From the latest shows to club nights and one-off events, we’ve got it covered.

You can enjoy loads of live music in Leeds this weekend. For a 1920’s inspired boogie filled with jazz and blues, get down to HEART for the ever popular Headingley Social, which returns with Devil’s Jukebox. Over at Brudenell Social Club, multi-talented actress and singer Toyah Willcox treats the crowd to a night of new wave and punk rock as well as Fling and their psychedelic sounds.

• Continue reading at Leeds List. NB. This gig, taking place on Friday 22nd February at Brudnell Social Club, has Sold Out!

The centrepiece of this years event is a Quadrophenia 40th Anniversary reunion

Stars of retro TV and film will be descending on Coventry later this year as Covcon returns.

Coventry’s very own Comic Con will be back for a third year this September. The centrepiece of this years event is a Quadrophenia 40th Anniversary reunion where a number of the cast will appear to sign autographs and take part in photo opportunities.

Guests already confirmed include Mark Wingett, Toyah Willcox and Garry Cooper with more to be announced over the coming weeks.

The event will also pay homage to British classics such as Dad’s Army, Yes, Minister, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads, Doctor Who and more with guests such as Ian Lavender, Derek Fowlds, James Bolam and John Leeson set to appear. Organisers say many more famous names will be announced before the show opens.

• Continue reading at the Coventry Telegraph.

Jubilee is showing at The Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Place, London on Tuesday 12th March.

Jubilee | Directed by Derek Jarman
Starring Jenny Runacre, Nell Campbell, Toyah Willcox
1978 | 106mins | UK | rated (15)

Queen Elizabeth I and her occult aide Dr John Dee (brilliantly played by Jenny Runacre and Richard O’Brien, respectively) travel into the future, encountering the megalomania of big business as well as gangs of violent, marauding killers. Derek Jarman is hitting his stride here – and doesn’t spare the shocks – while electrifying punk rock numbers are abrasively delivered by Jayne County and Adam Ant. The mythological past and bleak future converge on the sparse, grey streets of London.

• Continue reading/Further info at The Prince Charles Cinema.

Square Chapel Arts Centre last night tweeted: “We love Toyah. What an inspirational person” following their 40th Anniversary screening of Quadrophenia, Toyah’s post-film Q&A session and an Acoustic, Up Close & Personal performance at the Halifax venue. See more tweets and photos from yesterday’s events by clicking below. (Photos © Square Chapel Arts Centre)

Toyah’s debut live release was the Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! album issued on Safari Records in November 1980.

Recorded at a concert on 17th June 1980 – on the Ieya UK Tour – at the Lafayette Club in Wolverhampton, the concert was also filmed by ATV as part of the documentary TOYAH, which aired in the UK in December of that year.

A single was also released from the album, Danced (Live), backed with Neon Womb (Live). This was Toyah’s sole live single release.

Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! was released on CD in 1990 by the Great Expectations label (along with coloured vinyl and cassette) and a new remastered reissue Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! (Special Edition) CD was released in October 2006 on Cherry Red Records.

• See further info on Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! at Toyah’s Official Instagram and the album’s Wikipedia page.