Perhaps the first British singer to be known only by her first name, Toyah entertained the Corn Hall with a string of post punk hits from the early 80s, and while for those of us of a certain age it was a treat to revisit them, it was also a revelation to hear them reinvented for acoustic guitar and vocals.
Flanked by two superb guitarists, and backed by video and still images, Toyah Ann Willcox proved to be a slick and accomplished performer. Opening on Good Morning Universe, she mixed lesser known gems with some cosy chit chat as well as big hitters like Thunder in the Mountains. These stripped down versions of her extensive back catalogue revealed not only how good these songs are, but what a fine voice she has.
• Continue reading at The Corn Hall.
From punk princess to cult stage and screen actress, Toyah Willcox is a vibrant 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 40 years Toyah has amassed thirteen top 40 singles, recorded twenty-four albums, written two books, appeared in over forty stage plays, acted in twenty feature films and presented hundreds of television programmes.
The year 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of her music career as Toyah released her first ever single and album studio in 1979. This concert –with her full electric band– will be a celebratory retrospective including hit singles, album classics and fan favourites.
• Continue reading at Stockton Arts Centre.
Read Toyah’s September 2018 blog at toyahwillcox.com.
As previously reported, Toyah guested on Celebrity Eggheads on BBC2 yesterday evening. Watch the 45-minute episode for the next four weeks at BBC iPlayer. See larger versions of the screen caps from the programme by clicking on them.
Jeremy Vine hosts a special celebrity edition of the show where every day, a new team of challengers take on arguably the greatest quiz team in Britain – the Eggheads. Can a team from the world of arts and entertainment, featuring actor Simon Greenall, singer Toyah Willcox, arts correspondent Nick Higham, award-winning saxophonist YolanDa Brown and Proms presenter Katie Derham, triumph over the general knowledge goliaths and win the cash prize for their charity?
