I thought I’d share this fantastic “Thank You” image Andrew, of In The Fairground, posted on his Facebook page last night, in response to posts made celebrating his art website’s first year anniversary. I’ve also added the other birthday image I created (again inspired by Andrew’s art) and posted at Dreamscape’s FB yesterday. Click on each to view larger versions (Thanks Andrew)
Pointless Celebrities: BBC1: Saturday 22nd February: 6.15pm
Celebrities test the depths of their general knowledge in this special edition of the quiz. Stephen K Amos, Toyah Willcox and Katie Derham are among the stars trying to come up with the answers that no-one else could think of. Presented by Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman. (First shown in December 2012)
To mark the 2014 acoustic concerts, Toyah’s unplugged recording The Acoustic Album will be available digitally for the first time from next Monday, 24th February. The release has the same track listing as the original album:
1. The Vow, 2. Moonlight Dancing, 3. Revive The World, 4. I Want To Be Free, 5. It’s A Mystery (Piano Version), 6. Danced, 7. Good Morning Universe, 8. Blue Meanings, 9. Jungles Of Jupiter, 10. It’s A Mystery (Up Tempo Version), 11. Ieya, 12. Angels And Demons, 13. I Am, 14. Thunder In The Mountains, 15. It’s A Mystery (String Version)
The digital version features new artwork. This kickstarts a digital release programme which will see Toyah’s non-Safari catalogue become available digitally.
• News Source: Breaking Through: The Official Toyah Newsletter.
To celebrate the acoustic gigs and to accompany The Acoustic Album a downloadable digital exclusive, available only to subscribers to Breaking Through, has also been made available. The Acoustic Collection compiles thirteen unplugged tracks spanning 1976-2006 with some previously unreleased archive live recordings.
• Sign up to Breaking Through: The Official Toyah Newsletter for further info on this and details of how to download The Acoustic Collection.
The latest “Live Track Of The Month” is also something acoustic: ‘We Are’ from one of Toyah’s trio of live, and acoustic, gigs at Bourbon Street, Glasgow back in early 1997. This track is also included in the aforementioned The Acoustic Collection.
• Visit The Official Toyah Gigs page to listen to ‘We Are’. The entire GLR interview with Toyah, which features the fantastic live versions of ‘Now I’m Running’ and ‘Invisible Love’, is available in Dreamscape Downloads. Look for “Leap! Interview 1993”.
• Smash Hits Archive: The latest issue of ‘Smash Hits’, February 16 – 29 1984, has recently been uploaded to the fantastic Like Punk Never Happened: Smash Hits Archive, 30 years to the day it was originally published. There’s just a tiny news piece, in “Bitz”, on Toyah but worth linking to as this was one of very few mentions for Toyah in the magazine throughout 1984, and it’s also significant as it’s about the first ever Toyah compilation – Visit here…
• Digital Spy: What did we see at the Splash final & wrap party? Anna Williamson’s blog: A couple of photos of Toyah in this article – Continue reading…
• DGM Live: Vintage Fripp: Was great to see Robert Fripp’s website using a screenshot from Dreamscape recently. He made last weekend’s My Vintage really watchable and interesting and seems like a very caring and humble gentleman – View here…
• Toyah’s Speech: Not sure when this is from but ‘Learning-Southwest’ have published a full transcript – Continue reading…
• Live 2014: 48 Hour Party!: Come and join over 1500 people as they rock the night away 80′s style – Continue reading…
• DEF: Donkaster Elektronische Freundschaft’s Jan Doyle Band Support Toyah!: Not only are this band supporting Toyah on her Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits…Live! date at Warehouse 23, Wakefield in April, but any tickets bought via them raises cash for a worthy charity – Continue reading…
There’s now a dedicated section at The Official Toyah Willcox Website for The Humans: With the great response to Get In Your Car, the third album just about to be released and live dates in America in April… it’s a busy time to be Human! Click below to visit.
It’s the beginning of a very busy week for Toyah, with the launch dates of, not one but, two tours. Acoustic, Up Close & Personal begins on Wednesday night, at Buxton Pavilion Arts Centre, and continues on Thursday at Lowther Pavilion. The following night, Friday 21st February sees Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits… Live! get underway with a gig at the Holmfirth Picturedome. This tour continues the following night also, at Queens Hall, Nuneaton. Both tours continue through 2014 with various dates over a number of months.
• New live dates have also just been confirmed: Acoustic, Up Close & Personal at The Duchess, York, and Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits… Live! at the Tivoli Theatre, Wales. There’s also a new “Live Track Of The Month” at The Official Gigs page – ‘We Are (Acoustic)’ from one of Toyah’s trio of great live dates at Bourbon Street, Glasgow in early 1997. A new Breaking Through newsletter has also been mailed out with more info on the tours and digital releases to coincide.
The Vintage TV Sessions: Vintage TV: Thursday 20th February: 8.00pm
The Vintage TV Sessions: Vintage TV: Sunday 23rd February: 10.00pm
New! We are proud to present our third Vintage TV Sessions, live from the Bedford pub in Balham, with Alvin Stardust, Leddra Chapman, Newton Faulkner, Gabrielle and The Jar Family. Hosted by Toyah Willcox.
In The Fairground: Andrew York’s Arternative Universe is celebrating being one year online today. Exactly a year ago Andrew’s website – www.toyahart.co.uk – made its virtual debut and has shared lots of fantastic Toyah artwork with its many visitors over the past 12 months. There’s a new update at the site now to mark this first year. Click below to visit.
Toyah’s interview from Saturday’s Sounds Of The 80s on BBC Radio 2 is now available in full as a standalone clip. Click below to listen. Browse all previous Sounds Of The 80s interviews here.
• My Vintage: Toyah and Robert’s My Vintage aired yesterday evening on ‘Vintage TV’. Featuring great recollections and stories from both and a selection of their favourite songs and artists. The programme is repeated on Thursday at 10pm and is also now available to watch at the station’s website. (Photos © Vintage TV)
• Vintage TV Sessions: We’ve taken five acts and one iconic venue to bring you a wonderful way of seeing established artists and up-and-coming talent in our Vintage TV Sessions. These monthly gems are filmed at the brilliant old Bedford pub in Balham in an intimate setting with a live audience and then broadcast to you. Hosted by Toyah Willcox – Continue reading…
• Acoustic Toyah: As previously mentioned here, and Toyah also talked about it in her latest blog, Vintage TV Sessions will air two new Toyah performances soon – acoustic versions of ‘Thunder In The Mountains’ and ‘I Want To Be Free’.
• Fast Forward To Rewind: If you’re a fan of the festival to all things 80s, you won’t want to miss this unveiling of the performers at Rewind 2014 in our special playlist – View here…
• Vintage Toyah: Browse all of Dreamscape’s Toyah @ Vintage TV related news from the last couple of years here… You can also watch a selection of Toyah’s Vintage TV appearances by searching through their Library.
A short news article on Toyah, by the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, ahead of the Crimson Queen/ Greatest Hits…Live! gig in Holmfirth next Friday.
Seventies and 80s pop star Toyah is set to play a live show at the Picturedrome.
In a career spanning over 30 years she has amassed 13 top 40 singles, recorded 20 albums and toured the world. She first emerged in 1977 and by 1979 Toyah’s band was gaining critical success with the debut single, Victims of the Riddle.
A platinum album Anthem followed and in 1981 she featured on the famous Old Grey Whistle Test Christmas Special. The following year saw her winning Best Female Singer at the Rock And Pop Awards.
• Continue reading at the Huddersfield Daily Examiner.
You can now hear the first taste of The Humans’ forthcoming album release. Get In Your Car can be listened to at Toyah’s official soundcloud.
The track was recorded in Seattle and is one of seven tracks which make up the third album to be released by the transatlantic band comprising Toyah Willcox, Chris Wong and Bill Rieflin. Full details of the digital album release will be announced in the next week. The band will play two live dates at Seattle’s Triple Door Club on 15 and 15 April 2014.
Bill Rieflin also features in the band Slow Music who will perform at the same dates in at the Triple Door Club. Rieflin is currently rehearsing as part of the new King Crimson line-up who will play concerts for the first time in over a decade.
• Source: The Official Toyah Website. Listen to the song at the Official Toyah Soundcloud.
Toyah returned to Splash! last night for the 2014 final. Alongside other competitors from the series she was in the audience to see Perri Kiely, of Diversity, win the competition, Watch the final at ITV Player or STV Player. Browse all of Dreamscape’s Splash! Toyah News.
A reminder that Toyah guests on BBC Radio 2’s Sounds Of The 80s tonight. The show, hosted by Sara Cox, airs between 10pm and Midnight. You can listen live at the website or catch up, post-broadcast, at BBC iPlayer. Toyah’s interview will also likely be made available separately at the site, as has been the case with all previous guests, including Nick Heyward, Adam Ant, Carol Decker and Marc Almond. (Photos © BBC / Toyah Willcox Ltd)
The Corn is Green: True Movies 1: Wednesday 26th February: 11.00am
Academy Award winner Katharine Hepburn stars as a schoolteacher determined to help the people of a turn-of-the-century Welsh mining town. With Ian Saynor, Bill Fraser, Patricia Hayes, Anna Massey, Artro Morris, Dorothea Phillips, Toyah Willcox, Huw Richards, Bryn Fon, Dyfan Roberts and Robin John. Directed by: George Cukor (1979).
Toyah and The Humans are celebrating Valentine’s Day with a preview of the band’s forthcoming third album in the form of a brand new song.
♫ Get In Your Car ♫ Happy new music day (valentine’s) from Toyah and The Humans… the first taste of The Humans’ forthcoming album release. Listen to this new song at Soundcloud.
The Humans are Toyah Willcox, Bill Rieflin & Chris Wong.
The collaboration celebrates the life and work of Jarman in a year that marks the 20th anniversary of his death.
Jarman died in 1994, aged just 52, but his legacy lives on. In the 20 years since, his films have lost none of their relevance and remain influential, with public interest increasing substantially in recent years.
Edinburgh also plays a key role in Jarman’s fascinating story, as he brought several films – starting with The Tempest – to the Edinburgh’s International Film Festival.
With the help of the British Film Institute, the film season will include features such as Caravaggio, The Tempest, The Angelic Conversation, War Requiem, Jubilee, Wittgenstein, The Garden, Blue, The Last of England, Edward II and Glitterbug, alongside more experimental films and rarely seen shorts.
• Continue reading at the Edinburgh Evening News.
New science fiction film shot in Birmingham city centre features humans being zapped in Victoria Square
It’s like a scene from a Hollywood blockbuster, with screaming crowds running for their lives from alien spaceships. But look closer and the out-of-this world invaders zapping fleeing terrified humans are flying above the streets of Birmingham.
Simon Cox has written and directs Kaleidoscope Man, which is being shot in the city – and stars Kings Heath-born Toyah Willcox. The movie features Victoria Square as the backdrop for one scene where 700 extras flee the alien laser strike.
• Continue reading at the Birmingham Mail.
The Lee Mack Show: BBC Radio 4 Extra
Saturday 22nd February: 10.30pm
Episode 6 of 6. Toyah Willcox joins the sharp comedian for stand-up, sketches and music. With Angela McHale and Steve Brown. From April 2005. Includes a great performance of Guns N’ Roses ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ by Toyah.
• Listen online at the BBC website. The programme will also be available, post-broadcast, at BBC iPlayer.
The Official Toyah Facebook has posted intriguing lyrics updates over the last couple of days. Wondering if these are from a new song, or songs, on The Humans’ third album?
♫ all is not as it seems / stuck by the glue of destiny ♫
♫ Changing playmates, changing playgrounds / paint a better backdrop, submerged in city sounds / Stop your excuses, don’t you feel useless / Feel the attractions, start a chain reaction ♫
♫ sleep tight, dream a thousand dreams where you’re swallowed by the sea / sleep tight, dream a thousand dreams dancing on moonbeams ♫
• Queer Pagan Punk: BFI Derek Jarman retrospective: As mentioned yesterday, Toyah guested at this event last night. She tweeted: “fabulous night at @BFI Southbank Jarman retrospective. Loved it. The audience really liked The Tempest“.
• My Vintage: It’s a great upcoming weekend for Toyah fans, not only is she guesting on Sounds Of The 80s (see below) but Sunday sees the premiere of the My Vintage, Toyah and Robert special, which I know a lot of people are looking forward to seeing.
• Sounds Of The 80s: BBC Radio 2: Toyah guests on this show on Saturday night. Toyah tweeted on Tuesday: “I’m Sara cox’s special guest on this sat’s sounds of the 80s @BBCRadio2 10pm“. Listen live at the Radio 2 website or catch up at BBC iPlayer post-broadcast.
• Live 2014: Toyah played her first live date of the year on Sunday. A PA at the Ultimate 80s show in Skegness, with a host of other 80s bands. She tweeted: “In skeggy. Just met Annabelle from Bow Wow Wow 4 1st time! Musical Youth think im a Toyah Impersonator. BOYS! Lol“.
• Busy Toyah!: This “newsy bits” update wouldn’t have been possible without Twitter. Our penultimate post is this tweet from Toyah on how busy she is: “Crazy 2 weeks. Feel like I’m on a bob sleigh run with no shoes on! Acoustic rehearsal\press\tv\scripts\talks….Aaaahhhhhhhhhh“.
• Photos: View larger versions of each of the photos above at Twitter, Instagram and The Official Toyah Website, respectively. (Photos 1&3 © Toyah Willcox Ltd, 2 © Vintage TV)
