Derek Jarman’s The Tempest is showing at Athens Open Air Film Festival, taking place between 1st and 31st July 2016. The Tempest is screened on Wednesday 13th July at Peiraios 260, Garden D, and admission is free. See further information on the festival by clicking below.
Creativity, longevity and relationship advice with Toyah Willcox
There aren’t many things that make me nervous these days, I’ve come to the conclusion that I can pretty much hold my own in most situations. I’m rarely intimidated and I refuse to treat anyone any differently because of their status. It would seem strange then, that as I’m sitting at my desk watching the clock ticking ever closer to 11am, my palms are sweating and my heart is beating so fast I have to take deep breaths to stop it from leaping out of my chest.
I have a fairly solid reason for the nerves mind you, at the aforementioned time I’m scheduled to do a telephone interview with Toyah Willcox. The prospect of dialing her number and asking to speak to her is doubly scary because I have loved her work since I first saw her perform on Top Of The Pops, and if the truth be told, I’ve never done anything like this before – I didn’t tell her that though and I hope she didn’t realise!
The purpose of the call was to talk to her about her sharing the stage with the fabulous Marc Almond for the Last Night Party at the Grassington Festival of Music and Arts that’s taking place June 17th to July 2nd. It sounds like it’s going to be a fantastic festival (and why wouldn’t it be, it is in Yorkshire after all). Toyah is supporting Marc Almond for the final night of the event July 2nd at the Festival in the Field Marquee.
• Continue reading at Northern Life Magazine. (Photos © Toyah Willcox/Dean Stockings)
Toyah, Simon Darlow, Chris Wong, Tim Rose and Colin Hinds at Glastonbury’s “PRS for Music” tent/stage last weekend. (Photo © Toyah Willcox)
This August BFI Southbank will host Don Letts Presents: Punk on Film, a season of films curated by film director, DJ and musician Don Letts. The season will bring together a broad range of documentary, archive footage and feature films that draw attention to the diversity of the punk movement, how it has been depicted on film, and its huge influence on filmmakers past and present.
Films being screened during the season will include Don Letts’ Grammy award-winning doc The Clash: Westway to the World (2000), Jubilee (Derek Jarman, 1978) and Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer (Mike Lerner, Maxim Pozdorovkin 2013). The season will include a World Punk Day on Sunday 7 August, featuring screenings of Afro Punk (2003) which follows black punks in the USA, Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam (2009) about the birth of the Muslim punk scene, and Punk in Africa (2012) which explores the spread of punk across that continent.
Don Letts Presents: Punk on Film is part of Punk.London a year-long festival that celebrates punk, a counter-cultural movement that has had a profound and lasting impact on the face of music, film, culture, art and fashion.
• Further info on this and “Punk.London” at the BFI website and the Press Releases: August 2016 at BFI Southbank and Don Letts Presents: Punk on Film at BFI Southbank.
• Arab Times Online: Humor, gore in Oram’s ‘Aaaaaaaah!’: Though it’s at once too subtle and too extreme to attract a broad audience, those who get something out of gross-out humor, silent film and British comedy will treasure “Aaaaaaaah!” as a rare cult gem – Continue Reading…
• Wet Paint Theatre/Films: Hound: Lots of info on this new film, currently in production, here…
• New York Times: In London, A Celebration Of All Things Punk: Corbin’s “Visible Girls” series is part of a digital presentation during the gallery’s “Punk Weekender”: a three-day event incorporating exhibitions, a screening of Derek Jarman’s film “Jubilee” and a performance by the postpunk all-female band the Raincoats – Continue Reading…
• Warrington Guardian: Eighties Night: Win a VIP Package and a Pair of Tickets to the Eighties Night with Rick Astley, Toyah and Paul Young on the 22nd July – Continue Reading…
• Essex Chronicle: Chelmsford City Racecourse hosts second annual Ladies’ Day extravaganza: Tickets are still on sale for Simply Red’s performance on July 1, while Katherine Jenkins, Paul Young, Rick Astley and Toyah will all take to the stage next month – Continue Reading…
• Radio New Zealand: The World’s Greatest Guitar Solos!: Robert Fripp with Brian Eno: ‘Baby’s on Fire’ from Eno’s Here Come The Warm Jets features an off the wall solo, triple-tracked by Robert Fripp, originally a founding member of King Crimson. Eno and Fripp have collaborated a lot over the years on all manner of records including ‘No Pussyfooting’ and contributions to David Bowies single ‘Heroes’. Robert Fripp is a most unusual man who is married to singer Toyah Willcox – he’s had an amazing creative career – Continue Reading…
Thanks to Brian for this fantastic colourful shot of Toyah onstage last night at Hole In The Roof in Deal, Kent for a Proud, Loud & Electric gig. (Photo © Brian Marsh)
Toyah showed her support for Chorley & South Ribble A&E on Friday during a visit to Preston to play an acoustic gig… (Photo © 2BR Lancashire)
Meanwhile, actress and singer Toyah Willcox has also put her voice to the campaign.
Whilst on her ‘Up Close and Personal’ tour at Preston’s Guild Hall, Toyah showed her support with a picture online calling to save Chorley and South Ribble A&E.
It comes as campaigners have gone another weekend protesting outside of the department’s entrance – their 11th week in total.
• Continue reading at the 2BR Lancashire.
Toyah played Glastonbury yesterday – tweeting this photo today – Tonight there is a Sold Out gig at The Hole In The Roof, Deal. Click below to visit Toyah @ Twitter. (Photo © Toyah Willcox)
Quadrophenia: Sky Select HD: Tuesday 28th June: 2.45am
The Who wrote and produced this energetic story of a young man disillusioned with his life in 1960s London. Phil Daniels excels as the alienated anti-hero Jimmy Cooper. Director: Franc Roddam. Starring: Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox, Philip Davis, Mark Wingett, Sting, and Ray Winstone. (Sky Select HD is on Sky Channel 312)
Pop icon, actress and household name Toyah is bringing her acoustic show to Dorchester Arts at the town’s Corn Exchange.
The show features acoustic versions of songs such as Thunder in the Mountains and Good Morning Universe to Sensational – a track that was used recently on a national TV advertising campaign starring Patsy Kensit.
Tickets for Toyah: Up Close and Personal are available from the www.dorchesterarts.org.uk website or call the box office on 01305 266926.
• Continue reading at Blackmore Vale Magazine.
Tonight Toyah plays an Acoustic, Up Close & Personal date at The Guild Hall & Charter Theatre, Preston. Click below to visit the venue website for last minute tickets and further information.
Who’s Doing The Dishes?: UTV Ireland: Wednesday 6th July: 2.30pm
Brian McFadden presents the dining challenge. Will it remain a mystery that Toyah Willcox is the celebrity host when she throws a dinner party for four complete strangers?
Toyah is playing Cleethorpes Rocks Festival on Sunday 21st August, alongside From The Jam. Click below for more info at the festival website. More info at toyahwillcox.com too.
Tickets go on sale for two big acts at Derby Cathedral
Tickets have gone on sale for performances in Derby by musicians Toyah and Ian Anderson.
Former punk star Toyah, who shot to fame in the late 1970s, will be performing an intimate acoustic set on Saturday August 27. And on Thursday, December 15, progressive rock and folk musician Ian Anderson, lead singer of Jethro Tull, will be performing the group’s classics and traditional festive songs.
The concerts are among the first major events announced as part of Derby Cathedral’s new events programme, which aims to bring evening footfall into the city while raising important funds for the upkeep of the cathedral.
• Continue reading at the Derby Telegraph.
Wonderful WillyFred passed away yesterday :(
Final countdown is on to Grassington Festival, which will offer music, mayhem, colour and creativity
Grassington Festival 2016 kicks off tomorrow with an opening night party featuring chart-topping 80s band Hue and Cry. For the next 15 days, the festival will offer music, mayhem, colour and creativity as artists, musicians and festival goers converge on the village in search of fun and inspiration.
Now in its 36th year, it boasts a wide range of events and activities from family friendly entertainment to walks, talks, workshops and creative challenges – many of which are free. The second week also boasts the now renowned Festival in the Field which will once again feature some of the biggest names from the worlds of comedy and music.
Seth Lakeman will be first to perform in the marquee on Tuesday, June 28, followed by the first-ever Live at the Marquee comedy night featuring Rich Hall, Rob Beckett, Shappi Khorsandi and Justin Moorhouse.
Next up are the critically acclaimed Bootleg Beatles, followed by 70s and 80s icon The Stranglers. The legendary Marc Almond supported by Toyah Willcox will bring the festival to a close on Saturday, July 2 with what is sure to be a Last Night Party to remember.
• Continue reading at the Craven Herald & Pioneer. Visit the Grassington Festival website for further details and to purchase tickets. View more info on Toyah’s appearance at toyahwillcox.com. Browse all of Dreamscape’s Grassington Festival 2016 news.
After Toyah’s sell-out performance last year, the household name, pop icon, TV presenter and stage/screen actress is returning to the Engine Shop at Enginuity in Coalbrookdale on Friday evening, 7th October. ‘Toyah: Acoustic, Up Close & Personal’ is a wonderful chance to experience the 1980s pop superstar in an intimate setting where music and stories take centre stage.
The show will see Toyah performing an unplugged set of her much-loved hits and classic songs. Toyah will also be recalling stories from her colourful, 35 year career, which has included roles in Calamity Jane, Cabaret, Peter Pan, Jubilee and Quadrophenia.
• Continue reading at Shropshire What’s On.
This year is the 30th anniversary of the release of the Toyah & Fripp spoken word album collaboration The Lady Or The Tiger. Featuring two stories by Frank R Stockton, read by Toyah, accompanied by Robert Fripp’s guitar soundscapes (some call it “Frippertronics”). Watch Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists on VH-1’s New Visions from 1988, with a mention for The Lady Or The Tiger included, by clicking below.
Perth’s bid to be the UK’s City of Culture is being backed by pop star Toyah Willcox
The ‘80’s hit-maker believes the Fair City is in rude health to challenge for the prestigious honour, and that the annual staging of the Rewind Scotland festival at Scone Palace can only boost the locality’s case.
The Birmingham-born singer and actresss regularly visits the area and was a popular draw at Perth Concert Hall when the musical Vampires Rock enjoyed sold-out stints at the venue in 2009 and 2010.
“It doesn’t surprise me that Perth is bidding to become the UK City of Culture,” Ms Willcox said. “I think Perth deserves that recognition as much as any other city.”
“I think cities that preserve their own culture and look after it, and are in touch with their own history, as well as supporting the local population, deserve to be City of Culture. I think it’s a very good thing to have happen and I wish Perth the best of luck.”
• Continue reading at The Courier.
A new interview with Toyah – one of the best for quite a while – has been published by the Write Wyatt blog.
Getting up close and personal with Toyah
Regular readers of this blog won’t be surprised that this scribe is an avid viewer of BBC 4’s Top of the Pops re-runs, a point I soon confess to my latest interviewee, Toyah Willcox.
“Oh, God bless those!”
The more recently re-aired shows take me back to my early teens, at a time when this highly-recognisable West Midlands raised actress and singer was enjoying a string of hits, not least the distinctive It’s a Mystery, Thunder in the Mountains and I Want To Be Free.
Admittedly, you’ve always had to wade through a lot of rubbish on Top of the Pops, recent examples ranging from Captain Beaky and Joe Dolce to The Snowmen and Starsound. But it also makes me realise how many great characters there were in music at the time. ‘Old bloke with rose-tinted nostalgic specs’ alert, but the charts today just don’t seem to have that same level of OTT theatricality. This was after all an era when the disparate likes of Adam Ant, Buster Bloodvessel, Clare Grogan, Hazel O’Connor, John Lydon, Lee John, Siouxsie Sioux and Ms Willcox herself were beamed into our front rooms on Thursday nights. Just where are the characters now?
“It was phenomenal back then. There were big characters out there. We all had to perform live and came up performing live. There were very few contrived acts. A very different time. We also all wrote, and I think it’s really important to write your own material. It was almost a dirty word to do somebody else’s song.
“I had to be coerced into doing Echo Beach (1987). That was a hit for me, but I felt a sense of shame at the time. Now I absolutely love performing it. Back then it was really important that the songs were your voice.”
• Continue reading at Write Wyatt.
