More great shots of Toyah, Acoustic, Up Close & Personal, on the opening date of the tour in Buxton, at the Pavilion Arts Centre on Wednesday night. Please click below to view the full versions at Dreamscape’s Gallery. (Photos © Angus Turner)
My Vintage with The Fripps airs again tonight on Vintage TV. A great hour of chat and classic music choices from Robert and Toyah. Toyah also pops up as a presenter on Vintage this evening, hosting The Vintage TV Sessions, a show which she has also recorded performances for. That show is set to air sometime in March. Here’s the full Fripp Playlist from My Vintage:
Salisbury Hill – Peter Gabriel, Rapture – Blondie, Heroes – David Bowie, Fashion – David Bowie, Imagine – John Lennon, Bridge Over Troubled Waters – Simon & Garfunkel, Angels – Robbie Williams, I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston.
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.
My Vintage: Vintage TV: Thursday 20th February: 10.00pm
Toyah and Robert. New! Husband and wife team, punk princess Toyah Willcox and guitarist and record producer Robert Fripp, invite My Vintage viewers into their home for their top record picks.
A few screen caps from the promo advert for the third show of The Vintage TV Sessions series. This airs this evening on Vintage TV and is hosted by Toyah. Guests include Gabrielle and The Jar Family. View larger versions of the screen caps and click below to watch the advert.
Toyah began her Acoustic, Up Close & Personal tour last night at Buxton Pavilion Arts Centre. The tour continues tonight at Lowther Pavilion. Here are a few photos of Toyah taken last night. Click on these for info on the Acoustic… tour at Toyah’s Official Website. (Photos © Jill Perlstrom)
• I hear, on good authority, that the very wonderful ‘Dreamscape’ was included in last night’s opening gig set. Tickets for The Duchess, York Acoustic… gig are also now on sale, here.
Toyah’s first Acoustic, Up Close & Personal date takes place tonight; there’s been news of the digital reissue of The Acoustic Album; a great collection of acoustic rarities has just been gifted to fans by Toyah; and there’s even an acoustic Live Track Of The Month… So there’s definitely a nice acoustic feeling in the air (I’ve been playing The Acoustic Album and the rarities collection while readying Issue Two of my fanzine for the printers).
Toyah tweeted yesterday: “Photoshoot for Mail then I head up north. Running set for Acoustic show….it sounds fresh and exciting. Guitar arrangements r so clever“. She also mentioned recently that ‘Obsolete’ was sounding “great unplugged”.
Here’s some interesting details on Acoustic, Up Close & Personal from the latest Breaking Through newsletter: Without giving the full set list away the show will feature unplugged versions for the first time ever of… Bird In Flight, Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard), Broken Diamonds, Love Is The Law, Dawn Chorus, Latex Messiah (Viva La Rebel In You) and Sensational, amongst others.
The show is acoustic but is intentionally very lively and uptempo! The set list for this show is likely to also alternate throughout the year. It’s a show not to be missed so do try and make it along to hear these unique versions of classics from Sheep Farming, Love Is The Law, Anthem, Crimson Queen, The Changeling and more.
• News Source: Breaking Through: The Official Toyah Newsletter. (Image by Dreamscape, inspired by the recent acoustic artworks by toyahwillcox.com – View a larger version here)
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.
