Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

This year Toyah has so far played two Acoustic, Up Close & Personal dates, in Beccles and Wolverhampton. This evening she performs at Sub 89, Reading. There are plenty more dates over the forthcoming months, although two, Selby and Cumbria, have already sold out:

ACOUSTIC SET WITH CHRIS WONG & COLIN HINDS

12 FEB: SUB 89 | READING
13 FEB: CHEESE & GRAIN | FROME, SOMERSET
14 FEB: GLOBE | CARDIFF
26 MAR: THE MUSICIAN | LEICESTER
1 MAY: HAVERHILL ARTS CENTRE | SUFFOLK
2 MAY: SOUNDSTOCK FESTIVAL | CHELMSFORD
9 MAY: TOWN HALL | SELBY **SOLD OUT**
15 MAY: WATERSIDE ARTS CENTRE | SALE
30 MAY: CORN EXCHANGE | HERTFORD
5 JUN: BABBACOMBE THEATRE | TORQUAY
6 JUN: CARNGLAZE CAVERNS | CORNWALL
12 JUN: OAKENGATES THEATRE | TELFORD
19 JUN: LOWDHAM VILLAGE HALL | NOTTINGHAM
27 JUN: LOWER HOLKER VILLAGE HALL | CUMBRIA **SOLD OUT**
10 JUL: NANTWICH CIVIC HALL | EAST CHESHIRE
16 OCT: BEWDLEY FESTIVAL | BEWDLEY
22 OCT: THE BRINDLEY | RUNCORN
6 NOV: PETERBOROUGH | THE CRESSET
21 NOV: HAILSHAM PAVILLION | EAST SUSSEX

Toyah also plays at the London Palladium on 28th June, performing acoustically with Chris Wong, as part of John Shuttleworth & Friends charity concert. The Acoustic, Up Close & Personal dates run throughout 2015 as an extended series of gigs rather than in a single-month tour.

• View more details on the Acoustic… dates and links to book tickets here. View all of Toyah’s confirmed live dates for 2015 at The Official Gigs page.

Mysterious girl: Make a date with pop icon Toyah

As part of the ’80s post-punk New Wave scene, Toyah Willcox had considerable chart success with hits such as It’s A Mystery, I Want To Be Free and Brave New World and starred in movies such as Jubilee and Quadrophenia before turning to television and musical theatre.

Lisa Evans spoke to iconic colourful character before her Up Close And Personal tour comes to Frome’s Cheese and Grain on Friday, February 13.

“I’ve never performed in Frome before so I’m really excited to visit,” said Toyah. “I’ve heard it’s a brilliant venue and a stunning place I love coming to new places so this will be a treat.”

Her current show is a unique chance to experience Toyah up close and personal. A lively unplugged/storytellers style gig, it will include Toyah performing an acoustic set of her loved hit singles and classic songs, alongside recalling stories from her colourful, 35 year career with projections onto a big screen showing clips of films and videos that she has appeared in as she discusses the many famous people she has worked with and the anecdotes with the audience.

“I’ve always loved music and have always felt inspired to do it – it feels like it’s in my genes.”

• Continue reading at the Somerset Guardian. Also available at the Frome Standard: Toyah Willcox gets Up Close And Personal at Frome’s Cheese and Grain.

This Saturday we will be welcoming English singer & actress Toyah Willcox for a very special Cardiff performance, followed by a free live screening of Wales’ 6 Nations match against Scotland on Sunday afternoon. And then on Monday teenage rising-star and X-Factor sensation Bailey McConnell will be performing live.

• Continue reading at The Globe.

A new page Toyah Live 2015 has just been added to Dreamscape’s Gallery. Following on from a busy live 12 months for Toyah last year – see Toyah Live 2014 –  it looks like this will be another. Hopefully the new page will be added to over the coming months. There are already photos from the first two Acoustic, Up Close & Personal gigs (thanks Angus & Paul), including this great shot from Bilston on Thursday. (Thanks to Paul | Photo © P A C Photography)

• View more of Dreamscape’s Gallery pages – Almost 40 years of Toyah’s career in photos – Browse the full Acoustic… UK Tour schedule. The next dates are at Sub 89, Reading on Thursday, Cheese & Grain, Somerset on Friday and Cardiff Globe on Saturday.

Amazing photo from Toyah’s Acoustic, Up Close & Personal gig at the Robin 2, Wolverhampton last night, by Paul of P A C Photography. The set-list included: Bird in Flight, Jungles of Jupiter, Soul Passing Through Soul and Danced. Please revisit over the weekend to see more photos from the concert at our new “Live 2015” gallery page. (Thanks to Paul | Photo © P A C Photography)

Toyah is Acoustic, Up Close & Personal at the Robin 2, Bilston, Wolverhampton tonight. It’s going to be a great gig (and “Come” from the amazing In The Court Of The Crimson Queen has been added to the set-list!). Toyah has played this venue several times over the last decade. Click below for gig details and ticket link at toyahwillcox.com. (Thanks to Alyson for the photo)

Toyah Willcox has announced details of two rare club show with her band, The Humans.

The new wave star, with R.E.M drummer Bill Rieflin and Chris Wong, will head to London’s 100 Club on April 18, before a show at Chatham Dockyard’s Britannia Theatre the following day. Tickets are on sale now, priced at £22.00 in London and £16.50 in Chatham, plus fees.

Having formed in 2007, the trio released their most recent album, ‘Strange Tales’, in spring last year.

Toyah And The Humans Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:

Sat April 18 2015 – LONDON 100 Club
Sun April 19 2015 – CHATHAM The Britannia Theatre

• Continue reading at Stereoboard.com. View the complete Telling Strange Tales UK Tour schedule by clicking below.

As previously mentioned a new t-shirt will be available at Toyah’s 2015 gigs, and here’s the reverse which features all of this year’s dates. Click below to view the full photo.

There’s a new tour t-shirt for 2015! Featuring the very first Toyah logo on the front, and all dates will be listed on the reverse. Coming soon! Click below to browse all of Toyah’s live dates for 2015.

Toyah tones down her punk pedigree for acoustic Black Country gig

Toyah is toning down her punk pedigree for an acoustic adventure which promises a mix of stories and songs. The singer found fame during the 70s And 80s as an actress and musician who clocked up platinum sales with her album Anthem and The Changeling.

Toyah, who grew up in Birmingham, was awarded a prestigious Honorary Doctorate by the University of Central England to recognise her achievements in performing arts, media and broadcasting. During her career Toyah has consistently returned to making music and she is set for a UK tour of acoustic shows joined by Chris Wong and Colin Hinds for songs interspersed with stories and images from her career.

The tour will roll into the Robin 2, Bilston on Thursday February 5, support at the show will come from Jonny Cole and Steve Mercy.

• Continue reading at the Stourbridge News. View further info and ticket links for this gig.

Photos from last Saturday’s Acoustic, Up Close & Personal concert at Beccles Public Hall. Click below to view larger versions of these great shots. (Thanks to Angus | Photos © Angus Turner)

Toyah’s successful Acoustic, Up Close & Personal UK Tour, which played numerous dates and received great feedback and reviews in 2014, continues through 2015. The first date of the year, which is also Toyah’s first gig of 2015, takes place at Beccles Public Hall this Saturday. Click below to view the full tour schedule.

View photos from a selection of last year’s Acoustic dates, as well as other Toyah gigs, at Dreamscape’s Gallery. Browse all of our Acoustic, Up Close & Personal tour news. View Toyah’s complete 2015 gig diary.

New season at Selby Town Hall to include punk poets, post-punk musicians and stand-up comedians

Selby Town Hall has lined up 20 acts for February to June covering the usual mix of folk, blues, Americana, comedy, theatre and poetry.

Eighties’ star of stage, screen and pop chart Toyah Willcox presents Toyah: Up Close And Personal, a sold-out, career-spanning acoustic show on May 9.

“Our spring season brings stars from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 21st century, with shows that cover blues to Britpop, poetry to plays and everything in between” says Chris Jones, Selby Town Council’s arts officer.

“I’m really thrilled to have secured so many acts who are more often seen in spaces far bigger than Selby Town Hall. It’s the intimacy of the performances here that really makes them so special. The chance to enjoy acts like Cara Dillon, John Cooper Clarke, Toyah Willcox and Alexei Sayle in a venue where you can see the whites of their eyes is pretty exciting!”

• Continue reading at The York Press.

Later in the year Toyah will play the Flashback Festival 2015 at Clumber Park, Worksop. This will be a “70s Vs 80s” two day line-up.

Previously known as ‘Flashback to the 80s’, Flashback 2015 takes place at Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire.

Dubbed “’70s Vs ’80s” with Sister Sledge, Boney M, The Real Thing, Hot Chocolate, Odyssey and more representing the ’70s and The Human League, Marc Almond, Jason Donovan, Fivestar, Toyah and The Doctor (from Dr and the Medics) representing the ’80s.

Flashback Festival 2015 takes place on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd August. A special guest for the 70s concert is still to be revealed, with further announcements to be made over the coming months.

What better way is there to spend a long summer evening than listening to your favourite performers in the picturesque location of Clumber Park? This year you can really make a weekend of it with our fabulous new twist  70’s v 80’s  On Friday we will introduce a fantastic 70’s disco line up and on Saturday the 80’s are back with another wonderful selection of 80’s artists. Day tickets are available for your chosen era but if you really want to go for it various camping options are available for both Friday and Saturday!

Visit the Flashback Festival 2015 website. Stay updated via their Twitter page.

Revenge of the 80s: 31 May 2015
Toyah, The Christians, Jim Diamond

Toyah Willcox headlines a special evening also featuring The Christians and Jim Diamond which spans thirty years of greatest hits from the 1980s and beyond.

Toyah Willcox
Household name, pop icon, TV presenter, and stage and screen actress (Calamity Jane, Cabaret, Jubilee, Quadophenia) Toyah together with with her full band perform a lively, energetic set in her own unique style and includes her much-loved hit singles It’s A Mystery, Thunder In The Mountains, Brave New World and I Want To Be Free.

• Continue reading at The Mayflower.

John Shuttleworth and friends (including Chas and Dave, Toyah, Martyn Ware, John Otway, Gordon Giltrap and others to be announced) will perform for one night only at the London Palladium in ‘A Knight at the Palladium’ in aid of the MS Trust and an MS Centre in Sheffield.

“Sheffield’s funniest man” (The Guardian), the versatile singer/organist John Shuttleworth, plays the London Palladium to celebrate 30 years in ‘showbiz’ and is joined by star guests from his recent Lounge Music BBC Radio 4 series, plus others (TBA).

• Continue reading at the Multiple Sclerosis Trust.

It’s been confirmed that Toyah will join John Shuttleworth & Friends for a charity concert at the London Palladium this Summer. Toyah will perform with John and Chris Wong.

28th June 2015 at London Palladium:
John Shuttleworth and Friends in aid of MS charities with Chas and Dave, Toyah, Martyn Ware, Gordon Giltrap and others to be announced.

• Further info and ticket links at toyahwillcox.com.

Fairport’s Cropredy Convention: first acts for 2015 announced

The organisers of Fairport’s Cropredy Convention announced yesterday (Friday 12 December) the first acts booked to appear at the 2015 festival.

The three-day event, staged by folk-rock band Fairport Convention, takes place annually near Banbury and is Oxfordshire’s most popular music festival. As host band, Fairport Convention will open the festival on Thursday 13 August with a short semi-acoustic set.

On Saturday 15 August, Toyah Willcox will be another welcome newcomer to Cropredy when she performs with her band.

• Continue reading at Folking.com. View more info on the festival at Fairport Convention Official Website.

The Breaking Through newsletter has today confirmed more live dates for Toyah. These are in addition to the Acoustic and Humans tours and includes festivals and multi-artist concerts.

• Subscribe: For full info on all of the above, and to receive future issues of the newsletter, sign up to ‘Breaking Through’ here.

• Toyah Live 2015: As well as the Acoustic, Up Close & Personal and Telling Strange Tales (The Humans) tours in 2015, Toyah already has a number of other live dates in her gig diary – View the full schedule, so far, at toyahwillcox.com…

• Toyah TV: An update, from Toyah, on the awesome WillyFred – View here…

• Longridge & Ribble Valley News: ‘I said: ‘I want a record deal! How do you do it?’: Hazel O’Connor mentions Toyah in another new interview – Hazel was among those guesting for The Stranglers over two nights at London’s Rainbow Theatre, alongside her friend Toyah Willcox. “They asked a few of us to do a couple of Stranglers songs, and I did (Get a) Grip (On Yourself) and Hanging Around, while Toyah did Duchess and something else. Toyah and myself also did backing vocals for Ian Dury, and lots of singers and guitarists played” – Continue reading…

• Get Reading: Bracknell Memories: Christmas lights switch-ons past: 2007: 80s star Toyah Willcox performed to a bustling Charles Square. The highlight was her cover of the Guns N Roses classic ‘Sweet Child O Mine’. At one point, the crowd performed an impressive Mexican wave – Continue reading…

• Never Mind The Buzzcocks: An episode of the, once great, quiz from 1998 – with Toyah guesting – View at You Tube…

• Toyah Live 2012/2013: Watch The Changeling Resurrection at Bush Hall, London and Love Is The Law & More at Concorde 2, Brighton. (Thanks to Lärwi, of The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive, for taking the time to film, compile and upload these).

• Record Collector Mag @ Twitter: “RC starting the day with Toyah’s Anthem. Now there was a band!” – Visit the magazine’s Twitter feed…

Soundstock Festival tickets on sale tomorrow at launch party

Tickets are set to go on sale for a new family-friendly festival coming to Roxwell next year.

Soundstock Festival, a two-day music and comedy event, will be held on the weekend of May 2 and 3 and could see thousands of people through the gate. Music acts confirmed so far include former X Factor contestants Next of Kin as well as Toyah Willcox, Ultimate Eagles, the Johnny Cash Roadshow and the Simon and Garfunkel Story.

• Continue reading at the Chelmsford Weekly News.