Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Details of, and booking for, the V&A Caryn Franklin, Toyah Willcox and Brix Smith-Start: In Conversation event is now available at the V&A website.

What: Evening events
When: Fri 8 November 2013 18:30 – 19.30
Where: The Lydia & Manfred Gorvy Lecture Theatre

Evening Talk: Join Caryn Franklin, Toyah Willcox and Brix Smith-Start as they bring their thoughts, ideas and experiences to a discussion on women who developed, fused and influenced fashion and music in 1980s London. Plus enjoy an exclusive look at some of Toyah’s original 80s performance costumes.

• Happy Birthday Joel: All the best to Joel Bogen who is 55 today. Toyah’s guitarist from the beginning of her music career and through all the Safari Records years and albums. He co-wrote songs like Neon Womb, Danced, Computer, Elusive Stranger, Our Movie, Race Through Space, Vision, Love Me, Ieya, Bird in Flight, Jungles of Jupiter, Castaways, The Packt, Dawn Chorus, Brave New World, Laughing With The Fools, Angel & Me, Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard), Dreamscape, Martian Cowboy, Moonlight Dancing and many others.

• The Older Woman: Series Two: The second series of the radio drama, which was originally broadcast on ‘BBC Radio 4’ in August 1994, has just started airing on ‘BBC Radio 4 Extra’. Although Toyah doesn’t appear in this series she is still credited as she sings the theme tune, which has been very slightly changed from Series One – Listen at BBC iPlayer…

• Clipper Round The World: The best of luck to Toyah’s sister, Nicola, who is taking part in a 10 month round the world yacht race, which she started yesterday. View a photo of Nicola, holding a couple of treasured items, at Instagram…

• Toyah & Suzy: A great photo of Toyah and Suzy Quatro having fun in Chichester on Saturday night at Vintage TV’s third birthday celebrations – View here…

• Manchester Pride 2013: Another half dozen photos of Toyah from last weekend’s festival – View here…

• Tales Of The Unexpected: The full “Blue Marigold” is available to watch at ‘You Tube’. Go back to the 60s via the 80s here…

• Live 2014: There’s now a Toyah page at the Holmfirth Picturedome’s website – They say: “New gig! Toyah will be performing at The Picturedrome, Holmfirth on February 21st 2014!” –  View here…

A few more recent online reports about the V&A ‘Club to Catwalk’ exhibition, including more great shots of Toyah’s Melissa Caplan outfit:

• Hardzine: Club to Catwalk: London Fashion in the 80s – Review: Playing homage to the eccentricity of 80s fashion and the eclectic inspirations behind it, the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Club to Catwalk exhibition captured in essence the radical theatrics of 80s design – Continue reading…

• Chinti & Parker: ‘Club to Catwalk’ at the V&A Museum: Chinti and Parker’s perpetual love of outlandish prints and zingy colour combinations has meant that we’ve been dying to get down to the V&A’s ‘Club to Catwalk’ exhibition since it opened in July.  A retrospective on how London’s vibrant Eighties club scene sparked a new wave of design inspiration – Continue reading…

• House of Helen: V&A Club to Catwalk: 1980s Fashion Exhibition: Last month, the iconic V&A museum opened their Club to Catwalk: London Fashion in the 1980s exhibition. The 1980s was a poignant era in fashion history. It saw the birth of London Fashion Week and institutes such as the British Fashion Council – Continue reading…

• Club to Catwalk: In Conversation: Toyah is participating in a special event with Caryn Franklin and Brix Start-Smith on Friday 8th November. The details have yet to be added to the V&A event schedule but not doubt soon will be.

• Dreamscaping @ Club to Catwalk: View all of our Club to Catwalk news updates here.

It was a busy Bank Holiday weekend for Toyah, with two live appearances: On Saturday she played a full band gig at the Upton Music Festival in Worcestershire, and on Sunday a PA at Manchester Pride. Watch Toyah perform Echo Beach at Upton and It’s A Mystery at Pride. (Thanks to Nick Houghton & Paul Lomas)

More of Andrew’s great Toyah art has just been added to his website, In The Fairground. There are eight new additions in total, in the Portraits, Changeling and Screenshots galleries. Check out the Updates page for the full details and click below to visit Andrew’s Arternative Toyah Universe!

Over the last few months at Facebook I’ve been sporadically counting down the Top 5 Most Iconic Toyah Images – Of course this will differ for most of us and these are only my personal choices, but I’m sure at least a couple below are everyone’s favourites. Anyway, I’ll be posting my #1 very soon and I’m sure many of you will know already what it is.

Facebook Toyah fans “liked” these four in the following order: 1. Thunder In The Mountains, 2. Ieya/The Blue Meaning, 3. Sheep Farming In Barnet, 4. Anthem.

Thousands of families, friends and even faithful pets danced the weekend away at the fourth Upton International Music Festival.

More than 4,000 people turned out for the three-day event, which kicked off on Friday in Fish Meadow and boasted something for all.

There was a real family atmosphere with young and old enjoying performances from stars including 80s soul favourite Alexander O’Neal, Chesney Hawkes and West Country legends the Wurzels.

Also on the bill was Pershore resident Toyah Willcox, Slade and the Official Bucks Fizz.

People even paid homage to some of the bands on stage by dressing in brightly coloured gear from the 1960s and 70s. Speaking to your Worcester News on Saturday, festival spokesman Steve High was in upbeat mood. “It’s a great atmosphere,”.

• Continue reading at the Ledbury Reporter. (Photo © Ledbury Reporter)

• Manchester Pride 2013: Toyah played a 30 minute set last night at the Pride event. She tweeted: “WOW! That was the most electrifying manchester pride ever! Massive jubilant crowd. Thank you“. A selection of video clips have been uploaded to You Tube – View here…

• Demotix: Annual Pride festival culminates with the Big Weekend in Manchester: Some great photos of Toyah from last night’s Pride at the Network for Freelance Photojournalists – View here…

• Reality Meltdown: As the saying goes – There’s no such thing as bad publicity – so the fact that two reality shows Toyah has appeared in make Buzz Feed’s “The 17 Most Forgettable Celebrity Reality Shows” anti-poll is vaguely impressive – Continue reading…

• Upton Festival 2013: Toyah tweeted about playing the Upton Festival on Saturday: “Upton Festival thank u. Great weather, great audience, fab sound, band amaz.”

• Pinterest: I Was An 80s Teenager – Includes some shots of Toyah – View here…

Quadrophenia launches the 2013/14 Calgary Cinematheque season, showing this coming Wednesday. Here are a couple of reports.

• CJSW.com: An Outdoor Screening: Quadrophenia: Join us for a one-time-only, outdoor screening of Franc Roddam’s 1979 film, Quadrophenia to launch the 2013/14 Calgary Cinematheque season. Prior to the screening, enjoy the Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmers’ Market, and HSCA member and guest beer and wine garden. “Set against the soundtrack of The Who’s 1973 mighty concept album “Quadrophenia”, Phil Daniels plays working-class Jimmy, the drug-induced Mod, who hates his job and is misunderstood by his parents – Continue reading…

• Calgary Herald: The Poseur’s Guide to Quadrophenia: Mods and rockers should hop on their scooters and motorcycles and get down to the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Centre Wednesday. Once there, the two camps need to put aside ancient enmities long enough (a little over two hours) to enjoy Calgary Cinematheque’s screening of Quadrophenia, the 1979 film based on The Who’s 1973 album of the same name. Poseurs, on the other hand, need to study up, then hop on the bus or their bicycles – Continue reading…

Toyah will revisit the very beginning of her career next month at the Kaleidoscope event: Made at the Mill: A Celebration of Pebble Mill taking place in Stourbridge. Look! Hear!, which Toyah co-presented between 1979 and 1981 and Glitter will both feature at the two day 25th anniversary event. Glitter, which Dreamscape has posted about numerous times over the last decade, aired in 1976 and was Toyah’s first professional acting role, first television appearance, first music performances – all included in a 30 minute drama from the BBC’s ‘Second City Firsts’. Also appearing was a young Phil Daniels in one of his first roles. Further info on Glitter here. (Thanks to Andi, who originally provided much of the info and imagery from Glitter)

Vote for your preference on merchandise for the forthcoming Love Is The Law & More Tour. Choose which option which would be your preference… and imagine they all feature brand new Toyah image/photo. 1: T-Shirt + Poster or 2: T-Shirt + Photo Booklet (Tour Programme). Click below to visit Toyah’s Official Facebook page and vote.

Toyah reunites with her co-presenters from Look! Hear! on Saturday 14 September in a special event organized by Kaleidoscope.

Made at the Mill: A Celebration of Pebble Mill and BBC Birmingham focuses on the golden years of BBC Birmingham, operating from the custom-built Pebble Mill studios. This event celebrates the place, its people and programmes in an affectionate tribute which sees screenings of specially selected programmes.

Toyah joins the event at 2pm when she reunites with Chris Phipps and John Holmes in a panel discussion which looks back at the Midlands music and arts show Look! Hear! which celebrated contemporary pop and rock culture plus a screening of an episode from 1978.

• View further info at the Toyah’s Official News page. The event is free admission and full details can be found here.

Toyah is included in the official Manchester Pride 2013 programme. She plays Sackville Gardens tomorrow night and it’s been confirmed stage time will be 9pm. (Thanks to Paul Lomas for the scan)

• Rebel Run: We’re fast approaching the 30th anniversary of the release of Toyah’s first, and penultimate on Safari, single of 1983. Rebel Run was released in mid-September and entered the UK charts on the 24th. Over the years it’s become one of Toyah’s best loved singles. View Rebel Run’s Wikipedia page, Toyah’s charts stats at The Official Charts Company and Dreamscape’s Imaginary Love Is The Law Singles Collection.

• Now and Then: Rare 30 minute Toyah special from Carlton TV in 1997, hosted by the late Jim ‘Bullseye’ Bowen – Watch at You Tube…

• Toyah @ Twitter & Instagram: “In 1978 Derek Jarman gave me Complete Shakespeare when he offered me the film “The Tempest” & I’ve found it after 14yrs packed away” – View here…

• Edinburgh Evening News: Hazel O’Connor talks Beyond Breaking Glass: A namecheck for Toyah in this new interview with Hazel – Continue reading…

• Mirror: Cruise News: P&O Cruises has launched its biggest range of trips featuring stars, including Michael Ball, Paul Young and Toyah. David Essex will sing on a 15-night Caribbean transatlantic cruise on Azura, leaving Southampton on November 1. Prices from £999pp. Call: 0843 373 0111.

Toyah plays the Upton Music Festival 2013 this Bank Holiday weekend, alongside numerous other bands.

Line-Up: Main Stage: Saturday 24th August

12:00 China Crisis
13:30 Bucks Fizz
15:00 Toyah Willcox
16:30 Neville Staple
18:00 The Lambrettas
19:30 The Wurzels
21:00 Bad Manners
23:00 Take Fat

Upton Festival is back for its 4th year and we’re bigger and better than ever before. With a huge line-up now spread over THREE stages there’s truly something for everyone… from worldwide superstar artists to local up and coming acts Upton Music Festival is sure to be one of the greatest family festivals of 2013.

• Visit the Upton Music Festival website. View all of our Upton Festival news here.

Two new live PAs for Toyah later in the year, at KAOS, Blackpool in October and Marilyn’s, Evesham, Worcestershire in November.

Thursday 10th October 2013 – KAOS Bar
38-42 Queen Street, Blackpool FY1 2AY
www.kaosbar.co.uk

Saturday 30th November 2013 – Marilyn’s Nightclub
Bridge Street, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 4RY
www.marilynsnightclub.co.uk

• View Toyah’s Official Gigs page. (Slider photo © Ray Sears)

All year we’ve been sporadically looking back to Toyah’s 1983: Trafford Tanzi, The Ebony Tower, Love Is The Law, The Saturday Show, Smash Hits, Rebel Run, Crackerjack, The Russell Harty Show and much more. Take a look back by clicking below.

Hair was back-combed and fluorescent leg-warmers pulled up to celebrate 25 years of an Island charity which supports adults with learning and physical disabilities.

Osel Enterprises, a charity most famous for its Way Forward Programme and Island-sourced bottled water Wight Crystal, celebrated its quarter century at the weekend with a Jack Up the 80s party, sponsored by Jack FM.

Around 2,000 people dug out the shoulder pads and shell suits and headed to the Garlic Festival site in Newchurch to enjoy the festivities with live music from 80s legends, including Bad Manners, Katrina and the Waves, Toyah and Heaven 17 among many others.

• Continue reading at County Press. (Photo © Malcolm Harrison)

• Re:Union: Toyah played the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen last night. She tweeted: “Thank U Aberdeen Students Union 1981, great nite” – View a photo from the gig here…

• Daily Echo: Top Talent on Board: Southampton-based P&O Cruises is launching its biggest ever line-up of star-studded voyages this autumn with famous faces from the stage and screen. Michael Ball, David Essex, The West End Men featuring Lee Mead, and Here And Now – with live performances from six 80s legends including Paul Young, Toyah and many more – Continue reading…

• County Press Online: Charity Parties 80s Style: Around 2,000 people dug out the shoulder pads and shell suits and headed to the Garlic Festival site in Newchurch to enjoy the festivities with live music from 80s legends including Bad Manners, Katrina and the Waves, Toyah and Heaven 17 among many others – Continue reading…

• Official Instagram: Great live photo of Toyah, from ‘Jack Up The 80s’, with the latest confirmed live dates info: gigs confirmed: Manchester Pride: 25 Aug / P&O Here & Now Cruise: 29 Oct – View here… (Thanks to Michael Cooney)

• Jack Up The 80s: A few more photos of Toyah from last weekend’s concert in the Isle of Wight at the ‘Talk Photography’ forum – View here…

• Lady Gaga – Applause: Gaga’s new single sounding “inspired” by Eighties Toyah, Hazel O’Connor and Nina Hagen – The beginning has a “Minx” vibe, with a smidge of ‘I Want To Be Free’, if you ask me ;) – Listen here…

Another live date for Toyah has been confirmed, a PA at Manchester Pride next weekend, Sunday 25th August.

• View more details about Manchester Pride at their Official Website. Browse Toyah’s full 2013 live diary at the Official Gigs page.

Star Studded Celebrity Cruises: Over the years we’ve been delighted to present some famous faces from stage and screen, giving you a unique opportunity to enjoy a more intimate performance and to meet the stars in person. Now we’re more excited than ever to announce our largest ever choice of star studded cruises sailing this autumn and into 2014.

I love the 80s: Here And Now is THE most successful high profile 80s live show. It has been a runaway success since it was launched back in 2001 by Tony Denton Productions.

The show is completely unique as it brings together some of the most iconic and influential names from the world of 80s pop and features six artistes over six different nights, performing their hits and more. Some of the artistes came back purely for this show, so it’s an incredibly unique opportunity to step back in time and relive your youth as you dance and sing along to the very best of the 80s. Joining you on this Oceana cruise will be Paul Young, Howard Jones, Heaven 17, the original punk princess Toyah Willcox, Carol Decker of T’Pau fame and Clare Grogan from Altered Images.