This year’s three-day Cleethorpes Rocks festival gets underway tonight.
Over the weekend, the festival – taking place at the Meridian Show – will feature bands such as Wishbone Ash, Scouting For Girls, Toyah and From The Jam – plus a burlesque show. The event kicked off tonight with headline act Wishbone Ash, who will be joined by Mostly Autumn and Danny Bryant. And this year the Frou Frou Club Burlesque and Cabaret Show will also “Rock Cleethorpes”.
It also stars Kitty Bang Bang – a global burlesque sensation and the “wild child” of British Burlesque. Kitty was voted as number 21 in the world in the Top 50 Burlesque performers of 2015. Add to this home-grown Grimsby gal, Lady Wildflower, who is now taking the world of Burlesque by storm – from the UK, to Europe, to China.
Following the news that Toyah Willcox will take to the stage with her full live electric band, bands Criminal Mind and The Jackobins will showcase their talent too.
• Continue reading at the Grimsby Telegraph. Visit the Cleethorpes Rocks festival website here.
A total of 40,000 people will descend on Temple Island Meadows near Henley for the eighth annual Rewind South festival this weekend. The Eighties pop extravaganza will kick off tonight (Friday) with a welcome party headlined by West Country folk band The Wurzels.
Tomorrow’s performers include Rick Astley, whose latest album, 50, topped the charts this week, Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet, Jimmy Somerville, the Trevor Horn Band, Toyah, Leo Sayer and Andy Bell of Erasure.
The festival concludes on Sunday with appearances by Adam Ant, Earth, Wind and Fire, M People’s Heather Small, The Beat, The Blockheads and Heaven 17’s Glenn Gregory, among others. There will be scores of attractions around the site including an inflatable church where revellers can get “married”, real ale and cocktail bars, food stalls, a roller disco, a funfair and a second stage featuring local performers.
The weather is expected to be warm and overcast with sunny spells and the chance of the odd shower tomorrow. Organiser David Heartfield said: “Everything is looking great for the weekend. We’re looking forward to it. It has been incredibly hot this week so I’d welcome slightly cooler weather.”
Toyah has a successful go at covering Martha & The Muffins classic. Released in 1987 this was off the album “Desire” and see’s her go for a more mainstream sound. Mike Hedges gives it enough weird synth sound and the vocal delivery is spot on. The track is remixed by English electro-dance duo, The Quick and it polishes up the original really well. B-side, “Plenty,” was written by Toyah even has a Motown feel to it with a horn section and a guitar solo, weird!
A newly updated and revised version of , Rock and Roll Photography, the book of photographer Gered Mankowitz’s rock photos has just been published. It includes a photo of Toyah on the cover (Thunder In The Mountains) and inside (The Blue Meaning/Ieya).
Gered Mankowitz was the man who created the enduring and defining image of not only Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones but of ‘the rock star.’ Now you can enjoy the best of his 50-year career in this defining tome of photography which chronicles music history, and tells you more about relevant popular culture than any text book could.
Mankowitz has been photographing rock stars for 50 years, helping to create the image of musical legends like Annie Lennox, the Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithfull, Paul McCartney, Duran Duran, Elton John, Oasis, Wham!, and more. Mankowitz’s favourites of his own portraits are included in a new release of his book Rock and Roll Photography. Here are some of the best, from a flawless Kate Bush to a sun-bronzed George Michael, along with quotes from Mankowitz, both from his book and in conversation with BuzzFeed.
Toyah, 1980: “Toyah is a real performer, she developed these extraordinary visual identities that sort of related to her music was saying at that time. This look of flaming hair, punk-priestess, was a portrait intended to present her confrontational power.”
Yes, we are only midway through August but here’s one to put in your diary for early 2017. Toyah will headline Loving The 80’s in January.
After the resounding success of our January Gig we want to bring the 80’s back to the Parr Hall once again! If you love the music, the makeup, the fashion and the vibe of this fantastic decade, join us for a fantastic night on January 28th 2017.
Headlining our gig is the amazing Toyah – we just know you’ll be ” loving the 80’s ” once again!
Toyah will take her Acoustic, Up Close & Personal tour into another year, with new dates already being listed online for 2017.
Toyah Willcox – Up Close and Personal
Acapela Studio, Cardiff: Saturday 1st April, 2017
After a sell out concert in June 2016, Acapela welcomes back the incredible Toyah Willcox. If you missed out on her concert at Acapela then here is your chance to catch the pop icon again in what is sure to be another memorable event.
Book early to avoid disappointment as this is sure to be a sell out again.
• Continue reading/Buy tickets at Ticket Source. Browse all of Toyah’s confirmed forthcoming live dates at toyahwillcox.com.
Dodson & Fogg’s new album, White House On The Hill, is now available on iTunes. This includes the track featuring Toyah, Drinking From The Gun, which can be downloaded individually. Click below for iTunes. Toyah talks about the collaboration in her latest blog.
Former punk princess Toyah Willcox will perform an intimate evening of acoustic music at Derby Cathedral. During her 30-year career she has racked up eight top 40 singles, released more than 20 albums, written two books and appeared in 40 stage plays.
Toyah rose to fame on the back of hits such as It’s A Mystery and Thunder in the Mountains. Her concert on Saturday, August 27, will raise money for the upkeep of Derby Cathedral.
Another chance to see Vintage TV’s 60 minute Toyah special at the end of the month…
Neil McCormick’s Needle Time: Vintage TV: Tuesday 30th August: 4am Toyah Willcox. Prolific artist and actor, who enjoyed hits with ‘It’s a Mystery’, ‘Thunder in the Mountains’ and ‘I Want to be Free’, shares the story behind her remarkable career – Running Time: 60 minutes. Vintage TV is available on Sky 369, Freeview 242, Virgin 343 and Freesat 505.
Quadrophenia: Sky Select HD: Sunday 19th August: 1.25am
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)
Crime & Punishment: A Rock Musical – Interview with Director Phil Willmott
As part of London’s Free Open-Air Theatre Season, Crime & Punishment: A Rock Musical will hold its world premiere at The Scoop in London Bridge this month. Directed and adapted by Phil Willmott and featuring music by legendary rock legend Toyah Willcox, this revamped production will transform Dostoyevsky’s most famous and influential novel into a thrilling new musical. We sit down with director Phil Willmott to get the low-down on this adaptation of a classic with a tuneful twist.
London Calling: What attracted you to doing a rock-version of Crime & Punishment?
Phil Willmott: Well, we always try to do plays that reflect what’s going on in London society. Right now, we’re all very interested in what motivates these lone wolf killers to commit these terrible atrocities around the world. Crime & Punishment is very much about this, about a young man who sincerely believes that for the greater good and because of his beliefs that he is entitled to kill, so it feels very topical. And even though it’s a 19th Century Russian novel, the story is all about student angst, anger, and idealism so it seemed to really suggest itself to rock music as a sort of language for anger and alienation, as well as having a youthful energy.
LC: You’re using music by Toyah Willcox and Simon Darlow. What is it about their music that fits so well with this rock adaptation?
PW: Well in the 80s she was the punk princess. She was the person who took punk rock and sort of glamourised it and made it theatrical, while still retaining the kind of rawness, the anger and the energy of rock. So, because that’s my generation’s music, the first thing I did was to go back and listen to her songs and then I discovered that she is still recording and is still a best-selling recording artist so I got in touch with her and explained what I wanted to do and fortunately she said yes, that she’d love to come on board.
Opening 31st August at The Scoop Theatre, London, Crime and Punishment, with songs by Toyah Willcox and Simon Darlow. Adapted and Directed by Phil Willmott
Crime and Punishment – The Rock Musical
Dostoyevsky and the music of Toyah Willcox and Simon Darlow
As the skies darken over The Scoop, so does our story. Published in 1866 Dostoyeksky’s Crime and Punishment is one of the most famous and influential novels in world literature. When an idealistic student kills a ruthless money lender, who terrorises the poor of St. Petersburg, the novel challenges us to ask if murder is ever justified.
Rock music works as the perfect medium to express the energy, rebellion and passion of the story. Fittingly this new musical production, adapted and directed by Phil Willmott, will feature specially written songs and favourite tracks by British rock legend, Toyah Willcox and her song-writing partner Simon Darlow.
From 31st August to 25th September, 8pm, every Wednesday to Sunday at The Scoop at More London. Captioned performance of both shows: Thursday 22nd September. Post show chats with the Company: Thurs 8th, 15th & 22nd September after Crime & Punishment.
A couple of newly revealed promotional images for Crime and Punishment. Click below for more info on this new rock musical.
A reminder that Toyah guests on tonight’s Trailblazers: New Romantics on Sky Arts.
Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Friday 12th August: 9pm New Romantics. Toyah Willcox and Billy Bragg are among those examining the New Romantic movement, from The Human League and Adam Ant, to David Bowie and Ultravox. (New Episode, Series 1, Episode 16)
Toyah is appearing at the The Bluehouse Festival 2016(of Music, Drama & Literature) in Oxted, Surrey on Friday 21st October – Toyah Willcox Talks about ‘Nine Lives in the Spotlight’. This is a talk not a concert. Click below to view the festival programme, here to view the poster and toyahwillcox.com for further info and ticket link.
Toyah features on guest vocals on the new track Drinking from the Gun by Dodson and Fogg. Singing alongside Dodson and Fogg’s Chris Wade, the track was co-written by Toyah and appears on the new album White House On The Hill.
The album White House On the Hill is now available to buy digitally now on bandcamp and a CD can also be pre-ordered online. An abstract video accompanies the track and can be viewed below. Dodson And Fogg is Chris Wade’s acclaimed folk rock music project, with Celia Humphris of Trees and other guest musicians. The folk rock/acoustic singer-songwriter’s material umbrellas acid folk and psychedelia thrown in for good measure.
• News Source/Further Info at toyahwillcox.com. Buy White House On The Hill, which was released yesterday, at Bandcamp.
• Hampshire Chronicle: Chas & Dave and more at Wickham Festival: Thousands of people have enjoyed the likes of Tony Hadley, Chas & Dave and the SAS Band featuring Toyah Willcox and Queen’s Roger Taylor at the Wickham Festival. The four-day event, voted the best festival with a capacity of under 15,000, will be closed today by folk legends Lindisfarne and Steeleye Span – Continue reading…
• Chichester Observer: Review: SAS Band and Trevor Horn Band at the Wickham Festival: I’m just back from the Wickham Festival where I’ve seen so many singers and musicians playing so many well-known hits, I’ve forgotten who I’ve seen and who I haven’t. Matt Cardle singing I’m Not In Love? Yes. Toyah Willcox doing It’s A Mystery? Yes. Fish singing Kayleigh? Roger Taylor with It’s A Kind of Magic? Yep, that too – Continue reading…
• Southern Daily Echo: Photos: Crowds enjoy Tony Hadley, Chas & Dave and more at Wickham Festival: Headliners were the SAS Band featuring Roger Taylor of Queen, Fish, Madeleine Bell and Toyah Willcox – Continue reading…
• Wickham Festival News: Roger Taylor of Queen joins Fish, Madeline Bell and Toyah Willcox on stage at Wickham Festival: It was a Kind of Magic as Roger Taylor of Queen brought the third day of the Wickham Festival to a fantastic finish. The rock legend provided guest vocals for the SAS Band at the end of a rousing set which saw Toyah Willcox, Fish and Madeline Bell perform their own and others’ hits – Continue reading…
• Wickham Festival News: Picture Gallery from Wickham Festival: Check out our pictures from the 2016 Wickham Festival… see if you can spot yourself! – Continue reading…
• Toyah @ Wickham Festival 2016: Toyah and The SAS Band performing David Bowie’s Suffragette City – Watch at You Tube… Toyah and The SAS Band performing I Want To Be Free – Watch at You Tube…
• Browse all of Dreamscape’s “Toyah @ Wickham Festival 2016” here.
Toyah talks returning to Wickham Festival 2016, playing with The SAS Band, performing a David Bowie song, the new musical Crime and Punishment, and much more in an interview at the festival… Toyah Willcox returned to Wickham Festival in 2016 to perform with SAS Band.
Toyah and The SAS Band perform a great version of David Bowie’s Suffragette City on Saturday at Wickham Festival. The first time Toyah has sang a Bowie song onstage! (Thanks to Colin Noller)
This year’s three-day Cleethorpes Rocks festival gets underway tonight.
• Hampshire Chronicle: Chas & Dave and more at Wickham Festival: Thousands of people have enjoyed the likes of Tony Hadley, Chas & Dave and the SAS Band featuring Toyah Willcox and Queen’s Roger Taylor at the Wickham Festival. The four-day event, voted the best festival with a capacity of under 15,000, will be closed today by folk legends Lindisfarne and Steeleye Span – 
