Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

A few photos from the ‘Mini Tour’ in December 1982. Click to zoom. (Thanks to Ray Sears)

Tonight is the final gig of The Changeling Resurrection II Tour, back where the Spring Tour began in April, at Concorde2 in Brighton. Here are more great photos of Toyah at the Birmingham Ballroom date. View larger versions of these, and more, at Dreamscape’s TCRII Gallery. (Thanks again to Paul Crutchley | Photos © PAC Photography)

• The fantastic Revelations, from the 1981 EP ‘Four From Toyah’, was played on ‘Q Radio’ on Thursday night. Still sounds great after, almost, 32 years!

• Toyah tweeted a great photo of herself, James Endeacott and Frankie from Frankie and The Heartstrings when they guested on Steve Lamacq’s Roundtable yesterday.

• Dark Beauty Mag: Brilliance From The Past: Lady Gaga, Madonna, and so many others would never match up. (This tribute to Toyah was published in January 2011 so I’m not sure why it showed up in my news feeds today but I’m glad it did!)

Stunning photos of Toyah from Wednesday’s Changeling Resurrection II gig at Birmingham Ballroom. More of these tomorrow. (Thanks to Paul Crutchley | Photos © PAC Photography)

More great photos of Toyah at Wednesday night’s Birmingham Ballroom concert. View larger versions of these, and more, at Dreamscape’s TCRII Gallery. (Thanks again to Ray Sears)

A review of last night’s Birmingham Ballroom gig, by David Lumb at the Express & Star.

Review: Toyah Willcox, The Ballroom, Birmingham

It’s more than 30 years since Toyah Willcox launched her solo career – but anyone who thought the Birmingham singer was done and dusted has reason to think again after a headbanging performance in her home city last night.

Dozens left the warmth of their homes on a cold and wet Wednesday evening to see an intimate gig at The Ballroom. Taking to the stage in a black Chinese-style dress with an ornate headdress and boots, she kicked off the show with Good Morning Universe, before moving on to Castaways, Blue Meaning, a song she said was inspired by Tolkien and the Black Country.

• Continue reading at the Express & Star.

Steve Lamacq’s Roundtable, which aired earlier this evening on ‘BBC 6Music’, is now available for the next week at BBC iPlayer.

Toyah, James Endeacott and Frankie from Frankie and The Heartstrings are on the panel reviewing the latest releases.

Toyah briefly talks about The Changeling Resurrection II Tour and the audience who go to her gigs in 2012, and along with other guests reviews the new singles by, among others, Adam Ant, Little Green Cars, Stubborn Heart, The Lumineers and Madness.

Toyah was interviewed by Chris Saunders last night on The Gig Guide on Radio Verulam.

The short interview begins at approximately 16 minutes into the show and runs for around six minutes. Toyah talks about last night’s Birmingham Ballroom ‘Creepy Room’ gig, her stage outfits, how fast the last 25 years have gone, performing The Changeling, and tonight’s gig at The Horn. There was also a play of ‘It’s A Mystery’ (which to my ears sounded like it was the Top Of The Pops version).

The interview is available to listen to at the ‘Radio Verulam’ website, here.

Toyah at Birmingham Ballroom last night. The penultimate gig of The Changeling Resurrection II Tour is tonight at The Horn in St Albans. (Thanks to Ray Sears for the photo)

Trick or Treat? Of course it’ll definitely be the latter tonight at Birmingham Ballroom with The Changeling Resurrection II Halloween Special: Toyah’s Creepy Room. Dress in your best spooky outfit, expect The Packt, Creepy Room, Voodoo Doll & Ieya in the set list, and have fun!

Following on from last Wednesday’s post about the Sleeping Beauty cast switching on the Christmas Lights in three different towns, it now looks like there is a fourth!

Countdown to Christmas: Christmas in Whitefriars is always a magical experience and this year is no exception. The Marlowe Theatre panto stars will officially launch Christmas in the city on Thursday 15 November. The popular lights switch-on event in St George’s Street will also feature a mix of games, community activities and music performances.

Smash Hit Panto: Following the success of last year’s smash hit Marlowe Theatre pantomime, you’re guaranteed another fabulous festive treat this Christmas with Sleeping Beauty. Topping the bill are singing sensation Gareth Gates and pop legend Toyah Willcox.

• Continue reading at Whitefriars Canterbury.

Just one day to go until Toyah’s Creepy Room spooks Birmingham… Buy tickets here.

Hormonal Housewives: Starring Toyah Willcox: The Hormonal Housewives are back, and this time they mean business! ‘Hormonal Housewives will have you bouncing in your seat, clapping rhythmically and laughing uncontrollably! Catch it while you can…’ (Thanks to James Hawes)

The Corn is Green: True Movies 2: Sunday 11th November: 3.00am
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).

There’s now just one day to go until Toyah’s Creepy Room sends shivers through Birmingham Ballroom as The Changeling Resurrection II hits the city for a Halloween Special. Here are Dreamscape’s three and two days to go countdown images. Check back later today for the next one. Please click on each to zoom. Buy Creepy Room tickets here.

• Burst Radio: Win Toyah Tickets!: We have 2 free tickets to give away for Toyah at the Concorde2 in Brighton on Saturday night (worth £40). To enter, simply answer this question: Was Toyah’s first album called…?

• One Week // One Band: Adam And The Ants/Jubilee: Do people talk about Jordan much these days? Once—for a year or three—she mattered quite a lot.

• The Lee Mack Show: Toyah guests on Lee’s radio sketch show in 2005, and performs ‘Sweet Child O Mine’. Available at BBC iPlayer until Sat 3rd November.

• The Wave: The Rebel Diva 80s Show: Taking place at The Arts Wing, Swansea Grand Theatre, our very own Helen Enser Morgan – star of Cappuccino Girls and Brenda’s Big Night Out presents her unique vocal and comic tribute to the pop Divas of the 1980’s. Expect glittering performances as Toyah, Annie Lennox, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, Hazel O’Connor and Chrissie Hynde.

• Countdown to Toyah’s Creepy Room @ Birmingham Ballroom: Three days to go!

Where the mountains meet the sea…

I’ve always loved ‘Thunder In The Mountains’. It’s a great pop song; slightly over the top lyrics, excellently synth-driven, with a pulsating rhythm and memorable chorus/hook, “Can you hear it breaking through…“, and a huge production by Nick Tauber. I’ve always said that if this was used in a big budget movie it would easily be as massive again as it was back in 1981. Music this well produced doesn’t date!

Of course this was Toyah moving further away from their early ‘Sheep Farming in Barnet/The Blue Meaning’ “coolness”, eras that are still popular 30-odd years later with fans, but most bands and artists want to progress and reach bigger audiences.

Toyah did this by evolving and adopting a more commercial sound and embracing mainstream/kid’s television, but they still managed to retain a quirkiness that set them way apart from the run-of-the-mill popsters of the early 80s. ‘Thunder In The Mountains’ illustrates that perfectly. This was Toyah’s eighth UK single, written by Toyah, Adrian Lee and Nigel Glockler, with a spectacular promo video by Godley and Creme.

Toyah’s visuals were a significant aspect of her, and the band’s, appeal. The imagery for TITM was possibly the most adventurous yet. Why Toyah isn’t lauded far more loudly in New Wave/Romantic/80s documentaries and articles really is a mystery. Thankfully fans in their own way are ensuring the wonderful imagery isn’t being forgotten.

I’m hoping to add a new ‘Song Of The Week’ each Monday. If anyone would like their’s added here please get in touch. It doesn’t have to be a single.

A Request: Did anyone take photos of the Russian Dolls (The Changeling, Anthem, At The Rainbow, The Blue Meaning) Toyah was gifted by a fan at Saturday’s TCRII Redhill concert?

UPDATE: Toyah has tweeted a photo of these amazing creations: “presented with these staggering hand painted russian dolls at the harlequin theatre last night! Thank u“.

Last night’s Changeling Resurrection II gig, at The Harlequin Theatre, Redhill. Toyah tweeted: “The lighting at redhill harlequin is breath taking! And the sound is awesome! I can’t wait to get on stage!” View larger versions of these photos, and more, at Dreamscape’s TCRII Gallery. (Thanks again to Angus Turner)

Fantastic photos of Toyah at The Electric Palace, Bridport on Friday night. Another Changeling Resurrection II date, with no less than 22 songs in the set list. Toyah tweeted: “OMG the electric palace bridport is Sssssssooooo cute!” View larger versions of these photos, and more, at Dreamscape’s TCRII Gallery. (Huge thanks to Angus Turner)

Pop star Gareth Gates and former punk singer Toyah Willcox headline the Marlowe Theatre’s pantomime Sleeping Beauty.

Gareth will play Prince Charming to leading lady Faye Brooks who played Elle in the UK tour of Legally Blonde, while Toyah takes up the role of the Wicked Fairy. They will be joined by Katrina Bryan, Nina in CBeebies children’s series Nina and the Neurons, and Margate-born comedian Lloyd Hollett who has supported Jim Davidson on his UK tour.

• Continue reading at This is Kent.