BReview: “Congratulations on your star in the Kings Heath ‘Walk of Fame’. How does it feel to be awarded this accolade?”
Toyah: “It’s wonderful. It’s such an honour, and so good for people to remember me in this way. I lived in Birmingham for 18 years, until I left for London and got my career going. I was born and conceived here. I used to shop on the high street everyday with my mother.
It’s very kind of the business people of Kings Heath, to include me in the names of those associated with the suburb. Amazing people have played here, like Led Zeppelin and Jerry lee Lewis (at the Ritz Ballroom, now Cash Convertors, on York Rd). I think I am the only other woman apart from Helen Shapiro; it’s an absolute honour.”
After a day of all things Toyah Willcox (star receiving Toyah, interview giving Toyah, buffet lunch eating Toyah), I was finally going to see her in, arguably, her most natural habitat – on stage.
The Hare and Hounds provided the venue for Toyah Wilcox’s one off homecoming gig.
And, although this lady’s musical, stage and acting career has spanned some thirty plus years, I was still surprised to see Venue 2 packed out with die-hard Toyah fans; many having donned their Toyah memorabilia t-shirts and raided wardrobes for their best Goth-like attire.
After her rainy day ramble down nostalgia lane to receive her Kings Heath Walk Of Fame badge of honour earlier today at The Hare, Toyah Willcox got down to the serious business of reminding us just how and why her Princess of Post-Punk/Goth-lite song-writing and stage theatrics undoubtedly caught the 80s zeitgeist.
More photos from Toyah’s ‘Walk Of Fame’ day in King’s Heath last month. A great shot of Toyah with her framed star and pictures from the Hare & Hounds gig later in the evening. All have now been added to Dreamscape’s Gallery. (Thanks to Paul at PAC Photography for these)
More excellent Hare & Hounds gig photos have now been added to Dreamscape’s Gallery. Click below to view. (Thanks again to Ray Sears, Chris Cox and Angus Turner)
I’m off on my Summer hols so this is the last update for now. Have a great rest of July!!
More Toyah, live at Hare & Hounds, photos. Please click below to view the full versions at Dreamscape’s Gallery. More soon! (Thanks to Ray Sears for these great shots)
Our second batch of Toyah, live at Hare & Hounds, photos. Please click below to view the full versions at Dreamscape’s Gallery. (Thanks to Chris Cox for these great shots)
Coming Soon: A great selection of photos from last night’s Hare & Hounds gig, courtesy of Ray Sears and Chris Cox. Check back to DTN later to view fantastic shots of Toyah onstage.
Great photos of Toyah onstage at last night’s, post-‘Walk Of Fame’, Hare & Hounds gig in King’s Heath. There’s already been lots of positive feedback about the gig. Click below to view these, and more, at Dreamscape’s Gallery. (A huge thank you to Angus Turner)
The ‘Walk Of Fame’ Hare & Hounds, King’s Heath set list(s):
Setlist #1: Good Morning Universe; Warrior Rock; Bird in Flight; Rebel Run; Little Tears Of Love; Brave New World; Blue Meanings; Jungles Of Jupiter; Thunder In The Mountains; We Are.
Setlist #2: Echo Beach; These Boots Are Made For Walkin’; Latex Messiah (Viva La Rebel In You); Angel & Me; The Packt; Victims Of The Riddle; Danced; Neon Womb; It’s A Mystery; I Want To Be Free.
• Paul of PAC Photography attended Toyah’s ‘Walk Of Fame’ ceremony. He said: “Just back from one of the greatest experiences of my life, great to see Toyah pick up her Walk of Fame award and to be able to capture it”. Paul was also at tonight’s gig, photographing fans and Toyah!
• Toyah compered at the Rock & Bike Fest 2012 on Saturday, and also guested on stage with The Sweet on ‘Ballroom Blitz’. View at You Tube.
• Browse all of Dreamscape’s ‘Walk Of Fame’ news by clicking below.
A last opportunity to buy tickets for tomorrow’s two-set gig at the Hare & Hounds, King’s Heath.
This is going to be a very special evening. This is the first time Toyah has played live in her hometown and the sets will include songs from throughout her career.
Tomorrow morning Toyah receives the first star on the King’s Heath Walk Of Fame, and the ceremony will be followed by a celebratory lunch. The Hare & Hounds gig will round off a very special day for Toyah, and is sure to be a night everyone who is lucky enough to attend will remember! Don’t miss it if you can! Get your ticket(s) here.
Celebrating Toyah’s induction as the very first star on the King’s Heath Walk of Fame comes a very special, intimate homecoming gig in the Hare & Hounds. This one-off concert with Toyah’s full band is a true celebration of Toyah’s roots in her hometown on the day her star is unveiled on the King’s Heath Walk of Fame.
Touring to great acclaim for the past 18 months Toyah has been revisiting material not performed for thirty years.
Rebel Run, Victims Of The Riddle, Blue Meanings, Elusive Stranger, Latex Messiah (Viva La Rebel In You) and Little Tears Of Love have all been confirmed for the setlist(s) at this Monday’s Hare & Hounds gig.
The latter five won’t feature on the Autumn ‘Changeling Resurrection II’ tour and are being performed exclusively on Monday evening as part of the special 2-set retrospective gig. (News Source: Official Toyah Facebook)
PREVIEW: Toyah Willcox – Walk of Fame presentation & concert @ Hare & Hounds, July 16th
Musician, songwriter, actress and author, Toyah Willcox is one of Birmingham’s best known contemporaries.
And on Monday July 16th, Toyah will be the first person celebrated on King Heath’s Walk of Fame, with her memorial star being presented on York Road – before a one off concert at the Hare & Hounds.
Born in Kings Heath, growing up in the family house on Grove Road, Toyah Willcox is a self confessed enemy of convention. Reportedly suffering bullying at school, due to her limp (from a spine defect at birth) and lisp, Toyah turned the tables one day, when she ‘got into class, picked up chair and threw it at the main bully.’
After school, Toyah worked to pay her way through drama school; where a chance referral saw her as ‘Sue’ – in Tony Bicat’s short play ‘Glitter’. From there Toyah was picked for a place at the National Theatre, where she met Derek Jarman – first appearing as ‘Mad’ in his seminal punk film, ‘Jubilee’.
The winning songs in the ‘Walk Of Fame’ setlist vote, both of which will be played at next Monday’s Hare & Hounds gig, are Blue Meanings and Elusive Stranger.
From VICTIMS OF THE RIDDLE to LATEX MESSIAH via BRAVE NEW WORLD… this gig promises to be a very special night for Toyah fans. An unmissable concert with classic album tracks, singles, b-sides & rarely performed tracks. Tickets are available here.
Toyah Willcox will be going back to her roots with a full band performance at the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath on Monday (7.30pm). The Walk of Fame concert will include two sets spanning Toyah’s punk beginnings…
An update, from Toyah’s Official Facebook, on the King’s Heath ‘Walk Of Fame’ set list vote. The, two-set, gig takes place on Monday 16th July at The Hare & Hounds:
BLUE MEANINGS and ELUSIVE STRANGER are in the lead…. but will it stay that way?! …get voting……
The forthcoming one-off gig at Birmingham King’s Heath Hare & Hounds is going to be a special night for Toyah celebrating her induction on the KH Walk of Fame. It’s also going to be a special night for fans who can help choose selections for the set list. Pick your favourite song from the following choices and the most popular 2 will be performed. One song in each of the 2 sets on the evening
A full career-spanning retrospective with classic Toyah songs from the albums SHEEP FARMING, BLUE MEANING, ANTHEM, THE CHANGELING, LOVE IS THE LAW, VELVET LINED SHELL and CRIMSON QUEEN plus CLASSIC SINGLES & RARE B-SIDES……… plus the chance for fans to vote for 2 songs to be performed on the night!
Vote for either Elusive Stranger, Blue Meanings, Masai Boy, Pop Star, Waiting or Our Movie at Toyah’s Official Facebook.
The Hare & Hounds, King’s Heath, where Toyah will play a homecoming show on 16th July to mark her inclusion on the King’s Heath Walk Of Fame, now have a dedicated Toyah page at their website.
A recent interview with Toyah, from Birmingham Review.
The ‘Walk Of Fame’ Hare & Hounds, King’s Heath set list(s):
