The world of music, in particular our own very special part of that world, here in Manchester, was recently rocked and hugely saddened by the news that hugely acclaimed, simply stunning, vocalist, Denise Johnson, had passed away. Best known for the two albums she recorded and toured with Primal scream in the 90s, Screamadelica andContinue reading “Music: Denise Johnson’s final gift with posthumous release of debut album, Where Does it Go”
Category Archives: Music
Review – Cellist Matthew Sharp and the Northern Chamber Orchestra
I last wrote about the wonderful Northern Chamber Orchestra when I visited the rather lovely Stoller Hall for the first time, back in May 2018 – https://honorarymancblog.com/2018/05/18/the-northern-chamber-orchestra-mozart-and-elgar-and-beethoven-oh-my/ Yes I was rather taken with the acoustics of the environment and hall, and I’m not going to pretend to go down the ‘but was it the locationContinue reading “Review – Cellist Matthew Sharp and the Northern Chamber Orchestra”
Review: Back to the Future – The Musical
I can remember the first time I heard those ticking clocks. It was a friend’s birthday party at her house and we all sat round as the video was put on. The excitement was real as those clocks ticked and the camera panned across the Doc’s home and workshop in a garage in the fictionalContinue reading “Review: Back to the Future – The Musical”
Review: Insane Animals
It’s true to say that I didn’t always know what I was watching last night. But I know that I liked it. Like the camp space landing that it depicted (are there any other kind?), the show launched itself on stage through plumes of smoke and a cacophony of noise, and with the arrival ofContinue reading “Review: Insane Animals”
Pics: Rehearsals in full flow for Back to the Future The Musical
If you haven’t yet heard that Back to the Future The Musical (no less) is coming to Manchester’s Opera House on 20 February 2020, great Scott, you’d better make like a leaf and get outta here! Yes, I did that homage and I’m very proud of my little self… Starring Olly Dobson as Marty McFlyContinue reading “Pics: Rehearsals in full flow for Back to the Future The Musical”
Review: Opera North’s Giulio Cesare at The Lowry
Some years ago, I visited the site where Julius Caesar was said to meet his maker. The Curia in the Theatre Of Pompey is not only a place of significant historical importance but much to my total and utter glee, a colony for feral cats. Cat lovers this is your Mecca, cat not-lovers probably giveContinue reading “Review: Opera North’s Giulio Cesare at The Lowry”
More than a building…Chorlton Bee Gee landmark needs your help to stay alive!
The Bee Gees belong to Manchester, well Chorlton to be specific. Yes, ok, they flirted with being born in the Isle of Man, emigrating to Australia, living in LA, travelling the world, but it was in Chorlton, Manchester, that the magic first happened. These fellow honorary mancs formed their first band, the skiffle/rock and rollContinue reading “More than a building…Chorlton Bee Gee landmark needs your help to stay alive!”
Preview: NQ Jazz – 21.10.2019 – Sue Rynhart & Huw Warren
NQ Jazz is one of my favourites things. Yes we have Matt and Phred’s and I give thanks to the gods of live jazz that we do. But Manchester needs even more and NQ Jazz gives us that more in a gloriously dark, underground befitting location that is The Whiskey Jar. To speak in NewContinue reading “Preview: NQ Jazz – 21.10.2019 – Sue Rynhart & Huw Warren”
Review: The Nico Project (Manchester International Festival)
Manchester International Festival is your opportunity to see something different. Something new, something especially commissioned, someone new, someone big… The Nico Project is the perfect case study of all of the above. The late Nico, real name Christa Paffgenmade, entered the musical zeitgeist in 1967 with The Velvet Underground, and the ‘show’ is inspired byContinue reading “Review: The Nico Project (Manchester International Festival)”
Review: Aida at the Bridgewater Hall
Verdi’s Aida is admittedly one of the operas I knew little about, in terms of both narrative and its musical score. An opera in four acts, Aida is set in Egypt at the time of the Pharoahs. The priesthood, through its self-proclaimed ability to interpret the gods’ will, controls the government and have long beenContinue reading “Review: Aida at the Bridgewater Hall”
Review: Kingdom – part of Viva festival at HOME
Tensions were reaching fever pitch last night. Two words, two cities – on everyone’s minds, on everyone’s lips, up and down Deansgate, in squares… Albert, Exchange, Peter’s, Anne’s – all the squares. Manchester Barcelona And as we headed to the theatre of dreams, we knew that this date would be imprinted on our memories forContinue reading “Review: Kingdom – part of Viva festival at HOME”
Theatre review: The Magic Flute at The Lowry
Mozart can do no wrong. It’s not even up for debate. When I was knee-high to an etc., I went with my parents to Austria, visiting Salzburg along the way and so to the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The actual birthplace – the house. My Dad, a professional pianist, was keen to fulfill anContinue reading “Theatre review: The Magic Flute at The Lowry”
Theatre review – The Last Ship at the Lowry
Billed as Sting’s personal, political and passionate musical, this was a ship that I wasn’t prepare to let sail by without an inquisitive look. On a tour of UK and Ireland, The Last Ship sailed into the Quays last night, making its debut at The Lowry theatre. I have already used two puns both basedContinue reading “Theatre review – The Last Ship at the Lowry”
Manchester Jazz Festival launches
I like to think of myself as a touch bohemian. I’ve been to Matt and Phred’s more than 10 times, I’ll have you know. And not only when the free pizza offer is on. To be fair, I’ve also gone international with my fondness for jazz and its clubs, for example paying a visit to NewContinue reading “Manchester Jazz Festival launches”
New Music Launch! Manc favourites Jess Kemp & David Gorman to hit The Deaf Institute
Fans of singer/songwriters Jess Kemp and David Gorman will be thrilled at this double bubble news that they will be co-headlining a gig at top city venue, The Deaf Institute, on 18 May 2018. Each will be individually taking to that iconic stage with a full band, to launch some brand new music to treatContinue reading “New Music Launch! Manc favourites Jess Kemp & David Gorman to hit The Deaf Institute”
honorarymancblog 