Alan Jones

As the sun rises on what already promises to be a glorious weekend my expectations increase tenfold because Teddy Rocks is back, and it looks like it's going to be better than ever.

AS THE sun rises on what already promises to be a glorious weekend my expectations increase tenfold because Teddy Rocks is back, and it looks like it's going to be better than ever.

THE Beach Boys at the BIC? That will be a tribute band then? Nope.

I’D forgotten what fun the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas can be. There must have been countless performances of The Mikado in the 133 years since it was first performed, both amateur and professional. But I doubt that any local G&S Society has ever brought more quality and polish to a production than the cast currently performing at the Regent Centre in Christchurch. They are quite simply outstanding.

THREE great bands for the price of one was too good an offer to miss. For someone who left school and started their first job in the 80’s all three of these artists played a significant part in supplying the soundtrack to those times. Whether it was being a massive Jam fan listening to Ultravox and wondering what that synth stuff was all about, having a crush on Clare Grogan or discovering the Isley Brothers after listening to the Christians’ version of Harvest For The World (cheers guys).

YOU could not have asked for a much better night to go to an outdoor gig than we had for the Bryan Adams show at the Ageas Bowl.

NOW in its third year Common People has settled into a rhythm that provides an excellent early offering at the start of festival season.

Having heard and enjoyed the Count Basie Orchestra at Southampton’s former Gaumont theatre (now the Mayflower) back in the 1950s, I approached this performance with a certain amount of trepidation. Usually I don’t have much time for tribute bands – after all, why not just play a recording of the real thing?

I first saw Count Arthur Strong (aka Steve Delaney) live at the Edinburgh Festival over ten years ago, having previously heard and enjoyed his Radio 4 programme.

You’ve probably heard the jokes; What do you call someone who hangs around musicians? A drummer. What would you find on an exam paper taken by a drummer? Drool.