It’s the last chance for people to claim cheaper tickets in advance for Fairport’s Cropredy Convention which will see three days of top music.
There will be more than 30 hours of live music from 20 different acts over the three day festival in Cropredy running from Thursday August 13 to Saturday August 15. Tickets prices for the festival if booked before Friday July 31 are £120 for all three days, £110 for Friday and Saturday and £75 for entrance to Saturday only.After that date, the prices will go up an extra £5 including tickets bought on the gate.
Headliners for the festival include Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell and Level 42. Toyah Willcox and The Proclaimers will also be appearing at the festival as well as the legendary folk band Fairport Convention. They are likely to be performing with a number of special guests.
• Continue reading at the Banbury Guardian.
The Nation’s Favourite 80s Number One: ITV/STV: Saturday 25th July: 9pm
The popular series turns its neon spotlight onto the 1980s – a defining decade in pop where the hits were big and the hair even bigger. Featuring interviews with 80s icons including Spandau Ballet, Bonnie Tyler, Madness, Dexys Midnight Runners, The Communards and Jason Donovan, this countdown celebrates 20 of the greatest musical moments from an era when British pop stars ruled the world. Narrated by Zoe Ball, the show tells the stories behind a hit factory of chart classics that have truly stood the test of time – from Don’t You Want Me to Total Eclipse of the Heart, Tainted Love to Billie Jean and Don’t Leave Me This Way to Come On Eileen. We take a look at the way 80s fashions took things to the extreme, and find out how the MTV explosion changed the face of music forever. Expect a colourful megamix of new romantics, Hi-NRG classics and synth pop smash hits as we have the results of an exclusive ITV poll revealing which 80s number one Britain loves the most.
NB: I can’t say for sure whether Toyah contributes to this programme. I am assuming she does due to being mentioned in “The National” article – see below.
Heading to Rewind at Scone Palace this weekend? We’ve put together a handy guide of everything you need to know before the festival starts… On Sunday, Sister Sledge lead a line up that includes OMD, Kim Wilde, Belinda Carlisle and Toyah.
• Continue reading at Dundee Evening Telegraph. For more information about Rewind, visit the official site. Toyah’s been rehearsing for Rewind Scotland this week – View a photo at Twitter.
This new show invites you to “trip the neon fantastic” and celebrate the best hits of the 1980s – and when they’re asking you to do that along to a soundtrack of the Pet Shop Boys’ Always On My Mind, how can you say no?
Eighties stars like Toyah Willcox, Tony Hadley, Martin Fry and Marc Almond all feature, reminiscing about shoulder pads, eyeliner and making pop history.
The show, narrated by the annoying Zoe Ball, has commissioned a poll to determine the nation’s favourite 80s tune, but really the poll is superfluous. It was surely just a hook on which to hang this glittery coat of nostalgia, giving the channel an excuse – and a mighty good one, in my opinion – to pull out some clips of all the old songs and wallow in how gloriously flamboyant pop music used to be.
• Continue reading at The National – This weekend’s TV highlights.
Toyah Willcox takes to the stage of the bandstand over the busy Airbourne weekend in what will be her Eastbourne debut.
Eastbourne Borough Council Lead Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Enterprise, Cllr Margaret Bannister said, “Toyah is very much looking forward to performing at Eastbourne Bandstand for the first time ever, next month.
“Eastbourne’s seafront will be thriving throughout the duration of the four day international air show, and Toyah Willcox’s Bandstand debut will only add to the electric atmosphere which Airbourne brings to the town.
“Visitors to Eastbourne on August 14 are able to enjoy superb reserved seating in the Bandstand’s Upper Balcony and Promenade Deck, with uninterrupted views of the display line from £8 a day, and can soak up the awesome atmosphere of ‘Toyah in Concert’ in the Bandstand arena by night, making for an unforgettable trip to Eastbourne.”
• Continue reading at the Eastbourne Herald.
Another photo from The One Show shoot, tweeted by Toyah yesterday – Filming a special strand for @BBCOne The One Show. (Photo © Toyah Willcox)
Amazing photos!! Toyah is Thundering In The Mountains… Well, make-up style at least, for filming of a special strand for future airing on BBC1’s The One Show. Click on the photos to view larger versions. (Photos © Toyah Willcox/Sean Chapman)
Five decades of British rock and pop music, told by the people who loved it most – the fans.
The BBC is crowdsourcing photos and audio/video of your cherished music memorabilia – ticket stubs, diary entries, teen band recordings, wrist bands, rare footage and more – to tell the stories of British rock and pop music from the 1950s to the noughties. Whether you were into skiffle, punk, hip hop or anything in between, we want to see your stuff and hear your stories!
What was the first record you bought? Do you still have the ticket stub to your all-time favourite gig?
What was the first record you bought? Do you still have the ticket stub to your all-time favourite gig? Were you in a teen band and do you still have the recordings?
• Continue reading at BBC People’s History of Pop.
There’s a great new project from the BBC who are crowdsourcing the People’s History of Pop. They asked Craig Astley, who manages The Official Toyah Willcox website, if they could use the well known photo of him, aged five first meeting Toyah, as their main website banner. The site launched last Friday. The crowdsourced memories will form the backbone of a new four-part series for future broadcast on BBC Four.
• Visit People’s History of Pop/HistoryPin. (Thanks to Craig)
Toyah is PA-ing at July Braai 2015 this Friday, in Elvaston, Derby.
Iconic 70’s Pop Diva Toyah Willcox will be performing at JB 2015 70’s night on Friday 24th July at 9.00pm.
In a career spanning more than thirty years, Toyah has had 8 Top 40 singles, released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over forty stage plays and ten feature films, and voiced and presented numerous television shows. Between 1977 and 1983 she fronted the band Toyah, before embarking on a solo career in the mid-1980s. Her biggest hits include “It’s a Mystery”, “Thunder in the Mountains” and “I Want to Be Free
• Continue reading at Festival Team.
What a few months we’ve had! June began with an investment from two investors with an amount that would enable us to get a good two weeks’ worth of shooting in the can. So in mid-June, we assembled our cast and crew and got to work…
Firstly, we filmed in an old medieval priory called The CharterHouse in Coventry. This doubled up as a care centre in which our hero Tom works. It is here that we meet Floyd, Harriet and Samantha, some of the characters Tom take with him during the alien invasion and who will eventually help in saving the Earth. These were played by Simon Haycock (Tom), Danny Steele (Floyd), Julie Hoult (Harriet) and Sophie Anderson (Samantha). We also had the wonderful Toyah Willcox with us who plays the Senior Nurse, Claire Dove.
• Continue reading at kaleidoscopeman.com. (Photo © kaleidoscopeman.com)
Are you already planning what to do this August Bank Holiday? Well, plan no further as this year Aylesbury Town Council will bring you a full programme of free entertainment and live music throughout the bank holiday weekend in Vale Park. This exciting weekend is called Parklife and will encompass Live in the Park, Church in the Park, Fun in the Park and Proms in the Park brought to you jointly by Aylesbury Town Council and Aylesbury Church Network.
Live in the Park – FREE Saturday 29 August, Vale Park, 12noon until 9:30pm
Vale Park will be filled with continuous live music performed on a large outdoor stage by 80’s pop star TOYAH and a number of fantastic local bands playing an array of musical styles and genres from rockabilly, punk and new wave to well-known pop and rock covers, beside original local singers and songwriters
• Continue reading at Aylesbury Town Council.
Hundreds of voices in unison at Rotherham concert
Hundreds of young voices were singing in unison with pop idol Toyah Willcox as the curtain was brought down on Rotherham’s biggest annual youth event.
The One Voice concert at the New York Stadium marked the closing of this year’s Rotherham Children’s Festival. Thousands of children have taken part in talent shows, art, film and music projects during the summer programme based around Rotherham United’s town centre base.
Toyah, who has enjoyed a 30-year singing and acting career, was back in town for the third time to compere the massive choir made up of schools from around the borough.
• Continue reading at the Rotherham Advertiser. (Photos © Rotherham Advertiser)
A repeat airing for “Toyah’s episode” of Kavanagh Q. C. later this month on ITV Encore.
Kavanagh Q.C.: ITV Encore: Tue 28th July: 1.45pm
A Family Affair (1995). Kavanagh finds himself caught up in a bitter family feud when he represents a frustrated father who has kidnapped his son in a desperate attempt to win custody. On the home front, Kavanagh’s daughter wants to let her boyfriend stay overnight. Directed by Renny Rye. With John Thaw, Holly Aird, Robert Ashby, Toyah Willcox and Lisa Harrow. Also airing on ITV Encore HD and Plus 1.
Dirty Sexy Funny: Olivia Lee: Comedy Central Extra: Thursday 30th July: 3.25am
Dirty Sexy Funny: Olivia Lee: Comedy Central Extra: Sunday 2nd August: 3.30am
Olivia Lee stars in this hidden camera sketch show. Deaf Bubba makes a mess of things at the marina, Door Bitch takes a punt and Elaine Caine meets Toyah Willcox.
The 28th consecutive edition of the annual Bewdley Festival brings its traditional mix of local talent and national and international stars of stage, screen and concert halls, all packed into ten days in October and with something for everyone.
Evening events offer music from Leo Sayer, Mari Wilson, and Toyah Willcox plus comedy from Dr Phil Hammond. From your TV screens, Festival brings science presenter Professor Alice Roberts, food critic and writer Jay Rayner and Antiques Roadshow experts Hilary Kay and Paul Atterbury.
9th to 18th October 2015: Tickets for the 2015 Festival are on sale for all events from Saturday 25th July 2015. Tickets can be purchased either by phone or post (many events sell very quickly so please check availability first) from Worcester Live
A talented duo of guitarists, Chris Wong and Colin Hinds, accompany Toyah on meticulous and melodic acoustic versions of the hits It’s A Mystery, Thunder In The Mountains, I Want To Be Free and Good Morning Universe through to Sensational, a track used recently on a national TV advertising campaign starring Patsy Kensit.
• Continue reading at the Bewdley Festival website. Visit Toyah’s event page here.
• Barbican: The Raft of the Medusa (15*) + ScreenTalk with Richard Heslop, Jeremy Mortimer and Toyah Willcox: After the film, we’re excited to hear Richard Heslop discuss his work, alongside the independent audio producer Jeremy Mortimer in a ScreenTalk hosted by Toyah Willcox – Continue reading…
• Live 2015: Tours, Gigs, Festivals, Events, PAs… Browse Toyah’s official Gig Diary for 2015 at toyahwillcox.com…
• The Guardian: Actor Roger Rees dies aged 71: Fans and friends pay tribute to Tony award-winning actor known for roles in The West Wing, Cheers and What You Will – Continue reading…
• Heart Of England: Dramatic Looking Women Of Music: Below is Toyah Willcox, who made new-wave punk music in the 1980s. She is from Birmingham, which is a city of a million in the English midlands – Continue reading…
Toyah’s Acoustic, Up Close & Personal tour played Nantwich Civic Hall last night. The Mayor of Nantwich met up, pre-gig, with Toyah – Looking amazing in red! View the full photo, at Twitter, by clicking below. (Photo © Nantwich Civic)
The actor Roger Rees, who starred with Toyah, Sir Laurence Olivier and Greta Scacchi in The Ebony Tower in 1983, has died aged 71.
BBC News: Welsh actor Roger Rees, star of Cheers and The West Wing, has died aged 71
Mr Rees, who was born in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, won Tony and Olivier awards in 1982 for his title role in the The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. He played millionaire Robin Colcord in 1980s comedy Cheers and Lord John Marbury in US political drama The West Wing from 2000 to 2005. Mr Rees had lived in America for 25 years and died after a short illness.
• Continue reading at BBC News.
Acoustic, Up Close & Personal with Toyah at Enginuity Friday evening 2nd October
Household name, pop icon, TV presenter and actress Toyah is coming to the Engine Shop at Enginuity in Coalbrookdale on Friday evening, 2nd October. ‘Acoustic, Up Close & Personal with Toyah’ is a wonderful chance to experience the 1980s pop superstar up close and personal at a lively song and storytelling style gig.
Toyah will be entertaining the audience with a selection of her much loved hit singles. Supported by musicians Chris Wong and Colin Hinds, her performance will include It’s a Mystery, Thunder in the Mountains, I Want to be Free and Good Morning Universe.
• Continue reading at the The Best of Telford and Wrekin.
Best of the fests: Our guide to 11 top summer festivals
Pull on your wellies and dig out your tent! It’s summer festival season and there’s everything from 1980s retro to world music to entertain you. Flicky Harrison reports
Fairport’s Cropredy Convention
Toyah Willcox joins the merry men and women invited to perform at this year’s Fairport’s Cropredy Convention. The former punk princess has now won her place among the music luminaries selected by folk rock legends Fairport Convention at the Oxfordshire festival.
She joins a line-up including Fish, the former lead singer of Marillion, The Proclaimers, Level 42, Dreadzone and a number of special surprise guests who simply ‘pop up’ in traditional Cropredy style. As host band, Fairport will open the festival which runs from Thursday, August 13, to Saturday, August 15. For more details visit fairportconvention.com/cropredy.php
• Continue reading at the Swindon Advertiser. Browse Toyah’s full gig diary, including all her upcoming 2015 festival appearances, at toyahwillcox.com.
