previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 28 AUGUST 2024
Shake a tail feather at Middleton Arena
Preview by Steve Cooke
Shake a tail feather at Middleton Arena with the UK’s original, award-winning Tina Turner tribute …. aka Justine Riddoch and her talented cast.
When Tina burst onto the scene, she won the hearts of music fans from the outset, creating a fearsome reputation for her live performances – and those never-ending legs!
Early hits River Deep – Mountain High, Proud Mary and Nutbush City Limits were just a taste of what was to come. We Don’t Need Another Hero, Simply the Best, What’s Love Got to Do With It, I Don’t Wanna Lose You and When the Heartache is Over propelled her to stadium concert stardom.
Supported by her super-talented band and dazzling dancing girls in sequins, feathers and diamonds, Justine is known as the ultimate Tina (a National Tribute Awards winner since 2013).
‘She’s got the looks, she’s got the moves, she's got the legs, but most of all, she’s got the voice.'
Join an army of loyal fans at the Middleton Arena for a truly authentic, fun-packed musical spectacular!
Twelve years have passed since Totally TINA first sprang to life in the vibrant city of Liverpool, but a Lifetime Achievement Award and many other prestigious accolades along the way have earned Justine’s ‘Totally Tina’ a deserved top spot in the musical tribute world.'
Justine admits she has been observing her beloved muse from the start; constantly honing her homage to the legend herself with passion and an unrivalled attention to detail, to deliver the most authentic recreation of the rock and roll Queen’s live performances.
The cast and crew of Totally Tina are pulling out all the stops this year with the promise of a brand new, custom-made performances featuring a whole host of fresh ideas, coupled with the band’s now famous humour.
The Show is designed to make the audience feel that the legendary performer is right back in front of them, strutting her stuff on the most famous legs in show business!
This year’s production is a heady mix of nostalgia and surprise with all the favourite Tina Turner hits, her best duets, much-loved covers and the odd twist in the tale.
Jumping Jack Flash, Honky Tonky Woman, Get Back, It’s Only Rock and Roll and The Bitch is Back have been added to a set which includes Simply The Best, Proud Mary, Nutbush City Limits and Private Dancer to name a few.
All the songs are enhanced by the customary flourish of sparkling stiletto heels, flamboyant tail feathers, high energy dance routines and musical genius. There’s plenty of audience engagement and post-show ‘meet and greets’ too, making the Show more personal.
In fact, it’s probably the closest thing to a live Tina Turner concert!
Justine, a past winner of cult talent show, Stars In Their Eyes performing as Anastacia, is known in the business for her enthusiasm and drive and has been singing professionally for 30 years. She is justifiably proud of her cast and crew who’ve played a huge part in helping her to create the longest running Tina Turner tribute.
She said: “I am thrilled by the success of this production – we have come so far! Having been told on many occasions that I sounded like Tina, I decided to take the plunge and then spent hours familiarising myself with her life story and scrutinising video footage to watch mannerisms and body movements. We always add our own personality to the Show each year; the element of surprise keeps things fresh, but my ultimate aim is to remain faithful to a Tina Turner live concert paying tribute to her career and bring the best version of this amazing woman; her voice, her passion and even her legs, to her many fans. That’s why we love it when people tell us that they go away feeling as though they have seen the real thing.”
Totally Tina has been the ultimate Tina Turner tribute for the past nine years, from 2013 to 2019 winning Best Female Artist, Best Choreography, Best Sound & Lighting and the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the NTMA, and in 2020 and 2021 winning Best Tribute at the NREA and NEA respectively.
The band have played to audiences all over the country and in Europe, and have performed at the Cover Festival in Davos, Switzerland (Tina Turner’s new home country) the last few years.
Justine added: “We love what we do, and we’re lucky enough to have an incredibly loyal army of fans here and overseas. We look forward to meeting many more new fans this year.”
Watch
You Tube Video Promo Trailer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey2gtu9aZwY
You Tube Music Video Showreel – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvIUeezESMo
Totally TINA Arena Theatre, Middleton Arena, LCpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton. M24 1AG
Friday 20 September 2024
Doors open 7.00pm / Show Start Time – 7.30pm
Box Office No: 0161 662 4000
Pianist Lewis Kingsley Peart at TLC
Review by Dr Joe Dawson
Based in both London and Manchester, Lewis Kingsley Peart enjoys a busy life as a working musician and he made a welcome return to Toad Lane Concerts at St Mary in the Baum. Lewis studied at Chethams School of Music and London's Trinity Laban Conservatoire. He made his debuts at St John’s, Smith Square in 2018, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at St Mary’s Cathedral, and London’s St Martin-in-the-Fields in 2022, and with the Wimbledon Symphony Orchestra in Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 in 2023.
Lewis has a genial and confident manner and introduces with interesting information that quickly establishes him as a trustworthy interpreter.
We began with the charming and bubbly 2nd Movement of Piano Sonata by the Danish composer Niels Gade. He was the dedicatee of Edvard Grieg’s only piano sonata, Op. 7, which followed.
Grieg’s extended work showed Lewis’s virtuoso technique and musical phrasing to great effect.
Grieg is not only known for his famous piano concerto, but also for his miniatures and Lewis delivered his Melody, Elegy, Notturno, and the lively Wedding Day at Troldhaugen beautifully. A Norwegian travel brochure.
A further link took us to the Australian born Percy Grainger, known for his eccentric style and a champion of Grieg’s music. Grainger’s Country Gardens are not full of gentle swaying wildflowers but marching brass bands, madding crowds and riotous hullabaloo. Great fun.
Calming us down from this frenetic world, Lewis played us out with Grainger’s Irish Tune from County Derry (also known as Danny Boy). With sumptuous harmony this version requires great control to bring out the melody in the middle parts, which Lewis managed skilfully, and Dawson produced a touching finale.
Lewis joined a distinguished line of visiting piano experts who have put the heritage 1935 Challen 8-foot Concert Grand Piano through its paces since refurbishment. A superb way to celebrate the 1,100th Toad Lane Concert since taking over from the council.
Contractor appointed as Touchstones transformation moves forward
By Steve Cooke
The eagerly anticipated redevelopment of Touchstones, the borough’s major arts and heritage venue is progressing following the appointment of construction company H.H. Smith and Sons Ltd as main contractor.
The Manchester-based firm started work on site last month, which will see the much loved building transformed into a creative and cultural hub with new flexible performance and creative studio spaces, meeting rooms and improved galleries. The work also includes a new dining space combining the theme of food with the borough’s collections, co-created alongside Rochdale’s diverse communities. ‘The Dining Room’ will see three artists commissioned to work with 20 community curators to produce a new museum and dining space for when it re-opens in 2025.
Vital works to improve the building’s accessibility and sustainability will also take place.
The project is funded by the Cultural Development Fund (a DCMS fund administered by Arts Council England) and Rochdale Borough Council as part of an £8.5 million investment into arts and culture across the borough. Touchstones also became one of Arts Council England’s ‘National Portfolio Organisations’ for the first time in 2024.
The project has been developed in partnership between Rochdale Borough Council, Your Trust who operate Touchstones as the council’s culture and leisure partner and Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) who deliver regeneration projects on behalf of the council.
The Touchstones project forms a key part of the welcomed establishment of a creative district in Rochdale town centre, which includes the refurbishment of Rochdale Town Hall, the new town hall square, the Fire Up digital and creative co-working space, new artist workspaces on Richard Street as well as new public art, signage and marketing.
Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council said: “Seeing so much activity on site every day as this amazing project moves closer to becoming a reality is incredibly exciting. The appointment of H.H Smith is a vital step in bringing this project to life and I cannot wait to see the transformation happen over the coming months, turning the building into something truly wonderful and fit for the 21st century, creating more opportunities for local people and visitors to enjoy culture and the history of our borough in a modern public space.”
Jen Cleary, North West director of Arts Council England said: “We’re so pleased to be supporting Touchstones’ redevelopment in Rochdale, one of our priority places for funding – through the Cultural Development Fund. It’s great to see how the work is progressing, and we look forward to the opening of this new and dynamic creative hub for the town. We’re confident it will evolve into an important part of the town’s new creative district, providing more opportunities for artists, and attracting new audiences to some fantastic, new cultural activities.”
RECOMMENDED
Wednesday 28 August 2024
Talk on the old mills of Littleborough by Iain Bowden
Iain is an excellent speaker and knows a lot about Littleborough and the surrounding areas. It should be an interesting talk on the old mills of Littleborough.
Free, but donations gratefully accepted.
Phone: Lynne Nield 01706 655094
7pm for 7.30pm start
St Andrews UR Church, Entwisle Road, Rochdale OL16 2HZ
Wednesday 28 August 2024
Rochdale Photographic Society
Tonight's session - Outdoor meeting – Bury Parish Church
We meet every Wednesday at Rochdale Unitarian Church, starting at 7.30pm prompt (doors open from 7.15pm). The door is kept locked so please ring the bell on arrival.
If you would like to see the club for yourself and meet our members, you are welcome to attend as our guest for up to 3 weeks before committing to membership. Annual subscription is £36 for single or £46 for joint membership.
A weekly room fee of £2.50 is also payable on arrival at the meeting. Refreshments are 50p.
Visit the link below for a full 2024 syllabus.
£2.50 for room fee
Doors open 7.15pm, 7.30pm start
Rochdale Unitarian Church, Clover Street, Rochdale OL12 6TP
Wednesday 28 August 2024
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have Alison Burns cello and Jonathan Ellis piano (RNCM & Manchester University)
The concert series has been held at St Mary’s since 2001 and was granted the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2020… during the pandemic!
Running every Wednesday, Music at Lunchtime is a weekly live classical music concert series that has been going since the 1960s. The sessions were initially run at the old Rochdale Art Gallery by the local authority, but since May 2001 have been run by volunteer-enthusiasts and artistic director, Dr Joe Dawson.
£6
Phone: Dr Joe Dawson 01706 648872
Doors open 12noon, concert starts 12.30pm - 1.30pm
St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane/St Mary's Gate, Rochdale OL16 1DZ
Thursday 29 August 2024 - Saturday 31 August 2024
Visit Fireground Museum
Join us at Fireground this week to discover Greater Manchester's firefighting story.
Fire museum attractions are on show inside the museum including our collection of historic firefighting artefacts from the 18th century to present day, plus home-made refreshments in the new Fireground Café, and souvenirs from our fantastic new gift shop! We have a wide choice ranging from toddler to collector.
Under 4s are free, Children (aged 4-15) and Concessions £5, Adults £7 and Family (4 people) £20.
Phone: Fireground 01706 341219
Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10am - 4pm
Fireground, Maclure Road, Rochdale OL11 1DN
Saturday 31 August 2024
Summer of M24 Presents – CHAMELEONS + Middleton Supports
The Chameleons return to Middleton after decades.
Performing at SUMMER OF M24 – Middleton’s Community Wealth Building Festival.
All proceeds will go towards grass roots music/venue development in Middleton.
All support acts will be from M24 too!
From £33.00
6.30pm Doors open at 6pm
Middleton Arena, Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Manchester M24 1AG
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.
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