The Hobbledehoy love Kae Tempest, and this is a terrific filmed conversation between Kae and Clint Dyer, Deputy Artistic Director of the National Theatre.
The two talk about the highs and lows of their careers in their Life in Stages. Recorded May 2021
The artist has shared the single ‘More Pressure’ from upcoming fourth studio album ‘The Line Is A Curve’
By Arusa Qureshi
“‘More Pressure’ is the penultimate song on the album,” Kae Tempest told NME. “It’s the song that the whole album is building towards in some ways, because what it’s saying is that we can reframe some of the stresses that we find ourselves under as possibilities for new growth, new resilience, new acceptance – a new level of energy can come from huge amounts of pressure.
“For me, it’s a song of upliftment, and it’s a switching of focus from some of the more heavy themes that come up in the record. So I thought it was a great song to lead with. Also, it’s just got good vibes.”
Abstract came into the picture via mutual friend and collaborator Rick Rubin, who had played the group Tempest’s 2019 album ‘The Book Of Traps And Lessons’ during a session in his Shangri-La studio in Malibu. When one of the members of Brockhampton contacted Tempest with praise for the record, a connection was quickly forged. Continue reading →
Harry Secombe got my vote last week to be the representative act of the 1950s at Blackpool’s Palace Theatre.
Harry (1921-2001) fits the bill because his Palace appearances spanned ten years; three visits on variety bills, 1950-52, and a summer season in 1960, a year before the big Promenade venue closed.
For 50 years the Palace brought more stars to Blackpool than any other; eight acts per week, two shows nightly, changing weekly.
As the Fifties dawned a new generation of artists appeared on Palace bills. Several had emerged as entertainers in the armed forces including Max Bygraves, Dick Emery, Tony Hancock, Peter Sellers – and Harry Secombe. Continue reading →
Sir Michael Palin joins us to talk about how he’s working to save theatres in lockdown. The Monty Python star tells us what life in lockdown has been life for him and his family, and how he has been coping since fellow Python Terry Jones passed. Broadcast on 26/06/20
The West End producer says 70 per cent of performing arts companies will close by Christmas if there is no government rescue package
British theatre is on the brink of total collapse. All the performing arts – theatre, dance, opera, comedy, theatre in education, Christmas pantomime, community shows – are facing the real possibility of complete obliteration. I know it sounds melodramatic. It beggars belief – but it is a statement of fact.
Without an urgent government rescue package, 70 per cent of our performing arts companies will be out of business before the end of this year. More than 1,000 theatres around the country will be insolvent and might shut down for good.