Twin popstars Jedward to perform in Medway

If you found their performances on The X Factor and Eurovision annoying, then you might want to avoid Chatham this September because Jedward are coming.

The Irish-duo, who rose to fame on ITV’s The X Factor in 2009, are playing at the Central Theatre in Chatham on Friday, September 27.

More than 100 tickets were snapped up by Jed-mad fans in just a few hours when they went on sale yesterday (May 9), with tickets being sold to fans from the Netherlands, Bosnia and Australia.

Taking to Twitter, fans could barely contain themselves at the news.

@xStephGrimes13x said: “I still can’t believe I’m seeing @planetjedward in September, anyone else going to Chatham if so I’ll see you there <3.”

And @itsJasmineHey said: “JEDWARD ARE COMING TO CHATHAM OMG LIFE IS COMPLETE.”

The songsters, who also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and have released nine singles and three albums, were voted Yahoo! OMG UK’s Best Boy Band in 2012.

The concert starts at 7.30pm at the Central Theatre, Chatham on Friday, September 27. Tickets start from £23, available at Medway Tickets Live.

(Story written by Kieran Watkins for The Medwire)

Post-Olympic blues

Alas, it’s one week now since the Olympics graced our screens for the last time (or at least, in London for the foreseeable future.) It was a day that saw Britain win a few more medals to round off a fantastic haul in London, and culminated in a fantastic party featuring the likes of George Michael and Kate Moss.

And I, like many other people it seems, just can’t get one act out of my head. Yes, this last week I’ve been reliving my inner-Baby Spice (I was always the Baby one) and singing ‘Spice up your life’ at any given opportunity.

It doesn’t help that the girls have been teasing the media, with suggestions from Mel C that she’d “do it all again” and “never say never”. Oh Spice Girls, won’t you reform once more?

Thank the lord for the new Spice Girls musical, Viva forever!, which looks set to hit the West End later this year.

In the meantime, you can dig out the leopard print and that oh-so-short union jack dress and reminsce over last Sunday night’s fantastic performance from arguably the world’s best ever girl band here.

And don’t forget, the Paralympics are just around the corner. Tickets are selling quickly, so keep on checking the website for availability. No doubt Britain will lay down the foundations for another great games. You can find out more about the Paralympics here.

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia

Viva Forever! The Spice Girls are back

Girl power promises to be relived and reborn this year after the official Spice Girls musical, Viva Forever!, was unveiled at a glitzy ceremony at the Renaissance Hotel in St Pancras.

Attended by all five members of the Spice Girls - Victoria Beckham (Posh), Emma Bunton (Baby), Melanie Chisholm (Sporty), Melanie Brown (Scary) and Geri Hallowell (Ginger) - the Spice Girls were reformed for the first time publicly since their world tour in 2008, set against the backdrop for what was the location for their first hit single ‘Wannabe’.

The unvieling of the show, a musical featuring the songs of the Spice Girls, had the reporters in a flutter as writer Jennifer Saunders - the comedienne and actress - and producer Judy Cramer - who was producer for West End hit Mamma Mia! - revealed the details for the show, which is scheduled to open this December, with previews in November at the Piccadilly Theatre in London.

All five members took questions from the public along with Cramer and Saunders, as well as pictures together. Despite the rumours of backstage bitching, all five looked glamorous and happy as they posed, although Victoria, her usual gloomy self, failed to smile throughout the session.

She did however reveal that the musical would introduced “a whole new generation to girl power.”

The producers revealed that the story would evolve around a "beautiful, talented girl and her best friends who get swept up in the obsession of today's TV celebrity culture."
With the story promising to appeal to all generations, the musical will no doubt go well with theatregoers and fans of the Spice Girls. It’s even rumoured that the Spice Girls maybe tempted to reform for the Closing ceremony of the Olympic Games - so watch this space!

I for one cannot wait for the musical to open in the West End, and will not deny the fact that I’m 100% Spice mad for Viva Forever!

You can watch a clip from the unveiling here.

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia

Is The Voice on course to flop?

It all started so well for Britain's newest reality TV contest.

With a mass media operation exciting fans and drumming up support from the public, The Voice - the singing contest from Holland - launched to a ratings high of 10 million, the highest launch ever for a reality TV concept in the UK.

The concept is fresh, the judges are legends and the singers are VERY talented. So how come ratings have nearly halved in just a few weeks? Why can't The Voice, ironically, find it's voice with the UK audience?

It seems, to many, that the concept is just a little bit boring. OK, the Blind Auditions were fantastic. Genuinely great singers featured from the onset, and it was great to see the 'coaches' judging purely on The Voice. We saw singers from all age groups and all backgrounds performing and getting through to the Battle Rounds.

But it was the Battle Rounds where things hit a snag. You see, the unique concept of The Voice is the Blind Auditions. Now that they're over - they finished rather quickly, in my opinion - the whole idea of the spinning chairs and just focusing on The Voice is gone. It just turns into another music contest.

I personally liked the Battle Rounds, but sadly a lot of people disagreed. Ratings started to slip as some of the fan favourites, including Jessica Hammond who performed 'Price Tag' to critical acclaim, headed home. The problem was, a lot of the good acts were put against each other, meaning some great singers got through, but quite a few left too. The live shows then brought forward a mix of 'good' singers and some who, well, just don't really cut it.

And it seems the audience agrees with me. The most recent live show saw viewing figures drop to under 6 million, nearly half from the opening weekend. Many people I have spoken to have said it's boring now, the singers are dull and there's no chemistry between the judges.

And they're right. The judges/ coaches (or whatever you call them) do lack chemistry. Will.I.Am is very amusing, but his comments are too nice, the same with Danny and Tom. Tom is too old to know anything about the current music industry, and Danny is too unknown to really excite viewers. Plus, he stands up all the time (just sit down for once, please!) Jessie J on the other hand is an oddball; occasionally, she makes constructive criticism and she's usually right, but a lot of the time she comes across as a spoilt brat who is overshadowed by the three men.

The programme ideally sees itself as the 'nice guy' in the music world, but in reality, this never happens. We need a nasty record producer in there, and dare I say it, the show is missing the buzz and excitement surrounded by someone like Simon Cowell.

Although you'll never hear me admitting to liking the X Factor or Britain's Got Talent (both are terrible shows which exploit their own artists for a few laughs), you have to applaud them for being successful. Sadly, if The Voice can't pick itself up and raise viewing figures, ratings will fall flat. And no one likes a flat voice now do they?!

Pictures Courtesy of Wikipedia

Review of the Week: Glee live!

After the end of Season 2 and what with all my exams to contend with, I was definitely missing the Glee club, along with Sue and all the others. So what better way to ‘reaffirm’ my love with the hottest American export than see the cast dancing and singing live at the UK’s biggest venue, the 02, London.

An overview for anyone who feels they’re not ‘cool’ enough to watch the show; it's about a group of ‘misfits’ perform songs, a mix of covers and original music, in order to win the coveted ‘Nationals’ trophy. There teacher, Mr Schuster (Matthew Morrison), guides them through each week - despite the best efforts by his arch nemesis, the comedy genius, Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch). It’s a show that brings people of all ages together, and has proved a hit across the globe. With numerous singles making their way to the Singles Chart, the actors making a name for themselves and with a film and a new series recently released, the only way really is up for the show. Therefore, it seemed fitting that the cast decided to honour their fans by performing at selected venues across Europe. And what a performance it was!

However, I had my apprehensions. Firstly, I had never been to the 02 before, and was worried none the less that our seats, which were not cheap, might leave me with a strained neck when trying to catch a glimpse of the stars belting out popular tunes. But alas, once we walked through an organised security barrier, we quickly found our seats, glanced through the programme and enjoyed the buzz as the pews surrounding us quickly filled up with more fellow ‘Gleeks’ than I thought possible. If you’re looking to go to the 02 in the evening, a quick tip would be to come a few hours early and have a meal in one of the many restaurants - but leave plenty of time for this, the queue’s were long but worth the wait!

With the atmosphere now hotting up, the support act; a dance troupe who mixed mainstream pop with contemporary dance, helped set the tone for a night to remember. Enter New Directions! The first song, arguably their most famous cover to date, ‘Don’t Stop Believing’, was met with wild cheers and clapping from the gleeful audience, most of whom sang along with the stars (including myself!) A fantastic opening, which went from strength to strength with other cover hits such as ‘Bad Romance’, ‘Lucky’ and ‘Valerie’, sung by true musicians (those critics who thought it was all made up in the recording studio were certainly a long way from the truth). All the stars performed, danced and acted as if their life depended on it.

To pick out just a few superstars, Amber Riley (Mercedes) sung her heart out with a rendition of ‘Ain’t No Way’ by Aretha Franklin, which was the only moment throughout the entire show that the audience remained quiet, as her powerful and unpredictable personality and voice touched the hearts of all the fans. In contrast, Chris Colfer (Kurt) provided humour and screams of delight as he performed to Beyonce’s Single Ladies, a routine that undoubtedly Beyonce would find hard to live up to herself! In fact, most of the performances were better than I had anticipated, although a few performers could have performed better. Artie’s voice was particularly weak, despite the actor once being the lead in a rock band. As the many duets, solos and group sing-offs came to an end, my numbing hands and dry throat were an insignificant compromise to the 90 minutes of excitement endured.


Overall, it was a night to remember, and a performance that once ended, I wished could be repeated again and again. The effect of watching and seeing it live was much more than I could ever have imagined. The songs, the dancing, the acting, the audience, even the venue despite the cost, all contributed to a great, unforgettable night that I would recommend to anyone who has the chance to either see the cast again live in concert, or someone else at the O2!

4/5 Stars (reviewed last year)

Review of the Week: Just Dance 2

Computer games. I have often viewed them as a bit of a novelty. From computers to PlayStation's, the world of gaming is now part of our lives whether we like it or not. But does it interest me? Not really. I mean, most of them you end up bored with after one hour, or ranting expletives at the screen. Maybe you do both - as in my case - and then just end up giving up, wondering how you're ever going to get those wasted hours of your life back.

But it's a bit different with Just Dance 2. It has been around for a little while now, but the dancing sensation which sees you moving to songs as they flash up on your screen, is a massive hit worldwide.

I ventured onto the Just Dance scene a year ago, when I was playing with friends at a drunken party. It was so much fun I just knew I had to buy it, despite the £24 price tag. It was hilarious, high octane fun which had me laughing from start to finish, as well as sweating.

It's a simple game. Played on Ninetendo Wii, you basically have your controller in one hand and move about to the music, copying the dancers on screen as they dance to hits such as Outkast's 'Hey Ya' and Harry Belafonte's 'Jump the line'.

You can play on your own, with a friend, or a whole group of friends - just watch the furniture, or each other, as one bruised elbow and a broken lampshade told me! The more the merrier, especially if you have had a few drinks and need to let off some energy.

The song choices vary between each game, with Just Dance 2 offering a competent collection of everything from Katy Perry to Boney M. Dances are usually rated on level, with the player having to copy each dance move perfectly to reach the highest score possible. There are various game modes too, including the complicated 'Simon Says' round and 'Duet' modes.

Ok, the dance moves can be bizarre and very complicated. In just a few songs, I went from Russian dancing to an African raindance, back to shimmying around the room, giving Beyonce a run for her money. Honestly, if I ever went for Strictly Come Dancing, they would sign me up as a professional!

The game also has the song lyrics on screen, forming  a full on affair of music and dance, which together with a tipple or two, results in a rather amusing yet thoroughly rewarding night of entertainment.

Just make sure you have a glass of water with a towel on side ready. You're gonna need it!
4/5 stars

Picture Courtesy of Wikipedia

(Anyone that wishes to challenge me to a Just Dance duel, please leave your name and number and shit will hit the fan!)

Follow me on Twitter: @kieranwatkins

Review of the Week: The Voice

Singing contests, reality tv shows and music programmes. I look back at the shows that have passed. Fame Academy, Pop Idol, Popstars and the ailing X Factor. Shows which, at the top of their game, were popular with the public and generally well received. But they got boring. The singers fell flat, the sob stories passed the ten minute mark and the judges went from A List to Z List. What is needed, is a new, fresh format to rival all other reality tv shows, and put raw talent back in the spotlight.

Which is why The Voice seemed appealing. When the US version hit screens last year, from the original Dutch format, I was excited. Watching clips on YouTube, it seemed like a breath of fresh air to an already crowded entertainment world. And when the BBC, after a bidding war with ITV, claimed the prize of the UK broadcasting rights, my excitement started to grow.

In the last few months, the BBC have been plotting something so huge, that even the big, botox-faced man himself, Simon Cowell, rushed back home to see what all the fuss was about. A format unlike any other show, four 'superstar' coaches, a contest that is rocking its way all over the world and an aim that goes back to basics. The Voice aims to please the nation.

And overall, it did please me. Last nights opening was beyond my wildest dreams. But before I delve in, let me give you a bit of a heads up.

Presented by Holly Willoughby (urgh, so dull) and Reggie Yates (oo, a bit better), The Voice on BBC One aims to find a singing superstar by judging solely on the voice of an artist, with the winner signing a record contract with Universal. In the 'Blind Auditions', four of the world's biggest singers - Will.I.Am (Black Eyed Peas frontman), Sir Tom Jones, Jessie J and Danny O'Donoghue (from The Script) - have their backs turned to the singer, facing the audience. By listening to the voice and judging on voice alone, the 'coaches' as they're referred to, choose who they want by pressing a red button and spinning their chair to reveal who is singing. If none of them press the button, then the signer goes home. If all of them press the buzzer, the singer decides who to coach them.

It sounds a bit complicated, but the fantastic first episode made it clear. It's a case of judging solely on the voice. It's not about how you look, where you come from, what your story is. It's about the talent. And the number one thing for me that was great about this show was that there was real talent. In fact, if you had all these artists on something like the X Factor, all of them would be chosen. But only the very best were picked.

In an episode which saw all four coaches singing to 'I've gotta feeling' (felt a bit cheesy, but showed off the singing skills of each coach), the show featured acts up and down the country, from working mothers, singers with confidence issues and even a boyfriend and girlfriend (was awkward, to say the least, when the boyfriend got chosen and the girlfriend didn't!) singing their hearts out.

All the singers brought something different to the stage, as did the four coaches. Jessie J has the current knowledge and popular appeal, Tom is the legend with plenty of experience, Will.I.Am plays the comedian - cool but with a game plan - and Danny shows a soft, caring side with his boyband looks. The part where the artist chooses the right judge is both fun and painful to watch, with each judge bartering for the act. In some cases, however, it did get a bit cringe worthy.

Yes, you can draw a few similarities to the other shows. It does feature a few sob stories, although moderately with a human touch, not just to exploit the artist. The auditions felt a bit X Factor-esque, especially when backstage. And the audience were still screaming and calling the shots.

But all in all, it is a fantastic concept for a show which the whole nation is tipping to be a success. The artists love it, the industry seems pleased and the critics are applauding it (unless you are Simon Cowell, whose dead horse - Britain's Got Talent - is lagging behind). It seems the BBC might have just found its own answer, indeed its own 'Voice' if you will, in the competitive singing contest market!

4/5 Stars

Pictures Courtesy of Wikipedia

Follow me on Twitter: @kieranwatkins