Well I have been looking forward to putting this post up for Spandau Ballet, as they where my favourite band along side Simple Minds, although I am sure both bands would not be so keen to be associated side by side.

So I was pleased to here that they have reformed for a reunion tour. The song that always springs to mind for me is Gold, as it was this that was used for the background music when the BBC showed the highlights of the Los Angeles Olympics back in 1984, when Seb Coe again won the gold again in the 1,500 meters.

OK sorry about that slight deviation, but hey that’s what music is all about memories and moments in time. So finally after 20 years apart they are on tour again and I am sure there will be huge interest in this New Romantic band or should we call it Old Romantics!

Tony Hadley will of course be fronting the band, as he did back in the 80´s and I am sure they will include their biggest hit True.

After the band split, Gary and Martin Kemp turned their hands to film and TV acting (Martin was best known for his role in Eastenders) and Tony Hadley continued to perform as a solo artist.

They will be in Manchester at the MEN Apollo on Wednesday 28th October 2009 – 7.30pm and tickets can be bought from here.

Blue Man Group are an organization dedicated to creating exciting and innovative work in a wide variety of media, best understood as performing art in the true sense of the word. Blue Man Group is best known for their popular theatrical shows and concerts which combine music, comedy and multimedia theatrics to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. The blissful party atmosphere created at their live events has become the trademark of a Blue Man Group experience.

The best way to really understand is to watch the video below.

They will be putting on their spectacular show at the MEN Arena on Sunday 24th May 2009 – 7.30pm and tickets will be available from here.

Again another great proformer that takes me back quite some time, when I bought his Oxygene album back in 1977.

These days I think he is more famous for his outdoor spectaculars particularly with fire works. Interestingly he in in the New Guinness book of records, when in 1977 he had the biggest concert ever with 305 million spectators during Moscow´s 850th anniversary.

So based on that it will undoubtedly be quite some spectacular when he comes to Manchester on the 23rd May at the MEN Arena. Tickets are available here.

At the forefront of Canada’s nu-rock movement, Nickelback mix grungey guitars with emo-style angst to produce a mature, emotional and damn powerful sound. With their debut album ‘Silver Side Up’ a huge seller on both sides of the Atlantic and debut single ‘How You Remind Me’ already a rock anthem, world domination beckons

They will be preforming on Friday 22nd May 2009 – 7.30pm at the MEN Arena on my birthday would you believe! Anyway tickets are available from here.

In all honesty I do not know too much about the band but the video below should give you a feel

Eric Patrick Clapton CBE probably for me one of the greatest guitar players of all time will be here in Manchester in May and as a blues-rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer, you can be sure it will be a great evening of entertainment. He is probably most famous for his mesmerising skills on the Stratocaster guitar. And has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame not just once but uniquely 3 times as a member of the Yardbirds, of Cream, and as a solo performer.

Eric Clapton’s solo career has seen him become, arguably, the UK’s most influential and commercially successful guitarist after his formative years as a member of classic groups The Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Cream and Blind Faith. His touring band always includes some of the most highly respected and sought after musicians in the world. His hit singles include original songs such as Tears in Heaven (for which he won six Grammies), Wonderful Tonight and Layla together with classic versions of tracks such as, I Shot the Sheriff, Knockin on Heaven’s Door and Cocaine.
Eric will be preforming at the MEN Arena on Thursday 14th May 2009 – 7.30pm and tickets are available from here.

Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) are a folk rock/rock supergroup made up of David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash They are noted for their intricate vocal harmonies, often tumultuous interpersonal relationships, political activism, and lasting influence on music and culture.

The musical partnership was not only one of the most successful touring and recording acts of the late ’60s, ’70s, and early ’80s, with the colourful, contrasting nature of the members’ characters and their connection to the political and cultural upheavals of the time. It was the only American-based band to approach the overall societal impact of the Beatles.

The group was a second marriage for all the participants when it came together in 1968: Crosby had been a member of the Byrds, Nash was in the Hollies, and Stills had been part of Buffalo Springfield. The resulting trio, however, sounded like none of its predecessors and was characterized by a unique vocal blend and a musical approach that ranged from acoustic folk to melodic pop to hard rock

So with that back drop it will be fasinating to watch their proformance in Manchester at the MEN Arena on the  Friday 10th July 2009 – 7.30pm and tickets are available from here.

I thought the below comments sum up Razorlight better than me, I hope that it gives a better feel.

Razorlight formed in London in 2002 around vocalist/guitarist Johnny Borrell and guitarist/vocalist and Swedish ex-pat Björn Ågnen. Joined by bassist Carl Dalemo and drummer Christian Smith-Pancorvo, the combo recorded some early demos at London’s Toe Rag studios, and those songs led to radio exposure and the initial stirrings of hype.

Mercury Records signed Razorlight in 2003, and the group began recording their debut in between a series of hectic — and increasingly buzzed about — club gigs, working with no less an authority than Steve Lillywhite. Lillywhite soon left the project, but Razorlight continued to write and record their album while still wowing audiences with a spate of live dates, including a strong showing at the 2004 South by Southwest industry fest. At this point drummer Smith-Pancorvo left the group, but he was soon replaced by Andy Burrows. Thus reconfigured, Razorlight made their official album debut in August 2004 with Up All Night. The release was hailed for its stylish, fizzy mix of Strokes sensibilities and post-Britpop cool.

Razorlight will be proforming at the MEN Arena in Manchester on Saturday 9th May 2009 – 7.30pm

Well having a Spanish wife and two bi lingual daughters, I can only wish the best for Enrique in my home town of Manchester. No longer just Julio’s son, (which happens to be a favourite of my wife) Enrique is fast becoming a successful worldwide recording artist in his own right.

Already the biggest-selling artist singing in his native tongue ever, Enrique’s English language version of ‘Hero’ has given him a number one across the globe, and his smooth pop balladry and handsome features have earned him a host of fans.

Tickets on sale for Enrique for Friday 8th May 2009 – 7.30pm for the MEN Arena concert

Well it seems like Girls Aloud are here in Manchester, they were formed as part of the 2002 TV show Popstars: The Rivals, and achieved immediate success when their debut single Sound of the Underground reached the Christmas number one spot. Since then, the girls have had hits with the album of the same name, plus singles Jump, Some thing Kind Of Ooooh, Love Machine and I’ll Stand By You, the song for Children in Need 2004.

They have enjoyed more success with the albums What Will the Neighbours Say and Chemistry, which garnered numerous award nominations and supplied chart-topping hits, and made them the girl band with the most consecutive top 10 hits in UK chart history. On 26 September 2007, it was announced that Girls Aloud have made it into the Guinness Book of World Records 2008 for the “Most Consecutive Top Entries in the UK by a Female Group”. Their fourth album – Tangled Up – was released in November 2007.

Oh well I am sure my daughter will want tickets for this.They will be preforming in Manchester on Fri 24th April, Sat 16th, Sun 17th & Fri 29th May 2009 – 7.30pm at the MEN Manchester and tickets are available from here.

Now I remember these two at the Olympics, was it 25 years ago now when they won the Gold medal at Sarajevo with the perfect score! Still if you need reminding of one of the greatest ice skating moments I have embedded the video below.

Torvill and Dean’s Dancing On Ice The Bolero 25th Anniversary Tour is coming to Manchester from the 16th through to the 19th in  April 2009.

Celebrities and professional skating couples look set to cut up and melt the ice across the country. Torvill & Dean, will, as ever, be the stars of the show, whilst celebrities for the tour will be confirmed in 2009.

Matinee performances on Saturday at 2.30pm & Sunday at 1.30pm. Sunday’s evening performance is at 6.30pm.

Tickets available from here