From The Jam
Assembly Hall, Worthing, Saturday, April 20
This may be a Jam tribute act but with original band member Bruce Foxton, From The Jam is one of the most popular tribute acts in the country. The dynamic duo, Bruce partnered by Russell Hastings on lead vocal and guitar, play a set full of Jam classics. The Jam produced some belting hits that are even better heard live, rocking tracks such as Down In The Tube Station At Midnight, Going Underground, Town Called Malice and The Modern World. Tribute acts often claim to be the next best thing if you can’t see the original, but when that tribute act happens to have an original member of the band it’s probably true.
Bad Pond Festival
Concorde 2, Brighton, Sunday, April 21
A mini-festival inside a club, Bad Pond Festival is the leading experimental rock festival based right here by the seaside in Brighton. The day of up-and-coming bands showcases just what rock music is all about and is a brilliant way to discover acts you may not have heard of before. This year’s line-up features the likes of Three Trapped Tigers, Anchorsong, Kagoule and Natalie Evans.
Dream State
The Hope and Ruin, Brighton, Sunday, April 21
This five-piece alternative rock band from South Wales only formed at the end of 2017 but are already building up quit a following. The hard-hitting vocals of leading lady CJ Gilpin are raw and epic, while the band behind her don’t hold back when it comes to heavy riffs and melodic choruses. Think pop-punk meets hard rock with just a splash of metal mixed in for good measure. This is a band who have the ability to go far, so it may be worth seeing them in intimate venues like the Hope and Ruin while you still can.
The Mousetrap
The Hawth, Crawley, Monday, April 22 to Saturday, April 27
Written by Agatha Christie, The Mousetrap is the longest running stage production in the world or at least that’s how it bills itself.
Since debuting on London’s West End in 1952, the show has spent the last 67 years enthralling show lovers across the country and beyond.
Almost a Cluedo style murder-mystery, the show revolves around a group of people at a secluded countryside manor.
When one of the group is killed the biggest question is which of the attendees is the guilty party.
James Phelan
The Capitol Theatre, Horsham, Tuesday, April 23
The nephew of the late, great, Paul Daniels, James Phelan has clearly picked up his uncle’s passion for magic.
James has become a bit of of a viral internet sensation as he combines his mind- boggling magical act with some great comedy.
His new Trickster tour is no different.
His comedy-focused magic will have you in awe but also in hysterics.
Often heralded for his “cheeky charm”, James is doing relative Paul proud with his current work.
Suede
Brighton Dome, Brighton, Tuesday, April 23
Suede are one of the bands credited with kick-starting the Brit-pop revolution that took the country by storm in the Nineties. Nearly three decades on, which did include a seven-year hiatus that we won’t mention, the band are still going strong and are as popular as ever. Their indie rock stylings have captured the hearts of fans across the world, but it is here in their native Britain where they remain the biggest. The ability to still fill out the Dome is testament to that.
Patrick Monahan
Connaught Theatre, Worthing, Thursday, April 25
A regular favourite when he performs at Edinburgh Fringe, which seems almost round the corner once again, Patrick Monahan is back with his new show #Goals.
The Irish-Iranian stand up, who won ITV’s comedy talent show Show Me The Funny, is a rising star of the British comedy circuit.
Often named as one of the hardest working comedians in the country, Patrick has proved that he’s more than willing to put in the time, travel and work stage hours needed to work his way up the fiercely competitive British comedy ladder.
Neck Deep
Concorde 2, Brighton, Thursday, April 25
In the minds of many pop-punk fans the genre took a significant dip when arena-filling bands such as Paramore and Fall Out Boy took their music in a more “mainstream” direction. But Neck Deep are proof that this rock sub-genre is very much alive and well. The group are playing the Slam Dunk Festival at the end of May but have announced this tiny Brighton warm-up show to their busy summer schedule. Neck Deep are too big for Concorde, so this will be a packed show.
Andrew Maxwell
The Hawth Theatre, Crawley, Friday, April 26
One of the finest comedians that Ireland has ever produced, Andrew Maxwell has made a hugely-successful career out of making people laugh.
His comedy is often described as “accessible” and “unpretentious”, making him extremely likeable.
It also means that the topics he covers often become extremely relatable to the audiences he plays to.
You can tell that Andrew has done his research when it comes to his stand up sets.
He is well informed and that only bolsters his performances.
Tamar Broadbent
The Capitol Theatre, Horsham, Friday, April 26
If you like comedy and music, and love it even more when they are blended together, then this is one show to check out.
Tamar Broadbent has an extensive back catalogue of hilariously catchy songs, and she will be running through some of her best at this show at the Capitol.
Having toured the world with her catchy and comedic jingles, a testament to just how popular she really is, Tamar is now back of British soil and ready to make you laugh and sing all at once.
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