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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Critic rating
Reader rating
Live wire: Dizzee Rascal wows the Hyde Park crowd
So many corporations were being hawked at this year’s Wireless that it felt less like a gig in a park than a mall that’s been turfed. Yet for all its commercial dealings, the weekender has at least found its soul by championing UK urban music.
Dizzee Rascal and The Streets dominated Saturday, with the latter squeezed into a nightmarishly small tent. Dizzee, meanwhile, had a widescreen view from the main stage. “Where’s all the sexy ladies?” he asked. They were down in the front, Dizzee, wiggling to Dirty Cash.
Jack Peñate sounded sarcastic every time he thanked the crowd (“I’m really having such an amazing time!”). Having said that, he did smash his guitar and gob on it afterwards. Which is hard to argue with.
Basement Jaxx finished off the night by looking and sounding like Hawaiian witch doctors on a pilgrimage to Shoreditch, fusing their hits together like a DJ set from the gods.
Yesterday got off to a walloping start with Noisettes, whose singer Shingai prowled the stage like a predator. Their style of cinematic Motown was refreshing, not least on a cover of Children Of The Revolution.
Camden Town hip hoppers N-Dubz also graced the main stage with a cinematic sound, but we got the real deal later when they made a surprise appearance with grime collaborator Tinchy Stryder in a rammed-out tent. “Make some noise!” and “Jump jump jump!” they shouted (to a noisy and jumping audience), and although I was being crushed, the atmosphere was brilliant.
Calvin Harris wanted to know if we were ready to dance, and although we were, there were some in the audience infinitely more ready to pelt each other with beer bottles. Nonetheless, his synth-pop made a compelling soundtrack to the hailstorm of plastic containers.
Need I say that Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity were as riveting live as they were on the telly? Nope? Then let’s cut to Kanye West.
The US rapper swept up the crowd in his diamond-encrusted claw, with soul (Coldest Winter), rapture (Gold Digger) and eventually bootyliciousness (Good Life).
West is undoubtedly an American superstar — but the weekend was also a reminder that we’ve got our own rappers starring in the UK.
Dizzee? Tinchy? Let’s take this international.
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