The Week Ahead from Monday 18th July 2011: Iron Maiden, Black Country Communion , Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Slash, Electrelane, Rufus Wainwright and more
Posted: 12 years agoThis week is very much a 'rock' week, as if you haven't had enough metal already (thanks Sonisphere). One name missing from last weekend's Knebworth party was a certain Bruce Dickinson who will be leading his Iron Maiden troops out once more for a huge UK tour instead. This week's festivals probably don't carry the same capacity as the likes of Glasto and T in the Park, but are no less essential - High Voltage and the Secret Garden Party are just two of the attractions on offer.
We also have some great upcoming shows, including the acclaimed Fela!, the exuberant musical about the African ambassador of human rights and the arts and a worthy new stage production of the classic gangster tale, Get Carter.
All prices are exclusive of booking fees.
This week:
Tours
From Fear To Eternity and beyond - Maiden's Ed Force One touches down in most big cities from next Weds in Glasgow (still available), Nottingham, Manchester, Belfast and both O2s also still have face value tickets left from £37.50. The rest have resales available for £59 upwards (plus fees) - don't miss out!!!
Intense? You bet - GY!BE normally leave their audiences in no doubt that they've been beautifully and aurally assaulted. Catch them in Glasgow (Fri 22nd), Norwich (Sat) and Leeds (Mon) - tickets are selling fast and priced at £22.50.
Their first shows for over three years haven't gone unnoticed - face value tickets for the London show of the trio sold out pretty quickly. You can still get into their Manchester and homecoming Brighton show will tickets costing £12/£12.50. Their 16th August show at XOYO is still up for £14.50.
With a support as accomplished as Ghetts and with as many as a dozen other MCs in tow, Bizzle's shows will no doubt sell out at the last minute in Manchester, Bristol, Sheffield and London - many of his previous gigs have sold out and at prices starting from £6, it won't be hard to see why.
InMe's affable frontman has been reported as overwhelmed by his Sonsiphere slot at the weekend, but in a good way. His next two stops on Tues and Weds are both in Cumbria and are fundraising concerts for a Ugandan school library construction project - tickets for Penrith and Carlisle are just £5!
Now then, we haven't mentioned the expression 'pre-festival warm-up', but Mogwai's show in Bexhill on Friday is just that. This is a very rare appearance on the South Coast for the Scottish post-rockers, but you can still get into the pre-iTunes fest show for £20.
Recently the subject of songwriter Guy Chambers' TV series, Secrets Of The Pop Song, Wainwright will be resident at the equally-opulent Royal Opera House for a whole week packed with special family guests, including Martha Wainwright and Loudon Wainwright III. Limited tickets are available directly from the venue's website: www.roh.org.uk
The ex-Stoke resident and riffmeister returns for a few dates with his new mucker, Myles Kennedy from Alter Bridge in support. Not surprisingly, all four shows in Birmingham, Manchester, Stoke and Leeds have sold out aside from some resales, priced upwards of £45 for Manchester, for example. Or you could go to High Voltage in London...
Festivals
Victoria Park in Hackney is about to be blown off the planet by the final festival showing for Judas Priest, plus slots from Slash (see above), Dream Theater and Black Country Communion (also see above). Tickets for the weekend cost £90, while day tickets cost £56.50 each - don't miss out on another rock fest in the UK!
Nottingham's splendid Splendour reaches its 4th birthday with headliners Scissor Sisters, Feeder and Blondie, so what are toy waiting for? Tickets are still available at just £35 for the whole Sunday, which is roughly what Jake Shears' band charge on their own!
Huntingdon's not-so-secret gathering has achieved that rare thing - huge popularity without selling out - except that it has actually sold out in double-quick time this year, probably helped by Leftfield, Mystery Jets, Blondie and Mylo on the bill from Thursday to Sunday.
Theatre, Comedy and Arts
A show celebrating the life and work of the funk-jazz Afrique composer and civil-rights campaigner, its previous home was the Olivier Theatre where it sold out many nights. Now you can see it at Sadler's Wells from next Wed - tickets cost from just £15. A magnificent spectacle.
If bawdy humour and song are your bucket of chicken, then head to London's Soho Theatre from Monday onwards, for a feast of Grammy-nominated cabaret with a spot of steam-punk vaudevillian attitude. Runs until 5th August, priced at £12.50.
Duke of York's Theatre in London will host this intriguing wartime drama from Tuesday until 3rd September. Sherriff's play is based on his own experiences during the First World War and mixes humour with warmth and a tale of ordinary soldiers based in St Quentin. Tickets cost from £45.
![Get Carter [play]](https://www.allgigs.co.uk/images/object/artist/2702/Default-1-200-200-85-nocrop.png)
40 years ago, cinema-goers lapped up this 'crime-caper' starring Michael Caine - now its back with a new version adapted by Jonathan Holloway for this version at the Hoxton Courtyard. Starts Tuesday, ends Saturday and costs just £10 to get in!
![Roland Petit [English National Ballet]](https://www.allgigs.co.uk/images/object/artist/68633/Default-1-200-200-85-nocrop.png)
You get the impression that this French choreographer was a bit of a player on the quiet. Provocative and expressionist, Petit's work is summarized by this celebratory show at the London Coliseum from next Thursday for four days - tickets start at £10 and rise to £67.
A comedy performer's promotional pictures can tell a story - here's an Aussie with a gull on his shoulder, 'nuff said. For several nights from Monday, you can catch this surreal comic's new show, "Fail", at the Soho Theatre for £12 to £15.
Queens Square in Bristol is the venue for a massive week of top comedy, featuring Mock The Week regulars Russell Howard, Ed Byrne and also starring Ardal O'Hanlon, Adam Buxton, Stephen K Amos, Angelos Epithemiou, Stewart Francis plus many more. Tickets are £18.50 and £24.
Happy clicking!