Hairy Bikers Arrive at The Opera House Blackpool

After their 5000 mile European “Bake-ation” where they showcased the best of continental cuisine and emerged leaner, and greener, with a newfound commitment to sustainable food, the boys are touring the country to take the middle-aged male dieting market by storm.

On Friday 5^th April 2013 the boys hit Blackpool Opera House ready to do some dancing, tell tall stories from their travels and explain how dieting helps you achieve “50 shades of grey, wink, if you know what we mean”. Typical of their sense of humour, wthey get really hung up on one topic. It might be wise to read that scurrilous novel, “50 Shades of Grey” before you see the show, as it seems to be their latest fetish. Perhaps they should get commission!

“It’ll Be Right”

The motorcycle loving pair met on the set of a Catherine Cookson series while working crew positions eight years ago. While on lunch where the film set staff ordered salads and soda water all-round, the boys ordered curry and chips together and a lasting friendship was born.

Hanging out together they discovered a mutual passion for motorcycling around the countryside and cooking up meals together. Initially there was some discussion about who would cook, but they got on so well they started making tasty concoctions together. They would invent food and not worry how it turned out saying “it’ll be right”, which is now their most famous catchphrase.

By now, good mates, and prompted by the lack of a pay rise in over 15 years for backstage film crew, they embarked on forming their own TV series. Initially, they didn’t know what to do, but reasoned that a love of motorcycling, talking rubbish, and cooking just might go together well, and the Hairy Bikers was formed!

The Hairy Bikers are sure to be a good laugh at The Opera House this April, so make sure you get your tickets to this hilarious culinary and comedy show. The event is on Friday night so why not stop over in a Blackpool Hotel and enjoy the sights of the Piers and the Blackpool Tower? Most attractions are open from April so you won’t be stuck for something to do.

Show Spectaculars –

Cantabile at the Lowther Pavilion (Fri 2^nd)

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac at Opera House (Wed 6^th)

Courteeners at Empress Ballroom (Fri 8^th)

Gypsy – A Musical Fable at The Grand Theatre (Fri 8^th)

Funny Girls Spring Show at the Dickinson Road Venue (24 Jan – 10 Mar)

Viva Blackpool Cabaret at Viva Blackpool (18 Jan – 24 Mar)

 Blackpool Town Events –

Truly Scrumptious Biggest Ever Handmade and Vintage Fair at Winter Gardens (Sat 2^nd – Sun 3^rd)

 Blackpool Family Fun –

Snowdrops Walk at Lytham Hall (Sun 3^rd)

Pleasure Beach Resort half price weekend (Saturday 9^th/Sunday 10^th)

Stanah Squirrels Wildlife Watch Group Tour at the Wyre Estuary (Saturday 9^th)

Fairhaven Family Photo Trail at Fairhaven Lake (Daily)

Dance and Sports Maniacs –

Swing Spectacular at The Sands (March 2^nd)

Let’s Hang On – Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Tribute at The Sands Venue (March 8^th)

Night Time at The Sea View at The Sands Venue (Friday 9^th March)

Blackpool FC vs Bristol City at Bloomfield Road (Saturday 2^nd March)

 Fancy Arts stuff –

Lytham Heritage Group 25^th Anniversary exhibition – (5 Feb – 3 March)

Lytham Heritage Group Hotels and Inns of Lytham – (5 March – 24 March)

Saturday February 23 to Friday March 1

Show Spectaculars –

Street Theatre in St John’s (Daily until Feb 24)

The Magician’s Convention and Championships at Winter Gardens (Feb 23 – 24)

The Nightingale at The Grand Theatre (Wed 27th to Thurs 28th)

Funny Girls Spring Show at the Dickinson Road Venue (24 Jan – 10 Mar)

Viva Blackpool Cabaret at Viva Blackpool (18 Jan – 24 Mar)

Blackpool Town Events –

Wondertours from Showzam Central at Olympia (Saturday 16 to Saturday 23rd)

Blackpool Tower: The Wonderland of the World Tour (Wednesday 20th to Sunday 24th)

Face Painting Festival at The Horseshoe (Saturday 23rd)

Showzam – Blackpool’s February Festival (15 Feb – 24 Feb)

Natural History of the Wyre Estuary (Saturday 23^rd)

Blackpool Family Fun –

Teen Rangers at Wyre Estuary Country Park (Saturday 23^rd)

Wookey Hole Youth Circus and Showzam Central at Olympia (Daily 11am – 5am until Sunday 24)

Hedgehog Hunt at Blackpool Model Village and Gardens (Saturday 23/Sunday 24)

Pleasure Beach Resort half price weekend (Saturday 23/Sunday 24)

Fairhaven Family Photo Trail at Fairhaven Lake (Daily)

Dance and Sports Maniacs –

Afternoon Tea Dance at The Sands (Tuesday 26th)

Night Time at The Sea View at The Sands Venue (Friday 1^st March)

The Last Waltz from Showzam Central at Olympia (Saturday 23rd)

Afternoon Tea Dance at The Sands (Tuesday 26th)

Night Time at The Sea View at The Sands Venue (Friday 1^st March)

Blackpool FC vs Leicester at Bloomfield Road (Saturday 23^rd)

Blackpool FC vs Bristol City at Bloomfield Road (Saturday 2^nd March)

Fancy Arts stuff –

Lytham Heritage Group 25^th Anniversary exhibition – (5 Feb – 3 March)

Live and Loose in the UK Tour 2013

This ten piece ensemble dedicated to playing all the greatest hits from this renowned artist hit Lytham on March 1, 2013. This is the biggest tour the group have attempted to date, which is a reflection of their growing popularity among a UK public hungry for Phil Collins’ songs.

Classic Phil Collins

Old favourites like I Can Feel It Coming in The Air Tonight, Sussudio, Easy Lover and Another Day in Paradise make for a sing-a-long session with newer songs taken from Phil Collins’ 1997 “Dance into the Light” tour, which the band have re-created.

Songs from the newer tour include Lorenzo, It’s In Your Eyes and Long, Long Way to Go. Frontman Pete Bultitude, who was a grand finalist in “Stars In Your Eyes”, leads a stunning two hour performance which shows off his incredible vocal range and stage presence.

Fans of the inaugural drumming that Collins’ and Genesis made iconic in the song “I Can Feel It Coming in The Air Tonight”, will not be disappointed by the haunting solo performed by Tim Harper during the evening.

And Finally Phil Collins

The “And Finally Phil Collins” Act provide many special moments during their performance, including a musically accomplished “Take Me Home”. The heart of the band’s philosophy is bringing together some of the best musicians in the tribute field who want to produce the most musically wondrous Collins act for the current generation of fans.

There’s a horn section comprising Jon Peacock on Trumpet, Neil McGovern on Saxaphone and Tom Lark on Trombone. The band is worth seeing for this aspect alone, as it is so rare to see a live act with a comprehensive horn section that has several major parts in the songs played. The music lifts you right out of your chair, particularly during Sussudio!

The band also has a family feel to it, with the lovely wives of the musicians forming the trio of backing vocalists. What makes the “And Finally Phil Collins” tribute so special, is the fact that you actually feel like you are at a Phil Collins performance, for a fraction of the cost!

Saturday February 16 to Friday February 22

Show Spectaculars –

Street Theatre in St John’s (Daily)

Spookshow in the Baronial and Renaissance Suite (Friday 15th to Tuesday 19th)

The Dancer and the Devil in the Pavilion (Friday 15th to Monday 18th)

High Jinx at The Horseshoe (Friday 15th to Wednesday 20th)

Circus Hilarious (Monday 18th)

Mr Albert’s Trade of the Tricks at The Grand Theatre (Monday 18th to Friday 22nd)

Mr Albert’s Big Finish at The Grand Theatre (Monday 18th to Friday 22nd)

Biggins It at The White Tower (Friday 22nd)

Funny Girls Spring Show at the Dickinson Road Venue (24 Jan – 10 Mar)

Viva Blackpool Cabaret at Viva Blackpool (18 Jan – 24 Mar)

Blackpool Town Events –

Blackpool Winter Gardens Tours from Floral Hall (Friday 15th to Tuesday 19th)

Pleasure Beach Backstage Tours (Monday 18th to Wednesday 20th)

The Stageworks Backstage Tour at The Globe (Thursday 21st)

Wondertours from Showzam Central at Olympia (Saturday 16 to Saturday 23rd)

Blackpool Tower: The Wonderland of the World Tour (Wednesday 20th to Sunday 24th)

Face Painting Festival at The Horseshoe (Saturday 23rd)

Showzam – Blackpool’s February Festival (15 Feb – 24 Feb)

Blackpool Family Fun –

Wookey Hole Youth Circus and Showzam Central at Olympia (Daily 11am – 5am)

Hedgehog Hunt at Blackpool Model Village and Gardens (Saturday 16/Sunday 17)

Dance It under 10s Workshop at The Arena Dance Studio (Monday 18^th/Wednesday 20th)

Dance It under 11s Workshop at The Arena Dance Studio (Tuesday 19^th/Thursday 21st )

Act It Workshop at The Arena Dance Studio (Monday 18th)

Magic It at The Horseshoe (Tuesday 19th)

Create It at The Arena Dance Studio (Wednesday 20th)

Photograph It for Kids Workshop at The Arena (Thursday 21st)

Skate It Workshop at The Arena (Friday 22nd)

Audition It Workshop at The Arena (Friday 22nd)

Photograph It Workshop at The Arena (Friday 22nd)

Ballroom It Workshop at The Arena Dance Studio (Friday 22nd)

Dance and Sports Maniacs –

Carnival Ball Razzle Dazzle at The Blackpool Tower (Saturday 16th)

Totally Cliff and The Shadtones at The Sands Venue (Saturday 16^th)

Night Time at The Sea View at The Sands Venue (17^th – 18^th)

The Last Waltz from Showzam Central at Olympia (Friday 22nd/Saturday 23rd)

Dreamtime with Romany at The Sands Venue (19^th to 23^rd)

Blackpool vs Leicester at Bloomfield Road (Saturday 23^rd)

Fancy Arts stuff –

Lytham Heritage Group 25^th Anniversary exhibition – (5 Feb – 3 March)

Now in its 6th year, the Blackpool Festival has seen an injection of £99m in National Lottery funding courtesy of the Arts Council of England.

2013 Showzam Events

Each day is action packed with a series of interactive dance, theatre and street performance events designed to wow spectators and entertain the public.

A full list of events and the dates they are on is below:

•  Wookey Hole Youth Circus and Showzam Central at Olympia (Daily 11am – 5am)
•  Street Theatre in St John’s (Daily)
•  Spookshow in the Baronial and Renaissance Suite (Friday 15th to Tuesday 19th)
•  The Dancer and the Devil in the Pavilion (Friday 15th to Monday 18th)
•  High Jinx at The Horseshoe (Friday 15th to Wednesday 20th)
•  Blackpool Winter Gardens Tours from Floral Hall (Friday 15th to Tuesday 19th)
•  Carnival Ball Razzle Dazzle at The Blackpool Tower (Saturday 16th)
•  Circus Hilarious (Monday 18th)
•  Pleasure Beach Backstage Tours (Monday 18th to Wednesday 20th)
•  Mr Albert’s Trade of the Tricks at The Grand Theatre (Monday 18th to Friday 22nd)
•  Mr Albert’s Big Finish at The Grand Theatre (Monday 18th to Friday 22nd)
•  Dance It under 10s Workshop at The Arena Dance Studio (Monday 18th and Wednesday 20th)
•  Dance It under 11s Workshop at The Arena Dance Studio (Tuesday 19th and Thursday 21st )
•  Act It Workshop at The Arena Dance Studio (Monday 18th)
•  Magic It at The Horseshoe (Tuesday 19th)
•  Create It at The Arena Dance Studio (Wednesday 20th)
•  Blackpool Tower: The Wonderland of the World Tour (Wednesday 20th to Sunday 24th)
•  Photograph It for Kids Workshop at The Arena (Thursday 21st)
•  The Stageworks Backstage Tour at The Globe (Thursday 21st)
•  Skate It Workshop at The Arena (Friday 22nd)
•  Audition It Workshop at The Arena (Friday 22nd)
•  Photograph It Workshop at The Arena (Friday 22nd)
•  Ballroom It Workshop at The Arena Dance Studio (Friday 22nd)
•  Biggins It at The White Tower (Friday 22nd)
•  The Last Waltz from Showzam Central at Olympia (Friday 22nd/Saturday 23rd)
•   Wondertours from Showzam Central at Olympia (Saturday 16 to Saturday 23rd)
•  Dreamtime with Romany at The Sands Venue (Saturday 23rd)
•  Face Painting Festival at The Horseshoe (Saturday 23rd)

Paloma returns to Blackpool on 13^th February 2013, to a sell out concert at the Blackpool Opera House. The tour will see her play new songs from her “Fall to Grace” album, for which she’s received two Brit Award Nominations. The album has a different sonic feel to her debut “Do you want the truth or something beautiful” smash hit album, citing influences from Prince, Westlife and the composer of the James Bond films!

The new album approach, according to Paloma, was to “strip herself bare” and go deeply into relationships. Starting with the title; a twist on the old saying “fall from grace”; the idea is that life is a journey and no matter what bad happens to you in life, you do heal over.

Paloma Faith has gathered her fans through her creative use of visual medium and costume. This Masters Graduate of Time Based Arts from Central St Martin’s, part-time actress (The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus) and creative artist believes in conceptual music, and album art. The whole process needs to be a cohesive story, with a message behind it.

Her stage performances are dynamic, colourful and evocative, with Paloma herself using several costume changes, dance-hall style choreographic arrangements and set arrangements to set a mood and tone for her audiences. More than a music concert performance, Paloma demonstrates artistic grace as she presents her work to her fans.

Forever challenging herself, she recently spent a weekend with Prince discovering that she’d reached a new musical “ladder” and felt stuck at the bottom of it. She says; “that was a real turning point for me … but I felt that with his encouragement, I could go out there and achieve something.”

Surprising sentiment from an artist admired by many and rewarded often by the Brit Awards industry as a beacon of British talent. Perhaps fans at Blackpool will be treated to snippets from her upcoming album, “Redemption” which, by the title, seems to indicate a re-birth or re-discovery of her artistic roots and individualism, which made her debut such a smash-hit.

With Blackpool close to her heart, Paloma Faith fans will be treated to an extra-special evening at the Blackpool Opera House this February.

Saturday February 9 to Friday February 15

Show Spectaculars –

Little Mix at the Opera House (9 Feb)

Birdsong at the Grand Theatre (5 Feb – 9 Feb)

Ultimate Elvis World Tour Ben Portsmouth, Sweet Inspirations and TCE on Blackpool Promenade (10 Feb)

Paloma Faith in Church Street (13 Feb)

Funny Girls Spring Show at the Dickinson Road Venue (24 Jan – 10 Mar)

Viva Blackpool Cabaret at Viva Blackpool (18 Jan – 24 Mar)

Blackpool Town Events –

Fleetwood Beer Festival (7 Feb – 9 Feb)

High Jinx on The Promenade (15 Feb – 20 Feb)

Spookshow in Church Street (15 Feb – 19 Feb)

Blackpool Winter Gardens Tour (15 Feb – 19 Feb)

Showzam – Blackpool’s February Festival (15 Feb – 24 Feb)

Blackpool Family Fun –

Action Medical Research Youth Brass Band (10 Feb)

Pancake Day Fundraiser at Mode St Anne’s on Sea (12 Feb)

Wookey Hole Youth Circus in Church Street (15 Feb – 24 Feb)

Aardvark Adventure Playground at Blackpool Zoo   (Daily)

Blackpool Sea Life Centre on the Promenade     (Daily 10am-3pm)

Dance and Sports Maniacs –

2013 Legend Fires North West Stages Rally (8 Feb to 9 Feb)

Northern Soul Allnighter at the Spanish Hall (9 Feb)

Blackpool v Millwall at Bloomfield Road (9 Feb)

Night Time at the Sea View at The Sands Venue (9 Feb)

Phillip Hurst Presents: The Valentine’s Dance (9 Feb)

Hawaiin Night at the Sands Venue (14 Feb)

80s Gold at the Sands Venue (15 Feb)

Elvis Valentine’s Ball at the Philharmonic (15 Feb)

Fancy Arts stuff –

Lytham Heritage Group 25^th Anniversary exhibition – (5 Feb – 3 March)

Saturday February 2 to Friday February 9

Show Spectaculars –

Little Mix at the Opera House (9 Feb)

Birdsong at the Grand Theatre ( 5 Feb – 9 Feb)

Funny Girls Spring Show at the Dickinson Road Venue (24 Jan – 10 Mar)

Viva Blackpool Cabaret at Viva Blackpool (18 Jan – 24 Mar)

Blackpool Town Events –

Fleetwood Beer Festival (7 Feb – 9 Feb)

Blackpool Family Fun –

Blackpool and North Fylde Model Railway Club Open Day (2 Feb)

Family Fun Day at Barton Grange in Preston (Feb 3)

Morecambe Baywatch in Pilling (3 Feb)

Lytham Hall Snowdrop Walks (3 Feb)

Aardvark Adventure Playground at Blackpool Zoo   (Daily)

Blackpool Sea Life Centre on the Promenade     (Daily 10am-3pm)

Dance and Sports Maniacs –

Blackpool v Barnsley at Bloomfield Road (2 Feb)

Swing Spectacular at The Sands Venue (2 Feb)

Queen Tribute at The Sands Venue (8 Feb)

Northern Soul Allnighter at the Spanish Hall (9 Feb)

Blackpool v Millwall at Bloomfield Road (9 Feb)

Night Time at the Sea View at The Sands Venue (9 Feb)

Phillip Hurst Presents: The Valentine’s Dance (9 Feb)

Fancy Arts stuff –

Mike Marshall Analogue Exhibition Installation – (until 2 Feb)

Arts and Crafts Fair at The Ashley Club Cleveleys (Feb 3)

Lytham Heritage Group 25^th Anniversary exhibition – (5 Feb – 3 March)

Saturday January 26 to Friday February 1

Show Spectaculars –

Ronan Keating at the Opera House (30 Jan)

Phil Cool Comedy at the Lowther Pavillion (31 Jan)

Brendan Cole at the Opera House (1 Feb)

Viva Blackpool Cabaret at Viva Blackpool (18 Jan – 24 Mar)

Hansel and Gretel at the Grand Theatre (1 Feb)

Funny Girls Spring Show at the Dickinson Road Venue (24 Jan – 10 Mar)

Blackpool Family Fun –

Aardvark Adventure Playground at Blackpool Zoo   (Daily)

Blackpool Sea Life Centre on the Promenade     (Daily 10am-3pm)

Jungle Jim’s at Blackpool Tower (Open Tues/Thurs/Sat/Sun)

Blackpool Tower Eye and 3D Cinema (Open daily from 10am)

Dance and Sports Maniacs –

UDO Northwest Streetdance at the Empress Ballroom (27 Jan)

Snooker Shoot Out at the Blackpool Tower Circus Arena (25 -27 Jan)

Blackpool v Barnsley at Bloomfield Road (2 Feb)

Night time at the Sea View at The Sands Venue (26 Jan)

Afternoon Tea Dance at The Sands Venue (29 Jan)

Robbie Williams Tribute at The Sands Venue (1 Feb)

Fancy Arts stuff –

Mike Marshall Analogue Exhibition Installation – (until 2 Feb)