Friday 31 December 2010

Miss Fylde Coast 2011 - Enter Online Now!


ENTRY DETAILS FOR THE 2012 COMPETITION CAN BE FOUND HERE: http://www.bestkeptsecrets.biz/2011/11/miss-fylde-coast-miss-teen-mr-fylde.html

Miss Fylde Coast is a direct entry heat into the Miss England competition and the winner of Miss Fylde Coast will, among other prizes, win a place in the Miss England Semi-Final where she will have a chance to go on to Miss World 2011 where the main prize is $100,000.

For more information and full rules and conditions, visit the competition website at http://www.miss-fylde-coast.co.uk/

You can hear a short interview with 2010 winner Kerry Capoverde looking ahead to the 2011 competition NOW by clicking on the icon below:

Showaddywaddy Tour Dates For 2011!



Rock n roll legends Showaddywaddy are touring the UK during 2011 with dates that include the Library Theatre in Darwen on Saturday 12th February and King George's Hall in Blackburn on Saturday 14th May.

For more info and the band and a full list of tour dates, visit the official website at http://www.showaddywaddy.net

To book tickets for Darwen or Blackburn go to www.darwenlibrarytheatre.com and www.kinggeorgeshall.com respectively.

Monday 20 December 2010

Another Chance To Hear Friday's Show


For those who didn't get to hear our "Best Kept Secrets... In Conversation" show on Preston FM on Friday evening, you can hear it playing at various times throughout the day on new easy listening internet service "Wireless Radio" at www.wirelessradio.biz.


The show features:
- 60s singing legend Dave Berry looking ahead to the 2011 Solid Silver 60s tour and talking about his new book and CD release
- A review of the Blackpool Grand Theatre Aladdin pantomime
- A look back at the Chernobyl Childrens Lifeline visit to Blackpool
- Stuart Dolman talking about the new Trax Windsports Centre on St Annes beach
- MAG Landmine clearance charity
- Miss Blackpool competition official photographer Howard Barton with handy tips and advice.

Steph Ashcroft - Gig Review & Exclusive Interview

NOTE: NEW INTERVIEW WITH STEPH ASHCROFT PLAYING NOW AT VARIOUS TIMES HERE: http://www.wirelessradio.biz/

We saw Steph
Ashcroft play her first gig at the Parks Stanley Park Art Deco Cafe on Sunday lunchtime and were really impressed with what we saw.

She has a great vocal style and played a nice range of music, ranging from some of her own compositions to "Fever" and an amazing acoustic version of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance".

She will playing at The Hastings in Lytham tomorrow evening (Tuesday 21st Dec) from 8pm, so why not and go and check her out...?

You can find out more about Steph and her music at www.myspace.com/stephashcroft.

To hear a brief interview with Steph, click on the icon below:

Wednesday 15 December 2010

Preston FM Show On Friday!

Tune in to our “Best Kept Secrets... In Conversation” show on Preston FM on Friday evening from 7pm.

60s singing legend Dave Berry will be looking ahead to the 2011 Solid Silver 60s tour and also talking about his new book: “Dave Berry – All There Is To Know” and the re-issue of his 1990 album “Memphis In The Meantime”.

Also on the show:
• A review of the Blackpool Grand Theatre's "Aladdin" Pantomime
• A second chance to hear the interview with opera singer Charlotte Kinder talking about bringing opera to a new audience and looking ahead to this weekend’s Christmas concerts at the Parks Stanley Park Art Deco Cafe
• A look back at the Chernobyl Childrens Lifeline visit to the UK
• New windsports centre open on St Annes Beach
• North West based Mine Clearance charity MAG
& more from Miss Blackpool competition official photographer Howard Barton

Preston FM can be heard on 103.2FM in the Preston area and right across the world on www.preston.fm

New Dates For Sara Creeney


Top north west jazz and cabaret singer Sara Creeney will be performing on Friday 17th December from 8pm onwards at

Bangla Fusion Restaurant, Much Hoole, Preston

Tel 01772 610800.. for table bookings (no cover charge)

And on

Sunday 19th December at Fylde Rugby Club, Lytham St Annes ‘Jazz on a Winters Day‘
Entertainment provided by the Les Bull Band and Sara Creeney
Starts 3pm tickets £17.50 inc hot buffet - Tel 01253 734733

Sunday 12 December 2010

Solid Silver 60s Tour - Exclusive Preview!


The 2011 Solid Silver 60s Tour kicks off in Aberdeen on 23rd February and visits venues up and down the country until end of May.

In these exclusive interview clips, 60s singing legends Dave Berry and Chris Farlowe look ahead to the spring tour.


The full interview was broadcast in our "Best Kept Secrets... In Conversation" show on 103.2 Preston FM on Friday 17th December from 7pm.

YOU CAN READ OUR REVIEW OF THE SHOW FROM THE BLACKPOOL GRAND THEATRE ON THE 8th MARCH HERE NOW: http://www.bestkeptsecrets.biz/2011/03/solid-silver-60s-show-review-blackpool.html


To listen NOW just click on the relevant icon below:




Monday 6 December 2010

Aladdin at Blackpool Grand Theatre - A Must See!

We were lucky enough to see the preview evening of this year’s pantomime at the Blackpool Grand Theatre on Friday evening. It is “Aladdin” and we had such a good time that we would urge every to book up and go along and see it. It runs from now until 2nd January so there are lots of opportunities to get a family group together.

In fact, even if you don’t have any children to take, It’s still a very entertaining show to go and see with lots of “look behind you”s and “oh no you won’t”s for all to enjoy...!

The title role this year is played by Amy Thompson, who previously played the part of Jenny Nelson in Emmerdale is now appearing in Channel 5’s Milkshake children’s programme and is - we thought - a welcome return to the original pantomime tradition of having a girl play the principal boy.

His love interest is Princess Jasmine played delightfully by Rebecca Marks who is kept hidden away by her father the Emperor, played by James Farrar and his Chinese Policeman sidekick, played by Neil Rowland.

The baddie of the piece is Abanazar played by Alex Ferns who many people will remember for Eastenders where he played the nasty role of Trevor Morgan.

Pantomime glamour is provided by Douglas Mounce – veteran of stage and screen - as Widow Twanky and X-Factor’s Justin Vanderhyde who plays a hunky Slave of the Ring.

There are some wonderful songs in the show with something for everybody ranging from recent “Glee” hit “Don’t Stop Believing” (very apt for pantomime), Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out For A Hero” ( a great solo number for Justin Vanderhyde) and Eliza Doolittle’s “Pack Up” among others.

As is often case, the real shining lights of the show are the child chorus parts – provided by children from the Barbara Jackson Theatre Arts Centre - who feature throughout in various costumes and guises, as do the senior dancers Shannon Collinge, Laurie Fearon, Natasha Fox and Anna Studholm.

There are also some terrific dance moves from the Genie of the Lamp played by Daniel Baker as well as a well staged ballet scene at the end of the first half, all choreographed by Katie Hill, herself a Blackpool lass and former student of Barbara Jackson and of Phil Winstone’s Theatreworks.

As usual, much of the humour is provided by regular pantomime comic Steve Royle – now in his 8th pantomime at the Grand - who plays Wishee Washee, cracks most of the jokes and entertains with his impressive juggling antics and amazing ad libbing.

The music is provided by a wonderful live band led by Richard Weedon and the scenery and lighting and sound is really superb.

If you are a regular pantomime goer, you’ll certainly find this to be up with the best and if you haven’t been for a while – or, indeed, ever - then the Blackpool Grand Theatre’s current production of Aladdin would make a very good starting point.

For show times and tickets, call the box office on 01253 290190 or visit the website at www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk.

You can hear our audio review at various times throughout the day on easy listening station Wireless Radio at www.wirelessradio.biz

Thursday 2 December 2010

Christmas Opera Gala Events


North West based "Opera Events" are staging some special gala evenings in the run up to Christmas. Dates and venues are as follows:

Saturday 11th December: Lancaster Priory Church
Sunday 12th December: Kendal Town Hall
Friday 17th December: Parks Art Deco Cafe, Stanley Park, Blackpool
Saturday 18th December: Parks Art Deco Cafe, Stanley Park, Blackpool.

Friday 17th is a special black tie charity event in aid of the Mayor of Blackpool's chosen charity "Young Carers".

For more info and tickets, visit the website at www.operaevents.co.uk

A full interview with soprano Charlotte Kinder is being run by our friends at Wireless Radio at various times throughout the day at www.wirelessradio.biz

You can also hear a brief preview with Charlotte by clicking on the icon below: