Countdown To Strictly - Anton du Beke interview!

To celebrate the new series of Strictly Come Dancing this week, we are re-running the exclusive interviews that we recorded with Anton and Erin when they came to Blackpool earlier in the year.

Click below to hear first part of the interview with Anton:



More to follow - watch this space!

Macmillan Coffee Morning At Art Deco Cafe - 24th September 2010

Local singer /songwriter Rae Morris performing at the Macmillan Charity
Coffee Morning - September 2010 (Photo by Paul Breeze) 

World War 2 RAF Veteran Roy Hardacre meets singer Rae Morris
(photo by Paul Breeze) 

Swing singer Kelly Johnson at the Macmillan Charity
Coffee Morning (Photo by Paul Breeze)

Lots more photos still to come...

Recording Session With Lisa Marie!

Lisa Marie Taylor was in Melt Studios in St Annes last night recording her new demo - and she very kidly agreed to donate some tracks to our Christmas present CD for the troops for 2010. Watch this space for more details!

Review: New Squadronaires Orchestra at The Sands

We went along to see the New Squadronnaires Orchestra at The Sands Venue in Blackpool last night and it was a really fantastic occasion. A nice meal beforehand, plenty of floor to dance on and some great music - Glenn Miller, Count Basie and bit of Dixieland and some wonderful singin by Mark Porter.

The New Squadronaires show is on again at The Sands on Wednesday 27th October so, if you like nice surroundings and nice music, better book up quickly...!

For tickets and info call 01253 625262 or visit the website at www.the-sands.co.uk

Moscow Ballet at Colne Muni - 13th October

Moscow Ballet - La Classique brings the enchanting tale of ‘The Nutcracker’ to the Muni in Colne, in a first for the local theatre.

It is widely regarded as one of the jewels in classical ballet and represents one of the true timeless tales of childhood dreams, where toys come to life, mice are the villains and all things are possible in a magical kingdom beyond imagination.

World-renowned soloists Nadejda Ivanova, Ekaterina Shalyapina, Dimitri Smirnovand and Andrey Shalin lead this fabulous Moscow Ballet Production, under the direction of Elik Melikov.

This is a hugely enjoyable dance-spectacular and is perfect for ballet lovers of all ages.

Tickets cost £22.50, £20.00 for concessions and £15.00 for children aged fifteen and under.

There will also be a workshop, where you can come and watch the dancers warm up for FREE, between 5.00pm and 6.00pm.

Call the Box Office on 01282 661234 for tickets or more information.

See Toyah live at Beat Night Club, Blackpool 23rd October

"Be Loud. Be Proud. Be Heard" Is not just a slogan for Toyah, it is how she lives her life to the full!
Toyah Willcox will be performing live with her Full Band, where she will be singing all the songs that made her famous and more...
Toyah is one of Britain's biggest household names with a multi-faceted career as an actress,singer,author and TV host, having clocked up over 30 years in Showbiz, as well as two weeks in the jungle…...
She won Best Female Singer in the Rock & Pop Awards in the early 80’s (now ‘The Brits’) and her diverse career has produced not only a string of hit records, but prestigious stage and screen roles, alongside Hollywood greats including Sir Laurence Olivier.
In a career spanning over 30 years Toyah has had 13 top 40 singles, recorded 20 albums, written 2 books, appeared in over 40 stage plays, made 10 feature films and presented hundreds of television programs. She continues to work at the top of the league in media, music, acting and writing.

Admission Is Only £15 and Advance Tickets can be Bought Online at http://www.iristickets.co.uk/portal/event/19218 (Door Price £18)
Online Credit Card Booking Fee £1

Tickets can also be bought by calling at The Rose and Crown Pub and at The West Coast Rock Cafe Restaurant in Blackpool (Cash Payments Only)

Trax Beach Cafe, St Annes

review to follow

Support Macmillan Cancer Coffee Morning

On Friday morning, lots of cafes and other venues will be holding a special charity coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care.

Once such venue is the "Parks" Art Deco Cafe in Stanley Park, Blackpool where Kelly Johnson & Rob Bee will be providing the entertainment.

It runs from 10am to 1pm and there will also be craft stalls, tombola etc so why not go along and support this very worthy cause?

And if you can't get to Stanley Park, check out your own Macmillan Charity Coffee Morning locally instead....

AFC Blackpool 3 - Squires Gate 2 in FA Vase Thriller

Tangerines beat the Blues - a good omen for Blackpool at Chelsea tomorrow!

Swing Thing Show at Cedar Tavern, Blackpool

We went along to the under-new-management Cedar Tavern in Blackpool to see the Swing Thing Show up in their new upstairs cabaret suite.

Definitely worth a visit - lots of new bands on throughout the week downstairs in the bar and they are having a go with some fine dining and cabaret upstairs on selected evenings so why not go and check out what they have coming up.

The room has been very nicely done out with a dedicated bar and a stage area at the far end. There are lovely photos of film stars along one wall - who is the actress in the middle...? can't quite place her .... and the Vegas Lounge effect is completed by a nostalgic display of Vinyl LPs (records...) along the other wall.

Sara Cheston and the band did a great job - Tony Sullivan was off ill - so Sara did a few extra Peggy Lee songs and also one of my own all time favorites: It's Only A Paper Moon. The band played several intrumentals including a couple of terrific improvised numbers and a good time was had by all.

And the food...? Well, scampi and salad for starters (literally) - succulent chicken breast in a (wait for it...) lobster and shrimp sauce, and cheesecake with whipped cream for afters. All that and some spontaneous Liza Minelli-esque dance routines by some over excited members of the sudience - and you mean to say you weren't there...?

The next Swing Thing cabaret dining experience at the Cedar Tavern is Tuesday 12th October - best BOOK EARLY (as Fred Pontin used to say).

Click on the icon below to hear our radio review of the evening:

Interview Over Coffee with Lisa Marie

We had a fascinating chat over coffee today at Mocchacino's in Birley Street, Blackpool with singer Lisa Marie Taylor.

She told us about her recent experiences on ITV's X-Factor, looked back on her time as a member of girl group Ruby Blue and talks about future projects.

Soundclips available soon - watch this space for broadcast times and slots for the full interview feature!

Sign Up For Blackpool Panthers Golf Day

A special golf day at Stanley Park Golf Club on Tuesday 28th September.

Starting off at 11am with bacon barms and coffee, 1st tee 12 noon. Stableford fours competition, prizes for best 2 scores, closest to the pin etc. Presentation dinner with entertainment 7.30pm.

To book your place call Keith Ashcroft on 07946 094542

Colin Fry Ticket Competition - Win With East Lancs Radio!

Top international psychic and TV medium COLIN FRY is appearing at Blackburn’s King George’s Hall on Saturday 23rd October and East Lancs Radio has a sensation prize to give away to one lucky listener.

You can win a free pair of tickets to the showplus a copy of Colin’s latest book personally signed for you by Colin on the night.

To enter the draw, all you have to do is answer the following question :

What is Colin Fry’s programme on Living TV called ?

If you think you know the answer, go to the competitions page at www.east-lancs-radio.co.uk and send your answer, e-mail address and daytime telephone number.

The draw will be made on Wednesday 20th October and the winner will receive a pair of tickets to see the show on the Saturday evening but if you can’t wait for the draw and want to book tickets for the show anyway, visit Colin’s website at www.colinfry.co.uk where you can find out all about his books and UK tour dates

Click below to hear the ELR ticket competition question and a short interview with Colin Fry:

Miss Earth 2010 UK Results

Following a dazzling evening in the Paradise Room at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the winners of the national finals were crowned as follows:

England - Sandra Lees from Birmingham
Scotland - Cora Buchanan from Renfrewshire
Wales - Louise Hinder from Swansea
Northern Ireland - Judith Keys from Fermanagh
Ireland - Alesha Gallen from Donegal

They now go on to represent their countries in the Miss Earth final in Vietnam in November!

Other awards:

Teen Earth Girl UK - Nicole Jackson from Bolton

The full placed winners were as follows:

England 2010
1st Place (Miss Earth) Sandra Lees
Miss Air 2010- 2nd Place: Natasha Crook
Miss Water 2010- 3rd Place: Priscilla Holloway
Miss Fire 2010- 4th Place: Carrie Spencer

Wales 2010
1st Place (Miss Earth) Louise Hinder
Miss Air 2010- 2nd Place: Letticia Hudson
Miss Water 2010- 3rd Place: Kim Coopey
Miss Fire 2010- 4th Place: Bethan Davies

Scotland 2010 - 1st Place : Cora Buchanan
Miss Air 2010- 2nd Place: Christine McGarrity
Miss Water 2010- 3rd Place: Amanda Quinn
Miss Fire 2010- 4th Place: Priya Kharbanda

Northern Ireland 2010 - 1st Place: Judith Keys
Ireland 2010 - 1st Place: Alesha Gallen
Miss Air 2010- 2nd Place: Mhairi Rawluk
Miss Water 2010- 3rd Place: Nicole Dallas
Miss Fire 2010- 4th Place: Stacey Haskins

For more information about the competition, visit the website at www.missearthgirls.co.uk

Support Macmillan Coffee Morning At Parks Art Deco Cafe!

Here's an idea to have an enjoyable time and help a very worthy cause at the same time. Why not go along and give your support..?

Up N Under At Blackpool Grand Theatre

See Abi Titmuss and an all star cast in John Godber's hilarious rugby play "Up N Under" at the Blackpool Grand Theatre from Monday 13th to Saturday 18th September. For info and tickets visit www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk.

To hear the 60 sec show preview and full telephone interview with Abi, click on the relevant soundfile below:

SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW - WIN A UNIQUE FLIGHT OPPORTUNITY

THE RAF ASSOCIATION

Why not go along to the RAF Association Stand at Southport Airshow next Saturday and Sunday, 18th and 19th September? Some of the pilots from the Blades Aerobatic Team will be on hand to answer questions and sign autographs.

You can also enter the Wings Appeal Miles More Minutes Competition to fund extra phone home time for RAF personnel stationed in Afghanistan – the prize is a trip with the Blades Aerobatic Team. To enter go to www.rafa.org.uk

For further information on Southport Airshow 2010 check out www.militaryairshows.co.uk.

Snake Davis Band at The Sands In Blackpool

Snake Davis and his band wowed the audience at The Sands venue in Blackpool last night. To find out more about what Snake is up to, visit his website at www.snakedavis.com.

To find out what is coming up at The Sands, see their website at www.the-sands-blackpool.co.uk.

You can hear our interview with Snake by clicking below:

Lord Of The Rings At Blackpool Grand Theatre

Charles Ross brings his fascinating One Man Lord Of The Rings Trilogy to Blackpool's Grand Theatre on Sunday evening. For show information or to book tickets, visit www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk

To see Charles' tour blog, go to www.onemanlotr.com

To hear a telephone interview with Charles Ross about the show and his own background, click on the icon below:

See Snake In The Sands - Rare Chance To Hear Top Sax Player!

There's a rare opportunity to see top international saxophonist SNAKE DAVIS play in Blackpool on Thursday evening at the recently opened Sands Venue on the promenade.

Top British soul and funk saxophonist Snake Davis and his Band perform uplifting jazz, RnB, funk and world music. He has played and recorded with artists ranging from James Brown to Paul McCartney, The Eurythmics to Amy Winehouse.

Snake is the only saxophonist who can literally make his instruments sing!

"Snake Davis has one of the most passionate Sax styles and simple bluesy approaches a-la Sanborn heard in these Isles for a while." TIME OUT

Doors Open 7pm ~ Show Starts between 9pm-9.30pm
Includes delicious 3 course meal

Smart Dress Code

Meal and show - £24.99 per person

Show only 9pm onwards - £10.00 per person

For bookings, see The Sands website at www.the-sands-blackpool.co.uk or call the box office on 01253 62 52 62

Miss Blackpool Cheers Panthers To Play Off Win

Miss Blackpool and Swing Thing at Art Deco Cafe

Savannah Jazz Band In Lytham

story to follow

Sarah Ellan Hughes On UK Jazz Radio UK - new NW Dates!

Top jazz singer Sarah Ellen Hughes' August concert from the Bull's Head in London will be broadcast on UK Jazz Radio internet station on Sunday 12th September at 8pm.

You can listen in by clicking on www.ukjazzradio.com

Sarah is doing a mini North West tour in October and you can see her playing live as follows:

Friday 15th Oct: Legh Arms, Macclesfield 8pm
Saturday 16th OctL Burgundys in Kendal 8.30pm
Sunday 17th Oct: Parks Art Deco Cafe, Stanley Park, Blackpool 1pm
Sunday 17th Oct: The Mad Ferret, Preston 8pm

For news and other dates visit her website at www.sarahellenhughes.co.uk

Houghton Weavers - Christmas Show Dates

Click on the icon below to hear the Weavers looking ahead to their Christmas 2010 show dates.