Latest news with #JoolsHolland
Spectator
9 hours ago
- General
- Spectator
The worst culprits for noise pollution on trains? The staff
Modern irritations seem to come in threes. No sooner do you trip over a Lime bike 'parked' on its side in the middle of the pavement than you discover that the self-checkout in the Co-op has a handwritten note stating 'out of order' taped to it and the man in front of you in the queue for the sole remaining human-staffed counter is attempting to buy (and scratch) 14 lottery tickets. That's what happened on my venture out of the house this morning, anyway. The experience sent me scurrying home again to muse on whether I have had a more dispiriting, in the picayune sense, start to any morning this year so far. It turns out that I have. And call it a first world problem if you will, but the apotheosis of my 'tripartite of annoyance' theory was reached on a train heading from London to the Midlands recently. The misery began at Euston, with the usual stampede caused by the announcement of the platform from which the train would be departing only being made around two and a half minutes before the carriage doors were shut. An old hand at this transport Darwinism, I elbowed and shoved with moderately successful elan, managing to snag myself a seat next to an, inevitably, out-of-order disabled toilet. But my attempts to recover a normal heart rate were promptly stymied by an audio interruption far more effusive than anything the Euston station announcer could muster. 'Good morning and welcome aboard this 09.27 service to Birmingham International…' it began, the voice belonging to a man who it appeared harboured ambitions of being a radio disc jockey on a commercial pop station in the mid-1980s. On and on and on he went, with the charisma of one of Ian McDonald's MoD briefings during the Falklands War, telling us things that I suspect a six-year-old train traveller would already know. Why do we need to be informed, over and over and over again, that 'tickets with other providers are not valid on this service'? Why do we need to be told which stations the train will be passing through four times? How many times have you seen anyone leap from their seat, hollering something along the lines of 'Maidstone? I thought this was the cross-Channel ferry to Dieppe!' before hurtling out of an already moving loco? I wanted to get my breath back. I wanted to open my newspaper. I would have loved to have simply had some quiet time to try to unpick last night's horrible dream – that one about being stuck in a lift with Jools Holland again. But the final element of my rage tripartite only began after we creaked away from horrible Euston. The driver was, I presume, either busy driving the train or writing another job application to Smooth FM. In his place my fellow passengers and I got the adamantine cheerfulness of 'Tracey in the on-board shop' telling us she 'has a wide variety of sandwiches, cakes, hot snacks, hot and cold drinks, beers, wines and spirits'. I only want to hear the voices of the train staff if there's a fire, hurricane or thermonuclear explosion Incredibly, I'm already aware of what an on-board shop is likely to sell. So why are we poor customers, who just want to read our books or try to have a micro-sleep, subjected to this needless taxonomy? I don't ever recall employees of Greggs, let alone the Ivy, marching around outside their place of business with a loud hailer, instructing us that they have 'food on offer'. So why do it on a train, a place where I only want to hear the voices of the staff if there's a fire, hurricane or thermonuclear explosion? Even in those eventualities, I'm still quietly confident I could figure out these developments on my own without Tracey's help. We live in an increasingly selfish society where the use of headphones to conduct a phone conversation or watch a YouTube clip on a bus, plane or train is now seen as somehow quaint. But noisy commuters are only taking their lead from the bodies who take us from A to B. Is it any wonder that there are parents out there who are happy to let their child watch an entire Harry Potter film on their iPad on loudspeaker from London to Birmingham when there are on-board staff who can, and will, be even noisier with their winning hand gambit of having access to a microphone and speaker system that reaches every corner of the train? There is a growing, suitably sotto voce protest movement against noise pollution in this country. But we're way behind France, where a British traveller was recently given a fine for using his phone on loudspeaker on a platform. I'd feel much happier if we travellers could slap down our own fines (or at least start expecting discounts) if we can prove that our journey was ruined by staff feeling the need to use their microphone powers in a manner usually only abused by wedding reception DJs. Am I being ludicrously atavistic in pining for a time when a train journey meant I could read my book, do a crossword and have a nap without being the victim of a barrage of information that neither me, nor anyone else, wants, needs or asks for? It would appear so. My horror dreams about Jools Holland will, no doubt, soon be replaced by ones about Tracey. And when you start feeling nostalgic for the strangulated adolescent tones of Jools, you know something has gone seriously awry.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Live Aid review: ‘TV hijacked by the young and mugged for money' – archive, 1985
'I think Bob Geldof is a saint,' said Bryan Adams in Philadelphia during Live Aid (BBC 1 and 2). Will you now quietly divide into the two billion who think Bob Geldof is a saint and those who would rather get a black eye. 'If anyone wants to write anything snidey about Bob, they'd best not,' said Jools Holland, poking a minatory finger at the camera. So of course I won't. Though I myself see him more as one of those uncomfortable Old Testament prophets, the kind who knocked down Jericho with the aid of a small brass section and enthusiastic audience participation. 'When the people heard the sound of the trumpets, they shouted with a great shout.' Geldof appeared intermittently during the 16-hour show, while looking understandably wild and white and demanding money with menaces: 'We want to get a million pounds before 10 o'clock tonight. You've got plenty of money or, if you've got none, get on the phone' (presumably to pledge it on a credit card). Bang up the people next door and say, 'have you given money?'' According to the girlfriend, Geldof in the heat of organising Live Aid, sometimes pretended he was not at home and, if I lived next door to him, that is precisely what I would do. Casually acknowledging a million from Dubai ('so thank you to Dubai') he returned to continue the hip-and-thigh treatment: 'there are people dying now so give me the money. Take the money out of your pockets. Don't go to the pub tonight.' 'We have to give the address first,' said the presenter reasonably. 'Fuck the address. Give the telephone numbers. That's the way to get the money,' cried the prophet. Billy Connolly sitting beside him grinned and, within minutes, was crying at a video of a child trying valiantly to stand on insect thin legs. By four in the morning in Philadelphia two dangerous looking insects were shedding their wings and bright skins while yelling, 'It's only rock'n'roll but I like it' into each other's mouths. Mick Jagger shed three shirts, tore bits of leather off Tina Turner and, still gasping it was only rock'n'roll, moulted his trousers to show psychedelic green long johns. Only Elton John can be mentioned in the same breath. In purple, gold, diamond earrings and a toque he looked like Queen Mary gone magnificently off her head, though he kept insisting he was a rocket man. Meanwhile the hovering camera showed Wembley Stadium looking very like a spaceship, glittering with flashes. When the dark filled Wembley, it was still daylight in Philadelphia, then night rolled over the ocean and the JFK Stadium showed like a scattering of stars in the dark. It gave the whole thing a sense of timelessness and disorientation. Did Phil Collins grow that stubble on Concorde travelling from London to Philadelphia? A video check revealed he is one of those people who seem to have a slight stubble all the time. The crucial question, as with all astronauts, is how do they, er, go? In the JFK Stadium Chevy Chase's inquiry. 'Anybody want to go to the bathroom?' received tumultuous acclaim. 'We suggest,' he said, 'you put a towel down and move to the right.' Listening to an incomprehensible crackle from the stubbly Collins in Concorde, Billy Connolly said 'I'm stunned. I'm absolutely flabbergasted. Apart from the fact I can't understand a word.' My own feeling precisely about Live Aid. I was deafened and drenched. Great waves of noise beat out from the stage. Astonishing showers of sweat rained down. In Wembley 150,000 arms waved in rhythm like a pool of anemones. 'My dear,' as Ernest Thesiger said of the first world war, 'the noise and the people!' But heaven knows what they were saying. I think only the young can hear the words of rock songs. Television is mostly a middle-aged medium. I have not seen it so remorselessly hijacked by the young, cuffed round the ears, hauled by the scruff out of the living room, mugged for money. I bet when the walls fell down Jericho was flabbergasted, too.
Cambrian News
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Cambrian News
Jools Holland brings musical magic back to Aberystwyth
It was a shame also that Ruby Turner (who I am sure was advertised on the poster) did not appear on this occasion. She has pulled off some powerful, memorable, magnificent moments with Jools Holland and I was looking forward to seeing her once again. Sadly, it was not meant to be, but making a surprise appearance – to me at least – was Chris Difford, Jools' old bandmate from their days together in Squeeze. A particular highlight of the night, which took place at Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Thursday, 12 June, was hearing the Squeeze song, 'Cool For Cats' played with real gusto by all on stage.
The Herald Scotland
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Oasis reunion tour tickets, dates, setlist and support acts
Fans scrambled to get tickets for the Live '25 tour which will be the first time since 2009 that feuding brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher will reunite on stage as Oasis. Tonight (June 21), a night of special BBC programming will take place as part of the final countdown to the tour. Oasis at the BBC will air tonight from 8.35pm on BBC Two and will be followed by a repeat of the 1997 documentary Right Here, Right Now. The night will finish with Later Presents Oasis - featuring an old performance by the band on Jools Holland back in 2000. When does the Oasis tour start? The long awaited Oasis' Live '25 tour kicks off in Cardiff on July 4 before a run of shows in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin. The band also announced dates in Asia, Australia, North America and South America, too; meaning the tour stretches out until late-November. Oasis Live '25 UK and Ireland tour dates in full: July 4 - Cardiff (Principality Stadium) July 5 - Cardiff (Principality Stadium) July 11 - Manchester (Heaton Park) July 12 - Manchester (Heaton Park) July 16 - Manchester (Heaton Park) July 19 - Manchester (Heaton Park) July 20 - Manchester (Heaton Park) July 25 - London (Wembley Stadium) July 26 - London (Wembley Stadium) July 30 - London (Wembley Stadium) August 2 - London (Wembley Stadium) August 3 - London (Wembley Stadium) August 8 - Edinburgh (Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium) August 9 - Edinburgh (Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium) August 12 - Edinburgh (Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium) August 16 - Dublin (Croke Park) August 17 - Dublin (Croke Park) September 27 - London (Wembley Stadium) September 28 - London (Wembley Stadium) Oasis tickets Thousands of fans spent hours online last year in the hope of securing tickets to see the Oasis reunion shows. With such a huge demand for tickets, many missed out. However, those fans trying to find last-minute tickets to see Oasis in 2025 are in luck with resale tickets available via Twickets (at the time of writing). Be warned though – it will set you back up to £3,000 for a VIP package. Spare tickets? @Twickets are the official ticket resale partner for Oasis Live '25 👉 Wanting to buy? Be aware of fraudulent sellers on social media… Tickets can ONLY be resold legally, at face value, through Twickets or Ticketmaster. — Oasis (@oasis) June 18, 2025 Oasis tour setlist Rumours have been rife on social media for months about the hits that a possible tour setlist could include. Responding to fans' setlist questions on X, Liam Gallagher has so far confirmed What's The Story (Morning Glory)? tracks Hello and Round Are Way, plus 2000 Standing On The Shoulder of Giants chart-topper Go Let It Out for the shows. Other hits said to be included are Lyla, The Hindu Times, Stand by Me, She's Electric, Don't Look Back in Anger, Live Forever and Rock N Roll Star. Liam also took to X to dismiss an alleged setlist doing the rounds on social media as "fake". Recommended reading: Who will support Oasis's on their UK and Ireland tour dates? Britpop favourites Cast and The Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft will support Oasis at all their UK and Ireland dates on Live '25. The Verve's 1997 album Urban Hymns has spent 162 weeks on the Official Albums Chart. Hit singles Bitter Sweet Symphony and The Drugs Don't Work were taken from it. Both acts are stalwarts of the British Indie and Britpop scene from the 90s.
Scotsman
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
How to watch Oasis at the BBC? TV schedule explained
Get in the mood for Oasis' reunion tour with this special night on the BBC 👀 Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... BBC to celebrate the reunion of Oasis. A night of programming is scheduled around the Britpop giants. But what can you expect and how to watch it? In a few weeks, those who were lucky enough to grab Oasis tickets will be belting out Wonderwall in the summer sun. At least if the summer decides to stick around. After years of rumours and speculation, the Britpop giants and 90s icons announced they were reuniting for a run of stadium shows in 2025. There was a mad scramble for tickets but the concerts are almost here. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But before the band finally hit the road, the BBC has decided to celebrate their legacy with a night of special programming - to get you in the mood. Here's all you need to know: When is Oasis at the BBC on TV? Oasis in 1993 | Getty Images The special programme will be on BBC Two this evening (June 21) and it is set to begin at the very specific time of 8.35pm. It will run for just shy of two hours, finishing at approximately 10.20pm. Oasis at the BBC will be followed by a repeat of the 1997 documentary Right Here, Right Now. The night will be rounded out by Later Presents Oasis - which features an old performance by the band on Jools Holland back in the year 2000. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What to expect from Oasis at the BBC? The preview for the special, via Radio Times, reads: 'With Oasis's long-awaited reunion and the band's sell-out run of concerts finally just around the corner, this programme dives into the BBC's music archives for a celebration of the band. 'Featuring the early mission statements that were Rock 'n' Roll Star, Cigarettes & Alcohol, Wonderwall, Slide Away and Champagne Supernova, it's a compilation that helps explain the Oasis phenomenon, demonstrating why and how they became one of Britain's biggest bands.'
