OPINION: Bazza is back and booming
Columnist - Duncan Barkes
In a new column, Nation Easy Radio presenter Duncan Barkes writes about some musical highlights with the older and discerning listener in mind. Nation Easy Radio can be heard locally on FM, DAB, smart speaker and via the Nation Player app. Listen to Duncan, Monday to Friday nights, from 10pm.
Years ago, my wife used to present a radio show with a feature called ‘The Big Bazza Moment’ and I used to mock her unmercifully - but now I realise that Barry Manilow is a singer/songwriter worthy of immense respect which is why it is fantastic news that he is touring the UK and has a new album due for release.
The immense talent who gave us ‘Copacabana’, ‘I Write The Songs’, ‘Mandy’, plus many other glorious tunes, and who has sold 85 million albums worldwide, releases his new album ‘What A Time’ in June – his first collection of new material in 15 years.
One of the singles on the album ‘Sun Shine’, was written with former Take That star Gary Barlow and is sublime – a perfect example of upbeat and positive adult pop music.
Bazza is touring the UK later this year but the nearest venue to us is London’s O2 Arena on 17 June. He has endured serious health problems recently, so if you are a fan, I urge you to get tickets.
For something wilder, check out John Otway and Wild Billy Barrett at the Portsmouth Guildhall on 9 May. I last saw Otway perform at Worthing Assembly Hall in the early 1990s where he leapt off his speaker stacks without a care in the world. His legend, thankfully, lives on!
This week's musical gem: John Lennon is the focus of a superb film showing at Chichester’s New Park Cinema on 30 April and 2 May. This new multiscreen concert movie, featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono, was filmed at New York’s Madison Square Gardens in August 1972 has been remixed, restored and re-edited.
It features classic Lennon songs such as ‘Imagine’ and ‘Instant Karma’, along with a guest appearance from Stevie Wonder. Definitely a film not to miss, plus the cinema sells decent ale and wine. Hurrah!