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Heaven 17 opened the night with a classy act and Glenn Gregory’s voice was as strong as ever. Their original sound was cleanly replicated but with added oomph that came to a peak in an amazing rendition of ‘Temptation.’ ABC followed and although good, they were less successful, the sound less authentic. Martin Fry’s vocal range has shrunk and was not helped by a pretty average backing singer. The songs however were still great and carried us happily along. Human League arrived in a technological package that was breathtaking. The sound was authentic but without sounding canned. The girls are what they are and I love ’em, but they can neither sing nor dance really. Phil Oakley ran around like a lunatic, a less cool character than in previous incarnations but as powerful as ever, although by the end he came over as a rather jolly uncle. In fact, all three had something of that about them, not a bad thing but certainly noticeable.
Brighton Centre, 5 December
4/5
Andrew Kay

This was definitely the most exciting gig I have been to all year, The MDMA tour brings back the acid house feeling with sweet rocking country music. With the dulcet tones of Larry Love and the sexy siren Devlin Love, there was a lot of love in the room and every one was feeling it. The Concorde 2 was the perfect venue for everyone to dance from beginning to end with the finale of ‘Woke up this morning’ bringing the house down. So good, I may take a trip to Ireland to follow the tour. 
Concorde 2, 2 December
5/5
Emma Burton

Jools and his big band injected a massive slice of boogie into my wonderland. From the opening stride piano riffs to the massive encore, the audience were completely with him. The band is amazing, the backing singers superb and Ruby Turner is sensational. Marc Almond came on to rapturous applause and went on to earn them with a short set that proved once again that he is a performer of immense talent and huge charisma. With at least two solos in every number there was a great deal of musical showing off, but when the players are this good, who cares?
Corn Exchange, 28 November
4/5
Andrew Kay

Twelve good acts took to the stage with a confidence that never once gave away that this was, for many, their first time performing live comedy, never mind performing it to a packed room of hundreds of people downstairs at Komedia. With a good mixture of styles that varied from an extremely likeable jaded children’s entertainer to a charming off-duty drag queen, there wasn’t a weak link in the chain. Compere for the night was Rob Heeney, on truly excellent form, combining an endearing support for the new acts with wall-to-wall laughs all of his own.
Komedia, 4 December
4/5
Victoria Nangle