World Cup Worries, Eddi Reader, Fisherman’s Friends & Fatboy’s Back
Last week we reported on Joe Lycett’s protest at David Beckham’s role in this year’s World Cup as an ambassador. Promising to shred £10,000 of his own money created a wide ranging response. Some praising Lycett for making a very public stand against the footballer’s choice to take on that role, some criticising Lycett’s shocking decision to destroy legal currency, money they say could have been given to support causes fighting homophobia.
We reveal what he did…
The World Cup has been marred this time round by the decision to allow a country steeped in homophobia amongst so many other human rights atrocities to host what is surely a very lucrative event. And the protests rumbled on. The BBC reported that England, Wales and other European nations were in talks over whether to proceed with their plans for their captains to wear a OneLove armband at the World Cup in Qatar. The captains of nine nations, including England’s Harry Kane and Gareth Bale of Wales, had planned to wear the armband to promote diversity and inclusion. But they have been warned by Fifa officials that wearing the armband would be a breach of its rules and risk a sporting sanction for captains, such as a booking. So the football barons think that making a statement about human rights is taboo but it’s okay to romp out on the pitch emblazoned with advertising, sorry I mean sponsorship, logos across their chests? I know where I stand on this one, I’m no footie fan but given recent moves in football to tackle homophobia with campaigns like Rainbow Laces, I was beginning to see light at the end of that players tunnel but who knows what will happen next. It’s time for change and that time is surely now.
Last week the world reeled at the news that a gunman in Colorado had entered a gay venue and shot dead at least five people and 18 wounded in a mass shooting at Club Q, a Colorado Springs gay bar. Rep. Lauren Boebert, an anti-LGBTQ bigot and gun nut — published a 29-word tweet about the shooting. “The news out of Colorado Springs is absolutely awful,” she wrote. “This morning the victims & their families are in my prayers. This lawless violence needs to end and end quickly.” It’s seems extraordinary that Boebert — who just narrowly won her re-election bid in a deep red district — would pray for queer people since she is the third most responsible person driving anti-LGBTQ hate speech on Twitter. Among her many bigoted statements, Boebert has accused LGBTQ people of “spitting in God’s face,” “butchering” children”, and “perverting” the nation.
Now, no more of that, let’s not give the woman the oxygen of publicity and pray that she never has to deal with the grief that the families of the dead and wounded in this atrocity are now facing. We don’t need your prayers Lauren, we need you to shut up.
On a lighter and more positive note, Virgin Atlantic has ditched its former gendered uniform policy, women can wear pants, men can wear skirts, and job applications have skyrocketed. The company has reported that the number of applications filed with the airline has doubled since implementing the new more inclusive policy. While other airlines struggle to fill staff vacancies, Virgin has no issues recruiting the best potential employees. “We saw a 100% uplift in applicants following the campaign, ‘See the world differently’,” Shai Weiss, Virgin’s chief executive officer, said. A clever move Virgin.
Eddi Reader MBE has announced that the De La Warr Pavilion will be part of 2023 tour. Renowned Scottish singer-songwriter has just announced her UK wide tour for 2023, which sees her return to Bexhill-On-Sea on Wednesday 4 October for her Sussex-exclusive performance. Celebrating over 40 years as a live performer, Eddi Reader has effortlessly developed into one of popular music’s most thrilling and affecting performers. What sets Eddi apart is the depth and quality of the emotional performance and ability to not only move the listener, but connect her experience to that of her audience. No two performances are ever the same.
Such a beautiful voice and one surely suited to the intimate surrounds of the De La Warr Pavilion. But intimate is a key factor here as although the concert is not until Wednesday the 4th of October 2023, with tickets already on sale it is sure to sell out very fast.
Tickets available here.
Local legend Fatboy Slim is going to be at it again but this time indoors which might well offer some of the comforts that his, shall we say, more mature fans will enjoy. Yes he’s back this time not on the pebble but pretty close at the Brighton Centre. He certainly knows how to captivate the crowd in his full on dance events. Fatboy, AKA Norman Cook is at the Brighton Centre on Wednesday the 15th and Thursday the 16th of March next year and again an event sure to sell out.
If Norman doesn’t float your boat then maybe this salty cream of sea dogs will. Based on the true story of the chart-topping Cornish singing sensations and their hit 2019 movie, Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical is a feel-good voyage about friendship, community and music which smashed box office records in Cornwall. A group of Cornish fishermen come together to sing the traditional working songs they’d sung for generations, but nobody, least of all the fishermen, expected the story to end on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. They are spotted by a fish-out-of-water music manager on a trip from London, who must learn that there is more to life than selling your sole for fifteen minutes of fame. Toe tapping traditional tunes and rollicking good fun heads into Theatre Royal Brighton with a cast that includes James Gaddas of Coronation Street and Billy Elliot the Musical, Parisa Shahmir, Robert Duncan, Anton Stephans and Susan Penhaligon from the 7th to the 11th of March next year.
