Saturday night features Boy George, Jason Donovan, Belinda Carlisle, Curiosity Killed The Cat and The Real Thing and Sunday has a slightly more contemporary feel including ex – X Factor outtakes Stacy Soloman and the enormously versatile Jedward.
Returning to Lincoln shortly after last month’s Lincoln Theatre Royal show, Lancashire’s number one Soul Band, The Real Thing, open Saturday night’s event. The rest of the line-up however is a bit of a who’s who of re-habilitated and re-branded pop start from the 1980s. From Boy George and Belinda Carlisle’s very highly publicised ordeals with Heroin both in the UK and USA, and Jason Donovan’s self-confessions that it was only the birth of his daughter that stopped his own excessive use of Cocaine.
Sunday night, however, celebrates everything that is simple and uncomplicated with Irish brothers John and Edward collectively known as the heavily tonsured Jedward. The duo, are known and deeply admired for their distinctive blond quiffs and unique performances, both musical and otherwise! Since arriving on your TV screens in 2009 their first single, “Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby)”, featuring the similarly talented ‘rapper’ Vanilla Ice and was released during January of last year.
Another X-Factor contestant Stacey Soloman, who actually can hold a tune, is also on Sunday’s bill. This ‘bubbly’ 21 year old from Dagenham most recently re-emerged with Shaun Ryder on TV screens in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity – Get Me Out Of Here last November where she went on to be crowned “Queen of the Jungle”.
Additional entertainment on Sunday comes from ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again and doors open at 6:00 (5pm Sunday). The concerts are open to all the family (children over 5!) with ticket prices from £15.00, more details from www.midsummermagic.co.uk.

Heavy Metal stalwarts Iron Maiden are hitting the road around the UK as part of their incredible world-wide Final Frontier Tour which started in Moscow back in February and finishes in London next month by way of Brazil, Mexico, Australia and just about everywhere else in between! On Sunday you will be able to see they will be playing at the Sheffield Arena and next Wednesday at Nottingham’s Capital FM Arena.
The Final Frontier World Tour is in conjunction with the band’s 15th studio album released in August and their most successful chart album to date, registering the number one sales chart slot in 28 countries around the globe.
One final point worth noting about Maiden is that ‘singer’ Lady Gaga once said Iron Maiden were her favourite band of all time and that she used to cover “Run to the Hills” in her live set!

Tonight’s concert featuring the Billy Mitchell Band in aid of St Andrew’s Children’s Hospice has unfortunately had to be cancelled due to poor ticket sales. For further information and refunds contact the organisers on 01472 350908 (x265). Essentially a Lindisfarne (and offshoot band Jack the Lad) concert the show was to feature ex-Lindisfarne singer/guitarist Billy Mitchell alongside long time collaborator and drummer from Lindisfarne Ray Laidlaw with support from local acoustic outfit Merlin’s Keep.

On Saturday night the wonderful Billie Jo Spears will be playing at the Meres Leisure Centre in Grantham as part of her current Ladies of Country Tour. Described, somewhat unfairly, as “The Queen Mother of Country Music” Billie Jo is probably best known for her world-wide hit Blanket on the Ground.
Continually releasing albums in the United States as well as Europe until the late 1990s and despite her healthy fan-base in the UK, sales in the USA started to dry up and she started to cut back on her recording schedule. Nowadays and following a spate of major heart surgery, she spends her time living in Texas but still continues to tour and record for her loyal UK audience. This year’s tour also includes the Irish country queen Philomena Begley and Scotland’s Lena Martel with newcomer Janey Kirk.
The concert starts at 7:30pm with tickets priced between £19.50 and £21.50 available from the venue by telephone on 01476 406158. The Meres Leisure Centre is on Trent Road, Grantham. NG34 7QX.

The Black Horse in Nettleham is the venue of choice for The Treehouse on Saturday night. Sharing the bill with Chris Greenwood the line-up will be sure to provide a good night’s entertainment for this busy local pub. Starting at 8pm for more information call 01522 750702.

Pod-cast Presenters and Pundits, Alternate Productions, host ‘Redeemed’ at the Tap & Spile in Lincoln next Wednesday. Promoted as “a night celebrating Lincoln’s acoustic singer song-writers” this will be the third Redeemed acoustic night at the Tap. You can listen to some of the artists previously featured at the January show on the Pod cast at http://alternateproductions.podom

It’s Friday the 13th tomorrow and if you are not to scared of venturing out the marvelous Hot Club of Lincoln will be putting on the style at the Tap & Spile on Hungate. Specialising in adaptations of what is generally known as ‘Gypsy Jazz’ the guys put on a fine show of acoustic dexterity running through their ever-expanding repertoire of Reinhart and Grapelli as well as many well-loved standards. Free entry from 8pm.

On Friday evening Giles Robson and the Dirty Aces will be playing at Cleethorpes Pleasure Island. Giles is a young Jersey-based harmonica player and singer and has been making waves in the UK Blues circuit for the last couple of years. Not only working as frontman with his own band The Dirty Aces but also backing ‘Mud’ Morganfield one of Muddy Waters’ sons. Advance tickets are £8.00 and are available online from www.solidntertainments.com with the doors opening at 7:30pm.

This Saturday has a bit of a blues flavour for two of Lincoln’s more popular music bars. Well liked Lincoln outfit Blues Train will be serving up their own brand of Chicago-inspired electric Blues at the Tap & Spile. Always a popular band in the area the venue is sure to see a capacity audience so, as ever, get yourself down there in plenty of time to bag one of the ‘few’ remaining seats.
Also on Saturday the Jolly Brewer on Broadgate have Ecofest regulars Starvin’ Sid and his band on offer. Hopefully if the weather is fine they might play outside in the Beer Garden but even if not they are a fine alternative to the Blues Train guys if you can’t squeeze into the Tap.
Entry to both shows is free and the entertainment will start around 8:30 to 9pm.

Next Wednesday the Nick Svark Trio play the Tap as part of Lincoln Jazz week with Dave Walsh on drums and Gary Jackson on bass. No stranger to the city Nick is always a pleasure to listen to and is well known for his experimental approach and stylish playing.

Finally, The Treehouse are looking for a new member. Ideally someone who can cover a couple of different instruments such as guitar, accordion and mandolin as well as being in possession of a good strong harmony voice. You will also need to have a bit of a lateral view on life with a bit of a quirky attitude to music in general. For lots more information and the chance to hear and see more of the band go to www.buildthetreehouse.com and contact Markus directly!

On Friday night the Treehouse will be returning to the Tap and Spile on Hungate, Lincoln. This time around they will be ‘launching’ their new collection of recordings from the There’s A Fear (Part 1) EP as well as performing a couple of live sets. The CD mostly contains some of their newer material although there is also a re-working of the ever-popular Corrine. The entertainment will start around 8:30 but, as ever, if you want to be seated within earshot of the music it’s best you should get yourself down there early. For a preview of the new songs and some more information about the band in case you have never come across them check them out at www.buildthetreehouse.com.

A little bit of harmony comes to the sleepy village of Harmston on Saturday night in the shape of saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist, Jo Freya and Dutch Folk Band Maastroom. Maalstroom have been steadily building a solid live-reputation, over the North Sea in their home territory of the Netherlands as well as Belgium, Germany and the UK. Building upon their reputation for their collaborations with artists from other countries, including Brian Finnegan from Anglo/Irish band Flook, they have now teamed up with Jo in this new venture. Saturday night’s concert takes place at the Memorial Hall in Harmston starts at 7:30 and the £7.50 tickets are available from Keith Elms on 01522 722462.
Solid Entertainments have another interesting show booked for Pleasure Island, this Saturday night with the instantly recognizable Fairbrass brothers in Right Said Fred on their “Night of the Living Fred Tour”. The show starts around 7:30 so for an evening teeming with their hits including “I’m Too Sexy For My Shirt”, “Deeply Dippy” and “Stick It Out” contact www.solidentertainents.com to book the £12.00 tickets.

Amongst the local shows lined up for this week Attila The Stockbroker will be astounding all and sundry in the wonderful Dog & Bone on John Street (Lincoln) next Wednesday night as part of the Lincoln Book Festival – Free entry!

Not quite so grand as the afore-lamented Yorkshire Blues Festival but still very much on schedule is Sunday’s Scunthorpe Blues Festival. Promoted by Solid Entertainments of Grimsby the show will take place at the Redbourn Sports & Social Club on Cemetry Road DN16 1NU. Featured headliner is the young Aynsley Lister who will be supported by Chantel McGregor and, amongst others, Cherry Lee Mewis from Wales a comparatively new face on the Blues. Running from 4pm until 11pm tickets on sale from £19.00 from www.solidentertainments.com.

Sleaford Live 2011 kicks off this weekend until next Sunday, 8th May with some travelling music from the Delta Dogs on the Sleaford Music Train. Departing from Sleaford Station at 6:55 bound for Bateman’s Brewery at Wainfleet via Boston and returning to Sleaford for 10pm this is a great way to kick start the weekend, and for that matter Sleaford Live 2011! Tickets can be purchased on the train, as can some of Mr Bateman’s finest and more information about the session and the Sleaford Music Live week can be found at www.sleafordlive.co.uk.

The previously ‘wrongly’ listed show from Mike Badger, co-founder of the Legendary LAs and his Shady Trio finally takes place at the Stag’s Head uphill on Lincoln’s Newport this Friday night. Supported on the night by one of our finer local outfits and country/beat pundits, Postcards From Places That Don’t Exist, this looks like a great evening of Country/Honk Skiffle with a smattering of Rock ‘a Billy – Free Entry and starts around 8:30pm!

City-centre gigs this week include county blues band Gin House at the Tap & Spile on Hungate on Friday night. Formed in 1999 they always seem have a full schedule playing from the North of Yorkshire down to the South Midlands. Starting at 8:30 entry is free to the Tap and an early start is essential unless you fancy standing for the duration of the evening!

As ever with Bank Holiday weekends the Jolly Brewer on Broadgate (Lincoln) have a full schedule of activities lined up. On Friday night Undertone will be blasting their own brand fusing “Groovin Reggae, Hip Hop plus Drum ‘n Bass”. The undertone guys are seriously busy in the local dance scene promoting their own nights at various venues around the area and tomorrow night will bring their burning sounds to the Brewer. Saturday night has the acoustic trio Pennyless return to the Brewer with their ‘Foot Stompin’ folk. The trio are just about to release their new album, The Turning of My Days and you can expect some highlights from the new album as well as some of their favourites. The Bilderburg Group close the Brewer’s weekend entertainment with a selection of chilled grooves and fully-funked loops outside in the Beer Garden so let’s hope the wonderful weather holds out!

Finally, 80s Scottish guitar twangers Big Country are out and about again playing at Rock City on Saturday night. Quiet for quite some time now they still manage to come up with the goods and turn out a great show. This is an over 14s only show and tickets are £20.00 – www.rock-city.co.uk for bookings and information.

This year Sheffield band Treebeard provide the headline attraction with support from Nottingham’s Marc Block and the Breezes plus excellent feisty Northampton trio Naseby Crossing, county based three-piece Pennyless and a whole host of others. Headliners Treebeard were formed a few years ago by brothers Paul & Chris McMahon, who were then best for their work with Haze and World Turtle. These days they play a mixture of their own originals as well as ‘not quite normal’ covers of numbers by Led Zeppelin, U2 and Steve Harley. They describe their unique style as ‘Heavy Wood’, with instrumentation that includes guitars, violins, mandolin, bouzouki and percussion.

There is a large on-site field available with plenty of space for tents and camper vans although the event in general has a gate limit of 300 so remember to either book as early as you can or contact the promoters to check availability! Tickets range from youth and student day tickets for £10.00 to an absolute bargain weekend rate of £40.00 for a family ticket (accompanied under 12s are free). To book tickets call Linda on 07954 993750 or Fiona on 07970 283731, or for more information about the other acts go to www.folkthing.co.uk.

The Tap & Spile in Lincoln continues what has now become a regular fixture with their regular long-weekends of live music! Paul Gibbard (plus friends) returns on Thursday evening while Newark’s excellent Love Boat Captains play on Friday night. The delightfully titled Shell Suits and Cowboy Boots on Saturday. As ever entry to all three shows is free and accompanied by a delightful menu of real ale and good humour!

If, by the end of the weekend you still haven’t had enough fiddle worrying and songs about dead sheep, lovelorn sailors and lonely widows, Feast of Fiddles return to the Drill Hall on Monday evening. Boasting a ‘musical extravaganza like no other’, six of the UK’s finest fiddle players join together in an eleven strong band including drummer Dave Mattacks Peter Knight of Steeleye Span and Chris Leslie of Fairport Convention. This unique collection of musicians bring their own individual styles together to visit almost every musical genre you can think of, in an entertainment that may have you dancing in the aisles and perhaps even shedding a tear! Tickets are available from the Box Office from £18.00 on 01529 873894,