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That'll Showzam! as festival gets bigger
WITH just a few weeks to go before the launch of Blackpool's fourth annual Showzam! Festival, the Winter Gardens and two of the town's piers have confirmed their biggest ever involvement with the event.
The Merrie England on North Pier will be presenting events under the theme Showzam! Fringe: Cabaret On The Pier, and for adults only.
Central Pier's Variety By The Pier runs for five days, and is for families.
On Friday February 18, at the Merrie England, there is the Blackpool debut of The Everly Pregnant Brothers, six Sheffielders with ukeleles and a frontman with a lethal line in lyrics.
The Brothers feature a couple of familiar faces in artist Pete McKee and comedian and Radio Sheffield presenter Toby Foster.
Frontman Shaun Doane sets the tone, and drives proceedings forward with a huge vocal performance, and some wicked Sheffield versions of music classics.
They cover songs by The Clash, The Undertones, Pulp, Arctic Monkeys and The Human League, among others, creating ukulele entertainment for the masses.
Saturday, February 19, at the same venue, features Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo, an outfit which recorded the theme to TV's Wallander.
It's back to the main fringe on Sunday, February 20, with Madame Galina and Her Only Friend.
A selection of the best in new variety and cabaret featuring Madame Galina, it was created by variety performer and writer Iestyn Edwards for the show Ballet Star Galactica.
Madame has been touring since 2001, and recent appearances include the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Blackpool Grand and the Baxter Theatre, Cape Town.
She has an entry in The Rough Guide to Choreography book, and her Channel 4 "Whirlwind Guide to Ballet" has been broadcast worldwide. She has toured four times for Combined Services Entertainment to military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On Monday, February 21, at the Merrie England, it's the return of Earl Okin with the full
version of his one man show, after his successful appearance in Miss Behave's Variety Nighty
in 2009. The ability to charm audiences of any age is very much part of what he brings to his shows, alongside the legendary 'vocal trumpet' solos, witty lyrics and between-song banter.
He has opened on tour for major rock stars such as Van Morrison and Paul McCartney, and performed alongside such jazz legends as Benny Carter, Milt Hinton, Adelaide Hall, Barney Kessel and Cleo Laine.
Up the road at the Opera House on the same night is Circus Hilarious.
Now in its 15th year, Circus Hilarious features past winners of the Blackpool Magic Convention Best Comedy award, father and son and Knott End-based Clive Webb (former Tiswas) and Danny Adams, with Cousin Timoni and Mad Mick's Clownforce.
The show is packed with unmissable slapstick, lots of surprises and the stunning dancers.
Variety By The Sea, in the Central Pier Legends Theatre North Pier, runs from Wednesday, February 23 to Sunday, February 27, with performances at 2.30 and 7pm daily.
The show promises classic comedy, magical moments and heart-stopping stunts with circus tricksters, original live music and lots of laughs.
The cast have been wowing audiences in theatres and festivals across the UK, winning standing ovations and critical acclaim across the country in 2010, including a sell-out run at the legendary London venue The Roundhouse.
Comedy club Jongleurs returns to the Winter Gardens Pavilion Theatre on February 25 and 26 with a varied line-up of visiting comedians.
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Weather for Blackpool
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 16 C
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