Ozzy Osbourne, Wolverhampton Literature Festival, Tears For Fears and more: Top shows coming to the Midlands and Shropshire as we welcome 2019

Soul Legends, featuring Lemar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

January 17

British singer Lemar enjoyed a run of hits in the UK, Europe and Australia after finishing third on the first series of Fame Academy.

He went on to sell more than two million albums and enjoy seven top 10 singles after becoming one of the UK’s most successful reality contestants of all time.

Lemar also scooped two Brit Awards and three Mobo Awards while he is due to release his seventh studio album later this year. He’ll star in the smash hit spectacular Soul Legends at Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre.

The show brings to life the hits of Barry White, George Benson, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Tina Turner, Lionel Richie , WIlson Pickett, Chaka Khan, Earth Wind & Fire and more all in ‘soulsational’ style.

Lemar will also feature a number of his own hits, including Dance (With You), If There’s Any Justice, It’s Not That Easy, The Way Love Goes, If She Knew and more.

Strictly Come Dancing - The Live Show, Arena Birmingham

January 18 - 21

The full line-up of celebrities and their professional partners for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing UK Arena Tour has been announced.

Among them are winner Stacey Dooley, along with Faye Tozer, Ashley Roberts and Joe Sugg. Former winner, Ore Oduba will be host for the show, with the usual suspects of judges all returning.

Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev; Lauren Steadman and AJ Pritchard; Graeme Swann and Karen Clifton; Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice will all be joining previously announced Stacey Dooley and Aljaž Skorjanec; Dr Ranj Singh and Janette Manrara; Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell on the road.

The sparkling line-up of celebrities and professional dancers will also be joining tour host Ore Oduba and the live tour judging panel of Craig Revel Horwood, Dame Darcey Bussell, Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli. To add even more wow, professional dancers Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima and Johannes Radebe will also be performing in this supersized dance extravaganza.

Ghost The Musical, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

January 22 - 26

Walking back to their apartment late one night, a tragic encounter sees Sam murdered and his beloved wife Molly alone in despair and utterly lost. But with the help of a phony storefront psychic, Sam – trapped between this world and the next – tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving her from grave danger.

The movie Ghost has proven to be one of cinema’s biggest all-time hits. Starring the late Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg, it was the highest grossing film of 1990 and won an Oscar for screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin who has adapted his screenplay for this musical.

The movie and the musical feature Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers alongside many more terrific songs co-written by Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart. Ghost has been re-imagined for stage in an innovative production from Bill Kenwright. The tour will star Rebekah Lowings as Molly, alongside Niall Sheehy as Sam and Jacqui DuBois as Oda Mae Brown.

The cast will be completed by Sergio Pasquariello as Carl alongside Jules Brown as Willie, James Earl Adair as the Hospital Ghost and Lovonne Richards as the Subway Ghost. Jochebel Ohene Maccarthy plays Louise and Sadie-Jean Shirley is Clara with Chanelle Anthony, Josh Andrews, Samantha Noel, Charlotte-Kate Warren, Kage Douglas and Michael Ward.

Originally opening in Manchester in 2011, the piece had its West End premiere the same year and toured in 2013. It won one WhatsOnStage Award for Richard Fleeshman as Best Actor in a Musical and was nominated for five Olivier Awards.

Frank Turner, Arena Birmingham

January 22

Singer-songwriter Frank Turner is back on tour, with a new clutch of songs and approach.

Following the live-sounding previous album Positive Songs For Negative People, Turner wanted to try a new approach: “I wanted to try and get out of my comfort zone and do something different.”

The tour will see him play 120 dates to more than 200,000 people across the UK, the USA, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with his backing band, The Sleeping Souls.

Frank’s record is his seventh and he’s delighted that he’s had the opportunity to record so many. “There’s a difference between daydreaming and rational expectations. I’m very pleased that it worked out this way and I would have said that’s what I wanted, but whether or not I actually expected it is a different question.

“There was a moment after Sleep Is For The Week when I thought it had run its course, I didn’t think that many people cared. So it’s a pleasant surprise.”

Be More Kind is a Clive James quote and Frank is a big fan. “I’m an avid Clive James fan – Cultural Amnesia is a book that completely upended my understanding of the world, and I tend to follow everything he writes if I can. He’s terminally ill and his poems about death have been blowing my mind since he started writing them.

“It’s not the only time that I’ve read someone in recent years talking about kindness as being the thing that survives of human life, it’s just the most pithily put version of that. It seems to be a recurring theme that I read about older people and more importantly wiser people – that your compassion and decency to your fellow person is the thing that comes out in the wash.”

Snow Patrol, Arena Birmingham

January 25

Following the release of their first album in seven years, Wildness, Snow Patrol are touring.

Since their 1998 debut, Songs for Polarbears, the band has racked up an impressive number of critical and commercial accolades.

The Northern Irish rockers formed in Scotland in 1994, consisting of Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly, Paul Wilson, Jonny Quinn, and Johnny McDaid.

They rose to prominence in the early-mid 2000s as part of the post-Britpop movement.

Doctor Dolittle, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

January 29 – February 9

Harry Potter star Mark Williams will breathe new life into Doctor Dolittle, when Leslie Bricusse’s acclaimed family musical returns to the stage.

Fans can join the eccentric Doctor, his human companions and his exotic menagerie of animal friends on an extraordinary adventure to find the Giant Pink Sea Snail, that holds the secret of life and making the world a happier place. With help from the Pushmi-Pullyu and his trusty sidekick Polynesia the Parrot, the larger-than-life Doctor Dolittle teaches us not only to talk to the animals but to listen to them as well.

Based on the popular 1967 film with Rex Harrison, the spectacular new stage show stars Mark Williams as Doctor Dolittle. Joining his exciting journey are the superb Adèle Anderson as Lady Bellowes and the dangerous Poison Arrow, the hilarious Vicky Entwistle as his trusty side-kick Polynesia and with Brian Capron playing both the vivacious Albert Blossom and the mighty Straight Arrow.

The exciting musical adventure is being brought to Wolverhampton from the producers of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Addams Family and promises stunning visual puppetry with songs and fun for all the family.

Wolverhampton Literature Festival, various venues

February 1 - 3

Literature, poetry, music, art and film will mix when Wolverhampton’s much-loved literature festival returns.

And before we get started on the Express & Star-sponsored event, let’s include a gratuitous plug for E&S sports writers Tim Spiers and Nathan Judah, who’ll be talking about On Our Way Back, the book which celebrated Wolves’ return to the Premier League.

Reporter Spiers and partner-in-crime Judah shared Wolves’ journey offering analysis, commentary, the inside track on all developments and some very lively podcasts.

At Wolverhampton Art Gallery on February 1, they will reflect on the club’s Championship-winning season, with excerpts from Tim’s book On Our Way Back, before leading a question and answer session with the audience.

The festival will feature a smorgasbord of delights with talks from comedian Richard Herring, DJ Steve Lamacq, comedian and writer Stewart Lee, singer Tracey Thorn, poet John Cooper Clark and TV star Kim Woodburn.

But two of the most interesting talks with come from political big beasts Ann Widdecombe and Alan Johnson. Widdecombe will feature at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery on February 2.

Entertaining, enlightening and as controversial as you would expect, opinions on Margaret Thatcher and Craig Revel Horwood will collide as Ann lifts the lid on life in Westminster and shares behind-the-scenes gossip from some of the nation’s best-loved programmes.

Alan Johnson, meanwhile, will also feature at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery on February 2 and he has become one of Britain’s best loved authors, selling more than 500,000 books.

One of the most popular politicians of recent times and now a best-selling author, his memoirs have won numerous awards. Inspired by his latest book, In My Life, Alan will tell his personal story with the help of some of the music that has soundtracked his life, from growing up as an orphan in a West London slum in the 50s to becoming a postman before rising through the Labour Party ranks to hold several cabinet posts, including Home Secretary, Health Secretary and Education Secretary.

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Birmingham hippodrome

February 5 - 16

Retaining the iconic elements of the original production loved by millions around the world, Matthew Bourne and award-winning designers Lez Brotherston and Paule Constable will create an exciting reimagining of the classic production.

Thrilling, audacious, witty and emotive, this Swan Lake is perhaps still best known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a menacing male ensemble, which shattered conventions, turned tradition upside down and took the dance world by storm.

Collecting over thirty international accolades including an Olivier Award in the UK and three Tonys on Broadway, Matthew Bourne’s powerful interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece is a passionate and contemporary Swan Lake for our times.

Ozzy Osbourne, Resorts World Arena

February 9

The Prince of Darkness will be back in his hometown this February, with his final global tour, No More Tours 2. Having amassed record sales of more than 100 million records, Ozzy will take to the stage to celebrate five decades of performing. It will be a proper Midlands affair, with Ozzy joined by Black Country rock legends Judas Priest.

Ozzy said: “I’m looking at this final tour as being a huge celebration for my fans and anyone who has enjoyed my music over the past five decades.”

Ozzy grew up in Birmingham having been born on December 3, 1948, to parents John Osbourne and Lilian Osbourne (née Unitt). His real name is John Michael Osbourne and his first home was 5 Swains Grove, Kingstanding.

His bandmates in Black Sabbath were Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler, who worked in factories after leaving school, and Bill Ward, who delivered coal. Osbourne, after stints in a slaughterhouse and car plant, turned his hand to burglary. The four teenagers turned to music to provide an escape.

Ozzy was kicked out of the band in 1979 due to alcohol and drug problems, but went on to have a successful solo career, releasing eleven studio albums, the first seven of which were all awarded multi-platinum certifications in the United States. Osbourne has since reunited with Black Sabbath on several occasions, recording the album 13 (2013). He has been called the Godfather of Heavy Metal.

Tears For Fears, Resorts World Arena

February 12

Tears For Fears had been due to play Birmingham last year but unexpectedly had to postpone their date on health grounds.

Now they’re back with the first leg of their Rule The World Tour 2018.

With a catalogue of classic albums, namely the gold-certified debut The Hurting, quintuple-platinum BRIT Award-winning songs from the Big Chair, and Seeds of Love and a string of huge hits, including classics such as Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Shout, Mad World, Head Over Heels, and Woman In Chains, fans are in for a classy night.

Francis Rossi – Talk Too Much, Shrewsbury Theatre Severn, March 29, Birmingham Town Hall, March 30, Brierley Hill Civic Hall, April 6

Status Quo frontman Francis Rossi has sold a remarkable 100 million records, opened the world’s biggest concert ever – Live Aid – secured an OBE and enjoyed hits with Rocking All Over The World, Whatever You Want and more. In Spring, he’ll publish his explosive autobiography, I Talk Too Much, and play three local dates on a 36-date UK tour.

The father of eight will talk about his relationship with fellow rocker Rick Parfitt and have his guitar on stage to strum along – before meeting fans after each show to sign copies of his book. He received his OBE in 2010 from the Queen.

Rossi said: “It’s one thing going out to play in front of 50,000 people but talking to the Queen – well that’s quite another. We were both so humbled by the experience. I mean, this is the Queen after all. She is England, isn’t she? We have grown up with her as our figurehead since we were tiny children and she’s still going strong. Not a very rock and roll thing to say I know, but she is simply amazing.”

Rossi is looking forward to touring the UK with his new show, which will mark a departure after more than 50 years on the road in his rock’n’roll band.

He said: “I’m told we’ve sold 100 million records. I can’t believe it’s as many as they say.”