January 31st 2007:

January 31stJanuary 30thJanuary 29th
January 26thJanuary 24thJanuary 23rdJanuary 22nd
January 21stJanuary 19thJanuary 17thJanuary 16thJanuary 15th
January 12thJanuary 11thJanuary 10thJanuary 9thJanuary 5th

January 31st:Things go bump in the Night at the Museum at the cinema…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Dan Owenreturns with a movie that hit cinema screens on Boxing Day and is stilldrawing in the crowds now as exhibits come to life during the night in themuseum patrolled by Ben Stiller, accompanied by a cast including Owen Wilson,Kim Raver, Carla Gugino, Ricky Gervais and Robin Williams.

Night at the Museumis online and out at the cinema now.

January 30th:CHARTS: Fall Out Boy vs. Mika – who got the No.1…?

Check out themusic chart analysis pagewhich is online now.

The release dates for singles go up until late Marchwith albums also until April 2007.

January 29th:Robert Englund gets a fright in Heartstopper on DVD…

Released today:

Robert Englund, whose long time character Freddy Kruger is more used to beingthe one dealing out the death, is now up against it as a Sheriff transportingthe body of convicted and electrocuted serial killer Chambers to the morgue.Alas, this is the movies and the baddie gets brought back to life and goeson a killing spree…

Heartstopperis online and out on DVD from today.

John Cale Live in Wrexham…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Robertswent to see native Welshman John Cale, founding member of seminal rock outfitVelvet Underground, perform recently at Central Station in Wrexhamand here’s his review.

John Cale: Live in Wrexhamis online now.

Elisabeth Sladen on the DVDfever YouTube channel…

Uploaded online recently is an interview with Elisabeth Sladen, aka SarahJane Smith from Doctor Who, who got her own spinoff series with The SarahJane Adventures.

Also added recently are Breakfast interviews with Mackenzie Crook (The Office,Pirates of the Caribbean), comedian Mel Smith and a clip of The Culture Showwhere Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson talk about Radio 4 comedy Down TheLine.

Several trailers have also been uploaded for ITV’s new action/drama Primeval,the new ITV sitcom Benidorm starring Johnny Vegas, two for the Green WingSpecial shown recently, one for episode 2 of BBC3’s sitcom Thieves Like Uswhich is broadcast tonight, Channel 4’s On Demand TV advert featuring manyof their stars crammed into a vending machine, the TV advert for the Xbox 360game Gears of War featuring the music of Gary Jules’ Mad World andBadly Drawn Boy’s new video, A Journey from A To B with a guestapperance from the one and only Frank Sidebottom!

Click on the image of Elisabeth Sladen (right) and check back regularly for more additionsand feel free to subscribe so you get instantly notified of anything newthat’s uploaded.

CHARTS: Fall Out Boy vs. Mika – who got the No.1…?

Come back tomorrow for the latest chart analysis.

New DVDs out this week…

This week’s new releases are as follows:

• 5ive Girls (12.99, Momentum)
• The Alibi (12.99, EIV)
• Angel-A (17.99, Optimum)
• Antibodies (19.99, Tartan)
• Apartment 12 (15.99, Lighthouse)
• Ballad of a Soldier (19.99, Nouveaux Pictures)
• Big Audio Dynamite: E=Mc2 Live (12.99, Cherry Red Records)
• Blazing Saddles (Blu-Ray) (25.99, Warner)
• Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb (12.99, Optimum)
• Bon Jovi: Live Rarities (12.99, Classic Rock)
• Caravaggio (19.99, BFI)
• Click (19.99, Columbia)
• Click (Blu-Ray) (24.99, Columbia)
• Commander in Chief Season 1 (39.99, Buena Vista)
• Container (19.99, Metrodome)
• Cross of Iron (12.99, Optimum)
• Doctor Who: New Beginnings (29.99, BBC)
• Emerson, Lake and Palmer: Live At The Royal Albert Hall (9.99, Sanctuary)
• Fearless Hyena SE (16.99, Contender)
• The Hard Corps (19.99, Columbia)
• Heartstopper (12.99, Momentum)
• Hoodwinked! (19.99, Momentum)
• I Was Monty’s Double (12.99, Optimum)
• Ice Cold in Alex (12.99, Optimum)
• Killing Words (14.99, Vital)
• The King of Queens Season 1 (34.99, Paramount)
• The Lake House (Blu-Ray) (25.99, Warner)
• The Lake House (HD-DVD) (25.99, Warner)
• The League of Gentlemen SE (1960) (14.99, Network)
• Lie With Me (17.99, Metrodome)
• Look Both Ways (19.99, Tartan)
• MacGyver Season 4 (44.99, Paramount)
• The Man Who Fell to Earth SE (17.99, Optimum)
• Miami Vice (HD-DVD) (19.99, Universal)
• Naked Video Series 3 (15.99, VCI)
• The Nanny (12.99, Optimum)
• Nearest and Dearest Series 6 (12.99, Network)
• One Day In Summer (19.99, Pinnacle)
• Out: The Complete Series (19.99, Network)
• Ozu Collection 4 (29.99, Tartan)
• Playing the Field Series 1 & 2 (24.99, Universal)
• Rescue Me Season 2 (34.99, Columbia)
• The Reptile (12.99, Optimum)
• Return of the Saint: the Complete Series (59.99, Network)
• The Risen (13.99, Blackhorse)
• The Sentinel (17.99, Fox)
• The Simpsons Season 9 (39.99, Fox)
• The Simpsons Season 9 (Lisa Head) (39.99, Fox)
• Southern Comfort (15.99, Optimum)
• The Vengeance of She (12.99, Optimum)
• The Viking Queen (12.99, Optimum)
• Tideland (19.99, Revolver)
• Training Day (HD-DVD) (25.99, Warner)
• Waking the Dead Series 4 (34.99, BBC)
• Wittgenstein (19.99, BFI)
• World Trade Center (19.99, Paramount)
• World Trade Center SE (22.99, Paramount)

January 26th:Dan’s Movie Digest @ DVDfever.co.uk…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Dan Owenreturns with his movie news section which looks at futurereleases and features US and UK Top 10 cinema listings, UK release dates,movie websites and trailers.

Dan’s Movie Digestis online now.

A double deal of Wrestling on DVD from Silver Vision…

First in this round-up, and released on February 19th,WWE Cyber Sunday 2006 (£17.99) contains a number of matches including the Champion Of Champions Match withJohn Cena vs. King Booker vs. Big Show and the Intercontinental Championship Match withJeff Hardy vs. Johnny Nitro. Extras include: Legends Partying with the Divas and Umaga with ArmandoAlejandro Estrada post match interview with Todd Grisham.

Then comes,UFC 63 – Hughes vs Penn (£17.99), running for 171 minutes and released on Feb 5th,includes UFC Welterweight Title matches including Matt Hughes vs. BJ Penn, Mike Swick vs. David Loiseau,Melvin Guillard vs. Gabe Reudiger and Rashad Evans vs. Jason Lambert, with extras includingfeatures with Hughes/Penn and Swick/Loiseau.

Click on the packshots for further info.

Updated cinema listings…

Stuck for something to do this weekend? The list of the films showing at Manchester Showcase Cinemacan be found on this page, and won’t differ much from what’s on in the restof the country.

The new films out include: Blood Diamonds, Surburban Mayhem andBobby.

January 24th:Put ’em up for Tekken: Dark Resurrection on Sony PSP…

Like the Dead ot Alive game we reviewed on the Xbox 360 last week, theTekken series has also seen many a version released over the past 10 yearsor so, so what can this series bring to Sony’s fantastic little handheldconsole?

Tekken: Dark Resurrectionis online and out now on Sony PSP.

January 23rd:CHARTS: Billie Piper vs. Mika – who got the No.1…?

Check out themusic chart analysis pagewhich is online now.

The release dates for singles go up until late Marchwith albums also until April 2007.

PRESS RELEASE: The Charlatans announce special Summer show…

Thanks toDVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Robertsfor the following press release:

One of the UK’s most significant bands of the past 15 years, The Charlatans,have announced a ‘home-coming’ gig for this Summer when they will playDelamere Forest, Cheshire as part of The Forestry Commission’s 2007 ForestTours.

Formed in Northwich, The Charlatans released their ninth album, Simpatico,last year, the follow-up to the highly acclaimed Up At The Lake (2004).Three of The Charlatans albums (Some Friendly (1990), The Charlatans (1995)and Tellin’ Stories (1997) all reached number one in the UK chart. Twoalbums, Us and Us Only (1999) and Wonderland (2001) debuted at number two.

At the end of last year Forever The Singles was released through IslandRecords and featured sixteen of the bands Top 40 singles, including – TheOnly One I Know, One To Another, North Country Boy, Love Is The Key, HowHigh and You’re So Pretty We’re So Pretty.

The Charlatans will be performing at Delamere Forest, Linmere, Delamere,Cheshire on Friday 15th June 2007

Tickets priced £24.00 (subject to booking fee) go on sale at 9.00am thisFriday 26th January from tel 01842 814612, and online atwww.gigsandtours.com & www.ticketmaster.co.uk .

Commenting on the booking, Simon Hough, for The Forestry Commission said ‘Weare delighted that The Charlatans are the first act to be confirmed as partof our 2007 season especially as they are local to the area’

The Charlatans are: Tim Burgess (vocals), Mark Collins (Guitars), MartinBlunt (bass), Jon Brookes (drums), Tony Rogers (keyboards)

Further info at these weblinks:forestry.gov.uk/music /thecharlatans.net /myspace.com/thecharlatans

January 22nd:Take 5ive Girls in a strict Catholic school on DVD…

Five years ago, St Mark’s School for Girls was closed down as one of itsstudents was allegedly killed by the devil, since she disappeared without traceafter a hell of a rumpus. However, now its back for a new school term withjust five new girls, a strict headmistress and the decidely creepy FatherDrake (Ron Perlman)…

5ive Girlsis online and out on DVD from Monday, January 29th.

Nick Duggan tinkles the ivories on CD…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Robertsenjoys the new released from Thailand-based musical maestro Nick Dugganwho provides an album that’s an “easy listening experience, perfect forchilled-out times”.

Nick Duggan: African Rainis online and out on CD now.

Billie Piper on the DVDfever YouTube channel…

Uploaded online recently are recent interviews with Billie Piper on Breakfast,promoting her post-Doctor Who career, an interview with Kevin Spacey whooversees the Old Vic theatre in London and one from before Xmas with ElisabethSladen talking about The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Also online are trailers for the new BBC1 drama Five Days, startingon Tuesday, three for Little Britain Abroad, one for The Thick OfIt‘s Xmas special and a piece from Working Lunch about new computer game,World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade.

Click on the image of Billie (right) and check back regularly for more additionsand feel free to subscribe so you get instantly notified of anything newthat’s uploaded.

Snooker: Ronnie O’Sullivan takes the Masters title for 2007…

I was very impressed with ‘The Rocket’ Ronnie O’Sullivan yesterday. Firstly, for some damn fine snookerafter a shaky start for him, but secondly for something that happened which portrayed him in alight other than the one that shows him to be an arrogant sod at times, such as with his walkout/concessionagainst Stephen Hendry at the UK Championship last month.

As the match began, Ding Junhui took the first two frames and approached the table like a computer program,perfectly calculating each shot with the right angle and power. Alas, things started to go wrong for himand when his confidence was at its lowest, during the – as it turned out – penultimate frame, 5 framesbehind at 8-3, Ding just gave up. On the odd occasion where Ronnie missed a shot, Ding just walked up tothe table, struck a ball with a cursory feel to the proceedings and sat back down.

In fact, when that frame came to an end, Ding stood up and shook hands with Ronnie as if to concede.Was he unsure that the match is concluded or was he just giving up? As they went to the break, Ronniewalked with Ding out of the room to either confirm it was the first to 10 frames or to persuade himto carry on. We were told shortly after that Ronnie took Ding into his dressing room to console him.

A voiceiferous crowd all gunning for Ronnie, such that they get at Wembley, plus one complete loudmouthwanker who was removed after the final frame, didn’t help.

The official line confirmed later on was that Ding had thought the match was the best-of-17 frames and notthe scheduled 19.

As he accepted the Masters trophy, commenting on Ding and speculating on his future, Ronnie said, “For me,he’s going to be a multiple World Champion.”

Big Brother: Jade attempts remorse but it’s yet another show for the cameras…

After hoping that we would finally see the back of Jade Goody, I saw a clip of a recorded interview for the Newsof the World – shown on BBC News 24 – of her crying buckets as she apologised for coming across as racistduring her time in the Big Brother house with Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty,and this comes after her final day in the house apologising in the diary roomfor being racist which clearly proves she was tipped off by Channel 4 priorto her leaving the house – something that is against the rules.

So, yeah, the first post-eviction newspaper interview was filmed after givingher a tearstick to make her look like she had some remorse for her actions,and if enough stupid people believe her then she’ll be back as the media’sdarling before too long.

Just look at all the morons who vote repeatedly for contestants in not just BB but all the reality showson BBC and ITV – such as the current Dancing on Ice and the recent Just the Two of Us andSoapstar Superstar – that never seem to end, since as one finishes a new one starts. They get novalue from it, since they could easily watch the show without paying to vote for someone, and they justfill the coffers of the broadcasters who can’t be bothered to think up an original format.

ITV has a new alleged documentary on Thursday nights, “Where’s My Pension Gone?”. It’s probably beenpissed away voting for Jade to leave the Big Brother house, before they go out to buy her perfume and keep-fitDVDs and watch her reality TV shows.

When it comes to Jade Goody for the remainder of 2007 – just say no!

CHARTS: Billie Piper vs. Mika – who got the No.1…?

Come back tomorrow for the latest chart analysis.

New DVDs out this week…

This week’s new releases are as follows:

• A Bit of a Do: The Complete Series (29.99, Network)
• Belle de Jour SE (19.99, Optimum)
• The Black Dahlia (19.99, EIV)
• Black Hawk Down (Blu-Ray) (17.99, Columbia)
• Bless This House Series 5 (19.99, Network)
• Charles Bronson Collection (29.99, Fox)
• Dirty Sanchez: The Movie (17.99, Fox)
• Edison (15.99, Fox)
• Eros (19.99, Artificial Eye)
• Father Dear Father Series 1 (12.99, Network)
• George and Mildred Series 5 (12.99, Network)
• Girls On Top: The Complete Series (22.99, Network)
• Keane (19.99, Soda) (nothing to do with the pop band)
• Little Man (15.99, Columbia)
• Little Miss Sunshine (19.99, Fox)
• Man About the House Series 5 (12.99, Network)
• Northern Exposure Series 5 (34.99, Universal)
• Road House 2: Last Call (19.99, Columbia)
• Road House 1 & 2 (15.99, Columbia) – yes, cheaper than the second film on its own(!)
• Robin Hood Series 1 Vol.2 (19.99, BBC)
• A Scanner Darkly (18.99, Warner)
• The Secret Life of Us Series 2 (36.99, Pinnacle)
• Sidney Poitier Collection (29.99, Fox)
• The State Within (24.99, BBC)
• Toto: Live in Amsterdam (HD-DVD) (16.99, Eagle Rock)
• The Wicker Man (Director’s Cut) (2006) (15.99, Fox)
• Woody Allen Collection: Volume 1 (39.99, Fox)
• Woody Allen Collection: Volume 2 (44.99, Fox)
• Woody Allen Collection: Volume 3 (44.99, Fox)
• Woody Allen Collection: Volume 4 (44.99, Fox)

January 21st:Snooker: O’Sullivan vs Maguire – Frame 2 was a very scrappy do…

I’m a big fan of snooker on TV and was intrigued by last night’s semi-final match between Ronnie O’Sullivanand Stephen Maguire.

The way I expected things to go once they took to the baize was to end up with a Ding vs O’Sullivan final -which is what happened in the end, but after an expert clearance in the first frame from Ronnie, who’sclearly the most arrogant man in the game today following his walkout in December when against StephenHendry in the UK Championship last month and his refusal to do post-match interviews at the current Masterstournament, the second could have gone either way with both players performing equally badly in a veryscrappy frame, although Maguire took it to make the score 1-1.

A tense match brought the scores to level 4-4, but Ronnie took the next two frames in a row to go throughto the final where he’ll play the best of 19 frames against Ding Junhui from 3pm on BBC2, with the secondsession starting at 8pm.

However, as an aside, while I’ve really enjoyed watching the Masters Snooker tournament on BBC,particularly via the live streams so I can watch it without the inbetween chat from the studio, there’ssomething strange about the ‘hubbub’ in the background.

I can understand why they would record 30 seconds of audience ‘chatter’ and then place it on a loop duringthe interval, but you’d think they’d play it back to check how it sounds before broadcasting it. As such,periodically we get the sound of a man laughing in a bizarre manner, not dissimilar to the manic laughterfrom Pink Floyd’s On The Run from the Dark Side of the Moon album!

Extras’ Stephen Merchant cameos in tonight’s 24 season opener…

With the sixth season starting tonight on Sky One at 9pm, when I watched the first episode, I was surprisedto see a very brief cameo from Extras‘ Stephen Merchant, most recently seen in characteron BBC2 as Gervais’ agent Darren Lamb, before going on to win Best Actor at the Comedy Awards on ITVlast month.

I figured I might be imagining it at first as I hadn’t read about him doing this previously, but I’ve hadit since confirmed that it’s definitely him, and he appears around 7 minutes into the first episode.

Mini-review: The Trial of Tony Blair on Channel 4…

Watching this comedy/drama on Channel 4 last Thursday, it was clear that the real Trial of Tony Blairin his own mind as he fought his inner demons, such as the repeated use of the same line in his book about”feeling the hand of history upon his shoulder” a total of 29 times in attempting to justify his reasonsfor being Bush’s lapdog as the dimwitted President declared war on Iraq.

Robert Lindsay, continuing his role from the earlier A Very Social Secretary, was good butit took a while to get used to him playing Tony Blair, mainly because he didn’t do his usual inane smilingfor most of the first half. Phoebe Nicholls proved she’s still as hot as ever when she’s onscreen -particuarly when she’s coming across as ever so slightly bossy and Peter Mullen was amusing asGordon Brown, finally taking over from Blair long after he initially intended to step down, but he didn’tseem to do much apart from gloat at ‘Tony’. Perhaps that’s how they really behave, and so the scenes where’Gordon’ was on his own and being a miserable old grump were similarly reflective, but it didn’t make fordevastatingly interesting viewing.

Alexander Armstrong also put in a comic turn as Tory leader David Cameron but the only thing theycould find for him to do was repeat the cycling/car gag but that happened last year in real life, as hecycled to work in an attempt to look environmentally-friendly – despite his car following behind carryinghis suit to change into when he got to the officce – so he wouldn’t still be doing it four years latergiven that this TV movie was set in 2010.

A reasonable 6/10 for the fact that it passed the time without complaint, but there’s far better – andmore relevant – political satire from BBC4’s The Thick Of It, the Xmas special that showed… er,just into the New Year, absolutely wiping the floor with any of its competitors.

January 19th:New DVDs out in February: The Best of Balls of Steel…

First up in this round-up of new DVDs, The Best of Balls Of Steel (£19.99, Channel 4 DVD)is out on February 5th.

Host Mark Dolan (Show Me The Funny, The Richard Taylor Interviews) puts a team of comedians and performersto the ultimate challenge: he and his studio audience want to know just one thing – who has the biggestBalls of Steel?

His special guests are keen to prove themselves by performing death-defying stunts, holding their nerveduring hidden camera setups or by being juvenile and stupid in their presence of celebrities.

Click on the packshot for further info.

A triple whammy of Wrestling on DVD from Silver Vision…

First up in this trilogy, all of which are out on February 5th,No Mercy 2006 (£17.99) runs for 168 minutescontains a number of matches including the Fatal Four Way World Heavyweight Championship Match:King Booker vs. Finlay vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Batista, William Regal vs. Chris Benoitand the Falls Count Anywhere Match: Chavo Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio, The Undertaker vs. Mr. Kennedyand MVP vs. Marty Garner.

UFC 25 & 26 (£19.99), runs for 355 minutes and includeTito Ortiz vs. Wanderlei Silva, Yoji Anjo vs. Murilo Bustamante and Sanae Kikuta vs. Eugene Jackson,plus Kevin Randleman vs. Pedro Rizzo, David Dodd vs. Tyrone Roberts and Pat Miletich vs. John Alessio.

Finally, Cage Rage Knockouts (£12.99) features many a match such asEdson Drago vs. Tengiz Tedoradze, Anthony Rea vs. Vitor Belfort, Michael Holmes vs. Zelg Galesic,Michihiro Omigawa vs. JZ Calvacante and Alex Reid vs. Jorge Rivera.

Click on the packshots for further info.

Updated cinema listings…

Stuck for something to do this weekend? The list of the films showing at Manchester Showcase Cinemacan be found on this page, and won’t differ much from what’s on in the restof the country.

The new films out include: The Return andRocky Balboa.

PRESS RELEASE: 14th Floor Records’ triple success in the Brits nominations…

Thanks toDVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Robertsfor the following press releases:

14th Floor Records achieved triple success in this year’s Brit Awardsnominations. All three of 14th Floor’s artists who released an album in 2006have been nominated for an award: Nerina Pallot for Best British Female SoloArtist, Damien Rice for Best International Male Solo Artist and RayLaMontagne for Best International Breakthrough.

The nominations were announced last night at London’s Hammersmith Palais.The Brit Awards 2007 ceremony will take place at Earls Court on 14 February.

Nerina Pallot released her Gold selling album ‘Fires’ in April 2006 towidespread critical acclaim, with The Guardian describing the album as”scintillating”. Pallot will be commencing on a full headline UK tour at theend of January and will release a new single in the Spring.

Damien Rice released his second and highly anticipated album ‘9’ in November2006. Q Magazine has hailed ‘9’ as a “creative triumph”, whilst the EveningStandard describes the album as a “five star classic”. Rice will beheadlining a sold-out four date tour of the UK in March.

Ray LaMontagne released his debut album ‘Trouble’ through 14th Floor Recordsin June 2006 and it has now sold over 300,000 copies in the UK alone. In thelast year LaMontagne has established a reputation as an exceptional liveperformer, with The Independent proclaiming, “you would cross continents tohear him roar a high note.” LaMontagne will be headlining a full UK tourthrough January and February, culminating in two dates at London’sHammersmith Apollo. LaMontagne’s second album, ‘Till The Sun Turns Black’,was released in the US late last year and will be released in the UK inSummer 2007. The album received an early four-star review from Q, and hasbeen described as a “mesmerising, beautiful record”.

Take a look at the following reviews:

Nerina Pallot: Fires
Damien Rice: 9
Ray Lamontagne: Till The Sun Turns Black

PRESS RELEASE: Spitz Festival of Blues 2007…

The Spitz in association with Not The Same Old Blues Crap is very proud toannounce the initial eight shows of The Spitz Festival of Blues 2007 runningthroughout April.

Following last years sell out celebration of 21st century blues, this year’sSpitz Festival of Blues puts the focus squarely on the American Deep Southwith a series of unmissable shows featuring T-Model Ford, Kenny Brown,Robert Belfour, Seasick Steve, The Black Diamond Heavies and Scott H Biram.The U.K. is also strongly represented with headlining shows from WilkoJohnson, Holly Golightly and Gallon Drunk with still more major actsawaiting final confirmation.

The core shows of this year’s Spitz Festival of Blues feature threelegendary artists signed to the maverick Mississippi record label FatPossum. First up is The Tail Dragger from Greenville, Mississippi AKA MrT-Model Ford. T-Model played a fantastic sold out NTSOBC show at the firstSFoB in 2005 and rocked the house with a mammoth 3 ½ hour set, this year hecloses the festival on Saturday 28th April with his accomplice Lightnin’Malcolm. Alongside T-Model will be rare U.K. headline shows by Kenny Brownand Robert “Wolfman” Belfour. Kenny Brown is Mississippi punk blues royalty;an astonishing artist in his own right, Kenny was the right hand man, leadguitarist and adopted son of Fat Possum Mack Daddy R.L.Burnside (RIP).Tutored in his youth by the also now sadly departed Junior Kimbrough ,Robert Belfour delivers pure clear acoustic Mississippi Hill Country blues .

Seasick Steve blew away all contenders with his knock dead performance onJools Holland’s recent NYE Hootenanny TV show. However, he first visited theUK headlining NTSOBC’s inaugural national UK tour in 2004 and opened lastyears SFoB. So it is with great pleasure we welcome him back for his firstSFoB/NTSOBC headlining show. The Black Diamond Heavies closed last yearsfestival so it seemed apt that we have the boys open this year’s festival.Now signed to Alive Records and armed with a block rocking debut release“Every Damn Time”, The ‘Heavies are supported by their spiritual Texancountry punk brother Scott H Biram making his SFoB debut.

Wilko Johnson is the Godfather of British Punk Blues and fittingly heads upa rock hard U.K. SFoB contingent. The two other headlining U.K. acts maketheir NTSOBC and SFoB debut: White Stripes collaborator and formerHeadcoatee Holly Golightly and Bad Seed James Johnston’s mighty GallonDrunk.

Now in its third year The Spitz Festival of Blues has built a reputation asa landmark music festival that stretches the blues genre beyond the confinesof a traditional blues festival and audience. The Spitz Festival of Blues isEurope’s premier platform of blues in all its myriad different forms.

Visit the Spitz website by clicking on the logo above-right.

PRESS RELEASE: Babyshambles sign long-term deal With Parlophone…

Parlophone can today announce that Babyshambles have signed a long-term dealwith the label. Having already forged a strong relationship with the band,who released the critically acclaimed ‘The Blinding EP’ on Parlophone’sRegal imprint in December, Parlophone are delighted Babyshambles havecommitted their future to the label.

Miles Leonard, Parlophone Managing Director, says “We’re extremely pleasedto be welcoming such a vibrant and talented band into the Parlophone label.Babyshambles, justifiably, have a great reputation for crafting some of themost exciting music around today, and in Peter Doherty they have one of thebest songwriters of his generation. Parlophone have a long history ofworking with the best British bands, from Radiohead to Blur to Coldplay, andwe see Babyshambles very much as continuing this tradition.”

Babyshambles co-managers, Adrian Hunter and Andy Boyd from Lazy EyeManagement, add“Both management and the band are thrilled to have signed this deal and lookforward to a long, fruitful, and creative relationship with Parlophone.”

January 17th:Battle it out in Dead or Alive 4 on Xbox 360…

With several editions in the series under its belt you know what to expect,but this time the visuals are sure to look better than ever, but how doesthe gameplay fare, and have they improved any of the problems in the previouseditions?

Dead or Alive 4is online and out now on Xbox 360.

January 16th:CHARTS: Leona Lewis vs. Mika – who got the No.1…?

Check out themusic chart analysis pagewhich is online now.

The release dates for singles go up until mid-Marchwith albums also until March 2007.

January 15th:Can Sharon Stone get lucky a second time in Basic Instinct 2 on DVD…?

The original Basic Instinct, starring Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas,was a classic murder mystery thriller, but this sequel, co-starring DavidMorrissey and David Thewlis has been criticised aplenty for it just being notvery good at all, but are they right?

Basic Instinct 2is online and out now on DVD.

Sunshine for Ray Lamontagne on CD…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Robertsreturns with a new CD, and the follow up to his 2005 debut Trouble,but can this singer-songwriter from New Hampshire strike gold a second time?

Ray Lamontagne: Till The Sun Turns Blackis online and out on CD now.

CHARTS: Leona Lewis vs. Mika – who got the No.1…?

Come back tomorrow for the latest chart analysis.

Thandie Newton on the DVDfever YouTube channel…

Uploaded online recently are an interview with the gorgeous Thandie Newtonon Breakfast, promoting her new movie The Pursuit of Happyness,plus a trailer for the new BBC3 comedy, Thieves Like Us.

Click on the image of Thandie (right) and check back regularly for more additionsand feel free to subscribe so you get instantly notified of anything newthat’s uploaded.

New DVDs out this week…

This week’s new releases are as follows:

• 11:14 (15.99, Fox)
• Aces High (12.99, Optimum)
• Children of Men (19.99, Universal)
• The Closer Season 1 (40.99, Warner)
• Dario Argento: Ultimate Collection (24.99, Blackhorse)
• The End of the Affair (12.99, Columbia)
• Everybody Loves Raymond Season 7 (35.99, Warner)
• Green Acres Season 1 (24.99, Fox)
• King of the Hill Season 4 (24.99, Fox)
• Lady in the Water SE (20.99, Warner)
• Live! Girls! Present Dogtown Series 1 (19.99, Contender)
• London’s Burning Series 4 (24.99, Network)
• Most Haunted: Complete Series 6 (49.99, Contender)
• Mutant X Season 3 (69.99, Contender)
• Pingu: Platinum Collection (12.99, Hit)
• Poseidon (HD-DVD) (25.99, Warner)
• The Rat Patrol Season 1 (24.99, Fox)
• Right At Your Door (15.99, Fox)
• The Razor’s Edge (12.99, Columbia)
• The Sandbaggers Series 3 (19.99, Network)
• Star Trek: Klingon Set (34.99, Paramount)
• Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (19.99, Columbia)
• Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (Blu-Ray) (24.99, Columbia)
• To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (12.99, Columbia)
• Vital Signs Series 1 (19.99, 2 Entertain)
• The Young Riders Season 1 (24.99, Fox)

January 12th:Dan’s Movie Digest @ DVDfever.co.uk: 2006 Retrospective Part 4…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Dan Owenreturns with a special 2006 retrospective which looks back at the past year’smovie offerings and also ahead to what we can look forward to in 2007.

Part 4 covers the look ahead for the coming year, with films from 2007 includingSpiderman 3, Shrek The Third, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, Fantastic Four 2, HotFuzz, Rocky Balboa, Evan Almighty, Grind House, The Simpsons Movie,Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Live Free Or Die Hard.

Dan’s Movie Digest 2006 Retrospective Part 4is online now.

Updated cinema listings…

Stuck for something to do this weekend? The list of the films showing at Manchester Showcase Cinemacan be found on this page, and won’t differ much from what’s on in the restof the country.

The new films out include: Smokin Aces andThe Pursuit of Happyness.

January 11th:Josh Hartnett wisecracks between two gangsters in Lucky Number Slevin on DVD…

With a cast that includes Bruce Willis, John Hartnett, Lucy Liu, Ben Kingsleyand Morgan Freeman, Lucky Number Slevin paints an intriguing mysterythat starts when Slevin (Hartnett) gets an offer of work from a friend calledNick Fisher, but when Fisher is nowhere to be found, strange men keep turningup and assuming Slevin is the elusive Fisher and there’s a nosey neighbourin the form of Lindsey (Liu), he can’t help but want to get to the bottomof this.

Lucky Number Slevinis online and out now on DVD.

Dan’s Movie Digest @ DVDfever.co.uk: 2006 Retrospective Part 3…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Dan Owenreturns with a special 2006 retrospective which looks back at the past year’smovie offerings and also ahead to what we can look forward to in 2007.

Part 3 covers the months from September to December, with films from 2006 includingWorld Trader Center, Children of Men, Jackass 2, The Devil Wears Prada,Borat, Casino Royale, Stranger than Fiction, Happy Feet, Flushed Awayand A Night at the Museum.

Dan’s Movie Digest 2006 Retrospective Part 3is online now.

January 10th:CHARTS: Leona Lewis vs. Eric Prydz – who got the No.1…?

Check out themusic chart analysis pagewhich is online now.

Note that this chart is the first one in which the chart rules havechanged and now singles available for download no longer have to be backedup by a physical release being present, so from now on it’s a case of “anythinggoes”.

The release dates for singles go up until mid-Marchwith albums also until March 2007.

Dan’s Movie Digest @ DVDfever.co.uk: 2006 Retrospective Part 2…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Dan Owenreturns with a special 2006 retrospective which looks back at the past year’smovie offerings and also ahead to what we can look forward to in 2007.

Part 2 covers the months from May to August, with films from 2006 includingMission: Impossible 3, X-Men 3, The Da Vinci Code, Poseidon, Pirates ofthe Caribbean 2, Superman Returns, Cars, Miami Vice, Monster House andLady in the Water.

Dan’s Movie Digest 2006 Retrospective Part 2is online now.

January 9th:Sonic the Hedgehog runs out onto the Xbox 360…

It must’ve seen like a great idea on paper to get one of the gaming world’sbiggest icons onto one of the latest next-gen consoles, but this first newSonic the Hedgehog game, released just before Christmas, has problems aplentyand it’s all thanks to the way its been programmed.

Sonic the Hedgehogis online and out now on Xbox 360.

Dan’s Movie Digest @ DVDfever.co.uk: 2006 Retrospective Part 1…

DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Dan Owenreturns with a special 2006 retrospective which looks back at the past year’smovie offerings and also ahead to what we can look forward to in 2007.

Part 1 covers the months from January to April, with films from 2006 includingMunich, Underworld: Evolution, Zathura, Final Destination 3,Slither, V for Vendetta, Ice Age 2 and Hostel.

Dan’s Movie Digest 2006 Retrospective Part 1is online now.

CHARTS: Leona Lewis vs. Eric Prydz – who got the No.1…?

Come back tomorrow for the latest chart analysis.

Myleene Klass on the DVDfever YouTube channel…

Uploaded online recently are interviews with Myleene Klass and Nicholas Parsonson Breakfast and Jack Dee on This Morning.

Since Xmas came and went, we’ve also uploaded a few trailers for some shows thatwere on TV during the festive period such as It Started With Swap Shop,Never Mind the Buzzcocks and also a Breakfast interview with MattLucas.

Click on the image of Myleene (right) and check back regularly for more additionsand feel free to subscribe so you get instantly notified of anything newthat’s uploaded.

New DVDs out this week…

This week’s new releases are as follows:

• Alien Nation: The Complete Series (39.99, Fox)
• By the Sword Divided Series 2 (39.99, Acorn)
• Carry On Columbus (16.99, Warner)
• DOA: Dead or Alive (15.99, Universal)
• Jackanory BS (19.99, Acorn)
• Oz and James’s Big Wine Adventure (19.99, Acorn)
• Severance (17.99, Fox)
• Steptoe and Son Series 6 (12.99, BBC)
• Thank You For Smoking (17.99, Fox)
• Wild at Heart Series 1 (24.99, Acorn)

January 5th:CHARTS: Leona Lewis vs. Iron Maiden – who got the No.1…?

Check out themusic chart analysis pagewhich is online now.

The release dates for singles go up until the end of Februarywith albums also until March 2007.

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