Tim Vine @ Mechanics, Burnley

4:18pm Friday 2nd May 2008

"WELCOME to The Mechanics," said comedian Tim Vine opening his stand-up show at the Burnley Theatre.

James @ Empress Ballroom, Blackpool

11:53am Thursday 1st May 2008

Walking around Blackpool town centre prior to James' concert was like travelling back to 1991, indie kids wearing the band's at one time ubiquitous t-shirts were everywhere.

	John Bishop @ King George's Hall, Blackburn
	2:53pm Wed 23 Apr 08
	IT is always interesting to catch a comedian on the way up.

	Chris Difford and Boo Hewerdine @ Mechanics, Burnley
	9:00am Sun 20 Apr 08
	TAKE two guitars, three voices and a bucket load of talent and you have the recipe for a great night out.

Jimmy Carr @ King George's Hall, Blackburn

11:24am Tuesday 15th April 2008

HE MAY have only been to Blackburn in November, but when Jimmy Carr returned to King George's Hall last night with his Repeat Offender show, the crowd lapped it up.

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	Sugababes @ King George's Hall, Blackburn
	9:00am Mon 31 Mar 08
	GIRL power took over Blackburn on Saturday night as the Sugababes delighted a sold-out King George's Hall with a slick, polished show that should dispel any thoughts that the trio aren't anything but the real deal.
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	The Children’s Hour @ The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
	3:05pm Fri 21 Mar 08
	From the moment you set eyes on Mary Tilford you feel a deep sense of loathing.

	Hot Ice Show @ Pleasure Beach, Blackpool
	4:10pm Thu 20 Mar 08
	FORGET all that nonsense you might have seen on TV - that's non league stuff compared to the Hot Ice Show's premier league entertainment.

Karine Polwart @ Mechanics, Burnley

9:30am Saturday 15th March 2008

THIS may have been the 'diet' version of Karine Polwart's live shows - just her, her brother Steven and accordionist Inge Thompson - but they more than made up for a lack of numbers with the quality of their performance.

	David Gray @ Guild Hall, Preston
	9:00am Wed 12 Mar 08
	On a blustery March evening we were blown into the Guild Hall into the midst of a huge mix of people, all here to see one person, David Gray.

Dave Spikey @ King George's Hall, Blackburn

2:10pm Friday 7th March 2008

AS part of his Laughter is the Best Medicine tour it was fitting that Dave Spikey handed out a prescription of fun to his local' crowd last night.

	Hobson's Choice @ Lowry, Salford
	8:35pm Thu 24 Jan 08
	IF you turn up to Hobson's Choice expecting to see John Savident doing an impression of Fred Elliot, you'll leave the Lowry extremely disappointed.

Disney's High School The Musical On Ice @ Arena, Manchester

12:50pm Friday 11th January 2008

TAKE one of the most successful teen movies of the past decade, sprinkle in a helping of Disney magic and add a wonderfully choreographed ice show, and you’re on to a sure-fire winner.

	Jack And The Beanstalk @ Municipal Hall, Colne
	12:49pm Fri 11 Jan 08
	FROM my point of view, January is usually the quietest month on the family calendar.

	The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe @ Library Theatre, Darwen
	3:51pm Tue 1 Jan 08
	Proper Job Theatre Company's magical and unique adaptation of CS Lewis's The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe was a smash hit for families across Blackburn and Darwen this Christmas.

Cinderella @ Thwaites Empire Theatre, Blackburn

9:25am Friday 28th December 2007

I was a little apprehensive taking three generations of my family to see a pantomime.

XFM Winter Wonderland Gig @ Apollo, Manchester

8:00pm Tuesday 18th December 2007

While this one-off seasonal offering was headlined by The Charlatans, there was a lot more going on for indie fans than just their solitary slot.

	An Ideal Husband @ Royal Exchange, Manchester
	7:55pm Tue 18 Dec 07
	OF course we'll never know, but I often wonder what Oscar Wilde would have made of today's sound bite obsessed politicians or tin pot celebrities.

	Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs @ King George’s Hall, Blackburn
	1:52pm Thu 13 Dec 07
	THE packed auditorium filled with schoolchildren was buzzing even before the lights went down at the opening show of the panto at Blackburn's King George's Hall.

	Sleeping Beauty @ The Grand Theatre, Blackpool
	1:33pm Wed 12 Dec 07
	I never tire of the juggling comic Steve Royle. The former Camelot court jester, whose popped up on Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy alongside pal, Dave Spikey, is one of the funniest faces around today.

Tom's Midnight Garden @ Library Theatre, Manchester

9:36pm Monday 10th December 2007

WHILE I'm passionate about live theatre and its ability to jolt you out of your cosy little world, it's always enjoyable, in this troubled world of ours, to indulge in a spot of escapism.

	Scrooge, The Musical @ Palace Theatre, Manchester
	9:33pm Mon 10 Dec 07
	Shane Richie is best remembered for his award-winning role as Alfie Moon in Eastenders.

Eliza Carthy @ Mechanics, Burnley

9:02am Friday 7th December 2007

"ELIZA Carthy, she's that folk singer isn't she?" was the comment when I told someone where I was off to.

The Nutcracker @ King George's Hall, Blackburn

9:21am Wednesday 28th November 2007

HAVING never really been to the ballet before I may now have just been bitten by the ballet bug.

	Frankie Boyle @ King George’s Hall, Blackburn
	9:00am Mon 26 Nov 07
	THE second instalment of East Lancashire's big weekend of comedy saw another major name and another sold out show at King George's Hall.
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	Jimmy Carr @ King George’s Hall, Blackburn
	9:00am Sun 25 Nov 07
	IT takes a brave comedian to stand up in front of 1,500 people and encourage them to heckle him.

McFly @ Arena, Manchester

11:23am Saturday 24th November 2007

McFLY entertained screaming crowds at the MEN arena in Manchester last night.

	Shades of Brown @ Library Theatre, Manchester
	9:24pm Thu 22 Nov 07
	IT would be impossible not to be impressed by the one hour long series of self-penned monologues by Rani Moorthy in Shades of Brown.

Whipping It Up @ Lowry, Salford

9:00am Wednesday 21st November 2007

Set entirely in the new majority of three Tory Government's Whips Office, Whipping it Up had a six-strong cast with impressive cvs across stage, radio and screen large and small.

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Open Mic Night @ King George's Hall, Blackburn

9:40am Monday 19th November 2007

THE month of mirth that is East Lancashire's first comedy festival continued giving the stars of tomorrow the chance to perform in front of a live audience.