IndieGo Oak

Tonight sees the start of a monthly Music and Arts night to showcase local talents, held at the Cowpers Oak in Weston Underwood. Local singer/songwriter Ian Roberts has linked up with Tim from the Cowpers Oak to host 'IndieGo Oak'. It's set to be a great evening of entertainment from a variety of local artists, from musicians to painters, from poets to comedians.

Ian Roberts will kick off the night at 8pm with a selection of his songs, and will then open up the floor to other local performers for the rest of the night.

'Everyone involved with IndieGo Oak is delighted that The Phonebox Magazine has come on board to sponsor us,' Ian explains, 'The Phonebox Magazine has been the leading voice for our local area for many years and we feel sure that will continue. Together we will promote, showcase and give a wonderful platform for all our local musicians and artists.'

It's a free event, and in the great location of the Cowpers Oak there will be a great selection of drinks on offer to enjoy while you sit back and enjoy an evening of entertainment. There will be a warm and friendly environment with acoustic sets from a variety of performers, it's definitely not one to be missed. We look forward to seeing you tonight!

For more information, visit the Facebook event page.

Take that, Take That....

For the band which has been through more changes than Katy Perry's hair colour, Take That are heading through yet another change in structure, with the announcement that Jason Orange is leaving the band. For many, keeping up with the comings and goings of the band has become all too much and Take That remain a memory in the past, yet for others, this will come as devastating news.

Having jumped into the charts in the early 1990s, Take That have been one of the most successful British bands ever, with 11 singles reaching number 1 in the charts. 1995 saw Robbie Williams leave the group, bringing the number down to four, and then in 1996 Take That announced they were splitting up. 2005 saw them back on the scene, however, when they released a greatest hits album, followed by an ITV documentary and then a comeback album, Beautiful world. This return to the spotlight left many fans wondering if they were going to be true to their lyrics and be Back for Good this time. Following the success of this album, they'd have been silly not to make the most of being back in the limelight, and in 2011 their Progress Stadium tour featured the return of Robbie Williams and became the most successful in UK and Irish history, selling a huge 1.34 million tickets in under 24 hours.

Jason Orange was apparently recruited initially for his good looks and dancing ability, and didn't actually sing or play an instrument on their first albums, but eventually ended up singing lead on Wooden Boat, the final track on the Beautiful World album. However, despite the long journey of Take That (and maybe because of this long journey) Orange has called time on his role in the band, saying he simply doesn't want to do it anymore. You might have thought that this would bring a natural end to the band's career, but the remaining three members have vowed to go on, in the words of U2, With or without you. 

We're sure many fans will be left in tears following this breakdancing hunk leaving the band, but keep your eyes and ears open, who know's what he'll be going on to next... 

Elkie Brooks live @ The Stables

Hopefully you'll have seen the interview the Phonebox magazine did with Elkie Brooks this month in preparation for her upcoming gig, tomorrow at The Stables in Wavendon. If you missed it have a look at the image below, or click here to be taken to the online magazine.

Elkie became a household name in the 70's, and to date has released a total of 21 albums. A clearly talented musician, her music has become a family affair, with both of her sons working with her on her music and her husband working as her sound engineer.

Seated tickets for tomorrow's show are sold out, but standing are still available on a limited basis, so if you've got a ticket or are planning on going, don't waste any time in securing a ticket and we hope you thoroughly enjoy yourself!

The show is set to be a great night as ever, with Elkie performing some of her classic hits of blues and jazz, and we're looking forward to seeing one of the most successful British artists of all time perform tomorrow. The night begins at 8pm, don't be late!