Goldie Lookin' Chain

It feels like we've seen GLC loads, but we've only actually seen the last half of their set at Glasto last year and their album-launch gig at the Scala. However, this wasn't going to stop us going along to see them at the Astoria, especially as a big group of us went along. Alice and I even donned our leisurewear for the event. To be honest, the support acts were a bit shocking until the Infadels came on, who were astounding. Buy their album. It Is Good.

GLC were good too, but I'd had a bit too much Red Stripe by this point and so just danced like an idiot.

Tintin

I've never read Tintin, but Alice is an enormous fan. It was with a feeling of slight trepidation that I went her and her family to see the Young Vic's adaptation of Tintin in Tibet at the Barbican as part of their Christmas season for children. But there was no need for any self-consciousness. The show was fantastic. While it's hard not to compare any future Christmas show with the National's knock-out production of His Dark Materials, Tintin really held its own. Superb.

Lee Evans

I've never really watched Lee Evans, other than on compilation shows. He's always fascinated me, and having seen him in The Producers playing Leo Bloom I became a firm fan. Our good friend Roz had been given a pair of tickets to see Lee Evans' new show at Wembley, and I happily joined her. I must admit that I was rather surprised. His comedy wasn't as slapstick as I first thought, and some of the subject matter just wasn't my thing...but other bits were fantastic. All in all, it was a bit hit-and-miss, but certainly a great night out with brilliant company - Roz is awesome!

OFI Sunday

I had been a big fan of TFI Friday in the 90s and so was really excited to see Chris Evans' new show. Although considerably different (both in terms of content and, to be honest, entertainment value) OFI was still good fun and worth the trip. It was even more worthwhile when a few free beers were thrown into the mix along with everyoen in the audience winning a pair of "diet boots" in "Mine or Not Mine".

Jammin' New Year's Eve Special

Jammin' is a show we tune into now-and-again during Saturday lunchtimes and have always enjoyed. Therefore - despite it being on a school night - I thought a recording of the New Year's Eve special would be brilliant fun. And it was. Rowland Rivron and his band were excellent, and were complimented by Mark King of Level 42 on bass and Ade Edmonson. The great thing with radio recordings, as well, is that they're easy to mill around at the end...hence the autographs obscuring the ticket details.  Alice also managed to get Ade Edmonson to sign her Young Ones annual :)

Just a Minute

I'd been trying to get tickets to Just a Minute for ages, and so when a last-minute show was announced on BBC website I was quick to snap up tickets for Alice and her parents. The panellists were excellent and Nicholas Parsons was, as ever, on top form.

Khaled

When I worked at HMV I sound a lot of Khaled from our World Music section but hadn't listened to him much. It was thus with an air of quiet skepticism that I went with Alice and her family to see Khaled in his only UK concert at the Barbican. But wow. Just...wow. This music left me speechless, and ran tingles down my spine more than a couple of times in the show. Surrounded by an enormous multi-cultural crowd, I was addicted to this. Give it a go.