PAUL DONOVAN is chilled by the contemporary resonance of Harper Lee’s coming of age tale amidst racism and white supremacy in this excellent production
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Trouble in mind
Music legend PAUL HEATON tells Matthew Collins why his forthcoming GMB-sponsored tour could ruffle a few Tory feathers
GEOFF BOTTOMS recommends the unashamedly light-hearted escapism on offer in this stage version of the 1963 film
Full of mysterious religious references and radical sound design, the Scottish duo’s new offering is candidate for album of the year, suggests SIMON DUFF
MARY CONWAY revels in a powerful reminder that human lives are not defined by physical perfection
PAUL DONOVAN recommends the fine performances in this account of the pre-war meeting between the US president and the British king
TECLYN AROD relishes an intimate celebration of jazz improvisation that mixes local and national musicians
Waiting for pop stars to say something interesting can take a while. It could even be described as a pointless task. Similarly, finding a publican who would turn down the opportunity to serve David Cameron and George Osborne a cask ale would normally be impossible.
Yet multimillion-selling pop star Paul Heaton, formerly of the Housemartins and The Beautiful South, juggles both. But he's not in anybody's "gang." Contrary to popular belief, Heaton was never in Red Wedge - Neil Kinnock's band of musos who wanted to sing Labour into power in the 1980s.
Heaton turned his back on them when they baulked at the suggestion that the music industry should be nationalised. "Not very socialist that, is it?" he asks. "I still want to nationalise it."
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