5 things to do next week (11-17 March 2024)

Assistant editor Iain Lynn with his entertainments guide to five things to do in and around Lancashire next week

Transcript

00:00 [MUSIC]

00:06 Hello, we're back with another edition of Five Things to Do, and let me tell you that fans of

00:09 80s music are in for a treat this week, because we start with two epic weekend nights out at the

00:15 Winter Gardens Empress Ballroom in Blackpool. Firstly, on Friday, we have the legendary Mark

00:20 Almond with a voice that defined a generation. From the hypnotic, tainted love to the poignant

00:25 something's gotten hold of my heart, Almond has carved a niche for himself with tracks that have

00:30 not just topped charts, but have also etched memories. Then on the following Saturday evening,

00:35 we have the revolutionary sound of Heaven's 17. The innovative band behind enduring hits like

00:40 Temptation and Come Live With Me perform synth-laden grooves which showcase their unique blend of

00:45 social commentary and infectious electronica. Get online quick for early bird tickets for both those

00:51 events from £34 a ticket. Now then, this episode of Five Things covers a week which includes St

00:58 Patrick's Day, so it's off to the King George's Hall in Blackburn for Irish Annie's, a musical

01:03 comedy by Isa Murphy. Set within Irish Annie's pub, a brand new musical celebrating the best of

01:08 Irish culture from the music through to the comedy, featuring a live five-piece band shenanigans.

01:14 The show has audiences laughing, singing and dancing the night away. Sing-along sheets are

01:18 handed out to all attending. Cast includes Ricky Tomlinson, Katherine Rice and Isa Murphy. It's

01:24 been known for a special guest to walk through the pub door too, you just never know who might walk

01:28 in. It's on Sunday 17th March, which is Paddy's Day itself, and tickets for that riotous sounding gig

01:34 are £27.50. Next we head to an event hidden away in the heart of the Ribble Valley. The Hideaway

01:41 Cabaret is a relatively new and significantly exclusive monthly cabaret show which is under

01:45 wraps at Flipside Fitness. By day this facility is full of light and laughter, the home of gymnastics

01:51 classes, but every month on selected weekends it's transformed into a live cabaret lounge that oozes

01:57 style and sultry sophistication, guaranteed to deliver an evening of high quality immersive

02:02 entertainment. Expect resident dancers and a wide variety of acts both in the air and performing

02:08 acrobatic floor routines, all set to a sensational range of music genres. That's on Saturday 16th

02:14 of March and tickets are from £45 and you can bring your own drinks. Can't say fairer than that.

02:20 Lastly we're at the Duke's Theatre in Lancaster for a show that's surely a must for all fans of

02:25 Friends. Central Perk coffee shop owner Gunter is widely acknowledged to be the seventh Friend,

02:31 appearing in 185 episodes, so he's perfectly placed to retell all 10 seasons and 236 episodes

02:39 in just one hour. Settle down in Gunter's Cafe to hear the true insider story of what happened

02:44 to Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Monica and Joey from the Friends character who kept them

02:49 caffeinated throughout the highs, the lows, the love affairs and the failed auditions along the

02:54 way. Enjoy that one on Saturday the 16th of March for £16. There you are, another busy week. Join me

03:02 next week for another five things to do, but in the meantime, happy St Patrick's Day.

03:07 [BLANK_AUDIO]