Page 18 - Phonebox Magazine June 2024

Keeping it together
Strictly Come Dancing favourites Anton du Beke and Giovanni Pernice have joined forces again and announced a new UK tour – and they’ve chosen both Northampton and Milton Keynes to visit, discovers Tom Johnston.
One is a judge and the other a contestant, but Anton du Beke and Giovanni Pernice are both best known for their annual appearances on the BBC’s hugely popular ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ spectacle.
But away from the bright lights of the corporation’s Elstree Studios and the iconic Blackpool Tower, dancing goes on for the pair throughout the year, either together or separately with their own projects.
This time they’re back together again with a new tour for 2024 entitled, perhaps not surprisingly, ‘Together’. The pair toured last year with ‘Him & Me,’ and both stars have solo tours planned, so this outing will be relatively short, spanning just five weeks throughout June and July. It’s a whistle-stop schedule. They come to Northampton on 25th June and are back in the region again four days later in Milton Keynes on 29th June.
The production promises an electrifying fusion of dance, music, and entertainment, with a live band, beautiful costumes, and visually stunning staging. It will allow the pair to showcase their incredible talents and irresistible chemistry on stage.
“Giovanni and I have always had a fantastic rapport, both on and off the dance floor,” says Anton. “And we can’t wait to share our passion and energy with audiences across the country.”
“Working alongside Anton has been an incredible experience,” adds Giovanni. “We share a genuine love for dance and performing, and we’re excited to bring our unique brand of entertainment to theatres around the UK and Ireland.”
‘Anton & Giovanni – Together’ is at the Royal & Derngate Theatre, Northampton, on Tuesday 25th June and at Milton Keynes Theatre on Saturday 29th June.
Simply the Fest!
Popular local band Tinkers Lane have announced a ‘mini-tour’ this summer of regional music festivals.
The band, fronted by well-known singer and songwriter Ian Roberts, have recently played a sell-out show at The Stables, Wavendon and tested some new material in a series of low-key pub appearances.
The five-piece set-up is looking forward to playing their vast repertoire of catchy, feel-good songs to a wider audience over the coming summer months.
“We love playing festivals, whether it’s a big one like Beautiful Days (in Devon) with 20,000 people in the crowd or smaller ones like RiverFest or Folk on the Green,” says Ian. “It’s about the people who turn to watch and listen,” he adds. “They are there to have a good time, and we have a chance to enhance that with our upbeat songs. To see and feel a crowd on their feet dancing, clapping and singing along to our music is just fantastic – there’s no feeling like that.”
Tinkers Lane’s summer dates include:
Sunday 9th June – Folk on the Green, Riverside Green, Stony Stratford Sunday 7th July – Olney RiverFest, The Rec, Olney
Saturday 13th July – Bell & Bear Festival, High Street, Emberton Sunday 11th August – CowperFest, Cowper’s Oak, Weston Underwood
18 Phonebox Magazine | June 2024