Following on from the overwhelming response to his sold out debut UK headline tour this Autumn, Wretch 32 has announced he will be embarking on a second UK headline tour in May 2012.

2011 has been an incredible year for Wretch 32, aka the MC’s MC.  After being earmarked as the artist to watch at the top year by everyone from BBC, NME, Q magazine and MTV through to Tinie Tempah and Professor Green, he successfully went on to score three consecutive top five hits with the infectious ‘Traktor’, anthemic ‘Unorthodox’ and number 1 single ‘Don’t Go’, all taken from his critically acclaimed, chart-topping album ‘Black and White’. 

Regarded as one of the biggest music success stories of this year, Wretch 32 has gone from strength to strength: after gracing the stages of numerous festivals in the summer, (including Glastonbury, Wireless and V Festival), this autumn saw him embark on a nationwide headline sell out tour, perform on Later With Jools Holland, be appointed as an official Adidas ambassador for their Olympics 2012 campaign, and be nominated for 4 MOBO awards and a Q award.

Wretch 32’s summer 2012 tour will take him to areas in the UK that he didn’t cover on his previous run.  Kicking off on 8^th May 2012 in Portsmouth and ending on 19^th May in Falmouth, the tour, which will be his biggest to date, will showcase new material from Wretch 32’s second studio album in the making, in addition to featuring favourites from ‘Black and White’.

Wretch 32 tour hits the Forum Hertfordshire on Saturday 12th May. For ticket click here

Thursday 26th January // 7pm // EleHouse // Entry £5

Comedy Network brings to the EleHouse some of the finest comedians from the circuit, all ready and raring to tickle your funny bones! Joining as this month is 2010 Best Newcomer nominee Gareth Richards with support from Jarlath Regan.

Gareth’s’ engaging observational comedy and inspired one-liners have made him a favourite on the comedy circuit. Enjoyed by audiences and comedians alike, he can be heard every weekend on the Sony Award winning Frank Skinner ‘Absolute Radio Show’

PLEASE NOTE: This event is billed on an incorrect date on the Forum Hertfordshire January Entertainments Guide. This event will take place on Thursday 26th January from 7pm

Ticket are available at click here. Alternatively tickets can be purchased from on the door or from the Forum Box Office (Open 12pm – 5pm Monday to Friday).

The Forum Hertfordshire Blues Nights Present Marcus Bonfanti, Grainne Duffy and Chantel McGregor.

The Forum Hertfordshire is proud to present a great blues line-up to kick of 2012.

Marcus Bonfanti – Thursday 19^th January 2012

London raised Marcus Bonfanti is like all of us. Some days he wins, some days he doesn’t. But to a songwriter with a half-full glass, that means there’s always plenty of subject matter for songs. Marcus will be bringing his own style of North London blues to the Forum Hertfordshire on Thursday 19^th January. For tickets click here

 Grainne Duffy – Thursday 16^th February 2012

‘In a world of chic rockers Duffy is the real deal’ - Henry Yates Classic Rock Magazine

Grainne Duffy hails from Co. Monaghan Ireland and she is a unique talent. She is both raw and powerful, edgy and elegant. For tickets click here

Chantel McGregor – Thursday 22^nd March 2012

Voted 'Young Artist Of The Year' at the 2011 British Blues Awards.

Chantel McGregor stunning performances are proving that she is one of the most exciting musicians to hit the scene for years. For tickets click here

Since 2009 the Forum Hertfordshire has seen some of the best blues artist perform on it stage at it monthly Blue night. Past artists include Derrin Nauendorf, Giles Robson & the Dirty Ace, King King, Kyla Brox, Lisa Mill, Marcus Malone, Mud Morganfield and Michael Burks.

One of the most influential people in the reggae and dub music Lee “Scratch” Perry with his Upsetters Band will be performing live at the Forum Hertfordshire on Friday 3^rd February

Born Rainford Hugh Perry on March 20, 1936 in Kendal, Jamaica, Perry’s career as a producer and musician is considered to have produce some of the most influential sounds in the history of ska, reggae and dub.

He began this career in the 1950s as a record seller for Coxsone Dodd's Sound System, which was essentially a mobile booth containing speakers and a variety of American R&B records. He then became Coxsone Dodd’s assistant once Coxasone began recording his own material.

Perry eventually began his own label, Upsetter Records. His first hit single, recorded with his band The Upsetters, was called "People Funny Boy", and made two major musical innovations: first, it was a very early use of a "sample" (a clip of a sound used for effect, common in rap), and it was also the first recording of the rhythm that is now identified as reggae.

In 1973, Lee "Scratch" Perry built his own recording studio, known as the Black Ark. It was at this stage where he began to focus is attention on production he was able to work with legends such as Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Heptones, and Junior Marvin. It was during his collaborations with Bob Marley that he made some of his most notable innovations.

Now settled in Switzerland Perry is still performing at the age of 72, and is known for his wild outfits and bizarre (though highly entertaining) on-stage storytelling.

For  tickets click here

The Forum Factor presents X- Factor finalist ‘The Risk’ performing live! Further acts from this year’s X-factor are still to be announced, so watch this space!

This event is also followed by a meet & greet session! Tickets are expected to sell out fast, book your tickets now to avoid disappointment!

Monday 2 January 2012 // 4.30pm – 7pm // Meet and greet from 7pm

Tickets: £11.50 , Group ticket booking £40 (4 tickets). Click Here to go to our online ticketshop.

Alternative rock band, Young Guns plus support acts I Am The Avalanche, Hostage Calm and Apologies, I Have None will be performing at the Forum Hertfordshire on 8 December at 19:00.

Hot off the heels of their biggest tour yet the Young Guns are showing no signs of fatigue. The High-Wycombe based quintet have made huge waves with fans and critics alike, since the release of their debut album, ‘All Our Kings Are Dead’, in July of last year. The band have racked up appearances alongside Bon Jovi, Lostprophets and All Time Low throughout the UK and Europe, along with a plethora of headline jaunts and slots at Europe’s biggest rock festivals.

With a new album, recorded in the incredible surroundings of Bang Saray, Thailand at Karma Sound Studios, pencilled for release in February, Young Guns’ ascent shows no signs of slowing down and their show at The Forum Hertfordshire will serve as one of the first opportunities to hear brand new material from the quintet.

Young Guns will be supported by I Am The Avalanche, a band from Brooklyn coming specially across to unleash their passionate live show. The tour is in support of their second album ‘Avalanche United’ released on 10 October. After their debut self-titled album was released in 2005, they toured the world in support of this album, which became a cult favourite among fans with popularity and respect from the punk rock community. I Am Avalanche will bring five piece punk band Hostage Calm with them, alongside up and coming band Apologies, I have None.

Tickets for Young Guns plus support are £10. Please click here to go to our online ticketshop.

This performance is for ages 14. ID essential for purchase of alcohol.

The Forum Hertfordshire was chosen as the venue to appear in Ed Sheeran’s new music video Lego House.

Throughout the video there are many appearances around the Forum including the Auditorium itself, the stage, service yard and backstage area. The video, featuring Harry Potter star Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) was shot when Ed Sheeran performed at the venue on the 8^th October. Crowd scenes during the event were also filmed, so audience members can see whether they are featured.

This is the first of the Forum Hertfordshire’s music video appearances. Director of Commercial Services, Max Ross says ‘We are very pleased to have our venue appear in the video. Ed Sheeran, Rupert Grint and the team were great to work with on the day.’

The video can be viewed on Ed Sheeran’s youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4BLVznuWnU

Due to unfortunate circumstances The Gym Class Heroes were unable to perform at our Bonk event yesterday evening (06 October 2011).

The following is a statement from the Gym Class Hero Tour Manager:

"At around 1am this morning, just as the Gym Class Heroes were about to go on stage at the Forum Hertfordshire, lead singer Travie McCoy was rushed in to hospital with serious abdominal pains. Travie is now comfortable but is still under observation with a suspected intestinal infection. We are currently working on re-arranging the date with the band and their management. Tickets can be kept for the re-arranged show or refunds are available from your point of purchase. Ticket stubs and/or proof of purchase will be required. Our thoughts are with Travie and we wish him a speedy recovery."

Refund information:

-Tickets purchased via ticketweb.co.uk can receive a refund now by contacting customer services at ticketweb.co.uk directly.

- For tickets purchase at the Forum Box Office or UHSU Shop, refunds will be available from the Forum Box Office from Monday (10 October) once the confirmed purchase list has been received from the Ticketweb consignment.

-Customers that purchased tickets via the UHSU Student ticket site (http://students.uhsu.co.uk) should email their refund request through the UHSU Student ticket site.

PLEASE NOTE: ONLY THE FACE VALUE WILL BE REFUNDED ALONG WITH ANY CREDIT CARD CHARGES INCURRED.

BOOKING FEES WILL BE REFUNDED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE TICKETING AGENT.

Lucha Britannia is the British and Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling, cabaret comedy show, event and club night out, set in the almost now they call the 'Retrofutureverse’.  The show is live at the Forum Hertfordshire on 9 October.

In the aftermath of the 'Great Lucha Wars', the 'United Resistance Movient' (URM) were splintered & forced underground. They built a comedy / variety / cabaret / wrestling show within which they housed their secret meetings & new Lucha Resistance recruitment drive.

The show is described to be risque, outrageous, and downright dangerous!!!  With more fighting...more comedy...more horror... more fetish...more carry on...more music...more spandex...more lycra...more latex...more heels...more hosiery...more lingerie...more action!!!

Time Out quotes:  "It don't get much better than this. Mexican, British and Japanese wrestlers will be covering themselves in Deep Heat and causing muchos pain, while burlesque starlets, gimps chomping at the bit and strange theatrical encounters make for one of the very best nights in town."

There are two performances of Lucha Britannia on 9 October:

One at 14:00 for all ages. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Photo ID required for purchase of alcohol.

One at 19:00 for 18 years and over.  Any ticket-holder unable to present valid identification indicating they are 18 or over will not be admitted to this event, and will not receive a refund.

Tickets cost £10, a VIP table with 5 seats costs £100. VIP tables include the best view in the house, table service, & free soft drinks

For tickets click here

For more information and to see some of Lucha Britannia’s performances visit: http://www.luchabritannia.com/

Sunday 23^rd October 2011 @ The Forum Hertfordshire
 

 A born showman and one of the all-time classic performers, Tony Christie has notched up 50 years in music and it’s easy to see why. The one of a kind singer announces four unmissable live shows this winter at O₂ Academy venues in Sheffield, Bournemouth, Oxford and The Forum Hertfordshire. 

With his roots in Sheffield, Christie has had Top Twenty hits worldwide with ‘Las Vegas’, ‘I Did What I Did For Maria’, ‘Avenues And Alleyways’, ‘Walk Like A Panther’, ‘Every Word She Said’ and of course the anthem, ‘(Is This the Way to) Amarillo’. In recent years Tony has enjoyed much success following the resurrection of ‘(Is This the Way to) Amarillo’ by comedy genius Peter Kay, who gave the track a new lease of life in the series Phoenix Nights. The infamous song has sold over one and a half million copies and is still the biggest selling single of the century as well as being used as the official Comic Relief single and taking the Number 1 spot.

2008 saw the release of the inimitable ‘Made In Sheffield’, featuring collaborations with some of Sheffield’s finest including Richard Hawley, Jarvis Cocker, The Human League and Arctic Monkeys. The album was a major commercial and artistic success which led to his next project, 2011’s ‘Now’s The Time!’. Christie re-visited his roots once again for this record, but this time it wasn’t in a geographical sense. The album bought together the sound of northern soul, British beat, filmic sound-tracks and a nod to Johnny Cash with some poignant ballads and saw Christie working once again with Jarvis Cocker and Moloko’s Roisin Murphy.  

Following a successful tour to mark the release of ‘Now’s The Time’, Christie plays this handful of live dates, featuring tracks from his back catalogue and as always the show is beautifully conceived, and movingly delivered. Put very simply - they just don’t make them like they used to and Tony Christie live is testament to that. 

For tickets click here