Ten of the Best: Your guide to what to see around Notts in the days ahead

1 Rick Astley, Nottingham Motorpoint Arena, Wednesday, April 22

The multi-million selling pop hero’s career continues in remarkable style.

In 1987, he became an unlikely global phenomenon as his era-defining smash Never Gonna Give You Up established him as an international chart-topping, Brit Award-winning global star – a status heightened by further hits such as Whenever You Need Somebody and Together Forever.

After some time away, he celebrated his half-century by returning to the top of the charts with 2016’s ‘50’ – having become an online cult sensation.

The somehow still boyish singer, songwriter and producer has stayed at the top of his game ever since, leading to collaborations with everyone from Foo Fighters to Blossoms, a double bill of festival sets at Glastonbury.

Support comes from Gabrielle, best known for hits including Dreams, Give Me a Little More Time, Rise, When a Woman and Out of Reach.

Visit rickastley.co.uk to book.

2 Alfie Boe, Nottingham Royal Concert Hall, Tuesday, April 21

One of Britain’s most celebrated and popular tenors will be singing classics and powerful new material. A hugely successful, multi-platinum selling artist, Alfie has released more than a dozen studio albums, several of which have topped the UK charts.

His collaborations with Michael Ball – including the record-breaking albums Together, Together Again, and Back Together – have become some of the fastest-selling releases of the decade. Their tours have sold out arenas across the UK, delighting hundreds of thousands of fans.

A Tony Award winner, Alfie has conquered the world’s greatest opera stages and arenas and led the cast of Les Misérables in his defining role as Jean Valjean.

Most recently he starred in the concert tour of Les Misérables in Australia as well as the Arena Spectacular tour across the UK.

Visit gigsandtours.com or ticketmaster.co.uk to book.

3 Millie Manders and The Shutup, Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, Friday, April 17

Recently added to the line-up for Rock ‘N’ Roll Circus at Norwich’s Ealham Park on August 23 alongside the likes of Madness, Ocean Colour Scene, The Selector, The Wailers and The Beat.

Nottingham audiences can get a taste now of the band’s combination of grinding guitars and irresistible horns has huge pop appeal, while their lyrics deliberate on themes of loss, betrayal, anxiety, heartbreak and bitterness, anger, environmental catastrophe and political unrest.

Tickets are at millie-manders.com

4 2:22 A Ghost Story, Nottingham Theatre Royal, Monday, April 20 to Saturday, April 25

Former EastEnders man James Bye and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps star Natalie Casey head the cast for this thriller.

Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it.

They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben.

Can the dead really walk again?

Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer, so they’re going to stay up – until 2:22 – and then they’ll know.

Visit trch.co.uk or call 0115 9895555 to book.

5 Ist Ist, Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, Thursday, April 23

The Manchester outfit have forged a formidable reputation over the years based on word of mouth excitement, amassing a dedicated cult following in the process.

Operating with a fierce northern DIY work ethic, the band have an ever-growing back catalogue of successful studio and live releases and released their fifth studio album Dagger in February.

Tickets are available at ististmusic.com/pages/live

6 Gary Delaney, Nottingham Playhouse, Thursday, April 23

Gary Delaney’s last UK tour ran for two and a half years across 378 dates.

People laughed a lot and kept coming back, so now he’s doing it all again with a brand new show called Gary On Laughing.

He’s promising all new jokes and utterly splendid filth and says ‘come along, it’ll be fun’.

He adds that you shouldn’t bring the kids, or people who like to get their knickers in a twist, but you should wear a TENA pad – or dark trousers.

Visit nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/events/gary-delaney/ for tickets.

7 Sister Ray Davies, Billy Bootleggers, Nottingham, Friday, April 17

Following the release of their hugely-acclaimed debut album Holy Island, the Alabama duo are on their first UK tour which with a series of headline shows, as well as supports with reformed shoegaze legends Chapterhouse and Japanese psych trailblazers Acid Mothers Temple.

Support for their Nottingham gig comes from Swallowtail.

Visit linktr.ee/sisterraydavies for tickets.

8 Dinosaurs Live, Nottingham Playhouse, Sunday, April 19

Ever since they were first identified in the 1800s, dinosaurs have sparked the imagination of kids and adults alike and for the first time ever, the world- renowned Natural History Museum has teamed up with Mark Thompson Productions to take families on a dinosaur adventure like no other.

Set off on a pre-historic journey to the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods and watch the life-like dinosaurs come alive right on stage.

Not only that, but also find out more about fossils, time scales and how our planet has changed over hundreds of millions of years.

Tickets are at nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/events/dinosaurs-live/

9 Out With The Buckleys, Nottingham Royal Concert Hall, Friday, April 17

The internet comedy sensations and Celebrity Gogglebox couple are taking their nonsensical chat on the road for the first time.

The night will will feature plenty of audience participation, a good few laughs and maybe a song or two with Inbetweeners star James on his favourite guitar.

Visit trch.co.uk or call 0115 9895555 to book.

10 The Carole King & James Taylor Songbook, Mansfield Palace Theatre, Friday, April 17

Now enjoying its 10th year of touring, and having gathered critical acclaim during sell-out runs at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Adelaide Fringe, Fringe World Australia, and sold-out shows right across the UK and the US, The Carole King & James Taylor Songbook now comes to Mansfield.

Audiences are invited on a journey through the careers of the six-time Grammy Award winner, 20-time platinum hit maker Carole King and five-time Grammy Award winner, and American folk legend James Taylor..

Featuring passionate renditions of Fire and Rain, Sweet Baby James, I Feel the Earth Move, Natural Woman, You've Got a Friend, and many more, this astonishing back catalogue is performed by the multi-award winning ensemble of Night Owl Shows.

Tickets are at mansfield.gov.uk/palacetheatre/events/event/4401/the-carole-king-james-taylor-songbook