FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS WILL MAKE YOU FEEL FRESH AFTER LUXURY REFURB

Beverley Lyons

WITH a huge sparkling atrium, chandeliers, artwork and a spa that is heaven sent, it’s clear that you don’t have to play golf to stay at the luxurious Fairmont St Andrews hotel.
Theshowbizlion.com recently took in the incredible sights and style on offer at the 520 acre five star hotel and we really didn’t want to come home.
We were lucky enough to attend a night of fine cuisine courtesy of the UKs top chefs at the lavish venue and we also had time to explore the brand new fixtures and fittings in offer.
The hotel offers tranquility and cliff top views as well as two prestigious golf courses, a sumptuous spa, St Andrews bar and grill restaurant serving the freshest of steak and seafood, afternoon teas and 220 luxury guest rooms.
With offers of valet parking and a traditional concierge service it aims to make everyone feel like a VIP.
Modern portraits of Billy Connolly, JK Rowling, David Tennant and other global Scots adorn the corridors while stag heads, warm fireplaces, and wooden furnishings adorn public areas.
The spa itself offers everything from the pool, saunas and steam rooms to massages, facial and relaxation therapies using exclusive Aromatherapy Associates products in 10 chic treatment rooms.
The hotel service was second to none and although the hotel attracts an older crowd with its tongue in cheek spend your kids inheritance packages for seniors of sixty and over at around £126 a room per night it also offers dinner bed and breakfast packages around £96 per person per night and and spa escapes for £142 per person per night with full Scottish breakfast and a treatment included.
We opted for a facial and felt revived after just one night.
If you feel like a wee holiday to kick of the new year it could prove the perfect pick me up.

HIGH TEA WITH GLASGOW IN THE SKY

I'm not big on rollercoasters as anyone who witnessed my recent trip to Blackpool will tell you.
 So the idea of eating my lunch a hundred feet up in the air, hovering above the pigeons and other wild life in Glasgow's George Square, was not one I relished.
However, I'm a great believer in trying anything once (don't quote that back to me) so when Murray Thomson the lovely manager at The Blythswood Square  hotel invited me to be his guest at this once in a lifetime attraction I jumped at the chance. At least at that point my feet were on the ground.
As I waited to go up on the twenty two seater dining attraction I had two things on my mind.
One was sheer anxiety, and the second was that I needed the loo. Luckily they have portaloos in George Square so a few seconds later that was one less thing to worry about.
 If you do need to go up in the air I'm afraid you'll have to wait till you descend- or face the consequences!
Having been strapped into my seat just like a sturdy fairground ride we made our slow and steady ascent.
It's almost like a cruise ship pulling away from the dock in that you don't immediately realise you are moving. Before you know it you are dangling above the Robert Burns monument and at eye level with the Statue of Liberty on the city chambers.
There are foot rests for your feet so you don't feel like you're defying gravity but you can swivel round your chair should you wish to be a daredevil.
My seat was sandwiched between two other brace diners so I didn't have the uncomfortable corner seat which holds no protection on one side.
I expected it to be cold up there, but it wasn't particularly. It began to spit at one point but there is a Perspex roof above too.
It was however slightly breezy and we were advised to tuck our napkins into our seatbelts. I  had been so concerned about not dropping anything below me ( there is no safety net) that I hadn't even noticed my napkin was still under my plate.
 If you drop your phone or fork it will fall the full way but there is an exclusion zone so no one will be hit by it!
With phone in one hand (yes, the selfie generation has taken over) and fork in the other I persevered with my meal.
 Murray looked the picture of calm and his coiffed hair stayed in place while my hair was doing as many summersaults as my tummy.
The other diners tucked in as if this was just a leisurely Sunday brunch. I didn't speak to many of them, and the wind factor made it slightly difficult to shout across the table.
During my flight, Blythswood Square chefs were taking over and my food of tender scallops and buttered asparagus followed by medallions of yummy lamb and mash with strips of cabbage and peas was delicious and my gastronomic dessert finished things off nicely.
Normally I would go into much more detail on the food front but I have to say, on this occasion, I didn't analyse it as much as I normally would. I scoffed it down and it was delicious.
The service too was impeccable but your time in the air is limited so before I could even thank everyone properly it was time to go back down to earth - thankfully not with a thud.
Glasgow In The Sky is in the city until Tuesday and is hosting a whole host of meals from breakfast through dinner and cocktails at night with a variety of restaurants including Cafe Gandolfi, Nardinis, Chaophraya and the Blythswood.
Prices start around £50 to £150.

RIVER CITY LEAH MACRAE LITERALLY BREAKS A LEG DURING GLASGOW SHOW

RIVER City and Gary Tank Commander actress Leah MacRae proved the show must go on - performing from a wheelchair after dramatically snapping her Achilles' tendon during her stage show.
The Scots actress was walking off from the first half of My Big Fat Fabulous Diary at Eastwood Park theatre when she heard a loud noise.
And despite the theatre's medical staff advising her to go straight to A and E, Leah proved to be the real trouper and insisted on performing the second half in a wheelchair before heading to hospital.
Leah said: "I heard a big bang, like a whiplash as I went off stage and the next thing I knew I couldn't walk properly. The audience and my crew didn't have a clue what happened and for a minute or two I was behind the stage feeling dazed and upset. They wanted me to go to hospital straight away but I just said I wanted to finish the show."


Leah went back on stage in a wheelchair after an announcement was made saying there had been an issue.
She said : "The show is a comedy and I think the audience thought it was all part of the act. There was something really weird about singing Defying Gravity in a wheelchair.'
Leah who has had now rescheduled the rest of her May performances was rushed from stage to the Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Glasgow.
She said: "I do a lot of exercise and thought I'd just sprained my tendon but the doctor told me it was ruptured and pretty serious and that I'd have to be plastered up for a number of months."
I've now got a lovely big cast on my left leg and had to tell the River City producers who were brilliant and said they'd work round it. Everyone had been lovely and the theatre and hospital were great with me so I'd like it thank everyone.
The rescheduled dates for the show are the Village Theatre East Kilbride:, Friday 4th August and Rutherglen Town Hall Sat 5th August.



- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

MARTI PELLOW CRACKS UP PLAYING BADDIE IN SCOTS PANTO

MARTI Pellow made his Scots panto debut in Aladdin - and despite being serious baddie Abanazer - couldn't hold back the laughter as he mispronounced a rude word or two.
The Wet Wet Wet star took on a more sombre role as he showed off his bad boy vocals and evil laugh in the brilliant SECC panto which also included an incredible flying carpet, 3D creatures, giggles galore audience interaction and plenty of laughs from hilarious Wishee Washee character Johnny Mac who is a real star.
His improvised comedy  on stage with young children from the audience was a real highlight of the night.
There was even an elephant in the room - and it wasn't The Krankies and John Barrowman who for the first time in years were sadly missing from this year's panto.


At one point Marti was trying to pronounce the word Situation and ended up adding in an extra H after the S making the audience who included weatherman Sean Batty and footballer Ally McCoist  roar with laughter.
Marti himself burst into giggles.
The Wet Wet Wet singer had previously said he wasn't playing for laughs, adding: "Its so easy to be seduced by the sound of laughter but my comedy is in not acknowledging the comedy."
Clearly no one could resist in that particular s*ituation.
The panto is on until December 31 at the Clyde Auditorium.

- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN MUPPETS PROVES A XMAS HIT IN GLASGOW

Jakey puppets, dragged up mothers, a real life Apple Siri, a pop star Snow White, and hilarious audience interaction are all on offer at this latest production from Inside Out.
Snow White and The Seven Wee Muppets is a refreshing change to the traditional pantos which can often be complacent and rely on hackneyed cliches to keep them going.
You won't find big budget lasers and special effects here but what lacks in the technical department is more than made up for by the talent and the giggles on offer.
You can see that artistic director Paul Harper Swan and his team have worked hard to bring this unique production to the stage.
There are laughs and songs galore from the larger than life characters and the colourful costumes could give any of the bigger pantos a run for their money.
Neil Thomas is a real star as the instantly likeable bubbly panto dame who can sing, dance and has costumes to die for.
Splitting his outfit mid show caused even more laughs.
Alison Rona Cleland also brings a charming humour and cheekiness to her role as computer program and intelligent personal assistant Siri in an innovative twist to the show.
Jamie McKillop adds evil, glamour and plenty of Glasgow style cackles to the cocktail as the badd while Joanne McGuinness proves to be a very modern Snow White who can sing dance and has a bit more attitude than your average panto female.
And smiley Lee Reynolds is everybody's best pal - including Snow White's in the show.
The production which is less 'Disney' and more 'does so' is on until the end of December at Websters Theatre and is definitely worth a stroll to the wild West End.


- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com




- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

BIG ANGIE BREAKS BOX OFFICE AT FRINGE

BIG Angie came, saw and conquered Edinburgh - and after breaking the box office she's not ruling out a rerun next year.
Glasgow's Big Darling, the invention of the talented Scot KB Brannigan who is determined to play the SSE Hydro in the not too distant future, dared to shake it all about and escape the relative safety of online as she gave her Guide To The Gallowgate at the Edinburgh Fringe.
The audience who turned up to witness her showcase were in the palm of her hand by the Ibis hotel at Cowgate as she took them through her life story with a few sobs and chuckles along the way.
The show ended with her own song and a message to take some chips n cheese up the road.
Having performed at Glasgow Gay Pride on Glasgow Green, to an audience of 10,000, and amassed a strong online following as well as being hailed by the likes of Fred Macaulay, it won't be the last time we hear from her.
Full of Weegie patter, Big Angie said: "I love all these acts and the handsome men at the Fringe. It's fantastic. We got told the other night we broke the box offices at C Venues.
I saw a good psychic the other day and she says I'll be back next year. The future I s as bright as these lights."


- Posted from theshowbizlion.com with love from Scotland

RIHANNA REACTS TO SCOTTISH CHANT ON VIDEO

HERE'S Rihanna looking confused and then delighted as her Glasgow fans gave her their famous concert chant.
The singer who performed at Hampden Park this week was thrilled to bits after Scots concert goers decided to give her a taste of home with their chant of "Here
We F***ing Go."
Work singer Rhi Rhi couldn't quite make out their lyrics but ended up congratulating them anyway.
She said: "That rocks. Y'all are awesome Glasgow. I love you guys man."
During her gig the Umbrella singer sashayed and shook her bootie like never before.


Despite brollies being banned from the stadium a few managed to smuggle them in for her big anthem.
The 50,000 capacity gig might not have been a sell out but the We Found Love star still managed to thrill her faithful followers for more than Four Five Seconds.



- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

5 SECONDS OF SUMMER ROCK GLASGOW

Beverley Lyons
GUITARS, Drums and screams burst from the roof of the Glasgow SSE Hydro as 5 Seconds of Summer took to the stage.
The smell of freshly shampooed hair whipped everyones nostrils and shoulders as teenage gals let out their biggest screams and swayed for Calum, Ashton, Luke and Michael.
The Aussie lads who are more grimy and stubbly than One Direction who they used to support, were met by a wall of high pitched tonsils as they appeared on stage to play Hey Everybody, their guitars and drum hypnotising their captive crowd.
Changing the lyrics of Money, Calum, whose dad is from Edinburgh, sang: "Take my keys for a great night out in Glasgow."
After a rousing rendition of Disconnected he and the others took to the mic to have a 'Glasgow off' each taking it in turns to become more Glaswegian.
Michael proved to be surprisingly talented when it comes to the Scots tongue .
The pacy Don't Stop was met with more lung Splitting and Castaway got everybody oh oh ohing in the right places.
Jet Black Heart was a massive singalong while during Beside You everyone wished they were alongside the boys on stage.
Luke revealed his favourite song was Vapor, a slower paced anthem which let everyone get some breath for even more screams.
They needed them for next number, the epic End Up Here which saw people jumping to the beats as a sweat soaked Ashton encouraged them from his drum kit.
The guitars screamed along with the fans for Good Girls and everyone was on a high despite it being a school night.
The icing on the cake was when Calum, who admitted he was home from home, played bass in time along to the now well known Glasgow gig chant of here we f***ing go and then ran it straight into the Proclaimers 500 Miles.
Permanent Vacation and The Romantics cover What I Like About You followed before the smash She Looks So Perfect.
Most of us were a hot mess after if but who cares. This was the start of rock n roll.

- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

TROYE SIVAN SHOWS CARING SHARING SIDE AT GLASGOW GIG

Beverley Lyons
TROYE Sivan showed he was a caring sharing kind of guy when he invited lucky fans who had missed out on tickets to his sell out show in Glasgow at the weekend.
The South African-born Australian singer, songwriter, actor and YouTuber met some fans as he popped out for a Starbucks and a shopping trip on Sauchiehall Street and put them on his guest list after hearing they were unable to get prizes briefs for his sold out QMU show.
The twenty year old star was met by screams as he played his first ever gig in Scotland at the weekend on his Blue Neighbourhood tour - and he even attempted a Scots accent.
Troy who featured as a young James Howkett in X-Men Origins: Wolverine thrilled with his cute charm and self penned songs like For Him, Fools, Youth, Too Good, Talk Me Down and Ease.
He told the crowd it was only his third or fourth day in Europe and that he apologised if his pants were falling down - because he's forgotten his belt.
No one seemed to complain.
After hearing the chants of here we f***ing go, he told the audience: "When I go to other places I'll be like, do you know what Glasgow said to me? Why can't you guys be as cool as Glasgow was?"
He even managed to try his hand at the local patois by saying: "Are you coming oot on the town to get mad wi it?"
Troy entertained and stayed at the Glasgow Uni Queen Margaret Union till the wee small hours after his gig.
After seeing him in the flesh no one needed to take a Happy Little Pill.
Troy hasn't yet tweeted, instagrammed or snapchatted about his first experience in Scotland but we reckon it's just a matter of time...




Sent from my iPhone


- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

GIRLS NIGHT OOT PERFORMER FENDS OFF STAGE INVADER WITH GIANT WILLY

The Scottish premiere of Girls Night Oot at Glasgow's Webster Theatre was a resounding success and even saw one enthusiastic audience member try to storm the stage.
The bolshy and bantertastic musical sequel to stage hit I Will Survive tells the story of four girls on a hen night.
With songs from the 60’s,70’s, 80’s, 90’s and now, it managed to get everyone dancing in the aisles.
Producer director Paul Harper Swan and his Inside Out Production team provided plenty of laughs with cheeky new lyrics to accompany popular tunes like Steelers Wheel's Stuck In The Middle and Katy Perry's I Kissed A Girl.


During a rendition of ABBA's Man After Midnight one man got hauled up on stage to be a stripper while the encore saw one over zealous audience member trying to get up on stage.
As she attempted to jump up and join the cast during their rendition of Tina Turner's Proud Mary she was fended off by one of the cast - Lauren Ellis-Steele - who played the bride to be - wielding an inflatable penis!
Sex mad Donna Hazelton, and the hilarious Alison Rona Cleland, joined Britney wannabe Natalie Tulloch in the supporting roles.
The show continues at Webster theatre in Friday and Saturday April 15 and 16 before heading to other Scots theatres below.
It's a wee bit naughty but a great night out for the gals.

23 April-Cumbernauld Theatre
1 May-Oran Mor
5 May-MacRobert
6 May-Rutherglen Town Hall
27 May-Howden Park
13 August-Glenrothes
4 September-Oran Mor
1 October-Eastwood Park Theatre
28 October-Byre Theatre

- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

ADELE TALKS SEX, PAOLO, GLASTONBURY, AND KING TUTS DURING GLASGOW SSE HYDRO GIG

 Adele got touchy feely with a tattooed male fan, said Paolo Nutini reminded her of Al Pacino, joked that she wasn't cool enough to play rock venue King Tuts, claimed she was playing Glastonbury to p*** people off as well as admitting she was worried she'd fall over her dress during her Scots gig.The chatty performer was more like a stand up comedian than singing star during her first concert at Glasgow's SSE Hydro, which beautifully coincided with Glasgow Comedy Festival.All the hits were performed during the Friday night concert including opener Hello, Chasing Pavements, Rolling In the Deep and  When We Were Young. Before Rumour Has It Adele started the first of her audience interactions as she invited two ladies up on stage to tell her the name of the small venue she played in Scotland years ago.
She told her fans: "So far on the tour you are the smallest venue but the loudest. Oh my god literally, You nearly blew my dress off as you started singing Hello. I did not expect it. I must  warn you when I get nervous I swear and I'm nervous. This is the first time I've spoken and you flew around in circles to see me. The last time I played here was Glasgow Academy just before the tour started. It was one of most fun gigs I did."
The Someone Like You star then appeared confused as she tried to remember the name of the smallest venue she'd played in Glasgow.
She said: "Did anyone come to my gig right next to Wetherspoons in Glasgow. It suited me well at the time."
Inviting two fans on the stage she was told: "It was at the Classic Grand, in Jamaica Street."
Adele then joked: "I kept thinking it was King Tuts (where Oasis were discovered) but I'm not cool enough to have played there."
After being kissed by the two gals on the cheek she laughed: "Have I got lipstick on my face? Don't get me wrong if I wanted anyone's lipstick on my face it would be yours" Referring to the giant projection of her face on the wall behind her she added: "My face is almost too big for this venue . Thank God I've not got a cold sore." 
 Adele then invited a fan with a tattoo up on stage and joked: "I hope its not me with a double chin or unflattering. Definitely come up if you've got a tattoo on."
She couldn't believe it when two lads took up her offer and Douglas who had a tattoo of her lyrics on her arm came up to hug her. 
He and his partner Stephen were chuffed to bits to be on stage with their queen and after telling her they were gay Adele said: "I wish you were straight. No one has squeezed me like that for years. You lot are so touchy feely.  I feel like I've just had sex."   
Adele even took the mickey out of her sad songs telling her adoring crowd: "I'm glad you've got a nice seat to rest your ankles. We've got misery coming up. We're not on the miserable songs yet so don't fall to pieces yet. I forgot to say thankyou for the roses. I'm frightened I'd fall over if I held them. This dress is a bit long. Imagine if this were a short dress. You'd see right up my a*** crack. I got to the gym on tour days so I'm all fit for you, "
During the hilarious 15th show which showed off her cockney banter,  she revealed that five is her lucky number, Paolo Nutini her favourite singer and that she think he looks like Al Pacino and that she imagines she looks like Halle Berry, smouldering in an orange bikini when she sings Skyfall.  
After a couple asked her to their house for Easter, Adele who thanked them for their kindness and said she would if she didn't have her son to see, revealed she has 104 shows to go and on her 13th show at the 02, a dream come true, she broke a double bass.
She spoke to a drummer in the audience and asked if he wore shoes when he played. She said her feet were so veiny when she wore heels herself and prefers to wear flats.
She confessed she liked to pretend she is Alison Kraus but thinks she could never be  country artist and gave a shout out to local charity organised Les Hoey MBE and his Dreammaker foundation, adding she had an MBE too."
Adele also talked about her lovelife saying she was now with a 'nice hairy man', not a boy who 'respects me'. She claimed it was her first night away from her wee one but he'd given her a tacky bracelet to wear on stage and she said she'd had to medidate to get rid of her demons but added: "I'm turning into a cliche of a hippy. I  wouldn't go that far. It takes as much energy  to hate somebody as to love them."
Adele also talked about playing Glastonbury and revealed she was playing it to p*** people off. She said: "I wouldn't be offended if anyone thought I shouldn't do it. They think I'm boring but I've f***ing been there more times than you." 
Adele also paid tribute to her Glaswegian manager Rosie Moon as shots of Glasgow were projected onto the big screen.
The crowd chorused on songs like Set Fire To The Rain and held their phones up to One and Only. Make You Feel My Love was another huge hit, but  there are so many at an Adele concert it's hard to pinpoint which one was best. They were all belters and Adele's comic chat between them was a real bonus. 
The feeling was mutual as she told her crowd: "I now have 13,000 fans in Glasgow."

MARIAH CAREY WOWS CROWD AND PLAYS UP TO DIVA IMAGE IN GLASGOW

Mariah Carey showed off her incredible vocals and funny side as she played up to her diva image on stage at Glasgow's SSE Hydro for the first night of her European tour - and the audience loved every minute of it.

Right from the get go the US superstar showed she meant business as she was carried on stage aboard a chariot by her hunky male dancers.
As she belted out a rendition of Fantasy, the title of her tour, wearing a glittering leotard which showed off all her curves in the right places we knew we were in for a treat.
Mariah thanked her crowd as she joked she'd been swirled around and then treated us to a rendition of Emotion. 

It was then she threw her first 'diva strop'. 
As she paused to take a drink from her bottle she said: "You don't mind if I do this on stage? No how is this supposed to work really? Can you even see this. It's a spray thing for your throat but the one they gave me has no spray thing on it. What is that? I mean honestly. Does anybody want this cause I can't use it.  People wonder why they throw diva fits. I'm not going to have a diva fit but I'm asking . Come on what were they thinking?" She then poked fun at herself adding: "I know I have a reputation for being a diva but this spray doesn't work." 

As if by magic one of her topless male backing dancers rushed in with a new one which Mariah said 'This one doesn't seem to be working either. It's such a drama. Does it have to be such a drama? I mean really, do you find this dramatic. It's actually a little traumatic for me."

Maria, who then sung from her Butterfly album, switched her conversation to kilts and asked the immortal Scottish question: "Tell me the truth? Do men really not wear anything under their kilts, cause that's what I've heard. I'd never look, cause I'm such a good girl and I don't do those things but is it true, yes or no. Is that a yes. It's very exciting."

Everything was done with a cheery grin and it appeared to be more for theatrical impact than out of malice. 

In a world where concerts can be over produced and many artists have become media trained robots, it was a refreshing change. 

After a quick costume change into a shimmering pink dress she asked the audience. 'Is this alright? It's the first wear tonight.' 

She then serenaded her own cute twin boys (the ones she'd got DVD's in ASDA for) in the audience with Always Be My Baby before inviting her friend Trey Lorenz on stage to duet with her, but she couldn't resist another diva demand as she asked for her fan to be switched on, and complained about her ear piece bothering her. 

Laughing she said: "I'm just doing the best I can with what I got okay. Is that a little better, a little more dramatic? When did you ever see me without the fan on. Tonight for the first time? There's too many dramas. This is our first show but we are in Glasgow and excited about it. We're happy to be with you."

A beautiful duet of I'll Be There followed in tribute to Michael Jackson with a tiny clip of him joining in displayed on the projection screen behind them.

The audience swayed and there was more to come as Mariah reappeared on stage in a glittering black leotard to speak to her audience. 

She sang her monologue : " I'm going to bring somebody out the audience..." And she did. One lucky Scots chap was brought on stage and blindfolded  as he sat on a chair and she writhed about on his knee for Touch My Body. 

Mariah, who was now wearing a long train behind her leotard  hit us with a medley of upbeat RnB numbers including Obsessed before launching into Heartbreaker. Her male dancers provided even more eye candy for the audience. 

It was time for another outfit change - this time a shimmering gold dress and of course there was another diva moment to come with the microphone as she realised it was too high for her. She sighed: "The abuse I endure is never ending. No I'm only kidding"

Another hunky flunky adjusted if for her before she launched into a vocally perfect rendition of Against All Odds, her hit with Westlife, written by Phil Collins. 

When one of her microphones wasn't ready for her and she was given a standing mic instead of a roaming one, she said: "With the gold one I might have a little more freedom but if we're not set up for that I'll just stick with this mic. 

She took a slight dig at other artists copying her style adding: "I used to use sparkly microphones but then everyone else started using them. I'll be honest, it got annoying so I stopped using them. What? is there something wrong with that.  I like having my own. Oh my gosh nobody understands .Its not that deep, it's just a microphone." 

As Mariah, was given a replacement microphone she added: "I'm going to name that microphone Glasgow because it happened here." 

Her crowd lapped up every divaesque word as she said: "Anybody that is writing about this show writing that I have a bunch of diva demands onstage, technically it's true but I'm laughing about it as it happens. It's jokes, just for laughs." 

Mariah, who had been rehearsing until 5am on her arrival in Scotland, sang One Sweet Day from her album Daydream with two of her musician friends, Trey Lorenz and Daniel Moore, before paying an emotional musical tribute to Whitney Houston. She revealed she had to call Whitney's family for permission to include her in the show, before launching into an incredible duet of When You Believe with a giant projection of Whitney as a  backdrop. It was a jawdropping moment.

The ballads kept coming with Hero, a dedication to her lambily, and then Without You. 

The energy flowed as the goosebumps were raised and Mariah proved she's bigger than the hype. 

We have just one diva demand for Mariah. Please don't leave it another thirteen years to go on European tour.  

WET WET WET GOT US TEARY AND EMOSH DURING SCOTS HOMECOMING

WITH a name like Wet Wet Wet, you'd expect a little bit of er dampness, and there were definitely some tears (what else?) at a gig that was classed as the band's homecoming in Glasgow's SSE Hydro.
Clydebank's Marti Pellow, Graeme Clark, Tommy Cunningham, Graeme Duffin and Neil Mitchell gave the crowd exactly what they wanted and looked like they received as much back in return as they entertained on the ultimate Saturday night.
 Marti may have suffered a sweet little mystery of an illness just days before but there was no sign of fatigue in his voice as he showcased his smooth vocals during a gig that enthralled every one of the crowd.
In parts it was like a massaoke as the audience members sang their favourite parts of each and every hit, but then we all felt like we were part of 'our' band.
Fans clamoured to be invited up on stage by Marti himself and everyone spent the run up to the gig sending in selfies so they'd be the chosen ones for the onstage competition.
Markus Feehily warmed up with a brilliant set which showed off his powerhouse vocals and Marti brought it all to a climax.
The lads had played Glasgow Green in 2013 but the Hydro brought everyone together with songs like Wishing I Was Lucky,  Julia Says and Sweet Little Mystery.
The crowd including Scotland boss Gordon Strachan chanted loudly on the chorus of Goodnight Girl and as an at times emotional looking Marti sang a mash up of Angel Eyes, Temptation, and with A Little Help From My Friends,  they continued to impress as he held his mike out for them all to sing.
After She's All On My  Mind, Marti let us enjoy some of his banter with tales of shooting documentaries at 'Loch Lomondo'  and getting too drunk the night before.
He joked he barely kept down his roll and sausage for a rendition of Roll Um Easy. The band also had a good laugh about the Versace suits they used to wear with a relaxed Marti adding: "Why did you not stop me and say 'Marti, don't wear the crushed velvety number tonight?'"
They might have at one point looked like 'rejects from the Chippendales' but they gave their audience a good laugh and they showed humility by thanking everyone who had helped them put the gig on.
Referencing the homecoming, Graeme Clark also thanked fans adding: "It's great to be back here and understood for a change."
By the time Love Is All Around was performed you could feel it oozing from every single pore.

JASON DONOVAN THRILLS WITH NOSTALGIA TRIP IN GLASGOW

 JASON Donovan was the boy next door every schoolgirl wanted to be with at lunchtime in the eighties, and nothing appeared to have changed at Glasgow's Royal Hall for his Ten Good Reasons Tour.
The hands were up in the air as a throbbing mass of female hormones screamed out in adoration of the former Neighbours Star.
Charlene was nowhere to be seen but there was still plenty going on down under.
Banners bearing the message 'We'll be your Kylies' were waved in the air as Jason sang all of his big hits like Too Many Broken Hearts, Nothing Can Divide Us and Seal It With A Kiss mixed with a few lesser known ones like Question Of Pride and If I Don't Have You. Stock Aitken and Waterman were the chosen songwriters of the night, but it didn't matter what he sang, as the crowd lapped up every word, and every move - even cheering when he removed his jacket.

Jason who is coming to Aberdeen's His Majesty's Theatre on May 19, told his crowd: "We always end up in Glasgow and it is such a great city .It is one of my most visited towns, primarily for the theatre shows I've done here. Doing my own show is better than doing eight shows a week which is very taxing, traveling round the country. It's not so great when you have such a big family."
The atmosphere was like a giant hen night and one over excited lady even began flashing her bra at the star - until she was removed by security.

Jason joked with his mostly female followers, sharing titbits from his radio show and generally posing for selfies with those who found their way at the front of the stage.
He was humble, musing that he had to do this because his TV and film work dried up twenty years ago.
His parting note was Especially For you and everyone in the audience, including a couple of slightly drunk husbands, felt it was aimed at them.
There's more than Ten Good Reasons to go see him next time he's here.

COLLABRO HIT THE HIGH NOTES DESPITE DRESSING ROOM DRAMA

CLASSICAL group Collabro might have come from a reality TV show but they ooze a quality that transcends the hackneyed format.
The five lads each offer something different for fans - from high to low on the singing scale - and grungy to polished on the looks side, but on the night they were suited and booted and blended together perfectly.
Michael Auger, Richard Hadfield, Jamie Lambert, Matthew Pagan and Thomas J Redgrave have come a long way since winning the eighth series of BGT in 2014 and their performance at Glasgow's  Royal Concert Hall was one of their best yet. 
Mash ups were promised on the night  as well as songs from their album Act Two, but there were a few nice surprises along the way.
Five part harmonies shone on songs like Somewhere Only We Know while the lads got to do a bit of swing with That's Life, bringing even more life to their set. 
Their chat on stage was natural, and they even managed to laugh things off when Richard arrived late on stage from the dressing room. He claimed he was putting on his tie.
There were some original vocal arrangements on tracks like No Matter What, originally suggested to the the boys by former Boyzone manager Louis Walsh.
A section of the show devoted to The Phantom of the Opera played perfectly and gave Scots soprano Catriona Murray another chance to shine too. She gave Sarah Brightman a run for her money.
Songs like A Thousand Years were pitch perfect while the boy's attempt at twisting Mumford and Sons also thrilled their Collaborators.
Standing ovations were order of the night during this sold out gig and this, we're sure,  will be one of the last chances to see Collabro in a smaller venue before they play arenas. 

REMAINING TOUR DATES:

MARCH

4th SOUTHEND – Cliff Pavilion

6th LLANDUDNO – Cymru Theatre

8th LIVERPOOL - Philharmonic Hall

9th CARLISLE – Sands Centre

11th SHEFFIELD – City Hall

12th BRIGHTON – Centre

14th GATESHEAD – Sage 1

15th NOTTINGHAM – Royal Concert Hall

17th  CAMBRIDGE – Corn Exchange

18th STOKE ON TRENT – Regent Theatre

19th CARDIFF – Motorpoint Arena

21st BRISTOL – Colston Hall

22nd WATFORD – Colosseum

24th PLYMOUTH – Pavilions 

25th BOURNEMOUTH – International Centre 

26th LONDON – Royal Albert Hall

28th OXFORD – New Theatre

29th & 30TH BIRMINGHAM – Symphony Hall

APRIL 

1ST GRIMSBY – Auditorium 

2nd LEICESTER – De Montfort Hall

3rd GUILDFORD – G Live


http://www.collabroglobal.com/

JAMES MARTIN BUCKS TREND OF CLEAN EATING ON TOUR

THEY claimed chefs were the new rock n roll, and James Martin's first ever headline tour proved that - with even a bit of music thrown in for good measure.

The dishy and down to earth Yorkshire man from Saturday Kitchen managed to hold his own on the stage of Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall as he  led us through some of his favourite recipes of all time. 

The action was live so there was no room for retakes as James, who quits the popular telly show next month, chopped, grilled, fried and even munched his way through some interesting dishes.

Full fat cream and butter were order of the night as James bucked the trend of clean eating to go for some of his more indulgent dishes like the full fat brioche eggy bread and pancetta, the perfect hangover cure.
He did of course offer a few healthy alternatives that he'd made for the NHS, but it was all tongue in cheek as he played on his star status by showing how you could make an 8 pence portion of soup into something you could charge £18 for, with the right trimmings.
A particular highlight was his trick with spinning sugar over one audience member's walking stick!
After twenty year on stage James has struck up a rapport with his audience and his cheeky charm made everyone warm to him.
There were Plates galore, some Mates in the form of video guests like Mary Berry, and a few Automobiles thrown on stage as props.
The only frustration was not getting to sample the food which once cooked appeared to be carted off to some lucky member of the production crew backstage.
James says he has no new show planned after this but we're sure we'll see more of his food in the not so distant future.
The rest of the 25 date Plates, Mates and Automobiles tour reads like this...

March

Tues 1             BRIDLINGTON                        Spa Royal Hall

Wed 2                        GRIMSBY                   Auditorium

Thurs 3                        BLACKPOOL              Opera House

Sat 5               NOTTINGHAM           Royal Concert Hall

Sun 6              SHEFFIELD                   City Hall

Mon 7             SOUTHPORT              Theatre

Tues 8             BRADFORD                 St George’s Hall

Wed 9                        PRESTON                    Guildhall

Thurs 10          BIRMINGHAM                       Symphony Hall

Sat 12             LIVERPOOL                Philharmonic Hall

Sun 13                        MANCHESTER            Opera House

Mon 14           BLACKBURN              King Georges Hall

Tues 15           LLANDUDNO              Venue Cymru

Wed 16          STOKE                         Victoria Hall

Thurs 17          CROYDON                Fairfield Halls

Sat 19             BATH                           Forum

Sun 20                        BOURNEMOUTH       Pavillion

Mon 21           LONDON                    Hammersmith Eventim Apollo

Tues 22           BRIGHTON                 Centre

Wed 23          PORTSMOUTH                      Guildhall

*Ticket booking fees apply

 All tickets are priced at £30*, and are on sale now via Livenation.co.uk