PETER DOHERTY IS HEADING TO BARLINNINE PRISON

LIBERTINES singer Peter Doherty is heading to Barlinnie Prison as part of a major exhibition exploring prison reform. 

The colourful frontman will be showing off a Collection of photography and art form himself and  Barlinnie artists to give fans an intimate glimpse into his  world...

 

'PETER DOHERTY v BARLINNIE PRISON', an exclusive exhibition of the Libertines frontman and Barlinnie prison artists, gets its first UK date, which has been announced today (Wednesday 16th June) 

Launch night in Glasgow will include Disco Punk DJ Set from Peter Doherty & Bosco.

Opening 22nd September 2021, Peter Doherty v Barlinnie, is the first major exhibition exploring prison reform, rehabilitation and redemption between Scottish prisoners and The Libertines frontman Peter Doherty.

 

In Peter Doherty v Barlinnie, curator and artist Joe Henry, will use the traditional life drawing class to stage a performance and event inside the gates of Barlinnie prison, with Doherty as model and subject.

The exhibition will present the resulting 11 drawings from the inmates, to be presented alongside a selection of Doherty's own artworks chosen by Doherty himself and curator Joe Henry, that depict Doherty's subversive world of art, music and poetry, and his far reaching influence on popular culture.

The drawings included in the exhibition will be created July 2021, during a one-day life drawing class, using Doherty as the life class model. The class will be held at the Fife college Art Room inside the gates of Barlinnie prison and include eleven artists drawn from Barlinnie's diverse prisoner communities, ranging in age from 19 to 65, with varying backgrounds and levels of education and experience. The exhibition will also include photography from Sarah Thompson and Pauline Darley.

Henry's collaboration with Doherty as the subject is essential to his concept. A pioneer artist & musician. Doherty has been described as the modern day Jack Kerouac, his poets are for the romantics & his music is the rebellious sound of youth.

Following the radical tradition of the Scottish bard Robert Burns, a man with a lifestyle seen in its day as every bit as wild as Doherty's, The Libertines frontman has also himself spent time behind prison bars, and knows the importance of prison reform, rehabilitation and redemption for these new artists.

As part of the exhibition there will be an introduction written text / essay from Christopher Bailey (head of art, World Health Organisation), on the importance of creation in confinement and using art as a form of healing.

Peter Doherty v Barlinnie will open 22nd September 2021 at Platform gallery, (formely the Arches) Glasgow. 253 Argyle St, Glasgow G2 8DL

Tickets available from Skiddle and Tickets Scotland.

Launch night in Glasgow will include Disco Punk DJ Set from Peter Doherty & Bosco. From 7pm till Midnight

Mick Stoney, Barlinnie Governer said;

“Art in prison provides the opportunity for expression and is a form of coping, creating something positive and a chance for the men to see themselves as something different. This project provides an injection of energy that prisons often need to support engagement and change. The chance to have their art displayed publicly will be affirmation that they can create a new identity and have the skill to contribute positively, a unique project which I hope leads to positive outcomes for all involved”. 

Joe Henry curator said; 

I've always been a fan of Pete Doherty. His poetry and his music have influenced a generation. His artwork has the same chaotic punk energy of his sound and is similar in style to the art of Jean Michel Basquiat.
This exhibition will see Pete on a different platform, behind the prison gates of Scotland's toughest prison, Barlinnie. Working with mixed media artists, using Doherty as their canvas to work from. We are hoping by staging this event, that this will inspire the participating artists on their road to recovery, and bring the conversation of prison reform to a bigger audience."

CRUISE LOVERS WILL ADORE THIS GREEK DREAM DAY TRIP

We’ve been treading water over these last months but with a green light from London, Greece reopens to British travellers from May 17. 

With tens of thousands of holidays deferred from last summer, and Greece topping the UK charts for new bookings, it’s reasonable to predict that the islands and beaches are going to be busy. 

But for many of us, crowds, queues, masks and enforced social distancing are the irritants of everyday life, so why would we want to encounter them on holiday? 

The Greece of our dreams exists outside the constraints of the pandemic. It’s a place of seas as clear and as blue as the sky; of hidden beaches; and ancient villages untroubled by the anxieties of modern life. 

It’s an empty beach on heart-shaped Daskalio Island; coffee in a fisherman’s café in Napflion with views, literally, of Arcadia; and having heavenly Ververoda Bay all to yourself. 

While others stake their claim on congested beaches, you can have a bit of luxury to yourself with the help of Yannis and Veneta Vasatis of Spetses Cruising. 

They’ve spent 40 years exploring their local waters for the sheer joy of it, and now they’re sharing their knowledge with aficionados in search of the Greece they always suspected was out there but perhaps could never find. 

And they’re doing it in head-turning style, with two state-of-the-art vessels: Nireas, a Nimbus T11 day boat with twin 350hp outboards; and Pytheas, an ultra-high performance 800hp RIB capable of 60 knots. 

Both offer the luxury of a superyacht with the speed and agility of a powerboat on full or half-day trips to the Argolic Gulf, the Athenian Riviera; the Eastern Peloponnese, Saronic gulf and the Western Cycladic islands of Milos, Serifos, Sifnos and beyond.

 Spetses Cruising also offers first-class limousine services, allowing you to start your holiday in style, from the moment your feet land in Greece. 

What you do is up to you – Spetses Cruising promises only that your trip will be “unforgettable, private, bespoke and luxurious” - but Yannis recommends perhaps a picnic on the island of Dokos – population 18; private tours of the citadel town of Monemvasia; visits to a hidden blue bay he describes as “the most wonderful swimming spot in the world”, where the onboard toys, including sea scooters, snorkelling gear and paddle boards, can be deployed; and long lunches at that taverna: the one the superyacht crowd will never find. 

Full day trips inclusive of a tailored itinerary start from around £1700, based of eight sharing, with pickups from Athens, Spetses, Porto Heli, Hydra, Nafplion and Monemvasia.

If you can get the people and the cash together to sounds like an ideal way and the ultimate luxury setting to blow away the lockdown cobwebs - and just think of the Insta pics too. 

 Spetses Cruising

HOLLYWOOD STAR SENDS SCOTS BAND THE RONAINS AN EMOTIONAL MESSAGE

SCOTS band The Ronains received a touching message of encouragement from Hollywood star Peaky Blinders and Guardians of The Galaxy actor Tommy Flanagan during mental health awareness week. 

Tommy who also played an alcoholic with mental health issues in hit crime drama Sons of Anarchy, has been following the Clydebank band for the past year and has championed their work. 

The Braveheart actor sent bass player Jim, singer Debbie, drummer Linzi and guitarist LP a message of support after they let him hear their brand new single, a powerful cover of Flower of Scotland which they are releasing on Friday May 21.

The track is available for 79p on preorder now from iTunes and Amazon and the band are hopeful it will chart. 

Tommy,  who has been filming the new series of Peaky Blinders in Chicago, as well as new series of Tower sent the band a message after bass player Jim told him he was finding the music business difficult during lockdown.

Tommy wrote: “Life’s highs will be overshadowed by the sometimes overwhelming lows. But the clock keeps ticking. 

“Time will reveal the why the who the wtf. If what you’re doing brings you love and joy end of, you win!

“Do not give up! Adjust and reset when required. ‘Hard work and heartache’ life of an artist. Enjoy the highs when they come.

“Few people want to see you succeed, no matter what they say.
Beware of that s***e!
You guys got tons of talent. Keep doing the work. You’re going to get to wherever ‘there’ is.
Best TF.”

Bass player Jim Reid said: “Tommy is one of my favourite actors and I've watched him in everything from Braveheart and Guardians of The Galaxy to Sons of Anarchy and Peaky Blinders.  I’m a huge fan. It’s a deep message he sent us. I’d told Tommy that I was finding lockdown hard as a musician and he wrote this incredible letter of encouragement."

The band have been playing their version of Flower of Scotland at live gigs for a while but decided to record and release it to reflect the recent achievement in Scottish sport.

Jim said: “We recorded a powerful rocky verson of Flower of Scotland because we wanted to celebrate the success of the national football team and reaching the World Cup qualifiers for the first time in 26 years. 

“The Scottish rugby team have done well and boxer Josh Taylor is fighting in Las Vegas for our country too.

We are proud of our Scottish roots and this song means everything to us.”

Singer Debbie, whose soaring vocals feature in the song, added: 'It's quite terrifying taking on such a huge, Iconic song, but if you don't reach for the sky you'll never be amongst the stars.”

The song is available for Pre-order now on Amazon and iTunes by clicking on the 2 links below.

AMAZON ➡️ https://amzn.to/3un9po9 - 79p

ITUNES ➡️ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/flower-of-scotland-single/1564971257?ls=1&app=itunes 69p

LINE OF DUTY STARS TIPPED FOR STRICTLY

Vicky McClure 4/9 From 11/10 To Take Part In Strictly Come Dancing

The rumour mill is in full swing as to which famous faces will be signing up to take part in the 19^th series of Strictly Come Dancing and Line Of Duty star Vicky McClure is the latest name being well backed.

The actress could be swapping her police uniform for the sequins as she is being eyed up for the celebrity dance contest which will air later this year. McClure played Detective Inspector Kate Fleming in the hugely popular Line Of Duty and Strictly bosses are reportedly eager to snare one of the starring cast for the dancefloor to compete for the glitterball.

BoyleSports chalked up potential contenders this week with Vicky McClure introduced as a 11/10shot, but those odds were quickly snapped up as the 37-year-old is now just 4/9 to take part, with colleague Gregory Piper, who played villain PC Ryan Pilkington, at 3/1. 

 

Other names in the mix include Good Morning Britain presenter Alex Beresford who is one of the favourites to be involved at 1/5, and ex-House of Commons Speaker John Bercow who is rated a 2/1 shot. 

 

Sarah Kinsella, Spokesperson for BoyleSports commented: “The build-up to the next series of Strictly Come Dancing is already starting to gather pace and following the success of Line Of Duty, it would be no surprise to see its stars approached. Vicky McClure is a likely candidate now 4/9 from 11/10 to compete for the glitterball while Good Morning Britain presenter Alex Beresford is one of the firm early favourites to be hitting the dancefloor.”

END

Strictly Come Dancing ~ To Be A Contestant on Strictly Come Dancing 2021

1-5                               Alex Beresford

1-3                               Mark Feehily

1-3                               Tomasz Scafernaker

4-9                               Vicky McClure

1-2                               Stacey Solomon

4-6                               Joe Wicks

11-8                             Laura Tobin

2                                  Ralf Little

9-4                               Shalom Brune-Franklin

3                                  Gregory Piper

3                                  Tom Malone Jr

10                                Peter Ebdon 

10                                Carrie Symonds

SCOTLAND’S MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE STREETS

AS lockdown eases across Scotland, lots of us are beginning to think about city breaks we can perhaps take this summer. 

And many will want to make the most of beautiful spots after spending a year in the same surroundings.

Scotland at least isn’t short of picturesque spots, but where to go for that perfect post-lockdown Instagram shot? 

Personally we think High Street in Glasgow had a lot going for it but to help you decide which city streets will pick up the biggest engagement on your summer socials, Direct2Florist have revealed the Most Instagrammable Streets in Scotland.

10 Most Instagrammable Scottish Streets

Rank	Location	Street	Location	Area	Instagram # No.
1	Scotland	Stockbridge	Edinburgh	Midlothian	231,679
2	Scotland	Victoria Street	Edinburgh	Midlothian	75,837
3	Scotland	Shoregate	Crail	Fife	41,315
4	Scotland	Ashton Lane	Glasgow	Greater Glasgow	29,355
5	Scotland	Tanhouse Brae	Culross	Perth	19,292
6	Scotland	The Royal Mile	Edinburgh	Midlothian	16,553
7	Scotland	Circus Lane	Edinburgh	Midlothian	13,356
8	Scotland	Back Brae	Tobermory	Isle of Mull	1,412
9	Scotland	Pier Road	Luss	Dunbartonshire	375
10	Scotland	Bon Accord Street	Aberdeen	Aberdeenshire	28

In the wider UK rankings, Stockbridge came second overall: 

15 Most Instagrammable Streets in the UK

Rank	Location	Street	Location	Area	Instagram # No.
1	England	Carnaby Street	London	South East	366,761
2	Scotland	Stockbridge	Edinburgh	Midlothian	231,679
3	England	High Street	Clovelly	North Devon	147,785
4	England	The Street	Castle Combe	Wiltshire	110,522
5	Scotland	Victoria Street	Edinburgh	Midlothian	75,837
6	England	The Circus	Bath	Somerset	48,892
7	Scotland	Shoregate	Crail	Fife	41,315
8	England	Steep Hill	Lincoln	East Midlands	32,947
9	England	The Shambles	York	Yorkshire	32,845
10	Scotland	Ashton Lane	Glasgow	Greater Glasgow	29,355
11	England	Gold Hill	Shaftesbury	Dorset	25,497
12	England	Grey Street	Newcastle	North East	23,783
13	Scotland	Tanhouse Brae	Culross	Perth	19,292
14	Wales	Smithfield Street	Dolgellau	North Wales	17,588
15	Scotland	The Royal Mile	Edinburgh	Midlothian	16,553

Reflecting on the findings, Simon Stirling of Direct2Florist said:

“One of the best things about the UK are the quaint little side streets and beautiful roads which make up some of our oldest and best towns and cities. Some of these streets are world famous, and with travel most likely restricted to the UK this summer, there couldn’t be a better time to get out there and tick these beauty spots off your bucket list.

“With city breaks becoming a bigger focus this year, we wanted to pull together a handy guide of the most beautiful streets to visit post lockdown, and did so through Instagram - on the logic that the more hashtags for the street, the more photogenic and more beautiful it was. These are the perfect streets to visit this summer for a cake and a coffee or a pint.”

Streets were compiled based on newspaper survey data of the UK’s most beautiful streets and ranked based on the total number of Instagram hashtags.