TEN MUSIC TALENTS COMPETE FOR THE TITLE AT SCOTTISH ALBUM OF THE YEAR

CHVRCHES, Emma Pollock, Lau, Young Fathers and FFS are just some of the artists who have made the top ten for Scottish Album of The Year (SAY)
The shortlist for Scotland's big music award was revealed last night at The BBC Quay Sessions during an exclusive live broadcast and the winner will be announced on Wednesday June 29 at a Paisley Town Hall ceremony to tie in with the Paisley bid for UK City of Culture 2021.
Previous SAY nominees Fatherson performed alongside last year's award winner Kathryn Joseph before this year’s shortlisted albums were announced live on air by host Vic Galloway. Amongst the shortlist this year are a number international collaborations: Ghanaian and South African performers and producers, LA based glam/art rock icons Sparks (who teamed up with Franz Ferdinand) and a project with 70s disco ensemble Sister Sledge.
Producer Graeme Clark also known as The Revenge, and ex Beta Band member Steve Mason all also made it onto the shortlist while FFS were the winner of the public vote.
The overall winner will pick up a £20,000 first prize while nine shortlisted titles will receive £1,000 each.
Run by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), previous SAY Award winners are Kathryn Joseph (2015), Young Fathers (2014), RM Hubbert (2013) and Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat (2012).

The full SAY Award 2016 shortlist:

ANNA MEREDITH - VARMINTS

AUNTIE FLO - THEORY OF FLO

C. DUNCAN - ARCHITECT

EMMA POLLOCK - IN SEARCH OF HARPERFIELD

FFS - FFS

LAU - THE BELL THAT NEVER RANG

STEVE MASON - MEET THE HUMANS
THE REVENGE

YOUNG FATHERS - WHITE MEN ARE BLACK MEN TOO

CHVRCHES - EVERY OPEN EYE















- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

MOET GIVES US THE PERFECT EXCUSE TO PARTY IN GLASGOW

CHAMPAGNE is something you normally drink on a very special occasion (unless you're lucky enough to have some on tap like Moet ambassador Scarlett Johansson).
And June 11 aka Moet Party Day was the perfect celebration to try some of the quite literally coolest champagne in the world.


Moet Ice was in abundance in Glasgow's Ashton lane as the champagne house marked the first champagne spray by Le Mans winner Dan Gurney in 1967 when he celebrated his win by impulsively spraying the crowd with his trophy Jeroboam of Moët & Chandon.


Glasgow's Lane Bar joined Edinburgh in being two of the 35 cities worldwide which took part in the festivities.
Later in the evening there was also a part at Corinthian Club with even more bubbles.


The all white party in Ashton Lane came complete with Balearic beats, DJ sets from Shae D and Nick Peacock and live saxophone beats.


Harry Potter and Departed actor David O'Hara was amongst the guests but the Moet was star of the show.
The white ice bottles and glasses were filled with cucumber, grapefruit and mint to set off the taste of the champagne which was slightly sweeter than usual.
It might have been Glasgow but with the outdoor seating, life rings, beach towels and ice buckets, theshowbizlion.com could have been in St Tropez.



- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

WATCH THE LIGHT THAT IS CHRISTINA GRIMMIE ON HER LAST VISIT TO SCOTLAND

The Showbiz Lion was devastated to hear about the death of young US talent Christina Grimmie after meeting with her in Glasgow.
We had the great pleasure of chatting with her when she appeared in Scotland at Glasgow's Garage Club in February last year.
We had a long chat backstage about the ups and downs of her career, the geeky fans she had, and being a female in the music industry.
Christina, 22, who was an Internet sensation and came third in the US series of The Voice was a lovely down to earth girl who was realistic about fame and its trappings.
She was shot dead during a meet and greet with fans after a performance in Orlando, Florida.
Her brother, Marcus, who was with her when she died, shared a heartbreaking statement on Saturday saying Christina was "more than my sister, she was a partner."
We send our love to her family and friends and hope the video above can provide some comfort during this awful time.


- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

COLDPLAY BRING LOVE TO HAMPDEN

Maria Callas kicked off Coldplay's biggest gig in Scotland yet and we knew were in for a night of classics.
Classic partying.
For a band that is often misrepresented as being boring and bland, Chris showed his sold out crowd at Glasgow's Hampden Stadium that he has more charisma in his little pinkie than his detractors.
A Head Full of Dreams, the title track of the tour came before anthemic Yellow which got the crowd singing along.



Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall gave them more of the same and Paradise proved to be a full on party track which even had Chris dancing along the runway.
A touching tribute to Muhammud Ali came with a moving video of the Greatest man himself and later in the set Chris paid tribute to David Bowie with his own rendition of Heroes.


The crowd was warmed up and then we all exploded with joy along with the confetti cannons as we went into true party mode on the A stage with a run of the biggies Clocks, Hymn For The Weekend, Viva La Vida and Adventure For A Lifetime.


Giant bouncing balls were thrown about the stadium as everyone jumped up and down with glee like excited teenagers at their first school dance.
And then Chris and co disappeared off the stage only to reappear on an even smaller stage towards the back of the stadium giving seated guests an even better view.


He sang Amazing Grace before giving one lucky Scots fan a song she requested on Instagram.
The canons boomed, the confetti fell, the pyros blazed, the lasers blasted and Hampden was filled with love.
A sea of neon armbands waved for Up and Up, bathing the stadium in a rainbow and it was the perfect end to a brilliant day.



- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

COLDPLAY WARM UP FOR GLASGOW'S HAMPDEN ARRIVING BY PRIVATE JET

COLDPLAY arrived by private jet in Scotland at lunchtime before their Hampden gig this evening.
Chris Martin and the lads were on top form as they stepped off their private black and white Embraer Legacy plane and were met by a fleet of people carriers at Glasgow Airport.



They came direct from London and are scheduled to fly straight out this evening.
Last time they played here however, Chris Martin stayed on to party and took a civilian flight back home the next day.
A member of their entourage took a picture of their tour buses outside the venue earlier this morning to tease fans that they'd stayed overnight.


The lads could be heard sound checking at Scotland's National Stadium just after 2pm and they even posed in front of the saltire to prove they were in town.
Here's the set list from Manchester a few days ago.
1. A Head Full of Dreams

2. Yellow

3. Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall

4. The Scientist

5. Birds

6. Paradise

7. Everglow

8. Lovers in Japan

9. Magic

10. Clocks

11. Midnight

12. Charlie Brown

13. Hymn for the Weekend

14. Fix You

15. Heroes

16. Viva la Vida

17. Adventure of a Lifetime

18. Don’t Panic

19. In My Place

20. See You Soon

21. Amazing Day

22. A Sky Full of Stars

23. Up&Up




- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

SILVERBURN GHOST SPOOKS SHOPPERS

HAVE you seen a ghost at Silverburn?
Shoppers at the Scots shopping centre in Glasgow have been left terrified, after spotting a ghostly figure floating through the nine-year-old Pollok building.
The apparition, said to be of a woman dressed in all black period clothing, has left Silverburn staff baffled, as it is the fourth sighting to be reported in as many weeks. Silverburn Management have since taken the unusual step of calling in paranormal experts, Glasgow Paranormal Investigations, to help establish the cause of the sightings.
A spokesperson from Silverburn commented: "We are aware that a shadowy woman has been spotted around the centre and we are taking the sightings extremely seriously. We have reached out to local experts in the field of paranormal activity, who will hopefully be able to shed some light on the matter."
One shopper who wishes to remain anonymous commented, "We were waiting on our friend coming out of one of the shops, when out of the corner of my eye I saw this dark figure down the corridor, almost hovering – it was terrifying."
Silverburn security guard Thomas Chalmers, who also claims to have seen the ghost said: "I had just finished my shift and was leaving the centre bathroom, when I just felt this sudden chill. I didn't think much of it, but as I looked up I saw this shadowy figure disappear down the hall. There is no way that it was human."
A member of Glasgow Paranormal Investigations explained: "It is not uncommon for a spirit to be attached to a site before the present building was constructed. Possibly Silverburn or the construction of the new cinema disturbed it. This can be common in hauntings. The most important thing is to ensure whoever it is, finds a peaceful resting place."
Silverburn opened in 2007, built on the former Pollock shopping centre site. Last year the centre opened a further £20million extension to the building, comprising of a Cineworld cinema and a new restaurant wing. Prior to the recent sightings there have been no official reports of paranormal activity.
Have you seen the ghostly lady? To help in its investigation, Silverburn would like to hear from you. Please contact enquiries@shopsilverburn.com or tell us at theshowbizlion@gmail.com







- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

SNOW PATROL'S GARY LIGHTBODY RETURNS TO DUNDEE UNI

SNOW Patrol's Gary Lightbody is going back to where his music began when he receives an honorary degree from the University of Dundee this summer.
Gary graduated from the University in 1998 with an English degree. But the real impact on his life and career from university life came with the formation of the band, which started from a conversation on his very first day in Dundee.
Snow Patrol have since gone on to sell millions of records, play the world’s biggest stages, and Gary has become a songwriter in demand, including collaborations with Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran.
He will receive the honorary degree Doctor of Laws at the University’s Graduation ceremony on Friday June 24th.
He said: "On my very first day at Dundee I met Mark McClelland and we started the band. It really means the world to me to be coming back to the University to receive an honorary degree. My mum and aunt are coming over and a few of my best mates will be there too, so it’s going to be a great day.”
Gary is currently busy recording a new Snow Patrol album.
Professor Sir Pete Downes, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee, added: “We are always keen to follow the progress of our graduates and see the impact they make on the world after leaving Dundee.
“Gary’s success with Snow Patrol has helped spread the University’s name around the world and we are delighted to welcome him back to receive his honorary degree.”
The University’s Graduation ceremonies take place in the Caird Hall in Dundee from June 22 to June 24. Gary will receive his honorary degree at the afternoon ceremony on Friday June 24, which starts at 2.30 pm.











- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com