HIGHLANDER: A HOMECOMING FOR CHRISTOPHER LAMBERT, SEAN CONNERY AND CLANCY BROWN?

COULD Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery be returning to Scotland along with the rest of the cast of Highlander?
The Edinburgh International Film Festival has just announce that a special 30th anniversary screening of the newly 4K restored HIghlander, with special guests in attendance, will take place on Saturday June 18 2016, as part of the celebrations marking EIFF’s milestone 70th edition.
The cult favourite and one of the great action-fantasy romps of the 1980s, is packed with quotable lines, stylish sword-fighting moments and a memorable soundtrack from Queen.
The story has its dramatic origins in the 16th century Scottish Highlands where Connor MacLeod (Christophe Lambert) first discovers he is not like other men. After doing battle with a rival clan he is stabbed by a strange mercenary fighter called the Kurgan (Clancy Brown), but finds that he cannot die.
Befriended and trained by the charismatic Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez (Sean Connery), he finds out he is part of a group of immortals who must do battle until there is only one left alive.
Clancy Brown is acclaimed as a cult icon thanks to his mesmeric and maniacal performance as the Kurgan whilst Christophe Lambert is soulful and heroic as Connor, and Sean Connery quite sublime as the foppish yet skilful Ramirez.
Clancy Brown commented: “It’s taken a while, but I swore to myself that I would return again to Scotland after filming Highlander 30 years ago where I first learned of Robert the Bruce, James Macpherson, The Fortingall Yew and, most blissfully, single-malt scotch whisky."
Mark Adams, EIFF Artistic Director said: “We are truly delighted to be screening this cult classic on its 30th anniversary. It is a vibrant, fun and thrilling film and just as entertaining as it was all of those years ago. Plus it features some magnificent Scottish locations. This will be a great celebratory event for the 70th edition of EIFF.”
Clancy and other special guests will be in attendance at the screening on Saturday June 18 at Cineworld, Fountain Park.
Tickets priced £8/£6 will be on sale at 12noon on Monday 9th May and can be purchased here: bit.ly/1WjSfEm
The film will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on 11th July complete with brand new bonus material.


- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

IONA CRAWFORD AND THE LADIES WHO BRUNCH

SCOTS fashion designer Iona Crawford launched her new collection with extra fizz at Hutchesons restaurant in Glasgow.
Stirling born Iona, whose tailored fashion combines art with style and unusual textiles, entertained a hundred people at the stylish venue in The Merchant City.


Guest enjoyed four glasses of Laurent Perrier champagne - Le Jardin cocktail, Ultra Brut, Vintage 2006 and Cuvée Rose along with a specially created menu.


Homemade waffles with confit duck egg, Champagne poached pear salad, and Parma ham eggs benedict were amongst the dishes on the brunch menu.


Guests including veteran Scots hair stylist Rita Rusk, former newsreader Viv Lumsden and TV presenter Jean Johansson enjoyed the delights on offer.


Iona revealed that she very rarely puts size labels on her clothing as she likes to create bespoke items that will satisfy her customers who come in all shapes and sizes. She showcased some of her deconstructed fashion alongside accessories, outerwear and cashmere.


- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

X FILES STAR DAVID DUCHOVNY GOES WALKABOUT IN GLASGOW

Exclusive
Beverley Lyons
DAVID Duchovny got juiced up before his gig at Glasgow's O2 ABC tonight - with a trip to a local health food restaurant.
The X Files and Twin Peaks star only has a couple of dates in the UK and was keen to enjoy some of the delights of the city ahead of his concert.
And proving he's nothing like his alcoholic Californication character Hank Moody, he headed to the KCal Kitchen in West Regent Street for an energising green smoothie as he strolled around town.
David, whose mum is from Whitehills near Aberdeen says he loves coming back to Scotland.
He said: "Whenever I'm in Glasgow I'll jump at the chance to wear a kilt whenever I can. My mother is Scottish and I've not been here for twelve or thirteen years."
David who is a fan of the Average White Bend also revealed he's still figuring out his sound as a singer.
He added: "I started playing my guitar five or six years ago to amuse myself. I'm figuring out my sound as a singer. I have a good friend who is a virtuoso guitarist who says maybe one day he'll get back to playing like he was sixteen. I want to get back to that initial passion and curiosity you have as a beginner. As an actor I've done some sure things that turn out to be terrible failures and some terrible things turned into huge successes."


- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST BAR IN SCOTLAND?

VOTE, vote and vote...for your favourite PUB or BAR.

It's not just politicians that are looking for votes...pubs and bars across Scotland are too.

Do you know of a hot shot whisky bar or an exciting craft beer pub, a quirky gastro pub or a cool pub that's dog friendly?

If so, the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards want to have your vote!

The Oscars of the licensed trade give out gongs to the best of the best in the Scottish licensed trade and entries are open to pubs and bars from right across Scotland.

Initially set up 21 years ago to recognise excellence in the Scottish licensed trade, the awards underwent a revamp last year which saw the name change to the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards.

The awards are backed by the biggest names in the drinks industry including the BII, Caledonian Brewery, Diageo, Disaronno, Gordon & Macphail, Inverarity Morton, Isle of Arran Distillers, Kopparberg, Mixxit, Molson Coors and Tennent's, as well as Glencairn Crystal, Bright Signals, Flow Training, A Wee Dram, and The Sunday Mail.

The swish award ceremony will be held at Glasgow's Hilton Hotel on August 16 and will have a Brazilian theme in honour of the Rio Olympics.

Organiser Susan Young can't wait to receive more entries from bars, pubs and punters who think their locals come come top of the tipples.

She said: “For 21 years we have been rewarding excellence in the Scottish licensed trade, and as of last year, we have opened up the voting so that it's not just people in the industry who can vote, but pub customers who can also vote for their favourite pubs.

She continued: “The event now has a significant online presence and is being promoted in the DRAM as well on social media. To date the response has been great. Last year over a three month period more than 1,000 nominations were received, the highest entry for the awards since its inception. But already this year, only a fortnight in, more than 250 votes have been received. So it looks like it will be a bumper year for votes."

If you would like to enter your favourite pub or bar go to www.scottishbarandpubawards.com
You'll be able to see all the categories and can register your vote.
The closing date for nominations is May 31 2016.

- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

BGT'S BAILEY MCCONNELL SINGLE AND READY...

BRITAIN'S Got Talent's Bailey McConnell reckons splitting from his girlfriend has given him the motivation to write even better music.
The 17 year old talent has been writing new material for his album and was in Glasgow this week touring with The Brooks twins at the Classic Grand.
He said: " I've been writing in the studio and trying to play my song and make it sound amazing and get on stage in Glasgow and show my tracks."
He added: "I've been through a few things that have spurned me onto writing songs. I was at school and stuff and just split up with my girlfriend and that. I guess I'm single now. It was quite a while to be fair."
Of the new tracks, he said: "My music is deeper and darker and if I have to describe a genre I'd say it's like Zane, Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran mixed up."
"You just need the motivation to do what you love especially when you can turn a tough experience into something crazy like a song or dance. I aspire to have that quality and like seeing it in others."

- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

G-EAZY LOOKS LIKE CROONER, RAPS LIKE A LEGEND, IS DUE IN SCOTLAND

FRESH from Coachella the slick and smooth rapper G-EAZY is bringing his cool vibes to Scotland next month.
The artist who looks like he should be more of a crooner than a hip hopping talent has announced UK headline dates in support of his album, When It’s Dark Out, released on December 4 last year.
G-Eazy who had a Christmas hit with House Of Fraser Christmas TV advert, You Don’t Own Me by Grace, is already mixing with rap royalty.
You can expect plenty of personal storytelling and immersive, hard-hitting and sweeping productions on tour if the album which includes stars like Big Sean and Chris Brown is anything to go by.
G-Eazy will also perform tracks from These Things Happen, which was released last year to critical acclaim. The freshman album peaked at the number 3 position on both the Billboard 200 and Top Digital Album Charts, and bowed at number 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Chart and Top Rap Albums Chart.
Between the album and singles, G-Eazy’s past work has also amassed well over 50 million streams on Spotify.
As a live performer, G-Eazy has been called by USA Today one of the best and biggest hip-hop touring acts on the college circuit.
Catch him at Glasgow's 02 ABC2 on May 21 while you still can.

UK HEADLINE DATES
21-MAY-16 Glasgow, O2 ABC2
23-MAY-16 Manchester, Academy 2
24-MAY-16 Birmingham, O2 Institute 2
26-MAY-16 London, Koko
27-MAY-16 London, Electric Brixton
28-MAY-16 London, Electric Brixton


- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

5SOS SEND LOVE TO SCOTS HEART PATIENT

5 Seconds of Summer made a Scots heart patient's dream come true after sending her a private video message urging her to get better.
The Aussie rockers and She Looks So Perfect hit makers played two sell out gig at Glasgow's SSE Hydro when they were told of Scots school girl Rachel Moffat's struggle.
Rachel, 14 from Motherwell is currently bed bound in The Royal Hospital for Sick Children after undergoing a second heart transplant.
She has just come out intensive care but is on dialysis.
Mum Mary said: "Rachel had a heart transplant when she was seven but took unwell again last year . She was admitted to Glasgow Sick Kids in November and had another heart transplant on December 18. It was a Christmas miracle but because she was so ill she didn't really wake up until the end of January.
I got her a 5SOS book and hoodie for Christmas and tickets for the gig but she couldn't go.
She had spent over twenty one weeks in hospital now and she's got problems with her kidneys and critical illness neuropathy so her muscles in her body are affected and she can't really move."
"She has moved to dialysis and it seems to be going well although she has lost a lot of weight and needs nutrition."
Her birthday is in June 18 and we aim to get her sitting up to go home."
Rachel who is a huge 5SOS fan had been hoping to watch the boys perform in Glasgow after seeing them twice before in Scotland but was too unwell to attend the concert.
So instead of her going to the gig, the lads came to her via special video message after Dreammaker charity worker Les Hoey MBE and his team got in touch with them.
Mary added: "We are progressing but not fast enough for her to go to 5 Seconds of Summer. It was incredible when Les told me they were going to send a video message."
The lads including Calum whose dad is from Edinburgh told her: "Hey Rachel. It's 5 Seconds of Summer. We're thinking about you and sending all our positive vibes and all our love. We hope to see you at a show soon."
Rachel who watched the video from the renal ward said: "This has made my year. I'm so thrilled. It's wonderful. Nobody at my school Coltness High will believe it."
Mary added: "She has the biggest smile ever now and is over the moon."
Without families donating and organ donation she'd not be here and we want to thank everyone for giving her inspiration and positivity."








- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com