THE LEGENDARY JACKSONS ON A TIMELESS GLASGOW TRIP

IT'S half a century since the then tiny vocal group The Jackson Five first entered the professional music scene but their songs and dance moves remained timeless as they played to a packed house at Glasgow's 02 Academy.

Now a four piece, singers Jackie, 66, and Markon ,60 and vocalist/guitarist Tito, 63 and vocalist/bassist Jermaine, 62 might be more grandfathers of soul these days but their super funky energy was still there.
A super beat filled DJ set by former Corrie star Craig Charles and the opening strains of ABC on film gave us a taster of what was in store.

As the US superstars shimmied on stage wearing their black and silver sequinned outfits for Can You Feel It followed by Blame It On the Boogie the audience erupted into a sea of dancing limbs. All we needed was a giant disco ball.
As beads of sweat began to collectively gather in the performers and audience, the pace was slowed down for the smooth Rock With You before more choreography during Enjoy Yourself.

It was touching to see the video backdrop play the original routines with an innocently youthful looking band dressed in all white in the background.
Without the legendary Michael, who was undoubtedly there in spirit, and now youngest brother Randy who is not in the current line up, the brothers Jackson were still a veritable force who pleased at every turn.
Video messages from family members provided a brief respite for everyone before the hits rolled like an ever running tap with a medley of anthems like ABC, I Want You Back, and Never Can Say Goodbye.
Michael passed away almost exactly eight years ago and the brothers beautiful rendition of Gone Too Soon touched everyone in the hall.
The Jacksons are an important part of global musical history and it was a privilege to watch them.

YO! GLASGOW CENTRAL FLAGSHIP STORE WILL PLEASE EVERYONE INCLUDING BOOST SCOTTISH FISHERMAN

JAPANESE food lovers will be in their element with the brand new flagship YO! restaurant in Glsgow City Centre - and Scottish salmon suppliers will be thrilled to bits too.
With 72-covers in a historic listed building at 85 West George Street the Yo! Glasgow Central restaurant will serve a perfect mix of YO! classics and newly curated dishes including hot favourites Katsu Curry, Ramen & Miso, Yakisoba, Chahan, Teriyaki, Gyoza and Tempura, and delicious hand made cold Nigiri, Temaki, Sashimi, Rolls and Fresh Salads.
The restaurant which has just opened its doors this week also serves up a brilliant 16 vegan and 33 vegetarian dishes.

Theshowbizlion.com has always loved a bit of the exotic and we will be first in line to try the amazing range of grub on offer.

Is it just us who gets excited at watching the endless conveyor belt of food? We feel like we're playing a game we always win when we eat at YO!
We'll let you know how we get on with the latest dishes shortly.  We've always loved the salmon sushi dishes but can't wait to try out some of the new hot food on offer.
 To demonstrate its commitment to Scotland, the restaurant is working with Scottish suppliers to source the best quality salmon fresh from the country’s shores.
In fact from July 2017 only Scottish salmon will be served in YO!’s 78 restaurants across the UK.
YO! is one of the only high street restaurants that freshly prepares its dishes on site, and this year is celebrating twenty years of being in business.
 Set within a prominent historic listed building, the new Yo! retains, and indeed showcases, much of the original cast iron frames, both internally and externally.
A striking new glass facade will overlook the bustling hub of Nelson Mandela Place along with a further glass impression running the length of the building on the West George Street adjacency, and leading to a bright welcoming main entrance.
We managed to spot some of the original signage for the place while it was being refurbished.

Inside, YO!’s legendary Kaiten belt will frame the central theatre kitchen and snake around the entire restaurant, allowing customers to grab the fresh dishes from every seat.
Elsewhere, standout design features carrying distinct Japanese references include a stunning Origami-inspired ceiling as well as ‘Shoji’ screen-inspired cladding to the internally illuminated belt.
A new To Go menu will also be available across both hot and cold dishes.
YO! CEO, Robin Rowland OBE said: “We are thrilled to confirm YO! is returning to Glasgow city centre. YO! fans can expect to enjoy exciting new food offerings, as well as all their popular favourites, enjoyed off YO!’s legendary signature conveyor belt, and set against a cutting-edge restaurant interior.
“YO! Glasgow Central will be a fitting statement for a city we have a fantastic history with.

THE KNIVES WERE OUT FOR GLOW'S BRIAN MATTHEWS AT ZIPPOS CIRCUS

CHEATING Glow star Brian Matthews was left literally teetering on a knife edge after his on off girlfriend Victoria Obahor got her revenge on his wicked ways with a horrific circus stunt.

Unwitting Brian had been invited down to Zippos circus tent at Glasgows Victoria Park by his fed up missus who suggested he might like to try out some clowning for the day.

But Brian's fun day out soon turned into his scariest experience yet when Victoria admitted she'd arranged for the love rat to have burning knives thrown at him.

The former footballer and Kavalii nightclub owner didn't want to appear like a coward so went through with the daring stunt while knife thrower Toni Novotony happily took some pot shots at him on her behalf.

Before he took to the wheel Victoria gave him a 'last kiss' as a woeful looking Brian said: "Mum, dad, I love you all."

Asked if he had any final confessions he wanted to make he added: "No I don't have long enough."

Toni from the Czech Republic and his wife Nikol spun a sick looking Brian round on a wheel while a giggling Victoria watched on.

After the nerve wracking stunt, womaniser Brian who was pictured in bed with lottery winner Jane Park just two months ago vowed he'd think twice about cheating on Victoria.

The normally suave lothario was decidedly flustered as he was helped down from the wheel. He said : "I'm dizzy. That was scary. I don't know how you can do that every night. Those burning. knives were close, a bit too close. I felt every knife. I don't know if I was sweating or if it was the heat from them. I need to sit down. You definitely got your own back with that. I'm shaking. I'll never be a lad again now."

Victoria who has previously shaved off Brian's treasured beard after his indiscretions, said: "I've got my own back now for all the stuff you've done to me. I think were quits now. Sorry."

Knife thrower Toni who used his grandfathers knives for the stunt admitted he had been nervous afterwards. He said: "Brian was really nervous. I could feel it. I was also nervous because it was a different person than my wife. He was taller too."

In an added twist Victoria caught the eye of one of the Lucius Troupe who perform inside the Globe of Death on motorbikes.

Feeling guilty for what she did to Brian she agreed to go inside the globe while two riders whizzed around inside it. She said afterwards: "I set Brian up but was roped into the Globe of Death too. It was a near death experience too but thankfully we have both survived."

Excerpts of this article have since appeared in the Scottish Sun.

From Scotland with Love - theshowbizlion.com

THE SPORTING VERSION OF JEREMY KYLE COMES TO SCOTLAND WITH WHYTE AND MACKAY

EVER fancied taking a lie detector test? 

Whyte & Mackay have set up a portable Lion or Lyin' detector test in Scotland in conjunction with rugby fans to prove they’re smooth enough to support the British & Irish Lions as the squad heads towards their first clash with the All Blacks in New Zealand this weekend.

While the showbizlion.com doesn't know that much about the sport, we were only too happy to try out the technologically impressive equipment along with a dram or two of the blended stuff from the distillery. 

Normally rivals, the Lions squad have put their differences aside for the duration of the tour every four years. 

As official suppliers to the team, Whyte & Mackay are challenging all fans to do the same by passing the Lion Detector test in the world’s smallest travelling rugby stadium that will roar to life this weekend.

After we tried on a special scrumcap which was linked to a computer, award winning comedians Link and Lorne tried to delve into our thoughts. They asked questions about our attitude towards England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 

Sex never came up, not once...which probably made everyone on our live feed sigh with relief. 

Without giving too much away, our answers got us a 100 per cent pass which meant we received a free voucher for a malt whisky.

Award winning Sports stars Michael Jamieson and Gemma Gibbons also passed the test and now you can try it too. 

The Lion Detector will visit partner bars, The Old Schoolhouse in Glasgow and The Merlin Roadhouse in Edinburgh over the next three weekends and fans will also have a chance to win an exclusive official signed team jersey1 and receive a complimentary dram2 of award-winning Whyte & Mackay.

Link and Lorne said: "The best things come in pairs. Link and Lorne. Whyte and Mackay. The British and Irish. Don’t make us yellow card you. Show us you’re our mane man! Mon the Lions!”

 Head for a dram at the Lion Detector at:

 

The Old School House, 287-315 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6NG

Friday 23rd June 4pm – 8pm

Saturday 24th June 2pm – 7pm

Thursday 6th July 6pm – 9pm

Friday 7th July 4pm – 8pm

Saturday 8th July 2pm – 7pm

 

The Merlin Roadhouse, 168 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, EH10 4PU

Thursday 29th June 6pm – 9pm

Friday 30th June 4pm – 8pm

Saturday 1st July 2pm – 7pm

KIRSTEN WIIG AND STEVE CARELL TALK SCOTS ANDY MURRAY AND SCOTT BROWN.

 

HOLLYWOOD superstars Steve Carell and Kirsten Wiig reckon Scotland Captain Scott Brown could be a distant relative of Despicable Me 3 star Gru.

But both stars admitted kindly that he was much better looking.

In a hilarious interview with STV2 Late Show Host Ewen Cameron aired last night at 10:30pm, the two stars who appear in the new movie admitted there were definite similarities between the two public figures. 

After seeing a picture that Brown had posted online of himself looking like the cartoon star of Despicable Me 3, Steve Carell, who voices the character in the movie which comes out next week said: "There's a little bit of something Gru there. He's a very handsome version of Gru. They could be distantly related. He's the good looking Gru."

An impressed Kirsten Wiig added: "It looks clear to me they share some DNA." 

Steve also sent Scott a good luck message for the World Cup adding: "Hi Scott I hope you make it to the World Cup. I think you are being a little hard on yourself. You are a very good looking individual. You might share some similarities like an inner warmth in your heart, a kindness and generosity and that's what you're seeing in Gru. Good luck and hope it works out." 

Ewen said afterwards: "Steve didn't know who Scott Brown was and didn't watch Scottish football, but I told him he was one of the most famous people in Scotland."

During the broadcast Kirsten Wiig also did a mean impression of tennis champ Andy Murray. 

Ewen said: "She was doing an impression of Andy Murray and it turned into the voice of an old Scottish granny. She wished him well and her big bit of advice for in was to get the ball over the net as much as he can."

From Scotland with Love - theshowbizlion.com

TRIBUTES FLOOD IN FOR BRAVE CROOKSTON SCHOOLBOY SPARKY

TRIBUTES have flooded in for the late Celtic mad thirteen year old who won the heart of NDubz Dappy and countless other celebrities.

Brave Crookston lad Mark Sparky Gallagher passed away from brain tumour Craniopharyngioma on Saturday.
The terminally ill schoolboy was diagnosed with the condition six and a half years ago and his mum Michelle, 31, and seven year old brother Che were told at the start of the year by doctors there was nothing more they could do following thirty eight operations.
Friends and family, with help from the Les Hoey MBE Dreammaker Foundation, Glasgows Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Robin House did their utmost to make his short life as memorable as they could.
During his illness Sparky was sent messages of support from everyone including Shameless star Jody Latham, View guitarist Kieren Webster and Geordie Shore's Jay Gardner.
He featured in the Dreammaker Christmas song, sang with Susan Boyle, met most of the Celtic team including Scott Brown and Callum McGregor and was thrilled to have close contact with NDubz rapper Dappy. Family friend Lindsay Coyle said at the time: "Sparky is Dappy’s number one fan and even loves him more than his beloved Celtic."
The two met initially in 2012 at a London recording studio organised by children’s charity Rays of Sunshine.
In January, Sparky's birthday month, they were reunited when Dappy met up with him after two Scots gigs.
Amongst those who have paid tribute to Sparky's passing were Celtic legend Bertie Auld who visited Sparky just last week in Robin House.
He sent a private message to Sparky's mum within hours of hearing the news.
BAFTA award winning actress Kathleen McDermott also said: "My heart is breaking - fly high little man. Love you and will miss u sooo much!!"
Les Hoey and Angela Jamieson Cook from the Dreammaker Foundation said: "He was a remarkably strong wee boy who always gave people a high five no matter how ill he was. He was such a cheeky chap and was even twerking to music on Friday in Robin House."
Posted with Love in Scotland from theshowbizlion.com
Excerpts of this article have since appeared in the Evening Times and Daily Record

BOYZLIFE AND NICHOLAS MCDONALD COLLABORATE AT GLASGOW CHARITY BASH

BOYZLIFE singers Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy surprised partygoers by inviting Scots singer Nicholas McDonald on stage to perform at a Scots fundraising ball.


The Irish heartthrobs from Westlife and Boyzone were secret guests at the Donna Mortimer Ballantyner Trust ball and had already told punters and sporting celebs including Jamie Walker, Walter Smith and Scott Allan: "This isn't a job. This is f***ing great" as they performed hits including Picture of You, Mandy and Uptown Girl."

Nicholas who was in the audience with fellow X factor talent Caitlyn Van Beck who had earlier performed in memory of Donna who passed away from cancer couldn't wait to get up on stage.
He jumped up for a rendition of Westlife cover Swear It Again.

Keith said:"He was gagging to get up there. I couldn't turn him down."
The Boyzlife stars commented on the hundreds of mobile phones that were recording them, quipping: "We used to write some nice handwritten notes to one another."

Following the event which raised over a hundred thousand pounds for the charity at Glasgow's Doubletree Hilton, Keith sat in the bar downing tequila shots.
 Brian stayed up in his room after bringing his PE teacher girlfriend Danielle with him to Glasgow.

Posted with love from Scotland - theshowbizlion.com

Excerpts of this article have since appeared in the Glasgow Evening Times