Young Scot Awards 2011: Dance judge Alesha Dixon hails our heroes

STRICTLY Come Dancing star Alesha Dixon saluted our Young Scots of 2011 as she hailed the awards ceremony as the most inspirational she's ever attended.

The singer was just one of a host of celebrities who turned out on Thursday to celebrate the stunning achievements of our country's young people.

Alesha, who congratulated winners including Sunday Mail Readers' Choice Michaela Girvan, said: "Anything that supports youngsters, encouraging and rewarding them is really important.

"This is the most inspirational awards ceremony I have been to and I have loved every minute of it."

Guests at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow enjoyed performances from stars such as X Factor favourites Olly Murs, Shayne Ward and girl band Wonderland.

Greg McHugh, star of hit comedy Gary: Tank Commander, rubbed shoulders with gold medal swimmer Robbie Renwick at the awards - supported by the Co-operative Foundation.

In-demand Olly had to drive back to London after our big night to join the Radio 1 breakfast show with Chris Moyles on Friday when he hailed the awards on-air.

He said: "It's been a busy 24 hours but the opportunity to come up here and be a part of this is something I didn't want to turn down.

"There were lots of tears and it was quite emotional but it was also it was great seeing all the kids with big smiles and having a good time."

Shayne added: "The great thing about these awards is they touch upon so many things that these young people have done."

Even Skins star Freya Mavor, nominated in the entertainment category, said she was not too disappointed to miss out on an award because there were so many inspirational stories.

She said: "All the nominations are so worthwhile. These are brilliant projects and some absolutely amazing people.

DailyRecord

Shayne brings a smile to children's ward

By Nicola Anderson

Saturday March 26 2011

HE might not be good at building things out of Lego but former 'X Factor' winner Shayne Ward is a dab hand at winning hearts.
Mothers, nurses and young patients at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, in Dublin, were all agreed on one thing yesterday -- there is just "something" about Shayne. Call it "the X factor", if you must.
The pop star, in Ireland on his 'Up Close and Personal Tour', slipped into St John's Ward yesterday to spend some time with children who have cancer and blood disorders, acting as the "special delivery guy" for boxes of Lego donated by the toy company.
The singer signed autographs and posed for pictures. Gerard Gaffney (6), from Lusk, Co Dublin, played with him on the tractors. And the look on the face of Niamh McNulty (16), from Convoy, Co Donegal, said it all as her idol posed for a picture beside her.
Awaiting a bone marrow transplant, she is a "huge fan" and had seen him in concert at Belfast. But did she ever think she would get to play Lego with him? "No," Niamh said in disbelief, watching as Shayne grappled with the pieces, laughing at his own attempts.
Shayne divulged he was keen to move to Ireland some time in the near future. "I'm going to move here -- of course," he said. "I love it and I have family here."
He said he hoped his visit would give the children a boost, adding: "A smile on their faces is the biggest reward I could get."

- Nicola Anderson

Irish Independent

Review: Shayne Ward Olympia, Dublin

By Ed Power

Monday March 28 2011

SHAYNE Ward offers a sobering lesson in what happens when a reality television star tries to cling on after their allotted 15 minutes has turned to smoke.
The 2005 'X Factor' winner had been eking out a respectable career as a one-man boyband but how the wheels came off when his relationship with Simon Cowell started to cool.
Delayed by 18 months, his most recent album, 'Obsession', was a something of a flop, limping into the UK Top 20 and falling shy of the Top 10 here, where Ward's following has been especially intense on account of his Manchester-Irish roots.
A sign of his diminishing stock is that he's performing in The Olympia, having once headlined what was then The Point (though, to be fair, he's booked for three nights).
Stomping around stage, in T-shirt and jeans, he looks less like the "new Justin Timberlake", as Cowell once described him, than a brick-layer with a decent voice.
Dark clouds have trailed him through his current tour. According to press reports, his gigs in London were sparsely attended -- which may have been as well, as he apparently used the occasion to launch a flailing broadside against his former mentor.
"I haven't spoken to Simon since I left the show," he reportedly stated at Shepherd's Bush Empire. "He seems to call everyone else but me."
Perhaps it has finally dawned on Ward that the raison d'etre of 'The X Factor' isn't to unearth new talent.
He does put in a spirited performance, illuminated by a gutsy cover of Bruno Mars's 'Just The Way You Are'. You only hope the next time he treads the Olympia boards it isn't for Christmas panto.

- Ed Power

Irish Independent

Alexandra Burke Performs At Children's Champion Awards

The stars come out for the charity event ...

By Christine Lee on Thursday 31st March 2011 Photo by WENN.COM

shayne Ward attended the show and Alexandra Burke performed at the ceremony at Grosvenor House. It was hosted by Davina McCall and Simon Cowell.

Stars including Alexandra Burke and Simon Cowell came out last night to honour the unsung heroes who help improve the lives of children across the UK.
The 'News of the World Children's Champions Award' took place last night where X Factor winner Burke performed in front of guests Davina McCall, Kerry Katona and previous X Factor winner Shayne Ward.
The 'Broken Heels' singer wore a pink printed dress with hot pink heels and promised to give an extra special performance for the winners, who were taken to 10 Downing Street to meet Prime Minster David Cameron before the ceremony.
Burke told Now: "When I was in X Factor we came to these awards and I remember being moved to tears by the stories. It was so humbling. I never imagined one day I'd be up on that stage, I'm going to sing my heart out."
The ceremony will be televised on Sky Living HD on April 3.

Live Review shayne ward @ Manchester apollo

22nd Mar 2011

Reviewed by: Chris White

Bar an X-Factor performance and the low-key release of Shayne’s recent album Obsession, the comeback of someone once touted as one of the UK's premier male pop stars has been somewhat muted. Quite what’s been going on at SyCo, the Simon Cowell owned record label to which Shayne is signed, remains to be seen. Rather the forge ahead with a more traditional promotional campaign, it seems the powers that be decided a rather low-key UK tour would be the best way to re-introduce Mr Ward to the public and his remaining fans, and after Friday’s gig at Manchester Apollo, this may have in fact been a very wise decision.

Performing to a packed house, it was obvious from the start how much this gig in particular meant to the boyishly handsome singer. An early introduction to his family in the audience followed a gushing and emotional declaration of how good it was to be back on home turf, performing live. It’s widely been reported that Shayne is one of the nicest men in pop, and I’d have to say those reports are extremely accurate. Charming, humble, and seemingly very appreciative to be back on stage, you couldn’t help but share his joy and feel pleased for him.

The set-up was simple yet effective; and hour and a half of Shayne backed by a small live band (including Phoebe, a dynamite Estelle-lookalike backing vocalist), singing his biggest hits and some choice cuts from his three albums to date. Oh and a fabulous cover of Bruno Mars’ ‘Just The Way You Are’; a pretty failsafe way to get the predominantly female crowd singing along. Whilst the cheese factor certainly gets cranked up on numbers such as ‘Melt The Snow’ and ‘If That’s Ok With You’, emotional ballads such as ‘Foolish’ and ‘Breathless’ (performed to  three giggling 10 year olds plucked from the audience, no less) are by far Shayne’s forte.

Most note-worthy of everything from this gig has to be Shayne’s quite simply incredible voice. In his recent three year hiatus from the music scene, you’d be forgiven for forgetting just what he sounded like. The answer is breathtaking. Even the most hardened of music fans would fail to not be impressed by vocals like this. I can report the ‘hairs standing up moments’ count finished at... well, it was a lot. Falsetto notes most recent X-Factor wannabes could only dream of hitting were nailed with ease.

Although perhaps at odds with the concept behind this tour, it would have been nice to see a few more of the Timberlake-like moves we know he’s capable of to vary the pace at times. The set list also seemed a little lacking in the best tracks from his most recent album, which unfortunately could desperately do with a kick back into the charts. But as more of a showcase for why Shayne became a pop star in the first place, I’d say all bases were covered. Also worthy of mentioning were the support act, fresh new 2011 girl band Parade. Tight dance routines and in actual fact, bloody good voices left me thinking we’d be seeing a lot more of these girls this year.

A solid, impressive, and at times heart-warming performance, this was a hugely enjoyable gig and hopefully the start of a new chapter for Shayne Ward.

Shayne Ward UK tour with Parade to support

Shayne Ward is well and truly back with his new album Obsession, the top ten hit Gotta Be Somebody and soon his first UK tour in two years. 2011's most exciting new girl band PARADE have just been confirmed to support Shayne across his Up Close and Personal UK Tour. 

Despite having yet to release their single, PARADE are already building a devoted following thanks to their sassy spirited live performances packed with jaw-dropping dance routines. They recently supported Shakira on the UK leg of her tour and Alexandra Burke on her 28-date UK tour. Their single 'Louder' is released on Asylum records on 13th March. 

Shayne Ward's show stopping performance on X Factor at the end of last year and the release his third album reminded everyone of his very special vocal prowess. Ward, a singer's singer, if ever there was one, is thrilled to be back out on the road. Shayne says 'as a singer and performer nothing beats the excitement of working with a live audience'. Live has always been Shayne's natural habitat and now taking Obsession out on the road, he's putting on the ultimate show, these are his first set of intimate tour dates which start Wolverhampton on 15th March.

Ward will be performing an array of his hits, right from his X Factor smash That's My Goal to his RnB infused No U Hang Up to new fan favorites on current album Obsession. Having found his rightful place in pop society, The X Factor may have launched him but each generation throws up real talent and that always rises to the top whatever the route. This time it's Shayne Ward. 

UK Concert Dates

Tuesday 15 March 2011 Wolverhampton Civic Hall 
Wednesday 16 March 2011 London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire 
Friday 18 March 2011 Manchester O2 Apollo
Saturday 19 March 2011 Glasgow O2 ABC

Tickets are £25 regional (£26.50 London) 

The album 'Obsession' is out now on SyCo Music.

www.shayneward.com 
www.twitter.com/shaynetward 
www.paradeofficial.com 

Shayne Ward to play live at the Manchester Apollo

SHAYNE Ward has announced his first UK tour in two years, which comes to the Manchester Apollo tomorrow (Friday).

A show-stopping performance on The X Factor and the release of his third album late in 2010 reminded everyone of his vocal prowess.

He said: “As a singer and performer nothing beats the excitement of working with a live audience.”

Shayne will be performing an array of his hits, from his X Factor smash That’s My Goal to new fan favourites on current album Obsession.

For ticket details, ring 08444 777 677.