Floyd experience to be recreated at festival

One of the world's leading tribute bands will be performing live at the Manx Telecom Bay Festival.

The Australian Pink Floyd will bring a spectacular stage show to the Valhalla tent on Friday, June 19.

The band, which performed at the Villa Marina in 2004, is renowned for creating classic Pink Floyd songs in quadrophonic sound.

Visual effects include inflatables, lasers and, for the first time at Noble's Park, 3D projections, for which free glasses will be supplied on the night.

The members received the ultimate accolade for a tribute band when they were hired by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour for his 50th birthday celebrations!

Festival organisers have also announced that X-Factor winner Shayne Ward has been added to the line-up of acts for the Sunday afternoon.

credit: http://www.manxradio.com

Cowell the executioner: As two X Factor victors are ruthlessly dumped by the music mogul's record label, why the show only has one winner

By NICOLE LAMPERT
Last updated at 2:48 PM on 23rd April 2011

There could be no better illustration of the merry-go-round way Simon Cowell seemingly conducts his business: as his hugely popular programme Britain’s Got Talent hits the airwaves again, hunting for new acts to sign, two of his reality show winners have quietly been dropped from his record label.

Joe McElderry and Shayne Ward — who won The X Factor in 2009 and 2005, respectively — have recently had their contracts terminated with the record label arm of his company, Syco.

Joe, 19, had been signed with the company for less than 18 months. Shayne lasted five years — although he had spent a great deal of that time waiting for the company to put out his third album.

Credit: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

No hard feelings as Louis heads to Shayne gig

By Melanie Finn

Saturday March 26 2011

X Factor judge Louis Walsh has revealed how he'll be at his former protege Shayne Ward's gig in Dublin this weekend.

As proof that there's no hard feelings between the pair, who parted ways amid much speculation, the music mogul will be cheering Shayne on in the Olympia theatre tomorrow.

And he said they have moved on from their previous working relationship and things are "very amicable" between them.

"There's no hard feelings between us and no falling out. We just parted ways and we're friends now so I want to show him my support," he said.

He also revealed how Shayne will be the support act to Boyzone in Scotland next August.

There was much speculation on what had happened between the pair after it was revealed that Louis was no longer his manager -- with even rumours of a spat. He had signed up the part-Irish star immediately after he won X Factor in 2005 and enjoyed massive chart success.

But when his record company decided to put his third album on the back-burner, Louis said they had no choice but to call it a day.

Tears

At the time, he said: "I gave blood, sweat and tears in working with him -- I absolutely did. Then there was no record, it all dried up. There was nothing I could do at all."

Although he's still signed to Simon Cowell's label, Syco, Shayne took a massive step back from the music scene.

He spent time in Asia and South Africa working with various producers as he worked on his new material.

Now he's back with a bang promoting his third album, Obsession, and his new single, Gotta Be Somebody.

mfinn@herald.ie

- Melanie Finn

The EX Factor: Shayne Ward dropped by Simon Cowell's record label

The Diary by Dianne Bourne

April 20, 2011

Clayton's X Factor winner Shayne Ward has been dropped by Simon Cowell’s record label Syco.

Shayne has worked with the label for the past five years after winning the second series of the ITV talent show, and has released three albums including the most recent, Obsession, in November last year.

It is hoped Shayne, 26, won’t suffer the curse of fellow former male X Factor winners Steve Brookstein, Leon Jackson and even 2009’s winner Joe McElderry, who were all dropped by Cowell’s label and have barely been heard of since.

And Shayne’s management company confirmed to The Diary he has already got a new record deal in the pipeline.

A spokesman for Outside Organisation said: “His contract at SyCo has come to an end. He has a very exciting new record coming up which will be announced very shortly.”

Shayne was also remaining upbeat about the situation.  He posted on his Twitter account: “To all my fans I am great!  Remember business is business! 1 door closed, a Thousand more will open.”

The heart-throb told The Diary earlier this year how he’d been diversifying his talents by signing with an actors’ agency and modelling agency.

Shayne’s loyal fans are hoping that he will continue with his music though.

Superfan Jules Nelson-Littleproud, who even organised protests in Manchester back in 2009 demanding the release of his new album, said she hopes a new record company will treat Shayne – and his fans – a little better.

Housewife Jules, 47, said: “Personally speaking, I don’t think that Simon Cowell is really interested in nurturing these people.

“I just hope now that Shayne gets picked up by a label that looks after him and takes him to the level that we all know he is capable of.

“There were three years where he just wasn’t heard of, but why would Syco want him to be out of the public eye for three years?  Naturally people move on, but Shayne is lucky that, because he’s such a talent, his fans are still there.

“His voice is just amazing, that’s why I’m a fan, and the thought of not hearing that any more is just terrible.”

credit: http://menmedia.co.uk

Katie Waissel: 'Shayne Ward shouldn't give up'

Katie Waissel has insisted that Shayne Ward shouldn't give up on his music career.

The X Factor winner was recently dropped by Simon Cowell's label Syco, but Waissel explained that he should use this to his advantage.

She told Metro: "It is a shame for anybody to be dropped. It's hurtful but he shouldn't look at it as the end of his journey. Maybe it's just the beginning.

"Maybe now is a turning point for him to focus on what he wants to do and to do it his own way."

Waissel went on to imply that the music industry is very fickle but Ward shouldn't let that deter him.

She added: "It is frustrating but unfortunately that's the way the music industry works and it's horrible.

"If I was to see him now I'd say 'Sod it, rock out and do what you want to do. Use it to your advantage'."

Celebrity fans flock to Crucible snooker

The Betfred.com World Championship is now firmly underway in Sheffield and the game certainly attracts its fair share of celebrity fans, writes Richard Hercock.

Comedian Lenny Henry was there on opening morning to see world champion Neil Robertson open his defence against China Open winner Judd Trump.

You will get footballers brushing shoulders with snooker fans at the Crucible Theatre, while boxer Carl Froch, the 33-year-old WBC Super Middleweight champion, hopes to catch some action during the 17 days of play.

The Nottingham is a huge snooker fan and spends time on the baize with Michael Holt, the world No 43.

“I’ve never been to a big tournament - I’ve only been to watch qualifying matches at the EIS,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to go to the Crucible but the World Championship has always clashed with my fights or training schedule.

“This year I’m really hoping to make it to the final as I’ve heard the atmosphere is brilliant. The world final would not be a bad time to go to my first venue.”

He might be sat next to Westlife star Shane Filan, who will be at the Crucible for the final weekend.

“I can’t wait,” said Filan. “ The arena is so quiet, but then once in a while it erupts, like when someone makes a century.”

The Irish musician, who is close friends with Dubliner Ken Doherty, managed to squuze in some Crucible action back in 2008, in between recording and on the road touring.

“I was struck by the intensity of the atmosphere, which is difficult to describe to anyone who hasn’t been there.”

So if you are down at the Crucible watching your favourite snooker player this next fortnight, just take a glance sideways at who is sitting next to you, it might be someone famous.

Shayne Ward 'dropped by label'

Tuesday April 19 2011

Shayne Ward has reportedly been dropped by Simon Cowell's record label.

The singer - who won the X Factor in 2005 - failed to crack the top 10 when he released his third album Obsession last November.

The Sun reports that the 26-year-old has now become the fourth male winner of the ITV show to be axed by Simon's label Syco.

A Syco spokesman told the newspaper: "After five very successful years and an international career which saw him sell over 3.2 million records, Shayne's contract has come to an end."

Shayne performed the first single from Obsession, Gotta Be Somebody, live on X Factor in November. The single made it to number 12 in the charts.

Press Association

Source/Credit:http://www.independent.ie