logo
Northern Stars: New Stephen Conley album full of hope, heart and hooks

Northern Stars: New Stephen Conley album full of hope, heart and hooks

Belfast singer-songwriter in form of his life with first solo project
Belfast-based troubadour Stephen Conley has just released his debut solo album and it's a reputation-making affair from the talented tunesmith.
Dubbed Hercules And Churches To You, the former member of the should've been massive alt-rockers Pine Barrens is at the peak of his powers on the 10-track opus and it's full of heart, hope and evergreen hooks that you'll be humming for months.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Love Island announce two new boys as heartbroken star sent home in huge twist
Love Island announce two new boys as heartbroken star sent home in huge twist

Daily Mirror

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mirror

Love Island announce two new boys as heartbroken star sent home in huge twist

Love Island have announced two new singletons for this series. The new season kicked off on Monday, but this year's singles haven't had the chance to get comfortable in their couples, as ITV producers quickly started sending in bombshells left, right, and centre. The girls were the first to come under fire as American pool party waitress Antonia Laites entered the villa and immediately stole Shakira's man. This left her vulnerable to being dumped from the island, so she soon had to start chatting up the other girls' partners in a last-ditch attempt to save herself before the next firepit ceremony. However, now it is the men on the show who have had the pressure put on them as two new bombshells have entered the villa and are ready to crack on with their girls, following the devastating dumping of Sophie Lee. Here is what we know about the new lads... Shea, 25, from Bristol, said he is looking for someone bubbly, who's got "that spark". Unlike some of the other boys in the villa, this one is not looking to mess around. Shea wants to find a good girl with a "nice personality" to get serious with. It's also very important to him that she will be understanding of the important role his young son plays in his life. The scaffolder, who admits he spends most mornings in the gym, added: "I am ready again to look for something more serious. I'm 25 now, so I want to be settling down and have someone always by my side." Although Shea is looking for a wifey, his single days are not far behind him. When asked what he would be the boss of, he didn't hesitate to say "pulling girls". The cheeky gym buff added: "I'm confident to go up and introduce myself and say, 'You look beautiful', to get a conversation flowing." Essex-based content creator Remell, 24, wants to meet someone who is "bubbly, confident, ambitious and fun". He admitted he easily gets bored of being with the same person, so girls on the island better look out, because his head might be quickly turned. Remell joked that a film based on his love life up until now would be called "Once a Player, Not Always a Player", adding: "I'm the CEO of flirting. Sometimes it's just unintentional." The self improvement guru also opened up about his high standards, saying he needs a woman who can "stimulate him mentally" and his biggest ick is someone with no ambition or goals. He shared: "If I can't talk to a woman and pick her brain, have some discussion, that's a huge turn off for me as where are we going to be going?" The two new boys were introduced to the villa moments after the other Islanders were left devastated by Sophie's exit. The motivational speaker from Manchester was axed from the show after Shakira decided to steal her man in order to remain in the villa, so the bombshells have got some cheering up to do. .

Ed Sheeran reveals secret boozy night out with major sports star as he lifts lid on his huge celeb pals
Ed Sheeran reveals secret boozy night out with major sports star as he lifts lid on his huge celeb pals

The Sun

time4 hours ago

  • The Sun

Ed Sheeran reveals secret boozy night out with major sports star as he lifts lid on his huge celeb pals

AS one of the nicest blokes in the music business, it's no wonder Ed Sheeran's little black book is crammed full of huge celebrities. And in a new chat on The Louis Theroux podcast, he talks about famous friends including Van Morrison, who once woke him up at 6am after a boozy night out with Rory McIlroy, demanding to see him. 17 17 17 'I was doing a gig in Belfast and my grandmother had come down to the gig and she loves golf,' Ed said. ' Rory had come down and she loved being around him. We stayed up super late talking to him, and I'd say we went to bed at like 4am. 'About 6am, I got a call on my hotel phone from the hotel — 'Mr Morrison's in the lobby, he wants to have breakfast with you'. 'I was half asleep and half drunk. So I just hung up and I was like, 'I have no idea who Mr Morrison is.' 'Then I got another call and they said, 'Sorry, Van Morrison is in'. 'I ran downstairs and there he was waiting for me and we had breakfast, which is really surreal. 'I'm a huge fan. We spoke for ages about everything we did. One of the subjects was actually Spotify. 'I had embraced Spotify quite early in my career and I think he was asking me to explain Spotify to him.' Ed also talked about hanging out with Eminem after he worked on the rapper's 2018 song River. 'He loves comic books, Marvel movies and video games,' Ed explained. Ed Sheeran left red-faced after cops in India demand he shut down street performance 'I sent him a Nintendo 64 with Goldeneye on it because he'd never played it.' About his new album Play, which is out on September 12, Ed said it feels like a double-edged sword. He explained: 'The two joys of my life professionally are writing songs and performing. I f***ing hate releasing music. 'You love the songs so much and then suddenly you're putting them out there and that might change your relationship with them if other people don't like them. 'I'm trying my hardest not to let that happen. 'I find releasing it just kind of sucks the joy out of it.' ED ON DAVE... 17 'HE'S done a lot of production on the new record because aside from being a brilliant lyricist, he's also an incredible producer and writer.' ...ON SIR ELTON 17 'HE still calls me Ed She-ran. I just think that's just programmed in.' ...ON STORMZY 17 'I BOUGHT my first car, a Mini, and I then drove him to the pub. He didn't fit in the back.' ...ON EMINEM 17 'HE seems like he'd be quite shy but I don't think he is when you get to know him. His humour is very similar to mine.' ...ON SAM FENDER 'I MESSAGED him just being like, 'I really like this song'. I still haven't met him, but I at least know that there's a connection somewhere of mutual respect.' PITBULL LEADS BALD E PARTY 17 17 17 PITBULL is back at London's O2 Arena for another two sold out nights after a successful show earlier this year. Delivering possibly the most fun gig i've ever been to, his Party After Dark Tour is a nostalgic trip down memory lane with feel good banger after banger after banger. Everyone there simply wants to have a good time - with the tube to the venue packed with fans in costumes all singing at the top of their lungs. Chancing my luck, I opted to dress as Mr Worldwide himself... and safe to say it went down a treat backstage. After a flurry of possibly the hottest female dancers I've ever seen, Pitbull appeared out of his dressing room - catching my outfit and grinning from ear to ear. "Man I love it" he laughed before giving me a big hug. I quickly launched into a short tale of how I'd ran to Soho that afternoon to buy my baldcap - bumping into three other music lovers doing exactly the same thing. Smiling Pitbull said: "Well next time you see them you make sure you tell them from me thank you. I love all my Bald E's. "We are going to have a great show tonight. I can feel it. "For the first time tonight my band are going to dress as Bald E's too." He added on stage: "I tell you why I call you guys [fans] the bald E's. Because we fly high, and we soar high like bald eagles. So therefore we are the bald E's "And everywhere we go, and anytime you're there, you put on that bald cap and you already know you are going to have the time of your life. In fact new date from QR Code Generator have revealed searches for 'bald cap' have it an all time high in the UK amid Pitbull's tour. It's hard to quite put into words the energy in the O2 - 90% of the sold out 20,000 venue has come dressed as the star. Sure concerts like Taylor Swift have an amazing atmosphere and everyone dresses up but vibe at Pitbull is... different. No one cares about looking sexy or Instagram-ready as they are wearing a rubber bald cap and shirt. They are simply there to have a good time - and boy does he pull it off. You don't need therapy. You just need two hours at a Pitbull gig. By Jack Hardwick MARIAH BACK TO HER GOLD SELF 17 GOLDEN girl Mariah Carey turned back the clock and looked remarkably youthful as she performed at the BET Awards in Los Angeles. Wearing a glittering mini-dress, she sang her new single, Type Dangerous, before collecting the Ultimate Icon Award. Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg and Kevin Hart were also at the event celebrating black entertainers, as was breakout rapper Doechii, who used her Best Female Hip-Hop Artist speech to take aim at Donald Trump for his crackdown on people protesting against immigration raids. The star, who will perform at Glastonbury later this month, said: 'Trump is using military forces to stop a protest. 'I want you all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us. What type of government is that?' PULP HEAD TO GLASTO 17 GLASTONBURY got fans into a frenzy when organisers announced the full festival line-up, including a mysterious band called Patchwork. Now I can reveal who the band destined for the Saturday Pyramid Stage actually are – as I have been told punters can expect a set from Pulp. Jarvis Cocker and co headlined the festival 30 years ago and last did a surprise set there in 2011. But they are about to return following their comeback with new music. The band are set to top the charts this Friday for the first time in 27 years thanks to their album More, so this will be the perfect way to celebrate. There are also plenty of whispers about surprise Glasto performances from Lewis Capaldi and Haim, so there's lots to look forward to in three weeks' time. But organiser Emily Eavis kept schtum about who Patchwork are when asked about them during the Sidetracked by Glastonbury podcast on BBC Sounds. Speaking to hosts Annie MacManus and Nick Grimshaw, she said: 'I've been working on Patchwork for a long time. I tell you what, pretty much since I saw you this time last year I've been working on Patchwork.' Asked if that meant they took 'a lot of persuading', she added: 'Well, it's more logistical.' Foo Fighters did a set under the name The Churnups in 2023, and this sounds just as exciting. MILEY END TO FAMILY QUARREL 17 MILEY CYRUS has revealed she was the one to end the family feud following her parents' divorce. On the Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky podcast yesterday, she explained: 'My family and I have had a really difficult, dark decade. 'Half of us weren't speaking to each other at one point. And we cleaned all that up. That was a really important part of my year.' She added: 'I watched what happens when you don't clean things up as they're happening.' Asked if they'd had therapy, Miley said: 'We're so messy. We didn't even do any of that. To get each other in a room to even get to counselling would have been a war. So it was easier to just go, 'white flag'.' Miley, above, has written a song, Secrets, for her next album, about reconnecting with dad Billy Ray. RONNIE'S A PAINT ROLLER 17 FANS of Ronnie Wood can get their hands on his new art as he celebrates 50 years as a member of the Rolling Stones. The rock great, who is as handy with a paintbrush as he is with a guitar pick, had his work on display at the band's official store in London's Carnaby Street last week, before putting the items up for sale on his website. The musician's new exhibits include 50 – The Portraits which are hand-finished canvases of Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the band's late, great drummer Charlie Watts. Superfans can also buy an exclusive bundle that includes four portraits and a setlist from Ronnie's first show with the Stones in 1975, along with a limited-edition 7in vinyl single which contains a new recording by Ronnie. MUSE, the best live band I've ever seen in my life, have stepped in at the last minute to replace Kings of Leon as top of the bill for Madrid's Mad Cool Festival. The American rockers were forced to pull out after singer Caleb Followill injured his foot. But British act Muse will headline the opening night on July 10 instead. MICK HUCKNALL will be awarded ASCAP's Golden Note Award as he celebrates Simply Red's 40th anniversary. He will be handed the honour – recognising extraordinary career milestones – at an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers ceremony in London on June 17. London singer and songwriter Lola Young will pick up the ASCAP Vanguard Award. Mick, you're my hero.

Huge new island waterpark to open with 30 slides and the world's longest lazy river
Huge new island waterpark to open with 30 slides and the world's longest lazy river

Scottish Sun

time6 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Huge new island waterpark to open with 30 slides and the world's longest lazy river

ROYAL Caribbean is launching an entire new island in 2027 and it will be home to seven neighborhoods - including a huge Waterpark. Perfect Day Mexico is expected to launch in autumn 2027 as the cruise company's newest private island and at the heart of the island will be Loco Waterpark. 4 Perfect Day Mexico is expected to launch in autumn 2027 Credit: Loco Waterpark 4 At the heart of the island will be Loco Waterpark Credit: Loco Waterpark The waterpark will have over 30 waterslides, a wave pool and waterslide tower measuring more than 170ft tall called Jaguar's Peak. There will also be hydrolaunch slides that shoot riders into the air and the world's first sombrero slide, modeled after Mexico's iconic sombrero. The park will feature adventure pools and slides for younger kids too. At Splash Cove, another central neighborhood on the island, there will be the longest lazy river in the world. Along the hour-long float there are multiple entry and exit points and there will be a number of float up bars. Each tube will even have a cupholder for beverages. And for those who feel a little more daring, there is the option of venturing through a crazy section of the river that has twists and turns with waves, rapids and spins. In the centre of all of this is a 100,000sqft pool - which is one of 10 across the island. Smaller children will be able to enjoy Royal Caribbean's largest Splashaway Bay with the first-ever Splashaway Cabanas nearby. The cruise line has partnered with Legacy Entertainment - a US-based design firm responsible for theme parks and attractions - to create the waterpark. Dubai hotel with world's largest waterpark The destination spans over 200 acres on Mexico's Caribbean Coast and in total will have seven neighbourhoods, with 12 dining options and 24 bars. Other neighbourhoods include El Hideaway - an adults-only neighbourhood. The neighbourhood will be the party zone with a party pool, swim-up bar and in-pool DJ. There will also be a new Ultimate Party Cabana for 20 guests, with its own pool and bar. In the Costa Beach Club neighbourhood, guests can make the most of the white sand beaches, heated infinity pool and Costa Beach Club restaurant. At Chill Beach North and South will be two miles of white sand beaches. Then at Fiesta Plaza, guests can make the most of live music and dance inspired by Mexico with live music and dance. Plus, the world's largest sombrero will be found on top of the Tipsy Sombrero bar which will serve classic Mexican drinks such as margaritas and cervezas. 4 The waterpark will have the world's longest lazy river Credit: Royal Caribbean Free-to-use loungers, umbrellas and towels will be at all of the beaches and pools at Perfect Day Mexico. Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean said: "We have spent the last 50 years shattering perceptions around cruising to transform into a global vacation brand for all generations. "Now, we're bringing our demonstrated history of unparalleled service and revolutionary innovation – everything our vacationers know and love – into our collection of destinations that offer more locally inspired perfect days and beachfront getaways." He added: "Perfect Day Mexico is bigger and bolder than anything we have done to date. "This destination will be the ultimate vacation for families, and we cannot wait to welcome adventurers from around the world to Mexico for an experience only Royal Caribbean can provide." Royal Caribbean is also due to launch the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in December 2025. The first-of-its-kind Royal Beach Club in The Bahamas will combine the stunning beaches of Nassau's Paradise Island with Royal Caribbean's signature experiences. Visitors can purchase an all-inclusive day pass and enjoy unlimited dining, drinks and amenities, from The Floating Flamingo – the world's largest swim-up bar. Also opening, in 2026, is the Royal Beach Club Cozumel – which features stunning beaches, pools with swim-up bars, cabanas, snorkeling, kayaking and more. A closed UK waterpark will also finally reopen after shutting 17 months ago. Plus, a massive European waterpark with 14 themed lands opens new outdoor pool and 150-seat swim up bar.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store