Latest news with #Chick
Press and Journal
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
Bad Actress: Meet the five friends from the Highlands who hope to pack out stadiums with their glam rock band
'You go to a Bad Actress show and you just see so many happy faces.' Shaun Middleton, from Inverness, has only been an official member of the glam rock band for about a week. But already he says his time playing bass guitar for the group has been 'unreal'. 'Everybody's always dancing and the mix of ages is fantastic,' he told The Press and Journal. 'Especially lately. It's been insane.' Chick McFarlane is quick to agree with him, noting their recent performance at Elgin's MacMoray, where 10,000 people packed out Cooper Park. Chick, 24, along with his brother Lui, 21, were still pupils at Forres Academy in 2017 when the band first formed. They joined forces with Tommy Bell, 28, and former members Vinnie and Fearghas to create the band Airrade. The name didn't stick. After a bad review was less than complimentary about their choice, the group became Bad Actress – after a 'lesser-known' Def Leppard song from the album Songs from the Sparkle Lounge. Since then, they have been a major hit in the Moray music scene as well as further afield. Now, the band, made up of Shaun Middleton, Euan Campbell, Tommy Bell, Chick and Lui McFarlane, are playing a series of gigs across the UK. And they are thinking big. Their dreams are to do music full-time and they 'hope to pack out stadiums one day'. At present, they have an array of jobs, from waitering and dishwashing, to working in retail and joinery and in a warehouse and joinery. The McFarlane brothers first met Tommy when Chick auditioned to play drums in his band. Chick was unsuccessful, but months later Tommy joined what would later become Bad Actress. Chick said: 'Me and Lui wanted to start a new band, playing the type of music we're performing now. 'I asked Tommy if he wanted to join and he said 'as long as Chick isn't playing drums' – which I wasn't because I was playing guitar, so it worked out.' Ever since the band was formed, they have been practising in Chick and Lui's dad's house in Forres. They became even more familiar with the practise room during the Covid pandemic. The band used the time that afforded to better promote themselves, which led to the group gaining attention from new fans in England and Wales. Only a week ago, musicians Shaun Middleton and Euan Campbell, both from Inverness, joined the band. Euan, 19, is now the youngest member and was originally a fan of Bad Actress. So, when he was asked to play drums for them it was a 'full circle moment'. Meanwhile, Shaun, 37, also joined as a permanent member a week ago. 'People compare us to a lot of different bands,' said Chick, who revealed band members take inspiration from acts such as AC/DC, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Van Halen, The 1975 and Tenacious D. 'A lot of people describe our music as a mix of glam and hard rock.' Bad Actress are particularly looking forward to their gig at the Tooth and Claw in Inverness on June 13 as well as a show in Elgin on August 30. 'The show is really important to us,' Chick added. 'We love performing with a bit more flair.' Lui, who is from Forres, was previously the drummer for Bad Actress. Now he's now the lead singer. In fact, MacMoray was only his second time performing as a vocalist. He said: 'Our top goal would obviously be a stadium tour. 'That would be amazing and that's what we're working towards.' Donnie Squair is manager of Elgin Town Hall and first watched Lui – then just nine – and Chick perform at the Wall of Rock in Lossiemouth in 2014. He knew right away they had something special. When asked if he thinks Bad Actress can make it big, he is very optimistic. 'The potential they have, the people they're meeting, the bands they're playing with, the audiences they're getting, I really can see it,' he said. 'When they played MacMoray, they held their own on that stage. 'You could see the talent years ago, and they're just something else now.' With an album in the works and a line-up of gigs and festival performances for the rest of the year, who knows what they will do next.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Brits 'devastated' as beloved fried chicken chain closes all UK restaurants
The Korean fried chicken shop chain Chick 'n' Sours shut its Haggerston and Seven Dials restaurants in London last Sunday A popula r fast food chain has closed all of its restaurants as it was "no longer viable" to keep them open. The Korean fried chicken shop chain Chick 'n' Sours shut its Haggerston and Seven Dials restaurants in London last Sunday. The chain first opened in 2015 and was loved by Londoners for its sweet and sour cocktails, crispy chicken and seaweed 'crack' seasoning. One of the restaurant's signature dishes was the Hot Chicken Bun which featured fried chicken thigh, house pickles, slaw, and a piquant sauce. In a post on Instagram, the restaurant's co-founder, David Wolanski, said the chain had hung on for "as long as we could". The post read: "Hello, it's with mixed emotions I'm here to tell you that we have closed our Chick 'N Sours restaurants in Seven Dials and Haggerston. 'Sunday night was our last day of trading. We do what we do because we love it, fuelled by passion and a desire to provide guests with awesome food and memorable dining experiences. But that's not enough these days. 'We hung in there as long as we could but I'm afraid that we've now reached the point where operating the two restaurants just isn't viable any more and it makes no commercial sense to continue. "The casual dining restaurant model is broken, but that's for another post. It's been an incredible journey from when Carl & I came up with the idea of opening the best chicken shop in the world 10 years ago on the back of my scooter. We scraped together what limited funds we had to open Haggerston and go on this wild roller coaster of a trip." The post added: 'Remember, there are so many awesome independent restaurants out there doing great things but finding it tough out there also. "We know things are tight for everyone but they need you. Go see them and spend your money with them, as the phrase 'use it or lose it' has never been so relevant.' Fans of the chicken shop will be pleased to know that it will continue its residencies at the Roof East and Corner Corner food halls. Chick 'n' Sours will also still be available on Deliveroo, with the brand also appearing at UK festivals and live music events. The restaurant was founded by Wolanski and Carl Clarke after the pair met at Latitude festival. At its height, the chain had four restaurants in the capital. Join Money Saving Club's specialist topics For all you savvy savers and bargain hunters out there, there's a golden opportunity to stretch your pounds further. The Money Saving Club newsletter, a favourite among thousands who thrive on catching the best deals, is stepping up its game. Simply follow the link and select one or more of the following topics to get all the latest deals and advice on: Travel; Property; Pets, family and home; Personal finance; Shopping and discounts; Utilities. Another added: "Noo this is pure heartbreak I'm so sorry to hear this!" A third said: "Devastating news! My husband and I had our very first date in your Haggerston branch just after you opened 10 years ago - fast forward 10 years and we've just had our second baby."
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Callum Chick: Northampton sign Newcastle Falcons skipper for 2025-26
Northampton Saints have signed Newcastle Falcons captain Callum Chick ahead of the 2025-26 season. The 28-year-old number eight will join the European Champions Cup finalists after making more than 150 appearances for his boyhood club. He is the second forward to agree a move to Saints for next season following last month's signing of Italy prop Danilo Fischetti. "I have aspirations to get more England caps, and in order to do that, I feel like I have experienced something new," said Chick. "Northampton feels like a perfect move for me. I enjoy the brand of rugby, and they have some great coaches and players. "The standard at Northampton across the board is great, but in particular the back row has got some fantastic players. I am looking forward to learning from them and putting that into my game. Competition for positions brings the best out of everyone, and, for myself, that is something I am looking forward to." Chick, who won two international caps in 2021 against the USA and Canada, has started all 15 of Newcastle's Premiership games this season. And he is in the league's top 10 for post-contact metres made (173, fifth), turnovers won (12, eighth) and carries (217, 10th). "We initially spoke to Callum a few years ago and were impressed with him then. At that stage, he decided to stay in Newcastle, and that loyalty speaks volumes about him – the way he's captained that side and had a huge impact there with the way he plays and how he has led in that environment," said Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson. "We were in the market for a ball-carrying back row, and Callum's got those attributes in spades; his ball-carrying and ability to move the ball, then there are his defensive hits, which we saw recently when we played against Newcastle." Falcons counterpart Steve Diamond said: "Callum has been an outstanding player and captain during my time with the club and for many years prior. "It's obviously a blow to lose such a leader and a homegrown lad like him, but he has been fantastic to work with, and we wish him nothing but the best."
Business Recorder
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
‘Cartelisation': CCP imposes Rs155 million fine on poultry hatcheries
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has imposed a collective fine of Rs155 million on eight major poultry hatcheries for 'cartelisation and price-fixing of day-old broiler chicks (DOCs)', according to its statement on Wednesday. 'The CCP took suo motu notice of cartelisation in the Day-Old Chick (DOC) market and initiated a comprehensive inquiry. The inquiry found that major hatcheries — including Sadiq Poultry, Hi-Tech Group, Islamabad Group, Olympia Group, Jadeed Group, Supreme Farms (Seasons Group), Big Bird Group, and Sabir's Group — engaged in coordinated price-fixing, in violation of Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2010,' CCP statement read. According to the CCP, the hatcheries formed a cartel and discussed prices in a WhatsApp group called 'Chick Rate Announcement,' administered by a senior official of Big Bird Group. 'Dr Shahid, Marketing Manager Big Bird Group, coordinated the daily price updates. He sent the next day's prices every day through phone texts or WhatsApp messages to the group members. CCP slaps Rs25m fine on Hyundai for misleading Tucson launch offer 'Dr Abdul Karim, Chairman Hatchery Affairs Committee of the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA), and Major (R) Syed Javaid Hussain Bukhari, Secretary General of PPA, were also part of the group. 'Group members actively discussed and shared next-day prices for approximately 198 times, in the years 2019 to 2021. The Price-Sensitive Information was exchanged 108 times via text messages and 87 times through WhatsApp,' the commission said. The CCP further said that senior officials of the Poultry Association present in the group never stopped the sharing of price information, thereby facilitating the collusion. 'The cartel regularly announced uniform DOC rates for Punjab, and with minor freight adjustments, also influenced rates in Multan and Karachi. 'Between March 2020 and April 2021, the price of DOCs rose by 346%, from Rs17.92 to Rs79.92 per chick, contributing heavily to broiler meat price inflation.' 'Cartelisation': CCP issues show cause notices to International Steel & Aisha Steel Mills According to the CCP, the Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2010 prohibits collusive arrangements to fix prices, control supply, or restrict production. 'Such practices damage competition in the market. Trade associations are meant to help develop their sectors, not to share price-sensitive information or facilitate cartelisation. Price-fixing through associations is a serious market distortion and an exploitation of consumers. Prices must be determined by free demand and supply forces.' The CCP also noted fresh complaints that hatcheries are again engaging in collusion. Prices of day-old chicks have recently surged up to Rs230 per chick, while the fair market rate should be around Rs78 per chick.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Grandmother warned police ‘I think he will kill me' hours before murder
A university lecturer warned police her estranged husband was going to murder her hours before he stabbed her to death outside her home. Paul Butler, 53, murdered Claire Chick, 48, after subjecting her to a six-month campaign of stalking and harassment when she ended their relationship. Before she was killed, Ms Chick had made six statements to the police about Butler and he had been arrested three times for assault, harassment and stalking. At Plymouth Crown Court on Friday, Butler was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 27 years in prison for the 'brutal' murder. The court heard that Butler took an overdose after the killing and when he was arrested he shouted: 'I am a monster. I have just seen hell, I am going to hell.' Jo Martin KC, prosecuting, said that in the months leading up to the murder, despite being on bail and banned from going near her, 6ft 5in Butler continued to stalk his 5ft 2in wife and had hidden a tracking device on her car. When he learnt she had started a new relationship he went to her flat wearing a camouflaged hooded top and waited for her to come out of the building. He then attacked her in the street, stabbing her more than 20 times with a large kitchen knife he had bought hours earlier from a supermarket. Butler then fled the scene but not before chasing Ms Chick's new partner, Paul Maxwell, who had returned from an evening run and witnessed the murderous assault, shouting at him: 'I'll f------ do you too.' Butler later messaged a friend saying: 'I am pretty certain I have ended her. I loved her so much. I meant to get him, but f--- him. I killed her.' Butler was arrested the following day at a hotel in Liskeard after barricading himself inside the room and taking an overdose of painkillers. Ms Chick contacted the police on numerous occasions. On the day before she was killed, she gave a statement to police and said: 'I only feel that Butler will kill me if further action is not taken. I am in fear of leaving my house.' At a previous hearing, Butler, of Stangray Avenue, Plymouth, pleaded guilty to murder and possession of a bladed article. Passing sentence, Judge Robert Linford said Butler had carried out a 'frenzied, brutal, murderous' attack. He said the killing was 'nothing less than sheer murderous brutality'. Ms Chick's daughter Lydia Peers described Butler as a 'parasite' who had come between her and her mother with his jealousy. Following Ms Chick's death, Devon and Cornwall Police made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to previous contact. 'Our investigation into Claire Chick's contact with Devon and Cornwall Police prior to her murder in January is ongoing,' an IOPC spokesman said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
