Latest news with #Finn
The Courier
35 minutes ago
- Sport
- The Courier
St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari reveals Championship title-winning theory
St Johnstone boss, Simo Valakari, has crunched the numbers of title-winning Championship teams. The Finn's homework on success in the second tier of Scottish football will feed into the strategy he adopts in his attempt to bring the Perth club back to the top-flight at the first time of asking. And the fact that he has already signed three players from that division who are familiar with the demands of the job in front of the McDiarmid Park side is evidence Valakari is already putting theory into practice. 'I've been looking at the statistics for the last five years,' said the head coach. 'The champions have only averaged 1.3 goals per game, but they have conceded just 0.6 goals. 'That's the key – defending well and being hard to beat. 'It means that when you take your chances, you win games. 'You don't abandon your principles. 'I've mentioned 'big club football' before. 'That doesn't mean we will go into this league thinking we are a big team. 'No, we were relegated because we deserved to be relegated, and everybody has the same chance at the start of the season. 'We will adapt to the league and its demands – it will be physical, with not much room to play sometimes. 'And the conditions won't be great in the winter. 'So, what I mean is that we want to dominate games. 'For that to happen, we have to improve our quality. 'I look at our last game against Dundee – we arrived in the final third a lot, but we weren't even close to being good enough after that.' There will be a large dose of pragmatism in Valakari's approach to Saints' football next season. He said: 'What kind of team are we trying to build? A winning team. 'Winning football matches will always be the most important thing, not the tactics or anything else. 'That's the starting point. 'We saw glimpses of how I would like us to play. 'We want to control the ball, move forward rather than backwards and sideways, get as many balls into the penalty box as we can. 'I know what the Championship will be like. 'Since I came back to Scotland I've watched it a lot. 'We needed to be solid and hard to beat in the Premiership and that will be even more important next season.' Valakari has signed defenders Jack Baird and Morgan Boyes from Morton as he seeks to make Saints are more imposing opponent. In football, size does matter. 'We definitely need to be physically stronger than we were last season,' he said. 'But you can be a good player and be physical. 'There are players like that in the league already. 'We were lacking in physicality last season – it was legs to get about the pitch as much as just pure body strength. 'That's something we need to address. 'Especially at the end of the season, when I looked at all our opponents, we were such a small team in comparison – Kilmarnock, Ross County, Dundee, all of them were much bigger than us. 'So that is something we are looking to address this summer.'
West Australian
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Red Hot Summer Tour: Crowded House and Angus & Julia Stone headline December festival at Sandalford Wines
Aussie rock royalty Crowded House is set to lead an impressive list of national talent in the return of popular music series Red Hot Summer Tour later this year. Kicking off in Queensland in October, the touring music festival will sweep through the East Coast before arriving at the Swan Valley's Sandalford Wines on December 6. Supporting the Better Be Home Soon hitmakers will be talented siblings Angus & Julia Stone, along with The Church, Mark Seymour with Vika & Linda, and The Waifs. Originally founded by Neil Finn, Nick Seymour and the late Paul Hester, Crowded House achieved worldwide acclaim for their hits Something So Strong and Don't Dream It's Over. Sharing the announcement with fans on Sunday, the band said they were 'very excited to hit the road across Australia' and implored followers to 'set your alarms' to ensure they didn't miss out on tickets. Releasing Gravity Stairs in 2024, the group's eighth studio album showcases the current version of the five-piece band which features Finn, Seymour, Mitchell Froom, and Finn's sons Elroy and Liam. Duo Angus & Julia Stone — best known for their mega hit Big Jet Plane — are set to remind local fans exactly why their indie folk sound has connected with fans across the world. Pit-stopping primarily at regional venues, the announcement has prompted hundreds of fans to plead for their hometowns to be considered. 'Why no Tasmania dates,' one person said, with another suggesting, 'Regional Western Australia (Busselton) would've been a better venue' than WA's Swan Valley region. Others cried out in support of the line-up, labelling it 'amazing' and 'sensational' — while one person suggested Angus & Julia Stone 'should be headlining' the event. The most recent festival series — which wrapped in March this year — celebrated a host of nostalgic acts including ICEHOUSE, Wolfmother, Eskimo Joe, and Noiseworks. As thousands of local fans flocked to the Sandalford Wines event in the scorching heat, emerging Perth musician Lizzie Bliss stood out from the crowd and was invited on stage to jam with her idols Wolfmother. The teen's guitar performance of classic track Joker and the Thief was so well-received, she caught up with the band for breakfast the following day. 'I really thought that I would have been nervous, but there was not a single amount of nervousness in me,' she told PerthNow of her performance. Ticket pre-sale for the upcoming Red Hot Summer Tour series begins from June 3.
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Ethan Hawke returns as The Grabber in Blumhouse's 'The Black Phone 2'
Blumhouse has released the official trailer and poster for The Black Phone 2, the sequel to its global supernatural horror hit. The reveal was made on June 1 at the CCXP Festival in Mexico City. Directed once again by Scott Derrickson, the follow-up to the 2022 film continues the haunting story of The Grabber. Photo: Blumhouse Ethan Hawke reprises his chilling role as The Grabber, returning to menace Finn (Mason Thames) from beyond the grave. This time, his vengeful focus expands to Finn's younger sister, Gwen, portrayed by Madeleine McGraw. The story deepens the supernatural threat as the past continues to torment the present. Joining the returning cast are Oscar nominee Demián Bichir as the camp supervisor, Arianna Rivas as his niece, and Miguel Mora as the brother of one of The Grabber's former victims. Jeremy Davies also returns as Finn and Gwen's troubled father, Terrence. New additions include Maev Beaty and Graham Abbey. The film is written by Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill, based on characters created by Joe Hill, and produced by Jason Blum, Derrickson, and Cargill, with Adam Hendricks and Ryan Turek serving as executive producers. The Black Phone 2 is scheduled for theatrical release on October 17, 2025.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Rohan Bopanna-Adam Pavlasek pair knocked out of French Open 2025
India's Rohan Bopanna and his partner Adam Pavlasek fought tooth and nail before being knocked out from the French Open by second seeds Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten, in Paris on Sunday. The unseeded Indo-Czech pair lost 2-6 6-7(5) to Heliovaara from Finland and British player Patten, ranked three and four in the world respectively, in the pre-quarterfinals. The second seeds zoomed to a 5-1 lead in the opening set with a double break. The Finn served out the set at love, finishing the game with an overhead smash on a return. Bopanna made a solid start to the second set, holding without losing a point on his serve. Left-handed Patten too came out all guns blazing, sending down some measured and powerful angled serves. Bopanna and Pavlasek got an opening when at 2-3, Patten began game six with a double fault and lost another point to be down 0-30 but the Briton reeled off four straight points to avert the danger. There was no break of serve and eventually the second set was stretched to a tie-breaker in which the second seeds prevailed when Heliovaara found a stunning service return winner on first match point. Yuki Bhambri is also slated to play his third round with American partner Robert Galloway. They take on ninth seeds Christian Harrison and Evan King from the United States. In the Junior Championship, India's exciting prospect for future Manas Dhamne bowed out after losing 5-7 3-6 to fellow American qualifier Ronit Karki. The 17-year-old Dhamne had entered the main draw as a qualifier. He could not play to his potential on Sunday.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Crowded House to headline Red Hot Summer Tour in Hunter Valley
Crowded House is headlining an all-Australian Red Hot Summer Tour line-up at Roche Estate in October. They will be joined in the Hunter Valley on October 25 by Angus & Julia Stone, The Church, Mark Seymour with Vika & Linda, and The Waifs. Crowded House, who performed at Newcastle Entertainment Centre in December, have sold more than 15 million records worldwide. Originally founded by Neil Finn, Nick Seymour and the late Paul Hester, the group's self-titled debut in 1986 went platinum, uplifted by worldwide smashes Something So Strong and Don't Dream It's Over. In 1996, the group delivered a legendary performance to an audience of more than 150,000 on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, beginning a hiatus that finished in the wake of Paul's passing in 2005. Albums Time on Earth (2007) and Intriguer (2010) followed, and Crowded House was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2016. In 2018 Finn joined Fleetwood Mac as a full-time member for a world tour. Two years later, he and Nick led another era of Crowded House, releasing their first full-length album in 11 years, Dreamers Are Waiting (2021) and their eighth studio album, Gravity Stairs, last year. Produced by Steven Schram, the album showcases the band in its current incarnation: Finn, Nick Seymour, Mitchell Froom, and Finn's sons Elroy and Liam. Angus & Julia Stone are a sibling singing/songwriting duo whose music spans intimate folk and dreamy indie pop. They have released six albums and their single, Big Jet Plane, earned the group 5 ARIA Award wins and top spot in triple j's Hottest 100 in 2010. It's the same year The Church were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, who remain one of the most innovative and enduring bands of their era. Mark Seymour (Hunters and Collectors) and Vika & Linda will be joining forces for this concert series as a combined ensemble, and The Waifs will be performing three decades of beloved songs. Crowded House is headlining an all-Australian Red Hot Summer Tour line-up at Roche Estate in October. They will be joined in the Hunter Valley on October 25 by Angus & Julia Stone, The Church, Mark Seymour with Vika & Linda, and The Waifs. Crowded House, who performed at Newcastle Entertainment Centre in December, have sold more than 15 million records worldwide. Originally founded by Neil Finn, Nick Seymour and the late Paul Hester, the group's self-titled debut in 1986 went platinum, uplifted by worldwide smashes Something So Strong and Don't Dream It's Over. In 1996, the group delivered a legendary performance to an audience of more than 150,000 on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, beginning a hiatus that finished in the wake of Paul's passing in 2005. Albums Time on Earth (2007) and Intriguer (2010) followed, and Crowded House was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2016. In 2018 Finn joined Fleetwood Mac as a full-time member for a world tour. Two years later, he and Nick led another era of Crowded House, releasing their first full-length album in 11 years, Dreamers Are Waiting (2021) and their eighth studio album, Gravity Stairs, last year. Produced by Steven Schram, the album showcases the band in its current incarnation: Finn, Nick Seymour, Mitchell Froom, and Finn's sons Elroy and Liam. Angus & Julia Stone are a sibling singing/songwriting duo whose music spans intimate folk and dreamy indie pop. They have released six albums and their single, Big Jet Plane, earned the group 5 ARIA Award wins and top spot in triple j's Hottest 100 in 2010. It's the same year The Church were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, who remain one of the most innovative and enduring bands of their era. Mark Seymour (Hunters and Collectors) and Vika & Linda will be joining forces for this concert series as a combined ensemble, and The Waifs will be performing three decades of beloved songs. Crowded House is headlining an all-Australian Red Hot Summer Tour line-up at Roche Estate in October. They will be joined in the Hunter Valley on October 25 by Angus & Julia Stone, The Church, Mark Seymour with Vika & Linda, and The Waifs. Crowded House, who performed at Newcastle Entertainment Centre in December, have sold more than 15 million records worldwide. Originally founded by Neil Finn, Nick Seymour and the late Paul Hester, the group's self-titled debut in 1986 went platinum, uplifted by worldwide smashes Something So Strong and Don't Dream It's Over. In 1996, the group delivered a legendary performance to an audience of more than 150,000 on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, beginning a hiatus that finished in the wake of Paul's passing in 2005. Albums Time on Earth (2007) and Intriguer (2010) followed, and Crowded House was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2016. In 2018 Finn joined Fleetwood Mac as a full-time member for a world tour. Two years later, he and Nick led another era of Crowded House, releasing their first full-length album in 11 years, Dreamers Are Waiting (2021) and their eighth studio album, Gravity Stairs, last year. Produced by Steven Schram, the album showcases the band in its current incarnation: Finn, Nick Seymour, Mitchell Froom, and Finn's sons Elroy and Liam. Angus & Julia Stone are a sibling singing/songwriting duo whose music spans intimate folk and dreamy indie pop. They have released six albums and their single, Big Jet Plane, earned the group 5 ARIA Award wins and top spot in triple j's Hottest 100 in 2010. It's the same year The Church were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, who remain one of the most innovative and enduring bands of their era. Mark Seymour (Hunters and Collectors) and Vika & Linda will be joining forces for this concert series as a combined ensemble, and The Waifs will be performing three decades of beloved songs. Crowded House is headlining an all-Australian Red Hot Summer Tour line-up at Roche Estate in October. They will be joined in the Hunter Valley on October 25 by Angus & Julia Stone, The Church, Mark Seymour with Vika & Linda, and The Waifs. Crowded House, who performed at Newcastle Entertainment Centre in December, have sold more than 15 million records worldwide. Originally founded by Neil Finn, Nick Seymour and the late Paul Hester, the group's self-titled debut in 1986 went platinum, uplifted by worldwide smashes Something So Strong and Don't Dream It's Over. In 1996, the group delivered a legendary performance to an audience of more than 150,000 on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, beginning a hiatus that finished in the wake of Paul's passing in 2005. Albums Time on Earth (2007) and Intriguer (2010) followed, and Crowded House was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2016. In 2018 Finn joined Fleetwood Mac as a full-time member for a world tour. Two years later, he and Nick led another era of Crowded House, releasing their first full-length album in 11 years, Dreamers Are Waiting (2021) and their eighth studio album, Gravity Stairs, last year. Produced by Steven Schram, the album showcases the band in its current incarnation: Finn, Nick Seymour, Mitchell Froom, and Finn's sons Elroy and Liam. Angus & Julia Stone are a sibling singing/songwriting duo whose music spans intimate folk and dreamy indie pop. They have released six albums and their single, Big Jet Plane, earned the group 5 ARIA Award wins and top spot in triple j's Hottest 100 in 2010. It's the same year The Church were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, who remain one of the most innovative and enduring bands of their era. Mark Seymour (Hunters and Collectors) and Vika & Linda will be joining forces for this concert series as a combined ensemble, and The Waifs will be performing three decades of beloved songs.
