Latest news with #PyramidStage
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Rianne Downey's journey from Bellshill to Glastonbury
'I want to do them justice, and be respectful of the crowd coming to watch, because these songs mean a lot to them.' They mean a lot of Rianne Downey now, too. It was a video posted to social media during the first year of the Covid lockdown which ultimately sprung the 'wee lassie from Bellshill' (words: artist's own) from her bedroom to the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury, performing to a worldwide audience of millions. Downey's is not the first story of a Bellshill girl who blew up in the music industry. Like Sheena Easton, she has also teamed up with a bona-fide pop legend. But where Easton traded girl-next-door Big Time wholesomeness to join Prince's Over 18s party, Downey has forged an alliance with a man who has written some of the biggest British hits of the last 40 years, and whose stage outfit is a cagoule. Paul Heaton has long had a female vocalist at his side as one of the most prolific and highly respected songwriters of his generation, with the likes of The Beautiful South and The Housemartins. When long term collaborator Jacquie Abbott withdrew from their future plans, opportunity knocked for a girl in Lanarkshire. 'I'd uploaded a cover of Rotterdam in October 2020 and Paul had commented on it. I remember at the time being absolutely buzzing, running downstairs to tell my mum and dad,' said Downey, of the moment that changed her life, and that of her joiner dad and cafe worker mum. 'Three years later I got a phone call when I was walking back from the pub one afternoon, asking me if I was available to come and join him.' Downey raced home to record some voice notes of the Beautiful South standards Perfect 10, Don't Marry Her and You Keep It All In. (Image: GT) 'They got back later that same day to say, 'Right let's have you on, and see how it goes from there'. But even before the first gig he asked me to stay on for the summer, then before the end of the summer he asked me to sing on his new album and whether I'd like to join him on the Pyramid Stage.' And so it was that Rianne Downey ascended the throne alongside the King of witty northern pop, following Brianna Corrigan, Alison Wheeler and Abbott, the latter having formed a chart-topping duo with her former Beautiful South bandmate until she withdrew (Heaton has since said Abbott took time out to care for her child who has autism). In a whirlwind few weeks in the summer of 2023, Downey's career experienced G-force. 'I'd been doing my solo stuff before then. I was dead chuffed with how it was going,' she said. 'I'd supported Gerry Cinnamon at the Barras, Paolo Nutini at the Cavern in Liverpool. The last gig I played before joining Paul was a solo headliner at King Tut's. It was a bit of a jump going from 300 at Tuts to 30,000 at Neighbourhood festival. 'I'll never forget the feeling before I stepped on stage at the first gig with Paul. I knew nothing was going to be the same again. My life has transformed since that gig. I'm in my happy place when I perform, and when I stepped out there with Paul it just felt like home.' How does it feel to follow in the footsteps of the other women? 'Paul's very pernickety, he liked to get things right, and does things at such a high standard that I know he wouldn't just pick anybody. So it's nice to know how much he would have believed in me to bring me on.' Downey freely admits she's had to study Heaton's back catalogue, and her co-singer's ways, which she calls 'Heatonisms - the way he pronounces things, the rhythm he sings in.' She said: 'It didn't feel like it took too much work in the rehearsal room, it all clicked. Paul was telling me to keep my eyes on him when singing, and that helps, you notice each other's mouths, each other's breathing. Each gig we have played, the chemistry has got better. You can rehearse and rehearse but the chemistry grows when you're doing gigs.' She's on tour around the UK with Heaton this summer and will headline Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival later in the summer, before launching her debut LP, The Consequence of Love, in October. The album showcases her country leanings, and a knack of getting to the heart of a song's emotional punch, much like Heaton has for 40 years. The title track is a reaction to the living grief of her grandmother's dementia. 'I went into the studio with a bottle of prosecco, a packet of fags and a fish supper,' she said. 'I don't even smoke. Then you step back and realise you've put your trauma into your guitar, onto a bit of paper and you feel better. 'I've always done my solo stuff, but my priority is Paul and that comes first.' she said. 'I'm so lucky that's what I get to call my job now. Everything else is a bonus. It's not even like I can say it's a dream come true. It's so far beyond my dreams.'
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Lewis Capaldi says unfinished Glastonbury set in 2023 was ‘blessing in disguise'
Singer Lewis Capaldi has said being unable to finish his 2023 Glastonbury Festival set as he struggled to manage the symptoms of his Tourette syndrome was a 'blessing in disguise'. The 28-year-old said in an interview with YouTuber Theo Von that he promised himself the set would be 'the last time I'm going to play a gig for a long time' and that he would seek help afterwards. Advertisement The Scottish singer said: 'When I got off stage, everyone else around me was a bit like, 'Oh, this is the worst thing ever', and I had this weird sort of (like) a weight had been lifted, like, 'Oh, now this thing's happened and I have to get help'. 'I had been putting it off because, funnily enough, a few weeks prior to that show, last minute we were playing in Chicago, and I had a very similar episode (which) was probably even worse… I couldn't come back on stage and finish the song. 'I was, like, backstage, convulsing and having this crazy panic attack, mental episode, I was really, really bad, way worse than what happened to Glastonbury, because Glastonbury is such a big stage and a big moment.' Capaldi announced a break from touring shortly after the Glastonbury performance, but made a surprise return to the festival last month with a 35-minute set on the Pyramid Stage. Advertisement He continued: 'In a weird way, it's probably the best thing that happened to me at that moment at Glastonbury in 2023, because I wouldn't have stopped otherwise. 'I was really bad for not saying no to things, feeling like this is going to pass me by if I don't say yes to all this amazing stuff coming at me, and I have to catch it all and sort of get it all done. 'So I said yes to way too much, and I took way too much on, and everyone around me was asking me, 'Are you sure this is OK?'. I was like, 'Yeah, I'm fine', but yes, Glastonbury 2023 was maybe the most important day of my life, to be honest, because I wouldn't have stopped. Capaldi made a surprise return to Glastonbury this year (Yui Mok/PA) 'It's like someone upstairs was like, 'This has to happen now', otherwise, I don't want to think about where I would be now, if I hadn't, because we were meant to go to Australia and stuff like that, it could have been really horrible. Advertisement 'I dread to think what would've happened to me otherwise, so it was a bit of a blessing in disguise.' During last month's Glastonbury show, Capaldi performed his new track Survive, which has since gone to number one on the UK singles chart. He ended the performance with Someone You Loved, the track that Glastonbury crowds helped him to sing when he struggled in 2023. The singer has also announced a comeback UK and Ireland tour at venues including The O2 in London, Cardiff's Utilita Arena and Dublin's 3Arena, as well as in Glasgow and Aberdeen, in September. Advertisement Tourette syndrome causes sudden, repetitive sounds or movements, and while there is no cure, treatment can help manage the tics, according to the NHS website. Capaldi has had six UK number one singles, including Before You Go, Pointless and Wish You The Best, and both of his studio albums have reached number one in the UK albums chart.
ITV News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Singer Anne-Marie to perform opening Womens' Rugby World Cup at Sunderland's Stadium of Light
Singer Anne-Marie will open the Women's Rugby World Cup in Sunderland, it has been announced. The tournament will begin next month beginning with a match at Sunderland's Stadium of Light when England face the USA on 22nd August. Sponsors O2 have announced the Rockabye singer will perform hits in an opening show before kick-off. The 34-year-old is a music industry heavyweight, with three UK top-ten albums, a performance on Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage, and a three-year tenure as a coach on ITV's The Voice UK. Sharing her excitement for the event, the singer said: "Now that I've got a daughter of my own, it means even more to be involved in something that shows the next generation that they can do anything. "I know Sunderland is going to be going crazy, and I can't wait to be part of it!' Alongside the opening show, there'll be a range of attractions in Sunderland to welcome the start of the world cup with a fan village, live performances from local artists, and rugby-themed activities and entertainment for all ages. Running from 22 August to 27 September, Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 will take place across eight venues including Sunderland's Stadium of Light, making it the biggest celebration of women's rugby ever staged.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Lewis Capaldi says Glastonbury comeback was ‘best day of his life'
Lewis Capaldi described his recent Glastonbury comeback as initially "terrifying" but ultimately "beautiful" and "the best day of my life" during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. His surprise return to the Pyramid Stage on 27 June followed a 2023 performance where he had to abandon his set due to struggling with Tourette's tics. Capaldi expressed immense relief and joy at being able to complete the performance he couldn't finish previously. He has since announced a sold-out UK and Ireland tour, which is set to commence on 7 September in Sheffield and conclude on 30 September in Dublin. Capaldi confirmed these would be his only shows this year, stating his intention not to push himself too far too soon.
Wales Online
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Lewis Capaldi tickets LIVE as general sale starts
Tickets for Lewis Capaldi's upcoming arena tour are on sale today — and the 'Someone You Loved' hitmaker is returning to Wales. The singer's new UK and Ireland Arena Tour comes after the 28-year-old star took a two-year break from music to focus on his mental health. Lewis announced he was stepping back from the spotlight shortly after a difficult performance at Glastonbury in 2023, when his set was cut short due to the symptoms of Tourette syndrome. Lewis returned to the stage in May, performing to home crowds in Scotland. Then, in June, he delighted fans with his new single 'Survive' and made a triumphant return to Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage. The singer-songwriter told the crowd: "My name is Lewis Capaldi and I'm [expletive] back, baby." His emotional surprise set included hits like 'Hold Me While You Wait' and 'Someone You Loved.' Now, music lovers don't have long to wait until his next shows. Lewis's tour kicks off in Sheffield on September 7, with dates planned for Aberdeen, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Cardiff, and Dublin. Lewis is currently scheduled to play one show in Wales, bringing his tour to the Utilita Arena in Cardiff on Saturday, September 27. He previously performed in the city in 2023 and during his 2020 tour. The general sale kicks off today (July 10) at 9am. Tickets are on sale from Ticketmaster here.
