Latest news with #RonanKeating
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Second day of York Racecourse's Music Showcase brings excitement
IT'S amazing to think that Ronan Keating first hit the headlines in 1993 when still a teenager with the formation of Boyzone. His worldwide fan club, based not only on his music but also as a judge on X Factor is one of music's largest and the fact he plays the Knavesmire on the second leg of a world tour- and this is one of just two in the UK- is a considerable coup for the York Racecourse team. His appearance on stage after the last race, will be a memorable climax to the Music Showcase weekend which also brings the Sky Bet Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival to a climax. York took the decision a month or so ago to increase the prize money on their two featured Saturday races, and they have been handsomely rewarded with, just like Friday night in excess of 100 runners declared. The £150,000 Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes (2.40pm) is seen as a stepping stone to next month's Group 1 Juddmonte International, which was voted the worlds best race in 2024 being run over the same mile and a quarter distance. This race was first run in 2006 and Twice Over, who won in 2011 is the only one to have completed the double, while Alflailia became the first horse to win this race twice when beating Kings Gambit and Passenger a year ago. Amazingly no jockey, so far, has won it more than once. A top-class field of seven line up headed by Almaqam who was last seen winning the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May. The race is a clash of the generations with three-year-old Stanhope Gardens, fifth in the Derby at Epsom and Irish raider Green Impact, sixth in the Irish Derby at The Curragh heading the younger age bracket. The £100,000 Sky Bet Dash (2.00pm), has attracted a maximum 22 runner field- but all eyes will be on Elmonjed, trained by Yorkshireman-in-exile William Haggas who won the equally valuable Constantine Handicap at last year's Sky Bet Ebor Festival. A draw in Stall 10 will only offer encouragement for his supporters. The second big sprint is unique as the jump jockeys, used to three miles plus around Aintree, Cheltenham and more locally at Wetherby, get their chance to exit from the stalls in the Jump Jockeys Nunthorpe (3.20pm) to face the shortest distance possible, just five furlongs. 20 of them will test this new skill to including Joe Williamson aboard Soul Seeker- first and second in this race for the last two years. York record holder, Copper Knight, is to be ridden by Jamie Hamilton, who tries to land his 8th victory on the Knavesmire at the thirty-third time of asking. Racing begins at 1.25pm with all the York facilities open for business, be it the new areas for food and drink in the Bustardthorpe End or in the centre of the course for picnics. But one thing is sure, the sporting action may well be a roller coaster that will all help build the atmosphere pending Mr Keating's arrival.
The Herald Scotland
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Lulu's voice soars but is she struggling to break free from the past?
⭐⭐⭐ There is something that Lulu – who has now racked up more than 60 years in the business called show – wants her audience in Dunfermline to know tonight. 'I'm not retiring, by the way,' she tells us near the end of her raucously received gig at the Alhambra Theatre. And why should she? Dressed in diamante and white, she looks great for her age (she's now, as she reminds us more than once, 76). And she sounds even better. That soulful, rasping, rowdy voice with which she announced herself to the world as a young teenager with the single Shout back in 1964 remains intact, its dynamic range – greater than her songs and perhaps, at times, her own inclination, always allows – still apparent. She's something of a dynamo herself. As she slinks and shimmies around the stage she encourages her audience to raise the noise. 'Come on guys, you're not dead yet.' Not all of us can move as easily as her. Accompanied by her sister Edwina on backing vocals and a band who are all mountainman beards and headwear, she is an old-school trouper determined to put on a show. And therein might lie the problem. The format for the evening is a musical journey through Lulu's life. It begins with a nostalgic shuffle through a photograph album showing the many people she has been associated with in her life. The Beatles, Bowie, the Everly Brothers, Don and Phil Everly, Shirley Bassey, Elton John, Ronan Keating, her former husband Maurice Gibb and Dudley Moore all make an appearance. (Later there will be pictures of her with Jimi Hendrix and Tina Turner). Read more from Teddy Jamieson: But in many ways that gallery encapsulates the bipolarity of her career. She has always been drawn to soul and R&B (after opening with a relaxed reading of Shout she segues into a cover of Heatwave by Martha and the Vandellas and at one point she vamps a few lines from James Brown's Get Up I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine), but too often she has been drawn into the shallows of light entertainment. And so, after a bouncy take on Neil Diamond's The Boat That I Row (a top 10 hit for Lulu in 1967) she feels obliged to give us Boom Bang-A-Bang, her successful Eurovision entry for 1969 (four songs all ended up with the same votes and were declared joint winners). It's clear she's not a fan and she rattles it off as quickly as she can, but it sets the course for the evening; a constant push and pull between what she wants and what she thinks the audience wants. This is a curated show. It allows her to redraw the outlines of her back catalogue, remove the dross and play up the highlights. Even so, she feels obliged to include the big hits, including her loud but empty Bond theme tune The Man With the Golden Gun and her duet with Ronan Keating of Bob Seger's We've Got Tonight. Actually, the latter is one of the evening's highlights thanks to the interplay with her musical director Rick Krive, two great voices given space to soar. And it should be said the evening is full of fine things. Her take on Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World had a suitably Ziggy loucheness to it (as well as her amusingly accurate impersonation of the great man's south London accent). Performing Where the Poor Boys Dance and I Don't Wanna Fight – the latter a hit for Tina Turner – is a reminder that, with her brother Billy, she is more than capable of writing a good tune herself. But now and again the showbiz trouper in her slightly sabotages her best intentions; a few too many namedrops, one or two lurches into her 'Scottish' accent (although there's an element of play about the latter these days). Lulu pictured at Pinewood Studios in 1968 (Image: Newsquest) And she finishes the first half of the show with To Sir, With Love, one of the best things she's ever done and a number one hit in the United States in 1967. But this is an inflated, self-consciously epic take on the tune that doesn't totally suit it. And while it showcases the power of her voice it doesn't show its range and depth (as the recording does). Still, there's a lot to love here. Inevitably, she performs her 1993 comeback hit Independence and Relight My Fire (offering up a thank you to Take That for inviting her to sing it with them and for the LGBTQ community for supporting her through the years). And it's appropriate that she should give us a version of her mate Elton John's hit I'm Still Standing. Because, 60 years and counting into her career, she most definitely is. But you come away from this evening wondering what it might be like if she did a show for herself for once. Maybe she could perform her sadly overlooked 1970 New Routes album – recorded at Muscle Shoals with Duane Allman and Jim Dickinson – in full, or go back to the source of her love for soul and R&B and Rick Rubin it (think of what Rubin did for Johnny Cash). Retirement is the last thing she should do. But maybe another reinvention?
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Ronan Keating Returning To NZ For One Show
Annual music festival, Selwyn Sounds, will be headlined next year by one of the most successful and well-known international stars to have appeared at the event. Ronan Keating will take the stage in Lincoln just outside Christchurch, on 7 March 2026, for a one-night-only New Zealand performance. The Irish superstar has sold more than 25 million records worldwide, including 10 top 10 singles and three number ones, and festival promoter David Parlane says with Keating and an exceptionally strong lineup, he expects this year's Selwyn Sounds to be a sell-out. 'We are thrilled to have Ronan on board for 2026', says Mr Parlane. 'Together with Tony Hadley ex Spandau Ballet, Kiwi legends When the Cats Away, Mi-Sex, Op Shop and crowd favourites Automatic 80's, this is lining up to be one of our biggest Selwyn Sounds yet.' Ronan Keating announced on July 10 he is celebrating the 25th anniversary edition of Ronan – his multi-million selling debut solo album – with double CD and 2LP reissues in September. Mr Parlane adds that the positivity and economic buoyancy in the Canterbury region is definitely going to be a key factor. 'You can feel it,' he says. 'The energy and vibe all around us in Canterbury is palpable. Hearing all of these outstanding performers at the Lincoln Domain in March next year will be incredible.' Tony Hadley, ex-Spandau Ballet – like Ronan Keating – is an international star and no stranger to New Zealand. He was here in 2022 with his 40th anniversary tour (Auckland and Christchurch). At the forefront of the New Romantic movement in the 1980's, Mr Hadley will perform Spandau Ballets greatest hits, and a collection of his more recent work. Selwyn Sounds will rock the Lincoln Domain on March 7, 2026. Register today, (July 15) for the 24-hour pre-sale which starts on Tuesday 22 July. A pre-sale link will be emailed at 7am on July 22 to all those who have registered. General Admission tickets go on sale from Wednesday 23 July at
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Ronan Keating Returning To NZ For One Show
Annual music festival, Selwyn Sounds, will be headlined next year by one of the most successful and well-known international stars to have appeared at the event. Ronan Keating will take the stage in Lincoln just outside Christchurch, on 7 March 2026, for a one-night-only New Zealand performance. The Irish superstar has sold more than 25 million records worldwide, including 10 top 10 singles and three number ones, and festival promoter David Parlane says with Keating and an exceptionally strong lineup, he expects this year's Selwyn Sounds to be a sell-out. 'We are thrilled to have Ronan on board for 2026', says Mr Parlane. 'Together with Tony Hadley ex Spandau Ballet, Kiwi legends When the Cats Away, Mi-Sex, Op Shop and crowd favourites Automatic 80's, this is lining up to be one of our biggest Selwyn Sounds yet.' Ronan Keating announced on July 10 he is celebrating the 25th anniversary edition of Ronan – his multi-million selling debut solo album – with double CD and 2LP reissues in September. Mr Parlane adds that the positivity and economic buoyancy in the Canterbury region is definitely going to be a key factor. 'You can feel it,' he says. 'The energy and vibe all around us in Canterbury is palpable. Hearing all of these outstanding performers at the Lincoln Domain in March next year will be incredible.' Tony Hadley, ex-Spandau Ballet – like Ronan Keating – is an international star and no stranger to New Zealand. He was here in 2022 with his 40th anniversary tour (Auckland and Christchurch). At the forefront of the New Romantic movement in the 1980's, Mr Hadley will perform Spandau Ballets greatest hits, and a collection of his more recent work. Selwyn Sounds will rock the Lincoln Domain on March 7, 2026. Register today, (July 15) for the 24-hour pre-sale which starts on Tuesday 22 July. A pre-sale link will be emailed at 7am on July 22 to all those who have registered. General Admission tickets go on sale from Wednesday 23 July at
Time Out Dubai
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Dubai
Ronan Keating at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre: Tickets, date and more
One of Ireland's most iconic pop stars is set to perform a special outdoor concert in Dubai later this year. Ronan Keating will take to the stage at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre on Friday November 21, for a one-night-only gig. With more than 25 million records sold worldwide, including 10 top 10 singles and three number ones, it's bound to be a hugely popular show at the Dubai Media City venue. You can expect a night of sing-along anthems and timeless ballads such as Life is a Rollercoaster, When You Say Nothing At All and If Tomorrow Never Comes. Tickets for the concert start from Dhs199 in the super early bird sale for the concert organised by pub chain McGettigan's. The amphitheatre will be converted into a top concert venue with a fan-first experience, including food trucks, bars and an open-air atmosphere. Tickets for the nostalgic show will be for over 21s only. Ronan Keating first made his name as the frontman of Boyzone before going on to find fame as a solo artist. Ronan Keating Dubai tickets Super early bird, Dhs199 (extremely limited availability) Early bird, Dhs249 (limited availability) Regular, Dhs299 (standard general access) Fan pit, Dhs399 (dedicated fan zone in front of the stage) Individual, Dhs499 (access to premium raised viewing deck and three drink tokens) Table for four (standing), Dhs1,899 (includes access for four people and 12 drink tokens) Table for six (seated), Dhs2,799 (includes six people and 18 drink tokens) Fri Nov 21. From Dhs199. Dubai Media City Amphitheatre. In other Dubai news The incredible music festivals coming soon to Dubai The big events to know about All the best concerts and gigs coming to Dubai in 2025 There's a show for every taste Brilliant Dubai staycation deals to snap up this summer From free breakfasts to spa treatments
