Latest news with #RoyalAlbertHall
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Festival promoter brands Royal Albert Hall levy scheme ‘ludicrous'
The promoter behind the Isle of Wight Festival has criticised the plan for a £1 levy on arena and stadium tickets that would help support grassroots venues. This week, it was announced that the Royal Albert Hall in London would become the first 5,000+ capacity arena to commit to the LIVE Trust's £1 contribution supporting grassroots music across the UK. From 1 October 2025, the price of tickets for commercial rock and pop concerts at the venue will include a £1 contribution, which will raise an estimated £300,000 per year for the LIVE Trust to support grassroots venues, promoters, festivals and artists. The levy was proposed by the Music Venue Trust as a way of protecting the many small music venues around the UK – a vital platform for emerging artists – that are under threat of closure. However, industry veteran Giddings – who has represented artists including The Police, Lady Gaga, The Corrs and Westlife, as well as promoting major tours by artists such as Madonna and The Rolling Stones – was dismissive of the venture, saying he believes it will not be of benefit to live music fans. 'I think the whole thing is bloody ludicrous,' he told The Independent. 'The fact is, you sell a ticket when you're a promoter, and it costs £15, £50, whatever. There's a booking fee, and now they're talking about an extra fee to go to small venues. But that's not the [Royal Albert] Hall or the artist caring about small venues: that's charging the general public. It's costing them more money for a ticket.' A recent Music Fans' Voice survey showed that 93 per cent of fans agreed that £1 from every arena and stadium ticket should go to a fund that directly supports grassroots venues. Meanwhile, data from LIVE revealed that 125 such venues were forced to shut down in 2023, while 78 festivals were cancelled the following year. Tour dates have also seen a 50 per cent decline over the past three decades, as the regional grassroots system collapses. The typical tour circuit has halved in the past 30 years, from 22-date tours in 1994 to an average of just 11 dates last year. 'It's disgusting that [they're] trying to make themselves look good when they're not helping at all,' Giddings said of the venue scheme, while questioning how the funds from the levy would be distributed among the UK's grassroots spots. He said that instead, artists themselves should do more to support the venues they first played in as emerging acts: 'If [bands] really care about small venues, they should go and play in small venues that helped them in their careers early on, and let the small venue keep all of the income. That's what they should do. 'And that way, you give the money directly to the venue. You're advertising the venue. It's a good PR story for the group. Everybody benefits.' Giddings, who was named Festival Promoter of the Year at the FestForums awards in February, continued: 'Every artist in this country, band or single artist, has been through those small venues, and they've helped them in their career. That's where they [train] and learn how to do it, and they should go back and help them directly.' A number of artists have already pledged their support to the Music Venue Trust scheme, including pop band Coldplay, who are donating 10 per cent of their earnings from their 2025 tour to the organisation. Their involvement came after the British metal band Enter Shikari donated £1 from every ticket sold for their OVO Wembley Arena show in February last year. US pop star Katy Perry, who played some of her first UK shows in small venues such as Water Rats and Scala, contributed £1 to the MVT from every ticket sold for the UK leg of her Lifetimes tour. Responding to Giddings's comments, Mark Davyd, CEO of the Music Venue Trust, told The Independent: 'Obviously I appreciate that John has not been as close to these extensive and protracted discussions about the necessity of a grassroots levy as some of his colleagues in the Concert Promoters Association or at Live Nation. 'That's a shame, because all of the issues and potential objections John raises have been fully covered, debated, and collectively resolved. The whole live music industry is united behind delivering the grassroots levy, and the way that we have agreed to do that is that everyone – promoters, ticketing companies, venues, agents, managers and artists – will all play their part in delivering it.' He added: 'The lead taken by the Royal Albert Hall has been warmly welcomed right across the industry. It shows real leadership and it's a very positive step in making the levy a reality. The grassroots levy that the whole industry has agreed to, and the leadership shown by the Royal Albert Hall in moving that concept forward, is the positive change we need.'
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Ellie Goulding, 38, shows off her stunning body in bikini snaps after moving on from marriage split with toyboy, 28
Ellie-gant She debuted poignant new music after her marital split SINGER Ellie Goulding has thrilled fans with an insight into her Italian holiday - and shown off her toned torso. Pop star Ellie - who has been quietly romancing toyboy Beau Minniear - shared her getaway pictures from their Italian trip together. 8 8 8 Ellie, 38, can be seen in the photo dump wearing a black string bikini whilst lounging on a sunbed holding a book. The eye-popping pictures show off her trim figure and washboard stomach. The star shared a selfie in a glamorous hallway wearing the black two-piece and sunglasses, holding her hair up and displaying her gym-honed figure. She can be seen au natural sunbathing on a lounger in a string green bikini, reading a book and getting some much-needed relaxation. Another snap showed her posing with a coconut in hand and wearing a figure-flashing Fendi bikini. Wearing a floral yellow summer dress, the star can be seen looking into the lens and displaying her bronzed décolletage. The star posed on a scenic balcony and displayed her toned legs while wearing a white embroidered summer dress while on her vacation. The musician posted the candid pictures on her social media and amusingly captioned it 'Carbs'. Ellie and her new man, 28, went public with their relationship last weekend when they had ringside seats at Wembley Stadium for the world heavyweight boxing title clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois. She had shared a clip of her stroking a bloke's arm on TikTok, with the caption: 'Just a little something to take the edge off.' Ellie Goulding goes topless in rare sexy snaps as she parties with pals English chart-topper Ellie is believed to have met US actor Beau earlier this year. He has had a string of small acting parts in films and on US TV. Ellie announced she had separated from art dealer husband Caspar Jopling 18 months ago amid a short-lived fling with a Costa Rican surfing instructor. She and Caspar had married in 2019 at York Minster in front of famous guests including Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice. They had a son, Arthur, in 2021 and were married for four years. The talented singer has poured her former heartache into a new album and opened up about the split. Easy To Love Me, which Ellie debuted at London's Royal Albert Hall backed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, hints at the reason behind their separation. On the track, she sings: 'Every mistake I made was the last one, yet you still fight for us. "I know it's not easy to love me but I'm yours if you want me. 'I know it's not easy to love me but I'm yours, so completely. "I tried to soak up all the water you had to wade through just to reach me.' Later on in the track, she continues: 'Maybe I'm too much for you. All the questions, they hurt my head. 'Finally found something true I might lose, but you know I'll be there.' 8 8 8 8
Irish Independent
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Beloved Wexford festival set to mark a decade of ceol, craic and community spirit
Every year since then, the best of local talent has descended on Leo's native Lady's Island in a true display of community spirit with music, dancing, drama and much more. No doubt, the councillor of almost five decades would be very proud of the festival that now bears his name. Leo was somewhat of a musical legend himself A renowned All-Ireland lilting and mouthorgan champion, he also performed all over the world with the Carne Mummers, including for the Queen in the Royal Albert Hall. The festival is a fitting tribute to the man and his family are delighted to see its enduring appeal for the community of south Wexford, who turn out in force each year. This year's milestone festival kicks off on Saturday, August 2, with a variety concert in Our Lady's Island Community at 8 p.m. As part of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉirean fringe festival and with funding from Wexford County Council, the festival is also delighted to welcome All-Ireland Senior Céilí Band Champions The Bearthla Ó Flatharta Céilí Band as the headline act on the night. Also performing will be the local Lagoon Junior Choir, Danescastle Music Group and Nick & Marty Kinsella. There will also be guaranteed hilarity with the beloved Ballycogley Players performing a few comedy sketches on the night. Tickets are priced at €12 for adults and €6 for children and are available on the door. The festival continues apace on Sunday with a whole host of events, culminating in a family fun day in the afternoon. A 6k fun run will take place from 12 noon, with registration getting underway from 11 a.m. The ever-popular tractor and vintage run returns and will leave Lady's Island at 1 p.m. at the same time as live music kicks off with the legendary Theresa & The Stars topping the bill from 2 p.m. There'll also be all manner of kids entertainment and the hotly contested sheep race. "We are really looking forward to hosting this weekend and welcoming those traveling from near and far,' Festival Committee Chairman Brian Breslin said. 'The programme this year is really excellent, and it certainly has fun for all the family. "The Leo Carthy weekend, over the last 10 years has supported the work of many charities within the region and this year the proceeds will go towards the Irish Heart Foundation, Wexford Hope Centre other local organisations, so we look forward to the support of as many as possible." To check out full details log onto The Leo Carthy Weekend on Facebook or contact any of the committee. The committee would like to thank all those that partake and contribute to make the festival such a success and acknowledge with thanks to support of Wexford County Council & Fáilte Ireland.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Living near this Scottish landmark can add thousands to your house value
But staying within a mile of another iconic spot could send your home's value plummeting. New research has revealed that living close to some of the UK's most iconic landmarks can significantly impact the value of your property, for better or worse. And one of Scotland's most famous attractions has made it into the top ten. The study, carried out by buy to let insurance experts at the Alan Boswell Group, analysed house prices within a one-mile radius of 30 of Britain's top landmarks. These prices were then compared to average values in the surrounding areas to determine how much of an effect each landmark has on local property prices. Edinburgh Castle was ranked ninth in the study, with homes located within one mile of the historic capital fortress selling for an average of £427,250. That figure is £89,328 higher than the wider area average of £337,922, a rise of 26.4 per cent. The results suggest that having such a renowned attraction on your doorstep could add a sizeable premium to your home's value. However, not all Scottish landmarks offer the same benefit. In fact, some can have the opposite effect. Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire was among the worst performing in the study, with a sharp 41 per cent drop in property value for homes located within a one-mile radius. Average house prices near Balmoral are significantly lower than in the nearby town of Ballater, suggesting the Royal connection doesn't always translate to financial gain. Stirling Castle also featured on the list with a smaller but still negative impact on local house prices. The average price in the wider Stirling area is £244,398, but within a mile of the castle, it drops to £223,280, an 8.6 percent decline. Elsewhere in the UK, London landmarks dominated the top of the table. Buckingham Palace claimed the number one spot, with properties located within one mile seeing a staggering 92 per cent increase in value. The average house price in the surrounding City of Westminster stands at £941,900, but this jumps to £1,807,145 near the royal residence. A spokesperson from the Alan Boswell Group explained: 'The buy to let insurance experts at Alan Boswell Group can reveal that being neighbours with the royals can pay off majorly, with Buckingham Palace claiming first place. "The tourist hotspot, with 30 per cent of Brits considering it the best UK landmark, can increase your house value by a whopping 92 per cent if you live within one mile of the attraction.' Royal Albert Hall came second on the list with a 76 per cent increase in nearby house prices. The average property in London's most expensive borough, Kensington, costs £1,130,400, but this figure rises to £1,990,172 for homes located within one mile of the iconic concert venue. Despite the potential for noise from major events, Royal Albert Hall's past issues with complaints - including the loss of its licence to host boxing and wrestling events for 13 years starting in 1999 - appear to have had no impact on local property values. Third place went to the British Museum, where living within a one-mile radius can boost your home's value by 59 per cent. The average house price in Camden stands at £766,100, but climbs to £1,218,395 for those nearer the museum. Not all landmarks bring financial benefits, though. Other UK locations that saw negative effects on house prices include Blackpool Tower (down 28%), Old Trafford in Manchester (down 27%), and Coventry Cathedral (down 21%). Rank Landmark Location Average price in the wider area Average house price within 1 mile of the landmark Price increase % increase 1 Buckingham Palace London £941,900 £1,807,145 £865,245 91.9% 2 Royal Albert Hall London £1,130,400 £1,990,172 £859,772 76.1% 3 The British Museum London £766,100 £1,218,395 £452,295 59.0% 4 Durham Cathedral Durham £215,883 £338,434 £122,551 56.8% 5 Hampton Court Palace Molesey £654,889 £912,002 £257,113 39.3% 6 Tower of London London £479,500 £667,157 £187,657 39.1% 7 Tate Modern London £515,500 £710,532 £195,032 37.8% 8 The Shard London £515,500 £665,806 £150,306 29.2% 9 Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh £337,922 £427,250 £89,328 26.4% 10 Westminster Abbey London £941,900 £1,121,895 £179,995 19.1%
CBC
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
One-handed British pianist is carrying forward the legacy of those who came before him
Nicholas McCarthy is often described as the world's only professional one-handed concert pianist. But he wasn't the first, and he has no intention of being the last. "Each century from the 19th century tended to have this kind of one well-known concert pianist who had one hand," McCarthy told As It Happens guest host Megan Williams. "In the 21st century, I find myself being that one-handed pianist who seems to have more prominence. So I feel a lot of responsibility." On Sunday, the British pianist made his debut at The Proms, one of Britain's most prestigious classical music concert series, held annually at London's Royal Albert Hall, and broadcast on BBC. It was a dream come true for McCarthy — and one he says he couldn't have achieved without the thick skin that comes with having a lifelong disability, and a road paved by those who came before him. "I am still on a high. I'm absolutely buzzing," he said. "I would say this is really the pinnacle of my career so far." A 'full-circle moment' For his Proms debut, McCarthy regaled the audience with Maurice Ravel's bravura Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, alongside the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. The deceivingly rich piece is probably the most famous left-hand-only piano composition, he says. And it only exist because it was commissioned by Paul Wittgenstein, an Austrian-American concert pianist who lost his right arm in the First World War. It was one of several pieces Wittgenstein commissioned from prominent composers as he sought to build his post-war career, while developing novel techniques for one-handed play. "It's really thanks to him that I'm able to have the career that I have today, because I'm able to play these wonderful big famous works," McCarthy said. Piano Concerto for the Left Hand has been performed many times in the festival's 130-year-history, usually by two-handed pianists showing off their skills with their non-dominant hand. But McCarthy is only the second one-handed pianist to perform the piece at The Proms. The last, he says, was Wittgenstein himself in 1951. "It's really a full-circle moment," McCarthy said. Humble roots and a late start McCarthy was born without a right hand, but his disability wasn't the only obstacle on his journey to becoming a professional concert pianist. While most of his industry peers spent their childhoods studying classical music and practicing for hours on end, McCarthy says he spent his youth playing outdoors with his friends and doing regular kid stuff. "We come from a very non-musical family. Just normal pop stuff on the radio, you know, normal, working-class parents," he said. But at the age of 14, McCarthy heard his friend playing a Beethoven composition at school, and his whole life changed. "I just had one of those — it sounds corny — of those kind of Oprah Winfrey moments, you know, these kind of life-changing, lightbulb moments where I was like, wow, this is what I want to do for my career. I want to be a pianist," he said. It didn't even occur to him in that moment that he couldn't do it, he says. "You remember what it was like when you're 14," he said. "Everything's so possible, you know, full of teenage invincibility." But not everyone believed in his dream the way he did. "The early part of my career, for sure, I was being told left, right and centre by very respected people in the industry that I should give up, you know, this wasn't the career for me," he said. "It used to be fuel to my fire, almost, that's what kept me going and kept me focused on what I believed and what I knew I could do, which was obviously proven last night." A vast repertoire of left-hand only music Most piano compositions weren't made with someone like McCarthy in mind, but he didn't have to start from scratch. He says there is a surprisingly vast repertoire of piano music written for the left hand alone — roughly 3,000 solo pieces, and several dozen concertos. "It's all left-handed, and not right-hand alone, which I always find quite an interesting fact," he said. Many were commissioned by Wittgenstein, while others were commissioned or composed by Count Géza Zichy, a Hungarian composer who lost his right arm in a hunting accident in the 1860s. But many more, McCarthy said, were written in the 19th century for two-handed pianists to wow audiences. "Concert pianists would perform a wonderful bravura encore at the end of their amazing recitals," he said. "As a play on irony, they used to kind of say, 'You thought I was good with two hands. Wait till you see what I can do with my weaker hand!'" Now that McCarthy is in the spotlight like Wittgenstein and Zichy before him, he makes a point of regularly commissioning new left-hand pieces to build on the rich repertoire he's benefited so greatly from.
