Latest news with #WagonWheel
Sunday World
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Judge bails alleged pervert accused of sex attacks on 12-year-old girl
The defendant is well-known after appearing in the media several years ago when the windows of his home were smashed by an irate neighbour because he was playing 'Wagon Wheel' by Nathan Carter on loop A Co Derry man has appeared in court accused of three sex offences involving a 12-year-old girl. Standing in the dock of the town's magistrates court, Jason Lee Kane confirmed his identity and that he was aware of the charges against him, all alleged to have been committed between July and August 2023. The 35-year-old, from James Street in Coleraine, faces offences of engaging in a sexual activity in the presence of a child and two of sexual assault of a child under 13. None of the alleged facts were opened during the preliminary enquiry but a prosecuting lawyer submitted there was a prima facie case against the alleged paedophile. Coleraine courthouse That was conceded by defence counsel Alan Stewart who revealed that as the complainant 'was 12 at the time, it's a purple file' and therefore will be fast-tracked through the courts. District Judge Peter King said he was satisfied there is a case to answer, so returning the case to Antrim Crown Court, he scheduled the arraignment to be heard on June 16. Freeing Kane on bail with a condition that he has no contact with children without prior permission, he told Mr Stewart he would have 'no hesitation' in extending legal aid to allow a senior barrister to be instructed. The defendant is well-known in Coleraine after appearing in the media several years ago when the windows of his home were smashed by an irate neighbour because he was playing on loop the song 'Wagon Wheel' by country star Nathan Carter. Kane was later offered free tickets to one of the singer's shows.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wagon Wheel raises nearly $20,000
WARSAW — Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts raised nearly $20,000 on Thursday during its annual Day of Giving fundraiser. As a nonprofit organization, Wagon Wheel relies on two major fundraising efforts each year: a year-end giving campaign during the holiday season and the Day of Giving in the spring. Since 1956, Wagon Wheel has produced in-house professional theater, earning a national reputation for excellence and serving as a launching pad for artists who go on to perform on Broadway stages, national tours and beyond. Sam Engle, Communications and Donor Relations coordinator, expressed his appreciation for the community's ongoing support. 'When we became a nonprofit in 2010, it became clear just how deeply this community loves Wagon Wheel,' Engle said. 'Time and again, I'm reminded why our theater calls Kosciusko County home. Last Thursday's incredible response is proof of how vital this work is, and how essential it is that it continues right here. We're so grateful to share powerful stories that inspire, transform, and connect us with our audiences this summer.' Tickets for Wagon Wheel's upcoming 70th professional summer season are available now and can be purchased at or by calling the box office at 574-267-8041. Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts is a 501©3 nonprofit organization based in Warsaw. Their mission is to provide performing arts experiences that create community unity, educational opportunity, and economic growth. For more information about Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts or to learn more about upcoming events, visit
Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
People are astounded after realising what Wagon Wheels actually stands for
The famous biscuit has been on sale since the '40s, however not many people know the meaning behind the name of the famous chocolate sandwich biscuits. Many of us enjoy tucking into a Wagon Wheel without giving much thought to where the name comes from - but surprisingly, it has nothing to do with their circular shape. While it's easy to assume the name was inspired by their resemblance to old-fashioned cart wheels, the real reason is rooted in a popular cultural trend of the time. These iconic treats, made from two chocolate biscuits sandwiched together with marshmallow, sometimes with a layer of jam, and coated in milk chocolate have been a lunchbox favourite for generations. The beloved biscuit was first created in the 1940s by William Peschardt. He then sold the patent to Garry Weston, son of the British MP Garfield Weston. In 1948, Wagon Wheels went on sale and were first available at the Olympia Food Fair when Garry Weston introduced it as the"biggest chocolate biscuit bar" according to HuffPost. However, there were complaints that Wagon Wheels weren't "creative enough". At first, the snack was simply just marshmallow sandwiched between two biscuits and covered in chocolate - without jam, and their original name was Weston's Wagon Wheels, which was inspired by western cowboy films and is what led the iconic sweet treat to be born and now widely known as. Western movies at the time were a hugely popular cultural trend, especially those starring John Wayne, and the brand has kept the iconic name ever since. However, Burton's Biscuits now owns the famous Wagon Wheel brand, and according to their website, say there are 125 million Wagon Wheels are purchased a year. Another iconic biscuit favourite is Hobnobs. They're a popular choice among tea-drinking Brits, but do you know how the crumbly wonder got its name? A number of viewers were taken by surprise after tuning into Channel 4's The Secret World Of Biscuits, which delved into how distinctive Hobnobs managed to 'stay ahead of the pack'. The programme explored the origins of the moreish bikkie, which first hit supermarket shelves back in 1985. Drawing inspiration from the flapjack, McVitie's added oats to a recipe to create a brand new texture - and soon realised they had a hit on their hands. According to Pam, who had the task of overseeing a McVitie's team focused on making a new biscuit that would get customers talking: "[The focus groups] said [the biscuit] was knobbly, because, you know, it wasn't a very smooth finish in the way, for instance, Digestive or Rich Tea are. And they said it looked as if somebody had made it at home, maybe made it on a hob." She continued: "And so, I wanted a name that was very easy to say and just rolled off the tongue. And so, 'Hobnob'."
Sunday World
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Irish ex-Riverdance brothers go stateside to kick off new career in Nashville
'We built up our own brand while working in Riverdance and we felt that the time is now right to move on and take it to the next level.' Michael and Matthew have had more than a billion views of their dancing Michael and Matthew have had more than a billion views of their dancing With more than one billion views across social media, former Riverdance stars The Gardiner Brothers have become an internet sensation. Their dancing skills — think Michael Jackson meets Michael Flatley — have captivated their nine million followers online that include superstars Hugh Jackman, Jack Black, Jamie Lee Curtis and Tiesto. The social media influencers, whose clients include Aer Lingus — they created a spectacular online dance routine to Nathan Carter's Wagon Wheel for the airline's recent direct flight to Nashville launch — have also built up a reputation as top-notch motivational and inspirational speakers. Now, after wowing fans around the world as lead dancers in Riverdance, Michael (29) and Matthew (26) from Clarinbridge in Galway have stepped out on their own and moved to Nashville to start a new life and career. Michael and Matthew have celebrity fans across social media 'We built up our own brand while working in Riverdance and we felt that the time is now right to move on and take it to the next level,' Michael tells the Sunday World when we meet up in the Tennessee capital. 'We've always wanted to try our business here in America as content creators, performers and as speakers, where we talk about high performance, do a little bit about motivation and also leadership speaking at conferences. 'We talk about the leadership lessons that we've learned, the highs and lows of our life as Irish dancers and how we realise now that it wasn't just about the Irish dancing, it was about the life lessons that we've learned along the way. 'We do so much of that in America, so we want to build a base here. 'There was a selection process between the different cities, New York, Chicago, Denver and obviously Nashville. 'And we just felt Nashville was a natural fit for us with the music, the culture, the people, the amazing food and the sports. 'So we wanted to try it out. It's one flight now from Ireland with the new Aer Lingus direct flight and we're excited to set up the business here.' The brothers also host inspirational talks It was the Covid-19 pandemic that helped them to amass their massive online following. They regularly posted videos dancing to chart hits on TikTok and Instagram and were astonished to notch up millions of fans that included the aforementioned Hugh Jackman, Jack Black, Jamie Lee Curtis and Tiesto, who reposted the videos to their own followers. 'During the pandemic everything shut down and we started our own social media page dancing to modern music,' Michael says. 'It just exploded and we kept it going.' Matthew and Michael are American citizens as they were born in Denver, Colorado. 'Our mother is from Sligo and our father is from Dublin and they emigrated to America after graduating from Trinity College in Dublin where they met,' Matthew explains. 'They were only supposed to spend a year or two there, but they stayed for 16 years and that's where their three kids, including our sister, Anna, were born. 'We were all sent to Irish dancing as young children because our Irish parents wanted us to have something Irish growing up in America.' When the family returned to Ireland they set up home in Clarinbridge, where the brothers joined the local Hession School of Irish Dance and would go on to notch up 40 major titles, including five world championship titles between them. Michael and Matthew could pass as twins, and Matthew says: 'We get the twins thing a lot, even our mother mixes us up the odd time. We live together, work together so we're very close.' Michael and Matthew have had more than a billion views of their dancing 'Our parents are still in Ireland, but they are both American citizens and welcome to join us in Nashville any time. 'We'd love to have them because we haven't figured out the washing machine yet,' Matthew jokes. You can always send your dirty washing home to Mammy. 'That's true, and she can sent them back on a direct Aer Lingus flight,' he laughs. Their departure from Riverdance and move to Nashville has come with a sacrifice — Michael and Matthew are now facing prolonged separations from their girlfriends who are leading members of the dance troupe. 'They are both lead dancers and dance captains in Riverdance right now,' Michael reveals. 'They are finishing that part of their journey and are at the peak of their powers. 'So they are going to continue doing that while they can. 'We are going to keep dancing as well here in Nashville. We did a performance for the Aer Lingus video at the bottom of Broadway here in Nashville and it was a lot of fun. 'We had a few people coming up to us interacting straight away, so we need to figure out a way to do a bit more interactive stuff like that here in the city. We're excited for the future and what lies in store for us.'
CBC
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Iceberg Alley is going to rock out at Quidi Vidi for 10 days this summer
Festival season in St. John's is full steam ahead as Iceberg Alley joins the growing list of organizations announcing its musical lineup. The Iceberg Alley Performance Tent will be open for ten nights in Quidi Vidi this summer, running from June 19-29. Old Crow Medicine Show, the band that popularized a song co-written by Bob Dylan's, Wagon Wheel, is kicking off the festival. ZZ Top is also hitting the stage, along with Mother Mother, Chilliwack and many more. Filling a ten-night schedule with dozens of musical acts isn't a simple job, says festival producer Shawn Basha. "You can't have five days in a row of classic rock," Basha told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show. "We get a headliner first," he said, "we have to find two other bands that are going to complement that band on that particular night. But then the next night, we don't want the same type of genre of music so we have to try to go get something else." Earlier this week the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival announced its lineup for July 11-13. Last month the Churchill Park Music Festival announced The Killers would be its headline act. Iceberg Alley was under fire last year because of a lack of female representation on the lineup. Basha says in 2024 it was unintentional, but it's a similar situation this year. British Columbia rock band Mother Mother is the only headliner offering up any gender diversity so far. Basha says festival organizers face unique barriers when it comes to booking performers because Newfoundland is an island. His team strategically picks featured acts based on where they're touring, he says. For example, if someone has a stop in Europe, they can play in St. John's on the way there. It may be hard to get there, but Basha says the island still has a distinct charm. "Every band who plays here thinks this place is magical," he said. Iceberg Alley also makes sure local artists are getting their time in the sun, says Basha, withTim Baker, Mick Davis and Thin Love, Damian Follett and Rum Ragged set to perform. A busy summer Newfoundland and Labrador is heading into a summer packed with events like the Canada Games and other music festivals but Basha says that doesn't complicate his job booking acts. He says he also works for the Churchill Park Music Festival and they co-ordinate to make sure they go after different performers for the separate festivals. "We're trying not to step on each other's toes. And Churchill Park is a totally different thing because that is a large outdoor venue," he said. "The bands that they're going after are way out of our wheelhouse because we would never be able to afford them, because we don't have the attendance." Basha says the lineup usually isn't announced until everything is set in stone. June 26 is the only day of the festival where the lineup hasn't been announced yet but Basha says it's coming soon.
