The Week in Light & Sound
- Details
Entertainment included a mixture of concerts, talks, workshops, film screenings, ceilidhs, art exhibitions, free events and late-night sessions. Councillor David McDonald, chairman of event organisers Glasgow Life, said, "There is nothing that compares to Celtic Connections and it is a huge part of our year-round cultural calendar, providing much needed entertainment and economic cheer to the city during the darkest winter months. Our first 25 years have seen the festival grow into a world-beater and I can't wait to see what is to come as we move forward with the city's musical ambitions."
Half-time Show - Justin Timberlake paid tribute to Prince and took selfies with fans during his Super Bowl half-time show. The singer performed I Would Die 4 U during a hit-packed, 12-minute set in Minneapolis - Prince's home town.
Timberlake also ran into the crowd to dance and pose for photos, in an unfailingly energetic appearance. And he tacitly acknowledged his last Super Bowl performance in 2004, which ended with Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction". On that occasion, he ripped a panel off Jackson's bodice, revealing her right breast as he sang the lyric "gonna have you naked by the end of this song". When he reached that line on Sunday night, Timberlake stopped the music and cut to another song.
The gesture is unlikely to have impressed Jackson's fans - who still resent the fact that her career was derailed by the incident, while Timberlake emerged relatively unscathed.
Lady Gaga has cancelled her upcoming UK tour due to "severe pain" that has "impacted her ability to perform live". The American singer-songwriter was due to perform twice in London - on 4 and 8 February - and once in Manchester on 6 February as part of her Joanne World Tour, before moving on to Europe.
A statement posted on her website said: "Unfortunately, Lady Gaga is suffering from severe pain that has materially impacted her ability to perform live. As a result, Live Nation and Lady Gaga are announcing the cancellation of the final 10 dates of the European leg of her Joanne World Tour.”
Together Again - The Spice Girls have confirmed they will work together again after they were pictured together for the first time in years. 'Posh Spice' Victoria Beckham posted a picture on social media of all five stars, believed to have been taken in the London home of 'Ginger' Geri Horner. Rumours suggested they would be discussing new projects, worth up to £10m each. And they confirmed they would work together again in a statement after their meeting.
Local Hero - The 1983 film Local Hero is to be turned into a musical by David Greig, with music by Mark Knopfler. Telling the story of an American oil company representative who is sent to a Scottish village to purchase the area for his company, the comedy drama won filmmaker Bill Forsyth a BAFTA for best direction.
Forsyth will collaborate with Greig, who is artistic director of the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, to reimagine the story as a musical. Dire Straits founder Knopfler, who wrote the original film’s music, will provide composition for the stage adaptation, which will be produced by the Royal Lyceum and London’s Old Vic. It will premiere early next year in Edinburgh before transferring to the Old Vic.
Farewell - Former lead singer of The Temptations Dennis Edwards has died aged 74, the group's agent has confirmed. Edwards joined the Motown group in 1968 and stayed until 1976, during which time the band notched up hits such as Papa Was a Rollin' Stone and Ball of Confusion.
"He was an amazing performer and singer and the whole Temptations family are grieving at his sad passing," the group's agent said. The Alabama-born singer joined the group when they fired David Ruffin and his gritty vocals helped propel the group to greater chart success.
(Jim Evans)
6 February 2018
