US supergroup The Jacksons will fly to Scotland next weekend to pay tribute to their late father at their first gig since his death. Tito, Jermaine, Jackie and Marlon have confirmed to Scotfest organisers that they will still perform at Ingliston Royal Highland Centre on Friday July 6. Their legendary father Joe, also dad to music legends Michael and Janet Jackson, lost his fight to cancer on Wednesday aged 89. Michael’s daughter Paris has already paid tribute to her granddad calling him ‘one of the greatest patriarchs to ever live.’ Scotsfest Director Stuart Prentice confirmed he had been in contact with The Jacksons management as soon as he heard the news. He said: “We sent our sympathies through to the Jackson family as soon as we heard of Joseph's death and gave them the space they needed. We are delighted to hear they are still playing Friday night and we can’t wait to see them on stage. We know that fans in Scotland will show them the love and support that they need at this emotional time.” Joe’s funeral is expected to take place over the next week. An insider added: “The Jackson family are grieving but also want to celebrate the life and work of their father. He was always of the opinion that the show must go on and as Scotfest is the first date in their tour diary they will be flying to Edinburgh to do what they do best. There will be tears but The Jacksons won’t let their fans down.” Les McKeown's Bay City Rollers, S Club, Five Star and 911 all play Friday at Scotfest whole Boyzone, B*witched, Liberty X, East 17 and 5ive play Saturday.
BIG CAT Boxer David Haye told me he’s enjoying his retirement at the Action For Children Sport Dinner on Friday night. The Hayemaker who held multiple world championships in two weight classes was interviewed on stage by STV’s Peter Martin but mingled readily with guests. He told me: “I officially retired a few weeks ago so pipe and slippers are in full effect and I’m not smashing it as hard. I can eat and drink what I want now.” David who cautioned off a personal training session on the night, couldn’t stop giggling as Peter, whose humour is often close to the bone, took the mickey out of main sponsor Poonam Gupta OBE who owns the hugely successful PG Paper company. Poonam and her husband Puneet managed to help raise over £100,000 on the night, no doubt helped by Puneet bidding £15,000 for a personal portrait session with Scots artist Gerard Burns who has painted Nicola Sturgeon, Billy Connolly and Ewan Mcgregor amongst others. Gerard who was there admitted it takes a lot of effort to paint portraits so he was thrilled his donation had gone for such a great price.
FEAST FOR THE BEAST
I might have felt slightly worse for wear after my Saturday night Katy chasing but I had a lovely Sunday brunch with influencers including Emily Shak and Abbie Blyth at Glasgow’s Hummingbird on Sunday with clothing and accessory brand House of LBD. It’s run by Emma Sinclair who is a real entrepreneur. After realising her initial business of Little black dresses had limited appeal she decided to personalise her products with peoples initials, starting with scarfs. She presented me with a clutch bag which is part of her new range and she has toilet bags and phone covers too. She works at STV too but her work with House of LBD has become a real success. We all enjoyed a cocktail masterclass before tucking into mini donuts, brownies and an array of sandwiches as well as posing by Mr Flowerwalls latest creations. We even drank cocktails from a disco ball! It’s a hard life.
JUNGLE DRUMS Ex Rangers striker Mark Hately reckons he might like to be an active player in the football game again if he gets the chance. Mark was a guest of PG Paper at the Action For Children Sports dinner . After our chicken dinner, he revealed: “I’m always thinking about things. Football has been my life since i was born and whether the next stage of my life is going to be in or out of football I don’t know. It’s difficult one to answer. I’ve been club ambassador for eighteen years but I might want to dip my toe a little bit deeper into the game. We will see.”
ON THE PROWL I managed to say a quick hello to the Glasgow’s own Lulu before her gig at Kelvingrove bandstand. Lulu, who was at the stylish Malmaison hotel, is someone I’ve grown up with. My wee daddy Ben Lyons, who is no longer with us, produced her first radio broadcast on the BBC after discovering her singing at a party in town so we’ve got some lovely memories. Lulu always looks younger every time I see her. She loves to wear a baseball cap off stage and she’s the only sixty nine year old I can’t think of who suits it. She reminded everyone at her Scots gig of her age when she told them she used to get a tram car from Denniston to Kelvingrove bandstand as a wee girl for one penny in the old days. Lulu, who was married to Bee Gee Maurice Gibb, is chuffed that Barry Gibb is receiving a knighthood from the Queen and told her fans on Twitter exactly that.
THE LYON’S PRIDE I had a wee chat on the phone with Social Bite’s Josh Littlejohn as he announced that his charity venture Sleep in The Park will be held in four cities. Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen will see around 12,000 people sleeping rough for charity on Saturday December 9. Josh who did it last year told me: “it was the coldest night of the year and when I got home I found it hard to imagine doing it night after night. We’re hoping to raise even more this year - with six million as our target.” Amy Macdonald, and KT Tunstall will be flying to all four locations with Fred MacAuley hosting Edinburgh and Irvine Welsh reading a bedtime story. The helicopter that will fly the girls on the night has been donated by Andrew Devlin who owns Curtis Moore Cladding Systems. Andrew was last seen spinning around a dance floor at the Little Less Strictly Come Dancing ball with Strictly’s Oti Mabuse. Since then he’s been known as Twinkle Toes.
THE LYON SLEEPS TONIGHT... It’s a busy weekend for festive fun in Glasgow and beyond - and it’s going to be mad for me. As well as the cool Fiesta x Fold at Kelvingrove this Friday and Saturday with Nile Rodgers, The Pointer Sisters, Earth Wind and Fire and Hoey Morgan’s NYC Block Party there’s also TRNSMT. I went to the first TRNSMT at Glasgow Green last year and it was a lovely friendly festival in the heart of the city. This Friday, Saturday and Sunday sees the first of three dates with two more planned next weekend. I can’t wait to catch bands like The Killers, Liam Gallagher, Stereophonics, Jessie J, The Script James Bay and our homegrown talents like Franz Ferdinand, Nina Nesbitt, Lewis Capaldi and Gerry Cinammon. I love the fact that it’s in Glasgow Green so I don’t need to take any over night bags. I’m also due to pop into Dumfries Youth Beats festival on Saturday with Basshunter, Jax Jones and Sigala so I’m still not sure how it’ll all pan out...
