Friday, 12 February 2021

STRICTLY STAR SUSAN CALMAN TRIES TO FIND HAPPINESS IN NEW SHOW



 

STRICTLY star and Scots comedian Susan Calman is searching for happiness on her new show - and she’ll be doing her utmost to chat to those who are bringing some cheers through difficult times. 


The chatty presenter is on a quest to investigate the weird and wonderful ways we are discovering unexpected hits of happiness in these uncertain times, in a brand new four part series for BBC Scotland.

 

Each week Susan Calman’s Happy Space will seek out and celebrate the many ways, however odd,  we are all seeking out the lighter side of life.   From her studio-based Happiness HQ Susan will be speaking to people around the country and joined by famous faces who will share some of the ways they’ve discovered happiness and, never one to shy away from embracing the more eccentric parts of life, Susan will be road testing a few herself.

 

Commenting on the series, Susan said:  “I'm so looking forward to spending time in my Happy Space, and finding out what's bringing people cheer in difficult times.  No matter how unusual or incredible it's a quest to find the joy in life.  And I'll be sharing some of the strange things that make me happy, like my Smurf Collection.  I can't wait to get started!”

 

Gavin Smith commissioning executive, BBC Scotland adds:  “It’s never felt more relevant to highlight all the fantastic and varied ways the Scottish public are making themselves and others happy. We’re delighted Susan will showcase and celebrate some of these joyful activities with the BBC Scotland audience. Hopefully the series will inspire viewers to take up something new!”

 

Susan’s new show is part of BBC Scotland’s continued effort to commission programming in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Across the year it has worked closely with the independent production sector and collaborated with creative partners to bring a variety of content, across all genres, to help entertain and engage audiences.  Titles include the recently recommissioned Shelf Isolation, Socially Distant with Susan Calman,  Scenes for Survival, in partnership with the National Theatre of Scotland and Reflections at the Quay.   This is in addition to its comprehensive education service Bitesize which is available across television, iPlayer and online.

 

Susan Calman’s Happy Space is due to broadcast in March on the BBC Scotland channel and will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.  It is produced by Red Sky Productions for BBC Scotland.

Friday, 5 February 2021

WEST LOTHIAN BAND THE SNUTS HELP REFUGEES




WEST Lothian band The Snuts have teamed up with the Scottish Refugee Council for their new video. 

The hotly tipped ban, who theshowbizlion.com first met during at Battle of The Bands competition at Hard Rock Cafe in Glasgow, will officially release  their raucous, hook laden debut album, W.L. on 19th March on Parlophone Records. 

Today they released their infectious new single ‘Somebody Loves You’, which premiered on Annie Mac’s Radio 1 show, alongside an emotionally uplifting video for the track. 

A love song for the ages, with its title deep-rooted in the desire to check in on people closest to us, the radio-ready indie-pop tune sees the band step into another direction with ‘Somebody Loves You’.

“Three simple words: ‘Somebody Loves You’, spray painted all across my city. It is a simple but powerful reminder,” Jack said of the track. “As the days disappeared into months, I noticed myself and everyone around me scrambling to stay in touch, to check up on each other. There was something really special about this to me. I don’t think anyone really saw that coming. It shouldn’t take a global pandemic to remind us how important the people we care about are, but I'm kind of glad it did.”

A charity close to their hearts, the band teamed up with the Scottish Refugee Council to create the video and help raise awareness for the charity. Directed by Michael Sherrington and shot in Glasgow, the video follows the lives of people directly affected by the actions and efforts of the charity, who with the help of the Scottish Refugee Council have made a home in Glasgow. As well as the band donating the video budget to the charity, the band’s label, Parlophone Records, will also donate all proceeds from downloads of the single.

Speaking of the video Jack said: “When our record label asked what we’d do if they gave us the full video budget, immediately we decided to use our platform to help bring attention to the Scottish Refugee Council here in Glasgow. The song for us is a universal message of love and compassion and the work of this charity and others like it is something I am particularly inspired by.” He continued, “It  is exactly this sense of an expanding and welcoming community spirit we hope to portray with this video.”

Watch the video for ‘Somebody Loves You’ HERE

Hailing from Whitburn, West Lothian, The Snuts have well and truly found their stride on W.L.. Produced by Tony Hoffer (Beck, Phoenix, M83) and recorded at the Firepit London, the album encapsulates the band’s journey from four working class kids growing up with a dream in Whitburn, to becoming one of the UK’s most exciting and vital bands of the new decade. 

Adored up and down the country for their uninhibited, sweat-drenched live shows, the band have also announced a UK tour for May/June 2021, including 3 sold-out dream shows at Glasgow’s Barrowland. Tickets on sale now from HERE

The Snuts play the following UK and Irish shows:

April
Fri 30th             LIVERPOOL, Sound City 
May
Sat 1st              DORSET, Teddy Rocks 
Sun 2nd            CARDIFF, Globe                                        SOLD OUT
Tues 4th            SHEFFIELD, Leadmill 
Weds 5th           LEEDS, Stylus                                           SOLD OUT 
Thurs 6th           MIDDLESBROUGH, Town Hall Crypt        SOLD OUT 
Sat 8th              NORWICH, Waterfront 
Mon 10th           BRISTOL, Fleece 
Tues 11th           OXFORD, O2 Academy
Weds 12th         MANCHESTER, O2 Ritz                            SOLD OUT 
Fri 14th              EDINBURGH, Corn Exchange                   SOLD OUT 
Sat 15th             LONDON, O2 Kentish Town Forum 
Mon 17th            DERBY, The Venue 
Tues 18th            BRIGHTON, Concorde 2
Weds 19th           EXETER, Phoenix
Fri 21st                COLCHESTER, Arts Centre 
Sat 22nd              HULL, Asylum 
Sun 23rd              BLACKPOOL, Waterloo                           SOLD OUT 
Tues 25th             DUBLIN, Button Factory 
Weds 26th           BELFAST, Empire 
Fri 28th                LEEDS, Temple Newsham 
Sat 29th               WARRINGTON, Neighbourhood Weekender
Sun 30th              NEWCASTLE, This Is Tomorrow 
June
Tues 1st               BIRMINGHAM, Sonic Wave Closing Party – O2 Institute
Tues 8th               GLASGOW, Barrowland                          SOLD OUT
Thurs 10th            GLASGOW, Barrowland                         SOLD OUT
Fri 11th                 GLASGOW, Barrowland                         SOLD OUT

The Snuts are: Jack Cochrane (vocals/guitar), Joe McGillveray (guitar), Callum ‘29’ Wilson (bass) and Jordan ‘Joko’ Mackay (drums).

https://www.thesnuts.co.uk/ / Twitter /Instagram / Facebook / TikTok YouTube

About Scottish Refugee Council
Scottish Refugee Council are an independent charity dedicated to supporting people in need of refugee protection. Through direct services they provide practical support, advice and a listening ear to help people rebuild their lives in a sustainable and meaningful way.