Will Judges Have The X-Factor??

Barlow with finalist Marcus Collins

As the X-Factor final draws closer, various names including Coldplay have been thrown into the ring in speculation of who the finalists will perform with.
For the first time in the shows' history, the judges themselves are now rumoured to be stepping up to the plate. Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland and Tulisa (no second name required) are set to perform with their acts on Saturday's final at Wembley.

Good job Louis doesn't have an act left, although a Louis/Kitty duet would've been compelling viewing I'm sure!



Rowland with the last of her gals Amelia-Lily



Gary has previously performed in an X-Factor final, back in 2006 with Leona Lewis who won the show. Kelly gave it her all for her performance on last weeks results show, whereas Tulisa received rather negative feedback after her shaky vocals at the Children In Need concert.



Tulisa enjoying some down time with her "little muffins" Little Mix



Hopefully the judges will pull through for their acts in a last bid to see them crowned 2011's winner.

We'll have to wait until Saturday to find out...

A Bieber/Cocozza Bromance...Surely?



Justin Bieber and Frankie Cocozza - no flipping manners


Sex, drugs and....well, not really rock n roll, maybe pop n roll...have got these boys in the tabloids more than once lately.
Cocozza recently proved he had the axe factor after being given the boot from ITV's talent show for breaking a 'golden rule' aka, frequently getting a wee bit tipsy and doing cocaine backstage. Naughty!
When the X-Factor began I think a large amount of viewers liked Frankie's cheeky Robbie Williams-esque charm and personally, I quite liked that he didn't take the show too seriously. The skinny jeaned tyke just wanted to sing a few songs so he could pull birds and never pretended to be anything more.

 To his delight, Cocozza

has been making

front page news,

left and above.

                                                                                                                                                                                                 
The eighteen year old caused a ruckus in the house by returning from drunken nights out with girls in tow and openly saying on camera that he "got wasted, got laid". This didn't go down well with the squeaky clean image that X-Factor tries to maintain. It was imminent that poor old Frank would leave sooner or later, but with the amount of exposure he's had the lad will be lapping up the female attention now which, essentially, it what he wanted; Fame and Girls.

 Across the pond, little Justin Bieber isn't really so little anymore. Causing a stir with pics surfacing of him groping girlfriend Selena Gomez, below, and kissing in public (pretty standard for a teenage boy), a questioned paternity test, and now swearing at the paparazzi. Biebs was at Mr Chows restaurant in Knightsbridge last night and evidently got a bit peeved with the paps giving them a golden shot of him flipping his middle fingers. His "Beliebers" will no doubt be in shock!

The hair, the skinny jeans, the "bad boy" behaviour...someone please introduce these two and let a bromance blossom...

Ed Sheeran +1

Ed Sheeran's debut album + dropped Monday 12 September and has dominated the itunes album chart. Ed is currently occupying the top two spots with the deluxe and standard version of his album.

The instant success comes as no surprise after the months and years of Sheeran building his fan base both online and on the road. With an army of fans and youtube plays in the hundred thousands it's a sigh of relief for Ed who has well and truly done his job.

The lyrical content of some tracks, like Wake Me Up are so ingeniously simple, making it relatable to his peers.

"And I think you hate the smell of smoke,

You always try and get me to stop,

But you drink as much as me, and I get drunk a lot"

Ed Sheeran cleverly appeals to the masses with a mix of acoustic love songs filled with sweet, honest and at times, quite funny lyrics, twinned with his more up tempo tracks like You Need Me I Don't Need You demonstrating his wit and mc skills. This variation has been apparent on his different EP's from the chilled Loose Change which included his hit single A-Team, to the No.5 Collaborations Project in which he teamed up with the likes of Devlin and Wiley to create a list of grime tracks.

Ed is playing a host of sold out shows through October starting in Oxford on the 2nd.

Download the deluxe version of  + on itunes now for £10.99

Relentless Boardmasters 2011

The weather may have been hit and miss and this years Relentless Boardmasters festival in Newquay, but the music was most definitely on form. From chilled out acoustics to bangin beats, no stone was left unturned.
Here's a few highlights from the weekend....

Eliza Doolittle gave an outstanding vocal performance, and despite the rain, was more than happy to be singing at the sea-side festival "I can't believe the sea is right there man, I need to come and visit more often!".
Before taking to the stage Eliza had tweeted
"At rainy Boardmasters ...but we don't care about the rain doo we now Newquay !? We are gonna have it !"

From her well known single 'Skinny Genes' to a cover of Bill Withers' 'Lovely Day', Eliza's set was the perfect antidote to the rain (and even made for some enjoyable umbrella dancing that Gene Kelly would've been proud of)
Suffice to say the set was just as enjoyable for the singer, as she later tweeted
"Boardmasters ! You were THE most energetic crowd we've had ! Thank you ! xxx"

Charlie Simpson drew in a decent crowd at the View stage on Friday evening. a new addition to this years festival consisting of a silver trailer stage for a more intimate setting). With his album 'Young Pilgrim' out today his fans were there in force (including myself side-stage) to support the 26  year old perform his new material.

Stepping away from the sound of his band 'Fightstar', Charlie's taken an acoustic folk-esque route and it suits his voice to a tea. His soft, and at times husky, voice is perfect for this genre and Simpson has penned some beautiful lyrics for his debut solo album.

Here's Charlie performing his single 'Down Down Down'

Later in the evening, ragga/metal band Skindred played to a packed out tent on the Vans stage. The pumped up crowd were ready for lead singer Benji and the band to bring it, and they didn't disappoint. Popular tracks like 'Warning' and 'Rat Race' were sure fire ways to get fans starting a pit, and the energy of the whole set was immense.

Saturday night's crown had to go to FatBoy Slim. The legendary DJ put on a veritable feast of classic tunes with tasty visuals of lasers and video images. After many years of working the decks it's evident that Norman still loves to 'ave it! The sheer joy on his face at the crowds reaction was priceless.

Woodland Wonders

I have recently stumbled accross some accessories that have a distinct woodland feel. Bird and Owl motifs have been popular designs, and they're not the only things you'll find if you go down to the woods today...

Primark can be a goldmine for cheap accessories, and these necklaces are a great find! This Stag necklace (above) is £2 and the acorn pendant (below) looks, and feels a lot more than its £2 price tag. Threaded on brown cord it has quite a casual feel, try switching it to a long gold chain to accompany a dressier outfit.

Urban Outfitters have released this adorable squirrel ring as a web exclusive (below, £10). The 3D design and engraved detail makes it quite the statement piece.

To add something extra to a woodland inspired outfit, inject a little piece of foliage like this skinny belt from New Look (below, £4.99). The gold rose detail will compliment the jewellery perfecty, as will the deep red leather.

To purchase any of these items please visit........

Your local Primark store

www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

www.newlook.co.uk

Americano

The good old U.S of A is a popular motif this summer with stars, stripes and western patterns are rife among the high street stores and a few pieces have caught my eye....

Lazy Oaf is one of my fave stores at the mo with it's bold colours, prints and slogans and this skirt is no different;


Lazy Oaf - £38



Teamed with a cropped tee, or tucked in vest and denim shirt, this skirt is perfect for summer outings, festivals and holidays. Love it!



Lazy Oaf - £30

This tee (above) mixes up the normal stars and stripes formation. For a casual/day look it could be teamed with stone-wash denim shorts, or for the evening a black leather skirt would look amaze!

For something a bit different, ASOS have these over-the-knee socks which would act as an ultra cool feature to a plain outfit. As featured in the pic, teamed with plain denim shorts and white tee. If you're feeling brave then a pair of red shorts would make for a more dramatic look. Hey, it's summer, why not eh?



ASOS - £6



Topshop are always on-trend with popular prints and these denim shorts (below)add a nice flash of the flag. Sticking with plain white loose fit/cropped tee would create the classic American look.

If a plain t-shirt sounds like a bit of a bore then add these cute badges from Lazy Oaf (also below) to keep with the Americano theme. At only £3 per pack it's a cheap way to customize your outfit!



Topshop - £34

Lazy Oaf - £3 per pack

To purchase any of the items listed please visit...

www.lazyoaf.co.uk

www.asos.com

www.topshop.com



Fairytales and Hidden Notes

"I spent most of my time making things with my little brother - whether it be our garden fortress or traps for the midnight thief -  it was only a matter of time before my curiosity got the better of me and I started making my own trinkets."

. ..And what a good job she did. This website  has a feast of fantasy inspired treats ranging from necklaces and rings to brooches and hair pins. 

Perhaps my favourite piece is this 'Come Hither' ring (above, £8). This piece stands alone design-wise with an original slogan and in general, an original motif. 


That's the beauty of this webiste, there are popular trends still present; birds, Alice in Wonderland quotes, birdcages and teapots etc, but presented in a creative and imaginative way. 
Take this brooch for example. Constructed into a medallion and using a standard text type makes this have a real vintage feel, different from anything you would find in high street stores. 

Find your hidden gem at www.fairytalesandhiddennotes.com 

Are You A Melon Or A Lemon?

Silverspoon attire and graphic designer Kate Moross have teamed up to create a marvelous fruit-fashion-face-off. Melon or Lemon?

Two tee's have been designed with a Watermelon and Lemon print with Silverspoon's and Kate's logo's on the back.

The website shows how you can customise the shirts by creating fringe on the sleeves or  hem, going for the crop-chop, or buying a couple sizes too big to give an over-sized off the shoulder fit.

At £40 including P&P the t-shirts are a tad pricier than

your H&M basic but so worth it for the bold summery designs! 

So what are you? A melon or a lemon? I'm with Eliza...



Eliza Doolittle at this year's Coachella festival.

Make your choice at http://areyouamelonoralemon.com/index.html and order one up!



Bitter Sweet Sentence For Doherty

Poor Pete Doherty has been sentenced to 6 months in prison after pleading guilty to cocaine possession (won't he ever learn?). But it seems the court has taken his musical talent and work commitments into account by giving Pete a release date of August 21st, 5 days before he is due to perform at the Reading and Leeds Carling Festival. How very considerate!

Judge David Radford who sentenced the singer stated; "From what I have heard and what I have read there is no doubt that you are a talented and successful musician. However, you have an appalling record of committed offences of the kind for which you fall to be sentenced today."
(When will the Doherty's and Lohan's of the world be sentenced like everyone else eh?)

Ticket holders for T in the Park and Oxegen however may be disappointed as the troubled poet will more than likely still be behind bars when the festies occur. Can't win em all Pete!

Pete at Snaresbrook Crown Court on May 20th when he was sentenced and taken to his cell

Ladies and Gentleman, Boys and Girls...

Who: The Computers, Dz Deathrays, United Fruit
What: Punk, Rock n Roll, Thrash Pop

Where: The Macbeth, Hoxton Distillery, London

Last night Hoxton brought the noise and embraced the sound of The Computers. Headlining the night, Screaming Al Kershaw and the gang demonstrated their unique act in promotion of their recently released album 'This Is The Computers'.

The support acts held their ground. First up were Glaswegian rockers 'United Fruit' who did just that, rocked out. Lead singer Stuart Galbraith delivered a solid vocal performance amongst a well constructed set of loud, in your face tunes taken from their EP 'Mistress, Reptile Mistress'.
Aussie dudes 'DZ Deathrays' came second on the bill and, technical glitches aside, thrashed their way through a host of hard hitting drum and noise filled tracks. These party boys sum themselves up pretty well on their website saying; 'Started playing house parties will most likely end at one.' Enough said.

DZ Deathrays

United Fruit





Then...came the men in white. Al, Aiden, Nic and Sonny (above) took to the stage like the pro's they already are, laying down a tight set of Punk n Roll.
Al's cheeky Devonshire charm washed well with the crowd, treating us to some true rock n roll antics by taking to the bar-top guitar in hand and mixing with the crowd. Whether the audience knew the fella's or not, they lapped it up.

Towards the end of the set Al professed '...who'd have though it, dreams really do come true'. With the exposure these Exeter lads are getting, including prime time plays on Radio 1, it seems his statement is undoubtedly true.

The venue itself was perfect for this kind of line-up with it's quirky vibe and slightly grungy feel (according to the ladies loo's 'Hell Is Full Of Promises'). The small and intimate space only intensified the immense sound that these bands created.

From the corners of Australia, Scotland, and dear old Devon, 3 bands came together to create a night of ballsy tunes that did not disappoint, seeing The Computers truly steal the limelight.

Why? Because they are, in their own words, the mother f**king Computers.

Shock Baby Daddy!!

It might be the most random coupling since....nope I can't actually think of a more random couple than Kimberly Stewart and....Benicio Del Toro?! Yup, Rod Stewart's daughter is expecting her first child with none other than Hollywood actor Benicio Del Toro. How the F did that happen?!

Apparently the couple had a "no-strings fling" earlier this year after meeting at LA's celeb favourite Chateau Marmont hotel. The same venue where Del Toro supposedly slept with Scarlett Johansson in a lift! (Which may all be hearsay but she does seem to have a thing for older dudes lately...)
Kimberly, 31 and Benecio, 44 aren't currently in a relationship, nor plan to be, but the actor is "very supportive" according to a statement released by his spokesperson, Robin Baum.


Benicio hasn't exactly been looking his best lately.

Both parties have the reputation of being slightly...promiscuous, shall we say? So a pregnancy sparked from a random hook-up isn't exactly a big shocker for Kim.



Kimberly shows first signs of her Benicio Del Bumpo

 So what does Daddy Stewart think of all this? The rocker, 66, (fortunately older than Del Toro, potential eeew!) banned any statement being released on the subject from his PR company. This could give the message that he's not overly happy about the situation, however, Rod and his daughter were papped having dinner together a couple nights ago in West Hollywood, so he can't be that devvo'd!

Maybe this has the makings for one big, A-list family.

Coachella...ella...ella!

Possibly the most celeb-filled festival, Coachella, drew to a close yesterday after the A-list battled through the 100 degree heat to see the likes of, Cee Lo Green, Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire, Jimmy Eat World and Kayne West, among others.
Coachella takes place in the Californian desert of Idio, south of Palm Springs over a three day period. The festival makes for some picturesque camping with lakes, mountains, and palm trees galore.

For the rich and famous there are some pretty spectacular options that dont involve the norm 2 man tents and long drop toilets!
Lake Eldorado camping offers; "ready to go camping surrounding the serene setting of the redeveloped Lake Eldorado. Enjoy Coachella with flair, as your party is ready to start once you step onto the park like scenery of your own private access camping community"
A four person tent, would set you back $1,600.00



For the Paris Hilton's of the world, the only place to stay at Coachella is the Safari Tents which bascially look like 5 star hotel rooms (pictured below)

These bad boys have a price tag of $5000 for 2 people and $1250 for each additional person. Yowza!
For the rest of us peasant folk, you can simply bring your own tent and camp for 75 bucks and still enjoy the lush surroundings...and they do offer free shuttle buses to the local supermarket, which is deffo something the UK festies should adopt!

3 day tickets are normally around $269, with day passes at approx $99, making it cheaper than the likes of Glastonbury and all the major English festivals.

Apart from the decent lineup, pictured above, (with a nice British invasion this year including Ellie Goulding, Eliza Doolittle and Plan B) Coachella is crawling with famous faces. So who was spotted this year partying like it's 1969?
 



Talullah Willis lights up a cig in her teeny ensebmle...what would Bruce and Demi say?!

Vanessa Hudgens (below) was pictured dancing around and taking shots on the last day of the fest with rumoured new beau Josh Hutcherson.

Whitney Port and Kelly O opt for floaty dresses in the warm desert weather

BFF's Katy Perry and Rihanna

  

Cee Lo Green and Lauryn Hill performed on the opening day - Friday 15 April

Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson, Glee star Cory Monteith, Dita Von Tees, The Hoff - plus a blonde lady friend, Li Lo, Usher, Gossip Girl actor Penn Badgley, and none other than Clint Eastwood were just a few more of tinsletowns finest seen enjoying the festival that is promoted to encompass the free spirit of the 60's. Righteous.

Even for the location alone this festival has def been penciled onto my bucket list.