This much I know: Fran Healy, musician, 35, London

Pure joyousness is a rare thing. I remember beingness one class old and being on my cousin's rocking knight and loss absolutely mental on it. I cherished to bait that thing forever.

I did my first performance aged six at school. I had to whistle a traditional Scottish song called 'Westering Home' but because they couldn't discover a kilt that fitted I had to wear a miniskirt.

Scottish people don't record off. They're selfsame self-effacing common people. People ask why Travis are so nice, simply we grew up in a place where being flash

Xteria

   
Artist: Xteria

   Genre(s): 
Other
   

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Discography:


   
 Outshine

   Year: 2000   
Tracks: 7

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Nelly, Ashanti, Jill Scott among guests at BET Awards pre-party

LOS ANGELES - Beneath towering arches in an old cathedral downtown, a 20-member choir welcomed guests at the BET Awards pre-party with a rousing gospel tune.

Nelly, Ashanti, Jermaine Dupri and Jill Scott were among those who gathered Monday at Vibiana - a majestic church built in 1876 - for a private dinner hosted by Black Entertainment Television chairman Debra Lee.

As preparations for Tuesday's BET Awards, which recognize the best in black entertainment in 15 categories, continued at the nearby Shrine Auditorium, nominees, sponsors and industry executives dined and danced in honour of the occasion.

"This night gives us a reason to celebrate," Lee said. "We're truly honoured to be able to recognize the artists who are so important in our community. Not just the music, but the actors and athletes."

Nominee Soulja Boy said he was glad to be included.

"I hope I win," the 17-year-old rapper said. "The BET Awards represents me, where I come from and everything."

He was especially excited about seeing fellow nominee Lil Wayne perform on the show.

Dupri, a producer who has worked with Mariah Carey and Usher, said he still gets a thrill from seeing celebs at the BET Awards.

"You get all the stars under one roof," he said. "And it continues to grow."

The historic cathedral took on a tropical vibe, thanks to bouquets of pink and purple orchids atop lime green tablecloths. Partygoers, including MC Lyte and Tyrese, boogied on the dance floor before sitting down to a dinner of lobster-and-grapefruit salad followed by a grilled veal chop.

Scott, who is set to perform a tribute to lifetime achievement award honoree Al Green on Tuesday's show, kept things cooking into the night with a spirited set backed by an 11-piece band.

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On the Net:

http://www.bet.com/

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Kooks' Luke Pritchard: 'Coldplay Are The Best band In The World'

Luke Pritchard, frontman of The Kooks, has called Coldplay the “best band in the world” and compared them to David Bowie.



The singer said he couldn't understand how the band had received negative press despite their latest album, 'Viva La Vida', topping the charts in the UK and America.



“I can’t believe that they’re getting a hard time,” he said. “It’s weird. How can people undermine them? To me Cold­play are other-worldly.



“I love the whole thing they’ve got going on on this album with the Les Misérables theme.”



As previously reported on Gigwise, Coldplay has so far sold over 500,000 copies of their new album in the UK alone.



In an interview with the Daily Star, Pritchard said that people like to “diss” the band because “it's popular”.



“I’ve often wondered what it would have been like to see David Bowie in his Space Oddity days and even though it’s not as shocking, Coldplay have got a similar thing going on,” he added.



What do you think about Pritchard's comments? Is he right? Let Gigwise readers know your opinion by posting a comment below.

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Linda: Hulk Should Be Nick's Cellmate!

Linda Hogan wants Hulk to spend time with Nick -- behind bars.

Linda is asking a judge to cite the Hulkster with contempt of court, because he allegedly didn't ante up money for a $4.2 million Vegas condo, as required by the judge. Yes, the judge ordered Hulk to pay for a party pad. We love the law.

The condo was in escrow when the divorce was filed and the court order required both Hulk and Linda to close the deal and then put the asset in the community pot. Linda has put her share in but Hulk hasn't.

And here's the kicker. In the legal papers, Linda is asking the judge to throw Hulk's ass in the Pinellas County Jail, where Hulk and Nick can sure scheme to hatch the post-pokey real-ality show. Dis and gusting.






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Lindsay Lohan - Top Mom Lohan On Hunt For Trash Talk

LINDSAY LOHAN's mother DINA has revealed one of her secrets to becoming a 'Top Mom' - she is obsessed with searching for false stories of her famous family online.

Earlier this month (May08), Dina was named one of the mothers of the year in her native Long Island, New York - and the 45-year-old admits she's constantly on the look-out for "idiots who are talking trash".

Just this year (08), Dina announced the production of her upcoming U.S. TV reality show Living Lohan, which will follow the manager-mum as she navigates the careers of her two younger children, Ali, 14, and Cody, 11.

In the premiere episode - titled Mommy Will Fix It - set to air in the U.S. this weekend (24May08), Lohan Sr. fumes to one blogger: "You need to get (the article) down immediately, because I'm in touch with my attorney."

She adds, "I don't live my life every day going, 'Oh, they're talking about us.' I'm over it. Yes, it still does hurt, but people are just idiots."

The cameras also follow the mother-of-three as she hits back at stories surrounding daughter Lindsay's trouble-filled past 12 months, which have seen her in and out of rehab and arrested twice for driving under the influence.

Spotting an alleged sex tape video of her eldest daughter online, Dina is shown staring at the screen, attempting to judge its authenticity before declaring: "It's a big game of chess, and it's our move. Bring it on now. Let's go."

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3 Doors Down adds shows behind new album

3 Doors Down [ tickets ] has filled in some spaces in an ongoing spate of roadwork behind its new studio album, including a leg of European dates.The alt-rock outfit kicked off its headlining run last month, and continues it May 10 in Orlando, FL, with spring shows recently added in Toledo, OH (5/23) and suburban Indianapolis (5/24), along with several new dates later this summer. See below for details.Later this month, the group heads overseas to begin a three-week European run; international dates are posted at 3DD's website.The group spent 11 months in the studio working on its self-titled fourth album, according to a blog posting at its MySpace page. Due in stores this week, the LP follows 2005's "Seventeen Days," which debuted at the top of The Billboard 200.The new record's lead single, "It's Not My Time," hit radio stations in February, rising to No. 8 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The video for the song is currently streaming at the 3DD website.Another single from the self-titled set, "Citizen Soldier," was previously released in 2007 in conjunction with a major promotional campaign for the National Guard. The video for the song can be seen streaming at the National Guard's website.The Mississippi/Nashville-based group has sold 13 million albums since its 2000 debut, "The Better Life," which has gone six-times platinum on the strength of mega hits including "Loser," "Kryptonite," "Duck and Run" and "Be Like That."