Granty's Scouse Showbiz Cupboard

By Peter Grant on Jul 3, 09 02:50 PM

Poptastic.

Having just become Runner Up in the Entertainment Writer of The Year Awards ( pause for applause and shouts of 'bridesmaid' again, Granty?) the frame came in handy.
I have decided to go all showbiz and celebrity Scousified. Only kiddin'...
It's here . . . the Summer Pops and a time that I always enjoy. Old friends, good wine, cool Guinness and music to suit all tastes.
I used to love the Tent gigs and I can recall many a happy hour filing copy to the Post and Echo from the car park.
It's a tightly run machine and I say well done Chas Cole for bringing the superstars to the Pool.
And there's the lovely PR, Lisa Southern, too, who looks after the media. She brings her own breeze to proceedings.
Looking through the line up this year I realise I've interviewed many of the acts.
The Pet Shop Boys - I chatted to Neil Tennant on a Zebra Crossing in London. He didn't realise it wasan in depth interview at the time.
I saw Shane McGowan of the Pogues completely out of his tree with two cans of Special Brew accompanied by two blondes, in Finsbury Park.
And I once had a call form Glen Tilbrook of Squeeze who rang me at home and my mum answered and said: "Peter, it's Squeeze for you."
Later I spoke to Jools Holland (geddit) Later.... oh, please yourselves
And Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders who said she loved the Scouse accent and spoke warmly about Paul and Linda McCartney.
Oh and did I mention the time I had a beer with Gloria Estefan?
And how Deacon Blue dedicated their song Dignity to my fab Cathy who has a tugboat.
So there you have it The Summer Pops, it's like old friends popping in.
Granty

The Line Up

July 3 Australian Pink Floyd
4th N-dubz
7th James Morrison
10th Beatles Day
11th McFly
12th Sharleen Spiteri - Voice of Texas
13th Pet Shop Boys
14th Leonard Cohen
15th the Pogues
16th Squeeze/ the Pretenders
17th Ne-yo
21st Simple Minds
22nd Pussycat Dolls
24th Jools Holland
25th Simply Red
27th Gloria Estefan
30th Rhydian/ Only Men Aloud
31st Deacon Blue
August 1st Australian Pink Floyd