ronan-keating.com
June 2010
From the official site:
Ronan reports back from Australia!
Ronan has now started his stint on X Factor, he reports back .. "Auditions going great. Sydney was full of great people some with huge potential. Feel this show will be huge. My co judges are fantastic and we are all getting on really well. Next stop Melbourne.
30 june 2010
Ronan's support
A LOCAL singer is looking to follow in the footsteps of his childhood hero and launch his solo career when he takes to the stage at the Wigan Life Tuned-In Concerts this July.
Simon James, 26, has been announced as the support act for Ronan Keating on July 9 at Haigh Country Park, a venue he first attended for the now legendary 1998 homecoming concert by Wigan band, The Verve.
Simon, originally from Orrell, said: “Richard Ashcroft was a big hero of mine. He proved what someone in Wigan could achieve if they worked hard enough.
“I was fourteen when they did the big gig at Haigh. Me and my friends were right at the front of the queue to get in and it was one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to.”
Inspired by that memorable show, Simon picked up a guitar and embarked on a musical career of his own, releasing an album and touring the country with former band Eighth Wave before going solo and signing with Brilliant/Universal Records earlier this year.
Now looking to emulate the success of Richard Ashcroft and company, Simon returns to Haigh for a career launching performance.
Simon added: “I was absolutely over the moon when I was asked to support Ronan Keating. This is the biggest gig I could hope to play in my hometown and a lot of my friends and family will be there too.
“I’m excited about getting out there to perform my music and I’ll be doing a couple of familiar songs so that everyone in the audience can have a sing-a-long and enjoy themselves.”
The Ronan Keating concert is part of this year’s “Summer of Sound” which kicks off on July 4 with the annual Haigh Fest featuring the best of Wigan Borough’s unsigned bands. From there, some of the biggest names in music head to Haigh for the Wigan Life Tuned-In Concerts.
McFly will play on Monday July 5, Alesha Dixon and N-Dubz on Tuesday July 6, on Wednesday July 7 Katherine Jenkins will perform with the National Symphony Orchestra, The Saturdays will perform on Thursday July 8 while Simon joins Ronan Keating to complete the Tuned-In line-up on Friday July 9. The “Summer of Sound” climaxes with the 25th Wigan International Jazz Festival which kicks-off on Saturday July 10.
For more information on the Wigan Life Tuned-In Concerts, see www.wlct.org/concerts.
From: Leigh Journal
30 juni 2010
A large London crowd raises £3.5m for Jewish Care
Almost 1,000 people attended Jewish Care’s fundraising dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel in central London. TV presenter John Suchet told the gathering that he was “overwhelmed with admiration for the people at Jewish Care”. The event, with musical entertainment by Ronan Keating, raised £3.5m for the charity.
From: The JC
(Click on the link to see a Ronan photo)
25 june 2010
The day we crashed X-factor lunch
THEY slipped into Sydney on a low-key mission to film early segments of The X Factor, but plans of holding a secret meeting to introduce the program's new judges Ronan Keating, Natalie Imbruglia and Guy Sebastian to host Matthew Newton were thwarted yesterday when Confidential busted them.
The quartet joined executives from Channel 7 and format owner/producer FremantleMedia Australia at lavish restaurant Aqua Dining at Milsons Point - unaware Confidential was lunching with radio executives nearby.
Imbruglia slipped into town from the UK on Tuesday, and Irish singer Keating arrived late on Wednesday night to film audition episodes for the hoped-for blockbuster in Sydney from today until Sunday at Luna Park.
While fourth judge Kyle Sandilands couldn't make the lunch, the quartet toured the makeshift Luna Park studio where they will cull 120 hopefuls down to just a handful of contestants.
Producers wanted to keep the shoot hush-hush as the show won't be on air for months but we were delighted to spring them.
"Ronan and Natalie are only here for a short time at this stage and will go back to the UK until the show is ready to go later in the year," a production source told us.
"We're a long way from being on air, so we wanted to keep it all low key - but here you are."
Newton and Keating enjoyed the braised short rib beef steaks while Imbruglia went for barramundi and Sebastian chose seafood at their table of 20.
Meanwhile, Newton will be far from low key tonight when he performs six songs at a Doltone House fundraiser, where comedy legend Jerry Lewis will be headlining.
From: Heraldsun
(Click on the link, the second photo is a new Ronan photo)
24 june 2010
From the official site:
Ronan flies out to Australia for X-Factor
Ronan flies out to Australia today to start his stint as a judge on the X Factor. Ronan has met his fellow judges,including Natalie Imbruglia, before so is looking forward to re acquainting with old friends and also seeing what talented people there are in Australia!
22 June 2010
From the official site:
Marie Keating Foundation
Here is an update on the invaluable work the Marie Keating Foundation has been doing with Cancer Research UK's Cancer Awareness Roadshow. This partnership began in 2006 with an aim to raise awareness of the avoidable risk factors of cancer and the importance of screening and early detection.
The units funded by the partnership received over 25,000 visitors last year alone with just under 5,000 people having nurse consultations.
Since the conception of these units they have seen over a hundred thousand people. The units continue to do amazing work and the plan for 2010 is to build on and develop this success.
But the real success can be measured in quotes like this from visitor feedback ...
“I made an appointment at my surgery after seeing the nurse about my lump. I hadn’t bothered before because I don’t like to waste the doctor’s time. She made me realise how important it is to get these things checked out.”
21 June 2010
Locals hope they have the X factor
WITH mentors like Guy Sebastian, Ronan Keating, Natalie Imbruglia and Kyle Sandilands signing on for the new series of X-Factor, it was no surprise crowds of hopefuls jammed into Brisbane’s Suncorp Piazza to audition.
Among the crowd was a strong contingent from the Coast.
Coolum’s Jack Fisher was one hopeful who faced up to producers with his version of Muse’s Feeling Good.
“I picked Feeling Good because I love that jazzy Michael Buble sound but rock vibe with it, which is why I chose Muse’s version,” he said.
The 21-year-old arts-law student was impressive enough to be asked to sing a second song and then take his place in the next round of auditions, where he had to impress the show’s executive producer.
Jack will find out by July 13 if he made it through to audition in front of the judges and live audience on July 16 and 17.
Another Coast resident who will be waiting by the phone is former Matthew Flinders student Katie McMahon.
Her rendition of Eta James’ At Last wowed the panel despite being nervous.
“Before I went in, the day before, I was pretty confident,” she said. “But when I got there, everyone was so nervous and people were coming out of the rooms crying.”
One person who didn’t leave the room crying was former Coast singer Alena Eden, pictured.
A familiar face at gigs around the Coast, Alena thought she would try her hand at auditions after being encouraged by her friends.
But her cover of All I Want by Sarah Blasko failed to hit home with the panel.
“It’s not sad at all. I went in with no expectations,” she said.
X-Factor will premiere on Channel Seven later this year.
From: Sunshine Coast Daily
21 june 2010
New Ronan photos
On getty Images
and on Rex Feautures
To see them click on the links.
Ronan tipped to be guest judge at Dublin auditions of X Factor ahead of his Oz trip
RONAN Keating is being tipped to join Cheryl Cole as the top-secret guest judge for the Dublin auditions of the X Factor later this month.
The Boyzone singer is rumoured to have been approached about doing a trial run as a judge in Dublin on Monday, June 28 shortly before he jets off to Australia, where he will be one of the mentors on the Aussie franchise of Simon Cowell's Reality TV talent contest.
The popstar is jetting to Oz at the end of this month to join Natalie Imbruglia, former Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian and radio DJ Kyle Sandilands on the panel.
Rumours that Keating (33) will join Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole and his close friend and former manager Louis Walsh on the judging panel at the Irish auditions have been circulating since his Australian X Factor co-judge Imbruglia made an appearance on the UK version of the show earlier this week.
The former Neighbours actress-turned-popstar was a guest judge at the Birmingham auditions on Monday, where she also met briefly with Ronan.
A source revealed: "Ronan is the obvious choice to fill the spot in Dublin because he's helped Louis out on the show before. But it's all about timing. Some of the Westlife guys could also get the gig."
A spokesperson for the X Factor failed to return calls.
From: Herald
18 june 2010
Peter Andre named Celebrity Dad of the Year
Peter Andre has been crowned Celebrity Dad of the Year.
He beat off competition from the likes of Ronan Keating, Vernon Kay, Stephen Gerrard and Mark Owen.
The 37-year-old singer and TV presenter, who has children Junior and Princess with ex-wife Katie Price, said: "This feels so good. It's been a turnaround year for me and the kids and it's an honour to be the subject of the public's support and best wishes.
"This means a huge amount to me as being a dad is my most important role."
More than 35,000 votes were cast in the poll by parenting club Bounty.
Jeff Brazier, the father to Jade Goody's two sons, came in second place, while Take That's Gary Barlow came third.
(Note: Ronan came in the eight place)
From: ITN
17 june 2010
From the official site:
Ronan co-hosts party for record label boss
Last night Ronan co-hosted an evening to celebrate Lucian Grainge, head honcho of Universal Music, as he is departing to America to start his new job as CEO at Universal Music Group International.
Bob Geldof, Amy Whitehouse, Jamie Cullum, Scissor Sisters and Enrique Iglesias were amongst the many stars who attended the party. Lucian was the A&R man for Boyzone when they very first signed in the UK so he and the Boyz have a long history and they wish him luck in his new role.
16 june 2010
From the official site:
Ronan at X-Factor Auditions
Ronan will be in Birmingham today at the 'X Factor' auditions which are being held at the NEC. He'll be meeting up with his Australian X Factor co-judge, Natalie Imbruglia and doing some filming for the Australian show.
14 june 2010
From the official site:
Ronan on 'London Ink'
We've been delving through the video archives and found this clip of Ronan on 'London Ink' last year. Check out the clip HERE to watch Ronan chat about his latest tattoo and even see the work in progress - warning though, not for the faint hearted!
10 June 2010
Win the chance to meet Ronan Keating at his Wigan concert in July
HE’S the only singer to have more than 30 consecutive top 10 singles in the UK charts and has sold 22 million albums across the globe.
Ronan Keating is heading to Wigan in July and two ECHO readers are being offered the chance to meet the man himself.
Ronan Keating will be performing as part of the Wigan Life Tuned-In Concerts on Friday, July 9.
In what’s billed as the biggest musical event in Wigan’s history, top acts including McFly, N-Dubz, Alesha Dixon, Katherine Jenkins and The Saturdays will perform over five nights in the grounds of the Grade II listed manor house Haigh Hall.
To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets for the concert and meeting Ronan backstage simply answer the following question and send in a postcard to Jade Wright, Liverpool ECHO Music, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB, including your name, age, address and a daytime phone number.
Q: What was Ronan Keating's first solo number one single?
Entries must be received before Friday 25 June. Usual Echo rules apply.
For more information on the Tuned-In concert series visit www.wlct.org/concerts.
From: Liverpool Echo
4 June 2010
From the official site:
Soccer Aid
Due family commitments Ronan has unfortunately had to pull out of the International Team for the upcoming Soccer Aid match at Old Trafford.
01 June 2010