Daily Post

All Alone and Rocking the Dock ; Liz Mcclarnon Is Excited About Singing Solo in Liverpool This Weekend As She Tells Lew Baxter Who Is Also Wowed by the Trilling of Glasgow Singer Lulu, Who's On the Same Bill

EVEN a mere lick of fame can infect many a feckless popinjay -- witness the pathetic burblings of the gruesome Big Brother wannabes - - but as the delightful Liverpool singer Liz McClarnon kicks off a solo career her head and heart seem most firmly grounded. She might easily be the girl-next door and carries her own youthful celebrity as lightly as a strawberry sorbet, so enthused and gleeful does she seem at the endless fun of it all.

Serenaded by the Glasgow Chanteuse, One of Pop's Greatest Survivors

IF SOMEONE had cheekily predicted 40 years ago that the petite and hugely attractive Glasgow chanteuse Lulu would one day warble "When I'm 64"down the telephone line to me, I'dhave probably clipped them around the lugs, in the lingo of my own Scottish forebears. Yet she did -- honest -- but merely to emphasise the fact that it was her pal Ringo Starr's own 64thbirthday last week. And then we sang a few lines together, which has rendered me a trifle dazed.

7 Days ; the Week's Highlights

OPERA at the Priory, Birkenhead, Friday, July 9, 9pm. International tenor Terence Robertson, BBC singer for Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008, sings opera and songs for a summer's evening accompanied by pianist John Peace. Free champagne and strawberries. Bring your own rug to sit on. Booking essential. Telephone 0151 647 0752.

Dvd Review

Mona Lisa Smile (12) CHICK flick alert. This is a tale of a new teacher who joins the all-female Wellesley College in 1953. She is determined to confront the outdated mores of society and the institution that embraces them and inspires traditional students into her way of thinking. If that does not sound like your cup of tea than the fact it star Julia Roberts is not going to help the issue much either. I hate it but I'm not the target audience. This is a pleasant enough period piece but is n...

Now Showing

NEWLY-PROMOTED homicide detective Jessica Shepard (Ashley Judd) has ruffled a number of feathers to rise through the male dominated ranks of the San Francisco Police Department. She isn't afraid to speak her mind and has cultivated friendships in high places, including a close Twisted (15) Rating . .

The Big Picture: Classic Tale Is Twisted Around in Many Ways ; Around the World in 80 Days (Pg) Stars Jackie Chan, Steve Coogan, Cecile de France, Jim Broadbent, Karen Joy Morris, Ian Mcneice, Ewen Bremner. Director Frank Oz (120mins) Rating . . .

HE 1956 film adaptation of Jules Verne's globe trotting classic was a three-hour visual spectacular that went on to collect five Oscars including Best Picture. This new version doesn't have such lofty aspirations, nor will it be mounting a serious challenge at next year's Academy Awards.

On Show

Shrek 2 (U). . . . . AFTER a whirlwind, around-the-world honeymoon, Shrek (voicedby Mike Myers) and his beautiful bride Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) return to the pungent splendour of his ramshackle house in the forest. But they face some serious opposition from Fiona's father King Harold, who schemes to break up the happy couple, with some nefarious help from the Fairy Godmother and assassin Puss In Boots. Shrek 2 is an absolute joy -- a gloriously col ourful and vibrant sequel that almost ...

Eisteddfota: Festival Attracts People of Note

CARDIGAN'S 52nd Annual Eisteddfod, Gaeyl Fawr Aberteifi lived up to expectations, attracting competitors from far and wide, including choirs from Bath, Reading, Swindon and Crewe, with one soloist travelling from the Isle of Man, obvious proof that this is a festival of note in the eisteddfodic calendar, not only in Wales, but also many parts of England. Costing pounds 35, 000 to stage over two days, it is worthy of note that it receives pounds 8, 000 in sponsorship from the James Pantyfedwen...

Sian Evans - Forest Dweller Puts Down Roots

She was a single mum, living in a teepee. Alun Prichard discovers how Kosheen's Sian Evans went on to become an international star LOOKING out of the window at the clothes on the line and the mischievous little dog revelling in the wet mud, Sian Evans chats happily about her work over a hot drink.

Beach Boys Enjoy an Indian Summer

Only two of the original Beach Boys remain, but Alun Prichard found the new line-up's still giving out good vibrations N the 1960s their lives revolved around the golden beaches and blue Californian skies.

Ear Buzz: We Mustn't Let Good Talent Go

TIME was when it was hard starting out in a band, especially in North Wales. In fact, pick anywhere in the UK, as remote and hillbilly as you like, and chances are that it was easier to be in a band there, than it was here. We had nowhere to play, no radio stations that would play us, no record labels that would listen to us: in short, bar the Welsh language labels that wouldn't initially release anything unless it was in the mother tongue, there was no music industry in North Wales to speak ...

Rollicking Romp Around the Globe ; Around the World in 80 Days (Pg, 120mins)Jackie Chan, Steve Coogan, Cecile de France, Jim Broadbent, Karen Joy Morris, Ian Mcneice, Ewen Bremner

THE 1956 film adaptation of Jules Verne's globe trotting classic Around The World In 80 Days was a three-hour visual spectacular that went on to collect five Oscars including Best Picture. This new version doesn't have such lofty aspirations, nor will it be mounting a serious challenge at next year's Academy Awards. However, Around The World In 80 Days is undemanding, wholesome family fun, awash with colour and suitably over-the- topperformances.

Llangollen 2004: Dancers' Delight ; Sweet Victory for Team After Visa Problem Forces Last-Minutechanges

AN Indian dance group decimated by travel troubles triumphed over adversity yesterday by winning at the International Eisteddfod. What was left of the Heritage Dancers troupe had just a day to practice a new routine before they took centre stage.

Llangollen 2004: Your Festival Facts

HOW TO GET THERE . . . From the north east head for Chester, take the A483 bypass through Wrexham. Follow the signs for Llangollen and then follow the signs for the Eisteddfod. From the east head for Crewe, take the

Llangollen 2004: Advance Sales Ensured Crowds Kept On Coming ; Rain Failed to Deter Visitors

HEAVY downpours and cool temperatures failed to wash out yesterday's International Eisteddfod. Ticket sales for Thursday were already up on last year before the day got underway.

Llangollen 2004: Briefly. . .

TONIGHT'S evening concert with Aled Jones features the Opera Babes and Mirain Haf. The Babes were spotted bus king in Covent Garden, London, and have sung at the FA Cup final and UEFA Champions League final in Milan. TODAY'S day president Sir Emyr Parry Jones is a Welsh speaking native of Camarthenshire. Now UK ambassador to the UN, he was previously ambassador to NATO after four years as a Foreign Office political director.

Llangollen 2004: Results. . .

Folk Song Solo 1 Alex Prior, Russia; 2 Stephenie Pineo, Canada; 3 Saxon Duncan, Canada Youth Choirs 1 Ysgol Glanaethwy, Bangor, Wales; 2 Holy Family Convent Choir, Sri Lanka; 3 Medicine Hat College Girls Choir Ensemble, Canada

Llangollen 2004: New Lotto Launched to Boost Funds

THE Llangollen International Eisteddfod launched a new lottery yesterday. Eisteddfod organisers are adding "Lime-Lotto"as another tool in their fund- raising armoury for the festival. It costs pounds 1 per month and participants are given a four-digit number.

Llangollen 2004: I Want Festival Link with Culture Capital ; Chairman in Talks Over Joint Venture for 2008

THE chairman of the successful Liverpool capital of culture bid spelt out his desire to involve the International Eisteddfod in 2008. Sir Bob Scott believes a joint effort with the International Eisteddfod is far more likely than a venture with the National Eisteddfod.

Arts: Choose a Picture On the Web

HE Internet has changed the way we do so many things from booking holidays to finding old school friends but surely not down to buying art? But a couple from Bull Bay in Anglesey have already started to make that possible with an on line gallery of contemporary photography.