Celebcity with Jo Brooks: Neil Buchanan’s Back Street Games, Conor Maynard’s new album & The Saturdays’ Frankie

WAG world

It’s not BHAFC’s latest signing that’s got tongues wagging (or just generally lolling out of people’s mouths) as much as this certain someone’s WAG. It was confirmed this month that The Seagulls have been loaned none other than Man City defender Wayne Bridge for the remainder of his time at the club. Of course, with the help of a certain Mr Terry, Bridge has become famous for more than just his (on pitch) ball skills, and what we’re all interested in is the fact that Bridge’s girlfriend – The Saturdays’ Frankie – might be popping down a bit more in the future. Gorgeous Frankie, who appeared in the tween-pop band S Club Juniors before storming the charts with girl band The Saturdays, will no doubt be a popular addition to the BHAFC wag scene. Fingers crossed she likes to invite her gal pals along as well sometimes!

Art Attack
It’s been four years since Neil Buchanan, and his rather strange clay ‘Head’, last graced our TV screens with his BAFTA award winning (yes really!) Art Attack. Now the self proclaimed ‘ultimate mischief maker in the world of art’ – not too catchy there Neil – is at it again. The ‘cheeky’ Scouser (he’s a bit of a laugh, are you getting this?), has made his home in Sussex for more than a decade, and is now creating sporting mischief with his brand new art entitled Neil Buchanan’s Back Street Games.

Yep, we’re not making it up, the one and only Art Attack maestro is selling his works to mere mortals like us in Brighton! The collection will debut in J’Adore Art in Brighton throughout July and August, while Neil Buchanan will race into the gallery with ‘The Naughty Sporties’ to make a live appearance on Thursday 19 July from 6pm–8pm, just a few days after the Olympic torch passes through Brighton. We’re not quite sure what these ‘Naughty Sporties’ are, but we can only imagine they’ll be bringing some sort of guffaw-inducing hilarity along for the ride. It seems Buchanan will be holding his own ‘alternative’ Olympic event to mark the launch of ‘Back Street Games’, with the ‘smallest’ sporting event of the year! Neil commented: “I’m celebrating smallness and the littlest victories around the whole of little Britain! This is what really goes on in the alternative little ’lympics in the alleys, the parks and the gardens of the nation, long after the final race has been won at the biggest sporting event of the year.” We will take your word for it Neil! Get down to J’Adore Art throughout July and August to take part in all the antics and perhaps even
to meet Mr Buchanan himself! Now that’s an Art Attack!
To contact the gallery call 01273 776070 or visit www.jadore-art.co.uk

Conor and contrast
Conor Maynard seems to go from strength to strength at the moment, and last week he was interviewed by The Sun about his forthcoming new album. Saying that the album, Contrast, would take him in ‘a new direction’ from his previous YouTube videos (which featured lots of ballads) with a track made with none other than American R’n’B star Ne-yo earmarked by the teen sensation as the definitive ‘party track’ of the album. One of Conor’s other collaborators – hip-hop artist Frank Ocean – has also been gathering a bit of attention of recent. The Odd Future rapper, who has also guested on Jay Z and Kanye’s award winning Watch The Throne album, came out last week through his own personal blog. A big congrats to Frank Ocean, and we can’t wait to see what him and Conor come up with together in their track ‘Pictures’.
Read L7’s interview with Conor Maynard, p16.

Spotted!
Super Hans from Channel 4’s fantastic Peep Show getting the train from Hove. Let’s hope he behaved himself.