Ollie and Nicky have something in common, they both love football, Ollie's a Port Vale youth player ..and he's a YouTuber.

Well there are so many of them on the market, so they have to see how they sell themselves:
http://olliemarland.com/
https://www.facebook.com/OllieMarland?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/OllieMarland
http://www.youtube.com/user/olliemarlandofficial
On vine with Luke: https://vine.co/v/MvUI7L90bB6

Retweeted by Soccer Six

@JadeBrooksJB · 4m
*CONFIRMED* for @SoccerSix - >> @NickyMcDonald1 joins @JamesArthur23 @MarkWright_ & MORE in LEEDS! Tix: http://lovefootball.eu/tickets

Still waiting in August?? Vile thought

It is all very peculiar though, how it is soooo quiet. Almost as though there is a plan to prepare Nicky more thoroughly, separate him from the instant reaction stuff going on with Luke and SamC, who are riding the XF wave.

Also, since lovely Jedward are apparently being brought in to 'save' I Can't Sing in the West End, I begin to wonder if the whole XF tag isn't becoming even more devalued, musically I mean, closer to BGT than a show about singers. You couldn't imagine The Voice being in the same position for eg.

spooling beat me to it but Nicky has confirmed his first summer gig at SoccerSix on May 29th.

Union J preceeds Sam Bailey on this poster:
https://twitter.com/SamBaileyREAL/st...300992/photo/1
Rough Copy are also participating

No waiting until August. Hooray!!!

I do hope that is the case and they're going to really put in the effort to help establish Nicky. Doing gigs and festivals over the summer is no doubt a great thing. What they should be doing now is testing the waters with a couple of new songs. I just think it'd probably work out for the best if the fans hear them over the summer so that when Nicky does release a brand new single, it'll be a song the fans heard at the gigs so will know what to expect.

As for Jedward, well...if there's one good thing you could say about them, it's that they have an excellent PR team. Talent wise, there's more talent in my toenails than there is in Jedward's existence. However, they're a gimmick and fair play to them but I'm not a fan of this type of "celebrity" culture (ie; famous for being irritating).

What PR team?

They're managed by their mum and do their own PR..

Also, they're both grade 7 violinists, and John self-taught himself the guitar. They've also been writing on their new album, including the single free spirit, and the producer that worked with them on their last two albums has recently tweeted about how talented they are.

Edward creates all of their music videos himself too. He also creates their outfits a lot of the time.

You must have a really talented toenail if it can manage all that.

The thing is, instead of sniping at Jedward, you should realise that they are a great example of how to do things.

For what it's worth here is their self-written single free spirit..which is quite a change in their musical direction.

There are people who want to attend a gig just for being close to their idol. Some kids want to be there when Bieber comes, other people spend a day for attending a royal event.

However most people are looking for entertainment, when they pay for an evening event. That may go from them just looking/listening to acts they like, to them mainly dancing all night.

Cf. bgt, where the entertainment value often wins over a singing performance.

I think it will be difficult to sell an evening in Brighton for 30 GBP now with just Nicky with:
10 ballads (cover songs): 30 to 45 minutes
break (background music tape): 30 minutes
10 ballads (cover songs): 30 to 45 minutes

Nicky is a very good singer with an interesting voice. He has to develop his entertainment values I think. I mean e.g. having funny things to say between songs in a natural way, interact with the band, presenting a guest in a relaxed way ...
Cf. "Michael Buble Caught In The Act 2005"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmLCFlJ79sQ

Some of this will come with age and experience. I think Jedward has a lot of natural creative talent for setting up very entertaining acts. It doesn't matter that a couple of people do no like it, important is that a lot of people want to spend money for enjoying these acts live.

Shame about the event in May, I refuse to go anywhere where that homophobic arse James Arthur is going to be.

You should tweet that at them.

I don't see Nicky's name on the line-up list on the link he posted, but I see Sam Bailey's

Do we know whether he'll be performing or is he just playing football?

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/socce...ts-11418008571

I got the impression he's playing football, sadly, and not singing. Can't imagine what SamB'll be doing - Nicky's link went to a soccer six event in London where she is listed, but he's not

(and the unlovely Mr Arthur is playing there as well)

Twitter:

Nicholas McDonald ‏@nickymcdonald1 · 20m
Got the miss Scotland final tonight in Glasgow,This should be good fun

Want to follow-up the event?

The Scottish Sun Miss Scotland 2014 shared a link.

April 29

EXCITING NEWS!! For the very first time we will be live-streaming the Miss Scotland Final on Thursday evening — allowing fans to watch ALL the drama as it unfolds.

The stream will be shown live on our website www.thescottishsun.co.uk, which will be the ONLY place for fans and the finalists’ family and friends not at the event to see all the twists and turns on the night.

Sign up NOW and see exclusive pictures, backstage interviews and video highlights. Simply register for a £1-for-one-month Sun+ trial.

https://www.facebook.com/missscotland2014

Is he performing or just going to ogle?

He is not a finalist for sure.

No evidence of anything other than the latter so far. Sigh.

Football and girls..... and 17 years old. What can you do?

Retweeted by Nicholas McDonald
The Scottish Sun ‏@ScottishSun · 22m
X Factor's @nickymcdonald1 ready to watch the finale #miss2014 #Yearwego pic.twitter.com/hnJSavsTfz

https://twitter.com/ScottishSun/stat...605312/photo/1

Looking good

How'd he get that tan in Glasgow?

A new link for bookings?

https://twitter.com/nickymcdonald1
CONTACT - info@shawthingmanagement.com Or paul@nicholasmcdonald.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicky...05416606143928
Nicky McDonald
8 hours ago
For any bookings contact
paul@nicholasmcdonald.co.uk

A classic case of bad lighting in that photo?

Ok, I take back everything I posted. Damn, if only my toenail could play the violin.

He's looking very debonair there.

Ranking at last.fm
http://www.last.fm/music/Nicholas+McDonald

Last week:

1 If You're Not the One 104
2 In the Arms Of an Angel 55
3 Answerphone 26
.. 8 Smile 5


Last 6 months:

1 Answerphone 641
2 If You're Not the One 486
3 In the Arms Of an Angel 326
... 9 Smile 95
... 11 Solid Gold 73

Interesting to see If You're Not The One currently being the most played track off Nicky's album on Last FM.

Is Nicky's album on Spotify? I don't have an account myself but just wondered as it's been proven particularly in Sweden that they make bucketloads of revenue from streaming.