Snowdrop

I've just checked - and I'm listening to Pulse online now.

And what a fantastic debut photo that is. Very yum. Hazzy, you and I listened to the Christmas Lights broadcast online together last year. I hope we can get it OK this year - I'd be gutted if we missed out.

I can't go, but I'm so pleased for everyone who is going - especially that he is singing. I'll be doing my best to ensure I'm next to my computer, tuned into The Pulse to record anything and everything that might be beamed our way. Grrr for ggates - I still can't get into the thread on this. Thank goodness for this place.

Janice - have I ever told you I you? Because I do. That's fan-bloody-tastic news. :D *Dreams of a short festive solo set*

I know a few of you already got preview copies of the CD and some asked if you could contribute - if you would still like to do so, click on either banner to check the website and the contact email to discuss it. :)

What makes you think they're having someone headlining? What have they actually said about it? Because there are so many mixed messages coming through - and if they are doing something different to last year, then we can't rely on what happened last year.

Pongo has posted on ggates that they told her they were changing the format of the thing - so who knows what that means. I thought they might get Girls Aloud in, because they have a single out that week (CIN one too) and Kimberly is local, but they are at some HMV opening in Cardiff that day, so I already thought that was less likely. If The Pulse are doing Halloween type things, then that would justify holding back on the Christmas lights, and if they aren't having the usual concert type thing - then maybe there is less need/desire to advertise it so widely.

Yes, fingers crossed they are just keeping us waiting - but you can't help but worry that plans have changed. It might not be down to Bradford CC - I wouldn't put it past 19 to be awkward, and if there was an opportunity for Gareth to work with a really good song-writer or producer that week and it clashed - they'd want him to do that instead, and who could blame them?

That's where the dilemma lies as if people are going to go they need to make planes. When we've been told by Wendy he's going to be there (albeit unofficially) and The Council tells people they should go ahead and book trains then you can be sure people would complain if they weren't told. But of course there is always the risk that people get things wrong or they change, which is why I said to check.

I only said what had been said in this thread and that people would need to check exact details before making plans because details had not been confirmed and things change. As far as I can tell The Council have made no announcement about the switching on of the lights - so I'm not sure what's happening. I'd have thought they'd have done so by now, but until they announce it formally we'll not know for sure what's happening. I don't know why they haven't made any formal announcement, or even if it's normal to leave it this late.

I like the idea of having somewhere to show my friends that I'm not embarassed by. A place where they can see that Gareth does have a few fans with an IQ above average and the odd person has a mental age above 15. Not many, but a few.

This has just been posted on the FC boards, but is great advice and I thought it should be here too. Hi Everyone We just wanted to remind you all that you cannot always trust people on the internet. Sometimes people on the internet might impersonate Gareth, or might claim to be in contact with Gareth, his friends, family or other people linked with him in order to strike up contact with fans. We know you all want to meet Gareth and get your messages to him and it is our aim at the fanclub to do this for you. You know that if we ask you to send in your messages for Gareth that these messages are given to him. Anyone who tells you that you can meet Gareth through them or a friend of theirs, or says they can speak to Gareth or his family or can forward your messages onto Gareth might not be genuine. Because of this it is REALLY important that you do not arrange to meet anyone over the internet. We are only saying this to look after you and keep you safe. Please DO NOT give out your personal information to anyone over the internet and do not arrange to meet anyone you do not already know. We want you to be able to chat freely on these message boards. However if you post up your personal details, we need to delete your messages. Please understand that we are only doing this for your own safety as that is of prime importance to us. We hope you understand that we are only doing this to look after you all. Lots of Love GFT xx

I've forwarded you a copy - I can't believe you aren't signed up already. I got all my information from here.

Fantastic - they might not print anything directly connected with it, but it will definitely make them think carefully about whether or not to believe what the BMG insider tells them.

That's a great idea, and perhaps a few magazines that take more of an interest in fashion?

I would agree for Europe, but I think it could be good for him for Asia where it's more common for big name celebs to do sponsorships. Although if it gets him some interest from a European fashion editor, then it would be good too. If he's to extend his fan-base he needs to be talked about by people who don't buy music magazines. Lots of women who buy music buy fashion magazines, but not Q. Not that they'd manage a sane interview with him anyway.

It's not impossible. Simon Fuller is known to be a fan of using sponsorship deals as a way of getting an artist better known (and earning some extra cash). When Rachel Stevens signed up to do the Pretty Polly thing it wasn't just about earning some money from the bill-boards - those bill-boards were on display at a time when she was trying to establish herself as a solo artist and it gave magazines and newspapers the excuse to run stories about her, mentioning her new single/album. Gareth is clearly quite well known already in China in the music world, and for MTV China viewers, but it will be a tiny proportion of the population that watches. If Gareth were to be featured in local fashion magazines or newspaper stories it would raise his profile amongst people who are interested in popular culture in general. If he were to do a bit of modelling or something - it would be another talking point for him, and another way to establish him as a well known figure across the region, so that when he does interviews about his music - more people will read.

It says in this article that he's from New York originally, but he could have moved, or it could be another DJ of the same name - but it is a UK website and they obviously spend some time in the UK. More here. I found this bit elsewhere It’s a sonic avalanche of electro-house, which represents the sort of party sound he’s become accustomed to get the crowd jumping to at The Boutique. Laidback Luke meanwhile, will be offering a smattering of Chicago House laced with minimal techno, whilst Radio Slave (aka Matt Edwards) will undoubtedly spin one of their exclusive 2 hour sets featuring all the various remixes and re-edits – ie, X-Press, Fischerspoone, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Benny Benassi, Bob Sinclair and FC Kahuna - that have made them the UK’s hottest producers right now!! So it looks like he could be someone who could do a remix in the future - so long as BMG let Gareth do something worth remixing. They did this on Radio 1.

Aww, that's a nice read. And it's fascinating to know who else was there - all the LV big-wigs.

I remember last year listening to it online and chatting to Haz over MSN. We were getting very over-excited.

*Books traffic cones*

I hadn't even thought of someone taking a cam-corder, lol. I'm all excited now.

Too true. However, I do wonder how any of these non-computer owning fans ever get to find out what's going on. Do BMG realise there are people out there who need a bit more thought when it comes to advertising?

I agree with everything you've just said there. I love all those songs and have the same concerns about SITS. It was great for what it was and I still enjoy it - but it just doesn't sit well on the album in that format and it's not a song to promote an album.

It's sounding good. I bet they want him to sing, but whether or not he's ready to sing his new material is another matter. At the very least he has to sing everyone a couple of Christmas classics. :D It had better all be on the radio - now we've all worked out how to record from the bloody thing.