WESTLIFE STAR TAKES TO STAGE AT JP’S PARTY PUNTERS SINGING THE BLUES AFTER TOUGH DAY

Byline: ALANA FEARON

WESTLIFE star Shane Filan kicked off his solo career early – when he raised the roof at a private bash in Cheltenham.

The You Raise Me Up singer, 32, surprised guests at a party thrown by JP McManus when he started singing karaoke.

It may have been a nightmare opening day at Prestbury Park for Irish punters but Shane did his best to lift the nation’s battered spirits by belting out a few hits.

Mogul JP threw the party to celebrate his horse Aflie Sherrin winning the Handicap Steeple Chase and Shane and Gillian were among his VIP guests.

Irish goalkeeper Shay Given revealed: “I’m here with Shane [Filan] so the craic is good.

“It’s a pity I wasn’t here on Tuesday night because Shane was on the karaoke at JP’s party.

“I hear he’s good at it.” Shane said on Tuesday that he was just weeks away from signing a solo contract after Westlife announced in October they were splitting up.

The Daily Mirror learned last month that several top record companies are battling it out to sign the millionaire singer who has been dubbed the next Michael Buble.

But they’ll be shocked to hear that the dad of three has jumped the gun and kicked off his solo run, a few months before his 14-year career with Westlife officially comes to an end.

But the star wasn’t the only Irishman going on a solo run at Cheltenham.

Shane was on the karaoke at JP’s Meath jockey Barry Geraghty was the country’s new hero last night after racking up a stunning hat-trick of wins on day two at Prestbury Park. Wins on Simonsig, Bobs Worth and Finian’s Rainbow in the Queen Mother Champion Chase made his tally of wins for the week four.

Credit/Source: Irish Daily Mirror – Published on 15.03.2012

WESTLIFE’S Shane Filan is set to become the new Michael Buble – with three major labels battling to sign him. 
The Irish Daily Mirror can reveal the singer has a number of multi-million euro offers and is currently deciding which to go with. 
The 32-year-old is the only Westlife member who will continue to be managed by music mogul Louis Walsh after the band’s final shows later this year. Songs are already being picked out for Shane’s debut album which could see him become one of the biggest singers to come out of Ireland since Ronan Keating. 
An insider said: “Everything seems to be going perfect for Shane right now. Having three labels fighting over you is about as good as it gets. 
“It’s going to be a tough decision picking who he goes for as the offers are all extremely good. 
“But for Shane a lot of it is coming down to what they can offer him. 
“He wants to be sure there is good promotion waiting for when he begins as a solo artist. 
“Behind the scenes his team are already eying up the songs that will go on his first record. They want to make sure the album is absolutely perfect. 
“It seems to have been decided that Michael Buble is the person Shane should aim towards becoming. 
“If a tenth of the people who bought a Buble album buy Shane’s first album he’ll be an immediate success.” 
Westlife are set to go their separate ways in June when the Flying Without Wings band play their final farewell shows at Croke Park. 
But there will be no rest for Shane, who will head straight for the studio immediately after saying goodbye with bandmates Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne. 
An insider added: “This is going to be a hugely hectic year for Shane. 
“The hope is to get his album out towards the end of the year when there’s still a buzz after Westlife.” 
Credit/Source: Irish Daily Mirror – Published on 1st March 2012