NEWTON FAULKNER - FAULKNER PLAYS SKY HIGH GIG

British singer NEWTON FAULKNER has reached new heights of fame after playing a gig in a hot air balloon over the Swiss Alps. The star performed his cover of Massive Attack's Teardrop and his new single Dream Catch Me while nearly 2,000 feet (609 meters) above the mountain range on Friday (11Jan08). Faulkner battled freezing temperatures as the balloon floated about the town of Gruyere, Switzerland, for the stunt which was organised by the U.K.'s Virgin Radio. And the singer - real name Sam Newton Battenberg Faulkner - insists the gig was definitely his most memorable to date as it was also his 23rd birthday. He says, "I was worried my hands wouldn't work and it was hard on my voice because when I went to take a breath it was a bit of a struggle. "But it was an amazing thing to do. On my last birthday I had lunch with my mum and dad then played computer games with my brother, so this is pretty different. I've done all kinds of gigs in all kinds of places, including a moving train, but this is the ultimate. Next year I'll have to perform in outer space to top this."