What’s On
March » July 2014 6 The Met, Market Street, Bury BL9 0BW
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6 The Met, Market Street, Bury, Greater Manchester BL9 0BW R 0161 761 2216 P www.themet.biz The Met is operated by Bury Metropolitan Arts Association a registered charity (No 701879). We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders and sponsors:
Experience great theatre at The Met with our Theatre Special Offer. 20% off tickets for any three marked shows. R 0161 761 2216
WELCOME TO THE MET T
his season we welcome back some of the amazing artists that we’ve presented at Ramsbottom Festival over the past couple of years – if you haven’t made it to the festival yet, look out for the likes of Marc O’Reilly, Gordie Mackeeman, Moreland and Arbuckle, Winter Mountain and The Once, as well as poet Dominic Berry’s new show for kids, Spark the Goblin Wizard. If you were there, we hope you welcome the opportunity to come and see them again for a full show at The Met. Making their Met debut we have folk legend Paul Brady and The Mary Whitehouse Experience’s Rob Newman as well as Blue Rose Code, Peatbog Fearies, The Sojourners
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and The Bills, while some familiar faces return to our stage with new work for 2014 – Kathryn Williams, Emily Smith, Bella Hardy and a special show in June with Martin and Eliza Carthy. Big Whistle Festival returns for its seventh year with its trademark mix of talented traditional and contemporary folk musicians injecting The Met with energy and great tunes throughout the weekend. Join us for workshops, chats with artists, sessions and concerts on 22-24 May. The theatre programme has some real gems – I hope you take us up on our fantastic theatre offer to try three shows over the season with 20% off.
There are also more opportunities than ever to try something new for 2014 – from harmonica lessons and a folk singing day to an introduction to recording studio basics. More than ever we appreciate the support of Bury Council and Arts Council England in helping us to present such a fantastic programme which delights and thrills audiences and gives artists a wellloved stage for them to create and perform. I hope you enjoy many nights with us in the months to come. Best wishes, David Agnew, Director
WHAT’S ON?
T H E A T R E
The Six Wives of
Henry VIII
Living Spit
Wednesday 5 March 7.30pm / £10 Two actors. Too many characters. One big ego. Howard Coggins looks like Henry VIII. There’s no escaping that. Stu McLoughlin doesn’t look like any of the wives, but he’s going to give it a go.
“Horrible Histories for grown-ups.” Fest
The Six Wives of Henry VIII is a comic retelling of King Henry’s life, love and lusts. Expect lots of cross-dressing, dirty jokes and funny songs in this playful look at Tudor history. comed y
S I N G E R S O N G W R I T E R
T H E A T R E & D R A M A
The John Herring Band
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Monday 3 - Thursday 6 March 7.30pm / £8
Thursday 6 March Ramsbottom Civic / 8pm / £6 advance / £8 door The Met / 8.30pm / £10 / £8 concession
Supported by The Remedy Saturday 1 March 8pm £8 / £6 concession John Herring’s songs combine the lyrical grit of the North with the sweeping strings and guitars associated with a songwriter who melds pop, indie and melody beautifully.
First Thursday Comedy
Holy Cross College present a song and dance staging of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream set in Bury.
Featuring top Irish performer John Lynn and comedy magician Sam Hurst. Plus Steve Bugeja (Ramsbottom only) or Kiri PritchardMcLean (Bury only).
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C L A S S E S & W O R K S H O P S F O L K M U S I C
Dan Walsh Friday 7 March 8pm / £10 Touted as the finest banjo player in the UK as well as being a superb singer, songwriter and guitarist, Dan Walsh has a unique and eclectic style taking in folk, funk, bluegrass, jazz, rock and even Arabic.
The Full English Singing Day Saturday 8 March 10am-4pm / £10 (includes lunch)
After three years of touring the UK as one half of award nominated duo Walsh and Pound, Dan is returning to solo gigs.
A day of harmonies and community singing led by inspiring folk youth choir, Stream of Sound, and leader Caroline Price.
This Singing Day lifts a selection of those songs out of the archive and gives voice to them again in the twenty-first century.
New album The Same But Different received great reviews from Acoustic Magazine and Bright Young Folk. The album follows on from the critically acclaimed Walsh and Pound album and Dan’s solo debut Tomorrow’s Still To Come.
The Full English digital archive has thousands of folk songs of the late 1800s and early 1900s from all over the country online.
With songs that have a special link to the North West, Stream of Sound will guide you through the harmonies throughout
C H I L D R E N & F A M I L Y
Spark the Goblin Wizard Dominic Berry
Saturday 8 March 11am / £6
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Spark’s magic rhymes can turn anything into anything. He’ll turn the bogeys up his nose into pink ribbons and bows. But when something terrible starts to happen in the enchanted forest, poet Dommy B needs your help to save the day. Ages 5+.
the day. Everything will be taught by ear, so you don't have to read music in order to take part. Come and breathe life back into The Full English songs. This event is led by the English Folk Dance and Song Society, in partnership with The Met and Inspire Choir, and is made possible by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
R O C K & P O P
T H E A T R E
The Sounds of Simon
Nosferatu
A tribute to Simon & Garfunkel Saturday 8 March 8pm £12
Lose yourself to nostalgia as The Sounds of Simon play classics; Mrs Robinson, The Boxer, The Sounds of Silence and You Can Call Me Al along with the many other songs that established Paul Simon as one of the most successful songwriters of all time.
Rehearsed Read-through Monday 10 March 8pm / £3 A candlelit read-through of Proper Job Theatre Company and Ian Mcmillan’s new piece, Nosferatu, inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula. This is a chance to be on the cutting edge of a new play, with your feedback shaping the impression of the script.
C O M E D Y
Rob Newman Rob Newman’s New Theory of Evolution Wednesday 12 March 8pm / £12.50 Comedian, journalist, and activist Rob Newman makes a hotly anticipated return to comedy with his first show in seven years. In New Theory of Evolution Rob explores evolutionary theory and demonstrates that DNA is not destiny. ”If this world could be saved by a Superhero whose power was Comedy, that hero would be Rob Newman.” The Scotsman
T H E A T R E
Call Mr Robeson Written and Performed by Tayo Aluko Thursday 13 March 8pm / £12 Paul Robeson is a great actor, singer and civil rights campaigner. When he becomes too outspoken for the establishment’s liking, he is branded a traitor and denied opportunities to perform or travel. A rollercoaster journey through Robeson’s remarkable life, this show features his famous songs and speeches, and his defiant testimony to the Senate House Un-American Activities Committee.
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F O L K music
R O C K and P O P
O’Hooley & Tidow
The Rocket
Thursday 13 March 8pm / £10 Since the 2012 release of their second album, The Fragile, Yorkshire duo Belinda O’Hooley (Unthanks, Nic Jones Trio) and Heidi Tidow have become a must-see act for their “stunning and delightfully unconventional” (Guardian), performances. With their interweaving harmonies and sublime musicality they are acknowledged as one of
the strongest songwriting partnerships on the contemporary folk scene. The pair were nominated for Best Duo in the 2013 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, with The Guardian hailing them as “The Best Act of Cambridge Folk Festival”.
with Thugs on Wolves and The Collaborators Friday 14 March 8pm / £6 Hard-gigging Bury teenagers The Rocket combine self-indulgent lyrics with memorable melodies. They come to The Met to launch their debut album In Emergency, Breakdown.
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Simon McBride with special guests Mike Sweeney and Paddy O’Hare with The Collective
Saturday 15 March 8pm £14 advance Standing
O’Hooley and Tidow’s new album, The Hum, was released in February 2014.
Thugs on Wolves take folksy harmonies then add tribal beats and electronic surges. Bury duo The Collaborators play friendly acoustic/pop/rock.
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B L U E S
Presented by Edwin Street Recording Studio.
Fast becoming the next Irish blues guitar hero in the footsteps of Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore, former Young Guitarist of the Year Simon McBride has undeniable guitar artistry combined with a fine voice and a knack for creating memorable hooks and great melodies.
“McBride is now amongst the best blues-rock players anywhere in the world” Guitarist Magazine
musical F O L K / B L U E S
Martin Harley Band Supported by Albert Jones Saturday 15 March 8pm / £12.50 Martin Harley is a phenomenally talented guitarist, singer and songwriter whose latest album Mojo Fix comes on the heels of four critically celebrated albums, years of touring and countless festivals. A respected voice in the evolution of popular blues and folk oriented guitar and vocals, Martin is a life-long devotee of acoustic guitar music having travelled the globe absorbing a plethora of diverse influences. He is renowned for his prowess as a slide guitarist, almost unique in the UK in his playing lap slide. “Harley is a class act. Massively accomplished stuff.” Classic Rock Magazine
The Phantom of the Opera PADOS Youth Theatre Group Wednesday 19 - Friday 21 March 7.30pm Saturday 22 March 2.30pm & 7.30pm £10 Wednesday / £12 all other performances Based on the classic novel Le Fantome de L'Opera by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a disfigured musical genius who lurks within the depths of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all
F O L K M U S I C
of the devious methods at his command. Prestwich Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society (PADOS) Youth Group, with permission from The Really Useful Group, are proud to present their adaptation of this haunting tale of obsession, unrequited love and redemption.
Harp and a Monkey Ramsbottom Folk Club
Wed 19 March 8pm / £8 Ramsbottom Grant Arms Electro-folk storytellers Harp and a Monkey return for a home gig at Ramsbottom Folk Club. Lancashire features heavily in the band’s second album, All Life is Here, which features reworkings of traditional northern songs including Bowton's Yard, Waiting For My Day and The Manchester Molecatcher.
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C O U N T R Y & A M E R I C A N A
F O L K M U S I C
F O L K R O O T S / A M E R I C A N A
The Tom McConville Band
The Once Sunday 23 March 8pm / £12 A welcome return to The Met for this awardwinning Canadian band.
Saturday 22 March 8pm / £14 / £12 concession
Chris Pureka
Fronted by the incendiary fiddle playing of BBC Radio 2 Musician of the Year Tom McConville, The Tom McConville Band features Shona Kipling, one of the UK’s finest accordion players, David Newey’s “incredible, unique guitar playing” and Phil Murray – the man Mike Harding called “the best acoustic bass player in Britain”. “One of the greatest violinists I've ever heard and by far the biggest influence in my music” Seth Lakeman
Thu 20 March 8pm £10 / £8 concession Chris Pureka is armed with a sharp eye for oft-missed details and an emotional intelligence that can switch from withering to compelling on a dime, and has been making albums on her own terms for over a decade. She comes to The Met with with her latest offering, How I Learned To See In the Dark. R 0161 761 2216
Three musicians from Newfoundland, The Once embrace their own vision of the island’s music.
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Tom McConville C O M E D Y
Jonny and The Baptists Friday 21 March 8pm £10 / £8 concession
Jonny and The Baptists
Raucous songs, satire and silliness from musical comedians Jonny and The Baptists, stars of Radio 4’s Now Show and Infinite Monkey Cage. “Musical comedy’s rising stars” Sunday Times
The Once
Their sounds come not from the noisy taverns that fuel so much of the Island’s energy, but from a quieter, more thoughtful place. Hope and tragedy are intertwined in their music, whether they are singing an old lament from World War I or original songs that speak of love defeated. “Think of the heavenly mix of Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris and Gillian Welch, back them up with The Chieftans, and you’re still only halfway there.” Amelia Curran
Emily Smith
T H E A T R E & D R A M A
The City and Iris Glass-Eye Theatre
Wednesday 26 March 8pm / £10 / £6 concession Today seems like any other morning for Iris. But when her glasses break she finds herself on an unusual journey through the city she thought she knew. Before her very eyes, the world is beginning to come to life in thrilling new ways...
Using live music and physical storytelling Glass-Eye create a comical universe where every living and inanimate thing is waiting to reveal its unexpected inner life.
J A Z Z
Metro Jazz
Emily Smith
Thursday 27 March 7.30pm / £5
After ten years as one of Scottish music’s most sublime voices, Emily Smith begins a fresh chapter with the release of her fifth solo album, Echoes.
but with wider horizons, material ranges from remembered ballads like the murdery Twa Sisters and the mythical King Orfeo, to contemporary but no less timeless songs such as Bill Caddick’s John O’Dreams and Darrell Scott’s The Open Door.
In Echoes, Emily returns to her first love of traditional song. Unshakeably Scottish
“Scotland’s most impressive young songwriter” The Guardian
The Spring Show
The City and Iris
F O L K M U S I C
Come enjoy the rhythms of springtime with The Met’s community jazz orchestra, Metro Jazz, led by renowned saxophonist Munch Manship.
Thursday 27 March 8pm £14 / £12 concession
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Jon Ronson F O L K M U S I C
Peatbog Faeries Saturday 29 March 8pm / £16 / Standing A phenomenal live experience - twice crowned Live Act of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards, the Peatbog Faeries possess cast-iron party credentials second to none. Regularly selling out and attracting new fans, splicing jigs and
T A L K
F olk R oots
Jon Ronson’s
Frank Story Fri 28 March 8pm / £16 For three years, in 1980s, Jon Ronson was the keyboard player with the Frank Sidebottom Oh Blimey Big Band. They rode high. And then it all went wrong… R 0161 761 2216
reels with jazz, hip-hop, reggae, rave, Latin and African sounds, while cranking up the euphoria even further with a stunning new light and laser show.
In this one-man show Jon tells the true story behind Frank, a new movie cowritten by him and soon be released. Part funny memoir, part movie diary, this is a tribute to outsider artists too wonderfully strange to make it in the mainstream.
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Emily Maguire Friday 28 March 8pm / £10 Best known for her thoughtprovoking lyrics and “supremely expressive vocals” (Rock’n’Reel), Emily Maguire’s songs have been played regularly on BBC Radio 2 and have won her fans across the globe. Her latest album Bird Inside A Cage was released in July 2013. “Exquisite” Uncut Magazine
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First Thursday Comedy Thursday 3 April Ramsbottom Civic / 8pm / £6 advance / £8 door The Met / 8.30pm / £10 / £8 concession Featuring Imran Yusef, and Brian & Krysstal. Brian is grumpy while Krysstal is glamorous. The combination is unique and very funny.
F O L K R O C K
Iona Thursday 3 April 8pm / £17.50 Uniquely combining rock, folk, progressive, ethnic and ambient elements with the crystalline voice of Joanne Hogg as their focus, Iona create “a blaze of colours and textures... all the sounds fusing into a single, yearning, heartfelt beautiful cry.”
folk roots
Kathryn Williams Friday 4 April 8pm / £12 / £10 concession "...an exhilarating contemporary folk act, able to press traditional instruments convincingly into service alongside their electric counterparts... rarely has the new age Celtic thing been given so many welcome twists, or played with such conviction." Q
Mercury Music Prize nominee Kathryn Williams is a fiercely independent singer-songwriter who has attracted great praise for her beguiling contemporary folk music. With a still, pretty voice and pastoral pop melodies, her music is craftily alternative, delightfully relaxing and sometimes just a bit rude. Her latest album, Crown Electric, was released in 2013. Iona
R O C K & P O P
Limehouse Lizzy A tribute to Thin Lizzy
Saturday 5 April 8pm / £15 advance / £17 door / Standing Limehouse Lizzy keep the spirit of Philip Lynott and Thin Lizzy alive, well and dominating stages worldwide. On this visit they play the band’s more Celtic influenced tracks such as Whisky in the Jar and Black
Rose, alongside classics The Boys are Back in Town, Sarah, and many others. “if you’re sceptical about tribute acts, you won’t be after seeing Limehouse Lizzy” Radio Times
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“A voice like honey and songs as pretty as roses” Clash Magazine
T H E A T R E
Sweeney Todd PADOS Theatre Group
R O C K and P O P
Dead Belgian
Tue 8 - Fri 11 April 7.30pm / Sat 12 April 2.30pm & 7.30pm £10 Tuesday / £12 all other performances The air is thick with smoke, children play with rats in the gutter and London is ablaze with sin and treachery. A young boy, unaware of the cruelties of the city, rescues an escaped convict and sets in motion events that will lead to the creation
of the 19th Century’s most notorious and glamourised serial killer – Sweeney Todd. When corruption is rife and crime lurks on every corner, the Demon Barber of Fleet St sets out to bring the upper classes to their knees and the lower classes to the table.
Prestwich Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society (PADOS) are proud to present their adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s razor-sharp tale of vengeance, true love and one man’s crusade to right a terrible injustice.
Saturday 12 April 8pm / £10 Dead Belgian have a growing reputation as interpreters of the songs and music of Jacques Brel, one the greatest songwriters and performers of the twentieth century.
F O L K M U S I C
folk / blues
Marc O’Reilly Thursday 10 April 8pm / £10
“Far more exotic than your standard finger picker” Proper Music UK
A highlight of Ramsbottom Festival 2012, Marc O’Reilly’s sound is inspired folk’n’blues with African percussive rhythms. R 0161 761 2216
Megson Friday 11 April 8pm / £10 Stu Hanna and Debbie Hanna are the husband and wife duo Megson. Three times nominated in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and double winners of the 2011 Spiral Earth Awards, they draw heavily on their Teesside heritage to create a unique brand of folk.
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Their infectious sound is a mix of heavenly vocals, lush harmonies and driving guitars and mandolas.
“Megson are the most original duo on the British folk scene” The Guardian
Performing both in English and Brel’s original French, and with influences from European folk to progressive rock, the band have developed a playful and inventive sound unique to themselves. A rousing and rowdy reinvention of Brel’s honest and poetic stories.
F O L K M U S I C
J A Z Z
Michelle Holding
Clare Teal Duo
Ramsbottom Folk Club Wednesday 16 April 8pm £5 / Ramsbottom Grant Arms Michelle Holding sings British and American songs, playing guitar, banjo and concertina. Blessed with a striking and distinctive voice, she performs with passion and sensitivity.
The Divas and Me
Wednesday 16 April 7.30pm / £15 Multi award-winning jazz singer and Radio 2 broadcaster Clare Teal plays the music of her heroines, the leading lights of the jazz and big band world;
Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland, Doris Day and many of their illustrious contemporaries. An evening of feel-good music, inspired by the greats and played by the best.
C O U N T R Y & A M E R I C A N A
An evening with
Suzy Bogguss Tuesday 15 April 8pm / £18 Legendary country singer Suzy Bogguss returns with songs from her thirteenth album, Lucky, a homage to Merle Haggard. “He really is the poet of the common man,” she says, “Not every artist has music that is as universal as Merle’s.” A Mr Kite Benefit. R 0161 761 2216
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F O L K roots
C H I L D R E N & F A M I L Y
Baltic Crossing Supported by Karl Culley Thu 17 April 8pm / £12 Five-piece Baltic Crossing is made up of award-winning young traditional musicians from Finland, Denmark and the UK – Ian Stephenson, Andy May, Esko Jarvela, Antti Jarvella and Kristian Bugge.
The band’s blend of lively modern folk with a Scandinavian/Celtic feel, dynamic stage presence
and funny anecdotes promises a foot-stomping and fun night out.
The Jungle Book Image Musical Theatre
Saturday 19 April 2pm £6 / £4 children Based on Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, join Mowgli the man cub on his journey to adulthood. With loving care from his adopted wolf family and lots of advice from Bagheera the panther and
T H E A T R E
Baloo the bear, can you help Mowgli stand up to nasty Shere Khan the tiger. In the first half children can rehearse and join the play while the rest of the audience are taught the chorus of four songs. After the interval the show runs with everyone taking part. Ages 4+.
F O L K music
Kissing Sid James Reform Theatre Wednesday 23 April 8pm / £12
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Eddie, a stationary salesman of some repute; flash car with flash suit, meets Crystal the local casino croupier, gorgeous, funny, the girl of his dreams, but a girl with a past... He invites her for a getaway and the two would-be lovers head for a romantic rendezvous in a BnB, where Eddie tries
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to woo and impress. Will opposites attract and love blossom, or will it be a wet weekend, with no candy floss and love hearts? A funny, heart warming comedy by Robert Farquhar. “…one of the most hilarious plays ever written.” Bolton News
Winter Mountain Saturday 19 April 8pm / £10 Winter Mountain blend melodic folk and heartfelt lyrics to create sixties-style harmony pop reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel or Crosby, Stills and Nash.
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Ezio supported by Jazz Morley Thursday 24 April 8.15pm / £12 advance / £14 door Two mad men playing Rock ‘n’ Roll on acoustic guitars, tempered with beautiful ballads Ezio Lunedei and Mark “Booga” Fowell play with a rhythmical power and unity that’s hard to produce with a full rhythm section. Booga’s spontaneous fluid touch is the perfect complement to Ezio’s emotive songs, imaginatively adding to the moods they invoke. folk M U S I C
Blue Rose Code Fri 25 April 8pm / £12 / £10 conc Blue Rose Code is songwriter Ross Wilson. His music evokes a meeting of Van Morrison and John Martyn, both shipwrecked with a bunch of Motown records. Ross’ debut album, North Ten, was released in 2013.
F O L K M U S I C
Vin Garbutt Friday 25 April 8pm / £14 / £12 concession Vin Garbutt’s career has spanned over forty years of constant world-wide touring, which must make him some kind of elder statesman of folk. His songs are inspired by the folk tradition, but have transformed into a gritty social comment and life observations. Vin is renowned for his hilarious intros, but his lyrics are the crux of his performance – described as powerful, moving, warm, humane, inspired, funny and gut wrenchingly honest.
C H I L D R E N & F A M I L Y
The Worried Walrus
Old Doll Theatre of Puppetry
Saturday 26 April 1pm / £8 / £10 with workshop It’s time for the Annual Animal Beauty Contest! This year’s contestants include Terry the Tree Frog, Randy the Panda, Mary-Rose the flamingo and a brand-new, first-time competitor… Wendy the Walrus! But what happens when the other animals boo Wendy off-stage? Performed alongside live original music and song, this spectacular puppet show has been made for all big kids over 3 who love an even bigger adventure! There will also be a family puppet making workshop at 11am. R 0161 761 2216
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Roger Llewellyn as Sherlock Holmes “a master class in the art of holding an audience spellbound.” South Wales Evening Post
T H E A T R E
comed y
Sherlock Holmes The Death and Life
First Thursday Comedy
Wednesday 30 April 8pm / £12 In this wryly humorous tale of murder, mystery and the occult, the world’s greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes, refuses to leave the stage. Author Arthur Conan Doyle tires of Holmes, and creates arch villain Moriarty to dispose of him. But Doyle’s dangerous
strategy, combined with his passion for spiritualism, has unexpectedly bizarre and comic consequences… Roger Llewellyn returns as the famous sleuth for another investigation, a light-hearted fantasy illustrating the battle between an author and his literary creations.
R O C K and P O P
B L U E S
James Grant
Zoot Money and The Chess Masters
Saturday 26 April 8pm / £14 / £12 conc One of the finest singersongwriters and performers around, Love and Money frontman James Grant plays material from his critically acclaimed solo albums and a smattering of old favourites in a solo acoustic setting.
Thursday 1 May Ramsbottom Civic / 8pm / £6 advance / £8 door The Met / 8.30pm / £10 / £8 concession Two comedy clubs in Bury and Ramsbottom featuring Joe Lycett, as seen on Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Celebrity Juice and 8 Out of 10 Cats.
Thursday 1 May 8pm / £12 R’n’B, soul and jazz legend Zoot Money (George Bruno Money) was the most colourful exponent of early British rhythm and blues, legendary for his outrageous live appearances. Since his early days with Alexis Korner, Zoot has
featured with The Animals and the Alan Price Band plus its offshoot, The Electric Blues Company. Zoot will be playing at The Met with new band, The Chess Masters, belting out classics from Chess as well as his own self-penned hits. R 0161 761 2216
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F O L K M U S I C
friends Patsy Reid and Friday 2 May 8pm / £10 / £8 conc One of the most admired musicians in the UK, Patsy Reid comes to The Met with her new album The Brightest Path, her first solo recording since 2008's rapturously received Bridging The Gap.
Formerly a member of Breabach, now Patsy takes centre stage to play newly recovered traditional Scottish melodies from the Atholl Collection, along with selfpenned and contemporary material that demonstrates her skills from both folk and classical disciplines.
R O C K & P O P
T H E A T R E
Livewire The AC/DC Show
The Hoarder
Friday 2 May 7.30pm / £14 advance / Standing Livewire are a six-man tribute to AC/DC, complete with trademark cannons, a wall of Marshalls and two hours of high-voltage rock and roll. With hit after hit, from Back in Black, to Rosie and Highway to Hell, if by the time the cannons fire to bring the evening to a crescendo you’re still standing, we salute you. There is only one complete AC/DC show, and this is it.
Sticks Theatre
Wednesday 7 May 8pm / £10 / £8 concession Inspired by the astonishing true story of chronic hoarder Richard Wallace, whose behavior is so out of control that his own life is in danger – and Andy Honey, a gardener who slowly gains his
trust and helps him clear over thirty tonnes of rubbish – The Hoarder is a touching play that tells the story of how, with a little understanding, friendship can make a world of difference.
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te x t
Drift by Caroline Bergvall Saturday 3 May 8pm / £12
T
ext Festival in Bury is an internationally recognised exhibition of literature-based art – poetry, text art, sound and media text and live art.
T A L K / te x t
te x t
Beyond The Dark Would
Knives Forks and Spoons
Saturday 3 March 2pm-3pm / FREE
Saturday 3 March 3pm-4.30pm / £8
Drawing together strands of text art, vispo, performance writing and conceptual poetry, language art anthology The Dark Would defies the boundaries between text and art.
The Knives Forks and Spoons Press is the biggest avant garde poetry list in the UK, promoting the work of experimental poets whose books would otherwise struggle to find acceptance.
Sound Science and Automation
This event features performances from this great publisher with readings from Rhys Trimble, Sarah Crewe and Sophie Mayer, Bobby Parker, Ira Lightman, Ryan Ormonde and Rebecca Cremin.
Advances in science and technology mean that artists have endless new possibilities and challenges when creating their work. In this event five such artists explore their new language landscape, from augmented
Now in its fourth year, the festival specialises in experiments, new experiences In this panel discussion, and the mixing of artforms. celebrated poets Caroline Bergvall and Marton Koppany www.textfestival.com join Philip Davenport, Editor of The Dark Would, to See all of these events discuss the way our language with a Weekend Ticket changes as we grow older £18 / £12 students and more experienced.
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Inspired by the language and themes of The Seafarer, an anonymous 10th century poem, as well as official material from a recent controversial sea migrants’ tragedy, Drift is a powerful performance combining live voice, live percussion and 3D textual projections to blend the past and present.
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“Thank heaven for Caroline Bergvall, an artist and poet pushing the boundaries of language in a bloggedup and twittering digital world” The Guardian
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Sunday 4 May 1pm / £8 poetry (“algorithms + data = poetry”) to visual sound, communication technologies and autotopography. Artists: Carol Watts and Will Montgomery. Christiana Kazakou. Eran Hadas. Jörg Piringer.
R O C K and P O P
Graeme Clark
Boo Hewerdine My name in the Brackets Thursday 8 May 8pm £14 / £12 concession For over two decades Boo Hewerdine has been a much loved performer making numerous critically lauded albums. But it is as a writer that he is held in particular esteem, with his songs recorded
R O C K and P O P
Wet, Wet Wet’s
Graeme Clark Thursday 8 May 8pm / £12 As a cornerstone of Wet Wet Wet, Graeme Clark penned over thirty hits, including Goodnight Girl, Sweet little Mystery and Temptation. He comes to The Met to play his new solo material and some of the Wet’s favourites in his own inimitable style.
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by the likes of Eddi Reader, kd Lang, Heidi Talbot, Kris Drever, The Corrs, Natalie Imbruglia and more. In this show, Boo will be performing his own versions of these tracks. Supported by Hafdis Huld.
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Whole Lotta Led Eight Years Gone and Still Going Strong
Friday 9 May 8pm / £14 advance / £16 door / Standing 2014 sees Whole Lotta Led delve even deeper into Zep’s back catalogue to perform songs never played live before. Don’t miss the opportunity to relive these classics played with passion and energy by the UK’s longest running professional Led Zeppelin tribute band.
Pirate Gran Scamp Theatre Saturday 10 May 1pm / £10 Meet Gran. She bakes. She knits. You’d never even guess she was a Pirate With a pet crocodile under her bed, a wicked sense of humour and a whole raft of adventures under her belt – time with Gran is never dull! Gran isn’t scared of anything. Not even monsters... And then there’s Grandpa. Pirate Gran is an absolute treat for seafaring children aged 3+ and their shipmates.
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F O L K music
Paul Brady
F O L K / R O C K & P O P
Paul Brady Supported by Lisbee Stainton
Saturday 10 May 8pm / £23.50 Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Paul Brady, is one of Ireland’s most highly regarded and successful artists, incorporating folk, rock, blues traditional Irish and classic pop styles into his songwriting. Paul’s songs have been covered by a huge array of artists including Tina Turner, Cliff Richard, Cher, Art Garfunkel, Ronan Keating, Joe Dolan and Carlos Santana.
J A Z Z
Friday 16 May 8pm / £10
Lisbee has enjoyed success with the radio hit singles Red, Never Like An Angel and Just Like Me, she also sings and plays banjo, harmonium, guitar and harmonica in folk star Seth Lakeman’s band.
England Away
Saturday 10 May 8pm / £10 Ben Cox is a young and upcoming singer who brings a fresh and unique sound to the Jazz scene, fast gaining a reputation for his mesmerising tone and delivery. The band release their debut album, The Waiting Game, in summer 2014.
Manchester’s ferocious folk foursome 4Square present energetic instrumentals on fiddle, keys, banjo and percussion, mellow and melancholic three part-harmony and spectacular clog dancing.
The Future is Unwritten
Wednesday 14 May 8pm / £12 / £10 concession England Away is an upfront, comic play about passion, patriotism and ‘Englishness’. It’s 2001, the night before England thrash Germany and four England fans meet at a campsite in Munich. Drink is drunk, songs are sung and secrets are exposed.
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4Square with David Gibb and Elly Lucas
T H E A T R E / C O M E D Y
The Ben Cox Band
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Paul will be supported by Lisbee Stainton, “The English Rose With The 8-String Guitar”.
Whip back to 1945, and Alf and Ted march through Europe, fighting fascism while dreaming of a new England.
What is Englishness? What was it? What will it be? And will the England team ever win ever again…?
Tonight, live on your stage, stand up comic Eddy Brimson offers a funny, hard-hitting insight on English society, football and comedy.
From the author of Meeting Joe Strummer and Fever Pitch. Ages 14+.
R O C K and P O P
Conceived in a freezing farmhouse on the outskirts of Rochdale in 2006, the band have now played a coveted spot at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention and appeared at festivals in the UK, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Corfu.
The duo were nominated for a BBC Young Folk Award in 2011 and have since released two albums.
David Gibb and Elly Lucas have been described by The Independent as “the future of Folk”.
The Beat Saturday 17 May 8pm £17 / Standing
present a wall of sound that transcends time to ignite a crowd.
Known the world over for a string of hit singles, including Mirror in the Bathroom, Too Nice To Talk To, Can’t Get Used To Losing You, Hands off She’s Mine and All Out To Get You, The Beat
One of the biggest bands of the 2-Tone movement, their songs fuse ska, pop, reggae and punk and their dynamic live show has built them a following at home and abroad.
F O L K music
C O U N T R Y & A M E R I C A N A
Eliza Gilkyson
Merrymouth
A Mr Kite Benefit Sunday 18 May 8pm / £15
Friday 16 May 8pm / £15 Merrymouth are a three piece folk-orientated band featuring Ocean Colour Scene songwriter and vocalist Simon Fowler, Dan Sealey and Adam Barry. The band are often joined by multi award
winning folk musicians John McCusker and Andy Cutting and have performed at BBC Radio 2’s CarFest’s and The Mosely Folk Festival.
Merrymouth released their self-titled debut in 2012. They return with second album, Wenlock Hill, in April 2014.
Eliza Gilkyson returns with song about the exuberant nature of love and life with meditative tunes about the world’s rich mysteries. Eliza releases her new album, The Nocturn Diaries, in January 2014. “lush and passionate... edgy lyrics with piercing imagery” New York Times R 0161 761 2216
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Thursday 22, Friday 23 & Saturday 24 May
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Fairport Convention Merry Hell Thu 22 May 8pm / £20 Spend an intimate evening with Fairport Convention, the band that’s renowned for inventing folk-rock. Winners of the coveted
W
ith the humble tin WORKSHOPS whistle at it’s core, Details of whistle, fiddle The Big Whistle Festival is and guitar workshops by a gathering of traditional Brian Finnegan, Emma and contemporary Sweeney, Nicola Beazley, musicians for a weekend The Outside Track and of groove laden gigs, Ian Stephenson at intimate concerts, musical www.themet.biz/bigwhistle gatherings and workshops. FESTIVAL TICKETS The Big Whistle Festival Thursday-Saturday..... £60 is presented by The Met Friday-Saturday.......... £45 and Big Whistle Music. Saturday only.............. £32
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F O L K music
BBC Radio 2 Lifetime Achievement Award, their classic Liege and Lief has been voted most influential folk album of all time. An evening not to be missed.
Nuala Kennedy Band
Friday 23 May 9.30pm / £10 Formed from the ashes of 90s rabble-rousers The Tansads, Merry Hell create blistering roots music underpinned by an unashamed pop sensibility.
Merry Hell
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Nuala Kennedy Band
The Whistle and Me
Fri 23 May 7.30pm / £12 An incredibly talented flautist, Nuala Kennedy has also blossomed as a vocalist and songwriter, developing a distinctive blend of folk and pop with
adventurous arrangements. Her 2012 album, Noble Stranger, offers a road-tested collection of innovative originals and traditional songs recorded at home in Scotland with her touring band.
Saturday 24 May 11am / £5 An hour of music and chat with Nuala Kennedy, exploring her background, influences and musical passions.
F O L K music
The Outside Track Sat 24 May 2.30pm / £10
Emma Sweeney
The Outside Track are a five piece from Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton and Vancouver, united by a love
F O L K music
of traditional music and a commitment to creating new music on its foundation. Playing fiddle, accordion, harp, guitar, flute and with step-dance and vocals, the band exude an energy that will catch your attention.
Kan Saturday 24 May 8pm / £14 Kan is a union of four of the finest, most influential, award-winning, in demand artists of the traditional music world, one member of
Lau, one member of Flook and two members of more bands than even they can remember. Brian Finnegan and Aidan O'Rourke, join forces with Ian Stephenson and Jim Goodwin to create an enthralling and beautiful new sound.
F O L K music
Emma Sweeney and Matheu Watson
The Outside Track
Chris Sherburn & Findlay Napier
Kan
Drop The Floor
Saturday 24 May 1pm / £8 F O L K music
Fiddler Emma Sweeney marked an outstanding year in 2013 with the release of her debut album, Pangea. She is joined by multiinstrumentalist and composer Matheu Watson, one of the finest young musicians in Scotland today.
Chris Sherburn & Findlay Napier Saturday 24 May 5pm / £8 Well known for his role in Last Night’s Fun and musical partnership with
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Denny Bartley, concertina player Chris Sherburn has toured worldwide and released numerous albums. Scottish singer songwriter Findlay Napier released three albums with Back Of The Moon before joining Last Night’s Fun in 2006.
Drop The Floor Saturday 24 May 10pm / £5 Ribble Valley based Drop The Floor are a dynamic multi instrumental and vocal quartet who are gaining an ever increasing following for their delivery of high
energy Irish Music. The group are made up of four fine 'Irish session' musicians – Richard Moss (guitar/vocals), Dan Burke (banjo), Steven Johnstone (pipes) and Martin Baptie (fiddle/vocals).
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T H E A T R E / C O M E D Y
F A M I L Y
Love Hurts, Actually
Little Howard
Thursday 22 May 8pm £10 / £8 concession
& the Magic Pencil of Life and Death
The unofficial sequel to the hit film, Love Actually. What would really happen if the Prime Minister told America the “special relationship” was over and was then caught warming up to the maid? Join Matt Panesh, as he takes on Emma Thompson, Alan
Thu 29 May 12noon / £8
Rickman, Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon and Liam Neeson in a wickedly funny one-man farce. Ages 16+.
F O L K / F A M I L Y
W O R L D / F O L K
Full English Family Folk Day
The Bills
Tuesday 27 May 10am-3pm / FREE A fun packed day of free folk arts, dancing and music for all the family. Find yourselves tempted by storytelling, singing and clog dancing performances and workshops. There’s also a chance to take part in R 0161 761 2216
a folk flavoured comic jam, led by Katy Coope – creating your own comic strips from traditional stories and songs. The Full English is an English Folk Dance and Song Society project supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.
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Wednesday 28 May 8pm / £12 The last time roots band The Bills were in the UK music critic Rob Adams called them “the biggest blast of fresh air to come out of Canada since The Band.” Drawing inspiration from European influences, Latin rhythms and Gypsy melodies, and renowned for their instrumental virtuosity, tight vocal arrangements and innovative interpretations of trad tunes, they have racked up a string of Canadian music awards.
Following on from the hilarious Little Howard’s Big Show, CBBC stars; real grown-up Big Howard and animated six-year-old Little Howard return to The Met. Little Howard has discovered the pencil that drew him. But, on the other end of the magical pencil of life is the eraser of death and a dark force is determined to rub the cheeky chap out for good.
B L U E S
F O L K / comed y
Woody Mann
The Houghton Weavers
Thursday 29 May 8pm / £12 / £10 concession Woody Mann is a New Yorker who plays an enticing mix of American acoustic blues, roots and jazz guitar. An outstanding singer/songwriter, he's a sublime, warm, witty and hugely talented performer. Woody has played and recorded with blues legends Son House and Bukka White, guitar innovator John Fahey and has appeared alongside some of the best guitarists in the world over the last thirty years.
And, as if that wasn’t enough, Big Howard has had a real-life baby who is getting a little too much attention! Can Little Howard escape his supernatural nemesis? Who knows... but there will be danger, drama and a lot of laughs on the way. With interactive stand-up, 3D animation and lots of songs, this is a show the whole family can enjoy. Ages 5+.
A fundraising evening of folk and comedy Friday 30 May 7.30pm / £15 / £13.50 conc The Houghton Weavers mix jokes and anecdotes with raucous traditional songs and ballads. They come to The Met raising money for the Salford Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage – Children and Families Group.
R O C K and P O P
F A M I L Y
Albert Hammond Songbook Tour
Old Macdonald Had A Farm
Thursday 29 May 8pm / £20 Albert Hammond has been writing hit songs for over forty years, and is responsible over thirty chart-topping hits. Songs such as The Air That I Breath and When I Need You have become hits multiple times with various artists over the decades. In the Songbook Tour, he plays classics from every decade of his career.
The People’s Theatre Company Saturday 31 May 1.30pm / £6 Old MacDonald had a farm E-I-E-I-O. But Old MacDonald’s animals have gone missing... Can you help him find them? A fun farmyard tale with live action, puppetry and animation. Ages 4+.
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F O L K
R O C K and P O P
James Hickman and Dan Cassidy Saturday 31 May 7.30pm / £10 / £8 concession James Hickman and Dan Cassidy are a transatlantic folk and roots duo inspired by the traditions of America and Britain. Dan Cassidy (USA), provides an exciting array of fiddling renditions, while James Hickman (UK), brings driving guitar playing and wonderfully unique interpretations of songs to their mixture of new and old folk music. Their sound is bursting with all the humour, heartbreak and excitement of the two genres.
Mostly Autumn Saturday 31 May 8.30pm £14 advance / £15 door Standing After being voted Best Band of 2012 in the Classic Rock Society poll and following awards for Best Band, Best Live Act, Best Album, Best Female
Vocalist, Best Guitarist and Best Drummer in the same poll in 2011, Mostly Autumn surely deserve to be called “The best band you have never heard”.
influences from seventies’ rock, they have developed their own unique sound, garnering fans from the likes of Deep Purple’s Jon Lord and Bob Harris.
Their musical palette is diverse and while they have
They come to The Met with new album, Dressed in Voices.
G O S P E L / S O U L
The Sojourners Wednesday 4 June 8pm £14 / £12 concession Gospel music that can take a punch and stay standing.
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Canadian outfit The Sojourners sing praise music with their own special ‘stank’ – hints of doo wop, R&B, country and blues. The band have played at folk, roots and
jazz festivals around the world, released three albums and been nominated for a Juno Award and a Canadian Folk Music Award.
“Rich and textured voices that harmonize along a rolling sea of sound waves... a gentle walk down the back alleys of the soul” E Vibe
F O L K
A M E R I C A N A
John Doyle
My Darling Clementine
Wednesday 4 June 8pm / £10 John Doyle is not only a fine singer but more importantly, an imaginative and original songwriter who really grabs audiences with his ability to tell a story through song. Coupled with his high standing as one of the best acoustic guitarists around, this makes for a memorable evening's music.
Friday 6 June 8pm / £12 / £10 concession Husband and wife duo My Darling Clementine evoke the great country duets of Porter Waggoner and Dolly Parton, George Jones and Tammy Wynette and Johnny and June. Their 2011 debut, How Do You Plead, won awards on both sides of the Atlantic, with songs about betrayal, regret, anger, guilt, revenge and hurt.
“John Doyle is as much a storyteller as a musician, and he’s masterful at both.” Folk Music UK comed y
R O C K & P O P
First Thursday Comedy
Sweet Baby James
Thursday 5 June Ramsbottom Civic / 8pm / £6 advance / £8 door The Met / 8.30pm / £10 / £8 concession Two comedy clubs in Bury and Ramsbottom featuring Jo Caulfield and Alfie Moore.
Friday 6 June 8pm / £10 / £8 concession A tribute to singersongwriter James Taylor, Sweet Baby James are Brian Dales (guitar/voice) and Jon Chamberlain (keyboards). The duo bring their own flair and sensitivity to much loved songs like Fire and Rain, You’ve Got a Friend and Copperline, while
staying faithful to the acoustic guitar driven arrangements that are Taylor’s trademark, delivering an honest and musically impeccable performance.
Michael Weston King’s connection with country music has been well documented, with his band The Good Sons in the 90s, fifteen albums and countless tours. Lou Dalgleish has worked with Elvis Costello, Bryan Ferry, The Brodsky Quartet and Brian Kennedy. The duo released their second album, The Reconciliation last year.
My Darling Clementin e
B L U E S
C O M E D Y
The Idle Hands
The Lancashire Hotpots Summertime Special
Saturday 7 June 8.30pm £8 advance / £10 door
Saturday 7 June 8pm / £12.50 / Standing
British Blues Award finalists The Idle Hands were championed as “Britain’s best unsigned blues-rockers” by Classic Rock Magazine and voted third in the Blues Matters Writers Poll for Best UK Band. Heavily influenced by the iconic British Blues Bands, they present passionate performances of hookladen original songs.
If you like a good night out, get your flat caps and ‘weskits’ ready because here come The Lancashire Hotpots. Since first taking to the stage in 2007, The Lancashire Hotpots have become the go-to band for those wanting a light hearted view on life from a distinctly Northern angle. From Glastonbury Festival to writing jingles for Holland’s Pies the Hotpots
T H E A T R E / C O M E D Y
entertain the nation with comedy songs about chippy teas, shopmobility scooters and how to smuggle your own sweets into the cinema. With congas, puppets and pirates on the menu at each and every Hotpots gig, join Bernard, Bob, Kenny, Billy and Dickie for a rambunctious riot of good time, singalong fun. We’ll see you at the bar!
Walking on the Roof MsFits Theatre Company Supported by Doolally Thu 12 June 7.30pm £12 / £10 concession
“And the whole world goes quiet. Nothing but the sound of the wind in her ears. She opens her eyes and looks down. She sees…” Yvonne has a guilty secret, and she’s not the only one. How long before she’s found out?
A compassionate comedy about wild and wicked women, fugitives and fraud, mothers and sons and gangs and guilt, from BAFTA nominated playwright Rona Munro and presented by award winning comedy actress Fiona Knowles. Supported by comedy singing duo Doolally.
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F O L K music
F O L K R O O T S / W O R L D R O O T S
Eliza and Martin Carthy Friday 13 June 8pm / £16 / £14 concession The good Doctor Martin Carthy and his twice Mercury nominated daughter Eliza Carthy join forces to perform songs from their first duo album ever, The Elephant, which is due for release in May 2014. Martin is a legendary ballad singer and guitarist who has been
one of folk music’s greatest innovators for more than forty years, influencing generations of artists including Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. Eliza is arguably the most impressive and engaging folk performer of her generation, having won innumerable accolades over her fifteen year career.
The Paperboys Saturday 14 June 8pm / £12 / £10 concession The Paperboys blend Celtic folk with bluegrass, Mexican, Eastern European, African, zydeco, soul, country, pop and rock.
Over the past fifteen years the band have produced eight acclaimed albums, been on countless tours of North America and Europe
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Moreland and Arbuckle Thursday 19 June 8pm / £14 seated / £12 standing A hit at Ramsbottom Festival 2013, guitarist Aaron Moreland and harpist/vocalist Dustin Arbuckle have spent over a decade exploring the edges of American roots music. In the process they have forged a relentless and haunting sound that merges Delta blues, folk, rock, traditional country and soul.
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and amassed a heap of industry accolades and music awards – including Canada’s version of The Grammy’s, The JUNO Award.
New album, 7 Cities, features vintage rock and twang along with a few surprises.
T H E A T R E
Dear Daughter Casagua Productions Thursday 26 June 8pm / £10 / £8 conc A bitter-sweet story of growing up in Manchester before and during World War I, based on the memoirs of Flora Dewsbury.
R O C K & P O P
The Enid Friday 20 June 8pm £14 / £12 concession
powerful and romantic symphonic rock music.
with a line-up that spans three generations.
Often described as the most majestic rock band of all time, The Enid play unique,
Having formed in 1974 the band have released thirteen studio albums and perform
“Pink Floyd meets The Berlin Phillharmonic” Time Out
Not long before her death in 1993 Flora wrote her memoir and gave it to her daughter on the condition that it would not be read until after her death. At 47 pages long, the memoir contained a moving account of a difficult childhood under very different conditions to those of today.
F O L K M U S I C
Bella Hardy Thirty for 30 Wednesday 25 June 8pm / £14 / £12 concession May 24 is the 73rd birthday of Bob Dylan, and the 195th birthday of Queen Victoria. It’s also acclaimed folk songstress Bella Hardy’s 30th. To mark the occasion, Bella is taking the party on the road with her band The Midnight Watch, and embarking on an epic adventure to visit thirty of her favourite venues, celebrating her six solo albums to date. “...unveiled, committed, uncontrived, persuasive, passionate, empowering, and utterly wonderful” fRoots
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Dervish Friday 27 June 8pm / £16 / £14 concession All the elements that make great Celtic music come together in Dervish – exceptional musicianship, breathtaking vocals, high-energy tunes and compelling songs.
The band’s shows are characterised by their carefully crafted arrangements, as they subtly explore the endless rhythms and complexities of great Irish music.
C O M E D Y
B L U E S
Larry Miller
Three Bonzos and a Piano
Friday 18 July 8pm / £12
Fiftieth Anniversary Friday 11 July 8pm £16 / £14 concession Comedy legends the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band have appeared with members of Monty Python, The Beatles, Eric Clapton and The Who as well as having a Top 5 hit with Urban Spaceman.
Comedians Stephen Fry, Adrian Edmondson, Eddie Izzard, Chris Morris and Bill Bailey have all named the Bonzos as a formative influence.
For this anniversary show the band unleash classics like Hunting Tigers Out In India, I’m Bored, Monster Mash and The Trouser Press with zip and palaver.
F O L K M U S I C
A M E R I C A N A
Gordie MacKeeman
Eve Selis Saturday 19 July 8pm / £12
& his Rhythm Boys
San Diego’s queen of Americana Eve Selis returns to The Met.
Thursday 17 July 8pm / £15 Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys serve up old-time roots music with an energy level that practically yanks you out of your seat by the collar.
Larry Miller is undeniably one of the must see blues/ rock acts, famous for his mesmerising guitar playing and high octane shows. He will be playing songs from his recent live double album Live & Outlawed and from his back catalogue of studio albums.
If ever someone was deserving of the nickname ‘Crazy Legs’, it just might be Gordie MacKeeman. His thrilling dance style mixes with great vocals, Peter Cann’s guitar solos, and
the instrumental talents of Thomas Webb and Mark Geddes. Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys are a complete entertainment package.
Eve blends many styles of American music into a high calibre cocktail topped off with a splash of her delicious ‘lemonade and whiskey’ voice. R 0161 761 2216
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The Blues Band Saturday 7 June 8pm at Waterside Arts Centre, Sale The quality and variety of performance and material offered by The Blues Band is pretty much unrivalled, and their passion and reverence for the music, their presentation and showmanship all combine to deliver the most definitive ‘good night out’ available from any artist currently operating in the Blues field in Europe.
Formed in 1979 by ex Manfred Mann group members, Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness, they’ve released 20 or so albums – culminating in their current release Few Short Lines.
CLASSES & WORKSHOPS for CHILDREN Introduction to Sound Recording for 14-16s Monday 28 July or Monday 4 August 10am-4pm / £20 A one day course on studio equipment, recording techniques and overdubbing. You will also learn basic mixing.
Break-Dance Tuesdays 4.15-5.15pm / £2.50 / During term time A break-dance class for 13-19s. Learn moves, stunts and work on routines to perform. Any experience level welcome.
Bury Youth Dance Tuesdays 5.30pm-7pm / £2.50 / During term time Led by Claire Fildes. 11-19 years: For young people of all abilities interested in creating innovative dance for performance.
Bury Youth Theatre Tickets from Sale Waterside on 0161 912 5616 or online at www.watersideartscentre.co.uk
Wednesday 5.30-7pm (9-13yrs) & 7-8.30pm (14+) / £3 per week / During term time Drama sessions led by Marc Young and Sammy Deas. Explore creativity through improvising, games and activites whilst developing team building skills, voice projection and confidence! R 0161 761 2216
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Aiming High 9-13s / Sat 10-11.30am / £3 / Starts 8 March 14-18s / Sat 11.30-1.30pm / £4 / Starts 8 March For young people with disabilities or additional needs, from Bury Council Children’s Services, BBC Children in Need and The Met.
Stagecoach Sundays 10am-1pm Training in dance, drama and singing for 4-18 years olds. For more information contact Ruth Mauriello on 0161 763 6161 or visit www.stagecoach.co.uk/bury
for ADULTS Metro Jazz Mondays 6.30-9.30pm from 28 April for 10 weeks £80 per term / £55 conc The Met’s community jazz orchestra led by Munch Manship. Front line musicians needed. Ages 16+.
Rock Choir
Guitar Workshop
Mondays 7.30-10pm from 24 February If you enjoy singing and would like to experience the buzz of a Rock Choir rehearsal firsthand, why not book a free taster? New members welcome. Book at www.rockchoir.com
Alternate Wednesdays 7.30-9pm from 19 Feb / £15 Build your confidence, improve your skills and have fun. Ages 13+. All levels, beginner to advanced. Equipment supplied. Contact Paul on 0773 8009737, email paul@proguitartuition.co.uk or visit www.proguitartuition.co.uk. Advance booking only.
Harmonica Workshops Mons alt weeks for 8 wks starting 19 May / £45 / £35 conc Beginners 5.30-6.30pm Beginners+ 6.45-7.45pm Intermediate 8.00-9.00pm Led by Mat Walklate. Courses in harmonica for beginners and intermediate level players.
Introduction to Sound Recording Wednesdays 7-9pm for 5 weeks from 14 May / £75 • Studio equipment, microphone technique and signal flow • Drum recording techniques • Instrument recording, Pro Tools and overdubbing • Hardware and software mixing techniques
SING
Weds 7.30-9pm alternate weeks from 26 Feb / £5 per week Led by musician and workshop leader Rose Hodgson, SING is a drop-in group that gives you the chance to enjoy group harmony singing and to experience songs from many genres. The group sing unaccompanied and learn by ear – no music reading ability is necessary. This is a non-performing group – the focus is on having fun and enjoying singing for its own sake.
Fiddle Workshop with Emma Sweeney
Thursdays for 5 weeks from 13 February Intermediate 7-8pm Advanced 8-9pm £42 / £34 conc A wonderful opportunity to explore folk fiddle playing with acclaimed Manchester-based Irish fiddler Emma Sweeney. Explore Irish, Scottish and Bluegrass fiddle tunes. Discuss and explore bowing patterns as well as ornamentation specific to each style. Listen to and dissect fiddle recordings. At least basic violin skills required.
Introduction to
Pro Tools
Thursdays 7-8pm for 3 weeks from May 22 / £40 A beginners guide to using the industry standard software for music recording and mixing.
Bloco Ashê Saturdays 11am-1pm / £5 / £3 conc / £2 under 16s A percussive group for beginners and above playing samba influenced grooves and global beats in Bury. New members of all ages welcome. For more information visit www.blocoashe.co.uk or call 01204 882201.
INSPIRE
Community Voices 1st & 3rd Sat of the month 2pm-4.30pm from 15 Feb £5 / £3 unemployed / £1 for under 16 years An a cappella, multi harmony, community choir, for all ages and abilities. Contact hello@inspirevoices.co.uk R 0161 761 2216
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Ticket booking By phone from 0161 761 2216 Online via www.themet.biz In person Tuesday-Friday Noon-7pm Saturday 11am-5pm
Access Concessions are available for children, people over 60, on benefit or in education.
The Met is a fully accessible venue, on both ground and first floors.
We are unable to offer refunds. Ticket exchange may be possible, but fees apply.
The entrance is fully ramped with a lift to the main theatre and an accessible toilet built to Changing Places standards.
Bookings online or by phone include a one off transaction fee of £2.50, added at checkout. There is no transaction fee for bookings in person.
Friends of The Met
over four hundred young people to record and train in a professional studio.
We want to attract the very best events to Bury and make these events and activities accessible to all.
Our friend scheme is £30 single / £50 joint per annum, which goes towards helping us to continue our work in an increasingly tough economic environment. In return for your investment you will receive:
We engage with the community through our workshop programme which runs throughout the year and also through Edwin Street Recording Studio which has allowed
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• The Director’s choice
of a free ticket for two shows per season
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We have staff on hand to help. If you require a personal escort, we can supply them with a free ticket.
• Advance copy of the
brochure three times per year with an introduction letter from David Agnew
• No fees for bookings • 10% off food in Automatic • First chance to buy for sell out events with advance email notification
For extra convenience we now offer the choice to pay in full or by direct debit to
Volunteer A magnetic induction loop for hearing aid users is used in the Main Theatre for the majority of our events. Guide dogs are welcome, and water can be provided on request. If you have any special requirements call us on 0161 761 2216 and we’ll do our best to help.
spread payments quarterly, twice per year or annually.
Help support us with a regular donation We are always working towards projects for which we need to raise money. Recent projects have included refurbishing the top floor of Edwin St to improve facilities for young musicians and groups. Future projects include refurbishing studio seating and other sections of the building.
The Met has a dedicated group of volunteers who assist with many areas of our activities. All volunteers are interviewed at application to ensure they get the most out of the opportunities we offer. To get involved contact Nichola Jacques at nichola. jacques@themet.biz or call on 0161 761 7107.
You can help us by donating just £5 per month. Or if you prefer, you can make a one off donation for a particular project. If you are a UK tax payer you can gift aid the amount so we receive an additional 20% with no cost to you. If you’d like to become a donor or a friend, give us a call on 0161 761 7107 or you can donate on line at www.themet.biz/donate.
Hire The Met and Automatic Our spaces are as versatile as your events. We can cater for anything from a private meeting to a conference, a gig to a wedding reception. With venues large and small, we can accommodate any number from 3 to 300. We have a number of spaces available for hire including the Main Theatre (221 seated / 300 standing),
Studio Theatre (90 seated / 100 standing), and more intimate spaces for meetings or training sessions including Malt (28 seated / 45 standing), the Gallery (Capacity 30), Studio 2 (Capacity 20) and the Theatre Bar (Capacity 15). Our experienced staff can provide a range of services including catering from
Automatic, sound and lighting by our technicians and full ticket office support. We also offer a range of marketing support to ensure your event is a success. Prices start from just £30. Call 0161 761 7107 or email hires@themet.biz to discuss how we can make your event a success.
mastering, mixing and learning, the studio offers affordable options for all.
Malt
Gallery
This perfectly complements our industry standard ProTools 9 MOTU 24 I/O Core System.
The facility boasts a spacious studio floor plus an isolated booth for recording vocals. Situated in Bury at The Met, Edwin Street Recording Studio is a professional facility featuring state of the art recording equipment and superb acoustics. Perfect for all aspects of recording,
Main Theatre
Our air-conditioned control room is fully equipped with a Toft ATB24 24 Channel console, an excellent selection of microphones and some of the finest outboard equipment available.
The studio offers low pricing for professional and nonprofessional musicians, with sessions starting from
Studio Theatre
Studio 2
Theatre Bar
just £30 per hour or free for those under 19 years. The studio also offers a range of training courses from introduction to sound recording, to training on music software – see the Classes and Workshop page for more information. For more details, to organise a tour, or to book a recording session phone 0161 761 7107 or email info@edwinstreetstudio.com
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at
you can‌
enjoy great food, with great friends, over a cocktail or two. surf on our free wifi while sampling a locally brewed beer from our own brewery. indulge in sunday brunch, relax in our real ale and whisky bar - malt, enjoy tea and cake served by nice people. For more info: automaticcafe.com Table booking advisable on Fridays & Saturdays. Call: 0161 763 9399 to book a table. @automaticcafe
/automaticloungebury
Watch the story unfold:
theclarence.co.uk
Opening soon, on Silver Street in Bury @theclarencebury
/theclarencebury