What’s On Spring & Summer 2015
FAIRPORT CONVENTION SARA WATKINS, SARAH JAROSZ & AOIFE O’DONOVAN MUD MORGANFIELD THE LANCASHIRE HOTPOTS KING PLEASURE AND THE BISCUIT BOYS PEATBOG FAERIES TERRY CHRISTIAN JON RONSON
The Met, Market St, Bury BL9 0BW | 0161 761 2216 | www.themet.biz
Welcome
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o far we’ve had an exciting year at The Met with our sold out Big Whistle Festival and a huge number of great gigs and thrilling theatre. Combine this with our exciting plans for a Better Met and Bury’s new Purple Flag accreditation for a healthy evening economy, we hope even more of you will come and support our small thriving venue through the spring and summer months. As ever many of the shows listed in the brochure are already on sale. Our Friends of The Met have had priority access to some events so please don’t delay in booking tickets if you see something you like. We were delighted to win Best Entertainment Venue at the Greater Manchester Tourism Awards in December and plan to build on this to continue to develop great events, workshops and festivals for you to enjoy. Coming up is some great theatre for children and grown ups alike with the thrilling Les Enfants Terrible who return with Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs and Box of Tricks’ Plastic Figurines. There’s even something for childish grown ups amongst us with John Hegley, Norsesome and From the Cradle to the Bin. We’re very excited to have some fantastic collaborations from artists loved by audiences in their own right with Boo Hewerdine and Kris Drever and the I’m With Her tour. Ross and Jarlath also return following sellout gigs at Big Whistle Festival 2014 and 2015.
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Duke Special, ESKA, Inner Vision Orchestra, Monsieur Doumani, The East Pointers and April Verch Band all make a first visit to Bury on the back of growing international reputation and album releases whilst we extend a welcoming hand to artists profiled previously at Ramsbottom Festival including Otis Gibbs, Moreland & Arbuckle and Eliza Carthy. All of this, our community projects in partnership with Bury Council and weekly workshops for those wanting to try something different within the performing arts are only possible because of support from our funders and partners. Sponsorship and public funding from Bury Council and Arts Council England allows The Met to try things, take risks and keep developing. We hope you will join us for some new experiences and treats in the coming months.
Contents Theatre
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Comedy
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Kids & Families
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Music
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David Agnew, Artistic Director
Classes & Workshops !8
Visitor Information !9 Timetable of events @0
Support us
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he Met is a much loved venue, but our 165 year-old building is starting to show its age. We want to refurbish and improve the building, to create an exciting and vibrant space for you and for artists, while retaining The Met’s unique character. We’re calling this project A Better Met, and for the past three years we’ve been working hard behind-the-scenes to make it happen. Transforming the building will cost £4.6 million, of which we’ve already raised £4.1 million.
We need your help to find the final £500,000.
How can you help? The best way to help is by making a donation. You can donate on our website, by text (to send £5 right now text BMAA01 £5 to 70070), at our ticket office or at an event (look out for the red buckets). Every penny helps. We’ve been overwhelmed by the support for the project so far and with almost 90% of our fundraising target already achieved, we hope you’ll join us in the final push to create a brilliant venue for arts and music in Bury.
Let’s be Friends
Becoming a Friend of The Met is the key to unlocking the incredible programme of music, comedy, theatre and family shows at The Met. Our Friends enjoy a huge range of benefits from saving money on each ticket purchase to exclusive behind-the-scenes access to The Met.
Experience more…
• Invitations to Artistic
Director David Agnew’s choice of events of the season
• Advance season brochure •
with an introduction from David Agnew
Invitations to VIP and exclusive Friends’ events
Access more….
• 24 hour priority booking by email for all new events • Dedicated booking phone line 10am-5pm Monday-Friday • Access to the Ramsbottom Festival VIP area with a standard priced ticket
• Regular updates on our upcoming renovation A • tour of the new building before the official opening • Seasonal newsletter
Save more….
• No booking or exchange fees • 10% off food at Automatic
Choose from an Individual Friendship for £30 or a Joint Friendship for two people at the same address for £50.
To become a Friend call the Box Office on 0161 761 2216, go online at www.themet.biz and click on Let’s be Friends or come into The Met in person.
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Theatre Experience theatre at The Met with our Theatre Special Offer. 20% off tickets for any 3 marked shows.
Plastic Figurines Box of Tricks Theatre Company Wednesday 22 April 8pm £10 / £6 concession Rose loves her brother Mikey. Mikey loves Rose, Bruce Willis films and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles but he hates change. When their mum is diagnosed with leukaemia, their world is plunged into chaos. Rose returns home to find a very different brother to when she left. But today is his eighteenth birthday and Rose wants everything to be perfect but life with Mikey isn’t ever that simple. Inspired by events in the playwright’s own life, Plastic Figurines is a funny and moving new play that explores the relationship between siblings with very different views of the world. Recently nominated for a Manchester Theatre Award, Box of Tricks is a theatre company committed to the next generation of new writing. Playwright Ella Carmen Greenhill is a former writer-on-attachment at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and Paines Plough. “A theatre company to watch” The Stage
Norsesome
Norsesome
Temple Theatre
Wednesday 6 May 7.30pm / £10 / £8 concession All the greatest Viking myths in one unforgettable hour. Randy gods, psychotic giants and murderous elves face off in the show to end all shows – with the end of the world guaranteed. From the adventures of Thor to the outrageous pranks of Loki, every story from Norse mythology is packed into this unforgettable hour. Mixing comedy, music, drama and an unhealthy amount of cross-dressing, international award winners Temple Theatre bring you Valhalla-va show. Not suitable for anyone under 12 or the faint-hearted!
Plastic Figurines
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r 0161 761 2216 q www.themet.biz New Dawn Fades
Gin and Chronic Arthritis
From the Cradle to the Bin
New Dawn Fades
A play about Joy Division and Manchester Wednesday 20 May 8pm £16 / £14 concession New Dawn Fades is the story of a band, it’s also the story of a city. Join ‘Mr Manchester’ Anthony H. Wilson as he takes you on a journey of myth and magic through the history of the world’s first industrial city, meeting the people who emerged from that landscape to form one of Manchester and the world’s most iconic bands – Joy Division. Written by Brian Gorman; Directed by Sarah Van Parys; Produced by Giles Bastow and Brian Gorman for All Roads Meet Ltd.
From the Cradle Gin and Chronic to the Bin Arthritis Ship of Fools Theatre Company
MaD Community Theatre Co
Thursday 4 June 8pm £10 / £6 concession
Wed 24 & Thu 25 June 7.30pm £12 / £10 concession
Mr Whitey, an affable English gent, spends his final days living on the edge of a broken care system. We meet inept carers, sneering owners, money hungry family members and a host of others who are sure to make his end a memorable one.
Marilyn is not your typical Nanna. She drinks Gin for breakfast, ice skates every Tuesday and has numerous internet lovers. When one of these men, Wheelchair Barry takes her to a psychic night at the local pub Marilyn gets a message from her childhood sweetheart from beyond the grave. She is over the moon but Barry is consumed with jealousy.
From the Cradle to the Bin is a hilarious odyssey about being thrown onto life’s scrap heap. By creating an outrageously funny and dark world it reveals an unsettling commentary on the reality of care and neglect within our society. “A beautifully executed show... joyful, raw, profoundly moving and excruciatingly funny.” Esther Wilson, writer of The Accused and The Street
MaD Community Theatre Company work with disadvantaged young people and adults, offering accreditation and employment and performing original plays. Gin and Chronic Arthritis is one of their best loved comedies.
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Comedy John Hegley Terry New and Selected Potatoes Christian Friday 24 April 8pm £14 / £8 under 16s
John Hegley has been performing publicly since the ‘70s, having produced ten books of verse and prose the UK’s favourite performance poet, comedian and musician hits the road once again, mandolin in hand.
The Naked Confessions of a Recovering Catholic Friday 15 May 8pm £14 / £12 concession
From the streets of inner-city Manchester to the boulevards of Beverly Hills, Terry Christian’s debut Performing pieces old and new, sung stand-up show takes a snapshot and spoken John meditates on family, of life, overlooked by an all-seeing, celery and happier Daleks. Light and and often unforgiving, God. This is a lyrical. Deep and daft. Come and sing. hilarious romp through the guiltridden, and occasionally dark, realms of life. He delivers an honest, funny and sometimes profound stand-up performance.
Jonny and the Baptists Rock The Vote Friday 24 April 8pm / £10
Special offer: £5 first time voters (aged 18-23 on election night) Multi-award nominees and stars of Radio 4’s Now Show and Infinite Monkey Cage, Jonny and the Baptists take on the big issues ahead of the May 2015 general election with songs, satire and silliness.
Jon Ronson An Evening of Public Shaming Friday 22 May 8pm £16 / £14 concession
Hilarious and powerful in the way only Jon Ronson can be, An Evening of Public Shaming is an illustrated one-man show about the renaissance of public shaming, and our very scary And with politicians now officially part in it. It’s a story about how we’ve ranked below estate agents in the become soldiers in a war on human public’s trust, it’s a desperate bid to nature – and how there’s been an find at least one good reason to vote. escalation in hostilities.
An evening with
Gervase Phinn
Wednesday 27 May 8pm / £17.50 A best-selling author, radio and TV personality, Gervaise Phinn has been touring the country for over 10 years and really is at his best in front of a live audience. An Evening with Gervase Phinn will have you on the edge of your seat, as he shares his hilarious tales of life as a schools inspector in the Yorkshire Dales.
300 to One Matt Panesh
Thursday 28 May 8pm £10 / £6 concession In “the oddest, but the most engaged show commemorating the First World War” The Scotsman, a schoolboy re-enacts the film 300 to the ghosts of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon. In turns hilarious and heartbreaking, a truly original one man comedy show.
Gervase Phinn
John Hegley Jonny & the Baptists
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Terry Christian Jon Ronson
Matt Panesh
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“The Spinal Tap of folk bands” Paddy McGuinness “It’s impossible not to giggle” BBC Music Reviews
The Lancashire Hotpots A Fistful Of Scratchcards Tour 2015 Saturday 4 July 8pm / £14 / standing Listen up cowboys and girls, comedy troubadours The Lancashire Hotpots are donning their stetsons and saddling up their horses to bring you an evening of music, comedy and a bit of the Wild Wild West.
Expect all your usual favourites including Chippy Tea, Shopmobility Scooter as well as a rootin’ tootin’ country and western hoedown. Yee haw!
First Thursday Comedy Club Top comedy at The Met on the first Thursday of every month First Thursday …in April First Thursday …in June Thursday 2 April 8.30pm £8 advance / £10 door A Liverpool Special with three Scouse comedians: Jamie Sutherland, Paul Savage and Nige. Plus Britain’s best blind comedian Wizzy Janew.
First Thursday …in May Thursday 7 May 8.30pm £8 advance / £10 door An Edinburgh Fringe special featuring Ali Cook and Daliso Chaponda. Daliso started his comedy career in Canada before touring South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Malawi as well as the UK circuit and festivals around the world.
Thu 4 June 8.30pm / £8 advance / £10 door Continuing the Edinburgh Fringe theme First Thursday welcomes Doug Segal. Doug is a mental illusionist with a sense of humour, known from Holland to Japan for his unique mind reading magic.
First Thursday …in July Thursday 2 July 8.30pm £8 advance / £10 door Inept hospital radio DJ Ivan Brackenbury has appeared on Radio 1, Virgin and GLR. Psychic Ian D Montfort combines the trickery of stage mediums with comedic flair to debunk their techniques.
Nige
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Kids & Families
Music Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman
Captain Flinn and The Pirate Dinosaurs Les Petits Theatre Company Saturday 4 April 3pm & 5pm / £10 Join Flinn as he discovers a Pirate hiding in a cupboard, hold on tight as the cupboard vanishes and he tumbles into a real life adventure! All aboard for a non-stop action packed theatrical experience with live music, puppetry, physical performance and dastardly dinosaurs! Based on the award-winning book by Giles Andreae and Russell Ayto.
The Lost Carnival Friday 22-Monday 25 May 4pm-9pm Burrs Country Park, Bury / £10 / FREE for under 3s Families of the North, prepare yourselves. Over a century after the mysterious Lost Carnival was last heard of, news has reached our ears that in May it will reappear near Bury…
incredible carnival, the most enchanting in the world, suddenly stopped touring in its heyday, under suspicious and mysterious circumstances.
The carnival is The content of the event will remain shrouded in mystery until coming back, but can the families of the North the audience step inside the help it to ward off past big top, but families can expect spellbinding theatre, circus, music dangers and bring it back to its former glory? and visual trickery. All that has been revealed so far is that an
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For more information and tickets visit www.thelostcarnival.org.uk
Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman Supported by Hattie Briggs
Thursday 2 April 8pm £14 / £12 concession / Folk Two of the British folk scene’s most accomplished performers, Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman have graced stages the world over. The intimacy and strength of passion they have as a duo, combined with their eclectic repertoire ensures a rare treat.
Jaywalkers Supported by Little Rach Friday 3 April 8pm £12 / £10 concession / Folk Jaywalkers are one of the most exciting, virtuosic and entertaining young bands working on the British Folk scene. Creating a unique sound, the band takes influence from folk, country, bluegrass, and western swing music in the form of virtuosic instrumentals, 3-part harmony and impressive slap bass.
r 0161 761 2216 q www.themet.biz Mad Dog Mcrea
King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys
Jaywalkers
RANT
Thursday 9 April 8pm £10 / £8 concession / Folk
RANT is the meeting of four of Scotland’s finest fiddle players, two from the Shetland Islands and two from the Highlands. Bethany Reid, Jenna Reid, Sarah-Jane Summers and Lauren MacColl join forces to create a rich and vibrant sound. They made their debut performance in July 2012, storming onto the scene and immediately earning high praise. Using just their fiddles, they weave a tapestry of melodies, textures, layers and sounds.
Mad Dog Mcrea
Absolution
Friday 10 April 8pm £14 seated / £10 standing / Folk
Absolution have thrilled audiences across the UK, including a set at the Great British Rock and Blues Festival. Known for their high energy shows and featuring three top musicians including both an award-winning guitarist and drummer, this modern blues power trio are fast becoming one of the must see blues rock acts on the UK circuit.
Friday 10 April 8.30pm £12 / £10 concession / Blues
Mad Dog Mcrea blend a unique mixture of folk rock, pop, gypsy jazz and bluegrass music. From selfpenned songs of adventure, drinking, love and life, to traditional songs of gypsies, fairies, and legless pirates, Mad Dog Mcrea never fail to grip you with their infectious songs. “This is rowdy, heartfelt, room shaking, spirit-stirring music that only the dead can’t enjoy.” Itdstate.com
King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys Saturday 11 April 8pm £15 seated / £12 standing / Jazz
King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys are more than just the world’s greatest swing band, they are an institution. BBC Radio 2’s RANT Paul Jones called them “the hardest act to follow since the parting of The Red Sea”, New York’s Atomic Magazine wrote “To those who say that swing is a musical form best left to Americans, prepare to be proven wrong. This British combo is bullet-proof!”
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Music Bob Fox
Duke Special Before Supported by She Makes War
Thursday 16 April 8pm £12.50 advance / Rock and pop Vaudeville-styled bohemian singer Duke Special (aka Peter Wilson) cuts a striking figure on stage, often performing alone with only his piano and old squeaky gramophone for accompaniment. Duke is currently finishing off his next studio album Look Out Machines due for release in 2015.
Bob Fox An evening with the War Horse Songman
Friday 17 April 8pm £14 / £12 concession / Folk Bob Fox has played the role of songman in War Horse for the past three years. Join him as he performs the songs from the multi award winning smash hit show, with additional material from his own personal repertoire – a number of stories and songs built up from his forty year career in the music industry.
the Dawn A tribute to Kate Bush Saturday 18 April 8pm £12 / Rock and pop Before the Dawn mix Kate’s best love songs such as Running Up That Hill, and Wuthering Heights with classic album tracks to create a fantastic track-list. As well as amazing music Before the Dawn perform in front of a stunning video wall wearing replica costumes of some of Kate’s most iconic looks in order to produce a highly visual show.
Before the Dawn
Kris Drever & Boo Hewerdine Thursday 23 April 8pm / £14 / Folk Two of the nation’s busiest and most in demand songwriters, guitarists, label mates and musical friends Kris and Boo are touring together for the very first time in 2015. They have been connected through song for almost a decade and found time to write new material together in 2014. A Mr Kite Benefit. SO
Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz & Aoife O’Donovan LD
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Kris Drever and Boo Hewerdine
I’m With Her Tour Saturday 25 April 8pm £19 / Americana
Duke Special
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Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan have crossed paths many times throughout their careers – so it comes as no surprise that, after an impromptu performance at the 2014 Telluride Bluegrass Festival, all the pieces fell into place for these three acclaimed musicians to collaborate. A Mr Kite Benefit.
I’m With Her
r 0161 761 2216 q www.themet.biz Bella Hardy
Bella Hardy Thursday 30 April 8pm £16 / £14 concession / Folk Bella Hardy, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Singer of the Year 2014, tours her eagerly anticipated new album With The Dawn; a heartfelt collection of self-composed songs.
Christina Martin
With roots firmly within the folk tradition, songs written straight from the heart, and bold steps into a new world of sound and expression, this is a performance not to be missed.
Christina Martin Supported by Vinny Peculiar
Thursday 30 April 8pm £10 / Americana Canadian singer-songwriter Christina Martin blends alt-country and rock with a pop-sensibility. Her fifth album It’ll Be Alright is a place where the ghosts of her musical heroes freely mingle with pop-rock’s modern architects. The album’s brilliance is its seamless blend of the past and present. This is her most accomplished but also most accessible album to date. “Martin’s voice is lovely; powerful and emotive and bang on the note....“ Maverick Magazine
Inner Vision Orchestra Saturday 2 May 8pm / £12 / £10 concession / World Music Inner Vision Orchestra are the UK’s only blind orchestra who, in the last three years, have toured extensively with some of the orchestra members performing at the London 2012 Paralympics Closing Ceremony. Their music moves with ease between songs from Iran, Lebanon, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria, and from soulful Gospel and Blues to sublime Indian Ragas and Western Classical compositions.
The Young’uns Thursday 7 May 8pm / £12 / Folk The Young’uns perform without set-lists, relying on infallible instinct and their unique rapport with audiences to deliver a killer show. The Teesside trio may have established their fast-growing reputation in the folk world with sublime a cappella harmonies. They are a force of nature on stage, beguiling audiences with irrepressible humour, bold vocals, gripping storylines and innate musicality.
ESKA
Inner Vision Orchestra
Friday 1 May 8pm £14 / £12 concession / Folk
ESKA is a Zimbabwe-born and London-raised composer whose vocal arrangements have credits on three Mercury-nominated albums.
The Young’uns
In her debut EP, Gatekeeper, ESKA’s weaves together a diverse range of musical elements. She combines folk, soul, psychedelica and electronica alongside stirring lyrics traversing church scenes and rituals to create her unique sound.
ESKA
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Music Mud Morganfield Friday 8 May 8pm / £16 / Blues
Blueflint
Jean Genie
Thursday 14 May 8pm / £10 / Folk
The best of David Bowie
Blueflint’s sound is defined by the sublime close harmonies of Deborah Arnott and Clare Neilson whose voices are accompanied by a fivepiece line-up intertwining banjos, fiddle, piano, electric guitar, doublebass and drums.
Saturday 16 May 8.30pm £12 / standing / Rock and pop
Mud Morganfield, the eldest son of the undisputed King of the Blues Muddy Waters, has for the last three years been delivering his charismatic Chicago blues to audiences from around the world. His shows are a blend of his dad’s classic songs and his own original music, a fitting show for the official centenary of his father’s birth.
They produce raw, honest and beautifully-crafted songs, imbued with a strong alt-folk flavour. Their third album Stories from Home is being released in 2015.
Ross & Jarlath
James Grant
Saturday 9 May 8pm £14 / £12 concession / Folk
Saturday 16 May 8pm / £14 / £12 concession / Rock and pop
BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominated Ross Ainslie and BBC Young Musician Award winner Jarlath Henderson have spent years writing and performing as a duo. They released their debut album Partners in Crime, a groundbreaking fusion of Border and Uilleann pipes, in 2008 to major critical acclaim. And after a four year break they have released their second album Air-Fix.
Widely regarded as one of the finest singer-songwriters and performers around, Love And Money frontman James Grant plays material from all his critically acclaimed solo albums and a smattering of the old favourites in a solo acoustic setting. This is a show not to be missed, raw, heart-rending and uplifting. As MOJO says, “This is music from another place...”
David Bowie has been a major figure in popular culture for over four decades, renowned as a singer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist, producer and actor. Jean Genie has performed as a David Bowie tribute act for a number of years and has even played with David Bowie’s band from the 1970s The Spiders from Mars. He has performed in a number of Bowie’s guises but these days he prides himself on the quality of his singing voice, mannerisms and overall style of David Bowie. Fans can expect to hear all the hits such as Starman, Lets Dance and Rebel Rebel.
Mud Morganfield
Blueflint Jean Genie
James Grant
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Ross & Jarlath
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Peatbog Faeries
Eliza Carthy & Tim Eriksen Thursday 28 May 8pm £16 / £14 concession / Folk
Thursday 21 May 8pm £16 / standing / Folk Hailing from the Isle of Skye, the Peatbog Faeries are the figurehead trailblazers of the Celtic Dance Music renaissance. Drawing on influences from traditional jigs and reels through jazz, hip hop and reggae, they take traditional Scottish music and bring it freshfaced and breathless into the 21st century. This is high octane Celtic dance music as you’ve never heard it before. Be prepared to dance.
Mostly Autumn Sat 23 May 8.15pm / £15 advance £16 door / standing / Rock & pop Award winning Mostly Autumn’s musical palette is diverse, drawing on influences from the golden age of rock, whilst developing their own unique sound. Their latest album Dressed in Voices explores the dark concept of a killer forced to witness the weight of all he is taking away.
Peatbog Faeries
Eliza Carthy is one of the most engaging folk performers of her generation. Tim Eriksen is acclaimed for his startling interpretations of American traditional music.
April Verch Band Sunday 24 May 8pm £12 / £10 concession / Folk April Verch has never sounded more comfortable in her skin than she does now, in the second decade of her career as an internationally touring Canadian fiddler, step dancer and singer-songwriter. April and her band, Hayes Griffin (guitar) and Cody Walterson (uprightelectric bass/banjo) are respected as consummate performers with their sheer instrumental virtuosity, their charm, humour and their boundless energy on stage.
They come together with their new album Bottle, mixing material from both sides of the pond.
Chuck Prophet Saturday 30 May 8pm £18 / standing / Rock and pop Chuck Prophet shapes his restless career with inimitable subtle flair: a vivid parade of razor-edged oneliners camouflaged in a slack-jawed drawl and songs about heartbreak and everyman heroism. His solo career has consisted of a series of brilliant records. His last release Temple Beautiful, was a love letter to his adopted home town of San Francisco. A Mr Kite Benefit.
Eliza Carthy
Tim Eriksen Chuck Prophet
Mostly Autumn
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Music Monsieur Doumani
Presented by Smaller Rooms Touring and Songlines Encounters Wednesday 3 June 8pm £10 / World Music
Monsieur Doumani focus on enriching traditional Cypriot songs with new arrangements, melodies, rhythms and sounds as well as composing their own songs in the Cypriot dialect inspired by contemporary Cypriot society.
Monsieur Doumani
Their debut album Grippy Grappa gained them a nomination for Best Newcomer in the Songlines Music Awards 2014.
Fairport Convention Friday 5 June 8pm / £22 / Folk
Fairport Convention Whole Lotta Led
After nearly 50 years on the road Fairport Convention, the originators of British folk-rock music, remain one of the most entertaining bands on the live music scene.
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Friday 12 June 8pm £16 / £14 concession / Folk Comprising three of Britain’s finest musicians each member of this trio is a virtuoso in their own right. Nancy Kerr has been a major part of the acoustic music scene since a teenager and has always been a distinctive and impressive talent. Andy Cutting is an extraordinary musician, a master of the diatonic accordion and other squeezeboxes. Martin Simpson is a multi-award winning musician and a worldrenowned performer.
Whole Lotta Led
A tribute to Led Zeppelin Sat 13 June 8pm / £15 advance £13 advance concession / £18 door Rock and pop
This tour features all five members of Now in their nineteenth year Whole Fairport, presenting a more intimate Lotta Led are the UK’s leading take on the band’s repertoire. They tribute to Led Zeppelin. This show will showcase new songs from their will see the band featuring songs 2015 album Myths And Heroes and from Led Zeppelin’s acclaimed favourites from their back catalogue. double album, Physical Graffiti, which is celebrating its fortieth Matt Owens anniversary, plus Thursday 11 June 8pm / £10 / Jazz other classics.
Aviators’ Ball
Aviators’ Ball
Andy Cutting, Nancy Kerr and Martin Simpson
Matt Owens has been a long time component of Manchester’s vibrant music scene. He has released his debut album, The Aviators’ Ball, which incorporates jazz, world, classical and folk music. Owens set out to create an album where simple melodies would be enriched by using differing textures and arrangements and which would absorb listeners from start to finish.
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The East Pointers
Rock Choir Concert
Thursday 18 June 8pm £12 / Folk
A Better Met fundraiser
The East Pointers are three young men whose talent and penchant for traditional Celtic tunes of decades past greatly belie their respective ages. And while each member of the freshly formed trio is an accomplished musician in his own right, their recent union is a testament to their shared output being, to borrow a common adage, greater than the sum of its parts.
This popular amateur contemporary choir sing their own arrangements of pop, motown and chart hits.
Chris Wood Presented by Smaller Rooms Touring
Friday 19 June 8pm £14 / £12 concession / Folk Multi-award winning Chris Wood’s love of small things has made him one of England’s most vivid and arresting songwriters. His fourth solo album None The Wiser was released in Spring 2013. With humble hymns and sweeping statements from Alzheimers to William Blake, Wood lovingly takes the pulse of his homeland. “Wood is one of our finest songwriters” The independent Andy Cutting, Nancy Kerr & Martin Simpson
The East Pointers
Sat 20 June 8pm / £10 / Rock and pop
Robin and Bina Williamson Thursday 25 June 8pm / £12 / Folk Robin and Bina Williamson draw on a wide variety of original and traditional songs, stories and music from Celtic, English and Indian roots. Robin is a renowned musician, storyteller and writer whilst Bina is an inspired and gifted singersongwriter and multi instrumentalist. Their performances feature their East West vocal harmonies with harp, bowed psaltery dulcimer and a diverse range of other instruments.
U2 2 A tribute to U2
Chris Wood Robin & Bina Williamson
Sat 27 June 8pm / £11 advance £12 door / Rock and pop Formed in 1993, U2 2 are the world’s longest running U2 tribute show, and have performed over 1000 shows across three continents. U2 fans can expect to hear the biggest U2 songs from every album.
U2 2
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Music Moreland & Arbuckle
Edwina Hayes
Otis Gibbs
Metro Jazz
Swing into Summer Friday 3 July 8pm / £5 / Jazz Swing into Summer with Metro Jazz, The Met’s community jazz orchestra led by renowned sax man Munch Manship. The band will be performing music that evokes the sound of summer, perfect for a July evening.
Chris and Kellie While Wednesday 8 July 8pm £14 / £12 concession / Folk Whenever you hear two superb vocalists sing together, it’s a great experience, but mother/daughter duo Chris and Kellie have a completely innate vocal synchronicity. They are considered two of Britain’s finest singer-songwriters and guitarists and their second album Too Few Songs has received widespread acclaim.
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Moreland & Arbuckle
Edwina Hayes
Saturday 11 July 8pm £12 standing / £14 seated / Blues
Edwina’s beautifully written songs, charming stage presence and voice of an angel have won her a reputation as a true natural talent of gentle folk-americana on both sides of the Atlantic. She has opened shows for Jools Holland and Van Morrison and toured with artists ranging from Loudon Wainwright to KT Tunstall as well as her own gigs, playing stages everywhere from Glastonbury Festival to The Royal Albert Hall.
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, sharing stages with a number of blues and rock veterans. In the process they have forged a relentless and haunting sound that merges Delta blues, folk, rock, traditional country and soul.
Otis Gibbs
Friday 17 July 8pm £12 / Rock and pop
Coming Soon
Thu 16 July 8.30pm / £12 advance £14 door / Americana
Spooky Men’s Chorale 2 Sept
Met and Ramsbottom Festival favourite Otis Gibbs has spent the last seventeen years travelling across America and has a story to share about each stop along the way. As honest and authentic as it gets, this Nashville singer and songwriter has planted 7,176 trees in his lifetime, slept in hobo jungles, walked with Romanian shepherds and wrestled a bear (he lost). His songs tell brutally realistic stories of the struggle to survive in contemporary America.
IQ 26 September
Houghton Weavers 24 Sept Vonda Shepard 9 October China Crisis 30 October Beverley Craven 6 November Judie Tzuke 12 November
Spooky Men’s Chorale
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Ramsbottom Folk Club Top quality folk music every month at Ramsbottom Cricket Club
Bandersnatch Wednesday 15 April 8pm / £8 Bandersnatch have created a distinctive style within the folk, roots and acoustic genre with a blend of great harmonies and wonderful musical arrangements. The band move seamlessly from traditional to contemporary and self-penned material with a repertoire ranging from gentle ballads to driving, rhythmical folk-rock and blues.
Louise Jordan Wednesday 13 May 8pm / £5 Louise Jordan tells tales of universal human experience. Questioning yet reflective she uses simple subject matter to create songs of striking intensity and undeniable familiarity. Louise plays guitar, piano and cello but it is her voice which is most often celebrated as the pinnacle of her sound: captivating, powerful and evocative.
The Hut People Wednesday 10 June 8pm / £10 The Hut People are gaining a reputation as one of the most entertaining acts on the folk scene. In their surprisingly engaging and often hilarious show, they perform a high-octane blend
of folk music from around the world embellished with foot stomping accordion, a mind-boggling array of exotic percussion and a bit of dancing thrown in for good measure.
Desi Friel and Musaic Wednesday 15 July 8pm / £8 Desi Friel is an articulate and sensitive singer and songwriter. Having been playing professionally since the age of sixteen, Desi is a well seasoned folk club performer. He recently played the opening of the Irish Film Festival in Manchester and at Cornerhouse. He will be performing tracks from new album The Knowing of You.
Mr Kite Benefits at Fox Lane Sports & Social Club, Leyland
Phil Beer Sunday 3 May £14 adv / £16 door
Sunday 10 May
£13 adv / £15 door
Cahalen Morrison and Eli West Slaid Cleaves Thursday 4 June
£14 adv / £16 door
Tickets available from The Met on 0161 761 2216
Steve Turner Wed 12 August 8pm / £8 Steve Turner began his career on the Manchester folk scene at the end of the sixties, playing and touring as a member of Geordie band Canny Fettle, then nationally and internationally throughout the ‘80s as a solo professional performer. A multiinstrumentalist, he is known as a pioneer of sophisticated English concertina song accompaniments, with one of the best voices in the business.
Tickets on sale in advance from The Met or on the night at Ramsbottom Cricket Club
Friday 18, Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 September 2015 Ramsbottom Cricket Club
Information and tickets www.ramsbottomfestival.com
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Classes and Workshops Metro Jazz Every Monday 6.30-9.30pm from 13 April / £80 term / £55 concession The Met’s community jazz orchestra led by Munch Manship. Ages 16+.
Harmonica Six sessions starting 11 May, 18 May, then alternative Mondays Beginners 5.30pm Beginners continued 6.45pm Intermediate/Advanced 8pm £34 term / £26 term concession Courses in harmonica for all levels, Led by musician Mat Walklate.
Rock Choir Every Monday 7.30-10pm starting Monday 20 April The most well-known contemporary choir with groups across Britain. If you enjoy singing and would like to experience the buzz of a Rock Choir rehearsal firsthand, book your free taster for Rock Choir Bury online at www.rockchoir.com.
Sing Alternate Wednesdays 7.30-9pm starting Wednesday 22 April / £5 Sing gives you the chance to enjoy group harmony singing and experience all kinds of songs. 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.
Guitar Workshop Alternate Wednesdays 7.30-9pm starting Wednesday 15 April / £15 Guitar tuition for all levels. Equipment supplied. Ages 13+. Advance booking only. Contact Paul on 0773 8009737 or visit www.proguitartuition.co.uk.
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Bury Youth Theatre Every Wednesday in term / Starts 22 April BYT Minis 5-8 years / 4.30-5.30pm / £2 per session Juniors 9-13 yrs / 5.30-7pm / £3 Seniors 14+ / 7-8.30pm / £3
Aiming High Every Saturday in term from 18 April Juniors 9-13s / 10-11.30am / £3 Seniors 14-18s / 11.30-1.30pm / £4 Arts and drama sessions for young people suffering from mental and physical disabilities. Supported by Bury Council Children’s Services, BBC Children in Need and The Met.
Drama sessions led by Marc Young and Sammy Deas. Explore creativity while developing team building skills, Every Saturday 11-1pm from 11 April voice projection and confidence. £5 / £3 concession / £2 under 16s
Bloco Ashê
Parent and Toddler Dance
Every Thursday 10.30-11.30am / Starts 23 April / £2.50 per toddler
A welcoming percussive group playing samba influenced grooves and beats. Call 01204 882201.
Inspire Community Voices
Weekly workshops for 1-4 year olds and their families. Everyone is welcome. Alternate Sats 2-4pm from 11 April £5 / £3 unemployed / £1 under 16s
Fiddle & Tin Whistle Workshops
An a capella, multi harmony community choir for all ages and abilities. Contact hello@inspirevoices.co.uk.
Every Thu from 21 May for 6 weeks £42 / £34 concession per course £75 / £60 concession for both Tin Whistle 7-8pm / Fiddle 8-9pm
Stagecoach
Two six-week workshops exploring play-by-ear fiddle and tin whistle playing, tutored by acclaimed folk musician Emma Sweeney.
Dance, drama and singing for 4-18 years olds. For information contact Ruth Mauriello on 0161 763 6161 or visit www.stagecoach.co.uk/bury.
Every Sunday 10am-1pm
Bury Youth Dance Company Street Dance and Contemporary Dance
All abilities welcome. Led by Claire Fildes. Ages 10-17. £2.50 per class or £2 if you attend both / Payments per term Spring term / Tuesday 21 April - Tuesday 19 May 5 weeks / one class for £12.50 or £20 for both Summer term / Tuesday 2 June - Tuesday 14 July 7 weeks / one class for £17.50 or £28 for both
Street Dance
Contemporary Dance
Tuesdays in term 5-5.45pm
Tuesdays in term 5.45-7.15pm
Learn and practise stunts and moves then choreograph them into a slick street dance routine.
Practice and learn Contemporary Dance working towards innovative performances in alternative spaces.
Visitor Information Getting Here The Met is located in the centre of Bury, easily accessible by road and public transport. For directions visit www.themet.biz/location
Ticket Booking • By phone from 0161 761 2216 • Online via www.themet.biz • In person Tuesday to Friday
12-7pm / Saturday 11am-5pm
• Concessions available for
children, people over 60, on benefits or in education. Refunds We are unable to offer refunds. Ticket exchange may be possible with a £2 admin fee. A transaction fee of £2.50 is payable on phone and online bookings. There is no fee for bookings in person.
• •
Edwin Street Recording Studio Edwin Street is a professional recording facility featuring state of the art equipment and superb acoustics. Perfect for all aspects of recording, mastering, mixing and learning, the studio offers affordable options for all.
Access The Met is a fully accessible venue, on both its ground and first floors.
• The entrance is fully ramped
with a lift to the main theatre and an accessible toilet built to Changing Places standards. We have staff on hand to help. Should you require a personal escort, we can supply that person with a free ticket. 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.
• •
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We want your visit to The Met to be a first class experience. If you have any special requirements call us on 0161 761 2216 to let us know, and we’ll do our best to help.
Volunteer
Hire The Met For performances, conferences, meetings and exhibitions, our spaces are as versatile as your needs. Our experienced staff and professional facilities take the hassle out of your event:
• Sound and lighting by experienced stage technicians • Ticket sales through our friendly ticket office • Fully licensed bar • High quality catering from the expert chefs of Automatic • Marketing advice and support
We welcome promotions by bands, amateur and professional groups, and independent event promoters. Call 0161 761 7107 or email hires@themet.biz to discuss your requirements.
Food & Drink Start your evening with a meal at The Met and end it with a drink in one of our candle lit bars.
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 Scarlet Ordish at scarlet.ordish@themet.biz or call on 0161 761 7107.
Eat in our restaurant Automatic, serving fine food all day.
The Met is operated by Bury Metropolitan Arts Association a registered charity (No 701879).
We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders and sponsors:
Sessions start from just £30 per hour, or free for under 19s living or studying in Bury.
Address The Met, Market Street, Bury, Greater Manchester, BL9 0BW
For more details or to book a session phone 0161 761 7107 or email info@edwinstreetstudio.com
Tickets 0161 761 2216
Sample real ales and a selection of fine whiskeys in our foyer bar Malt. Our first floor Theatre Bar opens before, during and after each show. To book a table for your meal, call Automatic on 0161 763 9399.
Admin 0161 761 7107
email post@themet.biz
web http://themet.biz
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Timetable of events APRIL
Fri 22 8pm page
Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman 8
Thu 2
8pm
Thu 2
8.30pm First Thursday Comedy Club
Fri 3
8pm
Sat 4
3pm Captain Flinn and & 5pm The Pirate Dinosaurs
Thu 9
9 8pm Mad Dog Mcrea 9 8.30pm Absolution 9 8pm King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys 9
Fri 10 Fri 10 Sat 11
8pm
Jaywalkers
7 8 8
RANT
Wed 15 8pm
RFC: Bandersnatch
Thu 16 8pm
Duke Special
Fri 17 8pm
Bob Fox: War Horse Songman
Sat 18 8pm
Before The Dawn
Wed 22 8pm
Plastic Figurines
Thu 23 8pm
Kris Drever and Boo Hewerdine
Fri 24 8pm
John Hegley
Fri 24 8pm
Jonny and The Baptists
Sat 25 8pm
Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan
Thu 30 8pm
Bella Hardy
Thu 30 8pm
Christina Martin
Fri 1
8pm
ESKA
8pm
Inner Vision Orchestra
Wed 6 7.30pm Norsesome Thu 7
8pm
The Young’uns
Thu 7
8.30pm First Thursday Comedy Club
Fri 8
8pm
Mud Morganfield
Sat 9
8pm
Ross and Jarlath
Wed 13 8pm
RFC: Louise Jordan
Thu 14 8pm
Blueflint
Fri 15 8pm
Terry Christian
Sat 16 8pm
James Grant
Sat 16 8.30pm Jean Genie Wed 20 8pm
New Dawn Fades
Thu 21 8pm
Peatbog Faeries
Sun 24 8pm
April Verch Band
Wed 27 8pm
Gervase Phinn
Thu 28 8pm
300 to One and Monkey Poet
Thu 28 8pm
Eliza Carthy and Tim Eriksen
Sat 30 8pm
Chuck Prophet
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JUNE Wed 3 8pm
Monsieur Doumani
Thu 4
From the Cradle to the Bin
8pm
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Thu 4
8.30pm First Thursday Comedy Club
Fri 5
8pm
Wed 10 8pm
RFC: The Hut People
Thu 11 8pm
Matt Owens’ Aviators’ Ball
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Fri 12 8pm
Andy Cutting, Nancy Kerr and Martin Simpson
Sat 13 8pm
Whole Lotta Led
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Thu 18 8pm
The East Pointers
Fri 19 8pm
Chris Wood
Sat 20 8pm
Rock Choir Concert
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MAY Sat 2
Jon Ronson
Sat 23 8.15pm Mostly Autumn
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Fairport Convention
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Wed 24 7.30pm Gin and & Thu 25 Chronic Arthritis
5
Thu 25 8pm
Robin and Bina Williamson
Sat 27 8pm
U2 2
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JULY Thu 2
8.30pm First Thursday Comedy Club
Fri 3
8pm
Metro Jazz
Sat 4
8pm
The Lancashire Hotpots
Wed 8 8pm
Chris and Kellie While
Sat 11 8pm
Moreland and Arbuckle
Wed 15 8pm
RFC: Desi Friel and Musaic
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Edwina Hayes
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RFC: Steve Turner
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Thu 16 8.30pm Otis Gibbs Fri 17 8pm
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AUGUST Wed 12 8pm