May–August 2017
themet.biz 0161 761 2216
Anything can happen at the new Met
Address The Met Market Street Bury BL9 0BW Phone Ticket office: 0161 761 2216 Administration: 0161 761 7107 Restaurant: 0161 763 9399 Email info@themet.org.uk Website themet.biz Social L themet F metbury I metbury
Learning Festivals
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Recording
From folk to fantasy... From stand-up to soul... From disco to desserts... Welcome to the new Met. This season our programme is bursting with excellent shows and opportunities to join in with exciting and enriching arts activities. From hands on at Big Whistle Festival to stepping in with a blues dance workshop, from King Lear in a pub and Paper Birds in a caravan, from Sacred Sounds celebrating Indian song to Shark in a Park and a long list of amazing musicians all taking place in our newly refurbished performance spaces. Having reopened following our refurbishment we’re stepping up the opportunities for both existing audiences and new friends to find a reason to come and see something with us. Situated in Bury town centre, The Met is now a destination for artists from all over the world and audiences from throughout the UK. Big Whistle Festival celebrates its 10th year with us in May; a weekend of gigs, sessions, workshops, discussions and lively vibrant music throughout the venue which regularly attracts enthusiasts from throughout Europe while charming audiences closer to home. Ramsbottom Festival fans will no doubt be thrilled to see Smoove & Turrell visit The Met for the first time in May; last seen on our main stage before Fun Lovin’ Criminals last year. In addition Hackney Colliery Band, Elephant Sessions, Darlingside and The Danberrys all make an eagerly anticipated first visit to the venue.
Having enjoyed our expeditions around Bury during our refurbishment we continue to bring exciting fringe theatre to the area. Paper Birds’ caravan will take up temporary residency in Bury and Ramsbottom in June offering the most intimate of performance experiences while King Lear is reimagined as a pub landlord in… some pubs. Families will be enthralled with some of the best touring theatre at The Met, with Tortoise vs Hare, Shark in the Park and the return of Tessa Bide; this time in the venue rather than a tented show in Prestwich. All of this and we haven’t even mentioned the Gin Festival – a gin festival – in July. Longer days should be filled with new and exciting experiences; we hope you will enjoy many of them with us in the run up to summer. David Agnew, artistic director
2—3
The Met’s own restaurant and bar. Open all day every day for, breakfast, morning coffee, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, drinks, dinner, cocktails. Monday to Thursday: 10am - 11pm Friday to Saturday: 10am - Midnight Sunday: 12pm - 10.30pm
LOOKING FOR BURY. PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION.
We’re searching for unusual and outstanding images of Bury: town, countryside and people, the best of which will feature on our menus and on the walls of Automatic. The winners will also win a meal and tickets for a show at The Met for two. Send your high resolution images to info@hollinworthandprice.com along with your name, address and mobile number.
automaticcafe.com 0161 763 9399 info@automaticcafe.com @automaticcafe
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Support us: Make a regular gift to help us continue our work and reach new audiences. We want to nurture talent through the opportunities we provide, from showcasing artists on our small stage to presenting them at larger festivals to helping them record and distribute material in our recording studio. Demonstrating that our local community supports us means we can continue to bring funding into the area and support the social, cultural and economic development of Bury. Our ticket and workshop prices are significantly lower than other organisations because we believe in allowing the whole community access to the arts and its benefits. But we need your help to continue this. As a charity we rely on your support so please help us in anyway you can. Our levels of support are set out to the right and what you, as an advocate of The Met, can enjoy in return. How could your donation help? • If you give £10 per month for a year this will pay for one band to realise their dream and use the recording studio. • If 3 people give £10 per month for a year we can invite a theatre company to perform at The Met. • If 4 people give £20 per month for a year we can fund a specialist workshop for a year for children with autism. • If you’re a tax payer your donation is worth 25% more using the gift aid scheme. To begin your regular donation just visit our website themet.biz or phone 0161 761 2216.
Support £5 per month/£60 per year • Priority booking • Advance notice of events • 10% discount in Automatic • Invite to the artistic director’s spring social • Seasonal newsletter • No booking, refund or exchange fees Showcase £10 per month/£120 per year • All of the above plus… • One event chosen by the artistic director for you and a guest • Your name on our website • Access to artist receptions Headline £20 per month/£240 per year • All of the above plus… • Your name on our exclusive art work in the new foyer Star £1,000 per year • All of the above plus… • Your name as patron with thanks on our brochure and website
Corporate packages Our corporate packages are an ideal way to entertain clients. Packages start from £500 for an annual membership. 4—5
Learning Learn Harmonica
Mini Youth Theatre
Eight weekly sessions on Mondays Starting Mon 24 Apr (no sessions Mon 1 & 29 May) Beginners: 5.30pm / Beginners continued: 6.45pm / Intermediate/advanced: 8pm — £51 / £42 concession A course in harmonica playing for all levels, led by musician Mat Walklate.
Every Wed 4.30pm–5.30pm — £3 per week For 5–8 year olds. Encouraging creative thinking and developing team building skills through games, activities and story-telling.
Metro Jazz
Every Wed 5.30pm–7pm — £3.50 per week For 9–13 year olds. Develop performance skills and build confidence through the use of improvisation, body language techniques and exploring mask work. Preparing you for the advancement into The Company group.
Every Mon 6.30pm–9.30pm Weekly from Mon 24 Apr until Mon 10 Jul (no sessions Mon 1 & 29 May) — £80 term / £55 concession The Met's community jazz orchestra led by Munch Manship welcomes all musicians of at least intermediate ability, vacancies for frontline musicians especially brass. Suitable for ages 16+.
The Met's Youth Theatre
The Company
Every Mon & Tue 7pm–9pm A drama group for people with disabilities. This group is not taking new members, contact us to join the waiting list.
Every Wed 7pm–8.30pm — £3.50 per week The Met's in-house production group for ages 15+, aiming to inspire performers to become independent artists with the skills for a successful career in the arts. Members work together to create shows performed at The Met. This contributes to achieving the arts award.
Mini Movers
Aiming High
Every Tue 10.30am–11.30am from Tue 2 May — £3 per child per week (free for babies under 1 year old) Boogie with your little ones and find adventure through your bodies, stories, places and music. For children aged under 5 years. Designed and led by Clare Fildes.
Every Sat in term time 9–13 years: 10am–11.30am — £4 14+ years: 11.30am–1.30pm — £4.50 Drama and sensory workshops for young people with mental and physical disabilities. With plenty of artistic and creative opportunities these workshops are lots of fun and a great way to make friends.
Met Express
Exploring sacred sounds with Keertan Kaur Rehal Presented by Sacred Sounds Choir
Sat 13 May 10am — £15 / £10 concession Explore sacred sounds with Indian classical vocalist Keertan Kaur Rehal. A workshop delving into ragas, poetry and rhythm. "We have had a great time learning songs with Keertan. Although young she is a natural workshop leader and makes Indian classical music both accessible and enjoyable." Sacred Sounds Choir
Sing Like A Bloke (Blokes of all genders welcome) Spooky Men's Chorale
Sun 16 Jul 3pm — £10 Stephen Taberner and his henchmen from the Spooky Men’s Chorale share their secrets. You'll learn to sing magnificently grandiose songs from the spooky repertoire, including a useful song for building pyramids with. This is a workshop for absolutely everyone, especially people who haven't sung for a long, long time.
Introduction to Blues Dancing Sat 13 May 5pm — £5 In this class led by Blues Dance Manchester you will learn some simple blues dance steps and dances; then later on May 13 come along to our Blues Night and put them into practice.
Performance by workshop group: Metro Jazz Summer Concert Fri 14 Jul 8pm — £5 The Met's community jazz orchestra perform a mix of the best foot-tapping jazz.
Edwin Street Creative Hub Edwin Street Creative Hub includes a professional recording studio and workshop spaces for creative businesses. At the heart of the creative hub is Edwin Street Recording Studio, a state of the art facility available for hire for sound recording of all sorts. The studio offers affordable options for all. Sessions start from just £30 per hour, and are free for young people living and studying in Bury. Professional clients include The BBC, ITV, Microsoft, The Lowry, the National Football Museum, Manchester Camerata, and Dutch Uncles. Young musicians mentored at Edwin Street have gone on to perform at The Met and at Ramsbottom Festival. For more information or to book a session phone 0161 761 7107 or email info@edwinstreetstudio.com. 6—7
Theatre
Theatre special offer Book for any three of Going Viral, Hopeless Romantics, The King Lear or Mobile and we'll give you 20% off!
Going Viral Daniel Bye
Thu 11 May 8pm — £10 An aeroplane flies from Uganda to England. Everyone on board is weeping. Everyone except you. On the ground, the weeping spreads. Is it a strange new disease? An outbreak of hysteria? Or has the world become genuinely sad? Intimate and epic, hilarious and tragic, Going Viral is a thrilling new development in Daniel Bye's unique blend of storytelling, playful comedy and performance lecture.
Hopeless Romantics Reform Theatre
Wed 17 May 8pm — £10 Reform Theatre presents the world premiere of Hopeless Romantics. In an age of internet dating, speed dating, blind dating and Tinder, isn’t it harder not to find someone these days? Alan doesn’t think so. And he should know; aside from the girl with the pigtails and the lisp in primary school, he’s spent his entire life as a “non-elective celibate.” Or to put it another way, he’s single. Very, very single. Reform Theatre once more joins forces with Nick Lane, writer of hit comedies My Favourite Summer and Me & Me Dad, along with brilliant new female voice Fiona Wass, for a night never to be forgotten!
Medusa rehearsed reading Proper Job Theatre Company
Fri 19 May 7.30pm — Pay what you want (on night) We are going to tell you a story; one that is not often told; the story of a woman who exacts her revenge on the men that destroyed her and the Gods that cursed her. We are going to tell you the story of Medusa, the truth. Proper Job Theatre Company invites you to a rehearsed reading of Medusa; a chance for you to get close to the devising process and directly impact on the development of the piece. Tickets are free in advance, and you will be asked to ‘pay what you decide’ after you have seen the show.
On your doorstep
Two site-specific theatre shows presented by The Met at other venues in Bury and Ramsbottom.
The King Lear
Mobile
The King Lear
Mobile
Wed 31 May 12.30pm & 7.30pm at The Clarence, Bury & Thu 1 Jun 7.30pm at The Grant Arms, Ramsbottom — Wed matinee £15 (includes lunch & drink) / Wed & Thu evening £10 Three regulars decide to perform their own version of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy and set it in their local "The King Lear". Instead of a Kingdom they have a pub! Instead of a King they have a landlord, Mr Lear!
Fri 23 & Sat 24 Jun 12pm, 12.45pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.15pm, 5pm, 5.45pm, 6.30pm, 7.30pm, 8.15pm — Fri in Ramsbottom town centre & Sat in Bury town centre — £10 An ordinary looking caravan. An extraordinary experience. A treasure trove of magical theatre and digital wizardry. Mobile is The Paper Birds’ second show in a trilogy about class in modern Britain. Made for audiences of up to eight people at a time, this is an inmate forty-minute theatre show set in a caravan, based on interviews conducted in communities across the UK.
Shifting Sands Theatre
When he announces his retirement and the division of the pub between his daughters Mr Lear imitates his famous namesake and demands to know which of them loves him the most. So begins a playful, accessible interpretation of this classic tragedy. Set not in Stratford Upon Avon but in a pub!
The Paper Birds
Hilarious and heart breaking, The King Lear will unfold using clowning, physical theatre and vibrant storytelling, all linked by Shakespeare's text. Box office 0161 761 2216 — themet.biz
8—9
Family shows Tortoise Vs Hare Living Spit
Wed 24 May 7.30pm — £8 / £6 concession Barry Hare, Wrington running champ. Fit, popular and, above all, fast. Toby ‘Tortoise’ Gollop, eater of doughnuts. Lookup ‘relaxed’ in the dictionary and you’ll see his picture. Two very different men. One running club, and the race to end all races.
Tortoise Vs Hare
Told entirely in rhyme and song, this promises to be an epic tale of romance, redemption and rural running rivalry that you’ll never forget. “The best 100-minute comedy show outside the Edinburgh Festival.” Western Daily Press on The Six Wives of Henry VIII Suitable for all ages from 10+.
Shark in the Park Thu 1 Jun 1pm — £10 Timothy Pope is looking through his telescope – but wait, is that a Shark, in the Park!? From the creative team behind The Hairy Maclary show, this fin-tastic family musical sees all three of Nick Sharratt’s Shark in the Park books (Shark in the Park, Shark in the Dark and Shark in the Park on a Windy Day) live on Stage! Suitable for ages two years and older.
A Strange New Space Tessa Bide
Sat 8 Jul 1pm — £8 Join the life changing adventure of space obsessed Amira as she searches for a safe new space. Leaving her home, Amira's imagination catapults her across galaxies on an intergalactic voyage, matching her real-life journey as a refugee. A non-verbal, physical show for the whole family with puppetry and original music. Suitable for ages four years and older.
Comedy & talks
Pat Monahan
Mark Radcliffe
First Thursday Comedy Club
Mark Radcliffe
8pm at Ramsbottom Civic Hall & 8.30pm at The Met Our hugely popular comedy club is now coming to you in Ramsbottom as well as Bury. Don't miss these hilarious nights of comedy at The Met and Ramsbottom Civic Hall on the first Thursday of every month.
Talk — Thu 4 May 7.30pm — £14.50 Radio and television presenter, musician, writer, friend of the stars and all round cheese fetishist Mark Radcliffe has been making a little go a long way for several decades now.
In Bury & Ramsbottom
This season we're bringing you three Edinburgh Festival preview nights; a great chance to see the latest, greatest and funniest new comedy shows before they hit the fringe. Thu 4 May — £10 advance / £12 door Featuring Scotland’s John Scott (“Tears of laughter” The Observer) and Sol Bernstein, the world’s oldest Jewish comedian, as seen at the London Palladium, New York's Carnegie Hall... and Scunthorpe Baths. Thu 1 Jun — £10 advance / £12 door After performing in Norway, China, Myanmar, the French Alps, New Zealand, Melbourne and Perth, Eddy Brimson comes to Bury and Ramsbottom. Thu 6 Jul — £10 advance / £12 door Featuring Pat Monahan, Britain’s hardest working comedian; half Irish, half Iranian and all funny. Plus Seymour Mac, the comedian’s comedian, as seen on Dave’s One Night Stand, BBC’s Ideal and... Zombie Women of Satan (don’t ask).
Should you be interested
This show is no exception. Expect stories and songs of middle aged angst and ennui along with tales of ineptitude and encounters with some of music's most famous names who Mark has on speed dial. Even if his calls are blocked at the other end. He's finally run out of friends and so now has no choice but to go it alone.
The Greatest Stories Ever Told Kevin Jones
Comedy — Thu 31 Aug 7.30pm — £15 / £10 concession Dr Kevin Jones has been on the after-dinner speaking circuit for thirty years. In his new one-man show he talks about his speaking career, the people he has met and recounts the best jokes and tales he has heard. Get ready for two hours of laughter from one of the funniest doctors there is.
Thu 3 Aug — £10 advance / £12 door Featuring top cockney comedian Dave Ward making a rare appearance outside of London, and Manchester man Steve Shanyaski (“a star in the making” City Life). Plus in Bury Ryan Gough, and in Ramsbottom Kieran Lawless. Box office 0161 761 2216 — themet.biz
10 — 11
Music Moishe's Bagel World — Fri 21 Apr 8pm — £14 A thrilling mix of klezmer, folk and jazz. Stunning original compositions meet sublime traditional melodies, backed up by infectious foot-stomping grooves. Moishe's Bagel
Oh Susanna / Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage
Oh Susanna / Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage Americana — Sun 23 Apr 8pm — £15 Canadian singer/songwriter Oh Susanna and English duo Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage mix their own material with new trio arrangements, creating a varied and brilliant concert show. This is a one-off opportunity to see three amazing artists present this material in a unique format.
Marcus Malone
Marcus Malone
Blues — Fri 28 Apr 8pm — £15 Marcus Malone’s accolades span over a decade with this signature soulful rock blues sound. His international touring status and award winning records deems Malone to be a staple in the blues scene.
Marc O'Reilly
Marc O'Reilly
Blues — Sat 29 Apr 8pm — £10 Marc O’Reilly recently released a new album Morality Mortality through Virgin Records (Germany). A brooding collection of indie/blues, this is Marc's first album on a major label and showcases him as an incredibly mature writer with a stunning vocal talent and exceptional guitar skills.
John Bramwell Rock & pop — Sat 22 Apr 8pm — £17 John Bramwell (I Am Kloot) returns to The Met. The Mercury Prize nominee will be performing songs from his forthcoming album as well as many Kloot classics. Joined onstage by Dave Fidler on bass and harmonies, Andy Fidler on Cajon and harmonies and Alan Lowles on piano and bass.
Smoove and Turrell Rock & pop — Sun 14 May 8pm — £14 Newcastle's finest Smoove and Turrell are at the peak of their funk and soul powers. Crown Posada, their latest album, infuses their northern soul and funk style with early electronica influences, rock, pop, disco and jazz whilst still maintaining the band's signature sound.
The Big Whistle Festival
Fri 5 & Sat 6 May See page 14 for details of our annual festival + Support of folk with the whistle Folk — Thu 11 May 8pm — £20 at its core. If you don't know the voice of Cara Dillon, you’re in for a treat. The extraordinary Irish singer has won every folk award going, and makes music that transcends genres and crosses barriers.
Cara Dillon
Cara Dillon
Whole Lotta Led
A tribute to Led Zeppelin Rock & pop — Fri 12 May 8pm — £16 advance / £14 advance concession / £19 door Last year saw Whole Lotta Led celebrate their twentieth anniversary as a band. This year the band will continue touring the UK performing the amazing songs of Led Zeppelin.
Whole Lotta Led
Molly Bloom
Supported by Adventures of Salvador and Stupid Cosmonaut Rock & pop — Fri 12 May 8pm — £8 Bury's own Molly Bloom perform lyrical, energy packed songs with a dark twist. Support comes from punk surf-rockers Adventures of Salvador, and electronic experimentalists Stupid Cosmonaut.
Molly Bloom
A Blues Night at The Met Make Blues Night perfect by learning Blues Dancing at 5pm before the show. See page 7 for details.
Box office 0161 761 2216 — themet.biz
Blues — Sat 13 May 7pm — £14 An evening of the finest contemporary blues from some of the best UK blues artists, all based in the North! Expect Tom Attah's soulful, playful, scintillating solo blues, Walklate and Fuschi's dynamic, exhilarating explorations of blues, ska and soul, Franni Eubanks' earthy, primal R 'n' B and Kyla Brox's beautiful, lyrical, emotive vocals. 12 — 13
The Big Whistle Festival Fri 5 & Sat 6 May With the humble tin whistle at its core, The Big Whistle Festival is a gathering of traditional and contemporary musicians for a weekend of groove laden gigs, intimate concerts and workshops. The Big Whistle Festival is promoted by The Met in association with Big Whistle Music (bigwhistle.co.uk). Peatbog Faeries
Save money with our festival package deals... Weekend Ticket Offer See every Big Whistle Festival concert for just £54 (a saving of £40)
Lankum
Saturday Ticket Offer See every concert on Saturday 6 May for just £40 (a saving of £30) Weekend and Saturday ticket holders can purchase tickets for festival talks, sessions and workshops for just £1. Ross and Ali
Drop The Floor Fri 5 May 7.30pm — £8 Opening up Big Whistle 2017 is Ribble Valley’s high energy Drop The Floor. This ever popular traditional foursome are making a well deserved fourth visit to the festival. The band continues to evolve musically, winning many followers along the way. Their performance exudes sincerity, combined with an abiding and genuine love for music making.
Peatbog Faeries Fri 5 May 9pm — £16 A Peatbog gig is an unforgettable experience that invariably results in euphoric audience response. Expect hefty dance grooves, fused with rousing pipes, articulate whistling and breath-taking fiddle playing. If that’s not enough underpin all this with a back line that totally rocks the house. If you’re looking for a vibrant, powerful and inspirational dance sound – the answer is right here.
Emma Sweeney with Adele Farrell
Sat 6 May 12pm — £8 Emma’s live set reflects a breadth of rich musical influences all of which are personified with pure and articulate playing. Joining Emma for this Big Whistle gig will be the highly rated Manchester musician Adele Farrell. Adele is a multi-award winning accordion player with a musical legacy that few can rival.
Lankum
(Formerly Lynched) Sat 6 May 1.30pm — £16 Lankum (formerly Lynched) are Dublin’s most talked about folk band in decades. Lauded as folk miscreants with a mischievous punk attitude. The three times BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominated band, are well seasoned festival performers. Their distinctive four-part vocal repertoire encompasses music-hall, street-songs and classic ballads from the traveller tradition.
Ross and Ali Sat 6 May 6pm — £10 BBC Folk Award nominated Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton are a highly charismatic musical tour de force. Performing live they are as entertaining as they are inspiring. Enjoy and savour a rare Lancashire appearance of this internationally renowned pairing.
Calan Sat 6 May 7pm — £12 Calan are five young virtuoso level musicians who bring a fresh and vibrant sound to traditional Welsh music. Renowned for a contemporary and lively approach, they breath new life into the old traditions through their sparkling melodies, foot tapping tunes which often includes spirited and energetic performances of Welsh step dancing.
Will Pound and Eddy Jay Sat 6 May 8.15pm — £10 The musical synchronicity of this revered pairing cannot be described as anything other than spectacular. If you like music played with passion and energy, this is the perfect Big Whistle gig for you.
Skerryvore Sat 6 May 9.15pm — £14 Be prepared for a range of emotive ballads, soul-gripping chorus songs and rip roaring tunes. Then bring on rock fused, power laden funky rhythms - topped off nicely with bagpipes, whistles, fiddle and accordion. It sets things up perfectly for a superb finale for Big Whistle 2017.
Big Whistle Festival workshops, talks & sessions... The Whistle & Me Sat 6 May 10.30am — £5 An hour of musical recollections, unmissable tunes and chat between Phil Brown and Peter Morrison of the Peatbog Faeries. Getting Started with Terry Walsh Sat 6 May 11am — £5 Here’s a chance to get started on one of the most simple yet endearing of all instruments – the old Tin Whistle! Up Tempo Tunes with Patrick Rimes of Calan Sat 6 May 12pm — £8 Learn a cool mix of jigs and reels from the Welsh tradition and beyond. Technique and ornamentation relative to tune content will also be covered and taught. An Introduction to Welsh Tunes with Calan Sat 6 May 3pm — £5 This session will specifically focus on the traditional and ancient tunes of Calan's Welsh homeland. Ross and Ali's Big Whistle Double Header Sat 6 May 3pm — £12 Ross and Ali will use material from their album, working from a basic tune and lead you through - dealing with technique, decoration and dynamics to the finished piece. Steady Away with Emma Sweeney and Adele Farrell Sat 6 May 3pm — £5 If you can play a simple tune and like to play with others, this workshop is for you. Will Pound Harmonica Workshop Sat 6 May 3pm — £8 Learn the basics – right through to how to hone an innovative style on diatonic, chromatic or tremolo.
Calan
Music Hall Songs of Dublin with Lankum Sat 6 May 4pm — £5 An hour of humour, anecdotes, songs and stories. At the Two Tubs pub, just a short distance from The Met. A Session with Drop The Floor Sat 6 May 5pm — Free Join Drop The Floor for an unmissable session of Irish Tunes and songs at the Two Tubs.
Skerryvore
Box office 0161 761 2216 — themet.biz
For more information visit themet.biz/bigwhistle. 14 — 15
Music Boo Hewerdine and band Supported by Findlay Napier
Rock & pop — Thu 18 May 8pm — £16 / £14 concession “One of the country’s most consistently admired songwriters" (Folk Radio UK) Boo Hewerdine returns to The Met with his band to perform songs from his brand new album Swimming In Mercury, to be released on Reveal Records in April. Support comes from Scottish singer-songwriter Findlay Napier.
Live/Wire
The AC/DC Show
Live/Wire
Rock & pop — Fri 19 May 8.30pm — £15 A unique six-man tribute to AC/DC featuring all the band's classic songs including Back in Black, Rosie and Highway to Hell. A night to remember, complete with cannons, a wall of Marshalls' and over two hours of great, high voltage rock 'n' roll.
James Grant
James Grant
Rock & pop — Sat 20 May 8pm — £16 / £14 concession Drawing from a broad palette of pop, folk, soul, country and blues influences, James Grant twins darkly literate, melodically lush songcraft with his richly potent vocals and virtuoso guitar work, leavening his performances with dashes of wickedly acerbic humour.
Tim O'Brien
Supported by Kaia Kater Americana — Sat 20 May 8pm — £16 Songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist Tim O'Brien returns to The Met to parade his considerable talent. A Mr Kite Benefit. Tim O'Brien
Coope, Boyes and Simpson Farewell Tour
Folk — Thu 25 May 7.30pm — £16 Join these legends of music on their farewell tour with their last album Coda – a collection of songs, mainly self-penned or drawn from the tradition, covering issues such as refugees, Iraq and climate change. Coope, Boyes and Simpson
Daphne's Flight Folk — Fri 26 May 8pm — £18 Twenty one years after their debut self titled album and one and only UK tour, the tour de force that is Daphne's Flight, featuring Christine Collister, Melanie Harrold, Julie Matthews, Helen Watson and Chris While, is set to return to the stage in 2017. Daphne's Flight
Hackney Colliery Band
Hackney Colliery Band Folk — Sat 27 May 8pm — £17 seated / £15 standing Since the release of Hackney Colliery Band's eponymous debut in 2011, this brass juggernaut have blown their way into the public consciousness with their catchy original recordings and cunning cover versions. Mixing rock, afro-beat, hip hop, Balkan beats, contemporary jazz and soul, the new album Common Decency is a uniquely British take on the modern brass band sound.
The East Pointers Folk — Fri 2 Jun 8pm — £13 As the sixth generation of heralded fiddlers, it’s no wonder that Canada’s The East Pointers have been touring the world since they released their critically acclaimed debut album Sweet Victory.
The East Pointers
Emily Smith & Jamie McClennan Folk — Sat 3 Jun 7pm — £12 Drawing on influences from the folk tradition, Americana and beyond, this couple’s sumptuous harmonies are layered over sizzling double guitars, fiddle and accordion making Smith and McClennan one of the most vibrant duos on the UK folk scene today.
Stipe Emily Smith & Jamie McClennan
A tribute to R.E.M. Rock & pop — Sat 3 Jun 8.30pm — £12 This is the definitive tribute to one of the biggest bands in rock music. Stipe recreate the alt-rock, awesomeness of R.E.M, earning the praise of “Awesome” from R.E.M.’s own lead singer Michael Stipe.
Stipe
Box office 0161 761 2216 — themet.biz
16 — 17
Music Garry Tallent from The E Street Band With Kevin Montgomery
Rockabilly — Wed 7 Jun 8pm — £22 seated / £20 standing With a mother who sang with Elvis, and a father who wrote songs for Buddy Holly, it was obvious that musicianship would be in Garry Tallent’s blood. After touring with Bruce Springstein, Tallent embarks on a solo tour with his rockabilly-packed album Break Time.
Yvonne Lyon Folk — Thu 8 Jun 8pm — £10 Singer-songwriter Yvonne Lyon is among the best and brightest talent currently emerging from the UK. Her album, These Small Rebellions features songs co-written with Boo Hewerdine, Andrew Howie and David Lyon. Yvonne Lyon
Fairport Convention Folk-rock — Thu 8 Jun 7.30pm — £24 Enjoy an evening of musical celebration with Fairport Convention during their golden anniversary tour. Credited with originating British folk-rock, the band’s passion for live performance has never waved through their incredible five decades of music making.
Fairport Convention
My Darling Clementine
My Darling Clementine Americana — Fri 9 Jun 8pm — £15 Duo Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish are famous for their loving homage to the country duets of the 60’s and 70’s. Now they're back with a new album Still Testifying. Stylistically it is a shift away from classic country to gospel and soul. But if the landscape has changed the message has stayed constant: a man and woman, singing to each other, about each other, for and against each other.
Elephant Sessions Trad — Sat 10 Jun 8pm — £12 Creating a progressive blend of intricate tunes, engulfing guitars, with bass and drums, Elephant Sessions combines the very best of trad, funk and electronica resulting in a new and exciting sound.
Elephant Sessions
Otis Gibbs
Otis Gibbs
Singer-songwriter — Thu 15 Jun 8pm — £15 Otis Gibbs is an alt-country songwriter, storyteller, painter, photographer and planter of 7,176 trees. He once wrestled a bear, and lost. He has been described as “The best unknown songwriter in music today.” If you ask him, he’ll simply say he's a folk singer.
John Verity
John Verity
Blues — Fri 16 Jun 8pm — £12 Veteran guitarist John Verity has had a varied and amazing career, supporting Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and The Who, and recording with Ringo Starr, Keith Emerson, Gregg Lake, Tim Rose, Phoenix, Argent, and many more. Expect blistering blues with a rocky edge.
The Little Unsaid
The Little Unsaid
Rock — Sat 17 Jun 7pm — £12 One of the must-see rising live acts of 2017. The Little Unsaid have spent the last year travelling the UK and Europe, leaving audiences emotionally rapt with a live show that’s been described as “a thumping depth of passion, recalling the intensity and melancholic overtones of Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen”.
Limehouse Lizzy
Limehouse Lizzy
Rock & pop — Sat 17 Jun 9pm — £17 advance / £19 door Limehouse Lizzy continue to keep the spirit of Celtic rock icon Philip Lynott and his band Thin Lizzy alive, well and dominating stages worldwide.
The Furrow Collective Folk — Wed 14 Jun 7.30pm — Pay what you can (£5–£20) Described by MOJO as "a mouthwatering collaboration", The Furrow Collective are four fine soloists sharing a mutual love of traditional songs, from both sides of the English and Scottish borders, with playful, boundary-defying musicianship.
Box office 0161 761 2216 — themet.biz
18 — 19
Music Cara Celtic — Thu 22 Jun 8pm — £15 One of the most sought after bands within Germany, Cara are embarking on a UK tour to promote their latest album Yet We Sing, performing self-written material, with an international line-up and reputation. Cara
My Sweet Patootie Americana — Thu 29 Jun 8pm — £12 Canadian trio My Sweet Patootie is contemporary roots and ragtime at its best; bringing tight harmonies, monstrous guitar, sizzling fiddle and percussion together in one perfect package.
My Sweet Patootie
The Danberrys Americana — Fri 30 Jun 8pm — £16 One of the hottest Americana acts to emerge from the gutsier underbelly of Nashville’s music scene, the soulful pairing of Ben DeBerry and Dorothy Daniel have built a huge fan base on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Danberrys
The Clone Roses and The Smiths Ltd
The Clone Roses and The Smiths Ltd Presented by GS Promotions
Rock & pop — Sat 1 Jul 8pm — £14 advance / £17 door Celebrate the glory of Manchester music with tributes to two of the greatest bands of the eighties. The Clone Roses are the longest serving and most popular Stone Roses tribute playing live today, with an attention to detail second to none. The Smiths Ltd are the only Smiths tribute band from Manchester, with an authenticity that is hard to beat.
Darlingside Folk — Wed 28 Jun 8pm — £17 advance After wowing audiences at this year’s Celtic Connections and stealing the show at Cambridge Folk Festival 2016 where their “Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young harmonies earned an ecstatic reception and turned them into instant stars” – Daily Telegraph, Boston-based 4 piece Darlingside return to the UK for a limited run of shows.
Spooky Men's Chorale Folk — Sun 16 Jul 8pm — £20 / £15 concession Ennobled by improbable facial hair, burdened by a vast loveable incomprehension, and dignified with cavernous vocal chords, The Spooky Men’s Chorale employs a devastating combination of beauty and stupidity to comment on the unsolvable paradoxes of being a man through a diverse repertoire: from Gregorian table songs to immaculate ballads, vaudevillian nonsense to the Bee Gees.
On the day of the performance the Spooky Men will be holding a workshop at 3pm where you can learn a couple of bits of pointlessly grandiose music from the Spooky repertoire. The workshop costs £10 and will last for approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.
DeaR CaROLiNe Rock & pop — Sat 1 Jul 9pm — £4 Based just north of Manchester, DeaR CaROLiNe is fronted by two brothers, Alfie and Joe. After selling out a chaotic gig at the Northern Quarter's Three Minute Theatre, DeaR CaROLiNe are back to perform in Bury for another raucous night of fun.
DeaR CaROLiNe
Jo Harman Blues — Sat 15 Jul 8pm — £14 Soul. Blues. Gospel. Beatles-worthy pop. These are the core ingredients of Jo Harman’s People We Become, a modern album rooted in the classic, timeless music of past generations.
Jo Harman
Head for the Hills
Ramsbottom Festival 2017 Fri 15, Sat 16 & Sun 17 Sep at Ramsbottom Cricket Club The Met's annual outdoor festival is back for 2017 with four stages of great arts and music at a beautiful site just a few miles from Bury. Visit headforthehills.org.uk for more information. Andrew Allcock
Box office 0161 761 2216 — themet.biz
20 — 21
Gin Festival The Gin Society Gin Festival Fri 7 Jul 6pm–10.30pm & Sat 8 Jul 12pm–4.30pm & 6pm–10.30pm — £7.50 Join us for a gintastic weekend when The Gin Society visits Bury for the first time. Discover a selection of over 85 gins from all over the world, including an array of delicious fruit gins and unusual artisan gins. All gins are £5, served with a garnish and tonic or mixer. We’ll be joined by a line up of distillers who will let you into their secrets at masterclasses throughout the day. The price includes a beautiful gin goblet to take home and a book of tasting notes. Add music, food, plus some extra special Gin Society magic and get set for some fizzing fun.
Hire The Met Whether it’s a conference or a meeting, a gig or a wedding reception, a rehearsal or an away day, we have the perfect room to suit your event at The Met. With venues large and small, we can accommodate any number from 3 to 400. We have a number of rooms for hire including the Derby Hall (273 seated / 400 standing) and The Box (80 seated / 100 standing), and more intimate spaces for meetings or training sessions including the Malt Bar, the Stanley Bar and the Card Room. Our experienced staff can provide a range of services including catering from Automatic, sound and lighting by our technicians and full ticket office support. Call 0161 761 7107 or email hires@themet.org.uk to discuss how we can make your event a success.
General information Peel Way
Bury Transport Museum
The Rock
t
P Bolton St
East Lancs Railway
The Robert Peel
P et St Mark
Edw
P Library Gardens
Wa y
Kay Gardens
P
Bury
est er
Rd
Bury Art Museum
ch
ee
Angouleme Retail Park
Mill Gate Shopping Centre
The Fusilier Museum
Ma n
bil
t in S
Angouleme Way
Castle Leisure Centre
Ju
P
Bury Parish Church
Bolt on S
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Bury Interchange
Bury Market
Getting here
Access
We are located at the town centre end of Market Street, near the entrance to the Mill Gate Shopping Centre. Our postcode is BL9 0BW.
The Met is a fully accessible venue. There are wheelchair spaces in both the Derby Hall and The Box, and full lift access to all floors. We have an accessible toilet built to Changing Places standards.
By Metrolink The Bury Metrolink stop is just a few minutes walk from The Met. A journey from Manchester city centre takes about 25 minutes. Check metrolink.co.uk for times. By bus Bury Bus Station is also just a few minutes from The Met. Services run from Manchester, Bolton, Rochdale and Rossendale. See tfgm.com for timetables. By car The nearest car park is at the East Lancashire Railway on Bolton Street. Parking is free after 6pm. Visit bury.gov.uk/parking for a full list of town centre car parks.
Tickets & booking Call 0161 761 2216 Online themet.biz In person at The Met ticket office 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.
We have staff on hand to help. If you require a personal escort, we can supply them with a free ticket. Guide dogs are welcome, and water can be provided on request. We have an infrared hearing support system. If you have difficulty with hearing, please ask a member of staff for a receiver pack. If you have any special requirements call us on 0161 761 2216 and we’ll do our best to help.
Volunteer 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.org.uk or call on 0161 761 7107. 22 — 23
Diary Date
Apr
Time
Fri 21 8pm Sat 22 8pm Sun 23 8pm Fri 28 8pm Sat 29 8pm
Event
Page number
Moishe's Bagel John Bramwell Oh Susanna Marcus Malone Marc O'Reilly
12 12 12 12 12
May
Thu 4 7.30pm Mark Radcliffe 11 Thu 4 8pm & 8.30pm First Thursday Comedy Club 11 Fri 5 From 7.30pm The Big Whistle Festival 14 & 15 Sat 6 From 12pm The Big Whistle Festival 14 & 15 Thu 11 8pm Going Viral 8 Thu 11 8pm Cara Dillon 13 Fri 12 8pm Whole Lotta Led 13 Fri 12 8pm Molly Bloom 13 Sat 13 10am Exploring sacred sounds 6 with Keertan Kaur Rehal Sat 13 5pm Introduction to Blues Dancing 7 Sat 13 7pm A Blues Night at The Met 13 Sun 14 8pm Smoove and Turrell 13 Wed 17 8pm Hopeless Romantics 8 Thu 18 8pm Boo Hewerdine and band 16 Fri 19 7.30pm Medusa (rehearsed reading) 9 Fri 19 8.30pm Live/Wire AC/DC 16 Sat 20 8pm James Grant 16 Sat 20 8pm Tim O'Brien 16 Wed 24 7.30pm Tortoise Vs Hare 10 Thu 25 7.30pm Coope, Boyes and Simpson 16 Fri 26 8pm Daphne's Flight 17 Sat 27 8pm Hackney Colliery Band 17 Wed 31 12.30pm The King Lear 9 Wed 31 7.30 pm The King Lear 9
Jun
Thu 1 Thu 1 Thu 1 Fri 2
1pm Shark in the Park 7.30pm The King Lear 8pm & 8.30pm First Thursday Comedy Club 8pm The East Pointers
Core programme and major capital funders
10 9 11 17
Date
Time
Event
Page number
Sat 3 7pm Emily Smith & Jamie McClennan Sat 3 8.30pm Stipe Wed 7 8pm Garry Tallent from The E Street Band Thu 8 8pm Yvonne Lyon Thu 8 7.30pm Fairport Convention Fri 9 8pm My Darling Clementine Sat 10 8pm Elephant Sessions Wed 14 7.30pm The Furrow Collective Thu 15 8pm Otis Gibbs Fri 16 8pm John Verity Sat 17 7pm The Little Unsaid Sat 17 9pm Limehouse Lizzy Thu 22 8pm Cara Fri 23 12pm–8.15pm Mobile Sat 24 12pm–8.15pm Mobile Wed 28 8pm Darlingside Thu 29 8pm My Sweet Patootie Fri 30 8pm The Danberrys
Jul
Sat 1 8pm The Clone Roses & The Smiths Ltd Sat 1 9pm DeaR CaROLiNe Thu 6 8pm & 8.30pm First Thursday Comedy Club Fri 7 6pm Gin Society Gin Festival Sat 8 1pm A Strange New Space Sat 8 12pm & 6pm Gin Society Gin Festival Fri 14 8pm Metro Jazz Summer Concert Sat 15 8pm Jo Harman Sun 16 3pm Sing Like a Bloke with Spooky Men's Chorale Sun 16 8pm Spooky Men's Chorale
17 17 18 18 18 18 18 19 19 19 19 19 20 9 9 20 20 20 20 21 11 22 10 22 7 21 7 21
Aug Thu 3 8pm & 8.30pm First Thursday Comedy Club 11 Thu 31 7.30pm The Greatest Stories Ever Told 11
Corporate sponsors
Capital project supporters
Learning programme supporter
Thanks to our patrons Joanne Collumbine and Keith Gillespie Noreen Kershaw Mark Potter Ian Warburton
The Hobson Charity | The John S Cohen Foundation | With thanks to Walker Morris LLP The Met is a trading name of Bury Metropolitan Arts Association, a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales No: 2370868. Registered office: The Met, Market Street, Bury, BL9 0BW. Registered charity No: 701879.
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