Out of Town:Guitar classes

The loop likes the idea of learning something new and creative with a pint in your hand. Ah actually best put it down whilst receiving instruction on your strumming technique....but you know what we mean.

Adult Guitar Class. Play popular songs. NEW BEGINNERS course starting soon.
Tuesdays 7.30 - 9.30 p.m. at the Dog & Partridge, Bollington.

Tel: Mark 07989 600001

Out of Town. Delicious market

Pant, pant, catch breath....... just in the door from the market below. It was vibrant, buzzing with puropseful, discerning shoppers and undercover too. The food was marvellous, with a great variety of home producers and bakers : delicious veggie Anatolian stuff, amazing creamy cheshire yogurt , crumbly home made granola, piles of organic veg, home made curry pastes and pasta sauces, free range veal, trays of eclectic aromatic mushrooms.... hang on we're coming over all Nigel Slater. Any way try to get to the next one, its really worth the short drive/ cycle. Excuse me while I wipe the crumbs from my mouth....

Out of Town: farmers market with extras

Farmers Market is held every third Saturday in the month at Clover bank farm

Only genuine farmers, producers and craftspeople are allowed to sell their products – it is a fantastic opportunity to shop locally in a very friendly and relaxed environment. Refreshments are available including hot buns with Cloverbank organic meat. Theres ample parking too.

In Spring they have lots of lambs on the farm and, at different times of the year, litters of piglets from their outdoor free-range pigs.
The profit from the proceeds of the stall fees are donated to charity – currently East Cheshire Hospice in Macclesfield.
There is an seductive range of products on sale from genuine local producers, including: organic meat, Organic vegetables, Organic free range eggs, Fruit and Juices, Wine, Yoghurts, Beer, Cheese Homemade Cakes, Steak Pies, Fruit Pies, Soups, Quiches, Fish, Traditional and Speciality Bread, Ostrich, Chutneys and Pickles, Luxury Puddings Cheshire Honey, Homemade Chocolates Smoked Produce, Fresh Mushrooms, Yoghurts Sauces and Marinades, Culinary Herbs Body Creams, Soaps, Garden Plants and Perennials Bedding Plants, Planters and Baskets Fresh Cut Country Garden Flowers (when in season) ........
Local Water Colour Artist (Demonstrating)
Local Book Author (Local History and Fiction Novels)

3rd Sat each month (Feb- Dec)
8.30- 12.30 pm
Cloverbank Organic Farm,
Shellow Lane,North Rode,
Congleton,Cheshire,
CW12 2NX
07969 094079

Record & CD Fair

This Saturday in the Heritage Centre. For those of you who own a turntable and still relish the unique qualities of vinyl and plenty of Cds for those who don't.
Sat 14 Feb 10-4
Heritage Centre, Macc
01457 854851

A wee poetic winter word:

Oh, what a blamed uncertain thing
This pesky weather is;
It blew and snew and then it thew,
And now, by jing, it's friz!
Philander Johnson

Theatre spotlight on Canalside

It's the new stage in North East Cheshire and it's the only radio station with a programme dedicated to the theatre. Each week, catch news and interviews from the world of amateur dramatics and the arts on Canalside Community Radio 102.8FM or online at www.ccr-fm.co.uk The Theatre Show is live, 7-8pm, every Thursday with Tony Barker.

Out of Town: junior singing thespians required

Members needed for a non professional young people's group.
Rehearsals begin for 'Baby in a Box', a brand new musical to be performed at the 2009 Bollington Festival. 7-14 year olds keen on singing and acting will be very welcome. Full details from www.fun.to/bfmt
or 01614272870

Bollington Arts Centre
Sun 22 Feb 2.30-4.30pm

Art Centre for Macc?

January was buzzing with chat and e mails regarding the town centre redevelopment and the 16^th saw the deadline for comments on the finalised proposals. Hope you put fingers to keyboard.

The Loop has its own views on these and I’m sure you have yours but perhaps we agree on one thing. It is pitiful that a town of this size has so few cultural facilities. Cinemac is marvellous (do we really need a multiplex?) and Mads et al do great things, but according to The Times newspaper Macclesfield is the least cultured town in the Uk. Oh the shame. Actually, whether you give a hoot or not about polls and surveys the fact remains that the town has dismal cultural resources and is selling us all short.

The loop feels passionately that the reinvigoration of Macc should respect the existing heritage of the town whilst introducing a new hub of contemporary cultural activity. This approach is nothing new but a tried and tested success story in the regeneration of many towns and cities across the country. We would like to take visiting friends to see things in Macc instead of heading to Leek, Buxton or Manchester for a cultural fix or simply something to do….

We were inspired to read David Nelson’s (Chairman of silk Heritage Trust) views in the Macc Express and his vision for a centre of national excellence in the the exhibiting of the superb collections and study of silk heritage, centred in the current Park Lane Buildings.

To compliment this, the The loop would like to see the current Heritage Centre building turned over to a vibrant arts and cultural ‘building’ : a venue for touring theatre, bands, dance etc. with first class gallery exhibition space and studio and workshops for the young people of Macc (and you and I ofcourse), something to do apart from always heading to the pub. Given our location in beautiful countryside with great transport links lets give people real reasons to visit the centre of this town instead of using it as a train station and spring board to more stimulating places nearby.

We really would love to hear your views on the creation of a MACC (Macc arts and cultural centre?). I for one would love to be sitting in a modern glass atrium extension to the old ‘Heritage centre’, feasting my eyes on a great touring exhibition, waiting to see a class national dance group, rather than sitting outside a fast food outlet in the proposed windswept square (this is Macc after all) waiting to take my place on a seat in the huge anonymous multiplex to see a film I can currently see anyway ……or is it just me?

Please leave your comments here. An energetic discussion about this has to be had. The council (the new one of course) cannot tackle the challenges of this town with the determination and vision that's needed if we don’t tell them what we want can they?

Childrens Theatre school

OPEN DAY
Precocious tap dancer, talented yodeler or just a normal child? Either way why not take a look at Upstage theatre school Open Day. Join them for a look at what they do and even join in with the lesson if you like.
UPSTAGE
Bethel Baptist Church
Windmill Street
Macclesfield

Sat 14 Feb 10am–1pm
For details call 0161 743 1790

Out of town: Art

ARTISTS’ TRAIL ‘OPEN STUDIOS’ EXHIBITION

A group of talented local artists will be exhibiting new work at the Bollington Arts Centre this month to promote the Artists’ Trail that is taking place during the Bollington Festival in May.

Painters, printmakers, textile artists and photographers will be showcasing their work to raise awareness of the open studios event, which is expected to attract hundreds of visitors during the Festival.

Artist and coordinator, Emma King, explains the idea behind the exhibition: “We wanted to give people a taste of what’s to come. Each artist will be exhibiting at least one new piece of work, giving visitors the chance to see a wide range of skills and styles as well as deciding who’s studio they might like to visit in May.”

Watercolourist Dean Entwistle is illustrating a map for the Artists’ Trail, which will be previewed at the exhibition. “My background is in illustration, so this project has been really enjoyable,” he says. “Having lived in Bollington for many years, I was happy to volunteer to draw it. It’s been fascinating examining the architecture and landscape of the village for the design - it really lends itself to the map.”

The Open Studios Exhibition opens on Sunday 15^th February at 2pm and continues every Sunday from 2-4pm until Sunday 15^th March. The exhibition will also be available to view during other events at the Arts Centre.

All work on show will be available to buy, with a percentage being donated

to the Arts Centre. The Artists’ Trail takes place over the first two weekends

of the Bollington Festival. For further information please visit the Festival website at www.bollingtonfestival.org.uk

BOLLINGTON ARTS CENTRE

Sun 15 Feb – Sun 15 March

2-4pm