Something for the Witching Weekend

As well as trick or treating this weekend, on Friday 30 you can go for The Mayhem Effect (picture courtesy of The Mayhem Effect Face Book site) as they play The Swan With Two Necks, Chestergate, Macc. 01625 617265. www.maccattack.co.uk

On Saturday 31 October Find Festival Fare in Bollington, giving you the chance to buy hand-made crafts from local makers and support future festivals at the same time. Admission into Bollington Arts Centre, Wellington Rd, is free and runs from 11am until 4pm. And...

In the evening, Macclesfield Music Society presents the Fell Clarinet Quintent, playing Farkas, Scenes from Hungary; and Piazzolla, movements from Histoire du Tango.
Heritage Centre, Roe St at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10/£3
Tel: 01625 611594. www.macclesfieldmusicsociety.co.uk

On Sunday there is a performance of the Tin Cup at Bollington Art Centre ( see link below) and you can stock up on good trhings at the Farmer's market at the Hollins Pub, Black Rd, Macc on Sunday.

And don’t forget to send us your impressions of Halloween - pictures, photos, poems and prose... but we draw the line at old pumpkins. Have fun and be safe out there!

Thirsty Thursday

If Thursday should find you in want of either inspiration or ale (or both) then make your way to the Boarhound on Brook Street, Macclesfield. Loop friends, local singer-songwriter Tim Woodhouse and Fourpenny Circus poet Jo Bell (without the other threepennies tonight) will both be performing. It can only be good and it's free. See you there.

The Wonders of Wednesday

Iowa guitarist Catfish Keith is back again for his annual autumn tour of the UK. 8pm at Blue Funk @ the WMC, Park Lane, Poynton.
£8 booked. £10 on the door.
Ticketline: 07818 884324. Garrywhite10@yahoo.co.uk

The Silk Screen Film Society meet on Wednesday 28 Oct showing The Return (subtitles, picture courtesy of silkscreen.org) a powerful and disquieting Russian film. After 12 years away the father of adolescent brothers returns unexpectedly. Heritage Centre, Roe St, Macclesfield with showings at 5.30 and 8pm. Guest tickets £4 but must be accompanied by a member.

01625 820727. www.silkscreen.org.uk

Half-term Happenings!

Bats and Books
Due to popular demand the Bat Man, Ged Ryan, is back at Macclesfield Library on Wednesday 28 October at 10am; a morning suitable for children of all ages.
Important note: The Library will be close on Friday for a month re-opening Monday 30 November. This means that there will be no Rhymetime sessions or Childen’s Reading Group during this period.

Macclesfield Library, Jordangate: 01625 374000

Also, this half-term, children between the age of 6 and 12 can be fascinated by fungus in Toadstool Trio, producing drawings, clay models and felt pictures.
Thursday 29th and Friday 30th October between 10am and 12 noon at a cost of just £5 per child per session.

Education Room, Silk Museum, Park Lane, Macclesfield.
Booking and payment in advance essential: 01625 612045.

The Only Way is Up
All week the movie theatre with added character, Cinemac, is showing the curious Up (U), Disney/Pixar’s new comedy adventure. (see picture above, courtesy of www.cinemac.org)
A terrific family adventure with story, characterisation and inventive animation and old-fashioned values of clarity and simplicity: entertaining and visually dazzling, according to the Guardian. The Janes cried quite a lot at this one.
Mon, Tue, Thur and Fri at 3, 5.30 and 8pm; and at 2.30pm on Weds.

Heritage Centre, Roe Street, Macclesfield
Recorded Information: 01625 423535. Enquiries: 07871 422937. info@cinemac.org.uk

Something for the weekend?

Caught the wonderful film UP at Cinemac last night. Quirky and sad and good fun, see previous post .Its on most of next week.

Its your last chance to catch the Stuart Royse exhibition at Likailin gallery in Prestbury. This 15 piece photographic narrative of a Peak district woodland disappears next week so get along before it finishes on the 28th October.

The Navarra Quartet are at Bollington Art Centre tonight or if pub bands are more your thing theres Jonny Gunn at the Swan with Two Necks.

If you fancy getting your hands dirty the Anson Engine museum are demonstrating local crafts this weekend.

Camp Four are continuing their innovative lecture series and on Monday you can listen to and enjoy the pictures of noted photographer Mike Hutton. Can't wait.

Remember you are still in time to audition for the Macclesfield production of the Vagina Monologues.These auditions will be held atThe Hollins Pub, Black Road, Macclesfield on
Monday 26 October at 7pm ,Wednesday 28 October at 7pm and Sunday 1 November at 5pm
See full post below.

Mike Hutton at Camp Four 7.30pm £3.50 Camp Four,PickfordSt,Macclesfieldwww.campfour.co.uk

Vagina Monologues E-mail: team@vdaymacclesfield.co.uk 07917 391 747
BAC see link below

Bored Silly? Half term ideas

Half term looms, so better be prepared. Parental survival depends on meticulous preparation.As ever, check details and availability with the venue before setting off with a carload of sugar-hyped children. Have fun!

Mikron Theatre present

Tales of the Thames

With drama and music

Fri 23 Oct £9/£7

Bollington Art Centre

See link below

UP (U)

A Disney Pixar production

'A terrific family adventure with story,

characterisation and inventive animation

and old-fashioned values of clarity and simplicity:

entertaining and visually dazzling."
The Guardian

Fri 23 Oct- Sun 1 Nov

£5.50/£4.50 /4.00 Groups of 4 or more before 6pm: £4.00 each

No performance Sat 31 Nov

Cinemac

www.cinemac.org.uk

Ask an Engineer/Astronomer

Ask a Jodrell Bank Astronomer or

Engineer all those burning questions

you have about the telescope or

Jodrell Bank.

26- 30 Oct 2pm normal admission charge

Jodrell Bank

www.jb.man.ac.uk/visitorcentre

Trees in Autumn, a guided walk of the Arboretum

Join the Arboretum Curator on a guided walk of the Arboretum and see the fantastic National Collections in spectacular autumn colour. suitable for children. Normal admission charge applies,

Wed 28 Oct 11.30 am

Jodrell Bank

www.jb.man.ac.uk/visitorcentre

Craft Club – Toadstool Trio

Drawing, clay models and felt pictures for Children age 6 – 11 years.

Thur 29 & Fri 30 Oct 10am -12noon. £5

booking essential 01625 612045.

Silk Museum, Park Lane, Macclesfield

Plant a bulb

Holiday fun for young gardeners

26 Oct – 1 Nov 11am – 4.30pm normal charges apply

Children must be accomp. by an adult.

Lyme Park

01663 762023

Halloween Happening

An afternoon of spooky craft activities in the timber yard followed by light refreshments. Children must be accomp. by an adult.

28- 31 Oct 2-4pm £8

Lyme Park

booking essential 01663 762023

The Tin Cup

That Hat ! But how can I ever afford that ???

Kristin Hurst has been blending her own style of

movement, masks, puppets and music on the

stage since 1994. The Tin Cup reaches audiences

of all ages and nationalities with its wordless

and comical approach to storytelling.

Ages 5 to 105+

Sun 1 Nov 2pm £8/£5/Families of four £22

Bollington Art Centre

See link below

Ring 01625 573413

Further a field:

Science Slam

Enjoy a variety of activities including building a model solar system, as part of Manchester Science Festival. Visit www.manchestersciencefestival.com to find out more.

Sat 24 - Fri 30 Oct 12 -3pm £3

Urban Ghosts and Ghouls
Create a creepy mask to spook your friends and family or decorate a trick or treat goodie bag at our giant Urbis Ghost-fest!

Sat 31 Oct & Sun 1 Nov 12 - 3pm £3

Urbis on Film

This introductory workshop will show you how to shoot, edit and screen your very own film! Places are limited so you will need to book.

Sat 24 Oct 10:30am OR 1:30pm*, £5 per Family.

learninginfo@urbis.org.uk *please choose preferred date and time

All at Urbis Manchester www.urbis.org.uk

Looking ahead

Bonfire & spectacular firework display

Organised by Henbury Parish Council

all proceeds to the millennium green trust.

Hot dog & drink incl.

Sat 7 Nov 5.30pm £5/ £2

Henbury Millennium Green

Wielding veg last Saturday

Well we got up early, made a flask of coffee and promptly left it at home. Its an early start at the Cloverbank Farm Market but its worth it. See pre-coffee portraits of the Janes above.

Have a look at these vegetable wonders produced by children in the loop sculpture corner! Whilst they manipulated veg their parents could enjoy the wonderful varied and delicious produce for sale.


Vera grabbed a bunch of the glorious locally grown flowers and the pigs in the field as you drive in were pretty special too. A big thank you to Vera for the pictures and for hauling herself out of bed to help and to Duncan who had the vegetable stall for his exceptionally large and expressive spuds. We'll let you know when we do it again.

Burtterfly Jam

We are very excited that loop favourites Butterfly Jam are playing in town again. We have gushed about them before, so we won't go on about it , just have a look at the blog posting for 17 June for lots more info. Make sure you get along this Wednesday and enjoy their brilliant, danceable music in Ronnies covered and heated courtyard. Highly recommended.

Alternatively Club Franco Britannique de Macclesfield meet tonight at 8pm in the Brocklehurst Room in the Heritage Centre on Roe St. This will be a talk in French by Catarina Guében on her "Aventures à VTT dans les Carpathes (récit et photos)". All are welcome.

Another recommendation from a loop reader for Mikron Theatre. She and her son have seen them many times over the years and says they just get better and better. They are performing Tales of the Thames at Bollington Art Centre this Friday. We're ringing for tickets now!

Butterfly Jam www.myspace.com/butterflyjamspace facebook.com-butterflyjam

Ronnies www.ronnies-bar.co.uk
Club Franco Britannique Rita Arafa, 01625 421980 club_franco_britannique@live.com
BAC/ Mikron Theatre see link below

Needles ready?

Good news for all those knitters, bereft after the demise of the much loved Button & Skein. There is a new knitting group starting this coming Monday 19th at Kusch Bar on Mill Street. This relaxed group aims to be a little different to the Mulberry Tree Stitchers (which used to be called Stitch & Bitch) who meet during the day. So head along and see what they are like, and say hello. As yet they are not sure if they're going to meet fortnightly or weekly but we'll keep you posted. Mmm, might just be the time to start working on those stylish hand made christmas presents....

Knitters @ Kusch bar, Mill St, 19 Oct 7.30pm

Something for the weekend?

The 'must do' event this weekend has to be vegetable sculpture at Cloverbank farm. We say that of course because the loop is doing it. Come down on Saturday morning to stockpile gourmet organic and local produce and say hello to the loop team and friends whilst sculpting something extraordinary from a marrow. Skip breakfast and grab it there and don't forget your basket.

Half of the loop caught Bat for Lashes in Manchester last night and was reminded how good it is to get out and see a live band. With that in mind get along to Dom & Neil at the Swan with Two Necks on Friday night and Bridgewater Blues band at Ronnies on Sunday.You can catch a rare gig from the snappily named Konkoma Maximum Love Garden Orchestra on Friday at the Hollins Pub (and there is a rumour they are at the Millstone on Saturday). A reliable source says they are fantastic.

Altrnatively on Sunday KEMS perform their Autumn Fiesta! concert with conductor Anthony Houghton and Brian Lightowler on accordian. More details from their website.

Looking backwards, thanks Yvonne for your kind words and comments on the John Lindley / loop social: 'It felt very relaxing, I felt like a child being read to as I listened to the poetry, which is a new area for me.' You might fancy the vegetable scuplture then.

KEMS www.kems.org.uk
Ronnies Bar www.ronnies-bar.co.uk
Cloverbank Farm Market Sat 17 Oct 8.30 am. to 12.30 pm North Rode.
Swan with Two Necks. see maccattack link

The loop is often to be heard moaning about the lack of theatre in Macc (MADS etc aside) so is delighted to hear about an innovative Macc production and one which highlights such a significant worthwhile local cause.The author of the Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler has interviewed women from all walks of life and all ages and compiled them into this extraordinary montage of various real women’s experiences.

V-Day is a global movement aimed at ending violence against women, and the profits from this performance will be going to Macclesfield Womens' Aid, who help women and children escape abusive home situations. Hence they want ordinary local women, and ideally those who feel strongly about the cause (such as those who have encountered abuse or are close to someone who has). Acting experience is nothing compared to passion in these productions! But remember this is not an absolute prerequisite.They are also keen to find a venue for their final production next February so if you have a spacious hall / performance space and would like to support this important cause please contact them.

Auditions:The Hollins Pub, Black Road, Macclesfield
Monday 26 October at 7pm
Wednesday 28 October at 7pm
Sunday 1 November at 5pm
E-mail: team@vdaymacclesfield.co.uk
Tel: 07917 391 747.
www.vdaymacclesfield.co.uk

Traditional Acapellan African Song & Dance

Umdumo Wesizwe are nine young men from Zimbabwe, singing songs of love, hope, courtship and hardship. They will mesmerise you with their harmonies and tip-toe dance routines. Their musical mix of Afro Pop, Jazz, R&B and reggae is suitable for over 16s.

Catch them at Fallibroome High School, Priory Lane on Thursday 15 October. Tickets cost £5.
Tel: 01244 972835.

A late weekend

Not been at the key board for a couple of days, so not delivered our usual weekend round up. Sorry!

If you are going out tonight you could catch Generation Lost and Sick Sinus at the Swan with two Necks or the Northern Chamber Orchestra with Raphael Wallfisch on cello; Mendelssohn, Reicha, Weber and Beethoven. Their Heritage centre concerts are £15, £13, £7 and under 18s are free. It starts at 7.30 so you could get along to both!

Tomorrow landmarks 2 starts at the Art Centre Gallery in Bollington and if you're feeling self indulgant theres always the Jewellery Fair in Buxton.

NCO Heritage centre 0161 247 2220 / TIC 01625 504 114
Swan with Two Necks, Chestergate. see maccattack link.
Bollington Art Centre; see link.

Wanted: Morris Dancers

Or people who think they would like to become one.

Morris sides are always looking for recruits, the more members you have the more opportunities there are to dance out. Now is a particularly good time to start dancing, anyone starting now would usually be ready to dance out when the season begins in the late spring.

With that in mind why not have a go with Waters Green Morris Dancers who are a women's 'Cotswold Style' morris side. If you would like to try Morris dancing you are welcome to join them any Wednesday at their practice sessions and they will arrange a special, free, no obligation, 'morris taster session' for you. Irresistible?

They practice most Wednesday evenings

8.30 - 10.00 pm

6th Macclesfield Scout hut,

Station Street, Macclesfield,

http://www.watersgreenmorris.btik.com

watersgreenmorris@hotmail.co.uk

And the heavens opened

Not everyone would consider last night's deluge the perfect arena for an al fresco poetry reading. I must admit I had my reservations and took a brolly. That said it was a great night and John Lindley a charismatic poet. For the many of you who hauled themselves along in that biblical down pour we hope you enjoyed yourelves, you were a great crowd and entered into the spirit of things despite being shunted backwards and forwards at times. Hooray for Ronnie's magnificent parasols and heaters. We are mighty glad that the drips from the canopy didn't hit the mic and electrocute the poet...it might have got us in the Macc Express though. Nothing else seems to work.



Tomorrow is National Poetry Day so make sure you tune into radio 4's Today programme ( 93.2FM) in the morning to catch Carol Ann Duffy hopefully reading the poem she has written for National Poetry Day. Also on Radio 4 in the evening is the final of the UK slam, with Jo Bell as one of the judges – Have a look at the website and if you do only one thing this week do send one of their free e-cards to a friend.

National Poetry Day www.nationalpoetryday.co.uk

Unmissable

Remember its the unmissable loop social this evening, a poetry special ( its National poetry day on Thursday) with John Lindley. The scarf is not such a bad idea, as we will be outside in a courtyard but under cover with heaters too.

Worth the Hike: Tonight you can catch Scottish Singer Of The Year, Emily Smith and 'one of the most beautiful voices on the current folk scene' at The Biddulph Arms. Her profile has risen with appearances on the BBC's Transatlantic Sessions and at The Shrewsbury Folk Festival, both with her band and as part of the Darwin Project. For this gig only support comes from the young and extremely talented Shropshire singer and accordion player Harriet Bartlett.
We'll let you know what other good music things they get up to in Biddulph but in the meantime take a look at www.biddulphupinarms.com

Weds 7 Oct Emily Smith The Biddulph Arms 8pm Tickets £12 Tel 01782-514896
Tues 6 Oct Loop social with John Lindley Ronnies bar Dukes Court 8pm free but booking please to maccloop@googlemail.com

Cinema: Cinemac

For your delectation at Cinemac. Go to their website for full details of dates and times.
District 9
Dorian Gray
Creation (PG)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (U)

Disney-Pixar''s Up commences 16 October and plays during half-term.

Tickets £4- £5.50 Don't forget cheap tickets on a monday night £3

If you have not yet discovered Cinemac, an unconventional and charming cinema, check out the website: http://www.cinemac.org.uk/ for further information, times and full listings.
Cinemac
Heritage Centre,
Roe St, Macclesfield.
Recorded Information: 01625 423535 Enquiries: 07871 422937

Peace, Truth, Equality, Simplicity

Its Sunday so it seems appropriate to mention an exhibition with a spiritual dimension...

3-11 Oct is Quaker week and Macclesfield Quakers invite you to see how their faith continues to inspire them to help in creating a fairer and more peaceful world for all of us by visiting their exhibition at the tourist information office at the Town Hall, Macclesfield, from the 19th to 25th October.

Quaker faith is rooted in the belief that everyone has a direct relationship with the Divine, and their experience of that relationship is strengthened through quiet, prayerful communal worship. Their simple, powerful form of worship has inspired Quakers to engage in peace work, human rights and social reform for 400 years.

Quaker concerns for Peace, Truth, Equality, Simplicity and Sustainable Living have led them to campaign against slavery, poverty, war and corruption, and for peace, equality, honesty and justice since the 1600s.

For more information on Quakers in Britain, please go to www.quaker.org.uk and to contact Macclesfield Quakers, please call Jill Maguire on 01625 432 437, or email her at artscps@talktalk.net

Something for the weekend?

It appears to be a particularly musical weekend around town: there's Richard Leach's 7 stars of Jazz in Bollington on Saturday and more jazz with Anniie's Saints and Sinners at the Baths Hotel on Sunday afternoon in Macc. There is a choral performance of Spem in Alium in Christ Church (see post below)and Clonter Opera perform 'Rigoletto'. Pop Thugs play the Swan with Two Necks on Saturday and and the Box Groove Coolers are at Ronnie's on Sunday.

If you fancy something a bit more physical get along to the opening of the new Skate Park in South Park and if its your lungs that need a buzz, a night at Bolly Comedy Club tonight should do the trick ; if you heckle that is!

Jazz at Bollington Art Centre. see link below
Baths Hotel, Green St, sun 6 Oct 4pm 01625 262884
Clonter Opera www.clonteropera.com
Pop Thugs see maccattack link below.
Box Groove Coolers www.ronnies-bar.co.uk

Sing to save Christ Church

England Sings to Save Historic Churches At Risk

Christ Church, Macclesfield, commissioned in 1776 by a famous local industrialist Charles Roe, is throwing open its doors and its history as it joins with other historic churches at risk across England in a unique public singing event over the weekend of 3 – 4 October.

Called Birthday Song, the weekend sees 40 choirs performing in 40 of the most nationally significant historic churches cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust, celebrating the charity’s 40th birthday by providing local people with a unique opportunity to rediscover these magnificent buildings, including Christ Church.

The Churches Conservation Trust is the national charity protecting England’s historic churches at risk. These are the most significant historic churches which are no longer needed for regular worship. Birthday Song enables people to discover the joy these ancient churches can bring and find out how they can be saved for future generations through contemporary community use.

For Christ Church The Manchester Chorale have taken the 40th anniversary theme and will lead a workshop focusing on Thomas Tallis’ iconic choral work, Spem in Alium, composed for 40 independent voices. Beginning at 2pm on 3rd October, the workshop will be followed by an informal concert at 5pm with a spectacular performance of Spem in Alium and current repertoire highlights from Manchester Chorale. Cost: workshop £10 (£5 for concessions), concert free of charge.

Please register in advance by contacting ged.cavanagh@ntlworld.com

Oct 3

2pm workshop £10/£5

5pm performance Spem in Alium free

Christ Church Macclesfield

photograph courtesy Steve Thornhill. View his and other's pictures of Macclesfield by going to the Flickr Link below, right.