A big thank you to Jo Bell who was wielding her camera at the last Treacle Market. Have a look.

Christmas Treacle Market.wmv

www.youtube.com

A genuinely festive atmosphere and we actually felt Christmassy! Darned cold mind you... Great music from Annies Saints and Sinners, Hot Vestry, Phil Maddox, Rockschool singers and more.

Get your crisp new diary out and make a note that the next Treacle Market is Sunday 30 January. It will be food and drink only in the Market Place. Antiques, arts and crafts will be back for February don't worry.

In the meantime we wish you a rewarding and creative New Year from the loop.

Image Yvonne Philipps. Thanks Yvonne.

now booking

Ali Baba & the 40 Thieves

From 17 to 22 January , Macclesfield Majestic Theatre Group present at MADS Theatre, Lord Street, Macclesfield, their annual pantomime, “Ali Baba & the 40 Thieves”.

The story tells of a Prince destined to marry a Princess he has never met; a Princess desperate to marry; An overpowering Mother who expects her Daughter (Elly) to do everything for her. Ali Baba the poor hopeless romantic, who tries his hardest to ensure his best friend (Elly) is happy and would do anything for!

After the princess is robbed, by the 40 thieves, Ali goes on a mission to find the stolen treasure and claim the reward, so that his beloved Elly can have the riches she deserves, and marry the man she loves.

A comedic plot of good against bad, with twists and turns, revealing characters who are not who they seem to be!

Tickets are selling fast, but are available online at www.mmtg.co.uk or by phone on 07875 149943 or on the night at the box office. Performances start at 7.15pm each night with a matinee at 2pm on the Saturday.

A couple of words from Jo Bell:
' A request for a tiny Christmas favour (a matter of two clicks and a poem choice) - and the offer of a tiny poetic opportunity.'

First the favour: The man who thought up National Poetry Day, William Sieghart, is working to get poetry built into the Olympic Park for 2012. Whether you love or hate sport, and even if you are planning to leave the country for the great Olympic extravaganza, this is a great opportunity to get the best British poetry right in front of the world's media. So please visit Winning Words and nominate the poem you'd like to see built into the structure of the park. Pass on this request if you can via email, word of mouth or attending the event on Facebook.

Now the opportunity: BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live is looking for a member of the public for whom a poem has given inspiration at a very difficult, life changing or challenging moment and who would be happy to talk about it for the New Year’s Day show in relation to Winning Words. Can you think of anyone you know who might have such a story and be willing to share it? Please contact chris@colmangetty.co.uk (not me!) before 24 December.

Photo: Yvonne Philipps.
Thankyou Yvonne.
Please keep sending your pictures.

cinema: Cinemac

Cinemac Heritage Centre Roe Street Macclesfield SK11 6UT Recorded Information: 01625 423535 Enquiries: 07871 422937 All tickets on Sundays & Mondays: 3.20

Mon 20: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 5.30, 8.00
Tues 21: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 3.00, 5.30, 8.00
Weds 22: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 3.00, 5.30, 8.00
Thurs 23: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 3.00, 5.30, 8.00

Fri 24: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 3.00
Sat 25: cinema closed: Merry Christmas
Sun 26: Gulliver''s Travels (PG) 3.00
Sun 26: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 5.30
Mon 27: Gulliver''s Travels (PG) 3.00, 8.00
Mon 27: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 5.30
Tues 28: Gulliver''s Travels (PG) 3.00, 8.00
Tues 28: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 5.30
Weds 29: Gulliver''s Travels (PG) 3.00, 8.00
Weds 29: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 5.30
Thurs 30: Gulliver''s Travels (PG) 3.00, 8.00
Thurs 30: Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG) 5.30

Fri 31: Gulliver''s Travels (PG) 3.00

It's the last shopping weekend before Christmas and all is calm...

YES! Forget the last minute gift frenzy and just head for the Treacle Market. With vintage goodies, handmade gifts and all things unique, everything you could ever want will be delightfully to hand. Shop Treacle on Saturday in the Market Place, the Butter Market and by the Ice Rink from 10am-3.30pm. Returning at 5-9pm to shop, play out and eat - forget cooking at home and indulge festive market style. There's brilliant live music and carols too.

There's also Sunday Treacle from 10am-3pm in the Market Place and along Chestergate with all the usual finest of foods, drinks and fabulous gifts (yes, a new location and no more hills to walk!)

Oh and we just have to mention that the Loop's favourite band Butterfly Jam are playing on Saturday night at the Baths Hotel on Green Street. Conveniently at 9pm as Treacle comes to a glorious close. See you there, this brilliant weekend.

Poet in you

A new term for Adult Education Classes at Sandbach School begins on 11 January 2011 and runs until 22 March 2011. It takes place on Tuesday evenings, 7– 9pm.

Creative Writing – Find the poet in you. Writing and understanding poetry.

01270 767322. Website: www.sandbachschool.cheshire.sch.uk

Enrolment is through the school but please feel free to pass to have a chat with John Lindley 01260 273219.

Christmas Concert

KEMS Orchestra and Choir

Conductors: Anthony Houghton

and Ian Chesworth

Our popular concert of Christmas music

for choir and orchestra with carols for

audience participation. The orchestral items include

the overture to Cinderella by Rossini,

the Capriol Suite by Peter Warlock,

Ernest Tomlinson’s Suite of English Folk Dances,

and the delightful set of airs and dances that Delibes wrote for a Victor Hugo play.

Sat 18 December

7.30 pm

St Michael and All Angels Church, Market Place,

Macclesfield

Tickets (£10 adults, £2.50 under 18s) from Margin Music, 3 Market Place; Fraser Travel, 11 Church St.; Cachet Lingerie, 50 Chestergate (all of these are in Macclesfield); or by telephone 01260 252444; or online www.kems.org.uk

The Prestbury Choral Society Christmas Concert is Singing Manchester Carols, a re-telling of the Christmas story for the 21st Century. Words by Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy and music by composer/singer, Sasha Johnson Manning. Saturday 11 Dec. St Peter's Church, Prestbury, 7.30pm. Tickets £7.50/6.50 tel: 01625 584337 http://www.prestburychoral.org/

Sunderland Street Studios will once again be opening its doors to everyone for one weekend in December.

After the very successful Open Studios that took place in June as part of the Barnaby Festival,
Ralph McGaul, Melanie Alexandrou and Patrick Cody invite you into their studios,
where you can meet the artists and learn about the ideas and processes behind the work.
New work will be on display and for sale, including paintings, prints, and much more.
This is a FREE event and there will also be tea, mulled wine and homemade cakes!

Directions: Go in the black door between Brushstrokes and Thong in Cheek,
down a few steps, then up the stairs, turn right, at the end of the corridor.
Follow the signs, and don't worry.

magpiethunder.blogspot.com
ralphmcgaul.com

Mr Manchester and the Factory Girl

Fans of the 'Madchester' music scene will not want to miss Lindsay Reade talking about her memoir of Tony Wilson, Mr Manchester and the Factory Girl. Thursday 9 December, 7pm at Waterstone's Macclesfield... Some tickets still available £3.

http://www.waterstones.com/

Local Wonder Winterlands

Thanks to Helena Cowell for the winter berries and Lisa Williams for the 3 snow scenes... theLoop loves them!

Loop reader snow photos.

Thanks to Jacki Clark.

Thought you might all be interested in this Christmas campaign!

'Let's face it, Christmas music is is not very good. Joy Division are the most influential band of the twentieth century, and the antithesis of the commercial, sugary sweet pop that is usually played at Christmas. There is still a lot of love for Ian Curtis,Stephen Morris, Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner worldwide. Ian died tragically young, yet his contribution (and that of the other members of the band) to the landscape of the independent music scene was immense.'

Let's get the Joy Division classic, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" to number one in the Christmas pop charts.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joy-Division-for-Christmas-number-one/143968182314922

http://www.hmvdigital.com/artists/joy-di...
http://twitter.com/#!/jd4no1

Something for the Seasonal Weekend

You could be forgiven for thinking that it's almost Christmas, what with the snow and the calendar fit to bust... Starting on Friday night with gigs at both the Hollins - Hot Black play rock at the Black Road venue (www.the-hollins.com) and Fresh - head to Wood St. to see the Bridgewater Blues Band at 10.30pm (www.freshmacclesfield.co.uk).AND THE SWAN with 2 necks. . BRINGS A LITTLE BIT OV SUNSHINE to town with the REGGAE DAVE road show come to town also on Friday . The best in SKA ROCKSTEADY REGGAE LOVERSROCK DUBDANCEHALL > ROOTS & CULTURE.
DJ.s on the evening. Skate Board King GAVIGATION. REGGAEDAVE & SPECIAL guest FOR THE evening,SHORTIE RANKING aka KING COSMIC SOUNDS (irie irie FM). SHOW TIME 7 TILL LATE

On Saturday Helen Wright and Dan James' touring show Stigma opens at Incubation/Dukes Court Studio (upstairs) off Mill St. Tues/Weds/Sat 11am-5pm. Thurs/Fri 11am-7pm.

And for the children there's Craft Club to make gorgeous gifts, angel mobiles and practical presents from 1-3pm, £5. Education Room, Silk Museum, Park Lane. Booking essential on: 01625 612045 (www.macclesfieldsilkmuseum)

Not for the children but definitely for me... the Echo Report support the X-Beavers at the Ship on Beech Lane from 8.30pm. (pic: powerhouse of rythmn from Echo Report facebook page)

Then there's the Christmas Dinner Dance, an evening of popular Rat Pack songs from 9-piece Not Quite Jazz in aid of the Children at Destiny Garden School in Africa. At Macc Town Hall 7.30pm £12.50 including hot buffet. Book on 01625 427022. (www.elizabeth@wright.org.uk)

At the Heritage Centre find Manchester Carols with Music by Sasha Johnson and words by Carol Ann Duffy. 7.30pm £16/£13/£7 under 18 free. NCO, Heritage Centre, Roe St. Tickets 01625 504114 and on the door. (www.ncorch.co.uk)

There's Jazz at the Arts Centre with Amy Roberts All Star Jazz Band. Bollington Arts Centre, Wellington Rd. 8pm and £8. 01625 574410 (www.bollingtonartscentre.org.uk)

Clonter Opera presents: Spirit of Christmas with the London Adventist Chorale and conducted by Ken Burton. Starts at 7pm costs £30/£25 (70 min supper interval) Clonter Opera Theatre, Swetteham Heath, Congleton 01260 224514 (www.clonteropera.com)

Macclesfield Oriana Choir play Handel's Messiah and Puccini's Messa di Gloria 7.30pm. £10. Tickets from Frazer's Travel Shop 01625 424215

And on Sunday... Bollington Festival Music Theatre present Labyrinth! local children are transported through time and space from Bollington's Labyrinth to the one in Crete where they face the Minotaur. 2.30 & 5pm. Bollington Arts Centre, Wellington Rd.

And to close in seasonal style... there's Tree Dressing with Macc RSPB Wildlife Explorers, their annual celebration of trees using natural materials to produce art & sculpture in the woods. From 1.30-3.30pm. Meet at Tytherington Family Worship Church Hall, Sandwhich Drive. Booking Essential on 07870 804413 (www.macclesfieldrspb.org.uk)

For the Love of Snow

Send us your Winter in Macclesfield pictures, poems or prose again this year...

my heart flys free
chasing my yearning across
a pure white field,
while i run behind,
laughing,
and leaving boot marks
in the snow.
(jane birch 2010)

...to: maccloop@googlemail.com or submit here and we'll upload your artistry to maccloop.blogspot.com and the Loop facebook page.