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.

Something for the Weekend

As if there wasn't enough on... it is both National Heritage Weekend and Open Studios Weekend, so, a real arts and culture fest.

Open Studios will see 44 professional contemporary artists opening their studios to the public during September, beginning this weekend, for full details visit: http://www.artistsatwork.org.uk/.

While Heritage Open Days celebrate England's architecture and culture by offering free access to properties usually closed to the public or charging admission. For details of local features visit http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/

Or, start Saturday as you mean to go on and Make a Monster! Children of all ages are invited to Longden Gallery, on Shaw Street, 11am-3pm, to make their own clay monster creations. £6 includes materials used and the cost of firing. Note: children must be accompanied. 01625 433953.

Then on Saturday night Macclesfield Male Voice Choir join forces with visiting guests, Brixham Orpheus Male Voice Choir to sing in Macclesfield United Reformed Church on Park Green. That's from 7:30pm with tickets £7. 01625 428331. http://www.macclesfieldmvc.org.uk/.

A little later at the fabulous Baths Hotel on Green Street, you can hear Les Peches from 9pm.

On Sunday, if you're up early with the small people, head to Waterstone's Macclesfield for the Sunday Morning Book Club. With colouring, balloons and a fabulous story from 10am.

Then make your way to the Rossendale Trust Fete, Hollin Lane, Sutton. Gates open at 1pm and activities include birds of prey, classic cars, BBQ and more. Entry just £1. http://www.rossendaletrust.org/ (see picture)

At Ronnie's catch the much awaited, The David International, from around 7.30pm; including Scott Darlington and some familiar faces from the Macc music scene. Follow the link from the website http://www.ronnies-bar.co.uk/ (but mind, there's some choice language if you're easily offended).

What A Summer!

The Loop loves Windystock and will not only be dancing in the fields, with the stunning views of Teggs Nose Country Park, but will also be camping out (£2 per tent). All the better to enjoy that Festival feeling and celebrate the 19 bands packed into 12 hours of fabulous live music.
Tickets, priced at just £15, are now on sale from Margin Music, Magpie Music, Windyway Trust Shop and Windyways itself and please bear in mind that tickets sold out last year within a week. To avoid disappointment get yours soon!

Talking tickets, you won't want to miss Waterstone's very own Crime spree. When authors Kate Ellis and Chris Simms come to Macclesfield, Thursday 15 July at 7pm to talk about and sign copies of their latest books. £3 but redeemable against book purchase on the night.

And... if you only do one thing with the children this summer. Take them on a journey of the imagination, to an enchanted forest. Take them to the Just So Festival. There to play with Maisy Mouse and Spy Dog, attend a Moomin Party, go Pollocks (and get very messy), play on the beach (yes there's a real beach) and more than I can mention here. For more information and tickets (selling at super hero speed) visit www.justsofestival.org.uk/

We think we are very smart and have already got tickets for them all!

Fretbuzz - ing

Short notice we know, but we've only just got wind of this musical must see.

At Ronnie's tonight (Thursday 6 May) from 9pm... Dead River Records present: FRETBUZZ

Dan Bridgewood Hill and Alexis McLean. (a Dead River picture)

It's Official, Music is Power!

There's one thing for certain - it's all going on at Ronnie's Bar this Easter weekend. But first, a mention of Audiopimps, playing live at Fresh, Wood St., on Good Friday night; and back to Duke's Court...

Sunday (4 April) sees Ronnie play host to Music Is Power 2010, (pic courtesy of Youth Music) a charity event featuring some of the best bands and artists from Cheshire and Greater Manchester, from folk to indie and right on to hard rock. With a line up that includes Tom & Ferg, Chris Birdsall, Rich House, Supernought, Old Yellow and Mars Black. From 2pm to late at a ticket price of £10.

It's all in aid of Youth Music charity, a cause that helps improve the lives of disadvantaged young people by providing free access to a range of music-making projects and activities.

Since 1999, Youth Music has helped transform the lives of over 2 million children and young people through the power of music and because of the charity there ar now more high quality music-making opportunities for a wider range of children and young people than ever before; from learning rock guitar or beat-boxing to classical violin and everything in between.

The festival aims to raise funds for this cause and raise awareness of the organisation and of the positive and often life-changing effects music can have for young people.

For more information on the charity or to make a donation, go to http://www.musicispower.youthmusic.org.uk/

Oh yeah! and on Monday night the Virgin Marys play in the courtyard too - just has to be the place to be. See you there.
Ronnie's Bar, Dukes Court, Macc 01625 665050
http://www.ronnies-bar.co.uk/

Looping into the Weekend

the loop e-guide (issue 11) is now out. If you haven’t received a copy; or IMPORTANTLY if your copy will not open please send us an e-mail at: maccloop@googlemail.com and we will sort it out.
And now... Something for the Weekend:
On the Visual Arts front Art From the Attic, new work by young artists from Macc’s Sunderland St Studios opens at the Bollington Arts Centre from Sunday between 2 and 4pm and during other events. Plus, the work of the winners of the Jobling Gowler Art Prize 2009 can currently be viewed at the art friendly Solicitor’s office on Park Lane. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.

When it comes to performance the Marionette Theatre co presents Magical Marrionettes, its winter variety show. At the Poynton Civic Centre on Saturday at 2pm

Also on Saturday Macclesfield Music Society presents young Russian pianist, Alexandre Karpeyev at the Heritage Centre at 7.30pm.

The newly refurbished The Hollins offers live music on both Friday and Saturday in the form of Smokehouse Blues Band (Johnny Hewitt on harmonica) and FreeFall Vertigo with ‘its excellent rendition of Delila’

Last but not least make your way to Ronnie’s Bar (pic courtesy of www.ronnies-bar.com) on Sunday and catch the Boogie Men. Cut the voucher out of loop 11 and get a gourmet pizza and quality bottle of wine for just £10 (offer open until end Feb)

Bollington Arts Centre, Wellington Rd. www.bollingtonartcentre.org.uk/
Jobling Gowler Solicitors, 250 Park Lane. 01625 614250 www.art.250parklane.co.uk/
Poynton Civic Centre, off Park Lane. 01625 872368
Heritage Centre, Roe St, Macc. 01625 82077/427339. www.macclesfieldmusicsociety.co.uk/
The Hollins, 262 Black Rd, Macc. 01625 424920. www.the-hollins.com/
Ronnie’s Bar, Duke’s Court. 01625 665050. www.ronnies-bar.com/

A Musical Loop Social

Loop bloggers, all, please join us for another of our highly enjoyable evenings with unpredictable live elements; this time in the musical form of Dead River Disco. A curious name for the very talented pairing of Helen Walford and Steve Smith, wonderfully described we think as:
acoustic and folky, soft and chimey, English and American, male and female
Should you need more convincing, discover them on www.myspace.com/deadriverdisco

When and where...
Tuesday 26 January at 8pm
Ronnie's Bar, Dukes Court, Mill St, Macclesfield

Free but Booking essential: maccloop@googlemail.com 07981 128454

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