Festival Symphony Orchestra

On the Bollington Festival website there are still 93 tickets available for Tuesday night's performance by the Festival Symphony Orchestra.

The orchestra, with the Northern Chamber Orchestra at its core, plays Rossini's The Barber of Seville, Medelssohn's Italian Symphony, and Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with Icelandic virtuoso Judith Ingolfsson.

The concert will take place in the Festival Marquee on 12 May at 8pm with tickets for adults priced at £15 and children just £5.

Visit http://www.bollingtonfestival.org.uk/ for more information and to use the on-line booking system. Or alternatively call the box office on: 01625 573863. (Tue - Fri, 1 - 4pm, Sat 10am - 1pm)

Sculpture and Environmental Art Trail

A must for the loop this week will be a visit to the One House Nursery on the New Buxton Road (A537). The nursery itself is no longer open to the public, but under the keen eye of Louise Baylis, a trail has been worked through the surrounding half-acre of gardens. Here ponds, perennial borders, rockeries, sculptures and arbours combine to provide a great day out for the whole family.

A short walk will also reveal the Kune Kune pigs to be found grazing in the fine orchard of traditional fruit trees.

The Sculpture and Environmental Art Trail can be enjoyed between 9 and 25 May. With the 10 May opening being held in aid of the National Gardens Scheme.

For more information go to http://www.onehousenursery.co.uk/

Out of Town: Art

Jane Osmond

As part of the Artists Trail in Bollington, loop readers are invited to a special view of Jane Osmond's work on Friday, 8 May between7.00 - 9.30pm.There will be wine, real Ale and nibbles, and a chance to look at some of her original prints. She will be demonstrating how she produces her beautiful etchings at the weekends of both 9 - 10 May and 16 - 17 May from 11.00am - 5.00pm.If you are unable to get to the preview,make sure you visit on one of the other dates to see
Jane's beautiful etchings of local landscapes and more..
Cesterbridge Cottage
Kerridge End, Rainow, SK10 5TF

Bollington Artists Trail:
Watercolourist Dean Entwistle has illustrated a map of Bollington to guide visitors around this trail. The map will be available at the exhibition at the Arts Cenrtre, alongside a souvenir poster version that is being sold to raise funds for the festival.
The Open Studios Exhibition is open every Sunday from 2-4pm until Friday 15 May at Bollington Arts Centre. 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 – 9/10 & 16/17 May.
For further information please visit the Festival website at . See our links
or contact
Fiona Bailey 01625 260016 / 0776 167 7370
fionabailey@mac.com

Out of Town: Art

Northern Spirit
The loop is really looking forward to this exhibition. Having loved Colin's work since he produced vivid city scapes of London and currently (since his move north) glorious, potent landscapes. If you are not familiar with his paintings, have a look at www.colinhallidayart.co.uk for an insight. Loop readers are kindly invited to the preview of his latest show in Lower Withington to enjoy his pictures with a glass of wine, a canape or two and live music. The show will run for a month and be the first of more exhibitions in this venue we hope. Highly recommended.

12 May 6.30-8.30
The Black Swan Lower Withington
SK11 9EQ 01477 571602 RSVP
peter@imagic-ltd.com

Cinema:Cinemac

For your delectation at Cinemac for the coming week:

Race to Witch Mountain (PG)
The Damned United (15)
State of Play (12A)

Cinemac Heritage Centre Roe Street Macclesfield SK11 6UT Recorded Information: 01625 423535 Enquiries: 07871 422937

Ukulele Club: a word from Roger

Maccukulele Wednesday's inaugural session was an enjoyable event thanks to positive contributions from all attending. The pub itself is always a good natured lively environment, particularly when there is a United match broadcast downstairs. The goal was scored just as a Frattellis performance piece from Rob C ended - great timing as the roof lifted. Rob C of Hebden Bridge was one of three guest uke players who came last night to lend support. Grant came from Ashton to help keep the musical boat on an even keel. Andrew Little is based in Congleton - he is well known in George Formby circles and has a considerable repertoire extending into other genres. In the future we could engage Rob and his musical partner Claire to come and perform a set, Andrew also might be persuaded. Several local musicians attended to explore the world of uke, including Pete who runs the club at the Puss in Boots. Tony O'Neil is a one-man acapella singing Gershwin, Cole Porter etc, he has left us with the task of practicing the chords for "Georgia" for next month - this is the plan for each month as we build a repertoire and develop skills. This is a low key chatty environment interspersed with a group 'thrash' singing and playing suggested songs with the backup of words/chords on a screen, several numbers are "two chord" tunes which are within the reach of beginners. Karen and Roger host the event, not as 'experts' but as enthusiasts. Looking forward to next month to see how three complete beginners are coming along.

maccukulele@live.co.uk Last Wed of month. Upstairs at the Boarhound. See listings in the loop.

Congratulations Carole Ann Duffy

Carol Ann Duffy was today elected as the first female poet laureate
She takes poetry's most prestigious job, succeeding Andrew Motion, and says
'I look on it as recognition of the great women poets we now have writing' .

Whilst she plans to donate her yearly stipend of £5,750 to the Poetry Society to fund a new poetry prize she has, however, asked that her "butt of sack" – the 600 bottles of sherry traditionally given to the laureate – should be delivered up front, after learning that Motion is yet to receive his allocation.Very wise.
You can see her reading from her own works on Thursday, May 14^th at Bollington Methodist Church £10.

For more poetry get along to Bollington Art Centre:
Cinnamon poets Gail Ashton (Ghost Songs), Jan Fortune-Wood (Stale Bread & Miracles), Judy Kendall (The Drier, The Brighter) and Bill Greenwell (Impossible Objects) perform their work, take tea and chat with the audience.
Sat 16 may 3.30pm. Go to Bollington Art Centre web site from our links.

Also catch two former Cheshire poet laureates Jo Bell & Joy Winkler doing their stuff at DCAS in Dukes Coiurt as part of the next Loop Social.More on that later.

Tues 9 June 8pm maccloop@googlemail.com

And while we are on this topic remember it is National Poetry Day on Thursday 8 October. A chance to create a linked event (go on...) or to go to countless poetry based events taking place. Go to www. and register to be kept fully informed and to search their Whats On.