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)

Past and Present

Clicking on the picture should reveal the detail but to make it plain... you are cordially invited to Past and Present an exhibition & sale of art and craft works from Tuesday 30th November to Friday 3 December at the Bromley Davenport Sixth Form Centre, King's School, Macclesfield.

Something For The Weekend

There's so much going on this weekend, I'm putting money on me forgetting something important... but here's to trying anyway.

Beginning tonight with a hearty laugh at the Bollington Comedy Club with Noel James, Dom Carroll, Duncan Logan and Phil Ellis (as pictured). Doors and bar open at 7.30. Performance at 8pm and tickets £8.

Stay over until Saturday night and catch Bollington Jazz. Welcoming for the first time The Limehouse Jazz Band. Starts 8pm. £8. Both Bollington Arts Centre, Wellington Rd. http://www.bollingtonartscentre.org.uk/

There's art and Italian cinema Workshops on Saturday too. With Claire de Ruiter's Wrap Up For Winter. Make a felt scarf using vibrant merino wools. 10am-4pm. £40 including materials. Rainow Church Centre. http://www.clairederuiter.co.uk/.

Also... there's the Mill Italian Opera Workshop, with the works of Verdi and Italian food and drink. From 10.30am. £20. The Mill, Sunderland St. Macc. http://www.eventbrite.com/

Renaissance Art and Wine shows international artists Alister Colley from 2 Oct. Includes a wine tasting and raffle. Roylance Building, Waters Green Macc. 01625 502111

On the large scale there's also a silk town spectacular in the form of the Silk Ball in aid of East Cheshire Hospice at Macc Town Hall from 7.30pm. £60 per person. janet@silkevent.com

And in Congleton Clonter Opera presents Rossini's La Cenerentola (Cinderella) for its final Cheshire performance. 7pm (70 min supper interval) Tickets £65, £55, £40. Clonter Opera Theatre, Swettenham Heath. http://www.clonteropera.com/

Sunday looks a little mellower with The Hollin's Farmers Market. Hollins, Black Road, Macc. http://www.the-hollins.com/. And RSPB Wildlife Explorers Wildlife Safari and Treasure Hunt. Meeting at Teggs Nose (Bottoms Reservoir carpark) http://www.macclesfieldrspb.org.uk/

Hope that's everthing and to see you out there!

A Spontaneous Outburst of Art

The Intention was to tell of Astro Kid's Day tomorrow at Jodrell Bank but as always you have to move at cosmic speed to get a ticket and we're sorry to say it's sold out.

But... how exciting, a spontaneous outburst of art and at the top of White Nancy, Bollington. James Wood is exhibiting a small installation piece that will put focus on the landscape, this Friday (20 August) between noon and 3pm. Take a look at his work on the blog: jameswood10@blogspot.com and get yourself along...