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)

Of Music, Mottram and Markets

Starting the musical weekend with On at The Swan, Chestergate... as tonight the Adam Palma Band play, followed on Saturday night by This Year's Winner Is (07793373698).

Staying with Saturday, Cheshire Rural Touring Theatre in the Quarter present, Forgotten Fortress, a journey into Cheshire's past at 7.30pm in Mottram St Andrew Village Hall (01625 583930). The Bollington Chamber concerts present The Finzi Quartet (see pic) playing Haydn, Bridge, Stravinsky and Beethoven, 8pm and £14 at the Bollington Arts Centre. (01625 560355 http://www.bollingtonartscentre.org.uk/ )

There's a treat in store at the Hollins, on Black Road, with Fretbuzz, featuring Simon Kempston and the fabulous Alexis McLean (01625 424920 http://www.the-hollins.com/ )

ANd if you want to learn to play Jazz Sax there's a weekend workshop, sat and sun (intermediate level) with top jazz pro, Paul Bartholomew. Includes informal performance in local pub sat night with piano, bass and drums. 10am-5pm, £90, incl buffet lunch, tea and coffee (for details and venure 01625 573039 http://www.pbartholomew.com/

...and of course, it's TREACLE MARKET SUNDAY!!! and we will, of course, be all over that one buying necessities, eclectics and luxuries as the mood takes us. See you there.

Now, Voyager

A tempting ticklet of what's to come from the Cape Race, profiled in your current edition of theLOOP. We'll press them for a local gig (well we can but try) and post any new updates - they are definitely a band to watch! and in the meantime check out this short but slick promo... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19vyqr7yZ-0