The Met, Market St, Bury BL9 0BW | 0161 761 2216 | www.themet.biz

Spring &Summer2015FAIRPORT CONVENTION

SARA WATKINS,SARAH JAROSZ& AOIFE O’DONOVAN

MUD MORGANFIELD

THE LANCASHIRE HOTPOTS

KING PLEASURE AND THE BISCUIT BOYS

PEATBOG FAERIES

TERRY CHRISTIAN

JON RONSON

What’s On

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ContentsWelcome

Theatre 4

Kids & Families 8

Music 8

Visitor Information !9

Timetable of events @0

SO FAR WE’VE HAD AN exciting year at The Met with our sold out Big Whistle

Festival and a huge number of great gigs and thrilling theatre. Combine this with our exciting plans for a Better Met and Bury’s new Purple Flag accreditation for a healthy evening economy, we hope even more of you will come and support our small thriving venue through the spring and summer months.

As ever many of the shows listed in the brochure are already on sale. Our Friends of The Met have had priority access to some events so please don’t delay in booking tickets if you see something you like. We were delighted to win Best Entertainment Venue at the Greater Manchester Tourism Awards in December and plan to build on this to continue to develop great events, workshops and festivals for you to enjoy.

Coming up is some great theatre for children and grown ups alike with the thrilling Les Enfants Terrible who return with Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs and Box of Tricks’ Plastic Figurines. There’s even something for childish grown ups amongst us with John Hegley, Norsesome and From the Cradle to the Bin.

We’re very excited to have some fantastic collaborations from artists loved by audiences in their own right with Boo Hewerdine and Kris Drever and the I’m With Her tour. Ross and Jarlath also return following

sellout gigs at Big Whistle Festival 2014 and 2015.

Duke Special, ESKA, Inner Vision Orchestra, Monsieur Doumani, The East Pointers and April Verch Band all make a first visit to Bury on the back of growing international reputation and album releases whilst we extend a welcoming hand to artists profiled previously at Ramsbottom Festival including Otis Gibbs, Moreland & Arbuckle and Eliza Carthy.

All of this, our community projects in partnership with Bury Council and weekly workshops for those wanting to try something different within the performing arts are only possible because of support from our funders and partners. Sponsorship and public funding from Bury Council and Arts Council

England allows The Met to try things, take risks and keep

developing. We hope you will join us for some new experiences and treats in

the coming months.

David Agnew,Artistic Director

Comedy 6

Classes & Workshops !8

Support us

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Let’s be FriendsBecoming a Friend of The Met is the key to unlocking the incredible programme of music, comedy, theatre and family shows at The Met. Our Friends enjoy a huge range of benefits from saving money on each ticket purchase to exclusive behind-the-scenes access to The Met.

Access more….• 24 hour priority booking by

email for all new events

• Dedicated booking phone line 10am-5pm Monday-Friday

• Access to the Ramsbottom Festival VIP area with a standard priced ticket

• Regular updates on our upcoming renovation

• A tour of the new building before the official opening

• Seasonal newsletter

Choose from an Individual Friendship for £30 or a Joint Friendship for two people at the same address for £50.

To become a Friend call the Box Office on 0161 761 2216, go online at www.themet.biz and click on Let’s be Friends or come into The Met in person.

Save more….• No booking or exchange fees

• 10% off food at Automatic

Experience more…• Invitations to Artistic

Director David Agnew’s choice of events of the season

• Advance season brochure with an introduction from David Agnew

• Invitations to VIP and exclusive Friends’ events

The Met is a much loved venue, but our 165 year-old building is starting to show

its age. We want to refurbish and improve the building, to create an exciting and vibrant space for you and for artists, while retaining The Met’s unique character.

We’re calling this project A Better Met, and for the past three years we’ve been working hard behind-the-scenes to make it happen. Transforming the building will cost £4.6 million, of which we’ve already raised £4.1 million.

We need your help to find the final £500,000.

How can you help? The best way to help is by making a donation. You can donate on our website, by text (to send £5 right now text BMAA01 £5 to 70070), at our ticket office or at an event (look out for the red buckets). Every penny helps.

We’ve been overwhelmed by the support for the project so far and with almost 90% of our fundraising target already achieved, we hope you’ll join us in the final push to create a brilliant venue for artsand music in Bury.

Experience theatre at The Met with our Theatre Special Offer. 20% off tickets for any 3 marked shows.

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Plastic FigurinesBox of Tricks Theatre Company

Wednesday 22 April 8pm£10 / £6 concession

Rose loves her brother Mikey. Mikey loves Rose, Bruce Willis films and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles but he hates change. When their mum is diagnosed with leukaemia, their world is plunged into chaos. Rose returns home to find a very different brother to when she left. But today is his eighteenth birthday and Rose wants everything to be perfect but life with Mikey isn’t ever that simple.

Inspired by events in the playwright’s own life, Plastic Figurines is a funny and moving new play that explores the relationship between siblings with very different views of the world.

Recently nominated for a Manchester Theatre Award, Box of Tricks is a theatre company committed to the next generation of new writing. Playwright Ella Carmen Greenhill is a former writer-on-attachment at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouseand Paines Plough.

“A theatre company to watch”The Stage

Plastic Figurines

Norsesome Temple Theatre

Wednesday 6 May 7.30pm / £10 / £8 concession

All the greatest Viking myths in one unforgettable hour. Randy gods, psychotic giants and murderous elves face off in the show to end all shows – with the end of the world guaranteed.

From the adventures of Thor to the outrageous pranks of Loki, every story from Norse mythology is packed into this

unforgettable hour. Mixing comedy, music, drama and an unhealthy amount of cross-dressing, international award winners Temple Theatre bring you Valhalla-va show.

Not suitable for anyone under 12 or the faint-hearted!

Norsesome

Theatre

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New Dawn FadesA play about Joy Division and ManchesterWednesday 20 May 8pm£16 / £14 concession

New Dawn Fades is the story of a band, it’s also the story of a city. Join

‘Mr Manchester’ Anthony H. Wilson as he takes you on a journey of myth and magic through the history of the world’s first industrial city, meeting the people who emerged from that landscape to form one of Manchester and the world’s most iconic bands – Joy Division.

Written by Brian Gorman; Directed by Sarah Van Parys; Produced by Giles Bastow and Brian Gorman for All Roads Meet Ltd.

From the Cradle to the BinShip of Fools Theatre Company

Thursday 4 June 8pm£10 / £6 concession

Mr Whitey, an affable English gent, spends his final days living on the edge of a broken care system. We meet inept carers, sneering owners, money hungry family members and a host of others who are sure to make his end a memorable one.

From the Cradle to the Bin is a hilarious odyssey about being thrown onto life’s scrap heap. By creating an outrageously funny and dark world it reveals an unsettling commentary on the reality of care and neglect within our society.

“A beautifully executed show... joyful, raw, profoundly moving and excruciatingly funny.” Esther Wilson, writer of The Accused and The Street

Gin and Chronic ArthritisMaD Community Theatre Co

Wed 24 & Thu 25 June 7.30pm£12 / £10 concession

Marilyn is not your typical Nanna. She drinks Gin for breakfast, ice skates every Tuesday and has numerous internet lovers. When one of these men, Wheelchair Barry takes her to a psychic night at the local pub Marilyn gets a message from her childhood sweetheart from beyond the grave. She is over the moon but Barry is consumed with jealousy.

MaD Community Theatre Company work with disadvantaged young people and adults, offering accreditation and employment and performing original plays. Gin and Chronic Arthritis is one of their best loved comedies.

Gin and Chronic Arthritis

From the Cradle to the Bin

New Dawn Fades

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John HegleyNew and Selected PotatoesFriday 24 April 8pm£14 / £8 under 16s

John Hegley has been performing publicly since the ‘70s, having produced ten books of verse and prose the UK’s favourite performance poet, comedian and musician hits the road once again, mandolin in hand.

Performing pieces old and new, sung and spoken John meditates on family, celery and happier Daleks. Light and lyrical. Deep and daft. Come and sing.

Jonny andthe BaptistsRock The VoteFriday 24 April 8pm / £10

Special offer: £5 first time voters (aged 18-23 on election night)

Multi-award nominees and stars of Radio 4’s Now Show and Infinite Monkey Cage, Jonny and the Baptists take on the big issues ahead of the May 2015 general election with songs, satire and silliness.

And with politicians now officially ranked below estate agents in the public’s trust, it’s a desperate bid to find at least one good reason to vote.

Terry ChristianThe Naked Confessions of a Recovering CatholicFriday 15 May 8pm£14 / £12 concession

From the streets of inner-city Manchester to the boulevards of Beverly Hills, Terry Christian’s debut stand-up show takes a snapshot of life, overlooked by an all-seeing, and often unforgiving, God. This is a hilarious romp through the guilt-ridden, and occasionally dark, realms of life. He delivers an honest, funny and sometimes profound stand-up performance.

Jon RonsonAn Evening of Public ShamingFriday 22 May 8pm£16 / £14 concession

Hilarious and powerful in the way only Jon Ronson can be, An Evening of Public Shaming is an illustrated one-man show about the renaissance of public shaming, and our very scary part in it. It’s a story about how we’ve become soldiers in a war on human nature – and how there’s been an escalation in hostilities.

An evening with Gervase PhinnWednesday 27 May 8pm / £17.50

A best-selling author, radio and TV personality, Gervaise Phinn has been touring the country for over 10 years and really is at his best in front of a live audience. An Evening with Gervase Phinn will have you on the edge of your seat, as he shares his hilarious tales of life as a schools inspector in the Yorkshire Dales.

300 to OneMatt PaneshThursday 28 May 8pm£10 / £6 concession

In “the oddest, but the most engaged show commemorating the First World War” The Scotsman, a schoolboy re-enacts the film 300 to the ghosts of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon.

In turns hilarious and heartbreaking, a truly original one man comedy show.

TerryChristian

JonRonson

Jonny & the Baptists

JohnHegley

GervasePhinn

MattPanesh

Comedy

The Lancashire Hotpots A Fistful Of Scratchcards Tour 2015Saturday 4 July 8pm / £14 / standing

Listen up cowboys and girls, comedy troubadours The Lancashire Hotpots are donning their stetsons and saddling up their horses to bring you an evening of music, comedy and a bit of the Wild Wild West.

Expect all your usual favourites including Chippy Tea, Shopmobility Scooter as well as a rootin’ tootin’ country and western hoedown. Yee haw!

“The Spinal Tap of folk bands” Paddy McGuinness

“It’s impossible not to giggle” BBC Music Reviews

First Thursday …in AprilThursday 2 April 8.30pm£8 advance / £10 door

A Liverpool Special with three Scouse comedians: Jamie Sutherland, Paul Savage and Nige. Plus Britain’s best blind comedian Wizzy Janew.

First Thursday …in MayThursday 7 May 8.30pm£8 advance / £10 door

An Edinburgh Fringe special featuring Ali Cook and Daliso Chaponda. Daliso started his comedy career in Canada before touring South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Malawi as well as the UK circuit and festivals around the world.

Top comedy at The Met on the first Thursday of every monthFirst Thursday Comedy Club

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First Thursday …in JuneThu 4 June 8.30pm / £8 advance / £10 door

Continuing the Edinburgh Fringe theme First Thursday welcomes Doug Segal. Doug is a mental illusionist with a sense of humour, known from Holland to Japan for his unique mind reading magic.

First Thursday …in JulyThursday 2 July 8.30pm£8 advance / £10 door

Inept hospital radio DJ Ivan Brackenbury has appeared on Radio 1, Virgin and GLR. Psychic Ian D Montfort combines the trickery of stage mediums with comedic flair to debunk their techniques.

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Nige

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Kathryn Roberts& Sean LakemanSupported by Hattie Briggs

Thursday 2 April 8pm£14 / £12 concession / Folk

Two of the British folk scene’s most accomplished performers, Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman have graced stages the world over.

The intimacy and strength of passion they have as a duo, combined with their eclectic repertoire ensures a rare treat.

JaywalkersSupported by Little Rach

Friday 3 April 8pm£12 / £10 concession / Folk

Jaywalkers are one of the most exciting, virtuosic and entertaining young bands working on the British Folk scene.

Creating a unique sound, the band takes influence from folk, country, bluegrass, and western swing music in the form of virtuosic instrumentals, 3-part harmony and impressive slap bass.

Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman

Captain Flinn and The Pirate DinosaursLes Petits Theatre CompanySaturday 4 April 3pm & 5pm / £10

Join Flinn as he discovers a Pirate hiding in a cupboard, hold on tight as the cupboard vanishes and he tumbles into a real life adventure! All aboard for a non-stop action packed theatrical experience with live music, puppetry, physical performance and dastardly dinosaurs!

Based on the award-winning book by Giles Andreae and Russell Ayto.

MusicKids & Families

The Lost CarnivalFriday 22-Monday 25 May 4pm-9pmBurrs Country Park, Bury / £10 / FREE for under 3s

For more information and ticketsvisit www.thelostcarnival.org.uk

Families of the North, prepare yourselves. Over a century after the mysterious Lost Carnival was last heard of, news has reached our ears that in May it will reappear near Bury…

The content of the event will remain shrouded in mystery until the audience step inside the big top, but families can expect spellbinding theatre, circus, music and visual trickery. All that has been revealed so far is that an

incredible carnival, the most enchanting in the world, suddenly stopped touring in its heyday, under suspicious and mysterious circumstances.

The carnival is coming back, but can the families of the North help it to ward off past dangers and bring it back to its former glory?

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RANTThursday 9 April 8pm£10 / £8 concession / Folk

RANT is the meeting of four of Scotland’s finest fiddle players, two from the Shetland Islands and two from the Highlands. Bethany Reid, Jenna Reid, Sarah-Jane Summers and Lauren MacColl join forces to create a rich and vibrant sound.

They made their debut performance in July 2012, storming onto the scene and immediately earning high praise. Using just their fiddles, they weave a tapestry of melodies, textures, layers and sounds.

Mad Dog McreaFriday 10 April 8pm£14 seated / £10 standing / Folk

Mad Dog Mcrea blend a unique mixture of folk rock, pop, gypsy jazz and bluegrass music. From self-penned songs of adventure, drinking, love and life, to traditional songs of gypsies, fairies, and legless pirates, Mad Dog Mcrea never fail to grip you with their infectious songs.

“This is rowdy, heartfelt, room shaking, spirit-stirring music that only the dead can’t enjoy.” Itdstate.com

AbsolutionFriday 10 April 8.30pm£12 / £10 concession / Blues

Absolution have thrilled audiences across the UK, including a set at the Great British Rock and Blues Festival. Known for their high energy shows and featuring three top musicians including both an award-winning guitarist and drummer, this modern blues power trio are fast becoming one of the must see blues rock acts on the UK circuit.

KingPleasureand the Biscuit BoysSaturday 11 April 8pm£15 seated / £12 standing / Jazz

King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys are more than just the world’s

greatest swing band, they are an institution. BBC Radio 2’s Paul Jones called them “the hardest act to follow since the parting of The Red Sea”, New York’s Atomic Magazine wrote

“To those who say that swing is a musical form best left to Americans, prepare to be proven wrong. This British combo is bullet-proof!”

Mad DogMcrea

RANT

Jaywalkers

King Pleasure andthe Biscuit Boys

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Duke SpecialSupported byShe Makes WarThursday 16 April 8pm£12.50 advance / Rock and pop

Vaudeville-styled bohemian singer Duke Special (aka Peter Wilson) cuts a striking figure on stage, often performing alone with only his piano and old squeaky gramophone for accompaniment. Duke is currently finishing off his next studio album Look Out Machines due for release in 2015.

Bob FoxAn evening with the War Horse SongmanFriday 17 April 8pm£14 / £12 concession / Folk

Bob Fox has played the role of songman in War Horse for the past three years. Join him as he performs the songs from the multi award winning smash hit show, with additional material from his own personal repertoire – a number of stories and songs built up from his forty year career in the music industry.

Beforethe DawnA tribute to Kate BushSaturday 18 April 8pm£12 / Rock and pop

Before the Dawn mix Kate’s best love songs such as Running Up That Hill, and Wuthering Heights with classic album tracks to create a fantastic track-list. As well as amazing music Before the Dawn perform in front of a stunning video wall wearing replica costumes of some of Kate’s most iconic looks in order to produce a highly visual show.

Kris Drever & Boo HewerdineThursday 23 April 8pm / £14 / Folk

Two of the nation’s busiest and most in demand songwriters, guitarists, label mates and musical friends Kris and Boo are touring together for the very first time in 2015. They have been connected through song for almost a decade and found time to write new material together in 2014. A Mr Kite Benefit.

Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz & Aoife O’DonovanI’m With Her TourSaturday 25 April 8pm£19 / Americana

Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan have crossed paths many times throughout their careers – so it comes as no surprise that, after an impromptu performance at the 2014 Telluride Bluegrass Festival, all the pieces fell into place for these three acclaimed musicians to collaborate. A Mr Kite Benefit.

BobFox

Before the Dawn

DukeSpecial

Kris Drever and Boo Hewerdine

I’mWithHer

SOLD OUT

Music

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Bella HardyThursday 30 April 8pm£16 / £14 concession / Folk

Bella Hardy, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Singer of the Year 2014, tours her eagerly anticipated new album With The Dawn; a heartfelt collection of self-composed songs.

With roots firmly within the folk tradition, songs written straight from the heart, and bold steps into a new world of sound and expression, this is a performance not to be missed.

Christina MartinSupported by Vinny Peculiar

Thursday 30 April 8pm£10 / Americana

Canadian singer-songwriter Christina Martin blends alt-country and rock with a pop-sensibility.

Her fifth album It’ll Be Alright is a place where the ghosts of her musical heroes freely mingle with pop-rock’s modern architects. The album’s brilliance is its seamless blend of the past and present. This is her most accomplished but also most accessible album to date.

“Martin’s voice is lovely; powerful and emotive and bang on the note....“ Maverick Magazine

ESKAFriday 1 May 8pm£14 / £12 concession / Folk

ESKA is a Zimbabwe-born and London-raised composer whose vocal arrangements have credits on three Mercury-nominated albums.

In her debut EP, Gatekeeper, ESKA’s weaves together a diverse range of musical elements. She combines folk, soul, psychedelica and electronica alongside stirring lyrics traversing church scenes and rituals to create her unique sound.

Inner Vision OrchestraSaturday 2 May 8pm / £12 /£10 concession / World Music

Inner Vision Orchestra are the UK’s only blind orchestra who, in the last three years, have toured extensively with some of the orchestra members performing at the London 2012 Paralympics Closing Ceremony. Their music moves with ease between songs from Iran, Lebanon, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria, and from soulful Gospel and Blues to sublime Indian Ragas and Western Classical compositions.

The Young’unsThursday 7 May 8pm / £12 / Folk

The Young’uns perform without set-lists, relying on infallible instinct and their unique rapport with audiences to deliver a killer show. The Teesside trio may have established their fast-growing reputation in the folk world with sublime a cappella harmonies. They are a force of nature on stage, beguiling audiences with irrepressible humour, bold vocals, gripping storylines and innate musicality.

Inner Vision Orchestra

The Young’uns

ESKA

ChristinaMartin

BellaHardy

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Mud MorganfieldFriday 8 May 8pm / £16 / Blues

Mud Morganfield, the eldest son of the undisputed King of the Blues Muddy Waters, has for the last three years been delivering his charismatic Chicago blues to audiences from around the world. His shows are a blend of his dad’s classic songs and his own original music, a fitting show for the official centenary of his father’s birth.

Ross & JarlathSaturday 9 May 8pm£14 / £12 concession / Folk

BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominated Ross Ainslie and BBC Young Musician Award winner Jarlath Henderson have spent years writing and performing as a duo. They released their debut album Partners in Crime, a groundbreaking fusion of Border and Uilleann pipes, in 2008 to major critical acclaim. And after a four year break they have released their second album Air-Fix.

BlueflintThursday 14 May 8pm / £10 / Folk

Blueflint’s sound is defined by the sublime close harmonies of Deborah Arnott and Clare Neilson whose voices are accompanied by a five-piece line-up intertwining banjos, fiddle, piano, electric guitar, double-bass and drums.

They produce raw, honest and beautifully-crafted songs, imbued with a strong alt-folk flavour. Their third album Stories from Home is being released in 2015.

James GrantSaturday 16 May 8pm / £14 /£12 concession / Rock and pop

Widely regarded as one of the finest singer-songwriters and performers around, Love And Money frontman James Grant plays material from all his critically acclaimed solo albums and a smattering of the old favourites in a solo acoustic setting. This is a show not to be missed, raw, heart-rending and uplifting. As MOJO says, “This is music from another place...”

Jean GenieThe best of David BowieSaturday 16 May 8.30pm£12 / standing / Rock and pop

David Bowie has been a major figure in popular culture for over four decades, renowned as a singer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist, producer and actor.

Jean Genie has performed as a David Bowie tribute act for a number of years and has even played with David Bowie’s band from the 1970s The Spiders from Mars. He has performed in a number of Bowie’s guises but these days he prides himself on the quality of his singing voice, mannerisms and overall style of David Bowie.

Fans can expect to hear all the hits such as Starman, Lets Dance and Rebel Rebel.

MudMorganfield

Blueflint

JamesGrant

Ross &Jarlath

JeanGenie

Music

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Peatbog FaeriesThursday 21 May 8pm£16 / standing / Folk

Hailing from the Isle of Skye, the Peatbog Faeries are the figurehead trailblazers of the Celtic Dance Music renaissance. Drawing on influences from traditional jigs and reels through jazz, hip hop and reggae, they take traditional Scottish music and bring it fresh-faced and breathless into the 21st century. This is high octane Celtic dance music as you’ve never heard it before. Be prepared to dance.

Mostly AutumnSat 23 May 8.15pm / £15 advance£16 door / standing / Rock & pop

Award winning Mostly Autumn’s musical palette is diverse, drawing on influences from the golden age of rock, whilst developing their own unique sound. Their latest album Dressed in Voices explores the dark concept of a killer forced to witness the weight of all he is taking away.

Eliza Carthy & Tim EriksenThursday 28 May 8pm£16 / £14 concession / Folk

Eliza Carthy is one of the most engaging folk performers of her generation. Tim Eriksen is acclaimed for his startling interpretations of American traditional music.

They come together with their new album Bottle, mixing material from both sides of the pond.

Chuck ProphetSaturday 30 May 8pm£18 / standing / Rock and pop

Chuck Prophet shapes his restless career with inimitable subtle flair: a vivid parade of razor-edged one-liners camouflaged in a slack-jawed drawl and songs about heartbreak and everyman heroism.

His solo career has consisted of a series of brilliant records. His last release Temple Beautiful, was a love letter to his adopted home town of San Francisco. A Mr Kite Benefit.

AprilVerch BandSunday 24 May 8pm£12 / £10 concession / Folk

April Verch has never sounded more comfortable in her skin than she does now, in the second decade of her career as an internationally touring Canadian fiddler, step dancer and singer-songwriter. April and her band, Hayes Griffin (guitar) and Cody Walterson (upright-electric bass/banjo) are respected as consummate performers with their sheer instrumental virtuosity, their charm, humour and their boundless energy on stage.

PeatbogFaeries

ElizaCarthy

TimEriksen

MostlyAutumn

ChuckProphet

Monsieur DoumaniPresented by Smaller Rooms Touring and Songlines Encounters

Wednesday 3 June 8pm£10 / World Music

Monsieur Doumani focus on enriching traditional Cypriot songs with new arrangements, melodies, rhythms and sounds as well as composing their own songs in the Cypriot dialect inspired by contemporary Cypriot society.

Their debut album Grippy Grappa gained them a nomination for Best Newcomer in the Songlines Music Awards 2014.

Fairport ConventionFriday 5 June 8pm / £22 / Folk

After nearly 50 years on the road Fairport Convention, the originators of British folk-rock music, remain one of the most entertaining bands on the live music scene.

This tour features all five members of Fairport, presenting a more intimate take on the band’s repertoire. They will showcase new songs from their 2015 album Myths And Heroes and favourites from their back catalogue.

Aviators’ BallMatt Owens

Thursday 11 June 8pm / £10 / Jazz

Matt Owens has been a long time component of Manchester’s vibrant music scene. He has released his debut album, The Aviators’ Ball, which incorporates jazz, world, classical and folk music. Owens set out to create an album where simple melodies would be enriched by using differing textures and arrangements and which would absorb listeners from start to finish.

Andy Cutting, Nancy Kerr and Martin SimpsonFriday 12 June 8pm£16 / £14 concession / Folk

Comprising three of Britain’s finest musicians each member of this trio is a virtuoso in their own right.

Nancy Kerr has been a major part of the acoustic music scene since a teenager and has always been a distinctive and impressive talent.

Andy Cutting is an extraordinary musician, a master of the diatonic accordion and other squeezeboxes.

Martin Simpson is a multi-award winning musician and a world-renowned performer.

Whole Lotta LedA tribute to Led ZeppelinSat 13 June 8pm / £15 advance£13 advance concession / £18 doorRock and pop

Now in their nineteenth year Whole Lotta Led are the UK’s leading tribute to Led Zeppelin. This show will see the band featuring songs from Led Zeppelin’s acclaimed double album, Physical Graffiti, which is celebrating its fortieth anniversary, plus other classics.

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Monsieur Doumani

WholeLotta Led

Aviators’ Ball

Fairport Convention

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The East PointersThursday 18 June 8pm£12 / Folk

The East Pointers are three young men whose talent and penchant for traditional Celtic tunes of decades past greatly belie their respective ages. And while each member of the freshly formed trio is an accomplished musician in his own right, their recent union is a testament to their shared output being, to borrow a common adage, greater than the sum of its parts.

Chris WoodPresented bySmaller Rooms Touring

Friday 19 June 8pm£14 / £12 concession / Folk

Multi-award winning Chris Wood’s love of small things has made him one of England’s most vivid and arresting songwriters. His fourth solo album None The Wiser was released in Spring 2013.

With humble hymns and sweeping statements from Alzheimers to William Blake, Wood lovingly takes the pulse of his homeland.

“Wood is one of our finest songwriters” The independent

Rock Choir ConcertA Better Met fundraiserSat 20 June 8pm / £10 / Rock and pop

This popular amateur contemporary choir sing their own arrangements of pop, motown and chart hits.

Robin and Bina WilliamsonThursday 25 June 8pm / £12 / Folk

Robin and Bina Williamson draw on a wide variety of original and traditional songs, stories and music from Celtic, English and Indian roots. Robin is a renowned musician, storyteller and writer whilst Bina is an inspired and gifted singer-songwriter and multi instrumentalist.

Their performances feature their East West vocal harmonies with harp, bowed psaltery dulcimer and a diverse range of other instruments.

U2 2 A tribute to U2Sat 27 June 8pm / £11 advance£12 door / Rock and pop

Formed in 1993, U2 2 are the world’s longest running U2 tribute show, and have performed over 1000 shows across three continents.

U2 fans can expect to hear the biggest U2 songs from every album.

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The East Pointers

Chris Wood

Andy Cutting,Nancy Kerr &

Martin Simpson

Robin & BinaWilliamson

U2 2

Metro JazzSwing into SummerFriday 3 July 8pm / £5 / Jazz

Swing into Summer with Metro Jazz, The Met’s community jazz orchestra led by renowned sax man Munch Manship. The band will be performing music that evokes the sound of summer, perfect for a July evening.

Chris and Kellie WhileWednesday 8 July 8pm£14 / £12 concession / Folk

Whenever you hear two superb vocalists sing together, it’s a great experience, but mother/daughter duo Chris and Kellie have a completely innate vocal synchronicity. They are considered two of Britain’s finest singer-songwriters and guitarists and their second album Too Few Songs has received widespread acclaim.

Moreland & ArbuckleSaturday 11 July 8pm£12 standing / £14 seated / Blues

A hit at Ramsbottom Festival 2013, guitarist Aaron Moreland and harpist/vocalist Dustin Arbuckle have spent over a decade exploring the edges of American roots music, sharing stages with a number of blues and rock veterans. In the process they have forged a relentless and haunting sound that merges Delta blues, folk, rock, traditional country and soul.

Otis GibbsThu 16 July 8.30pm / £12 advance£14 door / Americana

Met and Ramsbottom Festival favourite Otis Gibbs has spent the last seventeen years travelling across America and has a story to share about each stop along the way. As honest and authentic as it gets, this Nashville singer and songwriter has planted 7,176 trees in his lifetime, slept in hobo jungles, walked with Romanian shepherds and wrestled a bear (he lost). His songs tell brutally realistic stories of the struggle to survive in contemporary America.

Edwina HayesFriday 17 July 8pm£12 / Rock and pop

Edwina’s beautifully written songs, charming stage presence and voice of an angel have won her a reputation as a true natural talent of gentle folk-americana on both sides of the Atlantic. She has opened shows for Jools Holland and Van Morrison and toured with artists ranging from Loudon Wainwright to KT Tunstall as well as her own gigs, playing stages everywhere from Glastonbury Festival to The Royal Albert Hall.

Moreland & Arbuckle Edwina Hayes

Otis Gibbs

Spooky Men’s Chorale 2 Sept

Houghton Weavers 24 Sept

IQ 26 September

Vonda Shepard 9 October

China Crisis 30 October

Beverley Craven 6 November

Judie Tzuke 12 November

Spooky Men’s Chorale!6

Music

Coming Soon

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Ramsbottom Folk ClubTop quality folk music every month at Ramsbottom Cricket Club

BandersnatchWednesday 15 April 8pm / £8

Bandersnatch have created a distinctive style within the folk, roots and acoustic genre with a blend of great harmonies and wonderful musical arrangements.

The band move seamlessly from traditional to contemporary and self-penned material with a repertoire ranging from gentle ballads to driving, rhythmical folk-rock and blues.

Louise JordanWednesday 13 May 8pm / £5

Louise Jordan tells tales of universal human experience. Questioning yet reflective she uses simple subject matter to create songs of striking intensity and undeniable familiarity.

Louise plays guitar, piano and cello but it is her voice which is most often celebrated as the pinnacle of her sound: captivating, powerful and evocative.

The Hut PeopleWednesday 10 June 8pm / £10

The Hut People are gaining a reputation as one of the most entertaining acts on the folk scene. In their surprisingly engaging and often hilarious show, they perform a high-octane blend

of folk music from around the world embellished with foot stomping accordion, a mind-boggling array of exotic percussion and a bit of dancing thrown in for good measure.

Desi Frieland MusaicWednesday 15 July 8pm / £8

Desi Friel is an articulate and sensitive singer and song-writer. Having been playing professionally since the age of sixteen, Desi is a well seasoned folk club performer.

He recently played the opening of the Irish Film Festival in Manchester and at Cornerhouse. He will be performing tracks from new album The Knowing of You.

Steve TurnerWed 12 August 8pm / £8

Steve Turner began his career on the Manchester folk scene at the end of the sixties, playing and touring as a member of Geordie band Canny Fettle, then nationally and internationally throughout the ‘80s as a solo professional performer. A multi-instrumentalist, he is known as a pioneer of sophisticated English concertina song

accompaniments, with one of the best voices in the business.

Tickets on sale in advance from The Met oron the night at Ramsbottom Cricket Club

Mr Kite Benefitsat Fox Lane Sports & Social Club, Leyland

Tickets available from TheMet on 0161 761 2216

PhilBeer

Sunday 3 May£14 adv / £16 door

Cahalen Morrison and Eli West

Sunday10 May

£13 adv / £15 door

Slaid Cleaves

Thursday 4 June£14 adv / £16 door

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Friday 18, Saturday 19 &Sunday 20 September 2015Ramsbottom Cricket Club

Information and ticketswww.ramsbottomfestival.com

Metro Jazz Every Monday 6.30-9.30pm from13 April / £80 term / £55 concession

The Met’s community jazz orchestra led by Munch Manship. Ages 16+.

HarmonicaSix sessions starting 11 May,18 May, then alternative Mondays

Beginners 5.30pmBeginners continued 6.45pmIntermediate/Advanced 8pm

£34 term / £26 term concession

Courses in harmonica for all levels, Led by musician Mat Walklate.

Rock ChoirEvery Monday 7.30-10pm starting Monday 20 April

The most well-known contemporary choir with groups across Britain.

If you enjoy singing and would like to experience the buzz of a Rock Choir rehearsal firsthand, book your free taster for Rock Choir Bury online at www.rockchoir.com.

SINGAlternate Wednesdays 7.30-9pm starting Wednesday 22 April / £5

Sing gives you the chance to enjoy group harmony singing and experience all kinds of songs. The group sing unaccompanied and learn by ear – no music reading ability is necessary. This is a non-performing group – the focus is on having fun and enjoying singing for its own sake.

Guitar WorkshopAlternate Wednesdays 7.30-9pm starting Wednesday 15 April / £15

Guitar tuition for all levels. Equipment supplied. Ages 13+. Advance booking only. Contact

Paul on 0773 8009737 or visit www.proguitartuition.co.uk.

Bury Youth TheatreEvery Wednesday in term / Starts 22 AprilBYT Minis 5-8 years /4.30-5.30pm / £2 per sessionJuniors 9-13 yrs / 5.30-7pm / £3Seniors 14+ / 7-8.30pm / £3

Drama sessions led by Marc Young and Sammy Deas. Explore creativity while developing team building skills, voice projection and confidence.

Parent and Toddler DanceEvery Thursday 10.30-11.30am / Starts 23 April / £2.50 per toddler

Weekly workshops for 1-4 year olds and their families. Everyone is welcome.

Fiddle & Tin Whistle WorkshopsEvery Thu from 21 May for 6 weeks £42 / £34 concession per course£75 / £60 concession for bothTin Whistle 7-8pm / Fiddle 8-9pm

Two six-week workshops exploring play-by-ear fiddle and tin whistle playing, tutored by acclaimed folk musician Emma Sweeney.

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Classes and Workshops

Bury Youth Dance CompanyStreet Dance and Contemporary DanceAll abilities welcome. Led by Claire Fildes. Ages 10-17.

£2.50 per class or £2 if you attend both / Payments per term

Spring term / Tuesday 21 April - Tuesday 19 May5 weeks / one class for £12.50 or £20 for both

Summer term / Tuesday 2 June - Tuesday 14 July7 weeks / one class for £17.50 or £28 for both

Street DanceTuesdays in term 5-5.45pm

Learn and practise stunts and moves then choreograph them into a slick street dance routine.

Contemporary DanceTuesdays in term 5.45-7.15pm

Practice and learn Contemporary Dance working towards innovative performances in alternative spaces.

Aiming HighEvery Saturday in term from 18 AprilJuniors 9-13s / 10-11.30am / £3Seniors 14-18s / 11.30-1.30pm / £4

Arts and drama sessions for young people suffering from mental and physical disabilities. Supported by Bury Council Children’s Services, BBC Children in Need and The Met.

Bloco AshêEvery Saturday 11-1pm from 11 April£5 / £3 concession / £2 under 16s

A welcoming percussive group playing samba influenced grooves and beats. Call 01204 882201.

Inspire Community VoicesAlternate Sats 2-4pm from 11 April£5 / £3 unemployed / £1 under 16s

An a capella, multi harmony com-munity choir for all ages and abilities. Contact hello@inspirevoices.co.uk.

StagecoachEvery Sunday 10am-1pm

Dance, drama and singing for 4-18 years olds. For information contact Ruth Mauriello on 0161 763 6161 or visit www.stagecoach.co.uk/bury.

AccessThe Met is a fully accessible venue, on both its ground and first floors.

• The entrance is fully ramped with a lift to the main theatre and an accessible toilet built to Changing Places standards.

• We have staff on hand to help. Should you require a personal escort, we can supply that person with a free ticket.

• A magnetic induction loop for hearing aid users is used in the Main Theatre for the majority of our events.

• Guide dogs are welcome, and water can be provided on request.

We want your visit to The Met to be a first class experience.

If you have any special requirements call us on0161 761 2216 to let us know, and we’ll do our best to help.

Hire The MetFor performances, conferences, meet-ings and exhibitions, our spaces are as versatile as your needs. Our experi-enced staff and professional facilities take the hassle out of your event:

• Sound and lighting by experienced stage technicians

• Ticket sales through our friendly ticket office

• Fully licensed bar

• High quality catering from the expert chefs of Automatic

• Marketing advice and support

We welcome promotions by bands, amateur and professional groups, and independent event promoters.

Call 0161 761 7107 or email hires@themet.biz to discuss your requirements.

Food & DrinkStart your evening with a meal at The Met and end it with a drink in one of our candle lit bars.

Eat in our restaurant Automatic, serving fine food all day.

Sample real ales and a selection of fine whiskeys in our foyer bar Malt.

Our first floor Theatre Bar opens before, during and after each show.

To book a table for your meal, call Automatic on 0161 763 9399.

VolunteerThe Met has a dedicated group of volunteers who assist with many areas of our activities. All volunteers are interviewed at application to ensure they get the most out of the opportunities we offer. To get involved contact Scarlet Ordish at scarlet.ordish@themet.bizor call on 0161 761 7107.

Getting Here The Met is located in the centre of Bury, easily accessible by road and public transport. For directions visit www.themet.biz/location

Ticket Booking • By phone from 0161 761 2216

• Online via www.themet.biz

• In person Tuesday to Friday 12-7pm / Saturday 11am-5pm

• Concessions available for children, people over 60, on benefits or in education.

• Refunds We are unable to offer refunds. Ticket exchange may be possible with a £2 admin fee.

• A transaction fee of £2.50 is payable on phone and online bookings. There is no fee for bookings in person.

The Met is operated byBury MetropolitanArts Associationa registered charity(No 701879).

Address The Met, Market Street, Bury, Greater Manchester, BL9 0BW

Tickets 0161 761 2216

Admin 0161 761 7107

email post@themet.biz

web http://themet.biz

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders and sponsors:

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Sessions start from just £30 per hour, or free for under 19s living or studying in Bury.

For more details or to book a session phone 0161 761 7107 or email info@edwinstreetstudio.com

Edwin Street Recording StudioEdwin Street is a professional recording facility featuring state of the art equipment and superb acoustics. Perfect for all aspects of recording, mastering, mixing and learning, the studio offers affordable options for all.

Visitor Information

APRIL

Thu 2 8pm Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman 8Thu 2 8.30pm First Thursday Comedy Club 7

Fri 3 8pm Jaywalkers 8Sat 4 3pm Captain Flinn and 8 & 5pm The Pirate Dinosaurs

Thu 9 8pm RANT 9Fri 10 8pm Mad Dog Mcrea 9Fri 10 8.30pm Absolution 9Sat 11 8pm King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys 9

Wed 15 8pm RFC: Bandersnatch !7Thu 16 8pm Duke Special !0Fri 17 8pm Bob Fox: War Horse Songman !0Sat 18 8pm Before The Dawn !0

Wed 22 8pm Plastic Figurines 4Thu 23 8pm Kris Drever and Boo Hewerdine !0Fri 24 8pm John Hegley 6Fri 24 8pm Jonny and The Baptists 6Sat 25 8pm Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz !0 and Aoife O’Donovan

Thu 30 8pm Bella Hardy !1Thu 30 8pm Christina Martin !1

MAY Fri 1 8pm ESKA !1Sat 2 8pm Inner Vision Orchestra !1

Wed 6 7.30pm Norsesome 4Thu 7 8pm The Young’uns !1Thu 7 8.30pm First Thursday Comedy Club 7Fri 8 8pm Mud Morganfield !2Sat 9 8pm Ross and Jarlath !2

Wed 13 8pm RFC: Louise Jordan !7Thu 14 8pm Blueflint !2Fri 15 8pm Terry Christian 6Sat 16 8pm James Grant !2Sat 16 8.30pm Jean Genie !2

Wed 20 8pm New Dawn Fades 5Thu 21 8pm Peatbog Faeries !3

Fri 22 8pm Jon Ronson 6Sat 23 8.15pm Mostly Autumn !3Sun 24 8pm April Verch Band !3

Wed 27 8pm Gervase Phinn 6Thu 28 8pm 300 to One and Monkey Poet 6Thu 28 8pm Eliza Carthy and Tim Eriksen !3Sat 30 8pm Chuck Prophet !3

JUNE Wed 3 8pm Monsieur Doumani !4Thu 4 8pm From the Cradle to the Bin 5Thu 4 8.30pm First Thursday Comedy Club 7

Fri 5 8pm Fairport Convention !4

Wed 10 8pm RFC: The Hut People !7Thu 11 8pm Matt Owens’ Aviators’ Ball !4Fri 12 8pm Andy Cutting, Nancy Kerr !4 and Martin Simpson

Sat 13 8pm Whole Lotta Led !4

Thu 18 8pm The East Pointers !5Fri 19 8pm Chris Wood !5Sat 20 8pm Rock Choir Concert !5

Wed 24 7.30pm Gin and 5& Thu 25 Chronic Arthritis

Thu 25 8pm Robin and Bina Williamson !5Sat 27 8pm U2 2 !5

JULY Thu 2 8.30pm First Thursday Comedy Club 7

Fri 3 8pm Metro Jazz !6Sat 4 8pm The Lancashire Hotpots 7

Wed 8 8pm Chris and Kellie While !6Sat 11 8pm Moreland and Arbuckle !6

Wed 15 8pm RFC: Desi Friel and Musaic !7Thu 16 8.30pm Otis Gibbs !6Fri 17 8pm Edwina Hayes !6

AUGUST Wed 12 8pm RFC: Steve Turner !7

Timetable of eventspage