2015 Calendar
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2015 Calendar Thursday 21st May – Bell Ringers St James Church Tower – begins at 6:45pm As a change from the Friday evening as stated in the printed programme, the charismatic campanologists of St James Church, our talented bell ringers, will ring in the Festival on Thursday 21st at 6.45pm with a Quarter Peal. A full peal takes all of 3 Hours! This 45 minute tour de force will be a fine opener to the five days of excellent music to suit all tastes and the excellent Art Exhibition that opens on the 23rd May in the Methodist Hall. Thursday 21st May – The 4th Audlem Festival Poetry Slam The Bridge Inn – begins at 7:30pm Emma Purshouse will be hosting the 4th Audlem Festival Poetry Slam. Up to 15 performance poets go head to head in a live poetry competition. Performers from near and far will make you laugh, cry and think during this very popular festival event. Get there early to get a good seat. Thursday 21st May – Abbie Ozard The Lord Combermere – begins at 8:00pm Acoustic singer/songwriter from Nantwich made an appearance here last year performing her Folky–pop brand of music. Thursday 21st May – The Rainbreakers Shroppie Fly – begins at 9:00pm The Rainbreakers craft a raw sound that weaves through a range of dynamic elements, incorporating influences from rock, blues and soul music. Inspiration is drawn from an array of different eras, but it's artists such as Free, The Black Keys, Monophonics and Gary Clark Jr that remain a strong influence. Since forming in late 2012, the band have played 300 plus shows at various concert venues and festivals across the country. Last year they were the judges choice to perform at Chester Rocks Festival and also supported The Laurence Jones Band on their UK tour at the Marrs Bar in Worcester and they were also featured in Blues Matters Magazine. The Rainbreakers are due to release and perform their new record, 'Blood Not Brass', in May 2015. They are already booked to support Laurence Jones and Chantel McGregor on their UK tours at venues like The Live Rooms in Chester and The Marrs Bar in Worcester as well as festival bookings at Stourbridge Blues Festival, Farmer Phils, The Heart of Rock and Blues Festival and Gravesend Festival where they will also perform with Albany Dow Thursday 21st May – Poyzer, Fluff & Farrell The Lord Combermere – begins at 9:30pm The passion and the conflict, the love in the room, the magic, madness, rabble–rousing excellence, banter and beauty, the added twist of new songs to live and breathe for, fiddle–driven arrangements, progressive improvisations and a power–trio line–up that makes this gathering one of the must–see occasions of the festival. Friday 22nd May – Callum Wright The Bridge Inn – begins at 7:00pm Local young talent, Callum, has been impressing audiences around the north west since his fringe performance here last year. With his own take on some great songs as well as his own originals, he reached the regional finals of the U.K. open mic competition last year.. Friday 22nd May – Lydia O'Dowd Duo The Shroppie Fly – begins at 7:30pm A UK Teen Star Finalist, Lydia, is building a loyal fan base following the release of her new single Chemical Reaction. Friday 22nd May – Jack Marshall Band The Lord Combermere – begins at 8:30pm This super talented duo are back and sure to make you smile. Jack performs a dynamic set of foot stomping rhythms, containing heart warming and infectious melodies to create a style that resonates with everyone. Influenced by folk, blues and gypsy, the poignancy of his lyrics are heightened when accompanied by the haunting harmonies of Kirsty. Friday 22nd May – Ragged Glory The Shroppie Fly – begins at 9:00pm Ragged Glory is a Newcastle Staffs Based 4 piece band Specialising in the Music of Neil young / Crazy Horse Covering his Music from around 1975 right up to the Present day From Folk/Country Rock To the Hard Hitting Music from his Later Albums. Fronted By Eka Willert Vocals and John Finney Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals. Friday 22nd May – The Folkwits The Bridge Inn – begins at 9:00pm The Folkwits have been wowing audiences across the county with their own brand of dark and macabre acoustic harmonies. Inspired by Richard Thompson, the civil wars, and 'of monsters and men' to name but a few, regulars at the local festivals, if you haven't seen them yet, now is the time! Friday 22nd May – Tom Seals Lord Combermere – begins at 10:00pm Fresh from his sell–out 2014 "Let The Good Times Roll" Tour – Tom Seals, "quite possibly the future of Jazz/Pop", literally has the world at his fingertips. His virtuoso solo–ing, excellent improvisation skills as well as a distinctive voice have left top industry officials hailing him as one of the UK's finest Blues & Boogie–Woogie piano/vocalists. 2015 looks bigger and better for Tom, with appearances lined up in Hong Kong, at the world famous Ronnie Scotts and even Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Saturday 23rd May – Poetry Workshop with Emma Purshouse Upstairs at The Mill Shop – begins at 10:00am Join Emma Purshouse for this FREE writing workshop. Have a go at creating three different poetry forms based on the art and craft on display at the festival. Phone Emma on 07950 165265 to book your place. Saturday 23rd May – Ben Murray No. 11 Cheshire Street – begins at 11:00am A mix of chilled serenades and jammy tunes will grace your ears. Newcomer to the festival, Ben, says "Prepare thyself for if you do not, your socks, may in fact, be rocked off." Benmurray.bandcamp.com Saturday 23rd May – Back Row Plus The Lord Combermere – begins at 11:00am Close–harmony's, old and new favourites, humorous songs (–not forgetting the props!) and more. Music from many countries (including Scotland!) played on hurdy–gurdies, fiddles, recorders, crumhorns, guitars etc. Saturday 23rd May – The Band of The Cheshire Constabulary Outside St James Church – begins at 12:00pm A'Traditional Brass Band' with a wide concert repertoire. Formed in 1967 they have more recently undertaken visits to the wonderful European Brass and Wind Band festival in Schlema, Germany. They have also just recorded their first CD. Saturday 23rd May – Loud Mouth Women The Wharf – begins at 12:30pm These festival favourites are back with their special brand of a cappella songs from around the world. They will also perform as part of the Choral Day later this afternoon Saturday 23rd May – Bickerton Youth Music Group The Lord Combermere – begins at 12:30pm A bright, friendly collective of young musicians across various line–ups, borne out of Darren Poyzer's youth music gatherings. Saturday 23rd May – Alex Tweedie The Bridge Inn – begins at 12:45pm 19 year old singer–songwriter, Alex Tweedie has been making big strides in 2015. Since the release of his single "Clear Intentions" he has regularly been playing shows up and down the country and has wrapped up over 4.5k views on YouTube for his first music video. He has also been a regular feature in the Alsager Chronicle and The Sentinel and is hoping for a similar response to his next single, "Social Screens". He has been related to artists such as; Frank Turner and Passenger for the honesty and integrity in his lyrics and loves to get the crowd involved and participating in every performance. Saturday 23rd May – Grant Sharkey No.11 Cheshire Street – begins at 1:00pm Eventually they Grants 40 Albums will start to tell the story of a journey through time "as I try my best to live a life that is good and solid, and most of all, not at all dull" – Bit like his performances, One Man, One Double Bass Saturday 23rd May – Stapeley Broad lane School St James Church Choral Day – begins at 1:00pm The beautiful young voices of the school choir plus the ocarina and recorder players Saturday 23rd May – Sammi Elston Shroppie Fly – begins at 1:30pm The same passion that has fuelled songwriters from the 60s decade certainly drives the pen of 25 year old Sammi Elston, yet she is able to craft songs that simultaneously evoke feelings of starry eyed adolescence and the hopes and fears that so many can relate to, whilst escaping the clichéd pitfalls so many cannot seem to write around. Since singing from a young age and learning guitar in school (mostly "to get out of class") Elston spent most of her time day dreaming about being on stage and it wasn't long before she was on one. After touring around the UK with several bands beyond the bounds of school, she decided to go it alone and move to the pop capital – Liverpool. "After discovering second hand vinyl copies of bands like The Beatles & Beach Boys, my songwriting completely immersed itself in to that 60s sound. I didn't want my music to be about dancing in some club wearing hot pants, I wanted it to be raw, to mean something" and it didn't take long for others to notice Sammi stood out from the crowd. Her first solo single 'Don't Fall For Me' (recorded with Matt O'Grady – You Me At Six producer) got a lot of attention from radio play/news articles and a supporting slot with American star Nell Bryden on her UK tour. Elston is back with her brand new EP 'Welcome to Wonderland' and is set to make lasting impressions. A notion which would be daunting to most, however to be this young with such an arsenal of songs to draw from, Elston isn't panicking.