Macclesfield Barnaby Festival 2014

THE BLOCKHEADS, TIM BURGESS (THE CHARLATANS) AND STEPHEN MORRIS (NEW ORDER) HEADLINE MUSICAL LINEUP FOR 2014 BARNABY FESTIVAL

Legendary musicians The Blockheads will kick off Barnaby Festival’s Big Weekend. Famous for classic hits such as What a Waste, Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick and Reasons To Be Cheerful (Part 3), the Blockheads have continued to write, release and perform since Ian Dury’s death in 2000.

Their latest album, Same Horse, Different Jockey, adds to Dury’s legacy and takes the band in new directions, ‘re-establishing the band at the top of their musical tree’. (Somethingelsereviews.com). The Blockheads will be performing on Friday 20 June at 8pm at Christ Church, Macclesfield, tickets priced £18.

Christ Church will also be home to Tim Peaks Diner. Brainchild of The Charlatan’s Tim Burgess, and created in honour of film maker David Lynch, the distinctive pop-up café on Christ Church lawns will host a variety of acts from 11am – 10.30pm Saturday 21 June and from 12noon – 11pm on Sunday 22 June.

On Saturday 21 June, Cheshire-based Tim will be interviewed about life in a rock band. During the day there will be pop-up performances by a host of entertainers, new bands and special guests.

On Sunday 22 June at 2pm, Gillian Gilbert from New Order will join forces with Nik Colk Void from Factory Floor for a DJ set whichassembles an eclectic, unpredictable and occasionally bewildering brouhaha of sound – in other words, the music that Sunday afternoons were made for!

At 3pm, Tim Burgess interviews New Order drummer, Stephen Morris and share their thoughts about everything from the early days of the Macclesfield and Manchester music scene to the genesis of seminal bands Joy Division and New Order, through to current musical influences. All performances at Tim Peaks Diner are free.

Happenings at Tim Peaks Diner and music on the Christ Church site have been programmed in collaboration with Maxonian New Order drummer Stephen Morris. He has fond childhood memories of Christ Church and is a supporter of the Barnaby Festival and how it has culturally rejuvenated the town.

Stephen said: “We go back a long way, Christ Church and me. All the way to 1963 – the year I started at the primary school down the road. I have to say I have what they call ‘fond memories’ of the place.In my mind, it is always the services here that signalled the start of something good. Easter egg binges, Harvest Festivals, presents from Santa and those long sunny summer holidays that were never long enough (and in reality probably not that sunny either).

“With each passing year, I have looked at the place misty eyed and said to myself ‘wouldn’t it be great if the building got used for something again?’ and now it is!

“The most Macclesfield-centric of holidays – Barnaby, what better reason to inject some new life and have some fun while we’re at it. Get involved. It’ll be great – honest!”

The Big Weekend finale is a special, eclectic musical extravaganza at Christ Church at 7.30pm on Sunday 22 June. Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), Macclesfield’s Jake Evans (Bad Lieutenant, Jimi Goodwin band), and critically acclaimed Manc wordsmith Mike Garry (including his ode to legendary Factory Record boss Tony Wilson) will perform acoustic sets along with string quartet arrangements by renowned composer Joe Duddell. This is an evening music lovers shouldn’t miss. Tickets cost £18.

Entertainment already announced at Christ Church includes comedy queen, Shappi Khorsandi who will be performing her new show, ‘Shappi Khorsandi Live’ at 8pm on Saturday 21 June. Tickets cost £16.

Tickets for all events, as well as the complete listings for the Barnaby Festival 2014, are available at www.barnabyfestival.org.uk from 16^th April. Tickets are also available from the Visitors Information Centre in Macclesfield Town Hall from the end of April.