From funk to folk, Macclesfield has a rich and varied musical heritage.
The town has produced bands as diverse as New Order (whose frontman Peter Hook is appearing on Friday at Middlewich’s FAB Festival) and The Macc Lads.
This year’s Barnaby Festival will be showcasing a wealth of new talent as well as hosting performances from well-established artists… and a secret headliner! (No, we can’t tell you who it is!)
On Friday 15th June, the James Taylor Quartet will be raising the roof of St Michael’s Church with their funky acid jazz.
To complement this, The Barnaby Beat Route will see 14 venues across the town hosting live music from 20 acts from 5pm until late – all free of charge!
Curated by Jane Birch from Mash Guru, The Barnaby Beat Route will see musicians perform in venues including: The Wharf, Monocle Deli, The Swan with Two Necks and Mash Guru.
Artists making an appearance include Helen Walford and Heidi Jamila, two American girls with one fiddle and one guitar at The Snow Goose, and Zacc Rogers, guitar loop pedalling legend, at Mash Guru.
There will also be a number of DJ sets taking place in a dedicated Barnaby marquee outside St Michael’s Church.
Saturday 16th June will see live music in St Michael’s churchyard, with a stellar line up of local bands: Queen Cult, The Cyrcles, Field Manual, DanDelion Rose and a secret headliner described only as “a newly-signed Macclesfield band who will be playing their calypso Afro rock”.
The event is free of charge but those wishing to attend will need a wristband which can be sourced via the festival’s website.
Popular gig Acoustic Sanctuary will be returning to this year’s Barnaby in the Grade II* listed King Edward Street Chapel on Saturday 23rd June from 8pm. Merry Hell, Judy Colquitt and Hugo Kensdale are all on the line up.
Manchester-based The Breath will also be performing at King Edward Street Chapel on Sunday 24th June, mixing Irish folk influences with mesmerising guitar riffs, anthemic themes and powerful hooks.
Folk lovers will be able to see Paul Sartin and Paul Hutchinson, also known as Belshazaar’s Feast, perform in a one-off intimate gig in the marquee in St Michael’s churchyard on Sunday 17th June from 4.30pm.
As well as all this, there are plenty of family friendly musical events including one from King Edward Musical Society (KEMS) Concert Band who will be playing family favourites in Victoria Park bandstand on Sunday 17th June.
A Treacletown Treat will reflect the history of the town’s three bandstands. The free event will start at 3.30pm and run until 5pm.
They will then take their instruments to Tegg’s Nose Country Park on Saturday 23rd June from 4.30-5.30pm. Tegg’s Nose becomes the town’s fourth bandstand – and one with a view!
Macclesfield Music Society will be presenting the classic story of Peter and The Wolf, narrated by Tim Redmond in St Michael’s Church on Saturday 23rd June from 2-4pm. This free event will also offer visitors the chance to meet the orchestra and try an instrument.
And finally, for the musically-midned, The Watermelon Jam will provide an opportunity to get in on the act. Bring an instrument and join in with the biggest jam in town on Sunday 17th from 3-4pm in Market Place.
There really is something for everyone to enjoy, so get ready to ‘paint the town Barnaby’.
Macclesfield’s Barnaby Festival takes place from 15th June – 24th June 2018.
The full Barnaby programme and tickets for various events, can be found at: www.barnabyfestival.org.uk
Tickets are also available from Macclesfield Visitor Information Centre at Macclesfield Town Hall.
