ENTERTAINMENT

Friday Lunch - The Prospectors

Stockport Cerebral Palsy's own classic pop, rock and dance band

The Prospectors are a local band who play classic pop, rock and dance covers as well as their own songs. The band has been created by members of the Stockport Cerebral Palsy Society, and they are supported through the Drake Music project. The band meet at Prospect House in Heaton Moor (hence their name) on Fridays to practice prior to performing concerts at different venues throughout the year. The band has performed at the Royal Exchange Theatre, The Lowry, Urbis and at more local venues such as The Moor Top pub in Heaton Moor.

All members of the band have complex needs and attend our Skills Group at Granville House. The band members gain immense pleasure from being part of the group and experiencing the joy and satisfaction of playing an instrument and composing music. They benefit by promoting their self esteem and building their confidence. This enables the band members to overcome communication barriers and express themselves through music.

The Band success has resulted in them producing an EP named ‘Silver & Gold’

Drake Music

Drake Music is a music and technology organisation who provide disabled musicians of all ages with progression routes into music and the cultural sector in general. For more information on their work visit www.drakemusicproject.org

Friday Evening - Blues Blasters

Some of the tightest driving rockin’ blues around

Back again, by popular demand, the Festival features the sensational Blues Blasters. This Stockport based rockin’ blues band is hugely popular and plays some of the tightest driving blues around. The Blues Blasters are a six piece band with singer song writer and harmonica player Chris Gee on vocals, John Brett on lead guitar, John Dickenson on guitar, Paul Minshull on keyboards and vocals, Andy Schemet on bass guitar and vocals and Henry Quick on drums.

The bands material contains songs from the Fabulous Thunderbird’s, Lightening Hopkins, and Chuck Berry to name but a few. Such is the high standard of the bands material that you could be forgiven for thinking that all of the songs played have been written by other famous blues artists, but you would be wrong. In fact a large proportion of the band’s material has been written by Chris Gee himself, but as Chuck Berry might say ‘You never can tell’.

With over 150 years of combined gigging experience behind them the band are no new kids on the block. And boy does their experience show! It’s all high energy stuff played seemingly effortlessly by accomplished musicians. Add to this one of the tightest rhythm sections you are ever likely to come across and you are on to a winner. With the bands addictive sense of fun and foot stompin’, toe tappin’, finger crackin’ rhythm then you have got yourself an unforgettable night out. So bring your mates, wives, girlfriends, neighbours and work colleagues along to join in the fun.

For more information visit their web site at www.bluesblasters.co.uk

Saturday Lunch - Cracked Flag

A mix of folk music with a touch of country music thrown in

Please welcome Cracked Flag to the Festival, stalwarts of another famous festival; the Bent & Bongs Beer Bash in Atherton. Always festival favourites, Cracked Flag manage to fill beer halls with a great crowd who are up for a sing-a-long or a dance. The band plays a mix of folk music with a touch of country music thrown in for good measure. With top harmonies, their songs are catching, and you will soon find your feet tapping and a desire to dance. Don’t be surprised either, if there are a few jokes thrown in for good measure, as it has been said that two members of the band were once professional comedians. As a result there is always great banter between the band and the audience at all Cracked Flag concerts.

Cracked Flag are three men on a mission to enjoy themselves! Dave Mather, Pete Robinson and Paul Johnston have all been life long mates! All herald from Salford and they are the only super stars that Opening Times know that were born and bred in Lower Broughton. Between them they have over 75 years experience of public performance, radio and TV. Listeners to Salford City Radio (94.4FM) tune into Dave’s Salford Folk programme on Thursday's between 6pm and 7pm to listen to his great show. You can also listen to his show on-line by visiting www.salfordcityradio.org.

Cracked Flag were formed in 1973 as a 5 piece electric folk band. After four years, Pete left to work in the North East and that first incarnation came to an end. Dave and Paul then took the name and embarked on a 20 year stint as a famous comedy duo, known to many, working the clubs of North-West England throughout the eighties and nineties. Radio shows, summer seasons and some great times followed but all good things come to an end and when it stopped being fun - they stopped performing. When Pete returned to Salford it was only a matter of time before the band reformed - and in 2004 it happened, with a mission objective to 'have fun' in whatever they do. With no backing tracks - no agents – and taking only those gigs they wanted to do.

The band plays regularly at the Wagon & Horses on Bolton Road in Salford where they feature their Open-Mic night. Visit the pub and not only could you hear some great live music, but you could also find yourself on stage singing in the band or playing an instrument. Open Mic nights are every alternative Thursday; see the bands web site for actual dates. Opening Times has learned that the band also enjoy a beer or two. That means that they are in the right place, but Stockport Beer and Cider Festival cannot guarantee that we will have Paul’s favourite beer on - Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild.

Cracked Flag write a lot of their own material. Check out some of their own songs such as Goodbye to the Belfast boy (a song about the late/great George Best), Seize the day, The Whippersnapper and Missing you, by visiting their sites web site at www.crackedflag.com or view their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cracked-Flag/27845018198

SATURDAY EVENING SPECIAL Pirates and Brigands fancy dress (Optional) Great prizes to be won

Saturday Evening - Red Stripe Band

Jonathan Ross meets Jools Holland on speed

The headline band at this year’s festival is the award winning Red Strip band. Presented with the “Best Band" award at the Marlborough Jazz Festival in 2010 and recently having finished playing a four month residency at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club in London, the band provided the title theme to Paul Merton’s Channel Five travel documentary as well as providing the endorsement for a multimillion dollar US pizza chain advertisement. Red Stripe have been described by some as where “Jonathan Ross meets Jools Holland on speed" so you can expect some lightening keyboard playing backed by a great rhythm and blues orchestra. Led by eccentric raconteur and boogie woogie front man Mr Red Stripe on keyboards (or Neil Drinkwater as he is occasionally known), the show is delivered with high energy and is filled with on and off stage antics.

The band’s music is drawn from the boogie woogie, jive and rock’n’roll of the 1930’s to 1950’s and includes some of their own original material. Audiences at festivals and clubs from New York to Tokyo and Milan to Monte Carlo have been thrilled by their hugely entertaining and engaging show. If you think for one minute that Red Stripe will be rooted to the spot — DON’T — their show is all about participation with the audience. Don’t be surprised if baritone and tenor sax players Erica Clarke and Martin Gray leave the stage area and head off into the audience. No doubt they will be closely followed by Mr Red Stripe himself playing his Keytar mobile keyboard and Gemma Nelson looking to dance. Fancy a conga? You might just get it!

So the beer festival closes with an internationally famous boogie woogie jive band that will have you on your feet dancing. Don’t miss it!!!

Further information available through their website www.red-stripe.info. Follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/The-Red-Stripe-Band/30160044451 or My Space at www.myspace.com/theredstripeband, watch them on Youtube at www.youtube.com/redstripe69 or read their blog at www.jkmanagement.co.uk