Free Admission

Free admission before 9pm, £4 thereafter

‘You have an amazing talent’ – Simon Gavin, Universal Records

‘Gorgeous’ – Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music

‘Wonderfully sweeping, intricate and majestic pop songs distinctly of the “they don’t write them like that anymore” category’ – The Beat Surrender

‘…reminiscent of some of Neil Hannon’s finer moments.’ – Sandman Magazine

‘You can do the hardest thing, the hardest thing in town, which is to write a melody. It’s a good trick to be able to do so you’ve got the most important bit.’ – Blur’s Alex James

Acoustic Showcase featuring Fran and Josh

Free Admission

Fran and Josh combine impressive flamenco guitar with flavours of reggae, hip hop and
latin music, vocals vary from mellow singing, to rap.

Originally their music developed from a love for jamming together.
They met at the age of 15, Josh had been writing poems since the age of 10 and first
picked up a guitar when he was 12.   Francesco was brought up amongst musicians and at an early age had classical training which allowed him an understanding in chord progressions and scales far beyond anything that josh could comprehend upon their meeting.

With Josh’s words, and Frans inspirational mind and ear for music, they created a
friendship and musical bond admiring artists such as Paco De Lucia, Paco Pena,
Rodrigo Y Gabriela and Tommy Emmanuel… Through studying these musicians and many other styles such as Gypsy Jazz and Folk, all the way to Dub step and Drum n Bass, Gabba and even all the cheesy toss we hear on a regualar basis… they began to develop their own songs.

Not long ago the first unsigned band to play on the ‘Live Drivetime’ session on ‘XFM
Manchester’ where they covered the song “Better off Alone” by Alice Deejay. They
have since been invited back to play at Clint Boon’s wife’s Tea Parties..

MTV’s Brand spanking new music website snapped them up for a session you can see
here http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/fran-and-josh

They recieved some sneaky interest from 14th Floor Records in London, but now are
working with the big chill label towards getting signed and releasing an album. Silly
14th Floor.. Should’ve grabbed ‘um while they had the chance..

Utility Productions present

Vintage Fashion Fair

Midday to Early Evening

Free Entry

Chester’s longest running and finest open mic sessions brings you ‘Billy No Fear’ as hosts for this Bank Holiday Bonanza. Bring your maracas, twangers and plucking instruments and lets have a jolly time…

http://www.myspace.com/billynofear

Cuban Dance Night

Start the night with a Salsa dance class (beginner or intermediate and then dance the night away to the latin inspired beats and grooves from our DJ  – the Mamba King.

Beginners and improvers dance class 8.15 – 9.00pm

Intermediate dance class 9.15 – 10pm

Latin DJ Mix  10pm – Late

Club Entry £2, Dance Classes from £4.00

£4 Entry

Arising from the ashes of the Dead 60’s with a little bit of help from The Zutons, The Venus Fury are the most exciting new thing on the music radar.  Their atmospheric, moody pop is so fresh it must have come out of your mums favourite tupperware.

Free admission before 10pm, £4 thereafter

“Here it is… the third and sort of fourth single from ‘the loose kites’. Sort of because although it features ‘roo ba bah’ off their big-selling debut album, they’re also pre-releasing a completely live (absolutely no overdubs!) version of ‘hold your horses’. This track will feature on their second album; it’s a little glimpse of the eagerly awaited ‘everybody should… Live at the BBC’ album that they recorded at various BBC stations around the UK as they toured in 2009, due for release in 2010. Artwork for the singles is by the renowned doodler Abi Whitehouse.”

As part of their ongoing commitment to make the world a better place The Loose Kites are also considering running for parliament this general election to add a little colour to the otherwise rather dull and drab options we have as a country, we’ll keep you updated on the loose kites’ party political activities as they transpire.  Viva La Revolucion!!

Cuban Dance Night

Start the night with a Salsa dance class (beginner or intermediate and then dance the night away to the latin inspired beats and grooves from our DJ  – the Mamba King.

Beginners and improvers dance class 8.15 – 9.00pm

Intermediate dance class 9.15 – 10pm

Latin DJ Mix  10pm – Late

Club Entry £2, Dance Classes from £4.00

Free admission before 9pm, £4 thereafter

http://www.myspace.com/catfishandthebottlemen

Continuing to raise the bar of the local music scene Catfish produced music with their stunning new EP The Beautiful Delay. Begging to belong on the radio, each one of the stunning five tracks drills unrelentingly into your cerebral cortex and refuses to leave. The band have moved on from their calling-card release Poetry & Fuel; easing off on their strict indie-twist to let in a little more thrust and a little more rock. And it works perfectly.
Finding their own niche ’sound’ rather than drawing on inspiration from other sources, it is a natural and thoroughly engaging EP.
A feedback led Bodies highlights their punchier approach, while Harlot – complete with intelligent backing vocals and off-beat rhythm guitar – keeps one foot in the indie sensibility. But each song remains distinctly Catfish.
The flanged opening of Collide sliding into strong chords and catchy melodies induces involuntary toe-tapping.
And Tyrants carries on the progression with a soft intro and verse falling into a headbang-able assault of guitars and cymbals.
Like the tracks themselves, the assembly of the EP has been carefully considered, with instrumental closer Trippin channelling the ghostly tones of My Vitriol before settling into a truly anthemic smashing of wailing riffs and pulsing drums.

Cuban Dance Night

Start the night with a Salsa dance class (beginner or intermediate and then dance the night away to the latin inspired beats and grooves from our DJ  – the Mamba King.

Beginners and improvers dance class 8.15 – 9.00pm

Intermediate dance class 9.15 – 10pm

Latin DJ Mix  10pm – Late

Club Entry £2, Dance Classes from £4.00

Free admission

Come down to Chester’s freshest new night.

Free admission before 9pm, £4 thereafter

http://www.thetravellingband.com/

http://www.myspace.com/thetravellingband

Manchester 6 Piece, The Travelling Band take influence from folk, county, psyche and rock before filtering it through their own sunshine-POP sensibility. On their debut album, Under The Pavement rarely has a British band of recent times sounded this fresh and timeless, here is a band who excel at sounding happy, sad, frustrated, and vulnerable, often at the same time, and their best songs, whether they’re fast or slow, feel like they’re bursting with energy and wisdom.Winners of the Glastonbury New Talent competition 2008, The Travelling Band’s live show is a feel-good tour-de-force. Swapping instruments, inspiring audience participation whilst shifting effortlessly from hearfelt ballads, through psychedelic sing alongs to classic pop tunes, their’s are shows where no-one leaves unconverted.

Free admission before 10pm, £4 thereafter

http://www.mammafreedom.com/

http://www.myspace.com/mammafreedom

Likened to a split personality, they knock you out with one hand while picking you up with the other, like watching a storm flatten a building, with anger and fury one minute, then seeing the sun break through the next. From chaotic to calm in the beat of a drum. A lethal combination of heavy, moody, hard driven, beat laden funk rock and hip-hop and soaring, warming, uplifting soul with raunchy blues.

Mix in a heavy Sly and the family stone 70’s funk influence, Zeppelin / Black Crowes Style drive, soaring cinematic strings and powerful harmonies weaved together by Producer Alexander Johnston using his unique production styles and wall of sound and delivered by Singer/brother J, whose gravel driven, velvet tinged, soul soaked voice scales effortlessly through the range of life’s emotions.
They are selling out venues, playing to capacity crowds and sending them home happy with a tight, explosive live show and have gained the reputation globally as one of the best new bands around. Managed by Charles Carlini and In Touch Entertainment in New York whose artists include world famous oscar winning composer Ennio Morricone, Eumir Deodato and Keith Emerson, they have set up a base there and in the last 18 months the band took Hollywood by storm with US Record company meetings and possible Film scores being discussed.

Already and influence on their peers and having Hollywood actors and film producers as fans, averaging 200 plays a day on Myspace, over 20,000 in 5 months and having to tour the UK and US fully to satisfy demand.
Mamma Freedom are already drawing rave reviews and have a fan base worldwide due to the success of mammafreedom.com. Mamma Freedom will be touring the USA and UK in 2009 .

Free Entry

Free Admission

Bank holiday shenanighans with our resident hairy dude ‘host with the most’ tinkling the keys and hoofing the odd dance…

Free Admission

Screen Deva is one of the UK’s newest film and digital media festivals. The 10-day festival takes place Friday 28th May – Sunday 6th June, in a variety of venues in Chester. The exciting line up includes over 20 feature length films, artists’ exhibitions, digital media events, the return of the region’s original 48 Hour Film Challenge and an extended programme of FREE digital media workshops.

Screen Deva has teamed up with some of the county’s leading short film festivals to offer a dazzling selection of the best UK and international short films currently doing the festival circuit. Sit back and enjoy…

London Short Film Festival (LSFF) returns to Screen Deva with a selection of films from their January 2010 programme. ‘LOVE’ brings together a choice of UK short films from hot new directors that tackle that universal theme. Running time: 107 mins

Future Shorts present a programme of their ‘Best of the Year’ films.
Running time: 60 mins

Manchester’s very own Kino Films comes to Chester for the first time with their ‘Women on Film programme’.
Running time: 89 mins

Free admission

http://www.gazgaskell.com/jazz.html

Formed by guitarist Andy Lewis, The Jazz Union draw their inspiration from the funky, soulful jazz of the early ’60’s ‘Mad Men’ era. With their distinctive two saxes and two guitars, The Jazz Union present their own take on diverse standards interlaced with tuneful originals.

Free admission before 9pm, £4 thereafter

http://www.thejessierosetrip.com/

http://www.myspace.com/thejessierosetrip

“Jessie Rose has one of those voices that comes along once in a blue moon – the lazy will compare it to Amy Winehouse, while the more savvy ear will hear the potential for it to flourish into one of the greatest set of soul pipes this city has produced. Couple it with the ukulele rhythms and great piano lines, and you get something very special. If there’s any sense left in music, Jessie will be huge.

Free Admission

Screen Deva is one of the UK’s newest film and digital media festivals. The 10-day festival takes place Friday 28th  May – Sunday 6th June, in a variety of venues in Chester. The exciting line up includes over 20 feature length films, artists’ exhibitions, digital media events, the return of the region’s original 48 Hour Film Challenge and an extended programme of FREE digital media workshops.

A screening of short films from some of the best filmmaking talent in the region, followed by Open Mic Sessions with ‘Man of Straw’ at Telford’s popular Acoustic Night. Also, a last chance to see REPLAY, a collaboration between artist Andy McKeown and Doodleplanet of ‘live light drawing’ and projection.

Free Entry

Exciting new power trio playing  a woodstock inspired psychedelic, groove, power jams.  Its an old school sound from a great new band.  With special guest DJ Jason Dugdale

Friday 11th June – £4 Admission

http://www.therosevilleband.co.uk/

http://www.myspace.com/therosevilleband

Based in Wrexham, North Wales, The Roseville Band bring a soulful, bluesy rock based around the nucleus of guitarist brothers Andy and Stevie Jones. The pair grew up in a house – Roseville – in the Flintshire mountains, which over the years drew a community of friends and musicians from the surrounding area and eventually, in 2006, The Roseville Band was formed.

Based around songwriter Andy’s distinctive vocals, backed by a sturdy rhythm section and augmented by a two-piece horn section, the six-piece line-up draws influence from the heartfelt, soulful and gritty music of Neil Young, Dexy’s Midnight Runners and The Band and – just as importantly – from the attitude of bands like Glasvegas, Arcade Fire and Flaming Lips, whose conviction and dedication to uniqueness has steered them beyond trends to places of unfettered artistic integrity.

Dubbed ‘the Welsh Kings of Leon’ by the NME, The Roseville Band have gained sessions and airplay on XFM Manchester, Juice FM, MFM Radio and – of course – BBC Wales, and chalked up triumphant performances at Glastonbury Festival and Cardiff Calling, where they appeared alongside the likes of Super Furry Animals & The Streets. All this, tied in with a commendably intense work ethic (well over a hundred gigs in their two years of existence), has led to their reputation as committed performers of powerful songs becoming firmly established.

Following on from last year’s EP Where Have You Been?, their debut album has been recorded with producers Dom McCready and Lance Thomas (whose CV includes PJ Harvey and Ladytron), and is ready for release.

Free Admission

Time to bring your guitars, basses, pianos, drums, tamborines, loop pedals, whatever you feel like, to the stage and get up do your thing. Hosted by Kai lena and her unique piano stylings get here early to book a slot.

Stage time will start around 8.30pm.

Cuban Dance Night

Start the night with a Salsa dance class (beginner or intermediate and then dance the night away to the latin inspired beats and grooves from our DJ  – the Mamba King.

‘THE CUBAN HEART OF THE NORTHWEST’

LORRAINE H MASON & LES MURRAY are professional Teachers/Promoters/DJs of Cuban Salsa

Beginners and improvers dance class 8.15 – 9.00pm

Intermediate dance class 9.15 – 10pm

Latin DJ Mix with the Mamba King 10pm – Late

Club Entry £2, Dance Classes from £4.00

Lorraine worked as an actor in theatre and t.v. for 12 years touring in UK and Europe. Lorraine trained in contemporary dance,physical theatre, mask and improvisation. Dance training UK/CUBA . 16 years experience of dancing/teaching Salsa.

Les worked as a editor for BBC working on ground breaking music programme ‘The Tube’. Les branched out as a DJ combining his passion for dance with his knowledge of music. Dance training UK/CUBA. 16 years experience of dancing/teaching salsa.

MANCUBAN have a passion for Cuban Music and Dance.
We run regular weekly classes in Manchester and Chester.

SALSA ON SATURDAY WORKSHOPS
CASINO RUEDA, ADVANCED CUBAN FIGURES
Learn from the original and the best.  Fresh dance moves Direct from Cuba!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=114719000281&v=info#/group.php?gid=114719000281

Thursday 17th June – Free Entry

Local talent showcase from independent record label Everybody Wants Peace, home of the stunning Heal The Last Stand.

£4 Entry

Born from the ashes of John Peel favourites – Murry the Hump, The Keys are a mighty fine beat combo from Cardiff made up of five players, they have a fine pedigree on the local scene and well beyond, they’ve previously supported Love legend Arthur Lee, and newer acts like Sleepy Sun and the Noisettes. They once even played a Christmas acoustic session in legendary John Peel’s house, more recently their infectious music has recently been played on Jonathan Ross’ Radio 2 show, Gideon Coe on 6Music and Adam Walton’s Sunday evening programme Mystery tour on Radio Wales.

The recent Le Mans EP showcased their angular, faux-psychedelia sounding more accomplished than ever, and deviated interestingly from the Murry template. The release was quickly followed by the Christmas EP, a million miles away from your cheesy over played Christmas hits that you’re be sick of by the end of December. A delightfully unassuming slice of Beatles-esque pop, a foot tapping, sleigh bell shaking, jaunt through the festive holiday period but will see you through the whole year!

The Keys’ new work ‘Fire Inside’ shows their progression as an act,they’re still informed by their classic 60s pop influences but noweach piece is more melodic and subtle; swirled with psychedelicpatterns: informed by cult legends like 13th floor Elevators, TheVelvet Underground and the Jesus and Mary Chain, whilst imbuing each homespun recording with a personal warmth and experimentalism that is informed by modern artists like Panda Bear of the Animal Collective and Spiritualized band leader Jason Pearce.

Fire inside is released on See monkey Do Monkey Recordings 7th June

2010, and followed by a 10 date UK tour.

Free admission before 10pm, £4 thereafter

Who Is Jack Roberts?

That’s a question we’ve been asking ourselves for a while now! Hidden behind his stage persona, his animated characters and a tumultuous voice you will find something very real: Jack Roberts!

Jack Roberts writes songs, performs them, records them; he’s an animator, an artist, and a general genius! He’s performed at Glastonbury and is well known in Liverpool for his time in the band ‘The Bingo Brothers.’

Jack Roberts also performed at the Liverpool Echo Arena for The Number One Project, sharing the stage with the likes of Atomic Kitten and Gerry & The Pacemakers. His performance of shaving with a cut throat razor whilst singing ‘Ticket To Ride’ has gained him huge notoriety and has attracted a lot of press interest.

Now known for his avant-garde performances with everything from a bicycle pump to a biscuit tin, his jail bird stripy tops, and even a broken computer keyboard, his trademark gruff yet huge vocal range has seen him wow audiences at Sound City and Liverpool Music Week.

Achievements include an album through Sony, and his infamous ‘Heart Attack’ song on a Ricky Hatton video. (Search for this on Youtube or check his Myspace). He’s a massive favourite in Liverpool and has a strong cult following.

Noted for his stage persona and the contradiction of wit and pain in his lyrics, Jack Roberts is a true story teller you don’t want to miss.

£4 Entry

Manic Mexican madness as all your favourite Saturday morning cartoon themes are bastardised by these bolas toting banditos…