OVER recent years, Northwich's music and arts scene has began to blossom once again and despite being in the shadow of nearby cities such as Chester, Liverpool and Manchester, the town's venues and artists are determined to offer quality nightlife and culture to Northwich folk.
Undoubtedly, there are yet to be many top gigs and shows announced throughout the year, but from the ones already pencilled in around Northwich, we've picked out 20 that we're looking forward to in 2020.
1. Deja Vega, The Salty Dog, January 30
This Winsford three-piece are now getting used to selling out venues around the north west, such as their upcoming February gig at Manchester's Deaf Institute. And judging from their previous gigs at The Salty Dog, it's no surprise.
Their fast, high energy, riff-heavy style gets crowds moving and makes them ideal for a small packed-out venue like The Salty Dog where crowds almost surround the frontman.
Deja Vega have a large and loyal following in the mid Cheshire area, so this one is likely to sell out.
Click here for tickets.
2. Dave Spikey, Memorial Court, May 28
Bolton's Dave Spikey, best known for his role as Jerry in Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights, is back on tour with his new show "A Funny thing happened...".
Dave is a former 'north west comedian of the year' and his debut national tour in 2003 saw him pick up a 'Performance of the Year' Award (Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards) and 'Best Comedy Performance' Award (Leicester Mercury Awards). The hit show was recorded by Universal and released on DVD quickly achieving the 'Gold Retail Performance' Award selling in excess of 75,000 copies.
Click here for tickets.
3. Ben Hart: Wonder, Memorial Court, April 19
Magician Ben Hart shocked the nation last year when he appeared in the finals of Britain's Got Talent 2019, and eventually coming in third place.
The multi award-winning magician is now embarking on his debut solo tour and is bringing it to Northwich in the spring. Described by David Walliams as 'the living embodiment of magic', with the simplest of props and using the objects and minds of the audience, Hart conjures a show that shines a light on magic, life, the universe and the darkest corners of your imaginations.
Click here for tickets.
4. Disco Down in aid of Tiny Steps, Winnington Park Recreation Centre, April 3
This year's event in aid of Tiny Steps promises to be the best yet. The charity, which provides social care for children with additional needs in Northwich and Winsford, hosts an annual gig in Winnington that has now become a top event to look out for.
This year, the ever popular Inspiral Carpets keyboard player and XS Manchester radio DJ, Clint Boon, will be back again supporting the charity with a DJ set.
Joining Clint will be John Power, of Liverpool-based indie rock band Cast, who will be opening the night with an acoustic set. Having made his mark on the UK pop scene in the late 80s with The La’s, John went on to form Cast in the early 90s during the rise of Britpop.
He will be followed on stage by an acoustic set by Shed Seven founding members Rick Witter and Paul Banks.
Click here for tickets.
5. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Harlequin Theatre, January 23-25
The Harlequin Theatre is an often overlooked gem in Northwich bringing top quality productions to an audience in a small and intimate setting.
The curtain will open for this first time this year in just two weeks' time as The Harlequin Players bring Glyn Robbins' adaption of the popular C.S Lewis tale The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, to the Harlequin Theatre.
Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy embark on a magical mystery tour to the Land of Narnia through the wardrobe. There they encounter the wicked White Witch, representing the forces of evil, and the King of the Beasts, Aslan the lion, representing all that is good and right.
Click here for tickets.
6. Bez, The Salty Dog, February 1
To some, Mark 'Bez' Berry is a former candidate running in the 2015 General Election in Salford, while others will recall him as the winner of Celebrity Big Brother 2005. But to music fans of the 'Madchester' era, Bez is the freaky dancer and maraca player for both Happy Mondays and Black Grape (both fronted by Shaun Ryder), who became a mascot of these bands and encapsulated the whole Hacienda era of the 80s.
Anyone going along to his sold out DJ set at the Salty Dog in High Street is guaranteed to be in for some night.
Click here to be added to the waiting list.
7. Wilderland Wildlife Film Festival, Memorial Court, April 30
Selected from over a hundred entries from film-makers around the globe, Wilderland is back for its second year touring the very best of the world’s short wildlife films.
These groundbreaking films will offer audiences unparalleled insight into some of the world’s most incredible wildlife. A must-see for lovers of wildlife, film, travel, conservation and adventure.
Click here for tickets.
8. Nigel Clark, The Salty Dog, March 1
The lead singer of Dodgy has had a very successful solo career leading on from his time with one of the most beloved British pop rock bands of the 90s, who are remembered for hits 'Good Enough' and 'Staying Out for the Summer'.
Dodgy have wowed crowds while headlining festivals in Cheshire over recent years, including Winsford's Off Cut Festival in 2016 and Knutsford Music Festival in 2017, but this time Nigel brings his solo show to Northwich and to much loved small venue The Salty Dog. It should definitely be one to watch.
Click here for tickets.
9. Rapunzel: A Tangled Musical Adventure, The Grange Theatre, May 3
Pantomime producers KD Theatre Productions and Scott Ritchie Productions are back again at The Grange Theatre in May with their production of Rapunzel.
KD Theatre and Scott Ritchie Productions are regulars at The Grange and their shows always go down well with families, so any children who loved the Tangled Disney film should be in for a treat.
Featuring an original book, music lyrics, high energy choreography, loveable characters, colourful set and costumes and an opportunity for the audience to meet the characters after the show, this production promises to be entertaining for all the family.
Click here for tickets.
10. Sworn Amongst, The Salty Dog, February 2
British thrashers Sworn Amongst, the foursome behind one of 2008's most ambitious metal debuts And So It Begins, bring you their uncompromisingly fearsome follow-up, Severance. Driven by the band's unrelenting will to cause general mayhem, Severance brings the best of what was to be found on their previous release and turns up the heat tenfold. Severance showcases the band's diversity and ability to create powerful modern metal while honouring the roots of traditional thrash and speed metal.
Sworn Amongst features at The Salty Dog as part of Independent Venue Week, which if previous years are anything to go by, is not to be missed at the popular High Street venue.
Click here for tickets.
11. An Evening With Liverpool Legends, Memorial Court, May 19
Who knows? By May 19, Liverpool could well have wrapped up their first Premier League title and also be readying themselves for an imminent FA Cup Final and a third successive Champions League Final, leaving them the possibility of securing an unprecedented quadruple.
So what better time would there be to sit down at Northwich Memorial Court in front of club legends John Aldridge, Ronnie Whelan and Steve McMahon.
The evening will be hosted by comedian Jed Stone, while special guest Jamie Webster will be singing live on stage.
Aldridge, Whelan and McMahon will be giving an insight into their careers, from previous clubs to putting on the famous red jersey and representing their national teams.
Click here for tickets.
12. Crissy Rock Live, Memorial Court, April 17
Best known as one of the stars of ITV1's hit series 'Benidorm' and a multi award winner, Crissy is better known to her fans as one of the most outstanding and outrageous stand up comedians of her generation.
From her hilarious routines directed at useless partners to her journey through the onset of middle age, Crissy's non-stop blasts of comedy brilliance hit the right note every time.
You may of seen Crissy more recently on Lorraine, Loose Women, The Full Monty and as a semi finalist on 5 Star's Celebs on the Farm, but in 2020 she is hitting the road and coming to Northwich for an evening which promises to have guests rolling in the aisles with laughter.
Click here for tickets.
13. 1968, The Salty Dog, February 13
Fronted by Jimi Ray Coppack, the owner of Winsford's popular record store The Electric Church, 1968 have a strong following and are sure to pack out the High Street venue.
Drawing influences from Sabbath, Blue Cheer and riff makers such as Mountain, 1968 are pushing the older sound into modern ears and using volume to ensure that listeners or spectators are left with the feedback, for days.
Click here for tickets.
14. Sleeping Beauty by Vienna Festival Ballet, Memorial Court, May 29
Join Vienna Festival Ballet as they celebrate their 40th Anniversary with their beautifully revived version of the classic fairytale set to Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score. Stunning choreography, lavish costumes and handcrafted scenery all combine to portray the struggle between good and evil.
The wicked Carabosse casts a spell on Princess Aurora proclaiming that she will one day prick her finger - and die. The Lilac Fairy changes the spell, and instead on the fateful day the Princess and the entire Palace fall into a deep sleep. A century later Prince Désiré revives the Princess with a kiss, the Palace awakes and a parade of fairytale characters attend the wedding.
Following the traditional tale of Sleeping Beauty, this ballet is sure to enchant audiences of all ages.
Click here for tickets.
15. All My Sons, Harlequin Theatre, June 10-13
All My Sons is a story of guilt and the consequence of greed behind a white picket fence. Joe Keller, a successful businessman, lives comfortably with his wife, Kate, and son, Chris, in suburban American. They have a sadness in their lives – the loss of their other son, Larry, who went missing in the Second World War.
After three years, Kate still clings to the hope that her son is alive, but is she side-stepping an even nastier truth? As the play unravels we see the madness that takes hold when you are living a lie, and discover that principles come with a price tag.
Click here for tickets.
16. The Bowie Experience, Memorial Court, February 14
The world's number one David Bowie act wowed crowds at Memorial Court back in November 2018, and those who were there to 'experience' it will be thrilled to see the act back again in 2020.
Bowie Experience is a breathtaking concert celebrating the music of the world’s greatest pop icon, David Bowie. A must see for all Bowie fans, the latest production promises an unforgettable journey of sound and vision, featuring all the hits from A to Ziggy.
Performed by Laurence Knight, his career in the music industry has seen him perform alongside the likes of The Cure, and Boney M at The Royal Albert Hall.
Click here for tickets.
17. Argh Kid, The Salty Dog, January 28
This alternative hip hop band from Manchester, England, led by the MC/Poet David Scott, has been making its voice heard recently, not least by the frequenters of The Salty Dog.
With an eclectic approach to hip hop featuring live musicians to provide a backdrop to life in austerity UK, the first two singles “Frank” and “Neighbours” were met with critical acclaim and support from industry big hitters such as Chris Evans, Janice Long, John Kennedy to name but a few.
Click here for tickets.
18. Sounds of Motown and Philadelphia, Memorial Court, March 6
The Sounds of Philadelphia, Smooth Soul, Motown and Uptown Funk is brought the Northwich in March by a seven-piece band featuring former Drifters member Roy G Hemmings, who was part of the Drifters line-up between 1990 and 2003.
The show is a celebration of more than 50 years of the sound of Philadephia, smooth soul and uptown funk.
Front man Hemmings was the longest serving member of The Drifters and has appeared at prestigious venues around the world, including a memorable performance at the White House for the then president Bill Clinton.
This action-packed show sees The Love Supremes and The Tops & Tempts performing accurate portrayals of all the hits to bring the memories back and keep you dancing the night away.
Click here for tickets.
19. Shrek the Musical, Memorial Court, May 13-16
The Knutsford Musical Theatre Company brings Shrek the Musical to Northwich.
Based on the story and characters from the Oscar-winning DreamWorks animation film, this hilarious and spectacular production turns the world of fairy tales upside down in an all-singing, all-dancing, must-see musical comedy for families.
Join Shrek, our unlikely hero, and his loyal steed Donkey as they set off on a quest to rescue the beautiful (if slightly temperamental) Princess Fiona from her tower, guarded by a fire breathing love-sick dragon.
Click here for tickets.
20. The Drones, The Salty Dog, February 21
Popular Australian band The Drones will grace the stage at The Salty Dog this February.
The band, which formed in 1997, are influenced by the likes Neil Young and The Velvet Underground and have a strong worldwide following.
Their third studio album Gala Mill was listed at Number 21 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums.
Click here for tickets.
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