previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2024
Get ready to laugh until your sides ache at Rochdale Sports Club's Comedy Night!
Preview by Steve Cooke
Rochdale is fast becoming a hot bed of outstanding comedy nights. The latest being at Rochdale Sports Club.
MC: PETE OTWAY
Pete Otway is a multi-award nominated comedian, presenter and former dairy farmer. His razor-sharp wit and hilarious tales have taken him across the world, whilst making him in demand at some of the biggest comedy clubs and festivals in the UK.
A former BBC New Comedy Award finalist, Pete’s first solo show was nominated for Best Debut at the Leicester Comedy Festival and played to sell out audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Often heard across various radio stations, either on the Hits Network on Rock FM or Radio City, and more recently on XS Manchester, Pete has also hosted shows on BBC Radio 4 Extra and performed stand-up on BBC Radio 2 and Radio 4. An experienced and likeable host, Pete has fronted three series of a YouTube comedy travelogue with Krusevac Geto, two of Serbia’s biggest comedy stars.
Steve Gribbin
Steve Gribbin is a diminutive guitar-wielding satirist from Liverpool whose scabrous comedy songs and off the wall observations have made him one of the firm favourites of the comedy circuit. Steve's original comedy songs combine razor sharp lyrics with tunes that put their foot in the door of your mind and refuse to leave.
Firmly based in rock 'n' roll and refusing to pull no punches, these are not the 'oh so witty' ditties of penguin-suited plink plonk piano playing posh gobs. They are that rarity - comedy songs which are actually funny.
For nine years Steve was the smaller one in the dynamic comedy duo Skint Video, stalwarts of the Edinburgh Festival, appearing on countless television programmes such as Saturday Live, radio such as The Mary Whitehouse Experience, and their own show in 1992/3 Songlines (BBC Radio 1). Skint Video went their different ways in 1993, since when Steve has been storming across the UK and Ireland as a solo artiste.
TV Sunday Best (GMTV) The Warehouse (YTV) Saturday Night (Meridian) Comedy Roots (SKY) WowFab Groovy (Channel 5) The Comedy Store series 2 (Channel 5) RADIO Comedy Network (Radio 1) Loose Talk (Radio 1) The Treatment (Radio 5 Live) Loose Ends (Radio 4) Weekending (Radio 4) Regular contributor
Faizan Shah
Faizan is a Manchester-based comic who moved to the UK as a child, his well-crafted jokes make light of growing up in an immigrant household and the inevitable mental health challenges it brings. The quality of Faizan’s joke writing, and affable stage presence has seen him progress quickly from beating Comedy Store’s King Gong and Frog and Bucket’s Beat the Frog to now breaking through the circuit with a strong 20-minute set and performing at both those venues pro weekend gigs in under 2 years. We believe Faizan to be one of the most exciting new acts to come out of Manchester for a few years. "Some very good gags and a nice delivery" - COLIN FRY "Nicely paced, deadpan delivery" Chortle. Tour Support for Danny McLoughlin, Kae Kurd, Axel Blake, Guz Khan, Hayley Ellis
Finlay Christie
At 19, he became the youngest ever winner of the prestigious So You Think You’re Funny competition, following in the footsteps of Peter Kay, Lee Mack and Sarah Millican. 3 years later, his debut Edinburgh show “OK Zoomer” was nominated for NextUp’s “Best Show” award. His material, based around his experience as a Gen Z, led Chortle to describe him as “the voice".
£12
Comedy Night at Rochdale Sports Club
Friday 17 May 2024
7.30pm
Rochdale Sports Club, Bridgefold Road, Rochdale OL11 5BX
Phone: Domenico 07743 929691
From Concert Hall to Music Hall
Review by Dr Joe Dawson
St Mary in the Baum resounded to the sonorous tones of bass singer John Nancarro, ably accompanied by pianist David Hammond. John has been entertaining around the world for 30 years with a ‘combination of music, cameo, impersonation, monologue, and recollection’, (see his website: https://johnnancarro.wixsite.com/theentertainer-3).
John loves to embellish his singing with interesting introductions and anecdotes. His first set of songs consisted of wonderful examples of nineteenth century German lieder by Robert Schumann and Schubert.
Pianist David Hammond grew up in Thame, Oxfordshire, and has been working in York as a musician since graduating from the University of York in 2002. He plays for concerts and exams, with soloists to choirs and ceilidh bands; and now runs the York Unitarian Chapel Friday concert series.
David contributed a middle set of pieces for piano solo. The moving, An einsamer Quelle (At a lonely spring), an early piano work by Richard Strauss, was followed by works by Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla, all excellently played.
The pair then transported us back to the rich world of the British music hall that blossomed in Victorian times and well into the twentieth century. Gus Elen’s ‘A great big shame’, and ‘If it wasn’t for the houses in between’, were redolent of a simpler time. This varied and enjoyable journey culminated in a rousing finale with Devonshire Cream and Cider by Curzon and Sanderson.
The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.
RECOMMENDED
Wednesday 15 May 2024
Rochdale Photographic Society
Tonight's session - practical evening, depth of field magic.
We meet every Wednesday at Rochdale Unitarian Church, starting at 7.30pm prompt (doors open from 7.15pm). The door is kept locked so please ring the bell on arrival.
If you would like to see the club for yourself and meet our members, you are welcome to attend as our guest for up to 3 weeks before committing to membership. Annual subscription is £36 for single or £46 for joint membership.
A weekly room fee of £2.50 is also payable on arrival at the meeting. Refreshments are 50p.
Visit the link below for a full 2023 syllabus.
£2.50 for room fee
Doors open 7.15pm, 7.30pm start
Rochdale Unitarian Church, Clover Street, Rochdale OL12 6TP
Wednesday 15 May 2024
Chuckling for charity - Petrus homelessness charity local comedy nights
We're keeping the laughs coming with another series of comedy nights in Rochdale and Bury! Hosted by our very own fundraiser by day, funny guy by night, Colin Manford, these nights are headlined by none other than Howard Anstock, a familiar face on the comedy scene who has played most of the premier comedy venues in the North West and beyond.
They'll also be joined by some fantastic supporting acts!
£5
Phone: Petrus Community 01706 526289
20:00
The Grapes at Bamford, 69 Norden Rd, Bamford, Rochdale OL11 5PN
Wednesday 15 May 2024
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
Doors open 12noon, concert starts 12.30pm - 1.30pm
This week we have Margaret Ferguson soprano (Ghana, RNCM & Poland) and Jonathan Ellis piano (RNCM & Manchester University).
The concert series has been held at St Mary’s since 2001 and was granted the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2020… during the pandemic!
Running every Wednesday, Music at Lunchtime is a weekly live classical music concert series that has been going since the 1960s. The sessions were initially run at the old Rochdale Art Gallery by the local authority, but since May 2001 have been run by volunteer-enthusiasts and artistic director, Dr Joe Dawson.
£6
Phone: Dr Joe Dawson 01706 648872
St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane/St Mary's Gate, Rochdale OL16 1DZ
Thursday 16 May 2024 - Saturday 18 May 2024
Visit Fireground Museum
Join us at Fireground this week to discover Greater Manchester's firefighting story.
Fire museum attractions are on show inside the museum including our collection of historic firefighting artefacts from the 18th century to present day, plus home-made refreshments in the new Fireground Café, and souvenirs from our fantastic new gift shop! We have a wide choice ranging from toddler to collector.
Under 4s are free, Children (aged 4-15) and Concessions £5, Adults £7 and Family (4 people) £20.
Phone: Fireground 01706 341219
Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10am - 4pm
Fireground, Maclure Road, Rochdale OL11 1DN
Friday 17 May 2024 - Saturday 18 May 2024
The Drifters
The Drifters are back on tour in the UK performing all their classic hits including Saturday Night at the Movies, You’re More Than A Number, Come on Over to My Place, Under the Boardwalk, Kissin’ In The Back Row and many more!
The legendary group have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, performed for the President of the United States and listed among the greatest artists of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.
Under the guidance of Tina Treadwell (daughter of the group’s original founders, George & Faye Treadwell), The Drifters have enjoyed a remarkable resurgence in recent years with multiple successful UK tours including headline shows in major arenas and, most notably, the world-famous Royal Albert Hall in London for the ever first time in the group’s glittering career.
“I am thrilled with the success of our recent UK tours, and we invite you all to join us in continuing to celebrate this incredible and everlasting story of The Drifters.” said Tina, speaking about the tour.
£30
Phone: Middleton Arena 0300 303 8633
7.30pm
Middleton Arena, LCpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton M24 1AG
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.
Comments