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Fairport Acoustic Convention
Pacific Road Arts Centre, Birkenhead

0151 647 0752
www.pacificroad.co.uk

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Sat 10 May at 7.30pm
John Cooper Clarke + Mark Radcliffe & The Family Mahone
Picturedrome, Market Wlk, Holmfirth. HD9 1DA

Legendary alternative poet and comedian

Artistes Websites: www.johncooperclarke.com

Online Sales: www.ticketline.co.uk / Box Office: 0161 832 1111
Also Online: www.seetickets.com
Adv Tickets £15

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Sat 10th May at 7.30pm
Johnny Dowd
Sheffield, The Boardwalk
Johnny Dowd was almost 50 when Wrong Side of Memphis, his record of wracked country-folk-rock tunes, drew comparisons to Nick Cave in the alternative press. To a degree, the parallel is justified. Wrong Side of Memphis, after all, is devoted in large part to murder songs and tales of doomed sinners, and suffused with outlaw paranoia. Yet Dowd is -- as someone who grew up in Texas, Memphis, and Oklahoma, and now runs a trucking business in upstate New York -- someone who's genuinely closer to the source of American creepiness. He's also not so damn serious about it all; aside from the gallows humor permeating much of his work, his crackly voice tends to undercut any traces of self-importance. Dowd's sound is dominated by his singing and guitar, yet spooky dabs of organ and synthesizer place him outside of the rootsy Americana camp. His debut immediately established him as an important cult figure whose weirdness seemed to be wrought from true experience, and not the result of some phony pose. On his second album, 1999's Pictures From Life's Other Side, Dowd edged slightly away from the cliff, using a full band of musicians and a female backup singer to craft a punchier and less folk-rooted sound. His singing and lyrics, however, remained nearly as disquieting as they were the first time around. Temporary Shelter, issued in early 2001, and Pawnbroker's Wife, from the following year, were more accessible, produced records. Cemetary Shoes followed in 2004.

Artiste Website(s): www.johnnydowd.com

www.ticketweb.co.uk
or call 0870 145 1207
Tickets: £10 advance

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Sun 11 May 7.30pm
John Cooper Clarke + Darren Poyzer
The Citadel, Waterloo St, St Helens. WA10 1PX

Legendary alternative poet and comedian

Artistes Websites: www.johncooperclarke.com . www.poyzer.com

Tickets £15
01744 735436
Online: www.seetickets.com

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Sun 11th  May at 7.30pm
Jimi Jamison (survivor) + support Dante Fox
Sheffield, The Boardwalk
Jamison was responsible for some of the biggest soundtracks of the 80's including Rocky, Karate Kid and The Baywatch theme, he also penned and sang some of the finest melodic rock of the decade. On this full band tour he will be performing all the classics, a real treat for AOR fans and movie goer's alike.

Artistes Websites: www.jimijamison.com . www.dantefox.com

www.ticketweb.co.uk
or call 0870 145 1207
Tickets: £17.50 advance

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Sun 11 May @ 7.30pm
Magnum
Academy, UMU Oxford Rd, Manchester. M13 9PR
Classic Rock.

Artiste Website(s): www.hard-rain.demon.co.uk

Call 0161 832 1111
or www.ticketline.co.uk
Tickets: £18.00 adv

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Tues 13 May at 7.30pm
Andy Mckee
The Festival Hall, Victoria Sq. Bolton. BL1 1RU
Virtuoso finger picking guitarist

Artiste Website(s): www.andymckee.com

Online Sales: www.alberthalls-bolton.co.uk
Box Office: 01204 334400
Adv Tickets £12

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Tues 13th May 7.30pm
Rachel Unthank & The Winterset
At The Boardwalk,Snig Hill. Sheffield. S3 8NA
Rachel Unthank is a fantastic young singer from Newcastle who has charmed audiences all over Britain, appearing at Celtic Connections, Gosport and Fareham Easter Festival and Sidmouth International festival. With her band The Winterset she breathes life into stories to the extent that they become part of her. 'I simply can't reccomend them enough' (Bob Harris, Radio 2).

Weds 14 May at 7.30pm
Melanie
The Opera House, Water St, Buxton. SK17 6XN
Legendary singer songwriter

Artistes Website: www.melaniesmusic.com

Online Sales: www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk
Box Office: 0845 127 2190
Adv Tickets £22

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Weds 14 May at 7.30pm
Robin Trower + Aynsley Lister
The Rescue Rooms, Goldsmith Pl, Nottingham. NG1 1AA

Artiste Website(s): www.trowerpower.com

Online Sales: www.seetickets.com
Box Office: 0871 310 0000
Adv Tickets £15

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Fri 16th May
Gwyneth Herbert
Sheffield, The Boardwalk

Artiste Website(s): www.gwynethherbert.com

www.ticketweb.co.uk
or call 0870 145 1207
Tickets: £8

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Sun 18 May at 7.30pm
Robben Ford
Manchester Academy, Oxford Rd, Manchester.M13 9PR

Artistes Websites: www.robbenford.com

Online Sales: www.ticketline.co.uk
Box Office: 0161 832 1111
Adv Tickets £16

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Fri 16 May 7.30pm
Poppa Chubby
The Citadel, Waterloo St, St Helens. WA10 1PX
Outrageous Bronx Based Blues guitarist

Artiste Website(s): www.poppachubby.com

tickets £12
01744 735436

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Sat 17 May at 7.30pm
Robin Trower + Aynsley Lister
The Picturedrome, Market Wlk, Holmfirth. HD9 1DA

Artiste Website(s): www.trowerpower.com

Online Sales: www.ticketline.co.uk
Box Office: 0161 832 1111
Adv Tickets £15

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Sat 17 May @ 7.30pm
Robben Ford
Carling Academy, 11 Hotham St, Liverpool. L3 5UF

Artiste Website(s): www.robbenford.com

Call 0151 707 3200
or www.ticketline.co.uk
Tickets £16 advance

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Sat 17th May at 7.30pm
Popa Chubby
Sheffield, The Boardwalk
Born Ted Horowitz, Popa Chubby is a true native son of the Big Apple. He was born in 1960 in the Bronx and grew up in a neighborhood made famous by Robert DeNiro in the movie A Bronx Tale. His parents owned a candy store on the corner of 181st Street and Arthur Avenue. His early memories of hearing the juke box playing the hits of early sixties soul and R&B – and the neighborhood teens flocking around it – made a lasting impression on him. To this day the musical influence of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye are ever present in Popa's music.

Popa Chubby's music, forged in the toughness that is New York City, takes blues to the cutting edge, where it highfives its contemporary cousins rock, rap, and hip hop. With his razor sharp, biting guitar, vocals from the gut, and top-notch skill as a songwriter, Popa Chubby artfully combines the rootsiness of blues with the more modern urban elements of today's popular music.

Artiste Website(s): www.myspace.com/popachubbyband

www.ticketweb.co.uk
or call 0870 145 1207
Tickets: £12 advance

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Weds May 18th
Andy McKee
Sheffield, The Boardwalk

Artiste Website(s): www.andymckee.com

www.ticketweb.co.uk
or call 0870 145 1207
Tickets: £10

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Thurs 22nd May at 7.30pm
Robben Ford
Sheffield, The Boardwalk
'A musician's musician' with an illustrious career which began in the 1970s playing Blues in San Fransisco Bay, USA.

Robben has had a long and fruitful career, having played and recorded with many of the great performing artists of our time. This list includes Joni Mitchell, George Harrison and Miles Davis, to name just a few.

Artistes Websites: www.robbenford.com

www.ticketweb.co.uk
or call 0870 145 1207
Tickets: £16 advance

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Thurs 22 May @ 7pm
Dead Kennedys
Rios, Grand Arcade, Merrion St. Leeds. LS1 6PQ
Legendary US Punks

Artiste Website(s): www.deadkennedys.com

0844 414 2182
Tickets: £16.00

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Fri 23rd May at 7.30pm
Muffin Men + support Dante Fox
Sheffield, The Boardwalk
Formed in 1990 to celebrate Frank Zappa's 50th birthday, the Muffin Men are considered to be 'the best Zappa band in operation' by Mike Keneally, former Zappa guitarist.. Zappa and Beefheart music performed with typical English humour and a touch of virtuosity.

Artistes Websites: www.muffinmen.co.uk . www.dantefox.com

www.ticketweb.co.uk
or call 0870 145 1207
Tickets: £9 advance

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Sat 24 May at 7.30pm
AC/DC Livewire
Manchester Academy, Oxford Rd, Manchester.M13 9PR

Artistes Websites: www.livewiredc.com

Online Sales: www.ticketline.co.uk
Box Office: 0161 832 1111
Adv Tickets £10

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Sat 24 May at 7.30pm
Classic Manchester Night; The Clone Roses + The Smiths Indeed + Dj Clint Boon
The Picturedrome, Market Wlk, Holmfirth. HD9 1DA

Artistes Websites: www.thecloneroses.com

Online Sales: www.ticketline.co.uk
Box Office: 0161 832 1111
Adv Tickets £12

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Sat 24 May at 7.30pm
Robin Trower + Aynsley Lister
Manchester Academy, Oxford Rd, Manchester.M13 9PR

Artistes Website: www.trowerpower.com

Online Sales: www.ticketline.co.uk
Box Office: 0161 832 1111
Adv Tickets £15

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Sat 24 May 7.30pm
The Muffin Men
The Citadel, Waterloo St, St Helens. WA10 1PX
Frank Zappa Tribute

Artistes Website: www.muffinmen.co.uk

tickets £12
01744 735436

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Sat 24th May at 7.30pm
Punish Yourself
Sheffield, The Boardwalk
Doomsday horsemen sweating blood vodka and sex pheromones. Their universe is a cheerful mess with no way out. You enter at your own peril and you drop your inhibitions. Anything can happen at a PY gig. Girls stripping, giant rabbits, naughty nurses. When the crowd tries to get wilder than the band expect high level comic book madness - a comic book from Hell. Goths, punks, ravers, rivetheads, teenagers, old rockers, straight, gay, bi, everybody finds something to enjoy at a PY gig. Outlandish French Cyberpunk.

Artistes Website: http://punishyourself.free.fr

www.ticketweb.co.uk
or call 0870 145 1207
Tickets: £12 advance

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Sun 25 May @ 7.00pm
Dead Kennedys
Academy, UMU Oxford Rd, Manchester. M13 9PR
Legendary US Punks.

Artiste Website(s): www.deadkennedys.com

Call 0161 832 1111
or www.ticketline.co.uk
Tickets: £16.00 adv

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Sun 25th May
Robin Trower & Aynsley Lister
Sheffield, The Boardwalk

Artiste Website(s): www.trowerpower.com

www.ticketweb.co.uk
or call 0870 145 1207
Tickets: £15

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Moved to Sun 27 July 2008
previously Weds 28 May @ 7.30pm
The Wedding Present
Blackpool Tower Lounge, Bank Hey St, Blackpool. FY1 4BJ

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Thu 29th May
Alvin Youngblood Hart + Darren Poyzer
Sheffield, The Boardwalk
The Cosmic American Love Child Of Howlin Wolf and Link Wray!!! Known as a “musician’s musician”, his praises have been sung by everyone from Ben Harper to Brit guitar gods Eric Clapton & Mick Taylor. Since his 1996 debut recording, the all-acoustic BIG MAMA’S DOOR, Alvin Youngblood Hart has carried his musical message the world over. A devout follower of the “no barriers” approach laid by veteran performers like Gatemouth Brown and the late great Doug Sahm, Alvin continues to defy the so- called purists. After receiving the 1997 W.C Handy Award for Best New Artist, as well as 2 Living Blues Awards, Hart’s 1998 release, TERRITORY, a rousing tribute to all forms of American music, received the Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll Award for Best Blues Album (and it wasn’t even a Blues album). In the summer of ’99 Hart teamed up with producer Jim Dickinson to begin recording START WITH THE SOUL. This record would be hailed as a new breed Southern Rock classic & Alvin’s return to the “sacred garage” where many a guitar player’s life began. ”SOUL”, Alvin’s best selling record to date, was chosen in the New York Times top 10 releases of 2000 as well as the BBC’s Blues record of the year. He also shared Living Blues Magazine’s best guitarist honors with fellow road dog Big Jack Johnson in 2001. 2003 was a busy year. Not only was there a GRAMMY nomination, Hart also toured the world as a member of Job Cain, a hard rocking side project he put together with Cry Of Love/Black Crowes guitarist Audley Freed. In August of ’03 Alvin was invited to fill in for Taj Mahal for five nights in Tokyo as a member of Kip Hanrahan’s Conjure, the worlds longest running jazz poetry ensemble. Assembled to lend musical support to the words of Bay Area poet Ishmael Reed, Conjure featured the talents of tenor sax giant David Murray and also Meters guitarist Leo Nocentelli. Hart continues to tour the globe as a solo artist and with his Mighty Muscle Theory band..

Artiste Website(s): www.mojomusic.com/alvin . www.poyzer.com

www.ticketweb.co.uk
or call 0870 145 1207
Tickets: £12