Some Grand nights out

Ribble Valley venue unveils its line up for the start of 2014 – from Shakespeare to the Buzzcocks...
Pauline Black of The Selector, National Theatre Live will broadcast Coriolanus from Covent Garden and Buzzcock Pete Shelley. Below, Chantel McGregorPauline Black of The Selector, National Theatre Live will broadcast Coriolanus from Covent Garden and Buzzcock Pete Shelley. Below, Chantel McGregor
Pauline Black of The Selector, National Theatre Live will broadcast Coriolanus from Covent Garden and Buzzcock Pete Shelley. Below, Chantel McGregor

Rock, theatre, film and spoken word events are all part of a jam-packed New Year programme at Clitheroe’s Grand Theatre.

The Grand’s season of National Theatre Live begins with an exclusive live broadcast from Covent Garden of William Shakespeare’s Coriolanus at the end of January and continues with the moving First World War story of War Horse a month later.

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Dub rockers Dreadzone were always a firm favourite of the late DJ John Peel, and although the line-up has changed since they were signed by Alan McGee’s Creation Records, their frantic mash-up of reggae, techno, folk and electronic beats, still makes them one of the most exciting dance acts in the business.

Dreadzone will be sure to rock the Grand on February 21.

Chantel McGregor rates the Ribble Valley theatre as one of the friendliest venues on the circuit and the rock and blues songstress, voted the best female vocalist and guitarist at last year’s British Blues Awards, returns to one of her favourite haunts on St David’s Day, March 1.

A week later Manchester punk legends The Buzzcocks are back nearly three years after their sell-out show at the York Street venue.

Peter Shelley and Steve Diggle blazed a furious trail in the early days of punk, and their EP, Spiral Scratch, was one of the very first punk records to be released on their New Hormones label.

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Hear those classics again – from Fast Cars, Even Fallen in Love, What Do I Get?.........to Harmony in my Head.

Also in March, Bruce Foxton’s From The Jam and Simon Townsend, brother of The Who’s Peter Townsend, bring their That’s Entertainment Acoustic Tour to Clitheroe.

Foxton and friends will delve deep in to the Jam’s remarkable back catalogue, including classics Down in The Tube Station at Midnight, A Bomb in Wardour Street and the Modern World.

Andy McKee is considered to be one of the finest acoustic guitar players in the world and the talented American songwriter marks first appearance at the theatre shortly afterwards.

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Also on the five-star music menu are Blues rock legends Doctor Feelgood (Mar 22) and Salsa Celtica (Mar 30).

T Rextasy, the number one tribute band to Marc Bolan and Tyrannosaurus Rex serve up another rip-roaring set from the king of glam on April 5, and take a journey back to the era of Two Tone when The Selecter, and Pauline Black, make a welcome return a week later.

Toyah has enjoyed a 
diverse singing and acting 
career, and with chart hits It’s a Mystery and I Want to Be Free, she later went on to 
enjoy various film and television roles.

Toyah brings her band to the Grand for the first time on Easter Saturday, April 19.

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The Lancashire Hotpots provide a dollop of Red Rose folk and humour in May – while Scots’ rockers Big Country cross the border for their debut appearance at the Grand six days later.

With the Tour De France, the world’s most famous cycle race, coming to the North of England in July, there’s a night not to be missed for sports fans when commentator Ned Boulting, the voice of cycling, makes a special appearance at the Grand on May 19.

Boulting, who has 
covered every Tour De France since 2003, will recall his tour memories and asks how 
Britain became so obsessed with cycling.

For details of all events, 01200 421599 or www.thegrandvenue.co.uk.