St James Chapel - Events Archive

The building is an ideal venue for arts and community events, which would help with the costs of upkeep and improvements in disabled access and toilet facilities. A group of people, including representatives from the parish church, the almshouse trust and local organisations, have formed a building preservation trust which could take over the church and be responsible for its upkeep. Such a trust will be able to raise funds for the improvements necessary and safeguard the long-term future of the building.   >>Main St James Page

Help us to preserve this beautiful church for the benefit of all Will you join The Friends of St James and support us? All we ask for the first year is a donation, and in return you will be sent details of our programme of performances, concerts and other events in the church. Send your donation to: Janet Allan, 10 Dale Road, New Mills, High Peak, SK22 4NW

OUTREACH IN NEW MILLS

Festival Fringe Venue:
For the second year running, New Mills is joining in The Buxton Festival Fringe.  St James’ Church and Arts Centre on Spring Bank is an outreach venue for Fringe events.  Altogether, four very different events are booked into this beautiful Victorian setting.  They are all offered in true Fringe spirit and further details are listed in the Fringe’s full programme of events.

Guitar recital:
On Saturday July 7th at 7.30 pm there is a classical guitar recital by rising star James Rippingale.  James graduated from The Leeds College of Music six years ago and has already made a name for himself as a talented soloist on the classical guitar.  His recital will include pieces by Bach, Dowland, Ponce, Harrison, Yock and York.  In the exceptional acoustic of the St James building, this promises to be a mouth-watering musical treat. Reservations can be made by calling 07934 386701 or 1332 781026. Some seats should be available at the door.

Celloscope:
On Sunday 15th July at 7.30 pm a group of five ‘cellists from the Halle and BBC Philharmonic Orchestras will play a thrilling selection of pieces from Bach to The Beatles.  If you have never heard five ‘cellos in concert, you will be amazed!  As if that is not enough, the professionals will be joined by over fifteen young participants who will have been tutored in workshops to be held during the day.  This is an occasion not to be missed.  Reservations can be made at The Derbyshire on Union Road in New Mills or by calling 01663 746074. Please note that it is likely that this event will be an advance sell out.

Aitone:
St James’ is delighted to be hosting a second Fringe appearance by this  delightful a-capella early music consort who were so well received last year.  Their programme is titled “Civitas mundi, civitas Dei” and promises a whistlestop early music “Grand Tour” of European cities in song contrasted with a more sedate pilgrimage through musical imagery of the heavenly city.  And all for less than the cheapest budget airline! This event is at 7.30 pm on Saturday 21st July. Direct reservations can be made via www.aitone.org.uk .  Some seats should be available at the door.

“Brand” by Heinrik Ibsen: This event has unavoidably been CANCELLED
 Scotland’s newest, most dynamic professional small-scale touring company, The Ibsen Theatre Company, presents its powerful production of this gripping epic by Ibsen. It is the tragedy of a good man obsessed by fundamentalist passion. Written in 1866, it was the Norwegian dramatist’s first success.  His plays have since established him as the father of modern prose drama.  This is a Fringe-style performance and takes place at 2.30 pm (to 4.30 pm) on Sunday 22nd July.  St James’ is proud to be hosting such quality, classic theatre. Reservations can be made by calling 07980 292978.  Some seats should be available at the door.

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Summer Chamber Music

Halle Players:
On Saturday June 9th music lovers are in for a special treat.  The Friends of St James’ have invited a Chamber Sextet of musicians from the Halle Orchestra to give a concert at St James’ Church and Arts Centre on Spring Bank, New Mills.  Arranged by Dale Culliford, who plays ‘cello with The Halle, the performers are Adi Brett and Philippa Jeffrey on violin, Tom Beer and Raymond Lester on viola and David Petri with Dale on ‘cello.  The programme, which has been compiled especially for a summer’s evening, includes Bocherini’s ‘Cello Quintet, Mozart’s String Quintet in G Minor and Tchaikovsky’s “Souvenir de Florence”.

Playing at St James’:
Speaking about the concert, Dale Culliford said: “We are all members of the Halle Orchestra who are committed to playing chamber music in our spare time.  We really want to bring good music within reach of the people of New Mills and area.  I am the local one – the other are all Manchester based.  I have played before in St James’ and I know what a lovely acoustic the building has. We are looking forward to playing there.”

Supporting the Arts Centre Project:
Dale is very excited by the plans to turn St James’ into a busy full-time arts centre.  Although it will be some time before the St James’ Trust is able to gather sufficient funding to undertake the restoration and conversion, she wants to contribute to the programme of events run by The Friends of St James’.  “We have booked in two further concerts for the summer,” said Dale. “One for a ‘cello quintet called ‘Celloscope (again Halle players) during the Buxton Festival Fringe in July.  This will be special because we are holding workshops during the day for young ‘cellists and they will take part with us in the evening.  The third concert will be during New Mills Community Festival in September, with another chamber group of Halle players with guests from nationally famous orchestras.”

Art Exhibition:
To complement the musical skills there will also be an exhibition at the centre of the stunning work of a Whaley Bridge-based professional artist.  Caro Inglis specialises in turning photographs of people’s favourite landscapes or places into bespoke pictures using a combination of traditional pastel, water colour and modern digital techniques. “Picture Your Landscape” prints are available on canvas or watercolour paper, framed or unframed.  They make the perfect present for anniversaries, retirement gifts, wedding and birthday presents. Caro will be at the concert to discuss her work.  She will be giving a percentage of any sales to The Friends funds for the Arts Centre project.

Combination:
What could provide a more special combination for a June summer’s evening – beautiful music, fine graphic art and a glorious Victorian venue?  This event could be a sell-out and music-lovers are advised to obtain tickets in advance to guarantee their seats.

Details:
The concert will take place on Saturday 9th June commencing at 7:30 pm in St James’. Tickets can be purchased in advance from The Derbyshire on Union Road in New Mills (744003) or by contacting the Ticket Hotline (746074).  Adult £5.50; Concession £4.00.  Members of The Friends of St James’ can obtain a discount on tickets purchased in advance by showing a current membership card.

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FOUR TO THE BAR

Celebrity Quartet:
What do you get if you mix one well-known TV reporter, one glossy magazine editor and two local politicians (one a former Mayor of High Peak)?  The answer is – music!  Celebrity quartet “Four to the Bar” comprises Colin Sykes, environmental correspondent for North West Tonight, Janette Sykes, editor of the classy magazine ‘Peak District Life’, former popular Mayor of High Peak Glynnis Kirk and fellow local performer and former politician Alan Wells.  This extraordinary combination of talented people all have something in common: they enjoy singing and entertaining.  Already well known in the Buxton area for their charity performances, they are now booked to appear for a full evening’s concert at St James’ Church and Arts Centre on Spring Bank, New Mills.

Their Kind of Music:
When quizzed on what the evening holds in store, Colin Sykes said: “We call ourselves Four to the Bar. Our music is a selection of pop, show and cabaret songs - all very melodic and mostly quite well known. We use a digital piano and keyboard for accompaniment. We're all looking forward to singing for you.”  The invitation from them is to come along and spend a May evening in the delightful company of these well-known personalities.  What could be more wonderful than listening to relaxing music in the glorious Victorian setting of St James’?

Details:
The concert will take place on Saturday 19th May commencing at 7:30 pm in St James’. Tickets can be purchased in advance from The Derbyshire on Union Road in New Mills (744003) or by contacting the Ticket Hotline (746074).  Adult £5.50; Concession £4.00.  Members of The Friends of St James’ can obtain a discount on tickets purchased in advance by showing a current membership card.

The Dream Comes Closer:
At the Annual General Meeting of The St James the Less Preservation Trust (the parent body of “The Friends of St James’”) on Wednesday May 23rd at 7.30 pm the Trustees will be reporting on the progress of the project to take over St James’ when it closes down as a place of worship.  The plans are already well developed for converting it into a studio-sized Arts Centre.  This will be an opportunity to ask questions about the proposals, as the meeting is open to everyone.  The Trustees will have up-to-date information, as they will be coming hot-foot from discussions with Derby Diocese on the previous afternoon (May 22nd) concerning the purchase of the church building. This is one big step closer to the dream of St James’ becoming a flourishing community Arts Centre for New Mills and its surrounding area.

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The Palatine Wind Quintet

St James’ Church and Arts Centre:
The Friends of St James’ – the New Mills Group which promotes events at The St James’ Church and Arts Centre, Spring Bank – is delighted to have secured a booking with the talented Palatine Wind Quintet.  These wind players are based mainly in south Manchester and comprise five outstanding musicians who perform not only with Palatine but also with some of the best non-professional orchestras in the region.  It will be a treat to hear them play in the beautiful Victorian surroundings of St James’ with its excellent acoustic.

Details:
The recital will take place on Saturday 28th April commencing at 7:30 pm in St James’ Church and Arts Centre on Spring Bank in New Mills.  Tickets can be purchased in advance from The Derbyshire on Union Road in New Mills (744003) or by contacting the Ticket Hotline (746074).  Adult £5.50; Concession £4.00.  Members of The Friends of St James’ can obtain a discount on tickets purchased in advance by showing a current membership card.

This is an evening for music-lovers.  The Quintet will be performing:

• Variations on Elizabethan Song and Dance Airs by Giles Farnaby (circa 1560    – 1640)  Adapted for Wind Quintet by Arnold Foster
• Quintet Op. 56 No. 3 by Franz Danzi (1763 - 1826)
• Slow movement from Quintet Op 99 no.13 by Anton Reicha (1770 – 1836)
• Eight Russian Folk Dances by Anatole Liadov (1855 – 1914)
• Pavana by Luis Milan (1500 – 1563)
• Quintet in C by Claude Arrieu (1903 -1990)
• Three Shanties by Malcolm Arnold (1921 – 2006)
• It will be a veritable tour of wind quintet pieces across the centuries!

The Dream Comes Closer:
Just six days after this concert, negotiators from the St James’ Preservation Trust (the umbrella trust for The Friends) will be meeting a representative from Derby Diocese for discussions over the purchase price of St James’, which has been offered to The Trust when the Diocese closes it as a consecrated place of worship.  This is one big step closer to the dream of the church building becoming a flourishing Arts Centre for New Mills and the region.

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World premiere of new play for the High Peak
7.30pm March 24th 2007

Breakfast is served at Chuckfarthing House. Which is tough if you have a hangover and you are the one who has to serve it. Will the toast be hot enough for Miss Hartley? Will the organic grapefruit be worth the wait? Will the newlyweds ever make it down to breakfast? Described as “A full-on English breakfast comedy”, Maggie Dealey’s new play Butter Side Up has its premiere at the Paupers Pit Theatre in Buxton on March 15,16 and 17 and has further performances at Kettleshulme Village Hall on March 22 and St James’ Church and Arts Centre in New Mills on March 24. The play is presented by the acclaimed High Peak theatre company fragiletheatre and features respected local actors Sorrel Thomas and Langley Brown.  Also appearing in this bitter-sweet comedy is Wendy Patterson who has enjoyed a variety of TV roles; most recently as Sister Prince in the BBC period drama Lilies, WPC 943 in Life on Mars, Tina Penfold in Emmerdale and an alcoholic in Shameless. The play marks the professional stage debut for Derby based actress Alexandra Laverick who has recently graduated from the Central School of Drama. Butter Side Up is a play likely to appeal to a wide audience.  It is funny and poignant by turns and even tackles the burning question of whether it is physics or fate that determines what happens when you drop your toast… The playwright, Maggie Dealey, won the Buxton Festival Fringe award for best new writing in 2003 for A Woman of Uncertain Age. This is her third collaboration with fragiletheatre. The play is directed by Helen Grady. Performances: Paupers Pit Theatre, Old Hall Hotel, Buxton March15/16/17             7.30pm           tickets £8/£7 concessions Available from Buxton Opera House 0845 1272190 Kettleshulme Village Hall March 22                     7.30pm            tickets £8/£7 concessions Available from Bulls Head, Kettleshulme       01663 733225 Swan Inn, Kettleshulme          01663 732943 New Mills, St James’ Church and Arts Centre, Spring Bank March 24                     7.30pm            tickets £8/£7 concessions Available from The Derbyshire           01663 744003 Ticket Hotline              01663 746074 Further information available on fragiletheatre’s website www.fragiletheatre.com oOr by telephoning Helen Grady on 07971 636965.

Alexandra Laverick Langley Brown Sorrel Thomas Wendy Patterson

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Aidan Jolly Live
7.30pm Feb 24th 2007

February 24th 7:30 pm at St James’ Church and Arts Centre, Spring Bank New Mills. Appearing live – Aidan Jolly with Lis Murphy (vocals and violin) and Martin Milner (vocals, and guitar).  Tickets £5.50 and £4.00 concessions. Available from The Derbyshire, Union Road, New Mills (744003) or from The Ticket Hotline (746074).  Some tickets may still be available on the door.

System Fault

Featuring tracks from Aidan’s new CD.  “System Fault is a grower album, both musically and lyrically, & well worth the listen” ROCK’n REEL

Songs for Change 2006 competition judge’s choice (Roy Bailey)

Songs About People – For People

"Aidan writes songs drawn from people's everyday experiences, with finely crafted lyrics and haunting melodies, brought to life with an acoustic band comprising some of the North West's finest musicians"

Aidan Jolly is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. His songs grow out of relationships with communities and places. Much of his recent work has been commissioned, often by people or organisations who want to explore notions of identity or place, or simply to tell stories. In this sense he is a ‘folk’ or ‘world’ musician. With finely honed lyrics that fall into the songwriting tradition somewhere between Ian Dury, Billy Bragg and Richard Thompson, his subjects are based on stories collected in a variety of locations and deal with the 'untold' experiences of 'ordinary people'. He has just released his debut CD 'System Fault'.

For live performances he is now accompanied by Lis Murphy (violin and voice) and Martin Milner (guitar and voice). In 2004 Martin was Musical Director and Composer for the Lowry’s production of ‘Love On The Dole’, which was nominated for a Manchester Evening News Special Award.

“Passion, conscience, intelligence” - Maverick Magazine
“Impassioned, community-centred - [this] powerful set will appeal to the chill-out audience and traditional folk/rockers alike” - Musician Magazine
“Aidan Jolly’s music is passionate, accessible and an absolute inspiration to listen to.” Ann Nicholls, Raise Your Banners Festival, Norwich 2005
“Evocative, metaphorical, at times quite poetic” The Guardian (for the installation piece Terminal Frontiers)

www.aidanjolly.com
www.myspace.com/aidanjolly

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“A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION”
7.30pm Sat 9 Dec 2006

The Friends of St James’ Invite You

After a successful Autumn season of events which began back in September during the New Mills Community Festival, The Friends of St James’ final event of 2006 will be a lovely combination of music and readings to celebrate Christmas. This will be at 7.30 pm on Saturday 9th December in St James’ Church and Arts Centre, Spring Bank, New Mills. Having secured a booking with much in-demand choir ‘The Grace Darling Singers’, the Friends promise all their visitors an evening “to warm the cockles of their hearts”!  The Singers will be performing a range of pieces – some well-known favourites, some which evoke Christmas in the style of years gone by.  They will be interspersing the musical items with readings around the Christmas theme.  For musical accompaniment and as a worthy ensemble in their own right, ‘The Four Graces’ quartet will add a delightful further dimension to the evening’s programme.

Talented Choristers

‘The Grace Darling Singers’ are sixteen serious musicians who specialise in demanding and sometimes out-of-the-ordinary pieces.  To keep the audience on their toes for the Celebration evening, they will be including four items that invite audience participation, as well as a Christmas Anthem which culminates in a choir-and-audience finale.  The choice of readings will be a mixture – some from well known and much-loved sources, others from modern and perhaps less familiar writers.  Everyone asks about the odd name of The Singers: have they any connection with Northumberland and the sea heroine’s famous Farne-Isles rescue?  The answer, apparently, is that when the chorale originally formed one member brought along a little known folk piece celebrating the said sea heroine.  The Singers adopted the song in their early repertoire – and the name that went with it!

Beautiful Setting

Everyone who performs at St James’ remarks on its beautiful interior and excellent acoustic.  The Preservation Trust hopes that it is now on the verge of acquiring the church in order to restore it and convert it into a purpose-equipped studio arts venue.  To share the excitement of this prospect there will be mulled wine and seasonal refreshments at the Christmas Celebration.

Tickets

Adults: £5.50 and Concessions: £4.00.  Bookable in advance from The Derbyshire Building Society, Union Road, New Mills,  phone 01663 744003 or by phone from The Ticket Hotline 01663 746074.  For help with transport please ring the Hotline number.  Members showing their card obtain a discount on all pre-booked tickets.  To become a member of The Friends of St James’ for the 2007 season contact Janet Allan on 01663 744233.

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Tue 18th Jul - The Magdalen Whitewash - youth theatre - 11am

Mon 17th Jul - Where's Waldo? - youth theatre - 11am

Sun 9th Jul - Aitone - early music acapella - 7.30pm

“POETRY AND A LITTLE PIANO” Fringe Artist for New Mills Arts Centre The Friends of St James’ Arts Centre, Spring Bank in New Mills are delighted to have secured a booking with Buxton Fringe favourite Philip Holland.  Intriguingly entitled “Poetry and a Little Piano” (- is that a very small piano or a few piano pieces interposed in the poetry?) the performance takes place at 7:30 pm on Saturday June 17th at the St James’ Church building on Spring Bank in New Mills.  This is the last concert in the Spring Programme promoted by The Friends, although there will be more arts events in the Buxton Fringe programme at the centre during July (see the Fringe programme for details) Poet and Pianist Extraordinary Philip Holland is perhaps better known to Buxton audiences, where he has played in the Festival Fringe in 2004 and again in 2005.  The opening lines of his Bio read “I am a 56 year old semi-retired dairy and sheep farmer, one time hotelier and former concert pianist, presently working part-time in partnership with my wife in our jewellery shop in Buxton…”  Newly retired in 2003, he finally “hung up his wellies” and started to write poetry!  He says he first decided to put pen to paper after a holiday in Rome in April 2003 when he was inspired by the wonderful Bernini sculptures in The Villa Borgese. Established Poet Philip is an established poet now; he has published two anthologies of his writings, with illustrations by his wife Patty.   His poems have won awards and been short-listed at national level in a competition judged by a panel including the Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion.  As well as the Buxton Fringe, Philip gave three recitals at The Edinburgh Fringe in 2005, coinciding with the release of his second anthology, “More Poems”.  Currently, Philip is facing a self-imposed challenge by pursuing an English and Creative Writing Degree Course with the Uni of Derby (Buxton Campus). A Little Piano From the age of six Philip learned the pianoforte.  Having gained honours in the highest grade at both solo and duet, he went on to study with Fanny Waterman in Leeds – giving professional recitals with his sister as concert piano duettists – whilst still farming! He competed in most of the major Drama and Music Festivals in the North West and Midlands, broadcast for the BBC and gave many concerts for charitable organisations.  As if this was not enough, he formed and ran his own choir and was often a guest conductor with local brass bands. Enjoy an Evening with Philip Holland This extremely accomplished performer is appearing for one night only in New Mills. Tickets are £5.50 and £4.00 for concessions – on sale at “Bookstop” Market Street New Mills (Tel: 744472) or The Ticket Hotline (Tel: 746074).   For any elderly audience who would like help with travel, they should also ring New Mills 746074. “TALKING HEADS” Talented Actress: One of the runaway best sellers at Christmas 2005 was Alan Bennett's “Untold Stories”, the masterful autobiography of Bennett's childhood in the Leeds / Bradford area. Inspired by Bennett's delicious observations, Lancashire’s own Joanna Lavelle returns to the St James’ Arts Centre, New Mills, with two of his monologues from the first “Talking Heads” series, just as fresh today as when they were written and recorded for BBC television in 1988. In "Bed Among the Lentils" life at the Vicarage is seen in a different light when the vicar's wife develops an unhealthy liking for the communion wine and the Asian grocer she meets on her shopping trips to Leeds. More of Bennett's skilful observation and plotting is shown in "A Lady of Letters", a poignant tale of correspondence that ends with the writer residing at an unusual address! Joanna first became known to New Mills audiences with her interpretation of Shirley Valentine in 2004 and last year she returned with her own tribute show to Joyce Grenfell. This Spring's Alan Bennett “Talking Heads” revival shows the versatility and range of an accomplished actress who has previously played to full houses. St James’ Arts Centre: “Talking Heads” on Saturday March 18th (7:30 pm) marks the start of the Spring / Summer season of events at The James’Arts Centre on Spring Bank in New Mills. Having justly established a reputation for quality performances across the whole arts spectrum, from poetry to drama, from jazz to classical, from books to bellringers, The Friends of St James’ are delighted to be promoting Joanna Lavelle to open their 2006 programme of events. On the previous two occasions when Joanna has brought her one-woman shows to New Mills the evenings have been complete sell-outs. Advance booking is strongly advised. Tickets cost £5.50 (or £4.00 concessions) and can be obtained from ‘Bookstop’ on Market Street in New Mills (N M 744472) or by phoning The Ticket Hotline (N M 746074). Anyone with transport problems can also ring the hotline for help. Reductions for group bookings can be negotiated via the hotline. “MADRIGALS AND MUSIC” BRIDGE SINGERS COME TO NEW MILLS For the first time, the celebrated Bridge Singers, who are based in Marple Bridge, will be appearing at a concert venue in New Mills. With The Athenean String Quartet from Stockport providing the “music” element of the evening's programme, the singers themselves will be performing a mix of English and Italian madrigals, sacred pieces, Victorian part songs and some spirituals. The string quartet will include in their programme pieces from Haydn, Mozart and Tchaikovsky. Altogether it promises to be a mouth-watering selection and just right as the season of festivities gets under way. QUARTET AND SINGERS COMBINE A WEALTH OF TALENT The Bridge Singers have a strong following in the Marple and Stockport area. One of their favourite performance venues is the lovely chapel at Chadkirk . They will be following on closely from their New Mills concert with a performance in the chapel on Sunday 4 th December, when their programme will include some Christmas music. The Bridge Singers are made up of a group of very experienced voices and their varied choice of music for the New Mills programme will show off their great versatility. The high standards of The Athenean String Quartet are similarly appreciated in Stockport musical circles. Together, with “madrigals” and “music”, they will provide pleasant and relaxing entertainment. In the beautiful Victorian surroundings of St James', what better way could there be to spend a December evening? BEAUTIFUL CARDS FOR SALE A good friend of St James' and well known locally for her own artistry, Mavis de Miere will be bringing a selection of her beautiful hand-made cards for sale at this evening. She has promised to support the “Friends of St James'” funds from any sales that she makes. WHY NOT MAKE A “DO” OF IT? The Friends of St James' are presenting this delightful musical soiree on Friday 2nd December at 8:00 pm in The St James' Church and Arts Centre, Spring Bank, New Mills. Refreshments will be served from 7:30 pm onwards – so that anyone who has been to the switching on of New Mills Christmas lights will have time to come along and warm up before sitting back to enjoy the evening. Tickets are £5.50 and £4.00 for concessions – on sale at “Bookstop” Market Street New Mills (Tel: 744472) or The Ticket Hotline (Tel: 746074). For any elderly audience who would like help with travel, they should also ring New Mills 746074.

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GRANVILLE DANNY CLARKE Saturday November 19th 2005 at 7.30 pm Non-stop Art If you will enjoy an artist who can paint hauntingly beautiful watercolour scenes (even while you watch him) and who will sing his own compositions or read you his own poetry in between painting, then Danny is your man! On November 19 th at 7:30 pm Granville Danny Clarke will present one of his much acclaimed one man multi-media performances at The St James' Church and Arts Centre, Spring Bank, New Mills. Thanks to closed circuit TV and a big screen, you will be able to look over Danny's shoulder while he produces some of his ‘instant' paintings and demonstrates his wizardry with line and colour. But you can be sure that his guitar will not be far away as he shares his songs and recitations. One thing is certain – Danny won't be quiet for long! This will be an evening of non-stop art! Multi-talented and Experienced As a member of the Yorkshire Watercolour Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, you might well expect him to be a celebrated painter; indeed while Danny was appearing on Channel Four's long-running Watercolour Challenge his enthusiasm encouraged many viewers to take up their brush and palette. Danny has done lots of regional TV and BBC appearances, as well as regular annual art tutorials with Marlborough College Summer School and Bath University . But with Danny everything is larger than life. For many years he was half of the well-known folk act “Foggy Dew-O” who recorded and made the national scene. His compositions and his personal interests have always had a strong moral and environmental theme – his latest release “Chimes of Freedom – a Sequel to Live 8” follows firmly in that challenging vein.

Danny's Full Biography and Paintings Gallery

An Evening not to be Missed The Friends of St James' have been fortunate to book Danny's one man performance for Saturday 19 th November at 7.30 pm in The St James' Church and Arts Centre, Spring Bank, New Mills. Tickets are £5.50 and £4.00 for concessions – on sale at “Bookstop” Market Street New Mills (Tel: 744472). Booking in advance is strongly advised. For any elderly audience who would like help with travel, they should ring New Mills 746074. This event is appropriate for families with older children. Refreshments will be provided.

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THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK Friday June 24th at 7.30 pm This is the final presentation in the spring season of arts events at St James’ Church and Arts Centre, Spring Bank, New Mills. To round off their highly successful programme of monthly performances, The Friends of St James’ are delighted to have booked popular jazz singer Loretta Scott backed by Adam Hutchins at the keyboard. Tickets are available from ‘Bookstop’ in New Mills or by ringing the ticket line on 01663 746074: £5.00 and concessions £3.50. The performers promise a relaxing evening of jazz and blues, with many favourite numbers. The Artists: Both Loretta and Adam are well known around the North-West music scene. Loretta’s career as a jazz singer spans nearly twenty-five years; she has performed with famous bands and at international events. Adam has been in demand across the

Loretta Scott Fuller Bio:
Loretta Scott's jazz history spanning almost twenty-five years has earned her plaudits from well known greats, including such names as Don Weller, Digby Fairweather, Alan Barnes and the late Dick Morrisey. Her heartfelt interpretations of 'The Great American Songbook' have been a source of continual delight to audiences both here in the United Kingdom and in the wider world.

Loretta recently made a welcome return to Brussels in November 2004 where she appeared at several of the leading jazz clubs there, including the famous "Music Village". She had made a short trip the previous year to Brussels, where she appeared briefly at the "Sounds" jazz club, and was persuaded to return. Loretta has also appeared in Prague, France and at "La Finca" jazz club in Teneriffe. More recently, and on home ground, she was part of a musical extravaganza at the "Bridgewater Hall" in Manchester. Loretta has appeared at many jazz festivals throughout Britain over the years, including Llangollen, Sheffield, Keswick, Buxton, Marsden and Huddersfield and in September 2004 was invited to appear at "Opus 6" on the Greek Island of Lesvos.

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“A WOMAN’S LIFE AND LOVES” Saturday May 21st 2005 at 7:30 pm in St James’ Church and Arts Centre, Spring Bank, New Mills. Tickets £5.00 or £3.50 concessions from “Bookstop” Market Street, New Mills or ring the ticket line: 01663 746074. Advance booking advised – limited capacity. Marion thinks that 45 is too young to be “the-mother-of-the-bride-to-be”. As her daughter’s wedding looms, she reflects on life and love.

THE SONG CYCLE
This unique collaboration between singer Carol Bowns, writer Caroline Small and pianist Heidi Rolf brings together songs from Schumann to Bernstein linked by original dramatic monologues. It was voted winner of the best music event at Buxton Festival Fringe in 2004.

“Frauenliebe und –leben” was written by Robert Schumann in a frenzied two months in 1840 shortly before he married his beloved Clara. It was this cycle of eight songs which gave Carol Bowns the inspiration for this musical programme. To go with Schumann’s songs, she found a wealth of other material of relevance to a twenty first century woman. Her final selection evolved mainly from the twentieth century and has resulted in a highly listenable programme that includes songs by women composers.

Caroline suggested writing something to link the songs and so the character of Marion was born. Her daughter’s wedding plans trigger reflections on life, love, relationships and the secret of a happy marriage.

THE PERFORMERS
Carol Bowns surrounds her life with singing! She encourages others as a teacher and choir director [Tideswell Singers and Wye Sing] and by running workshops. She has a beautiful soprano voice and enjoys her “themed” evenings presenting a wide range of music.

Caroline Small is a writer, director, performer and theatre educator. Her theatre writing ranges from large-scale musicals for huge casts to epic plays for very small casts and works for solo voice. She enjoys collaborating with other artists.

Heidi Rolfe graduated from Huddersfield University in 1998 with a Masters in Piano Performance. Her varied repertoire includes chamber music, works by women composers and contemporary music. She is delighted to be performing “A woman’s Life and Loves” again with her colleagues.

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