COMEDY

Bill Bailey, Parr Hall, Warrington, Friday

Warrington Guardian:

WEST Country comic Bill Bailey has been on the stand-up circuit for 20 years.

So the 53-year-old will be looking back at his traveller’s tales and the general shenanigans he has got up to on tour in that time in his inimitable style for his show Larks in Transit.

You can expect all the usual surreal tangents – like the ‘real story’ of Old Macdonald – and witty musical oddities. A remix of Stars and Stripes anyone?

But Bill, who is in the upcoming sitcom In The Long Run and is well known for cult comedies Black Books and Spaced, will also be doing a bit more political musing on the likes of Britain’s ‘current nervous breakdown’ Brexit. Bill’s latest tour is also his biggest, running from December 2017 to June 2018 due to his decision to take in more intimate venues.

He said: “I can’t deny that comedy has become a huge business in the past few years and comedy often turns up in larger venues – arenas and even larger venues sometimes.

“But I think the roots of comedy or cabaret really, which is what stand-up is, began in tiny venues. It’s better suited from an audience and a performer’s perspective. I’ve done arenas and I’ve played arena tours but I realised very early on when you want to have a conversation with an audience it’s very difficult in a space like that.”

Tickets for the Parr Hall show are £29.25. Visit pyramidparrhall.com or call 442345.

FAMILY

British Science Week, Tatton Park, Saturday and Sunday

GRAB your lab coat because Tatton Park is celebrating British Science Week with a host of experiments and challenges at the farm.

The family friendly activities will see you try to outwit the evil Dr Bovine through a number of tricky activities that require teamwork. 

British Science Week is a national celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths coordinated by the British Science Association. 

All you need to do is turn up on the day but if you want more information visit events.tattonpark.org.uk.

TRIBUTE

A Tribute to Ed Sheeran, Northwich Memorial Court, Saturday

WILL Ed Sheeran’s chart dominance ever wane?

The singer-songwriter’s latest album, Divide, is now enjoying its 50th week in the top 10. 

If you are a fan but cannot wait until Ed is back on tour or do not want to fork out a small fortune for tickets why not try an evening with Daniel East?

Armed with a Boss loop pedal and a guitar and with a crop of fiery red hair, Daniel plays all the pop star’s hits and live favourites. 

Visit brioentertainment.org

POP CULTURE

Comic Con Liverpool, Exhibition Centre, Saturday and Sunday

Warrington Guardian:

COMIC Con Liverpool strikes back on Saturday and Sunday with a host of special guests.

You can meet Dirk Benedict (The A-Team), Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk), Verne Troyer (Austin Powers), Paul McGann (Doctor Who, Withnail and I), Sophie Aldred (Doctor Who) and Hattie Hayridge (Red Dwarf). 

Star Wars fans are particularly in for a treat as Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca from The Force Awakens onwards) and Spencer Wilding (Darth Vader in Rogue One) will be there for picture and autograph opportunities.

If props are more your thing, there are full size replicas of the likes of Batwing from Batman, Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter from Star Wars, Ripley’s Powerloader from Aliens and David Hasselhoff’s Official UK KITT Car from Knight Rider.

On top of that there is a gaming zone, Q&A sessions, exhibitors displaying and selling memorabilia and even a steam punk zone.

Visit liverpoolcc.co.uk

ON STAGE

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, The Brindley, Runcorn, until Friday

IT is now best known for its film adaptation starring Jane Horrocks.

But VML Drama is bringing Jim Cartwright’s musical drama back to the stage. The play is about a reclusive girl who spends her time locked in her bedroom perfecting impersonations of famous divas.

When her mum Mari starts dating club agent Ray, she thinks he’s her last chance for a better life and when Ray hears ‘Little Voice’ sing, he thinks she’s his ticket to the big time.

Not everyone is going to get what they want...

Visit thebrindley.org.uk

CLASSICAL

Hallé Sci-fi Classics, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Saturday

Warrington Guardian:

IF the main theme from Star Wars still makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up we might have the perfect concert for you.

Manchester’s The Hallé, one of the UK’s most acclaimed orchestras, is presenting music from some of the most iconic sci-fi and fantasy films composed by Oscar winners like John Williams, John Barry and James Horner.

In a special concert conducted by Stephen Bell and presented by Tom Redmond, you can hear the themes from Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Back To The Future, 2001: A Space Odyssey, E.T and many more.

Founded by Sir Charles Hallé in Manchester, the Hallé gave its first concert in the city’s Free Trade Hall in January 1858.

The symphony orchestra is now in its 160th season and in that time the musicians have won top awards from the likes of the Royal Philharmonic Society and the South Bank Awards

For tickets visit halle.co.uk/whats-on/great-sci-fi-movies or call 0161 907 9000

MUSIC 

Joe Bonamassa, Manchester Arena, Saturday

Warrington Guardian:

FOLLOWING Joe Bonamassa’s two sold out concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2017, the celebrated blues-rock guitarist is back on the road.

The Manchester Arena show on Saturday follows hot on the heels of Joe’s critically acclaimed studio album, Blues of Desperation, which reached number three in the UK charts.

Joe, who has played alongside the likes of Eric Clapton and Foreigner, opened for BB King in 1989 when he was just 12.

He started to make his breakthrough between 2002 and 2006 when three of his albums hit number one on the Billboard Blues charts.

Visit eventim.co.uk