Monday at the Festival

Yesterday was acclaimed as one of the best days for live music ever in Audlem. Huge crowds and an an amazing array of talent. And it could get even better today.

ExhibitionsIt starts from 10.00am with Art at The Methodist Hall – "Makes you proud to live here" is one comment we've heard about this must-see mixed art exhibition.

Also from 10.00am, it's theTextile Art Exhibition & Didgeridoo Competition at the Audlem Mill Canal & Needlework Shop with lots of crafts and rag rugging demonstrations. There's an amazing range of Multi Cultural Musical Instruments and canal ware with a prize of a real didgeridoo to the one who blows it best!

From 11.00am it's Acoustic elevenses at the Coffee Lounge. Top acoustic artists pop in to the Coffee Lounge to help kick start your festival day off, check out the 'Specials Board' to see who's on.

CarnivalAt 1.00pm it's Audlem Carnival with the 2011 Carnival Queen – see separate story – and see SteamHead on the Carnival playing field. With a line up of clarinet, saxophone,banjo, tuba, percussion and vocals they will burst headstrong into a fusion of jazz, latin, folk and calypso.

FavouriteAt the same time, 1.00pm, a real Festival favourite is The Boat Band at the Lord Combermere.

Back by very popular demand, they've played Glastonbury 14 times but always play Audlem first and on the way, The Boat Band have picked up a huge and varied catch of tunes. Creole, Caribbean, gospel, Cajun, Irish, zydeco and blues. Not much slips through the net. If it can be played on accordion and fiddle (or trombone, washboard, trumpet, banjo etc), if it touches the heart and moves the feet, it`s in the repertoire.

Blues Alley and moreBlues Alley gets underway at 1.00pm with Bee Face while at 2.00pm, it's Emma Purshouse at the Lord Combermere (inside) with a short set of stand up poetry. A writer, performance poet, stand up comedian and slam champion and even if you have already seen her around the village this is not to be missed.

2.00pm has Craig McFunkfish and the Battered Haddocks in Blues Alley and 2.30pm sees Robin Pierce Band at the Bridge Inn. Robin, Pete & Rick provide a perfectly pristine mix of up-beatfeel-good and chill out tunes laced with some quirky covers to suitall tastes. Fresh Material guaranteed with a New E.P in the pipeline -these boys won't disappoint!

2.30pm – Check out Loud Mouth Women in St James Church. They are Festival favourites and they are back again with their own brand of a cappella vocal performances. There's a second set at 4.00pm.

3.00pm – Lost in the Mist play at the Shroppie Fly. It's something different for the afternoon. A couple of hours of traditional & original songs, comedy, music & poetry.

3.00pm – Sound of the Sirens are at the Lord Combermere with acoustic vocal harmonies like you've never heard.

Houseparty4.00pm – Houseparty on at the Bridge Inn. A five piece band of talented local musicians covering some well known tracks from differing eras. Featuring four lead vocalists :- Chris Dyer/Sax, Al Hopkins/Guitar, Tom Seals/Piano, Al Dean/Bass...along with Andy Bibby/Drums and occasional vocal encouragement!

4.30pm sees The Wash at the Lord Combermere. The 3 piece are now a four piece. A rock band with a truly individual quality. Story like lyrics, evocative feedback, driving beats.... they even do the odd cover!

Folk JamAt 5.00pm, earlier than normal, it's the ever-popular Folk Session at the the Shroppie Fly while at 5.30pm – Dan Machin & Dave Daye are playing at the Bridge Inn, a top guitar duo.

6.00pm and Sarah Miller & The Blue Phantoms are on at the Lord Combermere. Sarah is a festival favourite and returns this year with her jazz band. A collection of chilled jazz, and funky grooves.

Evening7.30pm and Jack Marshall & The Loopers are playing at the Lord Combermere. Finally realising, after a degree in music, that working with musicians is a democracy, Jack has decided to build his own computerised, mechanical band of autocratic loopers. With the aid of technology his aim is to deconstruct his original folk compositions and churn them in a swelling cycle of loops. Occasionally he will be accompanied by two humans – exhibit 1: George Marshall (percussionist), exhibit 2: Kirsty Marshall (Vocalist).

8.00pm – Mark Stevens plays at the Bridge Inn. Mark covers some quality numbers in his own energetic style, one of the most in demand performers around.

FinaleAnd finally, at 9.00pm, it's The Johnny MIller All Stars with popular artists like Jim Kirkpatrick and many more at the Shroppie Fly. This is always a fabulous finale to Festival so try and squeeze in. It's often a tight fit!

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