Immerse yourself in a festival of sounds, movements, and stories at The Met's series of events spanning from jazz orchestras and family bonding activities to historic musical explorations and vibrant cabaret nights. Each event, held at the Mill Gate Shopping Centre, offers a unique glimpse into the diverse cultural and artistic expressions that The Met curates. Whether you're swinging along to Jingle Jazz or delving into Ceredigion’s rich cultural tapestry with Cynefin and Awen Blandford, there's something to captivate every artistic soul.

A Cultural Extravaganza at The Met: Jazz, Dance, History, and More!

The Met is set to host an exciting lineup of events that will entertain music and theater enthusiasts alike. From the classic rock tunes of Limehouse Lizzy and Jan Akkerman to the dynamic tribute of The Bon Jovi Experience and the innovative performances of LipService, The Met promises unforgettable moments. Highlighting local talent with 'Get A Round In for Valentines' and the creative 'Sandscape', the upcoming events at The Met offer a diverse cultural feast.

A Musical Journey: From Classic Rock to Theatrical Mastery at The Met

Bury is set to showcase an exciting array of artistic talent at The Met, with events ranging from music battles to introspective theater performances. Spanning over a month, these events promise to bring together diverse genres and creative expressions. From the Battle of the Bands featuring local young musicians, to the heartfelt sounds of Nashville, and thought-provoking theater, there's something for everyone. Join us as we dive into Bury's cultural hub and explore the dynamic talents that make this town a beacon for the arts.

Exploring Bury's Vibrant Arts Scene: A Celebration at The Met

Three decades on, and now certifiably the kind of bloke you’d love to have a pint with, the national treasure Chesney kick-starts a new stage in his career and introduces himself to brand new audiences with the new single Get A Hold Of Yourself – his first all-new music in more than a decade which will be taken from his forthcoming album due in 2025.

Chesney Hawkes – Live in ’25

Mill Gate Shopping Centre

A warm and affectionate show featuring plenty of belly laughs and a good sing-song, Barbara sensitively explores dementia, revealing what it means to care for someone you love when they lose their way.

Barbara

They met on the city’s gig circuit in the late noughties. An unlikely pairing though it was, he an acclaimed guitar whiz, ex long-time member of The Cinematic Orchestra and a softly spoken Manchester urbanite, she a folk singer with a larger-than-life personality and a powerful voice to match. Their connection was immediate; they formed The Breath in 2016, a singer-songwriter duo to present their contemporary take on alt-folk.

The Breath

Being on tour is something I really enjoy, seeing people and being with people is part of my experience as a performer.

I will be playing songs from the Squeeze catalogue and from the solo albums I have recorded over the last twenty three years.

Chris Difford

Andy Fairweather Low shot to fame as lead singer in Amen Corner singing massive hits like Bend Me Shape Me, Hello Suzy and (If Paradise is) Half As Nice. A hugely successful solo career followed with Wide Eyed and Legless being the biggest international hit from his three solo albums.

Andy Fairweather Low and the Low Riders

There are no flat caps or twee costumes here. Instead you get incredibly talented musicians and dancers who simply want to bring you the sound and fun of Ireland in an intimate and homely setting.

The Irish House Party

Sean Ginty is a café owner in Paradise Heights. A quiet and unassuming man who wears a watch that stopped over 25 years ago. He’s a father figure to both his staff; literary student Jake, and Gabrielle, an artist and scarred survivor of a horrific fire that left her orphaned some years ago. It seems to be a quiet idyllic existence. But who is the mysterious Angel of The Heights, and more disturbingly – is something haunting the café?

Diane’s Deli: A Tale from Paradise Heights

Last year, after twenty years of stand up, I did Britain’s Got Talent. People asked me, “why now?”. Up ’til that point I’d been very happy avoiding TV and fame – and in that sense, I’d been hugely successful! However, the year before, I’d also had a stroke and lost half my eyesight. I was now keen to talk about my experience, comedically, to as wide an audience as possible. I did quite well, got to the semi-finals and had my fifteen minutes fame.

Markus Birdman: We Are All In The Gutter, But Some Of Us Are Looking At The Gutter

With a unique blend of instruments that includes voices, guitar, bouzouki, flutes, whistles, harp/electric harp, and bodhrán/drums, they create a sound that is both mesmerising and unforgettable.

Ranagri

Led by the genuine and critically acclaimed Nashville recording artists, Kaitlyn Baker and Joe Lasher, along with their talented full band, this tour promises an unforgettable journey through the biggest chart-topping hits of country music’s brightest stars.

The Nashville Nights Tour

The best local talent will be battling for the chance to represent Bury in the Greater Manchester Music Hub Battle of the Bands. With bands hailing from local high schools and the hugely successful Bury Rocks! programme this promises to be a fantasic night celebrating aspiring young musicians.

Bury Music: Battle of the Bands

Formed in 2006 the band has toured extensively performing the anthems that have defined a generation. With obsessive attention to detail, Noasis recreates the real Oasis experience playing all the classic songs as if they were their own.

Noasis

Singer, harpist and composer Rachel Newton draws on poems and ballads that are hundreds of years old, working them into her contemporary style to create a rich sound that is ambitious, original and unique.

Rachel Newton

Sand is the favourite play thing of many children! But how exactly does it feel when it runs through your hand over umbrellas and into buckets?

Sandscape is a silent theatrical piece that embraces the beauty and essence of nature and evokes the visual, heart-rhythmic abilities that get you transfixed with the aid of sand as its major tool.

Sandscape

Following their sold out shows in January 2024, progressive rock band IQ return for another two concerts, bringing their customary dramatic and visually exciting live performances, and marking thirty years of playing at The Met.

This new event at The Met features four artists sharing the stage to showcase their songwriting talent and tell the stories behind their music. Expect the very best of Greater Manchester’s acoustic talent.

Get A Round In for Valentines

We follow the stories of things Sue has already given away, the wicker horse that appeared every night in an improvised panto, the vintage suitcases turned into a sculpture in Stockport, the crazy Chief Exec of the Tall Ships Festival who dresses up as a fish!

LipService presents Funny Stuff

Ranked number fourteen in Q Magazine’s top fifty bands of all time and inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame, Bon Jovi is a household name the world over. With front man and namesake Jon Bon Jovi at the helm since they formed back in 1983, the New Jersey band have sold over 120 million albums worldwide, performing more than 2,600 concerts in over fifty countries for thirty four million fans and counting.

The Bon Jovi Experience

Tonight marks the start of this exciting journey, where these incredible performers will take the stage to kick off our unique concept. Here’s the idea: we want to bring BBS on Tour to local pubs and small venues, offering top-tier entertainment in exchange for a musicians’ fee. It’s a win-win for everyone involved – great live music while supporting an amazing cause.

BBS On Tour

Jan gained international fame with Focus from 1969 – 1976 with whom he recorded a number of breakout albums including Focus Plays Focus / In and Out Of Focus (1970), and Focus II / Moving Waves (1971) which reached the album chart in the UK #2, Netherlands #4 and #8 in the US going Gold. This album spawned the mega-hit Hocus Pocus which had international chart success and more recently has been heard on numerous TV shows such as Top Gear, Skins and Shameless. It has been used in the in the films Hot Fuzz, Robocop (2014) and Baby Driver, and numerous TV advertisements including Nike.

Jan Akkerman

After three decades as a leading tribute act, Limehouse Lizzy continue to honour the legacy of Philip Lynott and his band, Thin Lizzy with electrifying performances that dominate the live classic rock circuit both here and abroad. Recognised with a PRS/Billboard award as Britain’s hardest working act, featuring in the BBC’s acclaimed Arena series, and lead singer Wayne Ellis being a former member of original Thin Lizzy member Brian Robertson’s The Clan, have contributed to the band remaining a force on and off the stage, earning widespread acclaim.

Limehouse Lizzy

He has given us timeless songs that shed all the tears of life within their fragile yet perfect lines. He recorded three cherished albums between 1969 and 1972 but was almost entirely unknown in his day. After his tragic death in 1974 aged only 26 his music almost disappeared into obscurity. Now, thanks to a massive resurgence of interest and a worldwide re-evaluation of his genius Nick Drake has become a national treasure.

Keith James – The Songs of Nick Drake

The show features children aged six plus who have been with the academy for a while. All the performers have completed exams with the UKA and are very much looking forward to performing. Also featured will be over thirty adult tap dancers.

Kats Dance Academy presents SHOWTIME

Don’t miss this chance to see six up-and-coming comedians perform and compete for a £600 prize, and the prestigious title of The Met’s Comedian of the Year.

The Met’s Comedian of the Year Competition 2025

Formed by former Genesis Visible Touch singer Chris O’Connell, Genesis Songbook do exactly what they say – take you through the Songbook of Phil Collins fronted Genesis!

Genesis Songbook – Acoustic

Jean Genie was created by John Mainwaring and John Ford in 1993. An original recording artist in his own right, John Mainwaring has been signed by numerous record companies throughout his career – twice with Warner Bros. In the 1980s David Bowie’s world famous producer Tony Visconti produced some of John’s songs when he was signed to WEA.

Jean Genie – The best of David Bowie

Your favourite RockFit tracks performed live by Manchester’s DACARA, co-fronted by Dan Moran (Shrapnel and Reaper UK).

RockFit Live!

Take everything you think you know about singer songwriters and rip it up. For one man and a guitar he creates a performance with a huge far-reaching sound that is energetic, compelling, and passionate. Be it to two hundred people or twenty thousand, he blows the crowd away night after night.

Martyn Joseph

Starting out as the band behind Ian Dury, The Blockheads are a legendary outfit that has grown in stature from the early days of the Stiff tour in 1977, right up to the present day

The Blockheads

Drummer Rob formed the band in early 2023, bringing together musicians who met through local community jazz programmes at venues including The Met and Band on the Wall. The band’s ethos is to create music that resonates with a wide audience – not just seasoned jazz aficionados. Even if you’re unfamiliar with contemporary jazz as a genre, you’ll likely find yourself whistling their music on your way home afterwards.

Be Right Back

Them Heavy People are ‘wowing’ audiences with every gig, as their stage show mesmerises viewers with incredible musicianship, outstanding vocals and projections that makes this more of an event than a standard concert, and is a ‘must see’ for any Kate Bush fan.

Them Heavy People – Kate Bush Tribute Band

Describing himself as ‘a romantic football fan who writes songs’, Niall moved to London at seventeen years old working on building sites whilst growing a devoted fan base playing gigs in pubs and music venues across London. He began his acting career in London’s West End as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet before moving into film and TV and even having a major fight scene with Jackie Chan in The Foreigner.

Niall McNamee

LOUD showcases the most fabulous of rising stars from across Bury and beyond. Expect tantalising musicians, side-splitting comedians, captivating dancers and a line-up of talented additions for your delight on a monthly basis. Thursdays have never been so exciting!

LOUD Cabaret

Affectionately known as ‘The Aggies’ and ‘The Christmas Band’, the beloved St Agnes Fountain have toured every December since 2001 bar one (and we all know which one that was!) Now they are ready to tread the tinsel boards once more this December, bringing Christmas (and a new album) to the nation.

St Agnes Fountain

Our very own youth theatre is a supportive environment where young people come together to learn new skills and create their own shows. Led by highly trained professional facilitators, Bury Youth Theatre can help young people find their first steps on the path to a career in the performing arts, or simply provide a creative outlet.

Bury Youth Theatre

Originally from Broadstairs in Kent and of Irish descent, Tim Edey honed his style learning from his father Richard, himself a fine guitarist, and listening to Ed Boyd, Steve Cooney and Django Reinhardt. After seventeen years of hard work, Tim is now a name on the global stage in his own right, rated by many to be one of the finest melodeon and guitar players on the folk and contemporary scene today.

Tim Edey’s Celtic Christmas

This brand-new event at The Met features four artists sharing the stage to showcase their songwriting talent and tell the stories behind their music. Expect the very best of Greater Manchester’s acoustic talent.

Get A Christmas Round In

Having recorded over thirty albums, and recently being one of the headline acts at The Great British Folk Festival, their single Wild Mountain Thyme recently reached top forty in the Heritage Charts Top 40 and is set to be featured in the upcoming film Between Weathers.

The Houghton Weavers

Led by super saxophonist Munch Manship and longtime group leader Alan Barton, The Met’s community jazz orchestra conclude their ten session term with a performance to get you rocking around the Christmas tree!

Metro Jazz Presents: Jingle Jazz!

Mark Radcliffe has been on BBC national radio since the early nineties and currently hosts the Radio 2 Folk Show and weekend breakfast on 6Music. He is also the author of five bestselling books, the latest being Crossroads – In Search Of The Moments That Changed Music. Previously a member of folk-rock bands The Family Mahone and Galleon Blast, he is currently one half of electronic duo UNE and drummer and lyricist for Americana band Fine Lines whose lead singer and guitarist is…

Mark Radcliffe and David Boardman

Our weekly dance workshop is here ready to bring the new school year in! Incorporating different dance styles for children aged 5 – 10, this class is for young people of all abilities. In just an hour, the sessions are jam packed with routines, choreo, exercises and more, all led by our very own Danielle who also runs Movers and Shakers.

Leaps and Bounds

Enjoy a refreshments on arrival, take part in a photoshoot with a professional photographer at various stunning locations within our beautiful listed building, then record your chosen song with one of our professional studio engineers. Our engineer will work with you throughout the session on your chosen track allowing you to make best use of our fully equipped professional recording studio.

Popstar Parties

Fascinated by music and history, it is a bid to give a modern voice to Ceredigion’s rich yet neglected cultural heritage. Starting out from his home village of Capel Dewi in the Clettwr Valley and traveling through the local musical landscape, Owen unearths seasoned songs and stories, some never before recorded, and gives them new life in the present.

Cynefin + Awen Blandford

We’re moving upstairs into our larger Derby Hall and will be providing an even bigger stage for local LGBTQ+ talent! Joining them on stage for LOUDER are two nationally recognised names with a passion for supporting LGBTQ+ artists. Proceeds from LOUDER will help support our monthly LOUD events bringing Bury audiences the LGBTQ+ arts and culture they deserve.

LOUDER Cabaret

The Secret Storytelling Club invites you to an unforgettable evening of captivating tales, spine tingling songs, and thought-provoking conversations.

The Secret Storytelling Club

Genesis, from their early years as pioneers of the progressive rock movement in the ’70s to a stadium filling rock band in the ’80s and ’90s, amassed a legion of fans worldwide.

Mama recreate their music live in concert. Formed in 2012, this band have appeared at most of the prestigious venues up and down the UK, as well as regular appearances at tribute band festivals.

Mama – The All Era Genesis Tribute Band

Project Smok is the neo-trad trio of Ali Levack, Ewan Baird and Pablo Lafuente, whose nonconformist and progressive Scottish traditional music has set them apart since their formation in 2017.

Project Smok

BMAA Annual General Meeting 2024

Eleanor McEvoy was born on Dublin’s northside. After college, she pursued a career as a session musician in Dublin, collaborating with a multitude of artists and groups including U2, Sinead O’Connor, Midge Ure and Mary Black.

Eleanor McEvoy

Formed in Manchester in 1964, Herman’s Hermits are, to this day, a hugely popular touring band, thrilling audiences worldwide with their unique sound and warm humour

Herman’s Hermits

Alberta Cross were formed by Swedish-born lead singer and guitarist Petter Ericson Stakee and his London pal Terry Wolfers in the mid-00s. Their anthemic Americana-tinged songs possess a vulnerability and earthiness, and it soon showed in how hugely their debut record The Thief and The Heartbreaker began to connect. What followed was success on both sides of the Atlantic, and high-profile jaunts with Mumford & Sons, Portugal, The Man, Neil Young, Them Crooked Vultures (Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and John Paul Jones) and Rag N’ Bone Man.

Alberta Cross: ‘The Thief and The Heartbreaker’ Re-imagined Solo Tour

Regularly featured across BBC Radio 3, BBC 6Music, Classic FM and KEXP, his music has been listened to in excess of forty million times across platforms.

A frequent performer across the UK and Europe, his music and live performances reflect the extremes of human experience – at times, gentle, calm and still; powerful, boisterous and energetic at others.

Simeon Walker

ABBA Reunion gives Abba fans, old and new, the opportunity to once again get together and re-live the addictive Abba phenomena that swept the airwaves and discos during the ’70s and ’80s in a truly authentic, feel good, party style tribute concert. From Mamma Mia to Dancing Queen, all of the greatest hits are performed with unrivalled authenticity from both an audio and visual perspective with an amazing jaw dropping finale recreation taking you back to where it all began in 1974!

ABBA Reunion

No Such Thing Records are an independent label, committed to harnessing and shining a light on creativity from the North of the UK, and championing diversity across the region, representing artists from underrepresented groups and minority backgrounds. Driven by collaboration and a passion for building bridges between the visual arts and the music industry, the label aims to give Northern artists opportunity, freedom, creative control and chance to grow community.

Emerging Showcase: No Such Thing Records take-over

Family Stories and Dragons: A Fantasy Role-Playing Game for all the Family!

Renowned Westcountry songwriter Steve Knightley, former Show of Hands frontman, announces a groundbreaking nationwide solo tour – the first since the iconic band disbanded. Focused on promoting his latest album, The Winter Yards, this tour signifies a profound shift in Knightley’s musical journey.

Steve Knightley

The Met

This is a great opportunity to keep active and bond with your children, discover new fun games to play at home and meet other parents and carers!

Movers and Shakers

Metro Jazz is The Met’s own community jazz orchestra led by experienced saxophonist and educator Munch Manship.

The Met

Mar 27, 2025

Chesney Hawkes – Live in ’25

Mar 26, 2025

Barbara

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