NEWS RELEASE
Cockermouth entertainment venue The Kirkgate Centre has lined up a weekend of big-hitting shows as part of the town’s Taste Cumbria food festival on 23 and 24 September.
Headlining on Saturday 23 September is comedy favourite John Lebbon joined by Irish comedian Kieran Lawless, hailed by reviewers as “hilarious self-deprecating humour from a man desperately trying to be less self-deprecating”, and Teesside based comic Fran Garrity. .
“Our regular Comedy@Kirkgate events are always popular, so it’s great to be adding to the buzz over the Taste Cumbria festival weekend,” said Kirkgate’s General Manager, Emma Heys. “We’re always impressed with the mix of talent John brings to Cockermouth.“ Doors open at 7pm for the show at 8pm.
The Big Kirkgate Weekend for foodies kicks off with the weekly ‘Friday night is pizza and film night’ at the Centre. Kirkgate works with authentic Italian pizzeria Fermento in Market Place who have pizzas delivered straight from their ovens to Kirkgate’s bar, a short walk away. “The Taste Cumbria festival is the perfect time to settle in and enjoy the best pizzas in town before seeing the film on the Big Screen,” said Emma. “We’re showing ‘Mad About the Boy’, the feature-length documentary about the extraordinary life of one of the top talents of British show business in the 20th century, Noel Coward, who went from relative poverty as a child to rubbing shoulders with Royalty.”
“Customers order their pizzas online with Fermento, letting them know they’re coming to the Kirkgate, and our volunteers do all the collecting and delivery to the famished film-goers. It’ll whet people’s appetites and help build up stamina for getting round all the food stalls in town over the weekend!”
On the Sunday (24th September), The Jake Leg Jug Band takes to the Kirkgate stage, bringing the authentic sounds of 1920’s and 30’s America – Jazz, Blues, Gospel and Ragtime – to round off the food festival weekend with songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption. “The band were a massive hit with our audience last time they were here,’” said Emma. “It promises to be a real toe-tapping treat of a night to bring a weekend of festival food treats to a close.” Doors open at 6.30pm with live music from 7.30.
There’s more music across the region over the festival weekend with Kirkgate Arts Out West venues hosting the unmissable ‘Moscow Drug Club’ who combine their original material with songs by the likes of Jaques Brel, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen and Eartha Kitt. Catch them at Florence Arts Centre, Egremont, on Thursday 21st September, Kirkstile Community Centre, Dean, on Friday 22nd and Ireleth Temperance Hall on Saturday 23rd.
Tickets for all shows are available at www.kirkgateartsandheritage.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
Kirkgate is a charity based in Cockermouth, Cumbria. It operates an arts and heritage centre as well as working with towns and villages in West Cumbria to encourage a diverse programme of arts, culture and entertainment. Its vision is to ensure that creative talent is valued, developed and supported with opportunities for all to engage actively with, and enjoy, the arts, local heritage and community life.
The Kirkgate Centre brings the best cultural, theatrical and entertainment events to Cumbria. From the best feature and documentary films to live streaming of top London shows, to local talent, heritage exhibitions, music, theatre, comedy and more, there is something for everyone.
In the historic Kirkgate Quarter of the Gem Town of Cockermouth, sitting on the edge of the Lake District National Park, the Kirkgate Centre is the perfect venue for special occasions, conferences, meetings, courses, exhibitions or private film screenings.
Kirkgate manages Arts Out West which stages performances in community venues from Furness to the Solway, ranging from nationally-recognised theatre companies to international musicians with events that are as much a social occasion as a performance. It is a member of the National Rural Touring Forum supported by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation.
Follow @kirkgatearts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
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For more information:
Emma Heys: 01900 829966
enquiries@thekirkgate.com
www.kirkgateartsandheritage.org.uk
The Kirkgate Centre, Kirkgate, Cockermouth, CA13 9PJ