Congleton Jazz and Blues Festival

The Seventh Annual Congleton Unplugged Festival

Running from Feb 29th to March 14th 2020

Congleton Unplugged is back! BLOW AWAY THE WINTER BLUES, GET YOURSELF ALONG TO one of Cheshire’s favourite music events !

For three weekends, from 29th February to 14th March, Congleton Unplugged 2020 brings you music events for everyone – genres include Prohibition, Blues, Folk, Pop, Indie, and Choral, or just come along and singalong! ....and NEW for 2020……SPOKEN WORD events (see below for more information)....and of course the MAIN EVENT March 6, 7, 8 FREE ENTRY MUSIC ALL WEEKEND, more than 40 gigs. NB Please see the bottom of this page for any programme changes, also UK Gov and PHE Coronavirus (COVID 19) advice.

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAMME HERE (4oMB file size!)

Download the programme here

DOWNLOAD THE GIG SCHEDULE HERE (20k word doc)

Download the gig schedule here

WHAT'S ON OFFER IN 2020!

Saturday 29th Feb; The Jake Leg Jug Band at Congleton Cricket Club

Monday 2nd March; Singalong at The Old Saw Mill (free)

Tuesday 3rd March; Poems and Pints at The Beartown Tap (free)

Wednesday 3rd March; Singalong at Congleton Library (free)

Wednesday 4th March; JUDAS! at Congleton Library

Thursday 5th March; John Dhali at The Cygnet Club

Friday 6th March; 12 X Free entry gigs across town (free entry)

Saturday 7th March; 25 X Free entry gigs across town (free entry)

Sunday 8th March; 8 X Free entry gigs across town (free entry)

Saturday 14th March; Poetry workshop at The Old Saw Mill

Saturday 14th March; Art workshop at The Electric Picture House (Spindle Mill)

Saturday 29th Feb

The Jake Leg Jug Band; bring you the authentic sounds of 1920's and 30's America, Songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption, and ably supported by Andy Boote solo on guitar and vocals playing cool jazz, and bossa nova with timeless ballads and movie themes.

Congleton Cricket Club; Doors at 7pm, show starts at 7.30pm; Tickets £6 in advance £8 OTD.

Tickets available from Congleton Tourist Information Centre, Stonehammer Music and online at we got tickets;

Monday 2nd March

Singalong session from 14.30 - 15.30 at the Old Saw Mill.

Tuesday 3rd March

Poems and Pints at The Beartown Tap, hosted by John Lindley, bring your own poetry to read or just sit in and enjoy the session (upstairs at the ‘Tap).

Wednesday 4th March

Singalong session from 10.30 - 11.30 at Congleton Library.

Wednesday 4th March

When Dylan Went Electric by John Lindley; 1965 was the year that Bob Dylan electrified his music and electrocuted many of his fans. Bob Dylan expert, John Lindley, looks at the event that caused folk music's most seismic shock and revolutionised rock forever. A penetrating insight into those turbulent times with historic and spellbinding recordings and film footage.

Congleton Library; Doors 6.30pm, show starts 7.00pm; Tickets £6 in advance, £8 OTD.

Tickets available from Congleton Tourist Information Centre, Stonehammer Music and online at we got tickets;

Thursday 5th March

John Dhali unfurls his latest solo show for Unplugged with a mission to make you feel GOOD and take his joyous soul folk to your heart! Expect big energy, profound lyrics, soaring vocals, and most importantly... to leave happy.". ably supported by Tori Sheard. This gig brought to you in association with Biddulph Up In Arms.

Cygnet Club; Doors 7pm, show starts 7.30pm; Tickets £6 in advance, £8 OTD.

Tickets available from Congleton Tourist Information Centre, Stonehammer Music and online at we got tickets;

Friday, Saturday, Sunday 6, 7, 8th March...FREE MUSIC ALL WEEKEND ...in no particular order; Luis Gois, Malpractice, Heidi Browne, Chris Hapgood, LYZA, Steamhead, Reece Jacob, Danny Gruff, Jess Kemp, Beartown Ukes, Becky Tate, Gelatos, James Collins, The Occasional Saxophone Quintet, Robin Pierce, Visyon Young Voice Group, Callum Wright, Congleton Choral Academy, Morgan Harper Jones, Doug Francis, Anna K, Andy G Williams, Lucy Hopkins, Just Lookin', Cry Baby and The Hoochie Coochie Boys, The Mudez Project, Big Society, Lucy Lockwood Trio, Demi Marriner, Shaun Redlake, Ben Smith, Jonathan Hallyburton.

Please note that the Lion and Swan Hotel has with drawn from the festival.

Saturday 14th March Art Workshop at The Electric Picture House (Spindle Mill)

Absolute beginner or just interested in art? A fabulous opportunity to work with full-time, creative and commercial artists living and working in Congleton. The workshop will particularly benefit those people who may not have brought their work/ideas/ambitions to a workshop before. Whatever your ability, you will benefit from this session under the friendly guidance of local artists Petra Lea and Sharon Quinn.

This is a ticketed event £6 in advance £8 on the day, very limited places, so book early! Your ticket includes refreshments at the Electric Picture House, book your place directly with the Electric Picture House located on Spindle Street, CW12 1BN,or via Congleton Tourist information Centre.

Email: for further details

Saturday 14th March Poetry Workshop at The Old Saw Mill

Absolute beginner or just interested in learning new styles and approaches to writing your poetry? A tremendous opportunity to work with a full-time, prizewinning poet for a relaxed session full of ideas, inspiration, personal feedback and positive advice on writing. The workshop will particularly benefit those people who may not have brought their work/ideas/ambitions to a workshop before. Whatever your ability, you will benefit from this session under the friendly guidance of published poet, John Lindley.

This is a ticketed event £6 in advance £8 on the day, very limited places, so book early! Your ticket includes refreshments at the Old Saw Mill, book your place directly with the Old Saw Mill located on Back River Street, CW12 1HJ.

Tickets for these events, available from Congleton Tourist Information Centre, Stonehammer Music, or online at We Got Tickets (indicated by the button specifically for each gig)

PROGRAMME CHANGES!

The Lion and Swan Hotel has with drawn from the festival all its gigs are withdrawn also, look out on social media for any updates.

CORONA VIRUS (COVID 19) advice, if you think you are or maybe affected by Coronavirus (COVID 19) please seek advice, here are two examples provided by NHS and HM GOV ;

NHS advice here;

HM GOV advice here;

A MASSIVE THANKYOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS, WE CANNOT DO THIS WITH YOUR HELP;

AD Profile, Beartown Brewery, Congleton Town Council, Congleton Inclosure Trust, Congleton Town Trust

Lamb Inn Guest House, Hammond McNulty, SAS Daniels

THANK YOU TO THE VENUES WHO WORK TO GIVE YOU A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE

Beartown Cock, Beartown Tap, Congleton Cricket Club, Congleton Library, Cygnet Club, DV8, Electric Picture House (Spindle Mill), Gather, Pentecostal Church, Prince of Wales, Quigleys, Old Saw Mill, Stonehammer Music, VISYON, V Bar, Wild & Wild, Ye Olde White Lion, Young Pretender