Grand night out at £3m complex
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| INTERIOR: Inside the former Grand Cinema at Clitheroe, which has been dramatically transformed at a cost of £3 million |
A FORMER East Lancashire cinema which has been transformed into a music and arts centre in a £3million re-fit will have the Ribble Valley rocking this weekend.
Soul Survivor's Ben Cantalon, singer Heather Small and T4 Popworld winners, Bluebird Kid Clark will be appearing at Clitheroe's newest live music venue.
The former Grand Cinema has been transformed into a state-of-the-art multi functional community centre incorporating a 350 seat live music venue, internet cafe and a top-of-the-range recording studio with all the latest equipment rivalled by no other venue in the county.
Tonight Heather Small of M People will be performing a sell-out gig ahead of her October tour. She will be supported by Esther O'Connor. And tomorrow it is the turn of the indie bands with T4 Popworld winners Bluebird Kid Clark headlining, and supported by The 99s and Clitheroe band The Ragamuffins.
Tickets are still available at £5. The bands - who are on stage from 7pm -will round off a free open day of guided tours, children's activities and workshops including exhibitions from fireeaters and stilt shows.
David Jaggs, who sings and plays guitar for the Indie-pop band the Raggamuffins, who formed less than a year ago said: "We are really looking forward to performing at this new venue. It is really something special. We were really pleased to be asked to join the line up and hope to use the Grand a lot in the future.
"We will be playing some of our latest songs this weekend and hope to attract some new fans with the followers of the Manchester bands expected to come along."
The refit has been funded by The Lancaster Foundation whose founders, John and Rosemary Lancaster, had a vision to use the building to make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals in their home town of Clitheroe.
Organisers from Christian charity Oasis UK are responsible for running the York Street Centre and its founder Steve Chalke will officially open the new venue, introducing this weekend's launch events.
John Lancaster said: "The Grand is about regeneration. The transformation of this building into a state-of-the-art venue continues the provision of new and much-needed facilities in Clitheroe. Our aim is to strengthen community and create key development opportunities, in particular for young people."
The new development houses a performance auditorium, recording studio, rehearsal rooms, a dance studio, cyber café and restaurant and will be available to the whole community to use.
"The Grand will be an inclusive and vital place that people can feel part of and connected to," added Rosemary Lancaster.
It will be managed by Oasis, who will use it as the hub of their work in Clitheroe to provide a range of educational and healthcare services to the local community.
Tickets for tomorrow night can be obtained from www.ticketline.co.uk or 0871 424 4444.
1:16pm Friday 28th March 2008
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