A slew of local musicians and big names will take over a Macclesfield church this weekend, to raise money for our town's new cancer hospital.

Party in the Pews invites music-lovers to dance in the benches of Christ Church in Macclesfield, with ticket funds going towards The Christie Macclesfield.

Toploader, Buzzcocks and Macclesfield rockers The Virginmarys are among the bands playing to raise money for recently-opened cancer treatment centre.

The Christie Macclesfield comprises part of the Macclesfield Hospital, at the end of Fieldbank Drive, and is a cause close to the Party in the Pews Organiser Jo Lowes.

Jo Lowes has curated the line-up and organised the annual festival, and is a former patient of The Christie. (Image - Party in the Pews)

"I really wanted to work with Christie's because I'm an ex-patient of The Christie Manchester," she said.

"When I was ex-patient of Christie's I lived in Levenshulme in Manchester. And it was ten minutes for me to get to the local Christie's which was brilliant. But the whole of East Cheshire had to travel 90 minutes to get there. 

"I have had friends from Macclesfield that had done that daily travel for weeks. That is so much to have to do on top of everything you're going through, so WHEN they announced they were building a satellite hospital in Macclesfield, I thought it was an absolutely brilliant resource for the whole of East Cheshire, so it was something that I had to be involved with. 

"Last year we raised over £1000 last year which was brilliant. And we hope to do that again and more this year.

"A percentage of the festivals bar sales go to The Christie as well. [And a Macclesfield bar will be used]."

World-renowned Macclesfield rock band The Virginmarys will play their first hometown show of the year, and the first in the UK since their tour of Sweden. (Image CC 2.0 Daniel Case Unchanged bit.ly/3xZmTuW)

Alongside The Virginmarys - fresh from their tour of Sweden - other Macclesfield artists playing include folk heroine Aerynn and Americana band Field Manual.

Additionally, Bingo Harry and Hollows are two young local acts who won a Battle of the Bands competition at Mash Guru this year, to play this weekend's festival. 

Staffordshire indie band SHADER - who play at 5pm on Saturday - also rehearse in Macclesfield's Trackside Studios on Elizabeth Street.

Manchester post punk band Ist Ist also take cues from Macclesfield, with a very Joy Division-esque sound, complete with iconic Ian Curtis drawl,

The set times for the main stage.

For the first time this year, there will also be a second stage of smaller local talent. 

"My favourite part of organising the festival, is standing at the side of the stage and watching the crowd enjoy the bands," added Jo.

"If the people on the front few pews are having the best time ever, then I know that is a job well done. That's my favourite bit."

The Bridge Street place of worship recently saw national attention, being featured in the Peaky Blinders finale.

New for this year: A second stage will be introduced for two days of the event.

"People need to use Christ Church, we need to invest into Christ Church to make it a usable venue and the only way we can do that is through this event.

"So if people want live music in Macclesfield they've got to turn up!"

Tickets for the charity music festival cost £30 for a day, or £80 for three days. Children are welcome. Book here.

Louise Dawson, Community fundraising officer at The Christie charity spoke glowingly of the Macclesfield music festival.

"Events like Party in the Pews are vital for the fundraising we do for The Christie at Macclesfield and we are so grateful to the organisers for all their hard work lining up such an amazing list of performers for the event," said Louise.

Party in the Pews will raise thousands for The Christie Macclesfield, which was funded almost entirely with public donations. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

"The Christie charity was instrumental in funding £23m of the £26m cost of the new Christie at Macclesfield cancer centre which opened in December 2021.

"The centre is already saving so many patients from having to make long journeys to Manchester for treatment.

"Now that the new cancer centre is built, there is still more to be done to support cancer patients as they go through their treatment. The Christie charity provides enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. At Macclesfield, this will include complementary therapy, refreshments for patients, and other supportive services."

Macclesfield Nub News will be covering Party in the Pews festival all weekend. And you can listen to a Spotify playlist of the acts to take the stage by clicking here.

Macclesfield: You can buy your tickets for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday here.

There will also be a fourth day of the festival on Monday May 2, which will include a rescheduled gig by Joy Division hero Peter Hook. But tickets for this Bank Holiday show are now unavailable.

See Also: Watch an epic timelapse of the Ian Curtis mural in Macclesfield.

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