Peter Hook & The Light has had to change their Macclesfield gig at the last minute due to coronavirus.

Instead of playing with a full band, the ex-Joy Division and former New Order bassist will play a DJ set.

Unfortunately, some of his crew members have tested positive for COVID-19, and are forced to self-isolate.

But it is presumed these contacts had not met with Hooky before Friday's Macclesfield gig, so the 65-year-old can still put on a show, even without a full band.

Peter Hook has been praised online for still making an appearance at the show, even if he cannot perform a full set.

He'll be DJ'ing at Macclesfield in Octoberfest at Christ Church on Friday evening, to raise money for The Christie.

The headliner for the three-day music festival Macclesfield in Octoberfest confirmed the news on Twitter at 7pm on Thursday.

The Salford-born musician, who has previously performed charity gigs in our town for The Epilepsy Society, released the following in a statement:

"We regret to have to announce that due to crew members testing positive for COVID-19 in recent days, Peter Hook & The Light's live appearance at Macclesfield In October Festival at Christ Church tomorrow night [on] Friday 22nd October has been postponed until May 2022.

"Hooky who has tested negative will now be DJ'ing at this charity event in aid of The Christie Hospital and all tickets remain valid for tomorrow's event.

"The rescheduled date for May 2022 for Peter Hook & The Light's live appearance will be announced shortly & ticket holders are advised to retain their tickets for this sold out concert."

It is presumed Christ Church will be the venue for next year's rescheduled show.

The concert was set to be Hooky's second performance with a full band in our town after Rewind Festival at Capesthorne Hall in August.

It is not all bad news, however, as festival organisers have revealed on Facebook.

"Gutted to announce Peter Hook & The Light is forced to cancel Friday night," said Macclesfield in October Festival.

"Howeever the festival is still going ahead. [Macclesfield rock band] The Virginmarys will be hitting the stage with Hooky coming down and DJing.

"Plus Hooky will be doing a rescheduled date at next years festival which tickets will be valid for too. Please come Friday and support the festival and The [new] Christie cancer hospital."

You can still buy tickets to the three-day Macclesfield music festival here.

Hook's peers pulling out due to the pandemic comes at a time of increasing cases nationwide.

UK coronavirus cases for October 20 stand at 40,906 new cases. This is the highest since July 20, when national cases were 42,828.

Earlier this month, Peter Hook released an EP of orchestrated Joy Division covers, with classical reimagining of songs he co-wrote with Macclesfield's Ian Curtis and Stephen Morris.

Please click here to listen to that EP and read that story.

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