In the first of a new regular column for Macclesfield Nub News, Jo Lowes from Choose Macc reflects on the town's music scene and highlights some upcoming gigs.

After four previous sell out nights, Tunes at the Tap at Bollington Brewery Tap is back with our winter/spring line-up!

More details about all of the shows below can be found on the Nub News What's On page, where you can also add your own events.

Billy Bibby

Kicking off on Friday, November 6, Billy Bibby comes to Macclesfield for the first time.

Billy was a founding member and lead guitarist of Catfish and the Bottlemen and was instrumental in writing and releasing their debut album, 'The Balcony,' which charted top 10 and was certified 2x platinum in the UK, selling over one million copies worldwide.

Since then, Billy has fronted other bands, HAIG and Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles, touring extensively across the UK and building a significant following.

He will be performing a stripped-back acoustic set of the first Catfish album.

Tommy Scott and Phil Hartley

Next up is Tommy Scott, lead singer and songwriter, and band mate Phil Hartley, bass player and music producer, from SPACE on Saturday, November 21.

SPACE have had numerous hits including Female of The Species, Neighborhood, Dark Clouds, Me and You Versus the World, Avenging Angels, The Ballad of Tom Jones and Begin Again to name a few.

The band had two top ten hit albums with SPIDERS and TIN PLANET, both albums achieved double platinum status in the UK and went on to sell 5,000,000 records worldwide.

The set is mainly made up of the Space hits and fan-favourites coupled with some of Tom­my's solo project songs recorded for the Tommy Scott Quintet album titled Marionette.



Chris Helme

Back again on Friday, February 5, we have an absolute favourite of ours, due to not only performing a brilliant set but being hilarious too, it's Chris Helme, frontman of The Seahorses.

As well as performing classics from The Seahorses' seminal album the set will also contains tracks from his new solo album World of my Own.

Weaving between moments of soul-searching darkness and bursts of appreciation, gratitude and lightness, the album speaks to the full spectrum of relationships that colour our lives and the distances that sit between ourselves and others.

You can expect Chris' blend of honesty and anecdotes, following a 30-year career in the music industry, alongside his distinctive vocals and a raw, enthralling performance, that his solo shows have become known for.

Dave McCabe and James Jay Lewis

I'm personally hugely excited for this one as for the first time in Macclesfield we have Dave McCabe, with very special guest James Jay Lewis, on Saturday, March 6, 2027.

Best known as the voice and songwriter behind The Zutons, McCabe's move into solo territory has already made a strong impression.

His debut solo single, When You're Young, has been tremendously well received and is already a firm live favourite.

McCabe's set draws from material throughout his rich writing career, from Zutons' classics, to songs he wrote for other artists and glimpses of his new music.

Support comes in the form of James, guitarist for The Zutons, Cast and The La's over the years, who has been steadily building his own solo following.

With songs that carry a classic, melodic British song writing style, and his outstanding musicianship, the two team up together both on their own and each other's music.

Jo Lowes - Choose Macc

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