MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 14 JANUARY 2026
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- 2 minutes ago
- 7 min read
previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 14 JANUARY 2026
PREVIEWS: The Lancashire Hotpots at Middleton Arena, Stand Up Comedy Special, The Memory of Water at Bolton Octagon and Valentines by Candlelight - Rochdale Town Hall.
The Lancashire Hotpots at Middleton Arena
Preview by Steve Cooke
Get ready for a BIG Saturday night with The Lancashire Hotpots. Bernard and the boys are back to give you a fun filled evening packed with silly songs and the humour that that made the Hotpots famous throughout the land.
The Lancashire Hotpots originated in St Helens, historically part of Lancashire, and were formed in December 2006. The band gained popularity with their first single, "He's Turned Emo," which received significant attention on MySpace and was featured on BBC Radio One.
Their music often incorporates the Lancashire dialect and humorously addresses themes related to technology and British culture, with notable tracks including "Chippy Tea" and "eBay Eck."
The band's debut album, "Never Mind The Hotpots," became a minor hit, reaching number one on the iTunes comedy album chart in the UK and number two on the BBC Radio 6 Music Album Charts. They have released a total of 12 studio albums, with their most recent being "The Lancashire Hotpots Save Christmas!" in 2020. Their songs often parody well-known albums and draw influences from various musical styles, including folk and hip hop.
The current lineup of the Lancashire Hotpots includes:
Bernard Thresher (vocals, guitar, ukulele, drums)
Dickie Ticker (bell tree, mandolin, melodica, hand percussion)
Bob Wriggles (bass guitar, synth bass)
Billy McCartney (keyboards)
Kenny Body (drums)
Ron Seal (lead guitar)
The band has performed at major music festivals, including Glastonbury Festival and Kendal Calling, and continues to tour across the UK. Their unique blend of comedy and music has earned them a dedicated fan base and a distinctive place in the British music scene.
Get along to the Middleton Arena and singalong with all the Hotpot favourites: I Fear Ikea, Egg, Sausage, Chips & Beans and of course Chippy Tea.
Tickets from £18.90: https://www.yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/whats-on/events/the-lancashire-hotpots/book/
Saturday, 24 January 2026
7:30pm
Doors open: 6:45pm
Middleton Arena, LCpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Greater Manchester M24 1AG
Stand Up Comedy Special
Preview by Steve Cooke
If you fancy a good laugh then get along to Champness Hall for Ace Lip’s Stand Up Comedy Special featuring Mark Simmons, Danny Ward, and Allyson June Smith.
Mark Simmons is a talented one-liner comedian known for his appearances on "Mock The Week" and for winning 'Dave’s Joke Of The Fringe' 2024. He gained recognition for his solo show, "One-Linerer," at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which was a huge success and nominated for the Best Show by the Amused Moose Comedy.
Danny Ward is an award-winning observational comedian known for his upbeat humour and engaging performances across the UK and Europe. He has been performing stand-up comedy for over 15 years, captivating audiences in more than 15 countries. His comedic style is characterized by a unique blend of observational humour and quick-witted material.
He has received several accolades, including the Amused Moose Award for Best Show at the Edinburgh Fringe and the Victoria Wood Panel Prize at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. He was also the winner of the Amused Moose People's Choice Award for Best Show in 2013.
Danny has supported well-known comedians, including Mark Simmons, on extensive tours across the UK and Ireland. He has performed at various comedy festivals, including the Edinburgh Festival, where his shows have received critical acclaim.
Allyson June Smith is originally from Canada, now settled in Manchester.
After her initial forays into standup garnered her some success, Allyson hit the comedy club circuit, which in turn propelled her to headlining
A self-confessed “over-sharer”, any Allyson June Smith show inevitably serves up a potent observational cocktail of wit, bite and shame. Which means you’ll typically find her after the show, with a line of eager fans queued up to talk with her, to confess to her or to share some comically grisly detail from their own lives. Courageously self-deprecating, Allyson’s comedic gift is making every room, whatever the size, feel like an intimate group therapy session. That intimacy, that uncommon bond between audience and performer is at the heart of Allyson’s magic as a comedian. Like the most relatable actresses working today or your very best friend, she finds a way to connect with everyone in a room, be they from southeast Asia, the U.K. or North America.
Tickets from £18
Saturday 28 February 2026
Doors open 8 PM
Champness Hall, Drake St, Rochdale OL16 1NZ, UK
The Memory of Water at Bolton Octagon
Preview by Steve Cooke
The Memory of Water By Shelagh Stephenson, Directed by Lotte Wakeham is an Octagon Theatre Bolton and Liverpool & Everyman Playhouse co-production.
It’s Winter, 1996. The Spice Girls are riding high in the charts, football has failed to come home, and Dolly the Sheep's been cloned. Meanwhile, on the eve of their mum’s funeral, Mary, Teresa and Catherine return to their Northern childhood home for the first time in years. As they sort through clothes, keepsakes and ghosts of the past, the whisky flows, resentments surface, and long-held silences crack open with unexpected laughter.
Hilarious yet deeply moving, this is a major 30th anniversary revival of Shelagh Stephenson’s The Memory of Water, which won the Olivier Award for Best Comedy. A play about families, grief, and the unreliable narratives we inherit. A powerful exploration of how we remember and how much we choose to forget.
Tickets £15-£40
Thursday 29 January – Saturday 21 February 2026
Octagon Theatre, Howell Croft South, Bolton, BL1 1SB
Valentines by Candlelight - Rochdale Town Hall
Preview by Steve Cooke
For all the romantics a chance to experience the romance of Valentines by Candlelight, a heartfelt live performance of iconic love songs and romantic film soundtracks in our atmospheric Town Hall.
You are promised a truly enchanting evening as String Fusion present a heartfelt live performance of iconic love songs and romantic film soundtracks; all set against the stunning backdrop of Rochdale Town Hall and bathed in the warm glow of candlelight.
Let the beautiful melodies from much-loved romantic films sweep you off your feet, from cinematic classics to modern favourites, performed live by an elegant string quartet in an intimate, candlelit setting.
Whether you're planning the perfect date night or simply want to soak up the magic of live music in a breath-taking venue, this is a night not to be missed.
Tickets from £6
For adults.
Doors open at 6.30pm
Performance due to start at 7.30pm
Friday, 13 February 2026.
Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale OL16 1AZ
RECOMMENDED
Wednesday. 14 January 2026
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - Tim Kennedy piano (Cambridge University & RNCM Staff)
The concert series has been held at St Mary’s since 2001 and was granted the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2020.
Running every Wednesday, Music at Lunchtime is a weekly live classical music concert series that has been going since the 1960s. The sessions were initially run at the old Rochdale Art Gallery by the local authority, but since May 2001 have been run by volunteer-enthusiasts and artistic director, Dr Joe Dawson.
£6
Phone: Dr Joe Dawson 01706 648872
Doors open 12noon, concert starts 12.30pm - 1.30pm
St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane/St Mary's Gate, Rochdale OL16 1DZ
Thursday, 8 January 2026
Visit Fireground Museum
Join us at Fireground this week to discover Greater Manchester's firefighting story.
Fire museum attractions are on show inside the museum including our collection of historic firefighting artefacts from the 18th century to present day, plus home-made refreshments in the new Fireground Café, and souvenirs from our fantastic new gift shop! We have a wide choice ranging from toddler to collector.
Under 4s Free, Children (aged 4-15) £6, Seniors £6, Students £6, Adults £8, Family (4 people) £24.
Phone: Fireground 01706 341219
Visit: https://www.fireground.org.uk/ Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10am - 4pm
Fireground, Maclure Road, Rochdale OL11 1DN
Thursday, 15 January 2026
Eliza Says - Story and Sign Language Sessions - Rochdale Central Library
About this event
7 sessions across 15 January 2026–26 February 2026. Join Lorenza from Eliza Says for stories, rhymes and learn new signs using British Sign Language.
Sessions:
Thursday, 15 January 2026
Thursday, 22 January 2026
Thursday, 29 January 2026
Thursday, 5 February 2026
Thursday, 12 February 2026
Thursday, 19 February 2026
Thursday, 26 February 2026
For families with children under 5.
Booking required: Please book by 12noon on the day of each session you want to come to.
Please email details of your name, a contact number and your child's name and age to RochdaleCentralLibrary@rochdale.gov.uk
Please also confirm if you're looking for all 7 sessions or just one or more desired dates.
Free
11.30am - 12.15pm
Rochdale Central Library, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU
Saturday, 24 January 2026
Reading Group - Middleton Library
Last Saturday of every month. Discover new authors and discuss books with other readers in this friendly and relaxed reading group.
For Adults, no booking required? you can just turn up.
Contact: middleton.library@rochdale.gov.uk
Free
1.30pm - 2.30pm
Middleton Library, Long Street, Middleton M24 6DU
Saturday, 24 January 2026
Monthly Lego Club - Langley Library
Last Saturday of every month. A monthly Lego Club with a different theme each session. All creations will be displayed in the library until the following month. There's Duplo for younger children.
For families with children aged 4 and over.
Booking required: Please book by 4pm the day before a session. You can book by: Emailing langley.library@rochdale.gov.uk - Phoning 0161 654 8911 - Calling into the library
Free
10.30am - 12pm
Langley Library, Windermere Road, Middleton M24 4LA
Saturday, 24 January 2026
Kids' Club - Wardle Library
Come along and get creative at our craft table.
Last Saturday of every month. These themed Kids' Club activity sessions will include crafts, activities and challenges.
For families with children aged 4 and over.
No need to book, you can just come along.
Free
10am - 12.30pm
Wardle Library, 448 Birch Road, Wardle, Rochdale OL12 9LH
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.
Comments