AN East Lancashire venue which is part of a pioneering scheme to protect grassroots venues around the country has launched a major programme of events for the festive season.
Under the slogan ‘Sunbird is for Xmas’ Sunbird Records in Darwen has lined up a wide range of live music, club nights and community events.
Sunbird is one of nine venues selected by the Music Venues Trust for its Own Our Venues campaign. The trust aims to buy the premises of these popular entertainment hubs to help secure their future.
Music fans and ethical investors can buy community shares in the properties and receive a dividend on their investment.
Sunbird, which was opened in 2016 by Jonathan Lindley, has gained a growing reputation for the quality of artists and the diverse nature of performances which it has staged.
This is reflected in the Christmas programme which includes live music from some of the countries most talked about touring bands including Deja Vega, Ugly Mothers, The Lotts, Moscow Cat Circus.
There will be headline shows from leading East Lancashire outfits Ruby Tuesdays and live and Novustory.
All these shows are 14+ accompanied by an adult opening the doors for families to bring their teenagers to Sunbird to experience live music possibly for the first time, for free or a small ticket price.
The venue is also hosting its own winter festival. Perfumed Garden which has been a favourite at Beat Herder in the Ribble Valley over the years is to set up in Sunbird on Thursday, December 29 headlined by Tetchi and also featuring Mrs Cakehead. John Tree and Ste Bowden.
The various established club nights, a feature of the weekend line-up at Sunbird, will all be hosting special end of year parties. On New Year’s Eve there will be a celebration of Acid House when Live The Dream present New Year’s Eve Dream.
“We want to show people that there is much more to Sunbird than our club nights,” said programmer Gary Ward. “It is very much a community venue and a lot of our events reflect that.”
Sunbird Records based on The Circus in Darwen will be hosting a weekend craft fair on Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11 giving local creatives and makers the chance to sell handmade Christmas gifts.
The Sunbird Cinema Club will kick off with a special screening of the cult film Alfie the Odd Job Boy directed by East Lancashire film maker Aaron Dunleavy. Alfie Cooper, the Clitheroe Odd Job Boy, will introduce the screening on Sunday, December 18.
Then on Christmas Eve there will be a chance to escape from the last minute buying and enjoy arguably the greatest Christmas film of them all, It’s A Wonderful Life.
“We have planned a wide range of events and we hope that will bring some new faces along to Sunbird as well as the many regulars who support us,” said Gary. “I think a lot of people have seen Sunbird but may think it’s just for club nights or rock bands but it’s a venue for everyone.”
Sunbird has got the backing of global superstar Ed Sheeran who pledged £100,000 to the Own Our Venues campaign. And anyone who signs up to Sunbird’s mailing list before Christmas will be entered into a draw to win a signed Ed Sheeran CD.
“We are hoping that the varied programme over Christmas will showcase what Sunbird is capable of,” said Gary. “We have been working hard and already booked some exciting acts and community events for next year.
“The involvement of the Music Venues Trust has been massive for us but that is really only the start of the journey and we need people to support what we are doing.”
For details of all events visit www.sunbirdrecords.com or follow Sunbird Records on Facebook.
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