For the first time in the history of the prestigious John Moores Painting Prize, the winner and runner-up announcements will be broadcast live.

This exciting online event will take place on Thursday 16 September 2010 at: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/johnmooreslive. The announcement will take place at 6.30 pm but the broadcast will begin earlier.

Those tuning in will be amongst the very first to find out who has scooped UK’s biggest painting prize, along with artists, guests, critics, and associates attending the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool for the private view and prize ceremony.

The John Moores Painting Prize 2010 live broadcast will give viewers a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes at one of the biggest events on the art calendar on the eve of Liverpool Biennial’s launch. Just add canapés and friends to throw your own ‘private view’ from the comfort of your home!

45 shortlisted artists from 3000 entrants are to be included in the exhibition, each with a chance of winning the £25,000 first prize or 4 runner-up prizes of £2,500 each. The paintings will be on display at the Walker Art Gallery from 18 September 2010 to 3 January 2011.

The long-running competition forms a key strand of the Liverpool Biennial and is always a hot topic conversation amongst art lovers visiting the city for the festival, both online and offline.

Join in with the discussion on Twitter using the #JM2010 hashtag. ‘Tweets’ will form part of a stream of conversation published on the broadcast page in the run up to and during the live broadcast. You can follow John Moores Painting Prize 2010 on Twitter at www.twitter.com/JohnMoores2010.

A number of behind the scenes videos following the judging process are also available on the website.

John Moores Painting Prize facts:

• The jury: This judging panel for 2010 is made up of artists Gary Hume, Alison Watt, Ged Quinn, Goshka Macuga and curator / critic Sir Norman Rosenthal.
• The painters: The John Moores Painting Prize attracts a broad spectrum of artists and no preference is given to levels of experience or particular practices of painting. The works are selected anonymously.
• The winners: The competition has a reputation for identifying talented new painters on their way to finding fame and artistic acclaim. Former winners have included David Hockney, Richard Hamilton and Peter Doig.
• The exhibition: is at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool from 18 September 2010 to 3 January 2011.

The first acts for this year’s Liverpool Music Week festival, which runs from the 29th October through November, have been announced.

One of the headline acts for this year’s Liverpool Music Week, is one of the world’s most iconic electronic acts LEFTFIELD who close the 2010 festival at Liverpool University. After a series of outstanding summer festival performances Neil Barnes returns with a new live show. The band who trailblazed their unique sound in the early 90’s and took John Lydon back to the top of the charts, are back after over a decade. Leftfield’s debut album ‘Leftfism’ was voted ‘one of the greatest albums of all time’ by Q Magazine, and their follow up album ‘Rhythm & Stealth’ went to Number 1 spawning the techno anthem ‘Phat Planet’.

Another of this year’s headline acts will be CHASE & STATUS, after a hugely successful outing at this year’s summer festivals. Currently celebrating the release of their latest hit single “Let You Go”, from their forthcoming (and yet to be titled) 3rd album, they headline the o2 Academy on Saturday 13th November.

Another act confirmed for LMW 2010 is the highly acclaimed EFTERKLANG who have recently released their third album entitled Magic Chairs on 4AD. This will be the bands Liverpool debut, and will be flying in from Copenhagen especially to perform during LMW at o2 Academy on Sunday 7th November.

DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP is the next act to be announced for this year’s festival. Since their Liverpool debut at Liverpool Music Week 2007, they have gone on to become one of the best known names in revolutionary new music. On the back of a blistering festival run and their second critically acclaimed album, ‘Le Sac v Pip’ will take on their biggest Liverpool show yet at o2 Academy on Wednesday 3rd November.

Further hip hop & electronic beats will come in the form of improvisation sensation BEARDYMAN. Having won the UK beatboxing championships twice in a row, winning best MC at the Breakspoll awards, will make his LMW debut on the opening night of this year’s festival at the Stanley Theatre on Friday 29th October.

Two other acts to play shows at the Stanley Theatre are HADOUKEN and K’NAAN. A huge favourite in the city, dance-rock-ravers Hadouken will follow on from their second album ‘For the Masses’, and make their LMW debut on the Saturday 30th October.

Somali poet & rapper K’naan will make his much anticipated city debut following his huge summer hit Waving Flag, (the official song of the 2010 World Cup) and is touring his new groundbreaking album Troubador, hitting Liverpool on Saturday 13th November.

Liverpool Music Week began in 2003 and over the last 8 years has gone onto become a nationally recognised event and highlight of the music calendar. Resulting in Liverpool Music Week becoming the UK’s biggest indoor winter music festival, a musical showcase that features big name acts and gives a performance platform for fresh emerging talent, a number of which have gone on to reach nationwide success. Last years event attracted a record breaking 65,000 people to the city and is a combination of free and ticketed shows. The winning format returns in 2010 to stage over 80 events and play host to over 400 live bands.

LMW Director and founder Mike Deane said: “As we head into our 8th festival, there have been several landmark announcements, but in particular it’s been a serious long-term ambition for me to see Leftfield on the line-up for Liverpool Music Week. We’re also really pleased to have persuaded Efterklang to make their Liverpool debut. They will be flying in especially to play the festival. These are just the first of several exciting announcements for Liverpool Music Week 2010.”

DATES ANNOUNCED SO FAR:-

Leftfield
Thursday 25th November
Liverpool University (Mountford Hall)
£24+BF / Age: 14+ / Doors: 7.00pm

Chase & Status
Saturday 13th November
02 Academy Liverpool (Main Room)
£14+BF / Age: 14+ / Doors: 7.30pm

Efterklang
Sunday 7th November
02 Academy Liverpool (Main Room)
£10.00+BF / Age: 14+ / Doors: 8.00pm

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip
Wednesday 3rd November
02 Academy Liverpool (Main Room)
£14.50+BF / Age: 14+ / Doors: 7.30pm

Beardyman
Friday 29th October
Liverpool University (Stanley Theatre)
£10.00+BF / Age: 14+ / Doors: 7.30pm

Hadouken
Saturday 30th October
Liverpool University (Stanley Theatre)
£12.50+BF / Age: 14+ / Doors: 7.30pm

K’naan
Saturday 13th November
Liverpool University (Stanley Theatre)
£12.50+BF / Age: 14+ / Doors: 7.30pm

Tickets available from www.ticketline.co.uk / Tel: 0844 888 4401. More acts to be announced over the coming months.

Info: www.liverpoolmusicweek.com / www.myspace.com/liverpoolmusicweek

The 2010 World Black Pudding Throwing Championships will take place on Sunday September 12 at the Royal Oak pub in Ramsbottom, near Bury.

Contestants from all over the world will throw black puddings, aiming to dislodge a pile of Yorkshire puddings set on a 20ft high plinth.

Bridge Street will be closed to traffic for the day. Pudstock, a live music festival in the pub’s cark park, runs from 1 pm until 10 pm.

Fireworks experts from Taiwan, France and Canada will launch a series of spectacular pyrotechnical displays from the beach between the Central and South Piers.

The build-up to each show will begin around 7.30 pm with fireworks from 8.30 pm.

Friday, September 10 – San Tai, Taiwan
Saturday, September 11 – Feerie, France
Sunday, September 12 – DW Fireworks, Canada

The Ulverston Lantern Procession 2010 will take place on Saturday September 18.

Hundreds of participants will carry illuminated paper lanterns through the town centre, creating a wonderful ‘River of Light’.

The parade will be finish at Ford Park with a bonfire and fireworks display.

Later this week properties across England will throw open their doors for free as part of the country’s annual celebration of local architecture, history and culture.

Supported nationally by English Heritage and run locally by an army of volunteers and community champions, Heritage Open Days takes place on people doorstops and is the country’s leading grassroots cultural event.

One million people are expected to take advantage of the four day event, exploring more than 4,000 properties of every style, period and function, many of which are normally closed to the public or usually charge an admission fee.

Participating properties in North West England include:

Barrow – Dalton Castle (Dalton-in-Furness)
Birkenhead – Birkenhead Park, Birkenhead Priory, Lady Lever Art Gallery
Blackpool – Blackpool Tower, Winter Gardens
Bolton – Bolton Steam Museum
Burnley – Gawthorpe Hall (Padiham), Queen Street Mill Textile Museum
Bury – Fusilier Museum, East Lancashire Railway, Peel Tower
Carlisle – High Head Sculpture Valley
Chester – Chester Racecourse, Grosvenor Museum, Little Moreton Hall (Congleton)
Kendal – Abbott Hall Art Gallery, Museum of Lakeland Life, Sizergh Castle
Lake District – Beatix Potter Gallery (Hawkshead), Blackwell (Windermere),
Liverpool – St George’s Hall, Cunard Building, Liver Building,
Macclesfield – Quarry Bank Mill
Manchester – Victoria Baths
Morecambe – Morecambe Town Hall
Oldham – Saddleworth Museum
Penrith – Acorn Bank
Preston – Samlesbury Hall
Rochdale – Healey Dell, Rochdale Pioneers Museum, Touchstones,
St Helens – World of Glass
Stockport – Hat Works, Staircase House, Air Raid Shelters, Bramall Hall
Warrington – Norton Priory (Runcorn)
Wigan – Museum of Wigan Life, Trencherfield Mill Engine

More than 10,000 food lovers enjoyed last year’s event on Mill Island and organisers hope to top that by spreading the stands and displays across the entire town over the weekend September 24-26.

Various activities and tasting sessions will be held on the town square, Nantwich Civic Hall (inside and out), Volunteer Fields, Churchyardside, Cocoa Yard, Pillory Street and the Methodist Church and White Swan car parks.

There will be a vast array of regionally produced gourmet foods, beer and wine tastings with more than 2,000 products to sample.

The Civic Hall will be transformed into a vast Gourmet Food Hall and will house up to 50 stalls. A not-to-be-missed farmers’ market will also form part of the action and pubs, cafés, shops and restaurants will host tasting sessions and demonstrations throughout the weekend.

Festival chairman, Graham Fenton, said: “Our aim is to make Nantwich a paradise for foodies and lay on a host of activities for families. Everything will take place in the heart of Nantwich with its streets and the square providing a truly picturesque backdrop.”

A variety of street entertainment will help create an impressive backdrop and a great party atmosphere.

Cheshire East Council is the main sponsor and Cllr Andrew Knowles said: “The festival will showcase the best food and drink Cheshire has to offer and people will also get the opportunity to sample cuisine from around the world. We are delighted to be sponsoring this prestigious event.”

visitBlackpool, Real Radio and Smooth Radio, today unveiled superstar Robbie Williams as the celebrity who will turn on the 2010 Blackpool Illuminations.

Robbie will drop into the resort on Friday 3 September to flick the switch as part of a star-studded celebrity weekend to launch this year’s world-famous Blackpool Illuminations.

Williams, who releases his new single “Shame” on October 4, is no stranger to the town, having filmed the video for his hit single “Advertising Space” there; the music legend also brought his girlfriend Ayda Field and friends and family to the Pleasure Beach at the end of 2008, declaring the day one of the top 10 days of his life.

Robbie said this week; “Blackpool has so many happy memories for me and it will be a real thrill to turn on the 2010 Illuminations which I am told are seen by 3 million people every year. This will cap my twentieth year of making music and I can’t think of a better place to celebrate that than Blackpool”.

In what promises to be the biggest Switch-On ever, visitBlackpool, Real Radio and Smooth Radio have organized a variety of special events for the weekend of September 3,4 and 5 – further details of which will be announced shortly.

Councillor Maxine Callow, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Regeneration at Blackpool Council, said: “I always find it difficult to see each year how we can top the celebrities who come to flick the switch but this year Real Radio and Smooth Radio have managed it and we are absolutely thrilled that Robbie Williams will be joining us.

“The Illuminations Switch On is the biggest event of the year and we’ve got one of the biggest stars in the country. No doubt this will be welcome news to Blackpool businesses who are set to benefit from the thousands of visitors who will be in the resort to enjoy this fantastic event. It’s set to be a spectacular show with something for everyone.

“Robbie has a huge fan base of all ages and we want them to come to Blackpool and enjoy everything the resort has to offer.”

This will be one of Robbie’s last solo appearances before he joins Take That on tour, and although he won’t be singing on the evening, he’s looking forward to returning to Blackpool to flick the famous switch.

The entertainment packed event will take place in the Switch-On Arena, situated behind the SEA LIFE Centre with a live broadcast going out nationwide across the Real Radio network from 8pm with a 9pm switch-on.

This year fans will need to ensure they have a ticket for the fabulous FREE show – stay tuned to Real Radio and Smooth Radio for admission details, or keep an eye on www.visitblackpool.com/switchon and www.realradio.co.uk

Dave Shearer, Real Radio programme director and event organiser said; “We are delighted to be able to present a star of Robbie’s magnitude for Blackpool Illuminations. In previous years Radio 2 has had some great acts but this year’s event puts them all in the shade. We have put together an unsurpassable evening’s entertainment which listeners who attend will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Andy Carter GMG Radio North West’s managing director added: “We are very proud to be able to bring Robbie to Blackpool for The Big Switch On along with a full evening of music from the cream of pop. This is an iconic town and an iconic event, so it is only fitting that we present iconic stars.”

As well as the station’s programming, Blackpool has organised a variety of special events for the weekend, making it what promises to be the biggest Switch-On ever, attracting tens of thousands of visitors to the resort.

St John’s in the town centre will be alive with activity over the Big Switch-On Weekend. Situated in the centre of the resort, close to the Winter Gardens, the area will become a vibrant outdoor space with a programme of activity planned for the Saturday.

Robbie Williams won the “Outstanding Contribution” award at this year’s Brit Awards and will release his greatest hits collection “In And Out Of Consciousness – 1990-2010” on Virgin Records on October 11.

He has just been confirmed to headline the very special Help for Heroes concert at Twickenham on Sep 12, his only live performance for the rest of this year.

Robbie’s new single “Shame” is a duet with Gary Barlow and details of Take That’s new album, featuring Robbie, will be released soon.

The Illuminations shine for 66 nights until Sunday 7 November.

The race, on Sunday August 1, has attracted entries from more than 1,400 athletes from 35 countries.

The 2010 event begins at 6 am with a 2.4 mile swim in Pennington Flash, followed by a 112 mile cycle ride around Lancashire, and then a 26.2 mile marathon run through the streets of Bolton.

The run course follows a similar spectator-friendly route to last year. The runners will leave Lever Park Avenue and head to Chorley New Road near the Crown pub at Horwich. They will continue towards Bolton, past Middlebrook and to the Beehive pub, before heading into Bolton town centre and back along Chorley New Road to do another lap.

For the final lap, athletes follow a route via Chorley Street, Bark Street and Knowsley Street into Oxford Street, crossing the finishing line outside the Town Hall in Victoria Square.

The finish line is sure to be a highlight of the course as athletes finish below the big screen TV in front of Bolton’s historic Town Hall.

The first athletes are expected to cross the finish line at around 2 pm.

Detailed swim, bike and run routes are available at www.ironmanuk.com.

The Blackburn Visitor Centre has relocated to Salford, just a short distance from its previous Church Street address.

Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9 – 5 pm and Saturday 9.30 – 4 pm. The centre is closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

Its former home on Church Street is set to become the new Blackburn Rovers club shop.

Hollyoaks star Ricky Whittle officially opened the new Primark store at The Mall this morning. A new WH Smith and a Costa Coffee outlet also launched.

Other retailers including JD Sports, New Look, Next and Peacocks are expected to move into the new extension in the next few months.

Forty-eight hours of art, culture, music, film, food, festivals, literature, walks, politics, poetry, photography, theatre and spectacle all wrapped up into a single weekend.

The Manchester Weekender is a weekend-long snapshot of some of the best of Manchester’s art and culture. From 1-3 October 2010, The Manchester Weekender stages a series of one-off, intimate events that sum up the city, pairing international artists, musicians, festivals and writers with some of the city’s most beautiful settings. And it does this for one weekend only – forty-eight hours of some of the most unusual cultural experiences found anywhere within the UK.

Timed to mark the launch of Abandon Normal Devices (AND) and Recorders: Rafael Lozano-Hemmer at Manchester Art Gallery, The Manchester Weekender features the following highlights:

AND Festival launch

After its smash-hit inaugural year in Liverpool last Autumn, this year’s Abandon Normal Devices comes to Manchester. A festival of new cinema and digital culture, it includes the UK premiere of Turner Prize winning artist Gillian Wearing’s first feature-length film, Self Made. New commissions from a clutch of internationally renowned artists, filmmakers and cultural provocateurs includes Phil Collins in a continuation of his critically acclaimed work Marxism Today. Vacuum packed and vertically suspended volunteers feature in artist Laurence Malstaff’s latest live performance while temporary outdoor cinemas pop up across the city. Midnight Mass from New York drag artist Peaches Christ will encourage bad cinema and even worse behaviour!

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer at Manchester Art Gallery

A major new exhibition of interactive digital artworks by Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, including the world premiere of a large-scale installation People on People and at least four specially adapted interactive artworks that have never been shown publicly in England before, including the seminal Pulse Room, the artist’s contribution to the Mexican Pavilion for the Venice Biennale 2007.

Manchester by Water

A family boat party that connects the Manchester Ship Canal with the River Irwell; that puts food by one of the Northwest’s top chefs, Robert Owen Brown, on the menu; that links up one of Salford’s finest pubs, the Mark Addy, with two of Manchester finest museums (MOSI and the People’s History Museum); and that takes you from one city to its sister – Manchester to Salford – finishing up at one of the UK’s top ten architectural sights: Daniel Libeskind’s Imperial War Museum North.

Kyrsko & Kashiwagi

A one-off gig, that’s part performance art and part club night, all taking place in the distinctly unusual setting of The Whitworth Art Gallery. DJ Matthew Krysko (The Warehouse Project/Sankeys/Tribal Gathering) and the award winning performance artist Naomi Kashiwagi use the Victorian gallery as the backdrop for a new collaborative work that combines electronic music with wind-up gramophones, and 70 year-old shellac records with the latest in digital DJ technology.

Guestrant

Out of the suburbs, one of Manchester’s best kept pub-and-dining secrets runs its famously fabulous Guestrant, in a secret location. Electrik is the bar in Chorlton run by Electric Chair/Electric Elephant DJ duo Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford. The concept sees a talented local chef visit the bar to cook a surprise three-course meal for one night only. Intimate, unusual and communal, each Guestrant is a chance to sample food by top name chefs and get-to-know-your-neighbours.

‘Close Up’ featuring Jonathan Franzen

The celebrated American novelist Jonathan Franzen heads to the Whitworth Art Gallery to read from his latest novel, Freedom, as part of an ‘in conversation’ event with DJ/writer Dave Haslam.

The Land Between Us

The Land Between Us brings historic and contemporary art together on equal terms to engage with today’s notions of landscape and identity. Works by artists including Nikhil Chopra, Olafur Eliasson, Cyprien Gaillard and Larissa Sansour and Rachel Whiteread, come together with others from The Whitworth Art Gallery’s extensive historic collection, from William Holman Hunt to Samuel Palmer and J.M.W. Turner. It will be the first time that the Whitworth has shown all 50 Turners in its collection at the same time.

Creative Manchester Map

A specially commissioned creative map of Manchester, designed by the artist-activist organisation Manchester Design Corporation with Laura Mansfield, the map plots project spaces, temporary, artist-led and mainstream galleries, contemporary arts organisations, artists’ studios, independent publications and curatorial groups – all those shadowy, often unknown agencies whose collective might provides much of Manchester’s creative capital. Walking tours all weekend take in not just art and culture but the cafes, bars and festivals that run simultaneously during the Weekender – the perfect way to enjoy the city’s hard-to-find and underground arts scene. The map coincides with the launch of Creative Tourist’s new iPhone app. – a guide to the art and culture of Manchester.

Urban Wandering

From a sensory tour where families get to taste, hear, smell, see and touch Manchester to unusual creative activities ending in an urban picnic, and from psychogeography and parkour tour to the hidden museums collections and artefacts held in the city’s museums, galleries and archives. This series of tours explore Manchester with intelligence, wit, creativity and in some cases athletic prowess.

Postcards from Manchester

Don’t just visit Manchester – imagine it. As part of Manchester Literature Festival, the acclaimed and award winning poets Mandy Coe and John Siddique will be at Manchester Museum writing and helping visitors to write, poetry postcards, a unique way to capture the sights, sounds and smells of the city.

Hidden Manchester

A guided walk created and led by Manchester’s most popular guide, the broadcaster and historian Jonathan Schofield, especially for the Manchester Weekender. Schofield leads a very special, secret tour to one of the city’s most spectacular, but rarely seen by the public, buildings.

Beating Wing Orchestra at Imperial War Museum North

Best known for their sell-out performances at Manchester International Festival, Beating Wing Orchestra brings together artists from across Manchester’s musical spectrum, and from communities as diverse as Kurdistan and Cameroon, Bangladesh and Brazil, into joyful and life-affirming performances.

Black Electronica

Contact Theatre hosts a three-day music, dance and arts festival that focuses on the influence of black music within the UK. Launching as part of the Manchester Weekender, Friday includes an evening of black electronica, while Saturday features a live dance link-up with New York.

Participating individuals, organisations and festivals

The AND Festival, Beating Wing Orchestra, Castlefield Gallery, Chinese Arts Centre, Clarion Cycling Club, Contact Theatre, Cornerhouse, CUBE, Dave Haslam, Electriks, Family Friendly Film Festival, Imperial War Museum North, John Rylands Library, Jonathan Schofield, The Lowry, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester Comedy Festival, Manchester Design Corporation, Manchester Food & Drink Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, Manchester Literature Festival, The Manchester Museum, Manchester Science Festival, The Mark Addy, MOSI, NICE Festival, The People’s History Museum, Robert Owen Brown, Studiomama, Un-convention, Whitworth Art Gallery, 24:7 Theatre Festival.

The festival is set to be the biggest to date, with a weekend packed full of free entertainment for the whole family.

For the very first time The Little Brig Sailing company will take to the city’s waters on ‘the world’s smallest tall ships’, offering free trips around the docks every 45 minutes across the weekend.

There will also be a full stage programme packed with local artists, whilst world class street theatre acts will entertain the crowds with some maritime-themed fun.

A full creative workshop programme for people of all ages will include art, craft, and drama, with a special session from a group of local bollywood dancers who will be on hand to show you some moves. Local arts company Bluestreak Arts will be providing decorations for the illuminated cruise, which will take place on Saturday evening before the sparkling fireworks show.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy the sounds from the ‘Sing the Docks’ tent, a Guild project working with singers to create music inspired by the water, which is working towards surrounding the docks with singers during the 2012 Guild.

A whole host of food and exhibition stalls will be on offer, whilst trips on the Ribble Valley steam train will be available every hour.

Runners will also descend on the docks on Sunday 25th for the 1k fun run and first ever Riversway 5k run.

Visit http://www.preston.gov.uk/events/ for more information.

Richard Paxton, centre director of The Galleries commented: “The annual summer beach is back for its third year. The people of Wigan told us how fantastic it was to have a beach in the heart of Wigan and we’ve brought it back!”

“Everyone is welcome to The Galleries to enjoy the centre’s free summer beach. Spend time relaxing on a deck chair, making sand castles, joining in one of our free events or just have a short siesta in the sun.”

With 10 tonnes of sand, palm trees, deckchairs and decking, the beach will also play host to a number of activities on Wednesdays throughout the summer period.

At 11am on 21 July, when the beach officially opens, shoppers young and old will be entertained by Peppa Pig (appearances at intervals) traditional Punch and Judy shows and a steel band. Other Wednesday events include; face painting, balloon modelling and children’s activity workshops.

The beach will be open daily from 10am – 5pm until (21 July until 29 August). For more information, please visit www.galleriesbeach.co.uk or telephone 01942 825 734.

Fans of the TV programme ‘The Lakes’ can not only explore some of the Cumbrian scenery that Rory McGrath visited, but enjoy a unique occasion centred on Bowness-on-Windermere, which showcases some of Europe’s best aerial display teams and pilots.

With potentially the best scenic backdrop most teams and crews will perform against, this occasion is one for all the family. It offers a host of different facets and elements to thrill everyone, from the ardent aircraft enthusiast, to the eclectic tourist or day-tripper wanting lots of different things-to-do.

The line-up of teams ready to draw gasps of wonder includes the amazing RAF Falcons. This team carry out five weeks of pre-season training in Arizona to be able to perfect their world-famous non-contact parachute stack, which now includes 11 canopies. Each parachutist trails coloured smoke within the stack, to add to the aerial drama.

The Aerostars Yaks Display Team are the only display team in the UK authorised by the Civil Aviation Authority to start a full formation of fantastic aerobatic figures from a starting point positioned behind the crowd. Their six aircraft aerobatic display is simply awe-inspiring with complex verticals, figures and gyroscopic manoeuvres, which can be talked about for years.

Equally breathtaking are the formation loops and rolls performed by the Team Breitling Wing-Walker planes. The internationally famous team has its planes looping, rolling and performing rollercoaster manoeuvres at speeds of up to 150 mph, whilst wing-walkers perform acrobatics on the wings of the Stearman (Boeing) Model 75 Bi-planes.

Musicality and aerial ability will combine when Bob Grimstead performs a balletic display set to music, in his beautifully designed Fournier RF-4 Redhawk. The graceful moves will be highlighted further by the wing-tip smoke that paints the sky as the routine evolves.

The 10th birthday of this brilliant event coincides with the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and there will be a display from two Spitfires and a Dakota, to bring a touch of nostalgia to the proceedings.

Add to this a Twist Duo display, the Huey helicopter widely used to transport troops during the Vietnam war, the Tucano and Sea King helicopter and the exciting Red Arrows display team visit and all eyes will find it hard to resist the skies.

Those who do want something else to do in the 30-minute slots between displays will not be spoilt for choice. With a fun fair, flight simulators, model aircraft flying displays, birds of prey, miniature train rides, Civil War re-enactments and military displays, the only issue relates to deciding what to do first.

There will also be a fun cycling challenge via Cumbria Tourism, tethered hot air balloon rides, archery, a coconut shy and a football target practice game, Harley Davidson motorcycle displays, brass band music, balancing and martial arts acts and a display choreographed by ‘One Man And His Dog’ presenter Gus Dermody, which is performed by his sheepdogs and Indian runner ducks and geese.

The aerial entertainment is all free-of-charge, whilst entrance to the showground costs £2.50 per day. The best deal to opt for is the purchase of the special 52 page anniversary programme for £10, which includes two adult admissions to the showground and free entry for children. It also includes vouchers to the value of £50 in total, which can be used in local shops.

The programme has various competitions on offer, with prizes of a flight in a French acrobatic jet courtesy of Breitling, a stay at the Langdale Chase Hotel and a child’s one-week activity holiday at the YMCA at Lakeside all up for entry.

The 2010 Windermere Air Show promises to be a stunning spectacle, so make arrangements to make a weekend of it and see the action on both days.

More information about the Windermere Air Show can be found at www.windermereairshow.co.uk

Opening on the 16 July, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Burton will join the fashion line up at the new shopping and leisure destination alongside Cult, Next, H&M and Oasis.

Top Shop is taking a two level, 10,500 sq ft store which will double the size of its current unit in the town and will be located next to Cult and River Island.

Dorothy Perkins and Burton have a two level 8,200 sq ft outlet on Central Street opposite Peacocks.

Richard Poyser, Hammerson Assistant Leasing Director commented: “The Arcadia brands continue to be favourites on the British high street and securing a Topshop store of this scale is great for the scheme. We now have a strong cluster of youth fashion brands which compliment the offer of our anchor stores Debenhams and Marks & Spencer.”

The 640,000 sq ft retail and leisure offer at The Rock also includes flagship stores Next, Peacocks and Primark and leisure operators Vue, AMF Bowling and Pizza Express.

Artists from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean will visit the Town Centre to perform a vibrant mix of music, dance and street entertainment. The free event organised by St.Helens Council and Brouhaha International arts organisation will be one of the many highlights of the 2010 festival programme across Merseyside.

The St.Helens International Arts Festival event starts with a colourful carnival parade at aproximately 11am outside the Town Hall in Victoria Square, which will weave its way throughout the Town Centre and finish at 12 noon in Church Square which will commence the international performances throughout the day.

Festival organisers have promised 2010 will not disappoint, with performers attending from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean to mark this year’s theme of ‘Reincarnation’ – Mixing the Race of the Nation’.

Brouhaha is an arts organisation developing work that brings people together in a celebration of the UK’s unique and culturally diverse landscape. Brouhaha has built a tremendous reputation, over two decades, developing innovative cultural projects, working with artists and communities across Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and the Far East.

Come and join the rhythm of carnival, shake your maracas or just dance along to the infectious beat of drums. Enjoy the party; you’re all invited.

The St.Helens International Arts Festival is financially supported by European Regional Development Fund.

For more information visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/events or telephone on 01744 675326.

Kendal calling will even host their own beer festival in our pub; The Holy Quail complete with our own local tipple on tap; Kendale!

Headlining sets come from the likes of Doves, The Coral, Calvin Harris, British Sea Power, Stereo MC’s, Badly Drawn Boy, Wild Beasts and many many more…

The site opens a day early this year for The Invisible Circus to open the proceedings with Freakeasy; an exceptional extravaganza of sword swallowers, the worlds tallest DJ, sculpture installations, mayhem and magic for just 1500 lucky ticket holders.

The dance arena has expanded too; see full line up below. Set in one of the most beautiful locations in the UK, Kendal Calling is soon to land. Thankyou to everyone who has bought a ticket; let’s have the best celebration yet as Kendal Calling turns 5! We will be having a massive fancy dress birthday party on Saturday so bring your silliest outfits!

Ben Robinson, director of Kendal Calling says: “We’re over the moon we’ve sold out! We’d like to say a gigantic thanks to everyone who has bought tickets and supported us over the past five years. We can’t wait to celebrate with you all… see you in the fields!”

Friday 16th July will see the highly anticipated first day of trading for the range of high street retailers and leisure operators which have made The Rock their new home. The launch day promises to unite Bury in a spectacular day of celebration and throughout the day visitors will be treated to a host of exciting activities for all the family to enjoy, including a chance to take part in a Guinness World Record Attempt.

The day kicks off to the sound of the Japanese Dojo drum, which will mark the start of the Bury Beat Parade – where some 180 local children will parade through The Rock’s Central Street, carrying flags adorned with artwork created by the children, to represent ‘what Bury means to them’. Rehearsals for the parade have been taking place over the past week at participating schools across the borough.

With the addition of The Rock, Bury is fast becoming one of the North West’s leading fashion hotspots, with national retailers showing their faith in Bury by bringing their full product ranges to the thriving town.

David Laycock, Centre Director for The Rock, added: “A great deal of work has gone in to creating The Rock and we are proud of what we have been able to achieve for Bury. We can’t wait to open on the 16th July and get the public’s reaction to the scheme – after all The Rock has been created for the people of Bury and the surrounding towns to enjoy!

“Alongside our own schedule of events for the day, retailers and our leisure operators are also getting ready for the launch with a host of offers for shoppers to enjoy, so no doubt there will be something for everyone to enjoy. All eyes will be on Bury on the 16th July, so we want to make it a day to remember.”

The Rock’s retail offering includes anchor stores Debenhams and Marks & Spencer alongside other flagship stores including Next, Peacocks, Primark, H&M, Cult, River Island and Oasis. Alongside Vue and AMF Bowling, restaurant operators at The Rock will include, Pizza Express, Frankie & Benny’s and Nando’s.

To generate some excitement in the lead up to the opening, 2500 artificial rocks have been dropped around the streets of the Bury, Bolton, Rochdale and Rawtenstall. Each rock contains a unique code, which when entered on Facebook will reveal the finder’s winnings. A range of prizes are up for grabs from shopping vouchers, coffees and leisure experiences, to higher value prizes, donated by some of The Rock’s flagship stores – one lucky member of the public has already bagged themselves a Hugo Boss watch worth £350.

Still up for grabs is a £500 diamond donated by independent retailer Peter Jackson Jewellers – a series of clues will appear across Facebook, Twitter and You Tube in the run up to the launch, so keep your eyes peeled to be in with a chance of winning. Insert facebook and twitter page

Launch day itinerary

10.00am
GATES OPEN

10.00-10.15am
REBORN – THE CALL

Spine-tingling and unique Taiko performance will sound across the scheme to call the people to The ROCK

10.15 – 10.55am
BURY BEAT PARADE

Parade of proud communities and effervescent carnival music and celebration

10.55 – 11.00am
REBORN – FINALE

Reprise of Taiko and countdown to Doors Open

11.00am
RETAILERS OPEN

The public get the first look inside the new high street line-up – shops will be open all day

11.00am-20.00pm
ACCESS ALL AREAS

Evocative and enthralling ambient entertainers connecting retailers throughout the day

13.00 – 18.30pm
MAIN STAGE FEATURES

A variety of musical performances and urban fashion dancers including the climax of Taikoall will perform at intervals throughout the afternoon.

4.15 – 4.55pm
BURY BEAT PARADE

Repeat of the Parade but with a twist and the end!

18.30pm
FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK

Bury welcomes the World with Music – a totally unique Launch Day event – A WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT!!

19.00-20.00pm
ROCK XTRA! – (Dig the NEW Breed)

The Gala Performance from Bury’s Battle of The Bands Winning Musicians –

THE AFTERPARTY

The £1.4 million Padiham Greenway runs along a former railway line through the centre of Padiham and forms part of a longer route proposed between Great Harwood and Burnley.

The scheme has transformed a derelict railway line that suffered from flytipping, litter and vandalism into an attractive Greenway linking housing areas with Padiham Town Centre and Padiham Memorial Park. In the central area of the site a bridge and embankments have been demolished and new railings and lowered stone walls built to improve visibility and connections between communities on either side of the Greenway.

Lancashire County Council’s REMADE team is behind the project, which has been funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), the County Council, sustainable transport charity Sustrans’ via a Big Lottery Fund award, Burnley Borough Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The new 2.5km greenway was officially opened by Lancashire County Councillor Michael Green, Cabinet member for planning and environment, at a ceremony on Thursday 24th June.

County Councillor Michael Green said: “This is a wonderful new facility for residents in Padiham and surrounding areas. It has transformed neglected and under-used land, which was blighted by fly tipping and vandalism, into a high quality traffic-free, off-road route.

“The greenway will encourage more people to walk and cycle, whether they are heading to work, shops or schools, or simply for leisure, which will help to reduce congestion on our roads and boost people’s health and wellbeing.”

The opening event was part of a week of community-based celebrations to mark completion of Padiham Greenway and improvements to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal towpath, which coincided with Team Green Britain Bike Week.

Site clearance work on the project started in November 2008, following extensive public consultation on the route design and removal of old railway tracks. The main construction work started in January 2009 with JN Bentley Ltd appointed as the main contractor for the works.

Facts about the project:

• Six hectares of land has been reclaimed.
• A path has been created for pedestrians and cyclists, alongside a bridleway for horse riders.
• New access points along the route give full disabled access. A new ramp behind Padiham Leisure Centre provides disabled access for the first time between the two parts of Padiham Memorial Park.
• A more formal parkland area, with seating and plants, has been created in the central area of the greenway.
• Wildflower seeding, tree and shrub planting have taken place along the route to improve the ecological value of the site.
• New lighting, seating and waste bins have been installed.