Over a dozen Stockport bands and musicians will be performing classic songs recorded at Strawberry Studios for a fundraising concert for Seven Miles Out Arts Centre.

‘Strawberry Studios Stockport’ takes place on Wednesday, March 30, at Stockport Plaza to support the continued activities of Seven Miles Out based in Stockport Market Place.

The evening will be introduced by Stockport-based DJ and Inspiral Carpets’ Clint Boon and the line-up includes critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter Gideon Conn, pop jazz duo Blank Cheque, who won Best Student Band in Manchester, rock band The Hidden and The Hayes Sisters, recently voted Stockport’s finest band by listeners of Pure 107.8 FM.

The concert will also feature some of Stockport’s up-and-coming talent including the youngest band to perform, Square One from Heaton Chapel, a trio of 10-year-olds who have already played to large crowds at Foodie Friday and will be performing Buzzcocks’ ‘Everybody’s Happy Nowadays’ and The Smiths’ This Charming Man.

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“Stockport is full of talented people and it’s really important to bring the community together to celebrate our town’s musical legacy in such a beautiful and iconic building as The Plaza,” says John Barratt of Seven Miles Out, the organiser of the concert.

“Just as Strawberry was able to support local musicians, at Seven Miles Out we believe it’s important to give opportunities for our town’s up and coming bands to perform.

“This concert will be a very special night celebrating the music of Strawberry Studios where the past meets the present.”

Who’s on?

Singer-songwriter Chloe Jones, crowned ‘The Voice of McDonald’s UK’ in 2013′, will be performing ‘Solitaire’ by Neil Sedaka, Aquinas College student Georgia Pip will cover a Joy Division track and ‘The Fuse and The Small Blonde’ – recent winners of the Stockport Schools’ Battle of the Bands competition – will be playing ‘Hand In Glove’ by The Smiths.

Carnation, featuring 17-year-old lead singer Charlie Cole from Offerton, who supported Blossoms and is tipped to follow their success, will be playing songs by The Stone Roses recorded at Strawberry with legendary producer Martin Hannett including ‘I Wanna Be Adored’.

One of the founder members of The Stone Roses who played on these tracks, guitarist Andy Couzens, will be performing with his band The High, who had Top 30 success in the nineties with tracks including ‘Box Set Go’ also produced by Hannett and recorded at Strawberry Studios.

Last year, The High reformed 25 years after the release of their debut album ‘Somewhere Soon’ with a new line up featuring Jack Couzens on drums and Antony Meehan on bass.

Other highlights of the night include Dr Uke playing ‘The KKK took my baby away’ by The Ramones, Hotlegs’ ‘Neanderthal Man’ performed by Mama Goose and a finale singalong of Frank Sidebottom’s ‘Stockport’s Really Fantastic’ by Stockport Ukulele Players.

Folk-pop singer-songwriter Liam McClair, who has supported Echo and The Bunnymen and Newton Faulkner, will perform an acoustic version of 10cc’s classic hit ‘I’m Not In Love’.

John added: “Some of the world’s greatest artists recorded at Strawberry including 10CC and Paul McCartney and the studio was also responsible for kickstarting the careers of many important and influential Manchester bands.

“Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, James and The Stone Roses all recorded their early singles and some of their most important music at Strawberry Studios.

“Joy Division’s ‘Unknown Pleasures’ recorded at Strawberry in 1979 with producer Martin Hannett is cited by the rock press as ‘one of the greatest debut albums ever’.

“With Blossoms now putting Stockport back in the musical spotlight what better way to celebrate the legacy of Strawberry Studios than with the town’s stars of the future.”

Tickets

• Tickets for ‘Strawberry Studios Stockport’ are priced £10 & £5 for children aged 16 and under, available from Seven Miles Out & The Plaza box office. For more details visit the Seven Miles Out website.