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Doors 7.30pm, £7 in advance / £9 on the door. Under 16's £1 (when brought in conjunction with an adult ticket). Standing.

Although it seems almost impossible, it is true.

The Cock and Bull Band are celebrating their fortieth year….yes fortieth year of playing ceilidhs, concerts, and festivals. Since their early melodeon days, through the bagpipe years to the current funky line up they have always demonstrated a truly unique mastery of musical arrangements that delight the ear whilst igniting the inner dancing spirit.

Dancers have always loved their quirky and off-piste approach to ceilidh music. Tunes might be led by clarinet, flute, recorder, keyboard, saxophone or various combinations. These many and varied instrumental permutations are fused with the inventive and energetic mandola of Paul Martin, who effortlessly bounces between underpinning the rhythmic powerhouse and exciting lead guitar-like phrases. Vanda Sainsbury on woodwind and Lynn Swain on flute, feature inspired harmony and counterpoint in every tune, along with sections of soloing, where the melody line is set aside for some nifty and often jazzy improvisation, that sees the musical style sashay off into the realms of jazz or rock. Pete Lockwood’s ‘trademark electronics’ have become an integral feature of The Cock and Bull ‘sound’ and their driving ceilidh rhythms effortlessly blend traditional instruments with synthesizer, loops and percussion samples. Pete has always shown an empathy with ceilidh-folk music, subtly infusing his brand of ’technology’ without losing the essence of the original genre.

Throughout their long and eventful career The Cock and Bull Band have never shied away from following their own, sometimes unfashionable path and in doing so have remained innovative, never failing to surprise. Members have come and gone, but the band and its individual and unusual combination of instruments continue to forge ahead along their own highly distinctive route. So yet another chapter in Stony Stratford’s Cock and Bull story continues to unfold…. Paul Martin on mandocello and Pete Lockwood on keyboards, sax and percussion are joined by flautist Lynn Swain and her soaring melodic lines. Completing the line up is Vanda Sainsbury who often exchanges her dynamic recorder and clarinet playing for  a turn on Pete’s keyboard. She also play soprano saxophone which, when combined with Pete’s steamy jazz tinged tenor sax, sees a welcome return of the classic Cock and Bull dual sax feature.'

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Stony Steppers first formed in 1997 and have now developed into a strong, enthusiastic dance side. Step clog dancing involves fast and intricate percussive steps, wearing clogs with wooden soles and leather uppers. This traditional form of dancing dates back many years, and was particularly popular in the 19th century in the industrialised North of England and in the Music Halls and Variety Theatres.