The Met reopens on 17 May with live, socially distanced gigs

The Met reopens on 17 May with a season of live, socially distanced gigs featuring comedian Justin Moorhouse and DJ, director and author Don Letts.

The acclaimed Bury venue has announced plans for shows with live audiences, in line with the current government roadmap out of lockdown.

The opening programme of socially distanced gigs kicks off with BBC Folk Awards Best Duo nominees, Belshazzer’s Feast on Thursday 27 May.

Other programme highlights include Mercury Prize nominee and I Am Kloot frontman John Bramwell, who takes to the stage on Friday 28 May, performing tracks from his debut solo album and Kloot classics.

Director, DJ, author and broadcaster Don Letts looks back on his exceptional life on Saturday 29 May, as part of his There and Black Again book tour. With tales of befriending Bob Marley after sneaking into his hotel room and touring with The Clash, Don discusses Black Lives Matter, his new book and treading his own path.

British singer-songwriter Hannah White will also be performing at The Met’s opening weekend on Saturday 29 May, bringing her soulful blues and country sound, Hannah is a star on the rise.

Families can enjoy a performance of How the Koala Learnt to Hug, based on Steven Lee’s best-selling book. This Covid secure show features games, giggles and songs and is suitable for ages 3+. Monday 31 May.

First Thursday Comedy returns on Thursday 3 June, a stand-up night of silliness featuring local lad Justin Moorhouse, BBC New Comedy Award finalist Alun Cochrane, Peter Brush and Hannah Silvester.

Live comedy fans are in for a double treat, as Mock the Week and Radio 4 regular and double Sony award winner comedian Gary Delaney presents his work in progress on Thursday 10 June.

Automatic, The Met’s bar and restaurant will reopen on 18 May, serving coffees, lunches, dinners and pre and post show drinks in one of Bury’s best loved restaurants.

Temperature checks, one-way systems, additional cleaning and table service are just some of the measures being taken by The Met to ensure that audiences have a safe, enjoyable experience in a Covid secure environment.

Seating for shows is set out in cabaret style tables, so audiences can enjoy live, socially distant performances and face masks are mandatory in shared spaces in the building.

Victoria Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "Having closed our doors more than a year ago, we are really excited to welcome back live audiences into our building for a season of socially distant performances."

To book, visit https://themet.org.uk/whats-on/

The Met found additional fame during 2020 as the broadcast and production hub for United We Stream GM, reaching millions of audiences across the globe. Online audiences can still enjoy fresh sounds from The Met, with three separate programme strands streaming live, broadcast quality performances to be enjoyed at home.

Visit https://themet.org.uk/whats-on/online-streaming/ for more info

ENDS

For further details about The Met reopening and for additional images, please contact Nancy Hopkins on 07841 527 875 or via nancy.hopkins@themet.org.uk

About The Met:

The Met is a charity situated in a beautiful Grade II listed building, in the centre of Bury. Featuring a busy live venue, recording studio and creative hub, The Met presents a range of music, theatre, comedy and festivals alongside specialist and general workshops for the whole community.

Funded by Arts Council England, GMCA and Bury Council to increase access to the arts and promote Bury as a good place to live and visit, The Met underwent a £4.6 million refurbishment project in 2016 and its activities are worth in excess of £2.6 million per year to the local economy.

During 2020/21 The Met saw income cut by 65% as event cancellations were enforced for public safety. In addition to joining the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Culture Portfolio, it was also the broadcast and production hub for Greater Manchester’s United We Stream project, which has so far raised over £500,000 for businesses in the region’s night time economy.