The band awaiting us pre-match this Saturday are a further case in point. The Maitlands first played for us way back in February 2019 - and then were kind enough to allow us to use a video set of theirs for one of those virtual Malcolmses you may well have thought you hallucinated but actually did happen in the spring of 2020.
It was heart-warning last Saturday to hear the lead singer of Spin Klass say from the stage how pleased they were to be back with us, and that 'playing Course You Can Malcolm is on every band's list'. And if that statement startles you, well, imagine what it did for the CYCM collective - who spent their usual 30+ minutes plus dismantling the stage etc afterwards with an extra spring in their step.
The band awaiting us pre-match this Saturday are a further case in point. The Maitlands first played for us way back in February 2019 - and then were kind enough to allow us to use a video set of theirs for one of those virtual Malcolmses you may well have thought you hallucinated but actually did happen in the spring of 2020. So it's brilliant to be able to welcome them back without needing to wear 3D specs to see them properly. They lie, in their own words, 'somewhere between a drunk Smiths and a sober Fall', and according to another source sound 'like Hawkwind playing at being indie-punks'. You can hear more at https://themaitlands1.bandcamp.com - and by coming to Malcolmses on Saturday.
And who should be popping up alongside them in our occasional Poetry Corner slot than FCUM's very own John Darwin, whose new book ultrasilence was launched with a good do (including cake) at Central Library earlier this month. From the provincial peccadilloes of Prestwich to coffee houses and bars by the Bosporus in ?stanbul, John's new collection explores life’s three stages of arriving, staying for a bit, and then leaving. Since we last had the pleasure of hearing John under the SMRE he only went and won the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival 2021 Best Spoken Word Performance Award - blimey, to think he first cut his teeth as a performer at Malcolmses in Bury... You can buy John's book at https://flapjackpress.co.uk/shop/ultrasilence or, with luck, he'll bring some along to sell on Saturday,
As ever there will be also be tater ash or cheese pies, with the option of homemade mushy peas which in an exciting first will be provided by an apprentice chef who has learned at the feet of the Colwyn Bay master, thank you Mike for taking on this important role. And thank you to everyone near and (in one case very) far who has contributed to the tater ash fund this season so we can continue to pass on all food proceeds to the club. There'll be muffins too.
The running order looks kind of like this:
1.40 Baz kicks things off
1.45 John Darwin
2.10 Get £1 ready as you'll be mithered to buy a muffin
2.15 The Maitlands
Hope to see you there.