ONGOING

By arrangement - Worcester Walks – Historic Guided Walking Tours of the city. £4 - The Guildhall. 

For further information Tel: 07890 222117. Book at Worcester TIC.

Daily - ‘The Worcester Story’. Historic Guided Walking Tours by Discover History. £5 - Leaving from the front of the Guildhall. 

Booking essential. Tel: 07949 222137 - 6pm daily, or at other times upon request.  

1st Sunday - Worcester Flea Market. - Angel Place, Worcester. 9.00am – 4.30pm

4th Saturday - Farmers’ Market at St. Peter’s. - St. Peter’s Garden Centre, Norton, Worcester. 9.30am – 2.00pm

Every Friday - 11.30am – 12.30pm (booking essential) - Tour: ‘Lifting the Lid’ - The Greyfriars, Friar Street, Worcester. Tel: 01905 23571.

Behind the scenes conservation tours.

1st Weekend each month - Saturday 10.00am to 5.00pm & Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm - Exhibition: Paintings and prints by Paul Powis and Sara Hayward

The Art Haus Studio and Gallery, Four Seasons, 74 Battenhall Avenue.

Until February 2012 - Exhibition: Victoria Institute – Inspiration through Learning - Worcester Art Gallery and Museum, Foregate Street. 

Tel: 01905 25371.  Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am – 4.30pm

Until Spring 2012 - Exhibition: Family at War - Worcestershire County Museum, Hartlebury Castle. Tel: 01299 250416

10.30am – 4.30pm. Family ticket £12

Ongoing - Picturing the Commandery: photographers and artists are invited to share their perspectives - The Commandery, Sidbury, Worcester. 

Tel: 01905 361821.  10.00am – 5.00pm (Mon – Sat) & 1.30pm - 5.00pm (Sun)

13th January to 31st March 2012 - The Historic Ghost Walk of Worcester - Starting at the Elgar Statue, Worcester High Street. 

Regular Walks: Fridays and Saturdays at 7.30pm (walks last approximately 1 ½ hours)

Tickets £8.50 per person (Suitable for 11+) Please note that parts of the walk are not accessible to wheelchair users. Worcester Live reserves the right to cancel a Ghost Walk due to lack of bookings, therefore booking is advisable. Please call the Box Office (01905 611427) to confirm if a Ghost Walk is running.

The hugely popular Historic Ghost Walk returns to the streets of Worcester with a brand new season of fascinating tours. Discover the secrets to Worcester's hidden past as you are guided around one of the most historic and haunted cities in Britain. You will have unprecedented access into some of Worcester's most historic (and haunted!) locations including exclusive access inside the Guildhall, St Swithun's Church and The Commandery. Specific highlights of the tour include having access beneath the Guildhall to the hidden cells below where it is reported that the perfume of a long-deceased lady still hangs in the air and visitors report sudden drops in temperature. Enter the ancient St Swithun’s Church and hear about a young bride’s deceased mother who was said to be seen walking down the aisle alongside the bride and her father. Hear also about what happened with the bride’s son and a kindly gentleman in the very same church some years later…  The walk culminates in a welcome glass of mulled wine at one of the spookiest buildings in the City; The Commandery

Private Bookings - Private Ghost Walks can also be arranged on days and times to suit you - subject to availability and party size. For further information please call 01905 611427.

11th February – 14th April 2012 - Children's Ghost Walk - Starting at the Guildhall, Worcester High Street and finish at South Quay fountains. 

Regular Walks: Saturdays at 6pm and last approximately 45 minutes – 1 hour
Tickets £5 per person (Suitable for 5 – 10 year olds)  Worcester Live reserves the right to cancel a Ghost Walk due to lack of bookings, therefore booking is advisable. Please ring the Box Office to confirm if a Ghost Walk is running.

Meet Bob! Bob is a man on a mission charged with ridding the streets of Worcester of its paranormal parasites and ghastly ghouls. Not an easy task for one man and he needs your help!  Race after him as he ducks around the city in search of suspicious spooks - but don't be scared as Bob will have you fully equipped with the latest ghost-eliminating gadgets to chase away those ghouls!  The Children’s Ghost Walk takes you running around the streets of Worcester learning fun facts and ghostly tales. It is a fun and energetic way for children to learn some fascinating stories about Worcester that guarantees to send them home feeling like brave and adventurous ghostbusters!

Children’s Party Bookings - The Children’s Ghost Walk is ideal for birthday parties and special occasions and private bookings are available on other dates and times subject to availability. For more information please call 01905 611427.

JANUARY 2012

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Friday 27th - John Banner Charity Promotions Presents Lets Rock ‘n’ Roll with Peter Gill’s Killer – The Jerry Lee Lewis Story (Hirer) - Huntingdon Hall, Worcester

Price:£14.50 (concessions £12.50)  Time: 8pm

Hosted by JB himself, this is another show in his Lets Rock ‘n’ Roll series where all ‘loose’ chairs are removed to create a dance area! Featuring Pete Gill (Let The Good Times Roll etc) and his band, with his astonishing keyboard ability, the frst half is sit, watch and listen – get up and dance, if you want to – and the second half well, unless the bones ain’t what they used to be, you’ll just want to get up and dance! Let’s Rock ‘n’ Roll – tonight’s charity benefciary is Acorn’s Hospice.

Saturday 28th - ZZ Tops (Hirer) - Huntingdon Hall, Worcester

Price: £13  Time: 8pm

The ZZ Tops celebrate the music and career of one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time. Their shows place great emphasis on ZZ Tops’ actual live performances thus creating the most dynamic stage show, packed full of brilliantly played classics from the early 70s and 80s, through to the new releases of today. In a fast moving, power packed stage show, the Tops’ best known numbers are delivered in typically hard-hitting manner. The emphasis is always frmly on generating a good time atmosphere via familiar favourites, rather than re-creating obscure album tracks that only the most ardent fan might appreciate. Simply put the ZZ Tops in loud, lively and a whole lot of fun. Just like the real thing in fact – which of course is what being the best ZZ Top tribute band around is all about!

Sunday 29th - The York Waites (Hirer) - Huntingdon Hall, Worcester

Price: £15 (Students £5)  Time: 3pm

The York Waits have performed together for over 30 years and played extensively throughout Britain, Europe and America. They have produced
ten recordings of mostly 16th century music and regularly create programmes to celebrate specifc historic events, such as the Reign of Richard 3rd, The Spanish Armada and The Gunpowder Plot of 1605. www.worcserenade.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2012

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Wednesday 1st & Thursday 2nd - Over The Rainbow, the Life Story of Eva Cassidy - Swan Theatre, Worcester

Price: £17.50 (Concessions £16) Time: 7.30pm
Over the Rainbow is a compelling award-winning Musical, which tells the Life Story of this legendary artist, following Eva’s life through dramatic scenes and stunning live renditions of her music including a haunting interpretation of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. This Award Winning Show has received plaudits from the Eva Cassidy Band and members of her family and contains projection and original footage from Eva Cassidy’s life.

Friday 3rd - Phil Beer Solo - Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
Price: £12.50  Time: 8pm
Phil Beer is the multi-instrumental half of the award winning acoustic duo, Show of Hands. He has played music all of his life and been a professional musician since 1975. In that 36 years, he has played in many bands and lost count of the number of record projects he has been involved in. The most notable sessions in his career range from the Rolling Stones album Steel Wheels and Mike Oldfeld’s live Album Exposed, to albums by The Albion Band with whom he toured for the best part of the ’80s, not forgetting the large catalogue of Show of Hands albums. His most recent accolade is the Spiral Earth Award for Best Musician, 2011. A Phil Beer performance is fun, eccentric, and informative - Phil could coax a beautiful tune from a length of clothesline! His gigs really do have something for everyone; trad tunes mixed with covers of Springsteen, The Hollies, his own compositions and songs from his contemporaries.

Friday 3rd - Motown’s Greatest Hits – How Sweet It Is - Swan Theatre, Worcester
Price: £19.50  Time: 8pm
The ultimate celebration of the sweet sound of Motown is back by popular demand! Come and join in the fun for our 10th anniversary in 2012. This stunning 100% live show combines first class music together with the slickest choreography, and an amazing band to deliver truly outstanding performances for the best Motown experience you will ever have! Our 10th Anniversary Special will have you Dancing On The Ceiling, featuring songs from legendary artistes such as Lionel Richie, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson Five, The Isley Brothers, Edwin Starr and many, many more. Let’s Get Ready.... to Go Loco... Down in Acapulco. The UK’s Number 1 Motown production is guaranteed to have you dancing All Night Long!

Saturday 4th - The Magician Who Lost His Spells (Amateur Hirer) - Swan Theatre, Worcester
Price: £1.50  Time: 10.30 & 11.45am
The Magician, Clarissa Cat & Ozzie Owl find out that things have gone missing.

Saturday 4th - Mike Piggott’s Hot Club Trio - Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
Price: £12.50 (Concessions £11.50)  Time: 8pm
Top UK jazz violinist Mike Piggott presents an entertaining programme of jazz favourites from the music of Stephane Grappelli, Django Reinhardt and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France, Cole Porter, Fats Waller, George Gershwin to the Blues. The show also includes
the music of other jazz violinists including Joe Venuti and Stuff Smith – also one or two unusual musical instruments! Mike Piggott
has toured, recorded and broadcast with a wide range of artists (as both violinist and guitarist) including Ralph McTell, Bert Jansch,Phil Collins, Diz Disley, Pentangle, John Etheridge and Gary Potter. Humphrey Lyttelton twice opened his BBC Radio 2 show Best of Jazz with tracks from Mike’s CDs Blues for Stuff & Steph and Take A Walk.

Thursday 9th - Mercury – The Legend Lives On - Swan Theatre, Worcester
Price: £16  Time: 8pm
After a decade on tour, Mercury have frmly established themselves as one of the world’s most authentic tributes to the legend that is Freddie Mercury and Queen. With the extraordinary vocal range and outstanding delivery of Joseph Lee Jackson as Freddie Mercury and the intricate guitar work of Glenn Scrimshaw as Brian May, backed by superbly crafted harmonies and a driving rhythm section, this 10th anniversary tour includes fantastic performances of the most popular Queen hits, as well as some additional tracks from the band’s vast back catalogue.

Friday 10th - Liane Carroll - Huntingdon Hall, Worcester

Price: £15  Time: 8pm
Liane Carroll has been hailed by critics and fans alike as one of our very finest jazz singerHaving picked up just about every British jazz award going in the last few years, including the 2008 Parliamentary Jazz Award for Musician Of The Year, s. She has worked with an extensive roster of international artists, such as Gerry Rafferty, Gerry Donahue, Long John Baldry, and Sir Paul McCartney, as well as the fast soul outfit London Elektricity. Since 2003 she has released four critically acclaimed jazz albums, one of which, Slow Down, was voted by The Times as one of the top five jazz albums of 2007. With a huge vocal range, a prodigious musicality and an unerring sense of musical honesty, her live set is one of the most emotionally exciting to be found on the UK jazz circuit and covers a broad repertoire from the contemplative Tom Waits and Lauro Nyro, through to familiar jazz standards, as well as Liane’s self-penned original material.

Saturday 11th - Antique Antics with Eric Knowles - Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
Price: £15  Time: 7pm
An evening of more than just – where, when and how much. Eric Knowles is one of those rare individuals who is able to share his extensive knowledge of the world of Antiques in a manner that is easily understood. With over twenty years working on the BBC’s fagship programme The Antiques Roadshow under his belt, Eric has become the friendly face of what for many years proved to be
a business shrouded with no small element of mystery. In Antique Antics, the lad from Lancashire takes the wraps off a business in which he has been immersed for over 30 years. The frst part of the evening is given over to what are quite often irreverent anecdotal reminiscences, ably supported by excellent images. The second part of the evening is devoted to the audience’s ‘treasures’, twenty-fve of which have been selected by Eric during the initial meeting and greeting session and welcome party. Eric is keen to assure all those bringing heirlooms that he for one will be drinking only Adam’s Ale until all are safely returned.

Thursday 16th - An Audience With Sherlock Holmes – Selected Tales From A Consulting Detective’s Notebook - Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
Price: £10  Time: 8pm
As night draws in and fog settles once more over the city of London, join Sherlock Holmes in the study of 221B Baker Street for a classic retelling of some of his most celebrated cases. Andrew Meller dons the famous cape and deerstalker and with pipe in hand recounts some of the cases that made Holmes the world's most famous detective. In this captivating portrayal, Andrew assumes the guise of numerous Sherlockian characters to create a truly memorable evening.

Tuesday 14th to Saturday 18th - STAC present Nil by Mouth by John Chapman (Amateur Hirer) - Swan Theatre, Worcester
Price: £9.50 (£7 First Night, £8 Concessions)  Time: 7.30pm
Nil by Mouth is a very funny comedy about the National Health Service. Chaos erupts as patients, agency nurses, doctors and sisters battle it out at the start of another busy weekend on the under-funded and under-staffed mixed ward of St. Christopher’s Hospital. A catalogue of disastrous mistaken identities leads to wrongful diagnosis, visitors becoming patients, and all manner of medical mishaps.John Chapman’s other successful comedies include: Kindly Leave the Stage and Shut Your Eyes and Think of England. Directed by Tim Crow

Friday 17th - Steve Knightley Solo Tour 2012 with Special Guests Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin - Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
Price: £16.50  Time: 8pm

Steve Knightley is the song writing force behind Show of Hands, widely acclaimed as the finest acoustic roots duo in England and with three Royal Albert Hall sell-outs to their name. He is renowned for his strong, trademark narrative songs, which reflect the escapades, hopes and fears of people not only in his native West Country but also beyond, as he pulls no punches writing highly literate songs about bigger, global issues. Show of Hands, which also features multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer, won the Best Duo in the 2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and Steve won the best original song for Arrogance, Ignorance and Greed. Steve continues his success as a solo artist with his annual tour and has released 4 solo albums the latest Live in Somerset was recorded in early 2011. His Special Guests on the tour are young up-and-coming musicians from the South West, Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin.

Saturday 18th - Richard Herring : What Is Love Anyway? - Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
Price: £15  Time: 8pm
Does anybody love anybody anyway? So asked insane, Welsh, poet philosopher Howard Jones in 1983. Finally someone dares to answer. Having sorted out religion (Christ on a Bike), politics (Hitler Moustache) and penises (Talking Cock), the star of the award winning podcast As It Occurs To Me and Radio 4’s Richard Herring’s Objective seeks to defne and destroy love. Before love destroys him. Again Does Richard’s dry-cleaner genuinely love him? How could a romantic gesture involving Ferrero Rochers get dangerously out of control? Herring’s twentieth Fringe. “Stimulating and Exhilarating…. Utterly Hilarious” ***** Chortle

5th & 6th - Midland Hill Climb Championship - Shelsley Walsh

2nd & 3rd - British, Midland & Leaders Hill Climb Championships - Shelsley Walsh

Shelsley Specials and Invited Championships.

30th - Reg Phillips Trophy Meeting - Shelsley Walsh

REIS HSA and Midland Speed Championships and Invited groups.

1st - Vintage & Post Vintage Thoroughbred Meeting - Shelsley Walsh

Co-promoted with The Vintage Sports Car Club.

28th - Classic Nostalgia - Shelsley Walsh

Practice starts at 9.00am Event starts at 2.00pm.  Come dressed in period style and enjoy the glory days of motorsport.

Watch the cars ascend the famous Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb; admire the cars in the paddock and meet the drivers; listen to 'George Huxley's Jazzmen - The Hot 5'; visit our working water mill; enjoy the atmosphere of the day and picnic in glorious Worcestershire countryside.

Celebrating 50 years of the MGB, Luffield MG Championship.

29th - Classic Nostalgia - Shelsley Walsh

100 years if Sunbeam, Pre War 20s and 30s, Pre 1980 Shelsley Specials, Bert Hadley Championship, Concours d'Elegance.

18th & 19th - British, Midland & Leaders Hill Climb Championships - Shelsley Walsh

Celebrating 50 years of the Lotus Elan, Demonstration and parade of Team Lotus Cars, E-Type Club Day.

22nd - Midland Speed Championship - Shelsley Walsh

BARC SBD Speed Championship and Porsche Championship.

23rd - REIS HSA Championship - Shelsley Walsh

Ferrari Owners Club Hill Climb Championship, Healey Sports Championship, Morgan Sportscar Club Speed Championship, TVR Club Championship.

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