The Vale turns two with a special late summer festival for all ages

A local arts centre and music venue turns two this September, with a weekend of fun and culture for all ages planned.

The Vale, in Mossley, will celebrate its second birthday on Saturday, September 16, 2023 with a free daytime 'open doors' event for all the family. 

Later in the evening, a ticketed 'tropical disco' night will see live bands and DJs play until midnight.

Free family activities include music and dance taster workshops, street theatre, storytelling, arts and crafts activities and live music. 

Food will be available and the bar will be well stocked with a range of alcoholic and soft drinks.

Fresh from wowing the crowds at Glastonbury, Full Stilt will perform its walkabout show Bachelors of Paradise, featuring four accomplished stilt walkers in breathtaking costumes.

Whilst straight off the allotment, the anarchic Ice Green Man from Greenbanks Productions seems intent on putting ketchup and brown sauce on everything from the back of his van.

Global Grooves' towering walkabout puppets, which have appeared everywhere from Bluedot Festival to Manchester Day and the Jubilee Pageant, will be happy to pose for some out of this world selfies.

Other free activities include a hands-on t-shirt upcycling session with a visiting Brazilian artist (bring your own white or pale coloured t-shirt to customise), live music with Latin, Brazilian and Argentinian flavours 1.30-4.30pm and a creepy crawlies craft workshop.

There will also be a chance to find out about some of the regular sessions that take place at The Vale, including Knights of The Vale, Mossley Writers, Stone Carvers, and Community Power’s hydro generator project team.

Daytime celebrations, which run from 11am-5pm, are free, with donations towards the running of The Vale gratefully received.

In the evening, a ticketed and tropical themed event sees Global Grooves’ percussion ensemble support Craig Charles' favourite Manchester funksters Buffalo Brothers, who are on a tireless mission to reach the ears and the souls of the global groove herd.

Then Racubah Tropical Disco soundsystem will spin their favourite global vinyl and until midnight, sharing precious discs collected over two decades of musical passion from Angola to Brazil, Colombia to Ethiopia and Somalia to the Caribbean.

The sound system has thrilled crowds at Notting Hill Carnival, Glastonbury and WOMAD and promises 'just love and good vibes'. 

Tickets cost £3-£10 in advance / £12.50 on the door.

On Sunday, there will be a special percussion and voice masterclass in ritual music of north eastern Brazil with Guga Santos.

Previous experience of percussion playing or singing is recommended. 

Tickets cost £15-£35

Launched on a shoestring 11 years ago, The Vale received a £1m upgrade and relaunch in 2021, when the Northern Carnival Centre of Excellence opened within its walls.

Local heroes Mr Wilson's Second Liners and Honeyfeet played at the centre's reopening event.

Holly Prest, artistic director of Global Grooves, the carnival arts organisation who developed The Vale, said: "Come and have fun on us to celebrate our second birthday at the heart of Mossley: dance, drum, eat, drink, enjoy some street theatre, do some crafting, and find out more about what happens at The Vale every week.

"With many of our acts still buzzing from this year's festival circuit, it's going to be like a second summer right here in Mossley!

"It's been an amazing second year at The Vale and we are looking forward to seeing even more people coming through our doors, joining our regular sessions and workshops, attending a band night, or getting involved as a volunteer.

"This autumn, you can enjoy internationally renowned acts at The Vale including Beans on Toast, Gasper Nali, Hackney Colliery Band and Jasdeep Singh, bringing world class live music to Mossley."

The Vale is at Vale Mill, off Micklehurst Road in Mossley, OL5 9JL.

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