Ian McCulloch in Nantwich

Ian McCulloch performed an intimate headlining event at The Crown Hotel in Nantwich as part of the Words and Music Festival, writes Kirsty Rollings.

The 80’s post-punk vocalist from Echo and the Bunneymen drew in a sell-out crowd from Nantwich and the surrounding areas.

McCulloch introduced the night by announcing this as his first performance as a solo artist in the last year.

The Liverpudlian continued to interact and joke between songs with an attentive audience, who warmed to classics such as The Killing Moon and Seven Seas.

After leaving the stage, he was cheered and applauded by an excited crowd when returning for an encore.

This set included Echo and the Bunneymen’s UK Top 10 hit Nothing Lasts Forever.

Words and Music Festival organiser Nigel Stonier said: “Bringing Ian to the festival is like a dream come true.

“He’s somebody we love, and to see him up close and personal in our town of Nantwich is wonderful.

“There’s something nice about hearing songs you’ve previously heard with big productions and orchestras in a relatively small room at The Crown Hotel.

“Here, you’re hearing them played on acoustic guitars by the guy who wrote them all those years ago.

“It’s almost like hearing the songs stripped back to their basic form, which is really exciting, and seemed to fire him up and bring the best out of him.”

The Words and Music Festival continues through to Sunday (October 12).

Badly Drawn Boy, Thea Gilmore and King Creosote are all still to come.

For details about ticket availability and other acts for the festival, visit www.wordsandmusicfestival.com

(pics by Paul Compton)

Echo and the Bunnymen scooter

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