WHAT’S ON

Sally Luff is among the artists exhibiting at Gallery Live in Stony Stratford this month

#WhatsOnPulse

Discover Nature Session Wednesday, June 1, 10am-3pm An action-packed day for 8-11 year olds featuring activities including discovering tracks and trails; foraging, hunting minibeasts, habitat surveys; pond dipping; creating mini-habitats; bird identification. Wild and wonderful: theparkstrust.com

Jubilee Beacon Lighting Thursday, June 2, 7pm Head to Milton Keynes Museum in Wolverton for the free community event, with food and drink available from the cafe. The beacon will be lit at 9.15pm and live music will also feature. Illuminating: wolvertonandgreenleystowncouncil.gov.uk

Jubilee Beacon Lighting Thursday, June 2, 8pm Enjoy music from Milton Keynes Brass from 9pm together with a speech from Vice LordLieutenant Alexander Boswell, in Campbell Park Ma’am-ellous: theparkstrust.com

MK National Trust Association Thursday, June 2, 2-4pm Kay Goddard presents a talk, ‘The Underground Railroad – Patterned Path To Freedom,’ at the Oak Tree Centre, Wallinger Drive, Shenley Brook End. More details: sue-davedee@talktalk.net

Guild of Motoring Artists Exhibition Thursday, June 2 - Wednesday, June 29, 11am-4.30pm An exhibition of 40 paintings by five Guild members, with media including watercolour, oils, acrylics and 3D. Includes classics, motorsport and a few images with a local twist. Showing in the Three Hares Gallery at Cowper & Newton Museum. Making a splash: cowperandnewtonmuseum.org.uk Mikron Theatre Company Sunday, June 5, 2.30pm Arriving by boat, the collective of drama aces present the show Raising Agents (see show details on June 17) at Great Houghton Village Hall. Narrowboat, but big show: mikron.org.uk

Space Pistol Sunday, June 5 The Milton Keynes-based noise bringers who caused a bit of excitement on last month’s Pulse Music pages check in at The Plough in Newport Pagnell. Well worth checking in for if you like your music noisy and promising! Fired up: www.facebook.com/spacepistol

Gallery Live Monday, June 6 - Sunday, June 12 While Stony Stratford enjoys the return of its Stony Live Festival, Gallery Live will turn the High Street into a big art space, with 17 local artists having their work exhibited in the windows of local stores. Artists taking part include Sally Luff, Shelly Wyndebank, Roddy Clenaghan, Melanie Watts and Debra Danu Matthews. Window shopping: Stroll the High Street!

These Hills Are Ours Thursday, June 9 Award-winning Daniel Bye and Chumbawamba founder Boff Whalley bring together story and song in a collaboration about escaping it all by running to wild places. Can we go too? Running men: thecorecorby.com

Refreshments in the Courtyard Thursday, June 9, 10.30am-midday Enjoy delicious homemade cake, a drink and a walk around the beautiful gardens at Olney’s Cowper & Newton Museum Tranquility: cowperandnewtonmuseum.org.uk

June Highlights

John Lenehan: The Roaring Twenties Saturday 11 June Pianist John Lenehan presents a celebration of the music and film of an iconic decade, the fabulous 1920s. John will perform music by Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Lenehan himself, bringing to life on-screen appearances from the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, Harry Houdini and a host of others

Marty Wilde Friday 17 June A chance to see live on stage one of the only performing original rock’n’roll pioneers in the world today. Marty and his fabulous band the Wildcats take you back through some of the most exciting musical times this country has ever experienced.

Nell Bryden Saturday 18 June For her latest tour Nell Bryden has gone back to her roots and followed the traditional sonic footsteps of her idols Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin and Carole King.

© Nell Bryden

The Waterboys: An Acoustic Evening with Mike Scott & Brother Paul Monday 20 June Few bands have as great a live reputation as Mike Scott’s Waterboys. The mercurial Scott will be joined by long-term Waterboys keyboardist and Memphis great, Brother Paul for this new and unique two-man version of the band.

Spiers & Boden Friday 24 June Described by The Guardian as ‘the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene’, Spiers & Boden first rocketed onto the music scene in 2001, quickly winning a clutch of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and going on to form and front the extraordinarily successful folk big band Bellowhead.

Pic: Elly Lucas

The Stables, Wavendon Milton Keynes MK17 8LU Box office: 01908 280800 stables.org

11th & 12th June 2022

At Towcester Racecourse

www.towcesterfoodfestival.co.uk

facebook.com/TowcesterFoodFestival @towcesterfood

Northampton Colour Run Saturday, June 11, 10am A very messy and very fun cross-country run in support of the Cynthia Spencer Hospice, at Overstone Park, Northampton. Great for families, friends and colleagues, and it’s for a fantastic cause. Count me in: cynthiaspencer.org.uk/ northamptoncolourrun or call 01604 973340

National Gardens Scheme Saturday, June 11 & Sunday, June 12, 11am-4.30pm Things are blooming at The Cowper & Newton Museum in Olney, and this is your chance to investigate as part of the national event. Green-fingered delight: cowperandnewtonmuseum.org.uk

Denton & District Gardening Club Monday, June 13, 7pm AGM followed by ‘My Favourite Plants of the Moment’ by Colin Ward, at Denton Village Hall, Vicarage Lane, Denton, NN7 1DT Seedlings: m.pateman@yahoo.co.uk Jess Jocoy Friday, June 17 Jess brings her beautifully atmospheric Americana to Milton Keynes as part of her First Time Here tour to plug her Let There Be No Despair album. Twang and texture: stables.org

Towcester Midsummer Music Festival Friday, June 17 – Sunday, June 19 Two days of music across the town centre with drummers, brass, a Cappella, community choirs and much more on the menu. At a glance: towcester-tc.gov.uk/midsummer-music

Mikron Theatre Company Saturday, June 17, 7pm The team who bring professional theatre to canal and riverside venues deliver Raising Agents. When a PR guru becomes a member of the Bunnington WI, the women are glad of new blood...initially! Essentially though, this is a show about friendship. Grab a picnic blanket and enjoy. At The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne Messing about by the river: mikron.org.uk

Jimmy Regal & The Royals Tuesday, June 14, doors at 6.30pm, music from 7.30pm London-based tough and howlin’ blues threepiece with harmonica, guitar and drums return to Bletchley Blues Club. Regal times: bletchleybluesclub.uk

Linford Eats Thursday, June 16, 5pm-8pm Bring your friends and family to Great Linford Park and enjoy street food from some of MK’s tastiest vendors. Bringing your own camping chairs and picnic blankets is advisable. Parking is at Great Linford Memorial Hall. Tastebud tickler: theparkstrust.com

The Teapot Prince Thursday, June 16 & Friday, June 17, 6-9pm A contemporary re-imagining of the lost 18th-century French Ballet des Porceleines will be performed in the fairy-tale grounds of Waddesdon Manor, bringing to life a story of magic, desire and exotic entanglement. Temperatures rising: waddesdon.org.uk

Summer Festival Friday June 17 Wootton Primary School celebrates its 150th birthday with a special event at Wootton Community Centre from 3.30pm to 6pm. Enjoy bouncy castles, entertainment, stalls, face painting and much more.

There is something for all tastes this month Jimmy Regal (above) brings a touch of Royalty to Bletchley Blues Club, while you are sure to get your teeth into something tasty at Linford Eats (left) or enjoy something more refined, Ballet des Porcelaines at Waddesdon Manor (below, left)

Mikron Theatre Company Saturday, June 18, 4pm Mikron continue their tour of the waterways, this time with Red Sky At Night, a show about the wild and wonderful world of weather, showing at The Old Rectory at Blisworth. Making a splash: mikron.org.uk

Northampton Music Festival 2022 Sunday, June 19 If you love music, you’ll love this; 60 performers going live across six stages in a showcase and celebration of local music, from opera to rock. Scream for me, Northampton: northamptonmusicfestival.co.uk

Wildflower ID for Beginners Wednesday, June 22, 10am During this workshop you will receive an introduction to the common ways to identify plants in the wild and get to grips with using plant ID keys. This two hour event is being held in Great Linford Manor Park. Petal power: theparkstrust.com Sparks: Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside Saturday, June 25, midday Visit The Lab at The Core and check in with Sparks, the youngest theatre group at The Core as they present some fantastic summer holiday adventures; by the beach, on the sea and underwater. Bucket and spades: thecorecorby.com

The Midday Moo Saturday, June 25 A challenge to local people to walk a five or 10 mile route around Milton Keynes. It’s a relaxed affair, starting and finishing at the MK Rugby Club in Emerson Valley, including pub stops on route and a finale at The Big Food Festival. Walking boots on: willen-hospice.org.uk/moo

Olney Cherry Fair Sunday, June 26, midday Head to Glebe Field, Church Street for a fruit filled afternoon as the town hosts its Cherry Fair, which also features a fun dog show, tours of the Bell Tower, Olney Brass Band and Country Dancing. There will be a visit from the local Fire and Rescue, Organ Recital, refreshments and open garden, and much more. Not to mention the Pimm’s tent! Entry is £2 for adults, under 16s go free. Fruity: olneycherryfair.org.uk

Carpenters Gold Friday, June 24, 7.30pm Enjoy the musical brilliance of Richard and Karen Carpenter, delivered by West End star Vikki Holland-Bowyer, who perfectly emulates Karen’s legendary rich contralto. Greg Stevenson will take care of duties at the piano. Top of the World: theoldsavoy.co.uk Hugh Budden & The Blue Chords Tuesday, June 28, doors at 6.30pm, music from 7.30pm Hugh is a harmonica player and a showman to boot and with his band the Blue Chords they deliver joyous swing, jump, jive, rock, funk and soul, but all within the blues idiom. Swing-in: bletchleybluesclub.uk Enjoy live international and national theatre and dance performances from the best seat in the house at MK Gallery’s Sky Room independent cinema.

Event Cinema NT Live: Prima Facie (15) Thursday 21 July | 7pm Jodie Comer, the Emmy and Bafta Award-winning star of TV’s Killing Eve, and more recently Bafta Award-winner for Channel 4’s TV series Help, makes her West End debut in the UK premiere of Suzie Miller’s award-winning play, Prima Facie which takes us to the heart of where emotion and experience collide with the rules of the game.

NT Live: Much Ado About Nothing (12A) Thursday 8 September | 7pm Following the award-winning success of National Theatre Live’s Romeo & Juliet, Twelfth Night and Antony and Cleopatra, director Simon Godwin returns with this irresistible comedy, broadcast live from the National Theatre stage.

NT Live: Jack Absolute Flies Again (12A) Saturday 8 October | 7pm After an aerial dog fight, Pilot Officer Jack Absolute flies home to win the heart of his old flame, Lydia Languish. Back on British soil, Jack’s advances soon turn to anarchy when the young heiress demands to be loved on her own, very particular, terms. Emily Burns directs this spectacularly entertaining new version of Sheridan’s The Rivals. Featuring a cast including Caroline Quentin, Laurie Davidson, Natalie Simpson and Kelvin Fletcher.

Exhibitions Vivian Maier: Anthology 11 June - 25 September MK Gallery presents the first exhibition in the UK of acclaimed photographer Vivian Maier (1926 – 2009) – celebrating the talent and remarkable story of a Chicago nanny who took hundreds of thousands of photographs of everyday life, carefully storing them during her life and posthumously becoming one of the greatest street photographers of the 20th Century. Curated by Anne Morin and produced by diChroma Photography. Free guided tours every Tuesday & Saturday at 2pm.

Vivian Maier, Self-portrait, New York, 1953 © Estate of Vivian Maier, Courtesy of Maloof Collection and Howard Greenberg Gallery, NY.

Visit mkgallery.org or call on 01908 676900 for more information and to book.