By Jake Keith 

Here's our guide to what you can do in and around Bolton this weekend.

1. Rock and soul band Xander and the Peace Pirates will be playing at the Railway Venue from 9pm tonight with tickets available on the door for £10 and in advance for £8.

The band, made up of brothers Keith and Stuart Zander (pictured below), may be new on the scene, but have already shared stage space with music gods such as Bon Jovi and Buddy Guy.

The Bolton News: Xander and the Peace Pirates

Their success is made all the more remarkable considering Keith does not have a right hand and plays the guitar with a prosthetic hook.

2. The Railway Venue (pictured below) will also welcome phenomenal folk rock six piece Phantom Voices on Saturday with tickets £5 on the door or £4 in advance.

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3. The new live music venue Kico Rocks, above the Flying Flute in Bradshawgate (pictured below), is set to open its doors tonight with a live Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute act - Hot Red Chili Peppers.

The doors will open at 8.30pm and tickets cost £7.

It is opening following the closure of the Moses Gate music venue in Farnworth. 

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4. The venue will also host the UK’s finest Ritchie Blackmore tribute band on Saturday night with tickets available for £7.

5. The Blind Tiger, Nelson Square, (pictured below) continues its mission to give a platform to local music acts with two bands set to take the stage tonight in the form of The Atmospherics and The Patriots. Free entry.

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6. On Saturday, The Alma Inn, Bradshawgate, (pictured below) hosts a free event featuring Defences, an alternative metal band, alongside Zephyr, a progressive metalcore band and several other supporting acts from 8pm.

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7. The first performances of Look Back in Anger will continue at the Octagon Theatre this weekend with shows on Friday and Saturday.

The play will be on most nights until the end of the month but bargain tickets for this Friday are available for between £10.50 and £17.50.

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8. For the thirsty among you, Bradshaw Beer Festival kicks off tonight at Bradshaw Cricket Club, Rigby Lane, and goes on all weekend. To buy tickets, call Helen on 07713 932149 or 01204 781640.

The Bolton News: Left to right, club chairman Steve Dickinson, Andy Kellett (BWFC) and Peter Burke at the annual beer festival at Bradshaw Cricket Club

9. Fans of all things vinyl can indulge their love of music as a popular fair takes a second spin in Bolton this weekend.

Stacks of music will be lining the Market Place Shopping Centre for a popular record fair from 10am tomorrow.

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