Legendary musicians The Blockheads will kick off Barnaby Festival’s Big Weekend in Cheshire this summer.

Famous for classic hits such as What a Waste, Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick and Reasons To Be Cheerful (Part 3), they will perform on Friday, June 20 at 8pm at Christ Church in Macclesfield. , Tickets £18.

On Saturday, June 21, at 8pm comedy queen Shappi Khorsandi is set to raise the roof at Christ Church, performing her hilarious new show Shappi Khorsandi Live. Tickets £16.

The Big Weekend finale is an eclectic musical Acoustic Sanctuary.

Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), Macclesfield's Jake Evans (Bad Lieutenant, Jimi Goodwin band), and critically acclaimed Manchester wordsmith Mike Garry (including his ode to legendary Factory Record boss Tony Wilson) will perform acoustic sets along with string quartet arrangements by renowned composer Joe Duddell.

The musical extravaganza will take place at Christ Church, Macclesfield on Sunday, June 22 at 7.30pm. Tickets £18.

On Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22, Tim Peaks Diner will pop-up on Christ Church lawns.

Brainchild of The Charlatan’s Tim Burgess, and created in honour of film-maker David Lynch (Twin Peaks), the idiosyncratic cafe and stage will host a variety of musicians, new bands and special guests.

Cheshire-based Tim will be interviewed about life in a rock band, Maxonian New Order's Stephen Morris is In Conversation, and New Order's Gillian Gilbert joins forces with Nik Colk Void of Factory Floor for a special Sunday afternoon DJ set, all free of charge.

Christ Church in Macclesfield is a disused listed building and, with its surrounding lawns, will be transformed into a performance hub for Barnaby 2014.

Many of the musicians and happenings have been programmed in collaboration with Maxonian New Order drummer Stephen Morris.

Morris has vivid childhood memories of Georgian Christ Church and is a supporter of Barnaby Festival.

On Saturday, June 21 at 5pm, Christ Church hosts the Williams Fairey Band playing Acid Brass, Turner prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller's fusion of traditional brass band music and acid house anthems.

On Sunday, June 22, Macclesfield's KEMS Orchestra plays Silk Impressions by renowned local composer Adam Gorb. Both performances are free.

Featuring almost 100 performances, exhibitions, events and activities to suit all ages and tastes, Macclesfield’s fifth Barnaby Festival will run from June 14–29.

The Big Weekend, the centrepiece of the festival, runs from June 20–22 and will be jam-packed with music, performance, comedy, crafts, family and community activities, many free.

StreetFest and Stage will take place in Market Place, Macclesfield from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, June 21.

The centre of Macclesfield will come alive with singing, drumming, drama and music on the Market Place stage, with street performers, dance and entertainment on the cobbles.

At 2pm the much-anticipated Barnaby Parade will weave its way through the centre of town.

With its industry theme, there will be fabulous floats, from steam engines to silk looms and scientists to steampunk.

The Hive of Industry, with activities for all the family, will take place in Market Place and St Michael’s Churchyard on Sunday, June 22 from 11.30am to 4pm.

It will be a buzzing, interactive celebration of Macclesfield’s industry, past and present.

The activities will include traditional wood ‘bodging’, artisan crafts, contemporary silk printing, apps and digital animation.

The Big Weekend also features original productions, including Under Silk Wood, a new and specially commissioned verse-drama.

Written and performed by former Cheshire Poet Laureate Jo Bell and Ailsa Holland, the show is a rollicking story of Macclesfield life, in the funny, tongue-twisting style of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood.

Under Silk Wood is being performed at St Michael’s Church, Macclesfield at 7pm on Friday, June 20.

Throughout the Big Weekend there will numerous culinary delights.

The Feast@Barnaby at Christ Church lawns on Saturday, June 21 will feature local mouth-watering cuisine and local beers, while the British Tea-break will be celebrated in style at The Hive of Industry on Sunday, June 22.

Tickets for all events, as well as the complete listings for the Barnaby Festival 2014, are available at www.barnabyfestival.org.uk.

Tickets are also available from the Visitors Information Centre in Macclesfield Town Hall from the end of April.