KING Courgette, York’s old time vegetable string band, have a free shindig at The Volunteer Arms, in Watson Street, York, on Saturday night.

“We’re kicking off about 8pm and Bad Apple Two T’s has threatened to bring his accordion, which has been both a blessing and a curse to this band as it has required me to learn to sing in French,” says frontman String Bean Slim.

“Hell, as y’all know, I can barely even sing in American.”

String Bean Slim, the alias of Guardian theatre critic Alfred Hickling by the way, has a further announcement to make.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever seen my brother bustin’ his chops and thought, ‘hey, wish I could bang a trash can like Wild Zucchini Bill’? Well, now you can ‘cause he’s gonna be teachin’ folks how to do it in a rhythm workshop hosted by our Arts Barge buddies at their new venue, the Boxing Club, at the Enterprise Complex in Walmgate, on Sunday between 7pm and 9pm,” he says.

“Yup, that’s the evening right after the gig, so hopefully he’ll have got over his moonshine hangover by then. But, in case you don’t know, the Zucchini’s alter-ego, Billy Hickling, has been hobo-in’ round the world for the past 15 years as a member of rhythm sensations Stomp! So you’ll be gettin’ trash-bangin’ instructions from a genuine Stomper.”

Places cost £8 including refreshments. For bookings, contact hannah@artsbarge.com or 07932 566182.

“See y’all this weekend we hopes,” says String Bean Slim.