A BLUE Plaque now adorns Brawby Village Hall, near Malton, in recognition of 25 years of The Shed, the small venue with the big ideas run by alternative arts maverick and Brawby artist Simon Thackray.

To mark BBC Music Day last Thursday, BBC Local Radio, the BBC Asian Network and the British Plaque Trust awarded 47 official Blue Plaques to commemorate people or places that have influenced the musical landscape across the country.

BBC Radio York’s award went to The Shed in an unveiling ceremony conducted by presenter Jules Bellerby during that day's show. "The Shed is such a worthy recipient of a Blue Plaque: a tiny venue in what you might call the middle of nowhere that brought the world to North Yorkshire in the acts Simon booked," says Jules.

“This is a wonderful surprise and a great honour and I'm delighted to accept the Blue Plaque on behalf of The Shed’s audience and the artists who have entertained and thrilled us over the past 25 years,” says Simon.

He took the opportunity to reactivate The Shed from hibernation with a tour of Ryedale by visionary violinist and fortune teller Lynda Beast and The Fortune Teller's Caravan with short spells in Malton, Pickering, Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Hovingham and Brawby.

"Lynda's tour was dedicated to the memory of Russell Hopper (1961- 2014)," says Simon. "He was a keen supporter of The Shed for more than 20 years, and this event was made possible by using money kindly donated by Russell’s family and friends."

The Shed, a “pint-sized” music, poetry and performing arts venue on the edge of the North Yorkshire moors, was created in 1992 by Thackray, who has attracted artists from all over the world, whether Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Japan, Finland, Alaska or Mongolia.

Through the years, he has created and staged unique art events in skips, rivers, ponds, village halls, vans, trucks and buses, ranging from the Yorkshire Pudding Boat Race on Bob's Pond to trombonist Alan Tomlinson's Fish and Chip Van Tour of Ryedale and Mrs Boyes’ Bingo featuring percussionist Mark Sanders.