COMEDIANS and musicians pack the latest programme for Selby Town Hall - the venue’s biggest to date.

The spring programme was released this week, and includes a record number of shows, from stars of television and cinema, multi-million selling recording artists, a best-selling author, comedians and theatre companies.

Next month, Geno Washington will perform blues and soul classics with the Ram Jam Band, followed later in February by The Christians, who will perform an acoustic set including their biggest hit Harvest For The World.

In March, Mark Nevin from Fairground Attraction will appear, while folk musicians playing later in the season include Irish superstar Sharon Shannon, BBC Folk Award winners The Furrow Collective, Colorado bluegrass band The Railsplitters and Nashville’s Woody Pines.

Julian Norton, star of Channel 5’s The Yorkshire Vet will present a one-off ‘evening with’ show, while comedians set to appear at the town hall include Dave Johns - who starred in Ken Loach’s film I, Daniel Blake, and whose new show will include stories about how the 60-year-old comedian ended up on red carpets around the world.

Comedy will also be provided by Adam Kay, writer of the huge Sunday Times best-seller This Is Going To Hurt, chronicling his years as a junior doctor. Up and comers will include regular of Live at the Apollo and Have I Got News For You, Phil Wang, and Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Sophie Willan, as well as Radio 4 regulars Simon Evans and Lucy Porter.

Robin Ince, who co-presents Infinite Monkey Cage with Brian Cox, will perform his first stand-up show for three years, and there will be a performance from young theatre company Smoke and Oakum called Cornermen - a tale from the boxing circuit.

Chris Jones, Selby Town Council’s arts officer, said: “This spring season is our biggest programme to date.

"There are a host of well-known and iconic names with performances from Geno Washington, The Christians, Sharon Shannon and Patti Boulaye, as well as stars of the very near future.

"The likes of Phil Wang, Sophie Willan and Adam Kay will be all over our TV screens in the next few years.

“On a personal level, I’m particularly excited to welcome British Americana supergroup Orphan Colours, featuring members of Noah and the Whale, ahab and Danny and the Champions of the World, and also the stunning folk-rock band Slim Chance, formed by the late, great Faces and Small Faces founder Ronnie Lane.”

For full details of upcoming shows, go to selbytownhall.co.uk, visit the town hall, or phone 01757 708449.