NORTH Yorkshire singer-songwriter Alistair Griffin plays an intimate acoustic show at The Belfrey Hall, off Stonegate, York, on Saturday.

"It's a solo show, as in I'm not playing with a full band, as I have done for previous shows, but I'll be accompanied by piano, guitar and violin, and it'll be a rousing folky sound."

Griffin will be showcasing a couple of new songs written with Irish writer Ryan O'shaughnessy. "He actually represented Ireland in last year's Eurovision with the song Together, " says Alistair, reminding you of where you have heard that name first.

"I'll also be playing songs from my latest covers album, Spring, featuring such songs as Leonard Cohen's Suzanne, Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now and Always A Woman by Billy Joel."

Griffin, 41, who came to prominence as the runner-up on BBC One's talent show Fame Academy in 2002, is planning a bigger, full band Late Summer Party show in September with details to be announced soon. "There'll be a couple of shows at Flamingo Land Party In The Park too, so watch this space."

First up, doors will open at 8pm for Saturday's York gig. Now the bad news for those still seeking a ticket: "It's sold out already," says Alistair.