INDIE favourites The Courteeners will play at the launch-night party for the redesigned, remixed and refuelled Fibbers in York next Friday.

The 7.30pm show by the cult Manchester band has sold out already, as have the 20th anniversary gigs by returning York heroes Shed Seven on September 16 and 17. All tickets for both Shed nights were snapped up within four minutes of going on sale.

The long-running live music bar in Stonebow – where the Sheds cut their teeth – has been given a new lease of life with a much needed £250,000 refurbishment this summer. It now boasts a state-of-the-art sound and light system and a re-design by Ben Kelly, who shot to fame by designing the world’s first super-club, Manchester’s Hacienda.

From September 3, music lovers and clubbers can see major national and international touring bands and DJ talent, brought to York by the bar’s new owners, Tokyo Industries Ltd.

Fibbers joins the company’s portfolio of live music venues and nightclubs that includes FAC251, The Factory in Manchester, a joint venture with New Order’s Peter Hook; Digital in Newcastle and Brighton; Tokyo Mansion House venues in Huddersfield, Bradford, Oldham and Newcastle; and the celebrity A-list members club Tup Tup Palace in Newcastle.

Nigel Holiday, Tokyo Industries’ operations manager, who hails from North Yorkshire, says the purchase of Fibbers is good news for York. “Coming from Pickering and having been to university here, I’m well aware of Fibbers; it’s a local institution and has been well established over the last 18 years.

“Our intention is to expand its iconic live music status while seriously increasing its clubbing potential for boutique and destination DJ-driven nights for music lovers, and from November we’ll be starting comedy nights on a Saturday, featuring major national talent.”

Tokyo Industries’ portfolio elsewhere should aid Fibbers, he suggests. “The aim is to dovetail Fibbers into the talent booking agenda for Factory, Manchester and Digital Newcastle; to enjoy routing benefits for national and touring bands and DJs bringing top acts to York,” says Nigel.

“We hope anyone who loves their music as much as we do will come down and rediscover the new, much improved Fibbers.”

Next Friday’s launch party will feature a special live performance by The Courteeners, who released their second album, Falcon, in February, followed by assorted cutting-edge DJs playing into the small hours. Tickets for all upcoming shows at Fibbers are available from Ticketweb, and Attic Records in Patrick Pool, York. Coming soon are Elliot Minor on September 10; Two Door Cinema Club, September 12; Oceansize, September 21; Sky Larkin, September 22; Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, October 1; Cherry Ghost, October 2; British Sea Power, October 4; Sound Of Guns, October7; and Martin Simpson, October 10.