THE Singing Farmers are about to leave their sheep and cattle behind for the next couple of weeks and pick up their guitars and microphones as they embark on their 11th annual tour of Yorkshire.

More than 750 tickets have been sold so far and with the first concert in Pickering already sold out the other three are not far behind.

Organiser, singer and rural journalist Chris Berry, who established with The Singing Farmers in 2004, said their continuing success is remarkable.

“When we started these concerts it was as a one-off. There was never a thought that 11 years later we would still be packing halls and concert venues wherever we go,” he said.

“For those who have yet to see us there are five individual singers, including myself, and the range of songs is a real variety including pop, folk, country and show songs.

“We’re really looking forward to visiting all of the venues.”

The Kirk Theatre at Pickering was sold out by January 8 and both Masham Town Hall (Sunday, March 23, at 2.30pm) and Easingwold Galtres Centre (Friday, March 28, 7.30pm) only have about 20 tickets left, with the last concert, at the Riley Smith Hall, in Tadcaster, on Sunday, March 30, at 2.30pm.

Chris said: “We’re getting a lot of interest from those in the Malton and Pickering area who missed out on the Kirk Theatre, coming along to Tadcaster.”

This year’s concerts will once again raise funds for the rural charity the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI). which has been recently been providing aid to farmers in the Somerset Levels.

Tickets are available at £13. You should send a cheque made payable to RABI along with which venue you require and a SAE to: Singing Farmers Tickets, 2 Elmete Croft, Scholes, Leeds LS15 4BE. You can also purchase online by visiting chrisberry.tv