ELVIS is alive and well and living in Pickering....

So declares the brochure for the new season at The Shed, Simon Thackray's outrageously original arts venue at Brawby, near Malton.

The King himself will emerge on the scene at what promises to be a particularly memorable climax to The Shed's spring season.

Because the North Yorkshire Elvis Bus Tour, led by the Barnsley Bard Ian McMillan, will take to the streets of Ryedale on the afternoon of Saturday, May 17.

The hour-and-a-half long bus journey, sponsored by Sirdar, will begin at Malton market place at 2pm and will celebrate the publication of Ian McMillan's new collection of stories and poems, entitled All Shook Up! - all of which were specially commissioned by The Shed over the last ten years.

Simon Thackray told the Gazette & Herald that the tour would take in much of Ryedale, including Pickering, Kirkbymoorside and up to the North York Moors to visit places with imaginative connections to the King.

Ian McMillan will be up front providing an improvised commentary - nothing will be prepared beforehand, Simon points out. It follows a similar event two years ago when McMillan took Shedaholics on an improvised guided tour of Brawby.

But, of course, there is much to come at The Shed before the North Yorkshire Elvis Bus Tour. The spring season begins on Friday, March 21, with a performance by Ola Onabule and his band. Ola's music is steeped in jazz-tinged blues and soul, and he has provided backing vocals for George Michael and KD Lang. He has also supported Gladys Knight, Diane Reeves and Natalie Cole.

The following night (Saturday, March 22) sees a world film night at The Shed, with two German films, It's a Jungle Out There and Surprise, specially chosen by Karin Doose, of the Ryedale Film Society.

They will be shown on The Shed's cinema screen, which was rescued from Malton tip.

On Saturday, March 29, the astoundingly-named Pinski Zoo arrive at The Shed.

Led by saxophonist Jan Kopinski, the band combine elements of Eastern European classical music, film and folk laments in their English jazz style.

Folk guitarist Martin Simpson will be in Brawby on Friday, April 11, while American bluesman Chris Smither hits The Shed stage on Tuesday, April 22.

The latter has appeared on MTV and Later with Jules Holland, and recorded and toured with the likes of BB King.

On Saturday, April 26, The Shed welcomes saxophonist Iain Ballamy and accordian player Stian Carstensen. Ballamy is known for his part in British big band Loose Tubes, while Carstensen has performed live and recorded with the likes of Bryan Ferry.

All the gigs at The Shed begin at 8pm.

Admission to each event cost £11, with the exception of the film night, for which admission is £4, including free popcorn.

The box office number to ring is (01653) 668494 and you can also visit the website www.theshed.co.uk.

Updated: 09:19 Wednesday, March 05, 2003