Tickets are selling well for the visit to the Milton Rooms in Malton of an iconic band celebrating their 55th anniversary this year.

Fairport Convention, regarded as the band which launched British folk-rock, visit on Friday, May 20 as part of their Spring Tour.

The Spring Tour will present a mix of long-established Fairport favourites and some surprises from albums old and new, including their latest album, Shuffle & Go, which was released early in 2020.

The band have won a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award and BBC Radio 2 listeners voted their ground-breaking album Liege & Lief 'The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time'. Their story has been celebrated with television documentaries on BBC4 and Sky Arts.

The band features founding member Simon Nicol on guitar and vocals, who was part of the original line-up in 1967, the longest-serving member Dave Pegg, who also played with Jethro Tull, on bass guitar, Ric Sanders on violin, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin and vocals, and Gerry Conway on percussion.

The Fairport Convention gig is just one of an exciting line-up of events being drawn up by the Milton Rooms team, as detailed below.

Thanks to money granted by Ryedale District Council, those attending will also find the Studio Bar has been renovated and the ladies and gents toilets completely revamped, with the addition of a disabled lift in the foyer to access the new facilities.

Work should be completed in March to replace the ageing sound and lighting systems with state-of-the-art equipment which will make the audio-visual experience even better.

Visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/themiltonrooms to book tickets for the events listed below..

January 2022.

Thursday, January 27: Ryedale Blues Club presents DC Blues. They have replaced the Alex Fawcett Band, who were unable to play this month and have been rebooked for November. 8pm start. Tickets £10.

Saturday, January 29: Taphouse Burnout with a mix of music from some great local musicians including Graeme Hargreaves with Dave Kemp, George Rowell, Ian Collingwood, Mooch (duo) and the Phil Hooley and the Woolgatherers (full band).7.15pm. Tickets £10.

February

Thursday, February 24: Ryedale Blues Club features The John Doe Trio, one of the most exciting bands on the British blues circuit. 8pm. Tickets £10.

March

Thursday, March 31: Ryedale Blues Club featuring Redfish, a blistering UK-based blues band fronted by the talented and highly-acclaimed singer/guitarist Christian Sharpe. 8pm. Tickets £10.

April

Friday, April 1: Moondogs, a young, vibrant three-piece cover band recreating the sights, sounds and raw energy that defined the 1950s and 1960s, from the rock ’n’ roll sounds of Elvis, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis to the musical explosion from artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Kinks and the Spencer Davis Group. 7.30pm. Tickets £12.

Thursday, April 28: Ryedale Blues Club presents Five Points Gang, a London-based blues trio which blends new original material with classic blues standards. 8pm. Tickets £10.

Friday, April 29: Hilarity Bites Comedy Club presents Kate McCabe and Eddie Brimson. American comic Kate McCabe moved to Manchester from the US over a decade ago with her Scottish partner, while Eddy Brimson has established himself on the live circuit and is regarded as one of the leading headliners in British comedy. 8pm. Tickets £10.

May

Sunday, May 8: The Salts Sea Shanties, a cooperative of seasoned musicians creating one of the most exciting and energetic sounds around, performing original material alongside their own interpretations of traditional songs. 7.30pm. Tickets £12.50.

Friday, May 20: Fairport Convention stop by in Malton as part of their Spring Tour. The legendary band have been established for more than half a century, with 2022 seeing their 55th anniversary. During that time the band that launched British folk-rock has seen many changes, but one thing has remained the same - Fairport’s passion for performance.

This year’s Spring Tour will present a mix of long-established Fairport favourites and some surprises from albums old and new including their latest album, Shuffle & Go, which was released just before lockdown in 2020. 7.30pm. Tickets £22 until the end of March, thereafter £27.

Thursday, May 26: The Ryedale Blues Club features the Tom Killner Band. Tom is an up-and-coming blues guitarist from Rotherham. 8pm. Tickets £10.

Friday, May 27: Cult Figure: Kenneth Williams. He was a unique and beloved figure in British comedy history, from show-stealing performances on the radio in Hancock’s Half Hour and Round the Horne and more than 20 years of starring in the legenday Carry On films to becoming the darling of the TV chat shows.

Celebrated actor and impressionist, Colin Elmer, who played Kenneth Williams in the UK tours of Round the Horne and Hancock’s Half Hour, reprises his role in this new production, telling the great man’s story in his own words, using anecdotes, writings and some of the material for which the comedy legend was so well-known. 7.30pm. Tickets £12 or £10 concessions.

Saturday, May 28: A new feature for the Milton Rooms, Megaslam Wrestling – Live. The battle in the ring will see Team Megaslam battle it out with Team Nasty. Megaslam is a captivating live experience for the whole family. 7.30pm. Adults £12, children £10, Family ticket (two adults and two children) £36.

June

Saturday, June 18: Lollypops & Moptops, a must see show for all 1950s and 1960s music fans. Compere for the evening is Alan Mosca (formerly of Freddie & The Dreamers), who retells stories of yesteryear with a touch of comedy, while recreating hits from the awesome Dreamers. Buddy Walker brings back to life the look and feel of Buddy Holly and finally National Music Tribute Award winners The Temple Brothers bring their tribute to The Everly Brothers. 7.30pm. Tickets £23.50.

Saturday, June 25: Snake Davis with Chris Bannister. Top saxophone player Snake Davis, whose soulful sound has been heard with many great artists, from McCartney to The Eurythmics and Klingande to Calvin Harris, is joined by Chris Bannister, a singer songwriter guitarist of immense talent and class. 8pm. Tickets £20.

Thursday, June 30: Ryedale Blues Club present Dust Radio, a rootsy, blues-driven duo. 8pm. Tickets £10.

July

Thursday, July 28: Ryedale Blues Club presents Jimmy Regal & The Royals, a three-piece from South London. 8pm. Tickets £10.

Friday, July 29: Hilarity Bites Comedy Club presents Steph Laing and Sam Avery. Steph Laing’s comedy is partway between the needy oddness of Maria Bamford and the upbeat affability of Josie Long. Sam Avery’s friendly and enthusiastic, observational style instantly puts audiences at ease allowing him to regale them with his tales of everyday life. 8pm. Tickets £10.

September

Saturday, September 17: Five Divide, a welcome return for the North East’s premier 60s tribute band. 7.30pm. Tickets £10.

Saturday, September 24: The Sounds of Simon, sadly cancelled in 2021 because of Covid restrictions, celebrates the music of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. 8pm. Tickets £14.

Looking for volunteers

The Milton Rooms is on the lookout for more volunteers. Anyone with a few hours to spare can join the team of volunteers and meet new people, learn new skills and support the venue. There are plenty of roles available, including office, tech, bar and front-of-house positions. Email info@themiltonrooms.com for more information.