AS GRASSINGTON Festival reaches its 35th year, the multi-art event has unveiled an impressive line-up.

The artists performing from June 12 to 27, include Bellowhead, Al Murray, Pam Ayres, Barbara Dickson, Last Night of the Proms and the Last Night Party with Roland Gift (Fine Young Cannibals).

The festival kicks off on Friday, June 12, for the opening night party with Snake Davis & the Suspicions.

From comedy to classical, the festival marquee holds something for everyone.

Enjoy some of the best comedy from Britain’s favourite publican Al Murray, to An Evening with Pam Ayres, best-selling comedic author and national treasure.

For music lovers the festival features Britain’s most successful folk act Bellowhead, who have won BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Best Live Act five times as well as best group twice. Bellowhead are widely praised for their stunning live shows and often acknowledged as one of the best live acts the UK has produced in recent years.

A very special production of Prokofiev’s much-loved masterpiece Peter and the Wolf is included as part of The Song of the Sea That Was, an opportunity for children to experience the wonder of classical music.

This performance features a full orchestra and solo lithophone, a percussion instrument made out of rock quarried in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The Last Night of the Proms, hosted by Robert Powell and with Skipton Building Society Camerata, Sarah Fox and Nicholas Sales, promises to be a spectacular event, and closing the festival is the infamous Last Night Party with Roland Gift, supported by Heaven 17.

Grassington Town Hall is playing host to a variety of events such as the energetic Lancashire Hot Pots, the Reduced Shakespeare Company (all 37 plays in 97 minutes), An Evening with Barbara Dickson and Holy Moly & the Crackers.

In an acoustic performance, Barbara Dickson, with her pianist Nick Holland, will explore her catalogue of songs at an intimate level. They will perform a range of material drawing on her folk roots, her latest exploration of the songs of Gerry Rafferty and some of her classic hit records.

This year’s key speakers are An Audience with Martin Bell and Testament of Youth with Shirley Williams, whose mother Vera Brittain wrote the book and inspired the film. Baroness Williams talks movingly about her mother whose activities helped shape the political landscape in the early years of the 20th century. Her pioneering war memoir still continues to make impact 80 years after it was first published.

On this historic 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta, former BBC war reporter and Independent MP Martin Bell will talk about The End of Empire.

Comedy returns to the town hall in the form of Kit & McConnell, original comedy songs and cabaret, and Ida Barr’s New Tyme Variety, hosted by hip hop granny Ida Barr.

For the third year running, Grassington Festival will be showcasing some of the very best culinary delights from the Yorkshire Dales at the Food Festival in The Square.

Local chefs include John Rudden of Grassington House and Stephanie Moon of All Things Food.

Meet local producers and suppliers including Town End Farm Shop, The Courtyard Dairy and Kilnsey Park Estate.

The Festival in The Square returns each Saturday with a programme of free live music and entertainment, perfect for a family day out.

This year’s opening procession is the culmination of Grassington Festival’s work with local primary schools, which references to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. There is also a range of hands-on workshops, gigs and smaller initiatives, as well as supporting local artists and emerging talent through an innovative Festival Fringe programme.

The full programme and further information is now available online at grassington-festival.org.uk. Alternatively pick up an event guide in Grassington or at public venues across Yorkshire, or call the box office on 01756 752691.