THIS year, the long established Grassington Festival is doing things a little differently.

Friday, June 29, is party night, and will feature a concert by the British Electric Foundation (BEF).

The brainchild of Martyn Ware (The Human League, Heaven 17), BEF is made up of the full Heaven 17 band, and also features Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order), Peter Hooton (The Farm), Glen Matlock (The Sex Pistols), Jaki Graham, Mari Wilson and Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17).

The stellar line-up of musicians will perform songs made famous by the stars themselves, as well as cover versions. After the concert, there will be a disco led by the festival DJ.

Then on Saturday, June 30, there will be a brand new venture – Grassington’s first ever Festival in the Field Day; a full day of entertainment, fun and food.

The Fratellis will be bringing their mix of razor-sharp guitar riffs, air-punching piano stabs and falsetto vocals to the Grassington Festival in the Field Marquee.

Other confirmed acts include indie-pop group Coco and the Butterfields, BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys and Bella Gaffney’s Celtic bluegrass fusion duo Bella and Polly.

Festival in the Field Day will also a great opportunity to catch bands from Craven and West Yorkshire, including The Diamond Soul Band, The Scene, Chill Pill and ISSIMO.

Ticket holders will also be treated to street entertainment, and roving-style entertainment from Mr Wilsons Second Liners, and Back Chat Brass, who combine showmanship with their own brassy twist on classic tunes.

For those travelling from Skipton, Grassington Festival is teaming up with VAMOOZ, the app-based bus service by Transdev, to offer evening buses direct from Skipton to the event.

Festival goers will be able to relax and combine a show with a drink from the bar, safe in the knowledge that a VAMOOZ bus will be waiting to whisk them back to Skipton afterwards.

VAMOOZ sales and operations manager Rebecca Reeve-Burnett said: “We’re delighted to be able to play our part in making this year’s Grassington Festival more accessible for everyone.”

Organisers say Friday night’s party night and Festival in the Field Day will be a fitting end to a brilliant fortnight.

Other highlights of 2018’s festival include performances by British comedian Jason Manford, Bradford legends Smokie, and an Evening with Sir Michael Parkinson.

Full information and tickets are available at grassington-festival.org.uk and from the Grassington Festival box office on 01756 752691.