THE first acts scheduled to appear at Grassington Festival next year have been announced.

Festival organisers say they are delighted to once again bring high calibre entertainment to the Yorkshire Dales for the event which runs over two weeks in summer.

Fans of comedy will be thrilled with the line up on Saturday June 22 when Comedy Night at the Festival Hall takes place featuring rising stars Sindhu Vee, David Haddingham, headlined by the well known Mock the Week regular Ed Byrne.

Byrne e is an Irish stand-up comedian, voice over artist and actor. He has presented television shows Uncut! Best Unseen Ads and Just for Laughs, and is a guest on television panel games.

On Sunday, June 23 three-time BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners The Young’uns will present “The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff”.

Festivalgoers will witness a new and unique piece of modern folk theatre, telling the true tale of one man’s adventure from begging on the streets in the north of England to fighting against fascism in the Spanish Civil War, taking in the Hunger Marches and the Battle of Cable Street.

The Young’uns, a trio of Sean Cooney, David Eagle and Michael Hughes, hail from Teeside and have a packed itinerary in 2019 taking in venues around the Uk and in the Netherlands and Denmark.

Trademark harmonies weave between the real recorded voice of Johnny himself to tell a remarkable human story oozing with modern relevance, with organisers saying it is definitely one not to be missed.

The group has been together for 10 years and has taken its unique sounds to Canada, America and Australia.

Folk fans are going to be spoilt for choice with the opportunity to see multi-award-winning Irish folk singer Cara Dillon on Tuesday, June 25.

Dillon, from County Londonderry, has brought out a number of albums. Her fifth, A Thousand Hearts, was released in 2014.

After discovering her music had a dedicated following in China she embarked on several Chinese tours. She continues to tour and work with her husband, Sam Lakeman, who backs her on piano and guitar.

Described by Mojo Magazine as possessing “what may well be the world’s most beautiful female voice”, and with self-professed fans including Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith, this is a fantastic chance to catch a very intimate performance in the Festival Hall.

Acclaimed historian David Starkey will present “A Monarchy of Misfits” on Monday, June 24. It will be a talk that traces the radically shifting marriage customs of the British monarchy, from the Middle Ages right the way through to the present day.

Starkey is said to love a good debate so have those questions at the ready for a questions and answers session.

The first Classical music offering to be announced is the annual Festival Gala Concert, this year featuring the exciting new Borealis Choir, a superb a cappella vocal group from West Yorkshire.

The concert will take place on Sunday, June 23, at Bolton Abbey Priory Church.

For those into their jazz music, one of Europe’s most talented and exciting masters of the clarinet, Pete Allen, will perform at the Festival Hall with his jazz band on Wednesday, June 26

For those itching to seek out and put on their dancing shoes, be sure to pencil in Friday, June 28, when Dave Finnegan’s Commitments take to the Festival Hall stage.

This nine-piece soul band, fronted by the only original cast member still performing, will get the crowd going performing hits from the likes of Otis Reading and Wilson Pickett.

Last but by no means least, the Festival Last Night Party on Saturday, June 29 sees an opportunity to let loose with the ultimate female rock concert – Queens of Rock.

Three powerhouse vocalists will rock out with songs by Cher, Bonnie Tyler, Heart, Janis Joplin and more, ending 2019’s Grassington Festival on a high.

A limited number of events will be put on sale in time for Christmas. These tickets will go on general sale on Friday, December 7, preceded by a priority booking period for friends from Wednesday, December 5, and star and business friends from Tuesday, December 4.

Anyone becoming a Festival Friend has an opportunity to get chance of early tickets.

Grassington Festival was founded in 1980 as a not for profit, registered charity.

This annual multi-arts festival takes place across the last two weeks of June with close to 100 events in a diverse and varied programme.

The Festival aims to deliver a wide-ranging programme of high quality, top-class performances and workshops, alongside community involvement. Its mission is to educate, in the broadest sense, by providing enjoyable experiences for all, and encouraging active involvement – from audiences, sponsors, friends, volunteers and the local community at large.