Launch time for a fantastic arts festival near Knaresborough as Northern Aldborough Festival gets into full swing

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Now in its 29th year the Northern Aldborough Festival is garnering a national reputation as being one of the best rural festivals in the UK.

The festival runs from June 16-25 with an exciting programme of events held in wonderfully intimate locations in the lovely village of Aldborough which lies eight miles from Knaresborough and a mile from Boroughbridge.

Among tomorrow's highlights is an exclusive in person show by Alex James, famous bass player turned likable raconteur and big cheese in, er, cheese arrive.

Taking place on Saturday, June 18 at 7.30pm at St Andrew’s Church, for ten years, Alex James was the bass player of Blur – one of the most successful British bands of all time with hits such as Parklife, Girls & Boys, Song 2 and Country House, which was their first number one.

The event gives audiences the chance to learn how he left the private jets and screaming fans behind for the rural setting of his 200-acre farm in the Cotswolds, and an unlikely but highl;y successful career as a gourmet cheesemaker.

Along the way there have been stints learning to conduct on BBC TV’s Maestro, writing singles for artists such as Sophie Ellis-Bexter, regular columns in the Independent, Observer and Spectator and his autobiography, Bit of a Blur.

In tomorrow, Saturday’s event, which is sponsored by Ogden of Harrogate, Alex James will be bringing samples of his cider and will also be signing copies of his book.

Arts lovers and revellers at the Northern Aldborough Festival can mingle with the stars of the festival in the intimate village setting, replete with church, May Pole and Roman ruins.

And its late-night venue The Shed will allow concert goers to extend their evening in a relaxed environment.

Last night this tiny, sleepy and very quaint North Yorkshire village welcomed stars of the international opera circuit with a semi-staged 40-strong production of Handel’s Theodora - at its local church!

Other highlights of this year's Northern Aldborough Festival include an appearance by Britain’s greatest bass Sir John Tomlinson, j an evening of jazz with Claire Martin, who was described by the Times as “easily the best British singer of her generation”, a new production of Handel’s Theodora, an appearance by Julian Bliss, one of the world’s preeminent clarinettists, guitarist Sean Shibe and pianist Clare Hammond.

Finally, there's The Last Night Outdoor Concert on Saturday, June 25 will feature live music from pop and rock covers kings The Big Cheese in the grounds of Aldborough Manor from 6pm with an orchestrated fireworks display.

For tickets:

www.aldboroughfestival.co.uk

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