JAMES Christopher is starting up a second comedy night in York to run in tandem with Black Comedy @ The Black Swan.

"I'm very excited to announce to it's going to be upstairs in Grape Lane's bohemian Bar 1331, where it will run on the first Thursday of every month, beginning this coming Thursday, February 7, " says James, a graphic designer, standup promoter and compere from Fossgate, York, who set up his Black Swan nights in October 2006.

"I'm aiming for the new Thursday gigs to have a left-field, alternative feel. The first show will be headlined by Edinburgh star and London circuit favourite Andrew O'Neill, and Black Comedy favourite Dan Bland will open the show, while I'll continue to offer short spots to my favourite up-and-coming acts, and I'll be compering the shows."

Doors will open at 8.30 for a 9pm start; admission is £6.

According to James, a number of venues in the city wanted him to organise a comedy night.

"It didn't take me long to decide that the function room of Bar 1331 was a great room for comedy, with an intimate, homely atmosphere, " he says. "The owners, Jan and Sam, have a genuine enthusiasm for comedy, and they make a really good White Russian."

James will continue his Black Comedy @ The Black Swan nights, held fortnightly on Tuesdays as part of the increasingly crowded comedy scene in York. Indeed, if any more nights are added, soon there will be no room to stand up.

The Other Side Comedy Club, promoted by Toby Clouston Jones in the Basement Bar of City Screen, York, regularly sells out its weekly Sunday bills; the first night in the new Comedy At York Theatre Royal series takes place in the main auditorium there next Saturday with a line-up of Norman Lovett, Robin Ince, Nick Doody and compere Markus Birdman. Further shows feature Milton Jones, Zoe Lyons, Felix Dexter and Roger Monkhouse on April 21 and Clare Summerskill: In No Particular Order, in the Studio, on May 30 and 31.

Gareth Johnson and Edmund Robinson began a new stand-up comedy open night under the name of Two Son's Comedy at the Yorkshire Terrier on January 16.

The plan was for a weekly format, but now it will run on the first and third Wednesday of each month with the slogan of "Five Acts, Two Son's, One Yorkshire Terrier and however many audience members want a night of quality stand-up for just £2".

The Grand Opera House continues to sign up the big names: Omid Djalili on February 25; Jimmy Carr on March 19 and 20; Dave Spikey on April 6; and new addition Simon Amstell, the saucy host of BBC pop quiz Never Mind The Buzzcocks, on May 18 (tickets £19 on 0870 606 3595).

Meanwhile, in a further addition to James Christopher's expanding comedy empire, he has accepted the invitation to be the new host of Carnivale69 Comedy, a Hullbased promotion team.

"In the past they've worked with the likes of Trevor Lock, Russell Kane, Scott Capurro and Tony Law, and I'll be hosting my first show for them on Sunday, February 17 at Durty Nelly's pub in Hull, with future shows planned in Beverley, Leeds and Sheffield, " he says. "2008 is shaping up to be rather a busy year!"