THE late alteration to the first Hyena Lounge Saturday night bill at City Screen, York, is exactly the kind of momentum promoter Toby Clouston-Jones wants for his comedy club’s new weekend venture.

“I’ve just had confirmation that Chris Ramsey will come down to try out 20 minutes of material from his new Feeling Lucky show,” says an excited Toby.

Jimmy McGhie will now play the Leeds Hi-Fi instead, and such flexibility could well be the way forward, especially once Harrogate Theatre joins the merry throng from the August Bank Holiday.

“When we have York, Leeds and Harrogate all sharing shows on the same night, I might as well run a taxi rank,” says Toby.

Meanwhile, back to Chris Ramsey, who joins Justin Moorhouse, Martin Mor (formerly Martin Bigpig) and compere Ray Peacock on tomorrow’s 8pm bill.

North easterner Chris, you may recall, visited the Hyena Lounge with his Offermation show in March, since when his upward spiral has gone whoooosh. “He’s going to play the lead in Jason Cook’s new family sitcom for BBC 2, Hebburn, with Vic Reeves and Gina McKee, in the autumn,” says Toby.

“His late sign-up for tomorrow’s bill is just what we want our Saturday nights at the Hyena Lounge to be all about. He’s a very good stand-up, he’s very pretty and TV has just fallen into place for him.

“It’s great that our new Saturday show means Chris can drop in to give new material a go, and the Basement Bar is the perfect space for him to do that.”

Each Saturday, doors will open at 7.15pm in the City Screen Basement bar for more than two hours of laughter with three acts and a compere, finishing no later than 10.30pm.

Toby has line-ups in place up to December, and this month’s bills promise Lucy Porter, in her first show for three years, Ray Bradshaw, Keith Farnan and Jamie Sutherland on June 16; Mark Little, Katie Mulgrew, Gavin Webster and TBC, June 23; and James Redmond, Dana Alexander, Andrea Hubert and York compere Danny Deegan, June 30.

Newer acts, such as Ray Bradshaw, will fill the Saturday night middle slot to introduce fresh names to York and Leeds.

Such is the mobility of the modern-day comedian that Martin Mor will be first on in York tomorrow before heading off to Sowerby Bridge for another gig.

This weekend also marks the start of the 2012 Edinburgh Comedy Festival Preview Season on Sunday nights at the Hyena Lounge, kicking off with the 7.30pm double bill of Josh Widdicombe and Danny McLoughlin (doors, 7pm).

Tickets can be booked on 0871 902 5726 or hyenalounge.com