A LACK of confirmed Arts Council England funding means Ryedale arts fulcrum The Shed will return to its roots next season.

“Many gigs will be staged back in the ‘slightly cheaper to run’ but more intimate and Tardis-like micro-venue cum ideas incubator of Brawby Village Hall,” says Shed impresario Simon Thackray, who is defiantly upbeat.

“This decision is far from being seen as a bad thing, given that, when in Brawby, The Shed has hatched and released into the wild more unique and inspired live-art events than any other hut in Yorkshire over the past 20 years.”

The autumn season will open on October 27 at Brawby with the appropriately titled film Echoes Of Home (U), a documentary featuring Swiss performance artist and yodeller Erica Stucky, who gave an unforgettable Shed performance outside as well as inside Hovingham Village Hall in April 2011.

“Harry Lime famously declared that after 500 years of peace and brotherly love, the only thing Switzerland had produced was the cuckoo clock. How wrong he was!” says Simon.

“Stefan Schwietert’s Echoes Of Home is a delightfully bonkers documentary about the Swiss music form of yodelling; a truly unique look at a sometimes misunderstood music tradition and its bright future.”

Maverick British jazz pianist Mathew Bourne will return to Brawby on November 3, having played there in March last year. This time, his acoustic, candle-lit performance will be based around his 16 improvisations for solo piano on his latest album on the Leaf label, Montauk Variations.

As announced in York Twenty4 Seven last Friday, The Shed has secured ground-breaking Liverpool comedian Alexei Sayle for a November 10 gig at Hovingham, where he will test-drive new material on his first stand-up tour in 16 years.

Cult Dundee singer-songwriter Michael Marra, who played Shed shows in 2009 and 2010, will be Brawby-bound on November 17. “Affectionately described as the Scottish Randy Newman, Michael remains a best-kept secret – except to his fans, including Deacon Blue, Billy Connolly and Eddi Reader.”

The Shed’s favourite jazz man of many guises, Dylan Bates, has a weekend all to himself in Brawby, kicking off with the return of Bomber Bates and The Airfix Modellers on November 24 at 2pm.

“Back by popular demand, Flt. Lt. Dylan (Bomber) Bates will don his Second World War leather flying helmet to pilot another flight of fancy,” says Simon.

“Armed with a violin, pocket trumpet, ukulele, spoons and a saw, Bomber will play a selection of tunes from Tiny Tim to The Beatles and Glenn Miller, while you, the audience, are invited to build Airfix models or to just sit back and enjoy the trip.

“Please note, the modelling isn’t obligatory but it is great fun – and kits will be sold separately from the admission price.”

Bates, a long-time member of Billy Jenkins’ Blues Collective, will turn into piano and violin-playing Stanley Bad at 8pm on November 24, when he takes his place alongside St Moth, alias accordionist and composer Matt Scott, in the duo Bad Moth. Fresh from a grand tour of Sardinia, they are brimful of songs about food, light bulbs and all things bad and moth-like.

“This special gig will feature a new song inspired by the sound of Sardinian ambulances, La Danza Dell’ambulanza, as well as Bad Moth classics like Peas And Pie 4 T,” says Simon.

The ever-adaptable Bates – he has another alter ego, Lynda Beast, and is the leader of free-improv groups Bitten By A Monkey and Pipe Rack – will complete his Brawby bonanza with Bad Pub from noon to 3pm on November 25.

“Once upon a time, over 100 years ago, Brawby had a pub called the White Swan until the teetotal Methodists bought it and closed it down. Brawby hasn’t had a pub since,” says Simon.

“However, our good friend Stanley Bad has kindly agreed to help us recreate a Sunday lunchtime pub gig in memory of those pre-pedal-power-harmonium sober days. He’ll play tunes on the ‘ole Joanna’ and sing some specially commissioned new songs and we hereby name Brawby’s new pub ‘Bad Pub’ in Stan’s honour.

“Come and enjoy a Bad Pub Sunday lunchtime sing-along with Stan, drink Shed Bitter and eat plain crisps and pickled or hard-boiled eggs.”

The Shed year will conclude with the obligatory double dose of Christmas misery and whimsy from country doctor Hank Wangford, who will corral his Lost Cowboys – Martin Belmont, BJ Cole, Kevin Foster and Mike Pickering – for Hovingham gigs on December 7 and 8.

• All shows will start at 8pm unless stated. Tickets are available online from theshed.co.uk and on 01653 668494.