CHRIS Smither's show at The Shed on Tuesday, April 22 has sold out but tickets remain for Iain Ballamy and Stian Carstensen's gig there next Saturday (26th).

Smither a blues and roots guitarist and songwriter, tours almost constantly with his distinctive blue guitar, and his songs have become standards for artists such as Bonnie Raitt and Nanci Griffith.

Since releasing his first albums in the early 1970s, he has recorded and toured with BB King, Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Tom Russell, while Emmylou Harris recorded his song Slow Surprise for MCA's soundtrack album for The Horse Whisperer, adding another gold record to his wall.

Next Saturday, the focus turns to jazz at The Shed's home of Brawby Village Hall, near Malton. That night self-taught saxophonist Ballamy teams up with the Norwegian Stian Carstensen, who studied jazz at the Trondheim Conservatory.

Ballamy is best known for his involvement in the British big band Loose Tubes and Bill Bruford's Earthworks. He works too with Django Bates's bands, the Indian dance company Sankalpam and his own band, Food, and he has written commissioned works for pianist Joanna MacGregor and the Apollo Saxophone Quartet. Last month, he was part of the Spin Marvel line-up at their York Late Music Festival show at the National Centre for Early Music.

Tickets for next Saturday cost £11 on 01653 668494. Both of next week's concerts start at 8pm.

Updated: 09:24 Friday, April 18, 2003