A NORTH Yorkshire market town will come alive this summer with a musical extravaganza boasting top names.

The two-day open air concert is heading for Malton's Market Place, as a special event, The Shed Comes To Town, launches in Ryedale.

Malton centre marketing manager Peter Mudge said he hoped the event, planned for June 7 and 8, would draw large crowds.

He said: "We have got some of the UK's top musicians lined up to come for the weekend event.

"There will be additional bits of fun going on round the town - some of those are secret for the moment but they will be entertaining, that's certain.

"Music is really going to strike up in the town."

Mr Mudge said they hoped to provide a range of music to provide something for everyone.

"It should be a marvellous weekend, we are expecting to get thousands of people in the town," he said.

"We are just trying new things, that's what this is about - we are all looking forward to it."

Arts organisation The Shed is staging the two-day musical feast in association with the Malton and Norton town centre management committee. A £5,400 grant has been awarded to help cover the £20,000 cost of the event.

Simon Thackray, of The Shed, based in Brawby, said: "It's thrilling to be awarded the grant.

"In a sense, that is one of the four legs on the stool, to us, it's invaluable. This is a shining opportunity for Malton businesses to benefit and for Ryedale to have a good time."

The event will run from 2.30pm to 11pm on the Saturday, and from 11am to 3pm the following day. A four-day flower festival will run at St Michael's Church in the market place from Thursday, June 5, to Sunday, June 8.

A stage will be built in front of the Milton Rooms to create a natural amphitheatre. Performers including the Snake Davis Band, Hank Wangford and the Lost Cowboys, Billy Jenkins and the Blues Collective, the Annie Whitehead Band, the Dave Gordon Trio, and the Joe Townsend Band are all lined up to play.

Poet and Radio 3 presenter Ian McMillan will compere the event, and there are hopes the Yorkshire Pudding Boat Race will be held as part of the weekend's activities.

Updated: 10:22 Tuesday, April 08, 2003