AS we head towards the longest and darkest weeks and months of winter, there is plenty coming up at Skipton Town Hall to lift the spirits.

Whether its stand-up comedy, theatre, or live music, there is something for everyone at the cultural arts centre for Craven.

Highlights include Skipton Camerata: A Northern Score - a collaboration between Yorkshire poet Ian McMillan and composer Ben Crick on Friday, November 22.

In celebration of this year's 20th anniversary of the town hall's orchestra in residence, Ian McMillan will be the narrator for the first public performance of a Northern Score, which celebrates the lives of 20 Northerners from the middle ages right up until the present day.

The Skipton Choir is in concert on Saturday, November 23. The choir's fifth year celebration concert will raise money for Martin House Children's Hospice. Its around 70 members, under the direction of David Weale-Davey, will sing a variety of music from Broadway showstoppers to folk classics and pop hits.

Skipton Music presents the Solem Quartet and Shiry Rashkovsky on Tuesday, November 26. The quartet, one of the most innovative and adventurous of its generation, will be joined by violinist, Rashkovsky to perform two quintets by Felix Mendelssohn and leading British contemporary composer, Errollyn Wallen.

For fans of brass, the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band returns to the town hall on Saturday, November 30 for its Christmas concert.

The multi award-winning British Open Champions will play a mix of traditional Christmas pieces, medleys and carols, tickets are likely to sell out fast.

Skipton Camerata is back on Friday, December 6 with The Clothworkers Consort of Leeds for a performance of the nation's favourite choral masterpiece, Handel's Messiah.

There will be a Christmas celebration on Saturday, December 7 with Skipton Choral Society and the York Railway Institute Band. It is a return to the town hall for the two groups, whose last appearance two years ago was a sell-out. This time, the centrepiece of the concert will be a new arrangement of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols for brass band and voices.

For those who like a dance, there will be a Christmas tea dance on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 3, featuring John Bowdler, resident organist at Blackpool Tower.

For details of all events at Skipton Town Hall and to book tickets, go to the town hall box office, or visit: https://skiptontownhall.co.uk/