Ayesha Hazarika started her career as a stand-up comedian playing clubs across the country. She then took a natural diversion into the Labour Party as a Special Adviser working for Gordon Brown, Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband. Since leaving front line politics she’s become a much sought after commentator writing for the FT, Guardian, Evening Standard, New Statesman and Grazia. Ayesha has also returned to her stand-up roots. Further credits include regular appearances on TV.

In State of the Nation on Saturday 17th June Ayesha lifts the lid on what life’s really like behind the scenes at Westminster with brutal honesty and humour and asks what’s next for British politics.

A double bill of live comedy arrives on Saturday 24th June, featuring Edd Hedges and Alice Marshall. Winner of So You Think You’re Funny, Edd Hedges, marks his debut solo show with this intriguing hour of hilarious anecdotes delivered in his unique affable style.

Critically acclaimed character comedian Alice Marshall returns with Blood, the follow-up to her smash-hit 2016 debut Vicious. With more of her signature weird & wonderful characters, Blood takes a long, hard look at the darker side of humanity. Featuring returning favourites and brand new faces, Blood is a character show with serious bite.

Jazz legend Chris Barber celebrates his 68th anniversary as a band leader ith a Europe-wide concert tour and it comes to Artrix on Saturday 1st July. Inspired by the King Oliver Creole Jazz Band, Chris formed his first band at the age of nineteen and has since gone on to become a bona fide jazz legend

With his ten-piece band, Chris plays a selection of his favourite music: From his roots in New Orleans style to the early music of Duke Ellington and Sidney Bechet and back, the Big Chris Barber Band combine all these ingredients into an exciting, and often moving, evening of world-class jazz.