A LEGEND of the British blues scene will perform Otley Courthouse’s first live music show of the New Year.

Paul Lamb is returning to the arts venue with The King Snakes, back by popular demand, on Friday, January 10.

The harmonica player and band leader has a four decade long career and fans around the world.

He was awarded the British Blues Connections’ annual award for the best local harmonica player for several years in a row - while The King Snakes have frequently taken the title of best band.

Lamb has also worked with some of the biggest names in British music including Mark Knopfler, The Who, Rod Stewart and Jimmy Nail.

And he has played on BBC and film soundtracks along with television commercials.

He was more recently inducted into the British Blues Awards Hall of Fame in recognition of his continued passion for making powerful and original blues music.

When he takes the stage at the Courthouse he will be joined by son Ryan on lead guitar and backing vocals, Chad Strentz on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Rod Demick on bass guitar and backing vocals and Dino Coccia on drums and backing vocals.

A Courthouse spokeswoman said: “Expect your feet to never stop moving during this gig.”

The show starts at 8pm and tickets cost £14.

An insight into the life of the man who played Sergeant Wilson in Dad’s Army, meanwhile, will be given at the Courthouse a day later.

Impressionist Julian Dutton will present Do You Think That’s Wise - The Life and Times of John Le Mesurier at 7.30pm on Saturday, January 11.

Dutton - who has starred on BBC1’s The Big Impression and BBC R4’s The Secret World, and is the co-creator and co-star of BBC2’s Pompidou with Matt Lucas - has described the show as an ‘affectionate tribute to one of Britain’s best-loved comedy stars’.

Le Mesurier’s wry smile and urbane English repartee charmed millions, especially in his Dad’s Army role which made him a household name.

But his life was not without tragedy with setbacks that included the breakdown of his marriage to Hattie Jacques and his betrayal by his best friend, Tony Hancock.

Despite that, Le Mesurier’s reputation as the quintessential English gentleman never wavered.

Dutton’s show is described as being ‘packed with glorious reminiscences and stories from the Golden Age of Classic British Comedy...a joyful and moving celebration of one of the most popular comic actors of our era’.

Tickets cost £14 and can be booked by visiting www.otleycourthouse.org.uk, calling (01943) 467466 or popping into the Courthouse, on Courthouse Street, Otley.