Gigs are being staged at the Cask every week. No charge will be made for admission.

The club will have a professional house band, led by well-known blues guitarist Tom Townsend. "Apart from his many other talents, he can play electric, steel and acoustic guitars in a variety of blues styles and has a wonderful soulful voice and feel for this type of music," says organiser Mark Horsley.

The rest of the band will vary from week to week, depending on who is available. They will include Paul Tilley on drums, James Grunwell on electric bass, Al Lawrence on harmonica, Mark Gordon on keyboards, Julia Wray on sax, Andy Hillier on trombone, Steve Roth on drums and John Armstrong on bass.

"It's great that so many talented people have agreed to support the club," says Tom. "I have worked with many of them over the years on different projects and they are all first-class musicians in their own right".

Some have their own bands. Al Lawrence and James Grunwell are long-term collaborators with Tom, who is particularly pleased that Paul Tilley has signed up. "He is one of the most respected musicians in the area and would always be my drummer of choice," Tom says.

"The Cask is a relatively small venue but it is very comfortable and has good acoustics, which should be ideal for the sort of friendly gigs we want to hold.

"We want the club to be popular with everyone who enjoys good music. We certainly don't want it to be a blues purist's paradise or anything like that. Anyone who comes to the club should be able to hear every type of blues from Robert Johnson to the Black Keys; from the 1920s to the present day. Whether you love the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King or more contemporary artists such as Aynsley Lister, Oli Brown or Son of Dave, you should find something to enjoy at our gigs," he stresses.

Further details will be online shortly at scarboroughbluesclub.co.uk