THE autumn season at The Anvil and The Forge in Basingstoke is filled with a healthy mixture of big names, great music and side-splitting comedy.

The Anvil kicks off with return visits of Steve Earle, on September 9, and Cornish comedian Jethro, on September 13.

A new line-up for the Best of British Variety 2009 – including Cannon & Ball, Bucks Fizz, Tom O’Connor, Faith Brown, Roger DeCourcey and Nookie Bear, and Norman Collier – is dropping into Basingstoke on September 19, and Vampires Rock brings its brand of all-round entertainment on September 24.

October features great music – in the form of Classic Legends of Rock, on October 2, and Cuba’s Buena Vista Social Club, on October 14 – and comedy with a visit from impressionist Alistair McGowan on October 11, Julian Clary on October 18, celebrating 25 years in the camp spotlight, and Australian comic Kevin ‘Bloody’ Wilson, on October 27.

Families can enjoy Bob the Builder’s live show on October 25 and a visit from Steven K Amos on his third UK tour is a highlight in November’s line-up.

Christmas will bring with it the Anvil Arts’ Gazette Newspapers-sponsored Christmas panto Cinderella, opening on December 10.

The more intimate Forge venue has a varied line-up of comedy and music. Touring musicians include singer and guitarist Sam Carter, the charming Irish musician Juliet Turner and acoustic guitarist John Smith, all in September.

Jazz trio Arthurs.Hoiby.Ritchie are bringing their high-energy show on October 10, followed by modern traditional music trio Lau the next night, and flamenco guitarist Eduardo Niebla will be strumming away for a very different evening of musical entertainment on October 22.

Basingstoke audiences can giggle away to Milton Jones and Canadian comic Stewart Francis in October, while Red Dwarf co-creator Rob Grant is dropping in on November 14.

More listings, information, and tickets are available by calling the Anvil Arts box office, on 01256 844244, or going online to anvilarts.org.uk.