THE STABLES: PAM AYRES, SAM SWEENEY AND CHRIS BARBER LEAD THIS WEEK'S CHARGE

As usual, your Stables menu for the coming week is a varied one, with plenty of tempting main courses. Sam Sweeney's Made in the Great War (Sept 5) sees the Bellowhead fiddle player out on his own with an incredible story spanning almost a century. Sam bought a violin in 2009, from a store in Oxford.  It looked like a new instrument, but actually a label inside revealed a date of 1915 and the name Richard. MPMG Sam Sweeneys Made in the Great War That small piece of information led Sam on a truly amazing journey - research revealed the violin has been made by Leeds-based music hall performer and luthier, Richard Spencer Howard. Aged 35, in 1915 he was conscripted, and lost his life two years later at the battle of Messines Ridge. His violin remained unfinished in his workshop until luthier Roger Claridge got the job done in 2007, which led to it being put to sale in the window where Sam spotted it. To mark the 100th anniversary of the start of World War 1, Sam is touring with a multimedia performance telling the story, and naturally he will be playing the violin during the show. Sam's journey saw him travel to Flanders to play Richard's instrument at his gravestone.  It's a tale as astounding as it is emotive. Eighties jazz-funkers Shakatak are back at the Wavendon venue on Saturday night, and there won't be any shortage of material at this date - the band, which formed back in 1980 - have more than 50 CDs to their name. Do you think they can remember every tune?! MPMG The Big Chris Barber Press Photo You need a real passion for the music,  and a truly exceptional ability to remain  at the top of your game for 65 years, and ain't that so for Chris Barber (above)? The jazz-man celebrates 65 years as a band leader in 2014, so of course he wants to mark the event with some shows. He is bringing his 10-piece band to play some of his most favoured material for you - from his signature tune Bourbon Street Parade to early Ellington numbers like Jubilee Stomp and Miles Davis' All Blues. Last up this week, An Evening with Pam Ayres (below), a lady who has spent close to 40 years regaling us with her humour and prose. MPMG An Evening with Pam Ayres copy In preview, her work is described as 'funny and approachable' and that is true, but don't confuse the funny part with disposable. It's crafted, clever and often emotive, as with Tippy Tappy Feet, the tale of a lost canine friend, featured in her current collection, You Made Me Late Again! Pam won't only be on the stage on Wednesday, mind, she has been booked for a two-day stay, returning on Thursday (September 11). To book tickets call 01908 280800 or visit www.stables.org