By Victoria Raimes

Last updated 11:42, Thursday, 03 July 2008

HAPPY Mondays legend Shaun Ryder will play Carlisle in October.

Shaun Ryder from the cover of the Happy Mondays’ albm Bummed

Ryder promises to pump up the crowd with a one-off performance and DJ session on Saturday, October 18, in what will be the biggest gig to date for the LemonFactory night, at Spirit bar.

The notorious singer is rumoured to have cleaned up his act. Gone are the drug addiction, the swear word-encrusted rants and the several-pints-too-many gigs in favour of a set that focuses on the music not mayhem.

LemonFactory events manager Andy Woodyard told Nightlife: “He’s settled down and had a couple of kids now and I think the penny’s dropped. I had looked into getting Shaun in the past but I was worried that he would walk off or refuse to perform. Now that he’s a bit older and wiser I am confident that the set will be cracking.”

Ryder follows ex-bandmate Bez, who played Spirit last year.

“It was Bez who helped persuade Shaun to do the gig,” said Andy. “He’s been a lot quieter lately and he wasn’t sure about coming to the ‘middle of nowhere’, but Bez assured him that he’d have a good time here and that the crowd was excellent.

“It is great to get such an icon up here. It can only help to put Carlisle on the gig map.”

Ticket cost £12.75 from Spirit Bar and Thyme and Place restaurant from Friday, August 15. Visit www.thymeandspirit.co.uk for more information.

Comedians Danny Deegan, Stefan Peddie and Barnaby Thompson play Friday’s Howling Owl Comedy Club, at Spirit.

Doors open at 8pm for a 9.30pm start. Tickets £5 on the door.