THE Shadow Home Secretary is to appear alongside a playwright, a comedian and two musicians in a wide-ranging debate at a family-oriented festival.

Andy Burnham will answer questions over whether Northern culture can act as a foundation to strengthen the region at the Deer Shed Festival, at Baldersby Park, near Thirsk, from July 22 to 24.

Guardian journalist Dave Simpson will chair The North Will Rise Again? panel, also including playwright Nick Ahad; comedian Kate Fox; Adrian McNally, of The Unthanks and ex-Kenickie member Marie Nixon will tackle topics surrounding cultural differences between England’s North and South.

The announcement comes less than a month after it was revealed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell would appear at the Glastonbury Festival.

Other highlights of the festival's spoken word and literary line-up include shows by satirical poet Kate Fox, who is working towards a PhD in Northernness and Performance, interviews with The Undertones bassist Michael Bradley about his autobiography and The Fall’s Brix Smith-Start about her memoir.

Michael Burdett will retell his journey around Britain with a camera and a lost Nick Drake recording which he recovered from the bottom of a skip, while philosopher Nick Wilsher will discuss film and our role as an audience.

Everything Everything and Beth Orton will be among the leading music acts at the festival.

For details, visit deershedfestival.com