Poet Brian Patten, who will be part of a double bill with Roger McGough at St George's Hall, said thefestival was "exciting, wide-ranging and inclusive and I'm really proud to be part of it".
Rhys Derby brings It's Rhys Derby Time to thefestival, while Kristen Schaal's award-nominated 2008 show with Kurt Braunohler, Double Down Hearts, also features in the programme.