SQUEEZE are to play a warm-up gig ahead of the summer festival season at King George’s Hall, Blackburn, next month.

The band, led by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, have hand-picked the venue and will be playing the smaller Windsor Suite, meaning the tickets for the show on Friday, May 25 will be in short supply.

In a career spanning more than 35 years the band have had a string of hits including Cool for Cats and Up the Junction. They released their 15th album, The Knowledge and completed a sell-out UK tour last year.

In a second major announcement for the venue, Black Grape fronted by Shaun Ryder will also be heading to Blackburn for a gig on Saturday, November 24.

The Happy Mondays’ singer will be taking his side project on the road having released their third album Pop Voodoo last year.

Tickets for both shows go on sale at 10am today (Friday). Call the box office on 0844 847 1664 or visit www.kinggeorgeshall.com or www.ticketmaster.co.uk.