ORGANISERS of Darwen Live music festival have confirmed 90s pop band ‘Space’ will headline the event in May.

The Liverpool Britpop quartet, best known for chart hits including Female of the Species, Me and You Versus the World, Avenging Angels and The Ballad of Tom Jones, which featured a collaboration with Catatonia lead singer Cerys Matthews.

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This year’s event will take place on the bank holiday weekend of Sunday and Monday, May 24 and 25, with Space headlining on the Monday.

Darwen Town Council mayor Cllr Trevor Maxfield, who helps organise the festival, said: “This is anther coup for Darwen Live. We have managed to bring some big names to the town over the past decade and 2015 will be no exception.

“Again, Darwen Live will be one of the biggest events in the town’s calendar and will be worth a lot of money to the local economy.

He added: “Hopefully the weather will be kind and thousands will again turn out to watch some great live music in our wonderful town centre.”

Cllr Maxfield added another big name from the 1980s was set to be revealed as the Sunday headliner, but could not be announced until contracts had been signed.

Space follow on from last year’s headline act The South – formed after The Beautiful South split – and the Lancashire Hotpots and the Wonder Stuff in 2014.

Other big names to have taken to the Market Square stage include The Buzzcocks, Billy Bragg, Bad Manners, Spear of Destiny, The Animals and The Beat.

Other venues in the town to host live music as part of the festival include Darwen Library Theatre, The Alexandra, The Belgrave, The Loft, The Black Horse, Marigolds, The Bob Inn, The Millstone, Number 39 Hopstar Brewery Tap, Bridge Street Sports and Social Club, Two Gates Bowling and Social Club, Cafe Hub, The Crown and Level One.

Space formed in 1993 and released four studio albums, plus a number of charting singles, before eventually disbanding in 2005.

In 2011, two years after the death of original drummer Andy Parle, the band announced they would reunite with Tommy Scott, Jamie Murphy and Franny Griffiths returning.