THE Undertones are to play the Galtres Festival at its new North Yorkshire home this year.

Organisers of the family festival confirmed last month the event was being held at Duncombe Park, Helmsley, after previously being staged at Crayke, near Easingwold.

More than 100 bands will play at the festival on seven stages, and as previously reported in The Press, the headline act, The Stranglers, will play on Sunday, August 25, following on from Maximo Park who will play on the Saturday.

The Undertones will be joining The Stranglers on the Sunday.

The Irish band, famous for Teenage Kicks, will also be playing favourites such as Jimmy Jimmy, My Perfect Cousin, and Here Comes The Summer plus some new material.

Teenage Kicks, described by legendary DJ John Peel as his favourite record of all time, recently returned to the charts when it was performed and recorded by One Direction in aid of Comic Relief.

Galtres festival director James Houston, said: “The Undertones still belt out fantastic songs.

“Reviews of recent gigs are raving - this lot are as energetic and brilliant as they were back in the late 70s when Teenage Kicks blasted them into stardom.

“We’re really excited to have them, and along with The Stranglers it will make a superb double billing to end the festival on the Sunday night.”

Friday’s big headliner is still to be announced and 100 more bands will be slotted into the seven-stage programme, which runs over the August Bank Holiday weekend at the Helmsley stately home.

Organisers of the festival had originally narrowed a shortlist to Rawcliffe Country Park, in York, and Folly Wood, at Huby, to host this year’s festival.

The festival left its Crayke home due to growing visitor numbers and parking problems in wet weather. It will be the sixth change of venue since the event began in 2005.

For more information and tickets go to www.galtresfestival.org.uk