TICKETS go on sale at 9am today for the live return of glam electro-pop duo Erasure, who will play an outdoor concert at Dalby Forest, near Pickering, on June 25 next year as part of their Total Pop! Tour of forest shows.

“This will be a unique chance to see Erasure as they have been away from recording and live performances for four years,” says Forestry Commission concert organiser Paul Cody.

The gig will take place in the tree-lined, 5,000-capacity auditorium in the North York Moors woodland, where past performers have included Paul Weller, The Beautiful South, Status Quo, Jools Holland, James Morrison, M People, Embrace, Pulp, Travis and Keane and Simply Red last year.

Next summer’s Total Pop! tour will coincide with the release of a new Erasure album by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, left, who says: “This wonderful opportunity to perform for the fans in such a unique backdrop feels like just the right way to jump back into Erasure after a four-year break. We’re excited to be playing in the woods and really hope it doesn’t rain.”

Formed 25 years ago, Erasure had a run of pop anthems through the Eighties and Nineties, such as A Little Respect, Sometimes, Victim Of Love, Ship Of Fools, Blue Savannah: Star, Chains Of Love, The Circus, Always and Breathe.

Five consecutive number one albums came their way too, and their camp, futurist, electronic sound is back in vogue in the music of Lady Gaga and La Roux.

This week, Erasure have issued a new version of their top five single A Little Respect – HMI Redux in aid of the Hetrick-Martin Institute, the home of the Harvey Milk High School in New York, and the True Colors Fund.

In all, they will play seven woodland concerts next June and July, and they are the second heritage act to be confirmed for Dalby Forest, following last week’s announcement by the Forestry Commission that Simple Minds will take to the woods on June 24.

• Tickets for Erasure cost £34.50, Simple Minds, £35, on 03000 680400 or online at forestry.gov.uk/music