OLLY MURS will headline a major outdoor concert coming to the region in June.

The X Factor star will take top billing at an event to be held in Middlesbrough this summer.

The musician rose to fame after being named runner-up in the 2009 series of The X Factor. Since then, he has had five number one singles, two double-platinum number one albums and three Brit award nominations.

A spokesman from Loose Cannon Events – who are organising the concert – said Murs was at the peak of his career and described his appearance in Middlesbrough as a coup for both the company and the town.

He said: “We are delighted to have bagged Olly Murs as our first outdoor concert headliner. We are asking the people of Middlesbrough and the wider Teesside area to get right behind us and make this the start of something special.”

The event will take place at the town’s Centre Square on Friday, June 7, ahead of the annual Mela festival, which takes place on Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9.

Middlesbrough Mela Chairman, Naweed Hussain, said: “The Mela is happy to welcome this event to Middlesbrough and we are working in partnership with the promoters to ensure our events complement one another well and give the town a vibrant weekend to remember.”

Tickets for the event – which is expected to attract up to 7,000 pop fans – go on sale at 9am on Friday (February 15).

They will be available from Colourbox on Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough and Leggs on Skinnergate in Darlington, as well as online at loosecannonevents.co.uk from Saturday.

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