THE full star-spangled line-up has been announced for one of the North-East’s biggest live music events set to return this summer.

Organisers of Hardwick Live, held at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield, County Durham, have revealed 90s band Ocean Colour Scene will top the bill on Saturday, August 19.

The stage will also welcome special guest Pete Doherty and will be joined across the day by big names including Buzzcocks, Soul II Soul, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Gabrielle, and the Brand New Heavies.

John Adamson, owner of Ramside Estates which runs Hardwick Live, believes this year’s line-up is the strongest to date.

“It is a pleasure to be able to announce the return of Hardwick Live in 2017, particularly after its sabbatical last year,” he said. “This really is going to be a weekend of incredible music at Hardwick.”

Ocean Colour Scene shot to fame in 1996 with the release of the Moseley Shoals album, which spawned a number of hit singles including The Riverboat Song, The Day We Caught the Train and Hundred Mile City.

Libertines founder and indie-icon Pete Doherty will be returning to his North-East roots as part of the heavyweight line-up, after finding himself back in the spotlight following the release of his Hamburg Demonstrations album last year.

New York three-piece Fun Lovin’ Criminals will be bringing their laid-back eclectic mix of soul, funk, hip hop, blues, R&B and jazz to the event.

London singer Gabrielle is a multi-platinum selling artist who boasts two BRIT awards, two Mobos and an Ivor Novello among her accolades.

With early hits including Dreams, Give Me a Little More Time and Walk on By, Gabrielle collaborated with East 17 on the 1996 classic If You Ever, and then enjoyed further success a few years later with hits Rise and Out of Reach, which was used on the soundtrack to Bridget Jones’ Diary.

The festival will also include a timely performance by acclaimed tribute act The Bootleg Beatles, to mark the 50th anniversary of the release of Sgt Pepper album.

And as well as the crowd-pleasers, Hardwick Live will feature a number of up-and-coming acts from the region and across the UK, along with a number of DJs and comedians.

News of the line-up comes just months after the announcement that world-famous ska outfit Madness would kick off proceedings.

The legendary band will grace the stage on Friday, August 18, as part of a world tour which will see them appear as far afield as Australia and Singapore, performing some of their major hits from the past right up to their most recent releases.

Tickets for this year’s Hardwick Live will go on sale on Friday (March 10) at 10am.

They are priced at £8 for children, £15 for people aged between 13 and 17 and £49 for adults.

Day and weekend tickets are available.

For more information about the event visit www.hardwicklive.co.uk

For tickets visit www.seetickets.com/event/hardwick-live/hardwick-hall-hotel/1078661