TICKETS for what promises to be Carlisle's biggest gig of the summer are set to go on sale today.

Madness have announced they will be making a return to Cumbria and are set to play a huge outdoor gig at Bitts Park.

The legendary ska band, led by frontman Suggs, will bring some of their greatest hits to the city on June 9, 2019.

Organisers say the show is set to be one of the best of the summer as fans rock the night away to tracks including Our House, It Must Be Love and House of Fun.

It's been two years since Madness played in front of a Cumbrian crowd. Their latest appearance was as headliners at Kendal Calling in 2016, the same year they played Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage.

They also played a show-stopping gig at Carlisle Racecourse in 2015 after a flutter on the horses.

Concert organiser Steve Davis said: “We are delighted to be bringing Madness to Bitts Park. It’s a beautiful site and these shows, packed full of greatest hits, promise to be some of the best of the summer.

"A strong support bill will be announced soon to make the show extra special.”

Bitts Park delivered one of the biggest weekends in Carlisle's musical history last summer when it welcomed two world-class acts and 30,000 fans.

Canadian singer Bryan Adams and Power girlband Little Mix took to the stage for their highly anticipated shows just a months after Olly Murs and UB40 entertained thousands at Brunton Park.

These concerts cemented Carlisle’s status as a go-to gig city with massive showbiz names such as Rod Stewart and The Stone Roses also making appearances in recent years.

Madness, often regarded as a British institution, are one of the best known Ska bands in the UK. Forming in 1976, they have released countless hits over the years.

The band has received two Ivor Novello awards in their career. In 1983 the band first picked up the Best Song Award for Our House and in 2000 they received a further accolade for their Outstanding Song Collection.

With eleven studio albums to their name, and seven of these reaching the Top 10 in the UK Album Charts, including Can’t Touch Us Nowfrom 2016, Madness have had an enduring influence on pop culture.

Pre-sale tickets go on sale at 10am today, via Ticketline, with general admission available from Wednesday from all major outlets. Tickets cost £45.