LEGENDS of British rock will be winging their way to the region to help celebrate the end of summer.

The Stranglers are to headline the Saturday night of Ramsbottom festival Head for the Hills.

The new wave punk band will arrive in the town off the back of a major UK and Australian tour.

With a career spanning four decades, 23 UK top 40 hits and 17 UK top 40 albums, taking in new wave, art rock, gothic rock and even pop, they will close the festival in style with the final headline show of the weekend.

The festival season’s final fling, Head for the Hills is a three-day event, formerly known as Ramsbottom Festival, returning for its seventh year,

Hosted at Ramsbottom Cricket Club, on September 15, 16 and 17, it follows last year’s record attendance of over 12,000.

David Agnew, artistic director at The Met which organises the festival with The Bridgewater Hall, said: “We’re thrilled with developments for this year’s festival – for us it’s all about surprising and delighting audiences and supporting new talent.”

Joining the line-up of arts and music are the likes of Beth Orton, Manchester band Dutch Uncles and Ska legends, the Neville Staple Band.

After returning in 2016 with the highly acclaimed, joyously electronic Kidsticks, Beth Orton will headline on Saturday night. Known for her collaborations with electronic artists including the Chemical Brothers, she heads up an eclectic day full of music and arts. Art-poppers Dutch Uncles’ first appearance at Head for the Hills follows the release of their fifth studio album, Big Balloon, released earlier this year.

Legendary Ska vocalist / toaster Neville Staple, founding member of the Specials & Fun Boy Three, also plays Saturday with the Neville Staple Band.

Complementing the line up further are folk singer-songwriter Beans on Toast – a regular visitor to Bolton’s Alma Inn – Edinburgh-based tropical-pop quartet Indigo Velvet and local Indie-pop band the Dantevilles. While The Stranglers headline on Sunday, singer-songwriter Tom Hickox will be performing following the release of his latest album Monsters in the Deep in March.

Also joining the line-up are rising British folk star Will Varley, riotous six-piece indie-folk party band Skinny Lister, funk, ska and blues rhythms from Tankus the Henge, topped off with sea soaked gypsy folk from Dublin band The Eskies, who come to Ramsbottom as part of a year long tour of the UK and the Netherlands.

The intimate festival will also feature daytime family arts, food stalls, and beer tents – including a specially-commissioned festival ale – as well as family raves, pop up art shops, theatre and workshops, walk-about comedy, acrobatic storytelling and installations.

Tickets and information: www.headforthehills.org.uk.