THREE top bands have announced extra dates at the MetroRadio Arena Gateshead due to the North-east demand for tickets.

The UK’s premiere girl group, Girls Aloud, has now sold out two shows Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6, and has now announced a record breaking third and fourth show to see Cheryl, Nadine, Kimberley, Sarah and Nicola.

The additional dates will be June 5 and 6 with £30 tickets on sale now.

Nadine says: "We can’t wait to get back out on the road to see our fans and play the music that we love from the past albums and playing the new songs in those arenas next year. We look forward to seeing you all there."

■ THE Better 09 Tour will see one the UK’s best everselling bands, Boyzone, perform in what is destined to be one of the great events in next year’s live calendar.

June 9 has sold out so the band has added June 10, with tickets going on sale now.

All five original members – Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Shane Lynch, Mikey Graham and Keith Duffy – will be performing in the North-East for the second time since their muchanticipated reunion last year.

Paul Tappenden, arena marketing director, says: "We are delighted to have Boyzone back in the North- East, as will be their hugely dedicated fan base here in Newcastle. If the last tour is anything to go by this will certainly be a hot ticket for 2009."

A maximum of six tickets per show per household has been placed on this tour.

Tickets are: £32.50.

■ PINK follows up a year with Grammy nominated No 1 single, So What, and her first ever UK No 1 album, Funhouse, with a return to the North-East in November having sold out her April 28 appearance.

The new date is Monday, November 2, and follows a sold-out European tour and Australian tour with tickets sales standing at around £800,000. Tickets for November are £35 and all the above are available from: Credit Card Booking and Information Line 0844- 493-6666 (24-hour seven days).

■ US country-rock legend, America return to the Sage, Gateshead, next year on March 17.

With songs featuring anonymous horses to fastmoving trains, America’s extraordinary four-decade musical legacy of consummately crafted pop/rock songs, trademark lush harmonies and evocative lyrical landscapes will never go out of style.

Tickets: £32.50. The Sage Gateshead 0191-443-4661 Ticketmaster 0870-534- 4444, Ticketline 0870-444-5556