Kings Of Leon... have announced a tour date to the MetroRadio Arena, Newcastle on Friday, February 24 with new album Walls released today, October 14. It is the band's first UK shows in more than two years and tickets go on sale on Thursday, October 20.

The Grammy Award winning group decided to return to their recording roots in Los Angeles and worked with famed producer Markus Dravs (Arcade Fire, Coldplay, Florence + the Machine). The album has already received widespread critical acclaim with NME declaring that the "Kings are well and truly back" and Rolling Stone describing the new music as "Kings at their best".

Formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2000, the band members are brothers Caleb Followill (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Nathan Followill (drums, percussion, backing vocals) and Jared Followill (bass guitar, backing vocals) plus cousin Matthew Followill (lead guitar, backing vocals).

Early efforts were a blend of Southern rock and blues influences, and Kings of Leon achieved initial success in the UK with nine Top 40 singles, two Brit Awards in 2008, and all three of the band's albums peaked in the top five of the UK Albums Chart. Third album, Because of the Times, went to No 1. Only by the Night, in September, 2008, saw the band enter the charts in the US with singles Sex on Fire, Use Somebody, and Notion all reaching rock chart No 1s. The album went Platinum in the US. A fifth album, Come Around Sundown, came out 2010. Mechanical Bull followed in 2013. The band has seven Grammy Award nominations, including three wins.

* Tickets costing £45, £55 & £65 will be available online, metroradioarena.co.uk, or from 0844-493-6666.