ONE of the biggest names in North-East music is coming home for a one-off show to celebrate his 65th birthday.

Eurythmics songwriter Dave Stewart has announced he is to play a concert at Sunderland Empire Theatre on September 10.

The Sunderland-born star will appear alongside his Nashville All Star Players band for the show, with local bands Social Room, Lilliput and Picnic joining him on the bill.

Alongside singer Annie Lennox, the former Bede Grammar School pupil achieved worldwide fame in the 1980s and 90s with a string of hits including Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) and There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart).

He said: “I’m looking forward to playing lots of the hit songs I have written over the years in the legendary Sunderland Empire.

“I was born and grew up in Sunderland and have many great memories about my life there”.

He added: “I was a struggling musician as a teenager in Sunderland so I chose to invite the three young local bands to perform before me”.

Tickets, priced from £31.25 to £61.25, are available from atgtickets.com or ticketmaster.co.uk