CHART stars Fun Lovin’ Criminals are to headline a North-East music festival.

The New York trio, famed for hits including Scooby Snacks, are to perform in Durham as part of the four-day Brass 2015 festival.

Fun Lovin’ Criminals, led by frontman Huey Morgan, will be joined by a specially commissioned brass line-up, including Ron Christlow on trombone, Ed Collins on trumpet and Jon Melville on sax, who between them have worked with everyone from Take That to Def Leppard.

The festival, first staged by Durham County Council in 2007, is billed as an annual celebration of Durham’s musical heritage and the role brass music has played in its community both traditionally and today.

This year’s festival has been reduced in length since last year, when it was held over 10 days, and will instead be focused on four days from July 16-19.

Organisers have today announced the first three shows, all taking place at the Gala Theatre, with more on the line-up to follow in coming weeks.

Fun Lovin’ Criminals take to the stage on Friday, July 17 at 7.30pm, with tickets priced £25.

The festival gets underway on Thursday, July 16 when Pete Long’s orchestra recreates the swing sounds of Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller’s famous 1939 show at Carnegie Hall.

The show starts at 2pm and tickets are £17, or £15 for concessions.

The festival’s finale will again take place at the Gala Theatre on Sunday, July 19 with the spectacular Pathways concert at 1pm, featuring some of the best competition brass bands in the country.

Tickets for Pathways are £20, or £18 for concessions.

Tickets for all Gala Theatre shows can be booked at www.galadurham.co.uk, or via the Box Office on 03000-266-600.