SCOTTISH indie rock band The Fratellis have been announced as the first headliners for Solfest 2018.

The long-running Cumbrian festival will be welcoming some of the UK's best-loved live acts to Tarns, near Aspatria, over the August bank holiday weekend.

The first wave of acts reflects confirmed to appear reflects the diverse nature of the event, which prides itself in offering a wide range of local national and international flavours for everyone to enjoy.

Sam Johnston, who is running the Drystone main stage this year, says: "We can promise this year is going to be a line-up to excite - with our musical ambitions expanding, so has the Drystone stage as we have made some significant changes especially in making it bigger so you really can now think of it as the main stage.

"There will be folk, world, indie, reggae, dub, dance and a whole heap of surprises - and remember, the more people that buy tickets earlier in the year, the better line-up we can put on."

The Fratellis have a mass of hits under their belts, including the worldwide smash Chelsea Dagger, Mistress Mabel and Whistle for the Choir, to name but a few.

They have just registered their third top five album in the UK charts with In Your Own Sweet Time, released this month, and with a busy summer taking shape, it will be their first visit to the region since their debut album tour back in 2006.

Sam says: "We are really lucky and excited to get The Fratellis to Cumbria - it’s a Festival first for the area.

"There is nothing better than a festival singalong with all the family too and to ensure this we made sure each of our headliners are on at a reasonable time so the younger ones can join in too."

Another of the main stage stars to look out for are Slamboree, who first performed at Solfest in 2012.

A live circus show with a full band and brass, they are often hailed as the 'ultimate festival band'.

There will be a blast from the past for fans of comedy hip hop, when Goldie Lookin Chain make an appearance. The Welsh outfit are going to close the Sunday night in the Bar Stage with a live DJ and MC set.

Having stormed the charts with their 2004 hit Guns Don't Kill People Rappers Do, they have continued to star at festivals around the country, and will be the ideal candidates to bring the festival to a close.

Will Varley returns with his full band following the release of their album Spirit of Minnie, having played a solo set at last year's festival. His band also appear in alt-folk band Cocos Lovers - expect flutes and sweet harmonies, backed with Afro rhythms.

Carlisle favourites The Lucid Dream will be making their first appearance at the event, headlining the Bar Stage on the Saturday. Their new single already sold out of its first run on vinyl, as they prepare for the biggest summer in their existence as a band so far.

Blues rockers Wille and The Bandits are back in Cumbria following appearances at the county's leading blues festivals and headline gig in Carlisle last year.

Among the other names confirmed to appear so far are Shooglenifty and the Dhun Dora, Dansi, Rob Heron and the Teapad Orchestra, Captain Hotknives, Maxiroots, Lost Colours, and Backyard Rhythm Orchestra, with many more still to be announced, including the line-ups for the Unity Sessions, Lost n’ Found, House of Joy, Loungevity, Love Shack and Melodrome stages.

There are also more headliners still to be revealed.

There will be a large kids' area and fairground rides, as well as a designated family area for campers this year.

Solfest takes place at Tarns, near Aspatria, from Friday August 24 to Sunday 26.

For the full line-up news and to buy tickets, head to www.solfest.org.uk