FORMER Iron Maiden singer Blaze Bayley has been announced as the headline act at a Radcliffe concert this summer.

Blaze, who was the frontman for the band between 1994 and 1999, is topping the bill at this year's SOS Festival.

The singer, who has also been the lead singer of Wolfsbane and is now a solo artist, will take to the stage at Radcliffe Civic Suite on July 11.

SOS is an all day rock and metal festival featuring 11 bands from around the country.

Event organiser Lynne Hampson said: "It’s a real coup for the festival to have Blaze headline the day for us.

"We can’t believe the way the line-up has come together, with seven of the 11 bands signed to record labels.

"Things have progressed very fast indeed.

"Last year SOS set out to be a community event and, although it retained that side to it, we also widened the appeal and we know that many people travelled a good distance to attend.

"This year we’ve planned to retain that community feel but with this line-up of bands it’s a fantastic opportunity for music fans in the area to see top line bands in their own locality while the feedback so far is that there will be even more people travelling from other regions this time.

"We have Blaze Bayley, who was previously with Iron Maiden, arguably the biggest metal band on the planet, but we also have Fury UK who are currently on a UK tour with Blaze and have played Bloodstock & Bulldog Bash festivals, Serotonal featuring Darren White, ex-Anathema, and Crosswire featuring Marshall Gill, New Model Army.

"We’ve also kept the festival available to all age groups which we felt was important.

"We have big plans for the future but never want to lose that community aspect.

"This is very much a festival for the people of Bury and surrounding areas, and bands from the locality will always be featured."

This year’s SOS is co-presented by Rock Radio Manchester 106.1FM, following last year’s attendance by DJ Paul Anthony who was impressed by what he saw.

The full line-up is: Blaze Bayley, Fury UK, Babylon Fire, Incassum, Decadenze, Serotonal, Nightvision, Crosswire, Exit State, Defiant, False Image.

Tickets are available now from Ticketline for only £5 at: www.ticketline.co.uk or by telephone on: 08714 244444.

Alternatively the charge on the door will be £7.

Doors open at 2pm, and the event runs until 11.30pm.

For more information visit: www.sosfestival.net.