THIS weekend sees Welsh music icons Stereophonics return to Wrexham's Racecourse Stadium two years after their legendary sell-out summer show in 2016.

The band's summer 2018 dates represent a real homecoming for Stereophonics, revisiting two venues with such a strong history for the band.

The dynamic four-piece first played Cardiff City Stadium back in 2010 and have always been guaranteed a rapturous reception ever since, including at a sell-out summer show in 2016.

When performing at the Racecourse Stadium in the same year they become the first artists to play a live show there since the 1982 Wrexham Festival, and the show treated fans to a truly memorable night as Wales beat Belgium at the Euro 2016 football tournament.

Stereophonics' latest record, Scream Above The Sounds, came 20 years after their debut Word Gets Around – the band’s tenth studio album follows the previous release in 2015, Keep The Village Alive, which was their sixth chart-topping album to go alongside countless music awards spanning over two decades.

Speaking about the shows, at Wrexham on Saturday, June 2 and Cardiff on Saturday, June 9, frontman Kelly Jones said: “It's a privilege to have the following we have in Wales. The fans have stuck with us and believed in us no matter what path we have tried.

"We try to push ourselves out of our comfort zone and from doing that we see so many new young fans that have come on board also. The stadium shows are a celebration of 20 years of music. Songs that have come honestly and truthfully and then I can't believe I get to hear all those people singing them back to us. I can't wait to play in front of the crowd that made us!"

Tickets

Tickets for the Wrexham show are now sold out but some are still available for the Cardiff date via www.stereophonics.com and www.myticket.co.uk

Support

Manchester band PINS will be joining Stereophonics on both stadium shows this summer.

The all-female five-piece are joining an already exciting line-up with singer-song writer Jake Bugg and Aberdare rockers Fireroad confirmed to perform. PINS’ most recent single ‘Serve The Rich’ (produced by The Kills’ Jamie Hince) follows on from their 2017 ‘Bad Thing’ EP release, which included the single Aggrophobe featuring Iggy Pop.

Jake Bugg recently released album number four ‘Hearts That Strain five years after the release of his acclaimed self-titled debut album.

Stage times

Stage times are as follows, however, are subject to change:

Gates: 15:00

Fireroad: 16:45

PINS: 17:35

Jake Bugg: 18:30

Stereophonics: 20:00

Setlist

Kelly and co have promised a 20th anniversary celebration so expect a look back at all their early hits like A Thousand Trees, More Life in a Tramp's Vest and Local Boy in the Photograph.

Here's the setlist from the final date of their recent Australian tour at Fremantle Arts Centre on May 5 to get you in the mood:

Caught by the Wind

C'est La Vie

A Thousand Trees

Superman

Geronimo

Mr Writer

Have A Nice Day

Graffiti on the Train

Maybe Tomorrow

I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio

Handbags and Gladrags

Step On My Old Size Nines

I Wanna Get Lost With You

Indian Summer

All in One Night

Nothing Precious at All

Sunny

Traffic

Just Looking

Local Boy In The Photograph

Encore:

Mr and Mrs Smith

Dakota

Directions

From The North:

Take the A483 towards Wrexham (this is the Wrexham by-pass). Leave the A483 with at the junction of the A541 Mold road. The ground is 300 yards from this junction (on the A541) towards Wrexham town centre.

From The South:

Take the M54 from the M6 (Junction 10A Northbound). Follow the M54 to the end of the motorway and join the A5 towards Shrewsbury. Continue on the A5 past Shrewsbury and Oswestry and then join the A483 towards Wrexham. Stay on the A483 as you reach Wrexham (this is the Wrexham by-pass). Then as above.

Parking

Tickets for the carpark adjacent to the Stadium, which is within the Wrexham University grounds are available on arrival. The cost of this will be £5.00 per vehicle. Should you require a disabled parking space, please order your parking pass via/inform customerservices@kilimanjarolive.co.uk of your booking

There will be a disabled drop off point located on Crispin Lane. Please follow the road directions for parking and road signs on the day of the event.

By train

Wrexham General Railway Station is located next to the ground and is only a few minutes walk away. Exit the station walk up the station approach road and at the top turn right along the main road. The ground is along on the right.

Food and drink

Food and drink will be available to purchase throughout the event from 3pm once you have entered the Stadium grounds. Any food or drinks purchased outside of the stadium will not be able to be brought in with you, with the exception of unopened bottled water up to the size of 500ml.

Cloakroom

There will be no cloakroom at the event, so please only bring clothing and items appropriate for your needs during the event.