FORMER Coral guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones has been confirmed as headline act at Wirral's third Astral Coast music festival.

The West Kirby-born musician, who recently joined the Arctic Monkeys on tour, is leading the line-up for the July 19 showcase.

Taking place at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton, the festival has quickly established itself as Merseyside's premiere new music events.

Also confirmed so far are some of the hottest acts currently on the Merseyside music scene including The Sundowners, VEYU, The Wild Eyes, Wet Pelican, Sankofa, Oxygen Thieves, Death Masks, Filter Distortion, Jimmy & the Revolvers, Viola Beach & Dominic Dunn Band, plus more to be announced soon.

The festival represents the coming together of Wallasey-based mental health support hub the Open Door Centre, Bido Lito! - the highly influential Liverpool music magazine and The Floral Pavilion Theatre.

Lee Pennington, director of Open Door Centre, said: “What a show we have planned for this year.

"The past two years have established us on the local festival circuit but, this year's event looks certain to provide the Wirral with an event the likes of which it has never seen.

"We are extremely proud to have curated what we feel is the best lineup of new music in the region.

"As our flagship musical event Astral Coast presents us with the opportunity to take the discussion of mental health issues out of the GP's waiting rooms and into the lives of young people across Merseyside.

"It looks certain to be the pinnacle of Merseyside’s musical calendar."

Tickets and updates on this year’s festival are from astralcoast.co.uk.

Box office: 666 0000