The Specials announce 2011 tour

The Specials are to play in the UK next year as part of a European tour.

Kicking off their string of performances in Amsterdam on September 15th 2011, the ska group will then travel to cities including Berlin, Milan and Paris before heading to Britain.

Taking in 13 UK venues as part of the tour, the band will play their first headline gig on October 11th 2010 at the Wolverhampton Civic Centre, before performing there again the following evening.

Fans in cities including Hull, Glasgow and Plymouth will likely hear the group perform some of their most famous tracks including A Message To You Rudy, Gangsters and Ghost Town, before they round off the tour on November 3rd at London's Alexandra Palace.

The band played a successful set at the 2009 V Festival shows in Staffordshire and Chelmsford, where they were joined on stage by Amy Winehouse, who shared lead vocals with frontman Terry Hall on the track You're Wondering Now.

By Jemma Howard