RACHEL BULLER Fans of the Darkness will be treated to a special up close and personal gig in Norwich it was announced today.

RACHEL BULLER

Fans of the Darkness will be treated to a special up close and personal gig in Norwich it was announced today.

The group, who hail from Lowestoft, are playing a string of gigs at major venues across the country, but have chosen a homecoming concert at the University of East Anglia as their only warm-up date for the tour.

Tickets for the gig, which is on Thursday January 26, went on sale today and are expected to sell out quickly, with a limit of only four per person.

It will be the first time the band have played in the county with new band member Richie Edwards, after original bassist Frankie Pullain left the band last Spring, midway through recording their latest album, One Way Ticket to Hell and Back.

The band are renowned for their electric live shows and the warm up gig will give fans a chance to enjoy a glimpse of what to expect from their latest tour, but in a small intimate environment with a fraction of the crowd.

Their last show at the UEA sold out instantly with tickets exchanging hands for several hundred pounds.

Lycra-clad frontman Justin Hawkins, brother and guitarist Dan and drummer Ed Graham have made regular visits to their home town of Lowestoft since hitting the big time with the massive selling album Permission to Land in 2003.

The phenomenally successful debut helped sweep them to three Brits last year and an Ivor Novello award and brought them worldwide success.

Their latest album peaked at number 11 in the charts before Christmas, and their first single taken from it, also entitled One Way Ticket to Hell and Back, got to number eight.

Tickets, costing £22, are available from the UEA box office on 01603 508050 or www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk