A stampede is expected today as tickets go on sale for an eagerly-awaited outdoor concert by Madness in the county.

Madness are set to perform at the Spitfire Ground at St Lawrence in Canterbury later this year as part of the UK’s biggest ever live open air tour.

The iconic group will perform at the home of Kent Cricket Club on Friday, September 11 2015.

Many fans have already taken to social networks to express their excitement that ticket lines have opened today (Friday, February 20) at 9am: 'Up and ready to get #GrandslamMadness tickets! #onestepbeyond' tweeted @kyle_wilkinson this morning.

Making its concert announcement earlier this week, the band said: “Come see, come see! The world’s strongest band perform incredible feats live! Marvel as Madness lift an enormous set of polished pop songs high in the air, single handed!

"The UK's biggest open air tour ever! Rolling into a town near you, soon.”

The tour, which runs from May to September 2015, will take in 19 shows at some of the greatest sporting venues around the country, including racecourses, cricket grounds, rugby and football stadiums.

These shows promise to offer concert-goers the unique experience of an outdoor event with a festival vibe, set within huge green spaces including the Spitfire Ground.

It will also be a great chance to perform to a home crowd of sorts for frontman Suggs, who spends much time in Whitstable - which has been home for two generations to the family of his wife, Anne - and is a supporter of Whitstable Lifeboat Station.

Madness will be performing all their quirky ska-based pop classics in Canterbury such as House of Fun, Baggy Trousers and My Girl as well as some of their new songs, their first new recordings in three years.

Kent Cricket CEO, Jamie Clifford, said: "We are looking forward to hosting Madness at Canterbury later this year and once again being a concert host.

"With Suggs being a local Whitstable resident it will be a bit of a homecoming and I am sure the locals will welcome him and the Madness boys with a great deal of enthusiasm.

"With Suggs being a local Whitstable resident it will be a bit of a homecoming and I am sure the locals will welcome him and the Madness boys" - Jamie Clifford

"We are expecting tickets to sell out quickly and anticipate that this event will firmly
secure us as one of the regions premier venues for music."

The concert promises to be a once in a lifetime opportunity for Kent fans to see one of the most feel-good bands in the world play at the historic Spitfire Ground.

Gates will open at 4pm on Friday, September 11. General tickets cost £35 and family tickets cost £99 two adults and two children up to the age of 16. Ticket bundles to the Gladness Beer Garden, exclusive tour t-shirt, and commemorative glass cost £55.

Tickets are now on sale from www.ticketmaster.co.uk, www.grandslammadness.co.uk, www.lizhobbsgroup.com

For hospitality bookings visit www.kentcricket.co.uk or phone 01227 456 886.