Irish punk legends The Undertones will be one of the main headliners at a live music festival in Chester this summer.

Chester Live will take over numerous venues in the city when it runs from June 17-19, with a mix of local and established acts taking to the stage.

The festival is the brainchild of Dan Read, who set it up because he thought there should be a Chester-wide event to celebrate the live music coming out of the city and its surrounding areas.

In its second year for 2016, Dan has so far managed to confirm venues for this year’s event, including Telfords, The Bouverie and Alexanders and The Shropshire Arms to name just a few.

The first band to be confirmed are Teenage Kicks rockers The Undertones, now fronted by Paul McLoone rather than original singer Feargal Sharkey, at The Live Rooms on June 17. The Derry lads first played Chester in April 1979, at the Smartyz club.

Some of the Chester Live team, including Dan Read, pictured at the back

Dan, who is funding the non-profit festival himself, told The Chronicle: “There’ll be focus on acts from Chester and the surrounding areas, mixed in with established touring acts from over the UK and beyond.

“Some of the shows are ticketed events, but there will be a number of free entry events across the city over the festival weekend. We’re still in talks with other venues across Chester, and are interested in talking to any businesses who are interested in hosting an event over that weekend,” he added.

And Dan is hoping the people of Chester will support what he describes as an ‘an exciting weekend of live entertainment’.

“I’m grateful to councillor Martyn Delaney who has shown great interest in the festival in, and is helping to drum up support for the festival within the council,” he said. “I hope any support they can offer will help the festival grow and become a mainstay in the city’s cultural calendar.

“Whatever people are into, we’ll have it for them at some point over the festival weekend.”