Undertones To Celebrate Guinness's 250th

The Derry band that launched its own ground-breaking punk sound decades ago are to be among the big music names at this year's Guinness birthday celebrations.

The Undertones will join the likes of classic British dance chart-toppers Soul II Soul to raise their glasses to the drink's founder, Arthur Guinness.

The Black Eyed Peas and rockers Kasabian are also among music stars lining up for global concerts to toast 250 years of Guinness this autumn.

The gigs, celebrating the birth of the black stuff, take place on September 24 in Dublin, New York, Lagos, Cameroon and Kuala Lumpur.

The main event however will be at Dublin's legendary St James' Gate Brewery, where Guinness signed his 9,000 year lease a quarter of a millennium ago.

Estelle, Kasabian, The Wombats, D'Banj, renowned Belfast DJ David Holmes, Mongrel, Noah & the Whale and Johnny Flynn have also been signed up.

The main concert will take place at the Guinness Storehouse and will be streamed live via Sky television to thousands of pubs throughout the UK on the day.

There will be other events at bars and clubs in Dublin while the Black Eyed Peas will be playing at the Asian gig.

Celebrities including Sir Bob Geldof, Guy Ritchie, Jerry Hall and Sophie Dahl have also been organised to raise a pint at a minute before 6pm (Dublin time) in recognition of the achievements of Arthur Guinness and his family.

Guinness will also set up a five million euro (£4.5 million) Arthur Guinness Fund for good causes to mark the milestone.

(BMcC/JM)