One of the original and iconic groups to emerge from Liverpool in the early 1980s are heading to the Isle of Man later this year.

The Icicle Works, led by the enigmatic frontman and songwriter Ian McNabb, are performing at the Promenade Suite at the Villa Marina on Saturday, October 26.

The group are on tour commemorating both the date of the release of the first self-titled Icicle Works album and also the 25th anniversary of Ian’s solo album, ’Head Like A Rock’, which came out in 1994, which was nominated for the Mercury Music prize in that year.

The group will treat their island fans to a mammoth two and a half hour set of their greatest hits, along side a selection of Ian’s own numbers, taken from his 12 solo albums.

Having been in existence for more than 35 years, there has been a recent resurgence in the interest of the work of McNabb and the Icicle Works, following the inclusion of one of their songs in the hit 80s-themed television horror series ’Stranger Things’.

Their 1984 song, ’Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream)’, featured on one episode of the show and saw the popularity of the group rise on both sides of the Atlantic.

The icicle works emerged from the influential post-punk wave of groups that included Echo And The Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, Wah!, OMD and the Lightening Seeds, amongst many others.

Unlike many of their contemporaries, they found success in America, and became one of the pivotal sounds of the 80s across the Atlantic.

Ian has also recently released his latest solo album, ’Our Future In Space’, which features his latest single, ’Aquamarine’, written with the former REM guitarist Peter Buck.

His former solo albums have featured collaborations with a wide variety of musicians, including Professor Brian Cox on 2017’s Star Smile Strong.

’Head Like A Rock’ features members of Neil Young’s backing band, Crazy Horse, making Ian the only UK musician to have recorded with them.

He has also performed with the Waterboys singer Mike Scott and ex-Beatle and fellow Liverpudlian Ringo Starr.

Tickets for the Icicle Works are £21, available online from villagaiety.com