One of the biggest UK pop band from the 1980s heads to the Villa Marina next week.

Level 42 are appearing in the Royal Hall on Thursday, September 5, with doors opening at 7.30pm.

The long-running soul, funk and pop group, who scored successive hits on both sides of the Atlantic during their mid-80s heyday, have now been in existence for nearly 40 years, having first formed in the Isle of Wight in 1979.

The group are led by singer and bass player Mark King, who developed a highly idiosyncratic style of slap-bass playing, which helped define their distinctive and classic sound.

Among their 18 top 40 singles are the chart hits ’Lessons in Love’, ’Something About You’, ’Leaving Me Now’, ’Running in the Family’, and ’Hot Water’.

After a period of unsettled line-up changes, the group, which still feature original keyboardist and singer Mike Lindup, have embarked on their ’Eternity’ tour, which will keep them on the road until 2020.

’Touring with the band this year has been about as much fun as I can remember having had on the road,’ said Mark recently.

’If you had asked me way back in 1980 if I thought we would be selling out theatres around the world when I was 60 years old I probably would have laughed!’

Tickets for Level 42 are £29.50, available from the Welcome Centre and the Villa Gaiety box office on 600555, and online from villagaiety.com