Three major acts, including one of the highest-selling UK artists of the past ten years, have been announced to play in the island during 2018.

James Blunt, Jake Bugg and the 80s electro-pop group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark have all been booked to appear at the Royal Hall, Villa Marina throughout next year.

Undoubtedly, the biggest name of the three is that of James Blunt.

The singer/song-writing balladeer has enjoyed a hugely successful 15-year career, and has to this date sold more that 20 million records around the world.

He shot to fame in 2004 with his worldwide hit single, ’You’re Beautiful’, which went to the number one spot in the UK, America and many other countries.

His subsequent album, ’Back To Bedlam’, went on to sell 11 million copies.

Now on his fifth album, the recently-released ’The Afterlove, Blunt remains hugely popular.

He is to appear on Monday, June 18, with tickets costing between £45 and £55.

Although he is also a solo singer/songwriter, the difference between Blunt and Jake Bugg could not be more stark.

Bugg appeared in 2012, aged just 18, with a self-titled debut album packed full of defiant working class anthems, and has remained a constant presence ever since.

His second album, ’Shangri La’ cemented his signature electrifying sound, a blend of countrified rock, folk and skiffle, and led to further success.

He has also just released his fourth album, ’Hearts That Strain’.

Jake Bugg appears on Thursday, February 22, with tickets priced at £22.50 each.

Just two days before that, synth-pop legends OMD will appear on the island.

One of the pioneering Merseyside groups in the very early days of electronic music, OMD are best known for their charts hits ’Enola Gay’, ’Joan of Ark’, ’Electricity’ and ’Maid of Orleans’.

They reformed in 2006 and have released their 13th album, ’The Punishment of Luxury.

They will be at the Villa on Tuesday, February 20, with tickets priced at £37.50 each.

All tickets go on general sale tomorrow (Friday), from 8am online, through villagaiety.com over by phoning 600555, or in person from 9am.