FORMER Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant has announced a South Cost concert date and confirmed the release of his 11th solo album Carry Fire.

Performing with his band The Space Shifters he will be at Portsmouth Guildhall on Monday December 11.

The new album is released on October 13 via Nonesuch / Warner to accompany the 15-date UK tour.

The follow-up to 2014’s Lullaby And… The Ceaseless Roar the album features backing band The Sensational Shape Shifters (which now includes Seth Lakeman who appeared on three tracks on ‘Carry Fire’), who make their second appearance on record with the rock legend.

Robert Plant first used the phrase “carry fire” in his song Dancing In Heaven from 2005 album Mighty ReArranger. Track titles for the upcoming 11-track release include The May Queen, New World, Carving Up The World Again and A Way With Words. Pretenders vocalist Chrissie Hynde makes a guest appearance on a cover of Bluebirds Over The Mountain, previously recorded by Richie Valens and the Beach Boys.

Robert Plant and the band spent two years on the road together supporting ‘lullaby and...The Ceaseless Roar’, their unique sound and vision ultimately evolving into something even more creative and powerful.?Robert, who lived in Texas for a time before returning to England three years ago, together with his friends, present the songs Carry Fire, melding unusual rhythms with naturalism and smouldering power.?Plant says: “It’s about intention. I respect and relish my past works, but each time I feel the incentive to create new work, I must mix old with new.

“Consequently, the whole impetus of the band has moved on its axis somewhat – the new sound and different space giving way to exciting and dramatic landscapes of mood, melody and instrumentation.”

Tour tickets go on sale on August 25. A pre-order campaign for the album includes the opportunity to gain priority access to concert pre-sales.

For details of how to access the pre-sale visit www.robertplant.com before 23:59 on Sunday August 20. Tickets go on general sale on Friday August 25.