MUSIC legend Sir Bob Geldof will officially launch a brand new music venue in Hampshire on Friday (April 29) when he performs with The Boomtown Rats.

Basingstoke’s new premier live performance venue 'Stage' will open its doors for the very first time with three outstanding nights of live music over the May Bank Holiday weekend

Support for The Boomtown Rats will come from BBC’s The Voice finalist, Max Milner.

The 1,500 - capacity venue is built on values of quality entertainment and social responsibility and with its opening weekend of A-list acts across several genres, Stage looks set to have a big impact on Hampshire.

The Saturday, April 30, will be an evening of the finest, fiercest house music, classic anthems, live performances and a full fierce stage show, from Fierce Angel featuring The Freemasons and Mark Doyle, the creator of the world famous Hed Kandi. If you want to be wowed by the most fantastic light, laser and effects show, then this is the one for you.

The Bank Holiday Sunday, May 1, offers an indie-pop spectacular with live music from The Hoosiers and Toploader, as well as local support.

Other upcoming events at Stage include UK Foo Fighters Tribute, Aswad, Sub Focus, Alexander O’Neal and Soul II Soul.

Stage is opening following the refurbishment of a former nightclub in Churchill Way, which had been vacant for two years. It has been transformed into a performance venue to host live music acts.

The venue was previously occupied by Liquid and then Wonderland, which closed in January 2014.

Adam Hornblow, from PSL Limited - a Basingstoke based company which hires sound and light equipment and transforms venues - came up with the idea and will launch it in style with the three-day opening weekend.

Tickets for all Stage events are available via the Stage website and tickets cannot be purchased on the door. For more information please visit www.stage.uk.net or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/stage.basingstoke.