Mouthy, shouty, Libertine-referencing Manc indie rockers The Courteeners have announced a series of March 2010 dates in addition to the two winter gigs already announced.

Following in the footsteps of established arena acts like the Manic Street Preachers and fellow Mancunians James, the Middleton quartet are playing the vast Manchester Central venue (formerly G-Mex) on Friday 11 December. A warm-up gig takes place at the more modest Parr Hall in Warrington on Wednesday 9 December.

A short but thorough tour of 14 dates will follow in the spring, starting on Thursday 4 March in Hull and closing just over three weeks later at the O2 Academy in Leeds on Friday 26 March. In between, the truculent rockers will be packing venues and shouting the odds from Lincoln to Liverpool and from Oxford to Blackpool, to name but a few.

The band's second album - the follow up to 2008's hugely successful St Jude - is scheduled for release in February 2010 and the dates will no doubt be a further opportunity to blood the new material ahead of a busy summer of festivals.

In addition, Liam Fray and co will be giving away new song 'Cross My Heart And Hope To Fly' as a free download via their official website - www.thecourteeners.com - from 7 December, ahead of what is set to be big year for the band.

Tickets go on sale today at 9.30AM.