The Forestry Commission Live music-season has already got off to a cracking start, with two key 80s bands already confirmed for a tour of the various arboretums, forests and pinetums next Summer. As previously reported, Erasure and Simple Minds will both be playing greatest hits sets, as well as new songs throughout their magnificent seven date tours (see below for dates).

However, the treetops and rolling hills will reverberate to more one-off concerts next year, starting with Scouting For Girls at the Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire on 19th June. After racking up another successful album with "Everybody Wants To Be On TV", as well as a number one single ("This Ain't a Love Song"), the London boys are ready to hit the live scene next year with a vengeance. And just to prove what a sense of fun they have for the great outdoors, the trio donned trouser-clips and cycle-helmets for a charity Chopper ride from London to Brighton last summer, in aid of Wellchild (children's charity - www.wellchild.org.uk - the band are also on tour earlier in 2011 (see below).

Also seemingly keen on all matters green is Manchester's The Courteeners who will be blasting the birds out of the trees (not literally folks) on 2nd July. Liam Fray and the boys are keeping it local with their choice of location, this time at Delamare Forest in Cheshire. They too have been busy releasing new material this year, including the Top 10 album "Falcon" and the recent EP, "Electric Lick", a selection of album tracks and three new songs including a cover of "Zero" (Yeah Yeah Yeahs).

Tickets for both of these concerts go on sale this Friday at 9am with Scouting For Girls priced at £28 and Courteeners at £25. Special guests will be announced for both events very soon.