George Ezra has announced dates as part of Forest Live, the summer concert series organised by the Forestry Commission.

One of the biggest selling male artists of the decade, he will be at Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury, on Sunday, June 17.

The announcement heralds a big year for George, ahead of the release of his highly anticipated, soon-to-be-announced second album in March.

His debut album Wanted On Voyage is certified 4x platinum in the UK, and was amongst the top 10 biggest selling artist albums in this country in both 2014 and 2015, reaching #1 in the Official UK Chart and spending 122 weeks in the chart overall.

In little more than 18 months he went from virtual unknown to one of the international breakthrough artists of recent times: taking in a top 10 album in 10 countries; three sold out UK tours; nominations for four BRITs, one BBC Music Award and an Ivor Novello.

George returned last summer with a new single Don’t Matter Now and the sold out, tongue-in-cheek-titled TOP SECRET Tour, and a summer of festival performances at Glastonbury, V Festival, TRNSMT and the Isle of Wight, amongst others.

The announcement comes after Forest Live announced their second headline act in November, when Dublin's finest, The Script, were revealed to be joining this year's line-up on Thursday, June 14.

Danny O'Donoghue for The Script said, “We love performing as part of Forest Live. It will be our fourth trip to Thetford Forest and we look forward to making our debut at Westonbirt Arboretum. We hope you can join us to rock in this unique atmosphere.”

The Script have sold more than 29 million records. Their latest release, Freedom Child, topped the UK Official Albums Chart and scored the band their fourth UK No 1 album.

Lead single Rain picked up phenomenal radio airplay and the video has been viewed more than 24 million times.

This success replicates earlier outings with albums such as The Script, Science and Faith, and No Sound Without Silence and anthemic pop/rock singles including We Cry, The Man Who Can’t Be Moved, For The First Time, Hall Of Fame (featuring will.i.am) and Superheroes.

The Irish three-piece are also one of the biggest live acts, having sold more than 1.4 million tickets across 203 headline shows.

The band will also be joined this year by Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott as the headline act on the Friday night stage, who were the first act to be announced.

Income generated from ticket sales helps look after the nation’s forests sustainably, for people to enjoy and wildlife to thrive.

Tickets costing £34.50 (plus £3.95 booking fee) will go on sale from 9am on Friday from the Forestry Commission box office tel 03000 680400, or buy online at www.forestry.gov.uk/music