The Charlatans are to play a gig at sea.

The group's Tim Burgess and Mark Collins will perform an acoustic set on privately owned Spitbank Fort - which was recently converted to an exclusive venue about one mile from The Coast of Portsmouth - on June 21 as a warm-up for their appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival a few days later.

Tim said: ''One-off gigs are often in pretty cool venues but this might just top the lot: a fort in the sea to keep Napoleon out. I had to look it up and it's even crazier than I'd imagined. Mark and I can't wait. Who'd have thought there'd be somewhere between the mainland and the Isle of Wight Festival?''

The show will also mark 15 years since the release of the group's 'Tellin' Stories' album.

Absolute Radio will broadcast the event, as well as airing interviews with the band.

The station's breakfast show DJ Christian O'Connell said: ''What better way for Tim and Mark from The Charlatans to celebrate 15 years since 'Tellin' Stories' by performing on a private fort in the middle of the sea. It's what rock-n-roll dreams are made of.''

Just 60 fans will be in attendance for the show.