IT IS always a bit of a moment when Teenage Fanclub announce they will be playing live.

The news that the much-adored Scottish landmark indie band (well, part of it, at least) is the latest act to sign up to FRETS Acoustic is bound to send fans into meltdown.

The new monthly gig series, which features big names in off-the-beaten track venues, is picking up steam, following fantastic events featuring singer-songwriters Lloyd Cole and James Grant.

Organiser Douglas MacIntyre, of Love and Money, The Secret Goldfish and more, is delighted that TFC’s Norman Blake and Euros Childs, who joined the group last year, will kick off the 2020 season at the Strathaven Hotel on February 21.

“It’s pretty exciting,” he admits.

“I’m a massive fan of their work, and have been following Norman and Teenage Fanclub since I saw them supporting Neil Young and Crazy Horse in Glasgow.

“I’ve bought all the albums by Euros’ group, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci - their unique brand of Welsh psychedelic pop has always intrigued me – and his forthcoming solo album, Gingerbread House Explosion, is a cracker.”

Douglas adds: “The impact of Teenage Fanclub on the Scottish music scene has been massive.

“They seemed to take the essence of the Postcard Records scene (Orange Juice / Aztec Camera / Go Betweens / Jazzateers / The Bluebells), and develop that aesthetic into a sound that gained international success.”

Read more: "I'll be playing tunes from all the dark corners of my time in showbiz" - James Grant interview

Norman and Euros will be performing in Strathaven as Jonny, the collaborative project they set up in 2011.

“We are really excited to be playing together again as Jonny,” says Norman.

“We will be playing songs from our first album and a few choice covers too...and look out for a couple of guest appearances....”

Douglas admits his love of TFC is a family affair.

His wife, musician and singer Katy Lironi, loves Teenage Fanclub and Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci so much she gave birth to her son at home with a Gorky’s album playing in the background, and the couple walked down the aisle to Norman’s recording of the Beach Boys’ Only With You.

“His recording appeared on a Beach Boys tribute album - Caroline Now - which also featured the group Katy and I played in, The Secret Goldfish, doing a version of the Beach Boys’ Big Sur,” grins Douglas.

“So yes, you could say we are both really excited about this concert.”

Both FRETS Acoustic gigs have been sell-outs so far, and it looks like this one will follow suit.

“Tickets are already selling really quickly, which is fantastic,” adds Douglas.

Read more: Lloyd Cole kicks off Frets Acoustic season

“When I started this, it felt like a real coup getting Lloyd Cole to be our opening artist, especially as it was the first night of his world tour.

“I’ve got lots of interesting artists lined up for 2020 - watch this space...”

Support on February 21 will be provided by KIDD, aka Stuart Kidd, of Glasgow band The Wellgreen, who has also played with the likes of BMX Bandits and The Pearlfishers.

Norman Blake was part of the burgeoning Bellshill scene that revolved around the BMX Bandits from the mid-80s onwards.

His first single was released with The Boy Hairdressers in 1986 on the 53rd and 3rd label.

Teenage Fanclub were formed in 1989, and soon captured public attention with a Blake composition, Everything Flows, and their debut album A Catholic Education.

The mighty Bandwagonesque followed in 1991 on the Creation label, bringing the group international success. Several more critically acclaimed albums followed over the next decade and in 2005, they established their own label, PeMa.

The most recent Teenage Fanclub album, Here, was released to commercial and critical acclaim in 2016.

Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci came to prominence with the release of Patio in 1992, releasing further albums on Welsh-language label Ankst before signing with Fontana Records for their Barafundle album in 1997.

The idiosyncratic vocals, keyboards, and songs of Euros Childs continued to drive Gorky’s forward, until their final album release, Sleep/Holiday, in 2003.

Euros Childs released his debut solo album (Chops) in 2006 shorty after the official split of Gorky’s was announced.

His solo output since then has been prodigious, releasing at least one new album each year.

Norman Blake and Euros Childs worked together on a joint project - Jonny - and released an eponymously titled album in 2011.

Tickets for Frets Acoustic on February 21, featuring Norman Blake and Euros Child, plus support from 7pm, are only available from the Frets Creative website.

Find out more at www.fretscreative.com