Funnyman Russell Howard has been named as the first comedian to perform at the new Aberdeen exhibition centre.
Teca – The Event Complex Aberdeen – will be home to a “world class” 12,500-capacity arena when it opens next year.
And the 38-year-old stand-up comic and TV personality will be among the first to grace its stage when he takes his Respite tour to the Granite City on September 20.
Teca and AECC managing director Nick Waight said: “It’s great to get the ball rolling with our first comedian announced to play Teca next year, and especially one we know is always a favourite with the north-east audience.
“With less than a year to go until the opening of Teca, we’ve got some exciting bookings in the diary and we look forward to sharing details of these soon.”
Howard performed to a sold-out AECC last year – and stuck around long enough to have a few drinks and a kebab with fans in the city centre afterwards.
Aberdeen City Council co-leader Douglas Lumsden said: “It’s fantastic that Russell Howard is announced today as the first comedy act for TECA as he was a sell-out when he was at the current venue last year.
“He is the quality of act which will help to attract people from the north-east and beyond to Teca, which is one of our aims for the new venue.”
Earlier this year The Press and Journal revealed that rocker Rod Stewart will stop in Aberdeen next year for the only Scottish date on his upcoming tour.
Performing on a special outdoor stage at the AECC on June 12, it is thought he may be the centre’s last performer before operations move to Teca.