James will open this year's Glastonbury Festival.
Tim Booth
The Manchester rock group - including frontman Tim Booth, Jim Glennie and Larry Gott - will be the first act to grace the Other Stage playing the early risers 11am slot on Friday June 24 at Worthy Farm in Somerset, south west England.
Tim told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We're going to cut the ribbon and smash the champagne on the ship."
The 'Sit Down' hitmakers' bass player Jim thinks it's "admirable" that festival organisers Emily and Michael Eavis take a "risk" with the musicians they choose to head up the prestigious music extravaganza.
He said: "I don't know how you judge the suitability... They always want to take a risk, which is admirable, like stick Metallica on and see what happens.
"[But] the most interesting things happen maybe not on the main stage. I look more for things that are hidden away."
PJ Harvey, Jeff Lynne's ELO and ZZ Top are also set to play at the music festival.
Another lineup announcement is due next month.
What'sn more, James look set to achieve their first number one album in 18 years with their latest LP 'Girl At The End Of The World'.
The band - which also consists of David Baynton-Power, Saul Davies, Mark Hunter, Andy Diagram - are only 2,000 combined sales away from knocking Adele's '25' of the top spot of the UK midweek charts this week.
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