THE news that Blur are coming to Glasgow's Barrowland on June 9 seals the deal - the city is officially set up for a spectacular summer of music.

Early goodies include multiple Grammy-winning guitar hero Mark Knopfler on May 19 and bubbly pop powerhouse S Club 7 on May 20, both at the Hydro.

After their triumphant performance for BBC's Children in Need, S Club are back with an arena tour for the first time in more than a decade, while Knopfler will be playing a mix of new songs and old Dire Straits classics.

"The thing about the old Straits songs is that these things are signposts for people's lives," he says. "Obviously I'll play things differently here and there to keep it alive and meaningful to me, and away from a cabaret thing.

"But there are things, like the twiddly bits at the end of 'Sultans,' - well, if you don't do your twiddly bits, the world's not right for people."

Black Grape: The Comeback Tour rolls into town on June 3, pitching up at The Garage with Shaun Ryder, Danny Saber and Kermit on board and young folk-blues balladeer George Ezra, who blew everyone away with his debut single Budapest, is at the O2 Academy on June 4.

Australian pop-punk-rock band 5 Seconds Of Summer are bringing their Rock Out With Your Socks Out tour to the Hydro on June 1 and the venue will also host rock legends Fleetwood Mac for three glorious nights on June 16 and 17 and July 8.

At the Barrowland, mighty 90s dance project Leftfield return on June 19, while rockers Mogwai celebrate their 20th anniversary with two sell-out shows at the venue on June 20 and 21.

Elton John and his band visit the Hydro on June 19 for the first time since 2011, and the singer is delighted to be back in the city for his 25th show since first taking to the stage at Strathclyde Uni in 1971.

"I have played Glasgow more times than any other city in Scotland since first coming through in 1971 and have always had memorable concerts there," grins Elton.

"We did a rare midnight show during our 1976 tour. I cannot wait to see what this amazing city has in store for us in June, I am sure we will all have a fantastic time."

Singer-songwriter and all-round global superstar Taylor Swift comes to the Hydro on June 23, swiftly followed by John Legend, capping off a remarkable year for him which included a million-plus, platinum selling single All of Me and a worldwide tour, and Hydro summer programme rounds off in sparkling style with Neil Diamond on July 7.

Oran Mor has Mercury Music Prize winners Badly Drawn Boy at the venue on July 28, while Hampden Park will be rocked to its core on June 28, courtesy of metal maestros AC/DC, whose Rock Or Bust World Tour marks their long awaited return to the UK and Ireland.

Other highlights of the next few months include Scottish acoustic pop outfit Belle and Sebastian, who are at the Hydro on May 22, while king of the singer/songwriters Elvis Costello is at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on June 11.

The Glasgow Jazz Festival (June 25 to 29) boasts some big names, including empress of soul Gladys Knight and Scotland's own Eddi Reader.

And legendary music is not just for the summer, it seems, with more big names heading to the city in autumn and winter.

With One Direction in October, Simple Minds in November, Status Quo, Texas and Madonna in December - all at the Hydro - and it looks like 2015 is shaping up to be a great year for music in Glasgow.

For more information and to book tickets, check with the venues:

Barrowland www.glasgow-barrowland.com

SSE Hydro www.thessehydro.com

The Garage www.garageglasgow.com

02 Academy www.o2academyglasgow.co.uk

Oran Mor www.oran-mor.co.uk

Hampden Park www.hampdenpark.co.uk

Glasgow Jazz Festival www.jazzfest.co.uk

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall www.glasgowconcerthalls.com