HIP hop superstar Nelly will perform a 30-minute set at a Darwen nightclub this year, it has been announced.

The American rapper, best known for number one hits including Hot in Herre and Dilemma featuring Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland, will be live at Level One in Market Street in April.

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The Grammy Award-winner’s performance will come on the back of gigs featuring dance act Cascada next month and Fatman Scoop, whose song Be Faithful went to number one in 2003, who will perform this Saturday night.

Club owner Leon Kelly said confirmation of the Texas-born star’s performance in the town was the culmination of four months of hard work.

He said: “Nelly was meant to be performing in the North West but it fell through and the organisers gave me a call to ask if I could put him on.

“This is going to be huge for the town and for the Level One brand as now we have had Grandmaster Flash, Backstreet Boys and Jess Glynne, all of whom are Grammy Award-winners.

“And we have Fatman Scoop and Cascada coming who have also scooped these top awards.

“This high level of acts we are putting on now is really exciting and it benefits the whole town as people will come from all over and go in the pubs and restaurants in the town.”

Nelly’s performance in the town is part of a Europe-wide tour that will see him perform in London and Amsterdam before flying back for the one-off gig.

Mr Kelly said he intended to continue bringing the biggest names in the industry to Darwen.

He said: “Last year was about us seeing how it would go and how Darwen works and this year we wanted to just go for it and get these big acts.

“I am already in talks with other big names so we want this to just be the start.

“Now we have a pedigree for bringing in these big names we are in a position for promoters to come to us with more stars in the future.”

Nelly will perform on Tuesday, April 7, while Cascada’s gig is on March 28.

Tickets for all three gigs are available from www.levelonenightclub.co.uk