Boy band on course for UK dates during world tour

The chart-toppers yesterday released the first details of their Where We Are Tour at London’s Wembley Stadium, one of five venues chosen for appearances in the UK and Ireland.

Band member Harry Styles said: “It feels crazy to be announcing this in the first place – every time we walk into one of these places (Wembley), we think it’s absolutely huge.

“The concept of doing a gig in a place like Wembley is incredible. We’re very excited.”

Band member Niall Horan said online yesterday: “En route to make the announcement! Can’t wait! Literally soo excited!”

The first leg of the tour will see the What Makes You Beautiful singers visit Latin America, opening in Colombia on April 25.

They will then make five appearances in the UK and Ireland – Dublin’s Croke Park, Sunderland’s Stadium of Light and the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, before heading to Scotland for a gig at Murrayfield in Edinburgh and a return to Wembley.

Tickets go on sale on May 25.

The announcement sparked a surge of excitement online – when a predictable social media frenzy saw the subject trending on Twitter where the announcement prompted delight among Styles’s 12.9 million followers.

The One Direction website was apparently unable to cope at one time. A message said: “We’re updating stuff... Back soon, shouldn’t be more than 30 mins.”

Styles later hinted that the band may also play elsewhere.

“We cannot believe we’re announcing a tour in 2014.

“Latin America, UK, Ireland... Rest of the world, keep your ears open,” he wrote.

One Direction shot to fame after coming third in the 2010 series of the X Factor, where they lost out to singer-songwriter Matt Cardle.

However, the five-piece ensemble has gone on to eclipse the eventual winner, enjoying a string of top 10 singles, recording two hit albums.

They are now about to release their first film, 1D3D.

The band – who said they are all big football fans – stressed that additional appearances during the world tour would be announced later.

Horan said: “We’re incredibly excited to announce we’re doing a worldwide stadium tour in 2014.

“We’re three years into it (being a band), so stepping out to an audience of 65,000 a night is incredible.”

The announcement comes in the middle of the band’s current tour, which saw them appear in Switzerland last night. They are due on stage in Germany today.

Asked about what fans – known as Directioners – can expect next year, Styles said: “It’s important that the fans know it’s not the same tour going around again in stadiums.

“We want to make the stage bigger, with new songs. It’s going to be a completely different tour and a lot of fun.”

The band also confirmed that a new album will be released later this year.