DONEGAL is gearing for a visit from musical royalty later this month when founding members of two of the most influential bands of all time take to the stage at the Balor Theatre.

The Smiths drummer Mike Joyce and legendary Oasis guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs are set to play a double-bill DJ set at a Manchester Legends night in the newly refurbished Balor on Sunday August 17.

Mike Joyce was a founding member and drummer of indie kingpins The Smiths throughout the band's existence. They are arguably the most famous band on an international platform that Manchester has ever produced.

Critics have called The Smiths one of the most important alternative rock bands to emerge from the British independent music scene of the 1980s and the group has had major influence on subsequent major artists.

Immediately after the break-up of the band, Joyce and Smiths bassist Andy Rourke toured the world with Sinéad O'Connor. Throughout the 90's Mike played with punk icons The Buzzcocks, John Lydon's Public Image Limited, Julian Cope, PP Arnold and Pete Wylie. He currently plays drums with the excellent Autokat, presents a very popular show on UK radio station The Revolution and DJ's in clubs all over the world.

Paul Arthurs was one of the founding members of Oasis and played rhythm guitar from 1991-1999. He is almost exclusively known by his nickname Bonehead.

A multi-instrumentalist, Arthurs is credited as having played piano and mellotron on (What's the Story) Morning Glory? and can be seen on piano in the video for 'Don't Look Back in Anger'.

On top of his role as musician he also fulfilled the vital role of band diplomat, saying "If it ever kicked off between Noel and Liam I was never scared to dive in. I was renowned for it."

Noel, who is Godfather to his eldest child, once said about him, "being in a band with Bonehead is not miserable, 'cos that guy is like Peter Sellers and Rigsby combined, with less morals than either of them - he's just outrageous."

Arthurs left the band in 1999, during the recording of Oasis' fourth album, Standing on the Shoulder of Giants claiming that he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Bonehead has now swapped the guitar for the decks and has been playing DJ sets in clubs around the globe. His playlist heavily features Oasis classics like Live Forever, and collaborations between the Gallagher brothers and artists like Death in Vegas and The Chemical Brothers.

He also presents a radio show on BBC Radio Manchester with ex-The Word presenter Terry Christian, Natalie Eve and Michelle Hussey. The show is Manchester Music and has had fellow Manchester artists as guests including members of Happy Mondays, The Smiths and The Charlatans.

Local indie stars John Brennan and Daithi Ramsay are also on the bill, for one of the most exciting nights of alternative music to ever take place in the Twin Towns.

Doors open at 9pm and admission is ¤20.

Tickets are available from the Balor Arts Centre, Ballybofey (00353) 07491 30831 and Universal Records Letterekenny (00353) 074 91 28899.