Arctic Monkeys will showcase material from their third studio album at a secret show in New Zealand next month, according to reports.

The band, who have been recording alongside Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, will perform at a venue in Wellington on January 13th.

The gig comes just three days before they're due to play at the Big Day Out festival.

“It was supposed to be a secret. The lucky few fans in Wellington were going to arrive thinking they were attending a little warm-up gig before the Big Day Out festival kicks off in Auckland on January 16,” a source told the Sun newspaper.

“But, in fact, they will be the first to hear the new album. The lads have basically finished it.

“They just need to return to the studio to apply some finishing touches early next year.”

At present, it's not clear when the band intend to release the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2007's 'Favourite Worst Nightmare'.

(by Jason Gregory)