THE Lancashire Hotpots, who play Sunday’s headline slot at Darwen Live, are promising to serve up another tasty dollop of flat-capped, sing-along fun.

“We absolutely love festivals. We’ve played PieFest, BarmFest, PieBarmfest, Glastonbury and Beatherder, but we’ve never done Darwen Live, and it is going to be a ‘reet good do I think,” said Hotpots leader Bernard Thresher.

“When we played Glastonbury, we had an album called Achtung Gravy and U2 headlined. We saw this guy down the front who was wearing a T-shirt, ‘Say no to Bono — come and see the Hotpots.

“Somebody said that Bono had sneaked down to have a look — but when he heard that we wanted a 60-40 split on the fees, he scarpered quick.”

Life has certainly been pretty bizarre for the 30-something comedy folksters since they hit on the idea of lampooning local folkies the Houghton Weavers six years ago.

When their debut album, Never Mind The Hotpots, landed at number one on the comedy music chart and number two on BBC6 album chart, their gigs began to sell out faster than a whippet on roller skates.

Not bad for a four-piece singing about great Lancashire institutions as the Chippy Tea, weekly line-dancing and pints of foamy mild.

“The whole thing is bonkers,” added Bernard.

“I work in a car factory in Coventry during the week, so it all feels like a dream when you get big bands who’ve I’ve always loved telling me that The Hotpots are their favourite band.”

Hilariously, Bernard says the Hotpots’ musical influences include Magnetic Man, Roni Size, plump DJs and the bloke who plays outside Boots with his dog.

“I think the turning point was when we were taken prisoner by Hell's Angels and made to learn Back in Black by AC/DC on the nose flute before they’d release us,” he said.

“We had to cancel two gigs because of that, one at West Sutton Labour Club and the other at a small pagan wedding.

“We were especially looking forward to the wedding as we’d recreated our Hotpot costumes out of twigs and leaves, a bit like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Waistcoast, made by John Craven and the Countryfile team.”

The Hotpots front man admits the band are already looking forward to their return to the Ribble Valley’s Beat-Herder festival in July.

“Beat-Herder is immense — everybody should go,” he added.

“We were finishing our set last time and a bloke whispered in my ear, ‘Bernard, can you introduce Mr Motivator?'

“I’m thinking, ‘What is going on? Suddenly, this guy in a stretchy, green leotard raced on to the stage and began doing a mad work-out.

“I said, ‘What’s wrong with steak pudding, peas and gravy in a tray washed down with a cup of ‘Lancashire char, lad?

“That would sort you out. You should have seen his face.”

  • The Lancashire Hotpots play Darwen Live on Sunday from 7.30pm to 9pm and Burnley Mechanics on June 8.