RISING stars of the indie world Toy Horses open their UK tour in Blackburn on April 8 with further North West dates in Liverpool on April 14 and Manchester on April 15.

Toy Horses, an unlikely pairing of Adam Franklin and his stepfather Tom WIlliams, created a stir at last year’s SXSW festival in Texas.

The Welsh band, whose debut album is due for release on April 11, are hotly tipped by many to break into the mainstream with their inventive, exciting and instant indie gems.

Early demos received plays in the UK from Radio 1, 6 Music and Xfm, and their melody-fuelled, radio-ready songs instantly came to the attention of US radio guru Nic Harcourt (the man who helped launch Coldplay’s career in the states) who invited the band to perform at his SXSW showcase.

Nic went on to proclaim the band as his highlight of the festival and invited them to perform a session on his KCRW radio show in LA.

Their songs also caught the ear of Wilco's Ken Coomer who contacted the band personally offering to produce their debut album.

Having accepted Coomer’s offer the band returned to the US shortly after SXSW, where they were joined in their Nashville studio by Ken and Jim Bogois (Counting Crows, Sheryl Crow) on drums and Tim Marks (Taylor Swift & Jewel) on bass, helping to take their very British sound to another level entirely.

They've also been approached by J.R Rotem's Beluga Heights Records in L.A. to write for artists like Jason Derulo and Sean Kingston.

* Toy Horses play Live Lounge in Blackburn on Friday, April 8, Mojo in Liverpool on Thursday, April 14 and Fac 251 in Manchester on Friday, April 15.