IN their first Blackburn gigs, fans of The Burn had to crowd under hairdriers. However, their latest concert in their hometown should see the popular guitar band sell out Blackburn's most prestigious venue -- King George's Hall.

That alone is a sign of just how far the group has come.

Having impressed the likes of Badly Drawn Boy, Oasis and Paul Weller, The Burn are hotly tipped in music circles to be the next big thing.

However, vocalist Danny Davidson said he always had faith in the group's talent.

"We always had a belief in what we were doing. We always believed we were good.

"Without sounding arrogant, we are fans of our own music.

"I think you have to be, because there are so many people who want to knock you down."

The Burn haven't received too many knocks, however, during their short time in the limelight.

Huge acclaim surrounded the release of their first album Sally O'Mattress, released in March, and their new single, Big Blue Sky, is expected to attract similar attention.

Danny said: "Everyone's been saying it's one of the outstanding tracks on the album. It was an obvious single choice.

"But we try not to take too much notice of the critics. We think we are the best judges of our own music.

"If they're good reviews, you can get a bit carried away."

It would be quite easy for The Burn to get carried away, considering their humble beginnings playing in a hairdressing salon.

The five-piece band -- guitarists Danny, Mick Spencer and Graham Rodgerson, bassist Jason Place and drummer Lee Walsh -- all used to hang around together in the Feniscowles and Livesey areas of Blackburn

Danny said: "We got to know each other in our teens, through music and football -- we were all Blackburn Rovers fans.

"My girlfriend owns the Hair Gallery on Redlam and we used to go round there on Friday nights and have a bit of a jam.

"Sometimes our pals would come round and have a bit of a listen. It used to get pretty busy with everyone sitting under the hairdriers!"

A friend managed to fix up a recording date for the band in Badly Drawn Boy's studio, where they recorded their first demo.

The rest of their story reads like a fairytale. After being snapped up by a record company, they then joined the likes of Oasis, Paul Weller and Ian Brown on tour.

However, Danny thinks it is time for the band to stand on their own two feet.

"You can almost suffer from being associated with big names like that too much. It has stood us in good stead, but you can't go on living on the back of their success."

Instead, The Burn are busy creating their own success story -- and nowhere is that more apparent that in their home town.

Danny said: "We're all up for a good gig and this is always the best in the country. It's always really special playing in Blackburn."

The special, one-off gig will take place at King George's Hall on Sunday, June 15.

Tickets, available from King George's box office, HMV, Reidy's, The Witton Hair Gallery and Action Records, Preston, will cost £10 in advance and £12 on the door.

Call (01254) 582582 for details.

Big Blue Sky was released on Monday.