HOTLY-TIPPED Blackburn melody makers Tompaulin are expected to keep the record company scouts busy when they play in Manchester later this month.

The six-piece, four of whom are from Blackburn, are set to play underground venue the Manchester Roadhouse on Saturday, February 26.

The band have been billed as the "most-hyped contenders to the music papers' throne" and are said to have caused a frenzy among A and R men at a recent London show. The Blackburn members of the band are songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player Jamie Holman, keyboard player Lee Davies, bassist Ciaran Melia and singer Stacey McKenna.

The line-up is completed by Tap on lead guitar and drummer Amos, both of whom are from London.

The band, who released their double A-sided vinyl debut single Ballad Of The Bootboys/Wedding Song through Preston-based Action Records, have already received airplay on Radio One's Steve Lamacq show.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.