A band with Comet country connections will make their first appearance on Rhythms of the World’s main stage as a festival lives up to its slogan — “music from around the world and round the corner”.

CC Smugglers will be one of the highlights of this year’s festival, taking place at Hitchin Priory on August 2-3 and backed by the Comet.

The six-piece outfit, who have four members based across Bedfordshire and one each in Hitchin and Stevenage, play a raucous, joyful, foot-stomping brand of folk rock.

This year’s appearance will be their fourth time playing the festival, but their first as an act on the main stage.

Frontman Richie Prynne, who lives in Shefford, said that the band has grown up along with the festival.

“Rhythms has always been an amazing experience, but we can’t wait to graduate to the main stage this year,” he said.

The band, which has had coverage in The Sunday Times and the BBC, is known for their guerrilla-style antics, such as ambushing radio presenter Fearne Cotton with a home-baked cake and a CD at the BBC, or busking outside of every gig on The Old Crow Medicine Show’s tour.

“We’re crowd-funding our new album, and offering all kinds of amazing incentives to people who pledge,” added Richie.

“We’re already 93% of the way to our funding goal, and this strategy is going to let us make an album that our fans are going to be proud of.”

People who want to donate can go to the band’s website at www.ccsmugglers.co.uk and click the ‘pledge’ button.

Festival chairman Amy Hopkins said: “These lads will knock your socks off. They are a great example of the amazing musical talent we’ve got ‘just round the corner’ who are playing this year’s festival. Stay tuned, we’ve got plenty more amazing acts that are just about to be announced.”

The news follows last week’s announcement that Kobo Town will be headlining the event, which costs £15 for adults and £5 for young people aged six-17 years per day to attend.

Tickets are available online now at www.rotw.org.uk and will later be going on sale in shops across the area.