They call it new roots music and there are enough of them in the band that you wouldn’t want to argue – but, by the sound that the CC Smugglers serve up, the six-strong outfit don’t really fit into that hipster genre.

They’re feted as one of the finest live acts in the country and have built up a name as festival favourites, with slots at Glastonbury and Bestival under their belts in the last 18 months. BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris really reckons them as well – nice!

No strangers to North Herts and popular names on the bill at the likes of Rhythms of the World and Balstock, the Smugglers will be bringing their contraband caravan to Hitchin next week.

As part of a tour which kicks off in Brighton the night before and takes in gigs in London, Manchester and Birmingham Richie Prynne, Ryan Thomas, Sam Barret, Dan Edwards, Joel Barford and Joplin Parnell will be rocking up at the town’s Club 85 venue on Saturday, February 27 – and they won’t be alone on the bill at the Whinbush Road venue.

Opening the evening will be Charlotte Carpenter, who has been paying her dues with live performances all over the county, and special guests on the night are the Ouse Valley Singles Club who will be bringing their unique brand of comedy skiffle down the road from Bedford – think George Formby meets The Clash.

Doors open at 8pm and tickets for the night are £8 – you can get more details through the venue website at www.club-85.co.uk or pick them up from Club 85, David’s Music in Letchworth, from Jolly Browns and Farleys in Hitchin town centre and from Unikorn in Stevenage.