A BAND will bring a fusion of ska, dub, hip-hop and punk to Bolton next month.

Since forming in 2007, the outspoken Sheffield five-piece — Smiling Ivy — has clashed good-time vibes with controversial social observation and an upbeat, but unashamedly honest, opinion of the times.

Renowned for wildly-chaotic live shows, the group will play the Dog and Partridge, Manor Street, on Saturday, November 22, following on from events including Boomtown Fair and Eden Festival and appearances alongside Dub Pistols, Frank Turner, Ed Byrne and Frankie Boyle.

Dan Hobson, aged 28, on vocals and guitar, said: "It will be our first gig in Bolton.

"We're looking forward to it.

"We're all school friends, we've all been friends for years.

"In our teens we were punk fans and ska fans, Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish.

"We've also sort of taken on a few hip hop influences as well, Ugly Duckling, People Under the Stairs.

"Then there's reggae, Scratch Perry, Bob Marley and I suppose we have taken influences from The Libertines and that sort of stuff as well."

Dan and his bandmates, Ray Grandy, aged 26, on saxophone and vocals; Sam Dormer, aged 28, on guitar and keyboard ; Stevie Mac, aged 28, on drums and Jimmy Kohanzad, aged 26, on bass, are currently promoting their debut album Quick Sin Jukebox, which follows four previous EPs.

In a move that supports free music, Smiling Ivy have released the debut as a free web download, while also selling the album via iTunes and on CD.

It was recorded with Sheffield legend Alan Smyth, a music producer who has worked with a number of bands, including Pulp, and Arctic Monkeys.

Written and recorded in seven months, the album takes a bold look at popular culture today — poking fun at scandal-embroiled celebrities such as Paul Flowers, Nigella Lawson, and Tulisa Contostavlos, on track Let Loose.

It also discusses drugs deaths following the tragedies at Manchester’s Warehouse Project nightclub, on Lab Rats, while ripping apart the phenomenon of reality TV Z-listers with track Phenomenon).

Dan says it also celebrates the good times, positivity and having fun without money — Free Ride — and tells the band’s quirky history — Back in 04 — laying down the eclectic themes over an upbeat, floor-filling soundtrack of ska, dub reggae, funk, breakbeats, punk and hip-hop.

The album was released on July 21, via Cool Beans, and came in advance of a jam-packed summer touring schedule which also saw the band performing at Alchemy Festival, Symmetry Festival, Tramlines, Y Not Festival, Folkstone Ska Fest, One Love Festival, Peace in the Park and Glastnot.