THE imaginatively named Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra are returning to Bury for their first headlining gig.

After successful appearances playing at the English Folk Expo, the six-piece band, headed by Rob Heron, will play at The Met ahead of the release of their third album Everything Blue in the spring.

Their debut album, Money Isn't Everything, made waves when it was released in 2012, winning a host of five-star reviews, while their second album, Talk About The Weather, also received notable radio play and reviews.

The band also features Ben Fitzgerald (guitar), Tom Cronin (mandolin), Colin Nicholson (accordion), Ted Harbot (double bass) and Paul Archibald (drums), and plays a mix of western swing, blues, gypsy jazz and country.

Rob, aged 26, said: "I have been a lover of music for as long as I can remember and I have been writing songs since I was 14. My parents got me into really good music from the age of about two and remember playing vinyl records like Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison. I love music history and finding out what influences the artists I listen to."

The band met while studying a folk music course at Newcastle University.

Rob said: "We have been going for about six years now, and touring for three. We play early 20th century American inspired music, all original.

"When we met, straight away we had a shared interest. It's going really well – this year we have done five gigs so far and we have a busy year ahead. It is a slow process when you're doing everything yourself, but it is good that we are able to do things the way we want to.

"We have been to the Met before for the English Folk Expo a couple of times when the town was full of people that were seeing lots of really amazing music, so it will be interesting to just play there off our own backs."

Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra will plat The Met on Thursday, February 25. For tickets call 0161 761 2216.