NO strangers to Southampton indie stars The Sherlocks can claim to be the biggest new band in Britain just weeks before they return to the region - and support Liam Gallagher on tour.

Their album Live For The Moment, which smashed into the official chart at number six in August, is the biggest selling debut by a band this year.

Now frontman Kiaran Crook, his brother and drummer Brandon, lead guitarist Josh Davidson and his brother and bassist Andy are looking forward to 2018 which already includes gigs in Portsmouth and Bournemouth and supporting Liam Gallagher in Europe.

“Ten dates with Liam Gallagher is an absolute dream for us” Brandon told The Echo. “He’s a singer whose songs have been with us all our lives and who we’ve always looked up to.

“After our set at Leeds Festival we ended up having a beer with him and the lads from Blossoms, but we didn’t have a clue that we’d soon be asked to join him on tour.”

The Bolton upon Dearne band will also play alongside Noel Gallagher at a festival in Warrington in May, so perhaps they could help broker the long-awaited Oasis reunion? “We’ll do our best” laughed Brandon.

From their first show in the south at The Joiners in 2015 to thrilling more than 700 fans at The 1865 in September The Sherlocks have become firm favourites here, but its been hard work as Brandon explained.

“Some bands treat what we do as more of a hobby, but its means absolutely everything to four ordinary lads like us. That’s why we grafted for more than seven years as an unsigned band. There’s never been a plan B if it doesn’t work out.

“Fans who watched us play to rooms of 50 people or less in the early days are the reason we’re headlining academy sized venues now. They’re the ones who encouraged their mates to come along to the next show and now everyone can be part of our journey."

Their travels now include flying 6,000 miles to Japan in January. “Kiaran and I told our Grandad we were going there for one show and he couldn’t believe it, but we’ve sold over 300 tickets already.”

The band already have 15-20 new songs as contenders for their second album and are also giving some old songs that didn’t make the first record a new lease of life. “Kiaran is in a good place for writing at the moment so he’s making the most of it. Perhaps he may even pen a song about me beating him at snooker” laughed Brandon.

Hotly-tipped Sheffield band Oddity Road and Scotland’s Neon Waltz were hand-picked for support on the UK tour. “We’re all big fans of their music” says Brandon.

The Sherlocks play The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth Tuesday February 6 & The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth Wednesday February 7. Their debut album Live For The Moment is out now.

By Richard Derbyshire