"Regionalism is rearing to play a big part in British music again," says Ross Millard, vocalist/ guitarist with Sunderland's The Futureheads.
"People are starting to realise that there is more to British music than fake Cockney accents, and you don't have to sound like Blur or The Kinks. Bands like Franz Ferdinand and The Zutons are making their way out across the world now too. It's a really exciting time."
Ross, brothers Barry and Dave Hyde and Jaff have ignored the 1960s influences of Britpop generation in favour of the angular post-punk sounds of the late 1970s and early 1980s. They've even covered an obscure song by the Television Personalities while several tracks on their self-titled debut album were produced by Andy Gill from the seminal and recently reformed New Wave act Gang of Four.
"Gang of Four were a huge influence on us, especially their first two albums. Just their attitude towards making music, and their guitar sound," says Ross.
"If their new shows are as good as their early shows, they could be amazing. I'm looking forward to seeing how they pull it off."
One of the highlights of The Futureheads debut is another cover version - their frantic and whooping rendition of Kate Bush's Hounds of Love.
"We were doing a tour of squats in Germany and Holland a couple of summers ago and Jaff did this compilation tape with the track on and we just thought we'd try and do an arrangement of it. So when we got back we worked out the chords and just did it. It was one of the easiest songs we've ever done."
Sadly, though, there's no news from the reclusive star herself. "It'd be nice to hear what she thinks of it," Ross says. "Every year you hear the possibility of a new Kate Bush album, and then nothing. I gather there's supposed to be one in March now, but who knows? It'd be great if she does."
By the spring, the quartet will be back in the US for their fourth trip in less than a year. "In September we went out for three weeks with The Delays and Franz Ferdinand which was a great introduction to America. We played these huge 5,000 capacity shows and had to win the crowd over, but we've picked up a lot of fans now because of it.
"It's really exciting now to travel to a town you've never been to before and find a crowd of 800 people who want to hear you." l The NME Awards Tour with The Killers, The Futureheads, Kasier Chiefs and Bloc Party plays Carling Academy Birmingham on Monday, January 24. Ticket details from 0870 771 2000.
