Last updated 11:40, Thursday, 26 June 2008

Is it something in the water? Are musicians created in Alston’s nurturing arms or do they move there to be inspired by its artistic environment?

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Sods Law

Folk heroes Tarras started in Alston. Young singer-songwriter Rory Connor lives there.

And now a louder sound is coming out of east Cumbria as rock band Sods Law promise great things.

Not a bad roll call for an isolated place which is home to less than 2,000 people. According to Sods Law guitarist Tom Macmillan, many more gems are yet to be mined in this Pennine market town.

“There must be 50 guitar players in Alston,” says Tom. “I run a music night at The Vic. People bring acoustic guitars in and jam and there are a couple of fiddle players.”

As someone born and bred in Alston, Tom feels the town both creates and attracts musical talent. “The best thing about living here is, it’s in the middle of nowhere. It’s a peaceful place. Although you’re not going to make it big playing at the Town Hall.”

Sods Law will have to shield their eyes from the bright lights on Saturday night when they visit the big city to headline at The Source, Denton Holme, Carlisle.

The band have played around their home county – including well received appearances at Brampton Live, Maryport Blues Festival and Silloth Beer Festival.

“People said it was good to have something a bit different at Brampton Live,” says Tom. “We’ve played several times at The Brickyard and last month we played at the final night of Blues nightclub in Penrith. That was a really good night. Even after the lights went on we were still playing for another hour.”

Sods Law formed five years ago, which isn’t that much older than its members.

Hear the music – soulful vocals and gutsy guitar licks – and be surprised that Tom and singer Sarah Morton are only 19 while bass player Jan Cardy and drummer Steve Orchiton are 20.

Their influences include Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Muse, Pink Floyd and Radiohead, while Skunk Anansie is the sound that springs to mind when Sarah pours her heart into a microphone.

“I’ve always been into rocky stuff,” says Tom. “I play classical guitar as well so it’s the best of both worlds.”

He and Jan live in Alston. Steve is in Penrith and Sarah in Newcastle. Most songs are written by Tom and completed with the rest of the band.

Jan is a labourer, Steve is a quadbike instructor, Sarah works at The Body Shop and Tom is a youth worker with BlueJam, which promotes the benefits of music and art.

“We’d love to do the band full time but we’re lucky if we get petrol expenses a lot of the time,” says Tom. “If you’re a functions band that plays popular songs you’ll make money. All the gigs we do are for promotion.”

Also playing at The Source on Saturday are Ten Tonne Wasp, My Little Madness and Carlisle singer-songwriter Jaca.

Visit www.myspace.com/sodslawmusic to hear Sods Law’s music.