Last updated at 20:36, Thursday, 24 May 2012

A young Cumbrian band, set to perform on the main stage at this year’s Maryport Blues Festival, will soon be recording their first album.

All hands to the pump: A busy time for the recently-signed Cumbrian band House of Three Hands

House of Three Hands have just been signed by independent label Longevity Records.

It is a huge deal for Jake Wedgewood, 19, of Mawbray, Alex Brown, 20, from Whitehaven and Dave Annis, 19, from Carlisle.

They will record original material in the Blueprint Studios in Manchester, where the likes of Lady Gaga, 50 Cent and Elbow have worked.

The band’s luck was in after a chance encounter with Radio One DJ Chris Moyles at Carlisle’s Big Weekend music show last year, which resulted in an eight-minute session on the station.

Jake recalls: “We were about to do a gig and Chris Moyles saw a flyer and asked if the band was good.

“Chris came and liked it. He talked about us and played our music. We couldn’t believe it.”

Jake and Alex are living in Salford, Manchester, where Alex works and Jake studies music. Dave is in Bristol studying music.

It makes the logistics difficult, especially when the band have gigs nearly every weekend.

The band started out as Kape Town Kicks about four years ago, but the name of House of Three Hands came when three people cupped their hands around a cigarette as it was being lit to shield it from the wind.

“This looks like a house with three hands,” someone commented, and the name stuck.

Says Jake: “I suppose if you wanted to categorise us we could be described as alternative indie. Some people think we sound like the Police, some like the Arctic Monkeys.”

The boys are set to release three singles between now and 2013.

Jake adds: “We’re still not earning much money and I can’t say we feel as though we are on the brink of something. But things are going really well and we are very busy.

That will include their appearance at Maryport Blues Festival on Friday, July 27.

Says Jake: “Two years ago I took my girlfriend to the blues festival as an audience member. Then last year House of Three Hands played at the Captain Nelson during the festival which was fantastic.

“This year we are on the main stage, and looking forward to it.”

First published at 19:21, Thursday, 24 May 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk