ONE of Carlisle's most popular bands is set to perform a gig with a difference this summer.

Hardwicke Circus will be performing at St Cuthbert's Church in the city on July 9 - but the choice of venue isn't the only unusual thing about it.

The band will be supported not by another music act, but by the wedding of their sound engineer, Jason Randall and his fiancée Maria.

Lead singer Jonny Foster explained the thinking behind the plan.

He said: "The idea is before the gig, Jason is the support act. He came here from New Zealand and was just travelling through. He was only going to stay in Carlisle one night before heading off to Sardinia - but he parked by a music venue where we were playing.

"Five years on, he's still our sound engineer and he's found love in the border.

"It's a really exciting night and we don't think it's been done before. He will get married and then go back behind the mixing desk.

"We want to involve people - we're inviting people to bear witness to this."

It will also be a special day for the band - they will be launching their new album, The Borderland, on the same day.

Their latest release acts almost as a love letter to their native Carlisle and Cumbria.

Jonny continued: "This album is the culmination of our hard graft travelling around the country playing every venue under the sun - pubs, clubs, prisons, festivals like Glastonbury, supporting the likes of Bob Dylan.

"It's a collection of songs about being from this part of the world. This album sums up Hardwicke Circus in this moment.

"We figure, what better way to celebrate the release and the end of lockdown than involving a historic part of the town and giving back to the community. Bands don't often play in churches."

While the band has travelled far and wide to perform, it's no secret that their favourite venues are those in Carlisle.

Sadly, the coronavirus pandemic has limited their opportunities to perform - but they are all looking forward to bringing some much needed joy back to the city.

Jonny added: "Usually, we play the Brickyard every year at Christmas, but with Covid we haven't been able to play in our home town.

"We love playing that home town gig.

"The church have been really wonderful collaborating in this way. They want to involve themselves in the art community.

"The church warden, Irene, has been fantastic."

The Borderland - the sixpiece band's debut album - is available to pre-order now.