THEY have played in front of more than 8,000 fans at Old Trafford and shared a stage with the likes of New Order, Doves and Air, and now a Bury-based five-piece are performing in the North-East.

Hanky Park will again be supporting electro-pop legends New Order this spring, but first they have a gig at The Forum in Darlington.

The band will appear at the music centre on Borough Road next Thursday, and have already been compared to some of the country's leading bands.

Lead singer James Davenport said: "People compare us to Coldplay and The Coral, but we've got our own distinctive sound."

New Order bassist Peter Hook added: "We met through a mutual friend and I was very impressed with the band's music - they were like a jazzy version of the Doors with a tinge of Manchester."

The band are managed by Ed Blaney, former manager of The Fall, and their album Rags to Riches is available from HMV in the Cornmill Centre, Darlington.

Tickets for the gig, which starts at 7.30pm, are £4.

Published: 17/03/2005