A FUNK, soul and jazz act who are earning a national reputation have chosen to launch their new album at Stockton's famous Sound It Out Records.

Weekend Sun will perform live in the Yarm Road shop at 2pm on Saturday, August 2.

Songs from their Forever Tomorrow album have already been featured on BBC Radio Six by actor and DJ Craig Charles.

The band is made up of members from Newton Aycliffe, Ferryhill, Guisborough, Middlesbrough and co-writer Chris Tarn was the Sound It Out Records DJ featured in the internationally-acclaimed documentary about the record store.

Phil Smith, who also wrote many of the songs and currently lives in Darlington, said: "It's getting a bit of attention. I went to the 100 Club on Oxford Street to see a band earlier this week and as I went down the DJ was playing one of my songs. It was a magic moment."

The band met at Sound It Out Records, which is why they've chosen the venue to launch their album.

The record, released by Hero Records, costs £7.