Returning from two UK-wide tours, the ball of combustible punk rock energy that is White Light Parade are looking forward to get back to playing "where it all began".

After playing with the likes of Switches and current hot property The Enemy, this Bradford and Leeds quartet are preparing themselves to get down and dirty with it in the sweatbox that will be The Love Apple in Bradford tomorrow.

But it's not just any old homecoming gig - it could pan out to be one of the most important performances the band have put on to date.

Singer and guitarist Danny Yates, who turned 24 on Tuesday, explained: "Sony have recently spent money putting us in the studio, and so one of their A&R men is coming to the show to see what they think.

"But the main thing is how it is a bit of a homecoming. It's just because you don't get to know what people are up to when you are away and you don't get to see many of your mates, so this will be a good chance for us to catch up.

"Plus we always have a good time playing in Bradford, we have a good crowd up here, it's like where it all started."

Yet the relationship between Bradford and the band, completed by Danny's brother Jono, 26, on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Tom Emmett, 24, on bass and Nici Todd, 20, on drums, seems to be a little ambiguous to say the least.

Judging by the rather determined lyrics of track Shotgun, "Gotta get out of this city alive," Danny would have been pretty chuffed with getting the chance to travel the country and sample the delights Britain has to offer.

"You do get better as a band, a lot tighter, having to play every night, and we have built up a great following down in places like Coventry and Bedford - it's been good to play further afield," he says.

"But it hasn't really changed us, people can still expect good songs, a good night out, and be able to have a few beers and forget about their troubles from the week."

So the music is escapism then, but only in the sense of taking solace from hearing how your best mate has the same problems as you, over a pint in your favourite local.

The songs are grimy and quintessentially British, delving into the slovenly young minds of today's lager-swilling, bottom-pinching, punk-rocking youth.

Dirty dancefloors and dreams of naughtiness indeed.

"We just write about what we see and what we feel," explains Danny.

"As much as Bradford is home, we do kind of want to break out of here.

"But I think being from Bradford has helped writing these songs, because if we had been from somewhere posh or somewhere where there's stuff to do, we might not have been inspired to sing about that stuff.

"We don't want to be the seventh band from Leeds or whatever, we want to be one of the first from Bradford.

"We, along with a few bands, want to put Bradford on the map, because in recent years there hasn't really been anyone from Bradford, or at least anyone who will say they are from Bradford."

Yet Danny believes this might change with the current burgeoning music scene in the city at the moment.

He says: "It's really been picking up recently.

"There has been some really good stuff going on and I think it will build up to how it's got in Leeds.

"Going round the country, Bradford is a good place for bands to come and play - there are more people interested in going out and seeing good bands."

The band are also getting ready to play at Bingley Music Live, Myrtle Park, with special guests on Saturday, September 1, Brudenell Social, Leeds, on Saturday, September 29 and Atrium with Vib Gyor, Leeds, on Wednesday, October 10.

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