6 Music - Music News

They may have missed out on the Mercury Prize but in the past week infectious synth-pop band Friendly Fires returned to where they grew up for a special show.

While they were trumped by Speech Debelle, getting the prestigious nod could be seen as the cherry on top of a hugely successful year since the release of their self-titled debut in September 2008.

6 Music News reporter Georgie Rogers paid a visit to St Albans up and caught up with the band before their gig at the Alban Arena last Thursday 3 September.

Check out the video below.

A 'varied' second

Meanwhile, they've let us in on plans for a second album.

Now they are freed up from touring commitments the trio plan to hide away and make a start on it.

"I think that's going to be our last dabbling with samba," said singer Ed MacFarlane to 6 Music about their debut. "We want to make sure our next record isn't a samba album, or inspired by any particular style, because I think the strength of the first record is the fact that it is really varied and has lots of things going on."

Featuring Ed MacFarlane, Ed Gibson, Jack Savidge and Georgie Rogers

Filmed and edited by Rob Lewis.