Music

Three piece band CityLights met at school when they were just 15. When singer Joe Allen headed off to study in Nottingham it could have meant the end for the band.

Instead, the other two members, drummer James Smith and bass player Ben Dawson, decided to quit Warrington and relocate to Robin Hood county.

"It's a bit different," says James. "Everyone moves to London. There are so many bands there. I think it's better to go somewhere more diverse. Nottingham's got some good bands. It's a good starting point for us."

A Sketch for Summer compilation sleeve

Compilation heaven

The band received a career boost when they were picked to appear on the compilation A Sketch for Summer, a collection of the best independent bands around at the moment.

"It was quite cool when we got asked to be on it and it's doing really well. It's all over the country. I think everyone should get a copy."

What's in a name

For a group that classes itself as indie with a pop twist and being influenced by the likes of Mystery Jets and Futureheads, CityLights might appear a strange name. You could be cruel and say it sounds more like an act Peter Kay would audition for Phoenix Nights.

But James Smith says it seemed like a good idea at the time.

"We named ourselves after the Charlie Chaplin film City Lights. We saw it on You Tube when we were bored.

"We'd been arguing about names for so long we thought we'd go with that."

The future

Nottingham, of course, hardly has a good reputation for churning out memorable groups. Being the next Paper Lace doesn't have that cool a ring about it.

But James is realistic about CityLights prospects.

"We're not going to lie and say we're the next biggest band on the planet but I think a few people out there might want to buy (our single)."

Mashed on Fashion is expected to be released in September 2008.