‘IT’S like playing in our back garden,’ The Sunset Spirit are poised for a maiden festival on home turf.

The Cowdenbeath and Lochore band will take to the same stage as Dunfermline legends Nazareth in the first Rockore music festival this Saturday.

After releasing their debut album earlier this year, the band have watched their popularity soar picking up followers from Benarty to Belgium and Cardenden to Canada.

Comprising Stuart Shields (lead vocals and guitar), Shaun Sneddon (guitar and harmonica), John Fraser (bass and percussion), Johnny Kidd (keyboard), James Jack (drums), and fresh face Mike O’Reilly (lead guitar) will take his place on stage at Rockore in his first gig with the band.

Stuart told the Times: “I’m from Lochore originally so it’s great to see something like this music wise in the community. It’s been a long time coming and very much needed.

“It’ll be a brilliant gig for us as we’ve got a great local following that were asking us when our next gig was on the night of our album launch. Folk are dying to see us right now.

“We’ve got a lot of people coming on Saturday and coming to enjoy what should be a great day.

“That’s a huge headliner for the festival’s first year. They’re setting the bar very high which is good because hopefully, if it takes off, it could be the next big thing.

“The aim for us is to introduce new people to our music and for them to get involved.”

With the addition of Mike, formerly of Modern Faces, the group now have a stadium-esque sound that Stuart is eager to play at Lochore Meadows.

“We’re sounding massive and bigger than before. He’s added his own personal touch and style to our songs and everything feels really tight. He’s a natural fit.

“It just works. Everyone is getting what we’re about now and wanting to see more from us.

“We must be doing something right.”

The now six-piece released their debut album, From The Top, in June and held a launch night at the Windsor Hotel in Kirkcaldy on June 16.

It was a night that Stuart recalls vividly.

He said: “To see so many people support the band and singing your own songs to you, that’s the dream.

“Everybody was buzzing the whole night. We played a great tight set.

“It’s continued to burn after that as we’ve had a lot of radio play and albums being sold and we keep getting asked when we will have new stuff out there.”

With album sales ranging from Scotland to New Zealand, it is fair to say that the local presence at the festival have reached a wider audience, with a second album already very much in the works.

Rockore tickets can be purchased online from skiddle.com. Tickets are priced at £17.50 plus booking fee.

The full line-up includes: Nazareth, PorkPie, The Sunset Spirit, The Complete Stone Roses, Gentlemen Jackals, Paris Street Rebels, The Freeholds and Definitely Oasis.