SOUTH Yorkshire indie stars The Sherlocks can claim to be the biggest new band in Britain when they return to Oxford this weekend.

Their first album Live For The Moment, which smashed into the official chart at number six in August, was the biggest selling debut by a band for more than a year.

And in the past 12 months they’ve played to thousands at gigs and festivals across the world, supported Kings of Leon in Sheffield and announced European support slots with Liam Gallagher in March.

Now frontman Kiaran Crook, his brother and drummer Brandon, lead guitarist Josh Davidson and his brother and bassist Andy are being tipped to sell out their latest set of shows which includes the O2 Academy Oxford, in Cowley Road, on Saturday.

“Even at this time of year, when people can be short of money, tickets have been flying out” Brandon told The Guide. “We’ve played hundreds of venues, but we never forget how our fans always stick with us. These dates are going to be mad.”

The Bolton upon Dearne band of brothers have fond memories of headlining in Oxford, most recently at The Bullingdon last March, but it was an earlier visit that Brandon first remembered when he spoke about previous gigs here.

“The first time we played in Oxford was in 2015 supporting The Ordinary Boys,” he laughs.

“We were unsigned and a lot of the major record labels came from London to see us, but we had worse gig of our lives!

“Kiaran had a cold, the sound was poor and none of them were interested.”

But that short-lived setback proved to be good fortune for the band as it gave them more valuable time on the road to build their sound before joining Infectious Records the following year.

“Fans who’ve been supporting us since the early days at places like The Bullingdon are the reason we’re headlining academy sized venues now,” says Brandon.

The Sherlocks’ latest single Chasing Shadows was Adele Robert’s Tune of the Week on Radio 1’s early breakfast show last week.

“It’s an unofficial anthem, so we’re buzzing that it’s now getting the recognition it deserves” says Brandon.

Songwriter Kiaran has already penned more than 15 new songs as contenders for the band’s second album. The lads say they’ve also discovered new potential in some older demos that had previously been forgotten. The Sherlocks are not a band to stay idle.

“We can’t sit back just because we’ve had a top 10 record,” says Brandon. “In some ways we’re still underdogs, even insurgents, to some people in the music business, so we have to keep working. We know where we want to be and the four of us aren’t going to stop until we get there.

“We’ve grown through people coming to our shows and then bringing their mates along the next time.

“Fans have found our music by themselves, we haven’t been pushed on them by the music industry,” he adds.

They are supported at the Oxford gig by hotly-tipped Sheffield band Oddity Road and Scottish rising stars Neon Waltz, whose debut album is Strange Hymns,

As well as their rapid rise in Oxford, the band’s journey is most vivid in Manchester where five years ago they played a tiny venue called Dry Bar and in two weeks’ time they’ll be in front of more than 3,500 people at the huge Victoria warehouse.

But for the hardworking Sherlocks even that’s not the limit.

“We want to play stadiums one day,” says Brandon.

“Perhaps we can even put on a show at The Kassam Stadium if you’ll have us!”

GO ALONG

The Sherlocks play the O2 Academy, Oxford, on Saturday. Go to ticketmaster.co.uk

Single Chasing Shadows is out now