WITH a new release about to go on sale, their own website soon to be unleashed and regular gigs throughout the North West, the future looks pretty rosy for Ellesmere Port's The Caines.

Hailing from Great Sutton and Whitby and all in their mid-20s, The Caines say their sound is based on chiming guitars, supported by driving bass and powerful drums with powerful vocals.

Drawing their influences from legends such as The Clash and The Stone Roses, the band's material ranges from edgy, brittle post-punk to chilled-out atmo-spheric grooves, encompassing country, folk and classic pop.

Formed by drummer Guv and guitarist Stu, they recruited bass player Chris within a few months, followed by singer Skilly.

However, having not been consulted on the recruitment of the vocalist, Guv quit.

A couple of years of interchanging line-ups and intermittent gigs went by and Guv made occasional appearances.

Stu said: 'Me, Chris and Skilly had been knocking around together and playing in bands for a few years under different names and with other people, but our first official gig as The Caines was last summer.'

With Guv in place, the band set out to build a reputation throughout the North West. Not renowned for their constant gigging, The Caines seem to place greater emphasis on quality rather than quantity.

Stu added: 'We put all our energy into making each gig an event. There's no point in playing to no-one on a Monday night in some dodgy pub in Eastham.'

Highlights for the band include a barnstorming performance at the Zanzibar in Liverpool back in April, a gig which was witnessed by several record company executives.

However, their second gig, at The Limelight in Crewe, is one they would rather forget.

Stu said: 'We were booked to play with K115. The promoter figured we knew each other and we'd bring a coachload from the Port.

'As it turned out, we didn't know each other at that point and neither of us was bringing anyone with us.'

Chris added: 'We had to pay £20 to play, to make it worthwhile. We dragged a few people in but I got drunk and we put on a poor show.

'I don't drink before a gig now.' Asked about the music scene in Ellesmere Port, the band all agree that although the scene is healthy, there is a serious lack of venues.

Stu said: 'It's improving, thanks to Sam Lee at the borough council. She's working hard to get the bands places to play.

'We've got places like Destiny closed during the week - that would be an ideal music venue but, except for the occasional battle of the bands, they're not interested.'

In the meantime, the band have recorded an EP at Whitby Studios, to be released on their Top Draw label.

And the band promise their website will shortly be up and running.

Future gigs include the Zanzibar on Sunday, August 29, and the Night and Day Cafe in Manchester on Wednesday, September 29.

You can contact the band at thecaines95@hotmail.com