ONE OF Britain's hotly-tipped bands for 2006 will be hoping to turn up the heat in Worcester when they put in a support slot at one of the city's venues this month.

The North-East's newest 'alt-pop' band We Start Fires are set to support one of Worcester's finest musical exports - And What Will Be Left Of Them? - when they play the city's Marr's Bar on Friday, January 27.

The Worcester band played their first ever gig at the Marr's Bar in January 2004 and have since been slowly rising in the music world.

They have spent the last year touring the UK and Europe and have played alongside acts such as Art Brut and The Hot Puppies, with their first two releases - Hi-Fi Low Life and the Dance, Damn You, Dance EP picking up rave reviews.

Their Worcester gig will be one of six dates to mark their birthday celebrations, with the band also playing two gigs in London and shows in Chelmsford, Tunbridge Wells and Lancaster.

We Start Fires are an all-guns blazing four-piece electro-indie-punk act hailing from Darlington who have already caused waves with music publication NME - who are proclaiming them the next big thing.

Also on the bill is Cotswolds-based singer and songwriter Ben Talbot.

Tickets are £3 in advance or £5 on the door.