The secret's out (From Ludlow Advertiser)

The secret's out

THEY may be known as "Shropshire's best-kept secret" but they have a familiar face banging out the beat.

Sean Nicholas, a part-time Ludlow fireman, spends his time away from the flames drumming up some serious heat with his band the Poet Dogs.

Sean, Gary, Jake and Jane are starting to enjoy the warm glow of national press attention.

Last month the Sunday Express decided their album 46th Time Lucky was the week's best - describing them as an "eccentric four-piece capable of mixing electronica, indie rock and Gregorian chants".

Support slots for indie favourites such as the Wonderstuff, the Levellers, Shed 7 and Mansun have helped the band's rising media profile. And fans of daytime television may be unaware that they have heard the band's catchy guitar-driven material.

"Our song Ophelias Postcard was used for the daytime soap Doctors," Sean says. "We were the first unsigned band to have a track used in a BBC drama and they intend to use more."

Their music has even provided the half-time entertainment at Old Trafford and a video was filmed at Ludlow Racecourse for their track Betting Shop Murder.

"We were approached by a filmmaker who was interested in working with the band," Sean says. "We were watched by bemused punters while the other band members pretended to kill me!"

Although there has been a great deal of interest in the band they have yet to sign that elusive record deal.

"This is what I've wanted to do all my life. We are trying to make it big and are desperate to sign to a major," Sean said.

He may need to pack up his hose and helmet because it seems unlikely that such hot property will remain unsigned for too long.

Further information go to www.thepoetdogs.co.uk.