THERE will be a near-homecoming for half of Taking Liberties this weekend.

After two years of playing at venues across Manchester and Cheshire, the four-piece indie rockers will perform at recently-launched Northwich venue The Salty Dog.

Singer Jay Clarke and drummer Dave Pritchard both come from Middlewich, although former Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School student Dave now lives in Knutsford.

The pair teamed up with bassist Arthur Wilson, from Manchester, and guitarist Danny Greenhalgh, from Macclesfield, in 2015 to form the band.

"We used to knock around in Middlewich, and we have been in bands with each other since we were kids," former Middlewich High School pupil Jay told the Guardian.

"When we started Taking Liberties we had just been in a band together called The Carvettis, and when that finished we knew we wanted to carry on."

Jay suggests the band closest to them in sound is The Amazons, but their influences are far more varied than that.

After a busy schedule in 2017, Saturday's gig is the band's first for the new year – and they are looking forward to getting their sound out to more people than before.

Jay said: "We have a policy of 'if it sounds good, then we will play it'.

"We are mainly an indie band but we are not afraid to play something if it is a bit out of the norm for us.

"We've all got a varied taste in music, and we'll listen to all sorts from metal to rap.

"I think we like to have something for everyone, and we are not afraid to throw a catchy tune in there."

The band already has three singles released and available on streaming website Spotify, with the forthcoming track Headache set to follow.

In their day jobs both Jay and Dave work in IT, while Danny sells insurance and Arthur works in marketing.

Jay admits that making a career out of music has 'always been in our minds' – but it isn't the main focus for the band.

"We just all love writing music and playing music," he added.

"If it happens it happens, it happens, but at the end of the day it is just something that we enjoy.

"We've got a small group of fans who come to all of our shows, and I would like to think that that is growing."

Taking Liberties will perform with Irwell at the Salty Dog, in High Street, from 8pm on Saturday, January 20.

Entry is free. For more information visit salty-dog.co.uk