IT’S not every day an impromptu jam session creates something special.

But in Southampton five-piece The Rising’s case, it has lead to a record deal and a big following around the city.

The ’60s revivalists, who nod towards the Small Faces, the Kinks, and the Beatles as just some of their influences, formed in 2009 for a “bit of a laugh”.

Tommy Overington, the band’s charismatic front man, is from Maybush and has high hopes for the band.

After that first session together, he knew they had what it takes and earning a record deal became their first goal.

It wasn’t long until they were snapped up by Detour Records after sending material to Alan McGee, the founder of Creation Records, and Acid Jazz.

He explains: “We’d known each other for a few years and when we jammed and realised we had something – that was it.

“The aim then was to try and get a deal from some sort of avenue.

“We got one through Detour Records last year and I cannot sing their praises enough.”

Tommy is joined by Ryan Griffiths, Barrie Jarman, Jimmy Hayes, and Matt Stanton, to complete the line-up and they have numerous appearances at venues across the city under their belt.

Tommy added: “We are quite well known in the mod community. We are very ’60s influenced – that’s the music that gets us going.

“But Ryan is very 90s influenced; he likes Oasis, and I am also a big Sex Pistols fan.”

Tommy told the Daily Echo he enjoys both recording material and performing live but revealed the delay in releasing their first album was down to costs.

He also praised the amount of musical talent in Southampton.

He said: “The reason it took us so long to get the album out was because we had to earn the money. The album ended up costing us £5,000 and we had to keep gigging and selling tickets.

“But the reaction to the album has been top. Everyone has total creativity on the whole record. In the next five years I hope we will have had two or three albums out.

“There are some really good bands in Southampton but the city doesn’t get the credit it deserves.

“We love The Novatones and Sean McGowan is going to be massive.”

  • The Rising played at Pulse Festival this weekend.
  • Are you a Hampshire-based band or artist that would like to be featured in the Daily Echo? Contact Rory McKeown by e-mailing rory.mckeown@dailyecho.co.uk or call 023 8042 4996.