Back to Glasto after Grand set

“We were all street buskers in Canterbury, that’s how we met, so we’ve come on quite a journey in this band,” said guitarist Tom Twyman, ahead of Sunday’s support slot for the Peatbog Faeries at Clitheroe’s Grand Theatre.

“We still busk, turn up in front of a shop or a park bench, and we just play with great abandon.

“When people say, ‘You know, that song touched my heart,’ then that makes it so special.

“It lifts the human spirit, and busking is a such an instinctive thing.

“It is that love of music, that spontaneous drive to hear it that brought us together.”

Their crowd stomping trademark of chaos is a madcap marriage of folk, jig, hip-hop, jazz funk, country and western – plus a rather large spoonful of rhythm and blues.

There’s even a furious, driving beatbox lurking in the thumping heart of this crazy ensemble, and somehow it works.

“It is a giant fusion of sound – we call it ‘fip-fok,” jokes Tom.

“There’s the obvious influence of Irish jigs and reels, but there’s also a bluegrass element with the banjo, and there’s a few catchy tunes there, too.”

Glastonbury chief Michael Eavis enjoyed CoCo and the Butterfields’ first appearance at his Somerset festival so much last year he has invited them back to rev up the fields of Avalon next month.

“I’m 26 and I’d never been to Glastonbury – and we played three sets,” recalled Tom.

“It was the most surreal thing, playing in front of thousands of people dancing in a meadow.

“The day before I’d been busking in Bath, and suddenly there I was playing at the biggest music festival in the world.”

CoCo and the Butterfields, more than anything, though, bonded over a shared love of music and their self crafted theatrical video of Warriors, their single, is sandwiched somewhere in between the Levellers and Adam and the Ants.

“We make everything ourselves – music, videos, clothes, stage sets and merchandise – it is totally home grown.”

Their cover version of Britney Spears’ Toxic is delivered with such joy and conviction by the enchanting voice of singer Dulcimer Showan you can’t help but roll over.

“Most of all we want to have fun and when we play in Clitheroe on Sunday it will be a very spontaneous thing, with a lot of interaction with the audience.

“Music has a community feel – it brings people together.”

Peatbog Faeries plus CoCo and the Butterfields, Clitheroe Grand Theatre, May 24.

Tickets £16.50, call 01200 421599.

Tony Dewhurst