FOR those who have watched Stillia gigging around the town’s bars and clubs over the past four years, there is a huge sense of anticipation about their debut album From Ground to Light.

But for those who can’t wait for the expected February release, a trip over to Warrington will offer a sneak preview of the tracks the band hope will catapult them to the big time.

The four-piece band from Sutton will perform at Friars Live in Friars Court on Saturday, December 3 after catching the ear of promoters. 

Frontman Jack Bennett said: “It’s such a top venue. The sound is great. When they asked us to play there I was buzzing. We can’t wait. 

“In the rehearsal room we aim to write songs that people will have stuck in their head.

"And even if we’re playing to 100 people in a small bar we give it everything we’ve got and treat it the same as if we were playing to thousands at Wembley. 

“That’s done us pretty well over time. The prime example is how we met our manager, Ben Taylor. He’s so well connected and has got loads of things happening for us. 

“We played a gig at The Live Room in Manchester. There must have only been about 50 people there in this big venue so it looked dead. 

“We just played as though we were in front of thousands and got an email from Ben the day after. We met and signed to the management company.” 

Jack, his brother Matty, Connor Moran and Johnny Waring finished recording their debut album in September. They previewed the record at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. 

Jack said: “We’re really proud of the album (which is named after the translation of the town’s Latin motto Ex Terra Lucem). We played at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts as part of The2ube show they run there presented by Janice Long. 

“Janice pulled us to one side and said she really enjoyed our set and asked for a CD.

"We had one in the van straight from the studio. So we got an A4 piece of paper folded it into a scruffy case for the CD and wrote our names and email on it. 

“The next day she rang us and said she was blown away by the album. The single Let Me In was played on Radio 2 so that was pretty cool.” 

Stillia recorded the album with Ady Hall and Lee McCarthy from Sugar House, based at Catalyst Studios on Parade Street, St Helens. 

Jack added: “They are phenomenal. We’ll write a song and think it is the best it can be and then we take it into the studio and your mind’s blown by how much it has changed but for the better.”