LANCASHIRE Hotpots have swapped flat caps for cowboy hats after launching their new western themed album.

The comedy folk band are riding high following the release of A Fistful of Scratchcards which came out this week.

Among the new songs is the single Cheer Up Thom Yorke, an ode to Radiohead's downbeat music.

The five-piece will be bringing their signature brand of northern working men's humour to Warrington's Pyramid centre on Saturday.

Lancashire Hotpots formed in 2006 in St Helens – back when the town was considered part of Lancashire.

Bernard Thresher and his band then caught the public's attention after their single He's Turned Emo was played 230,000 times on the social media site, MySpace.

It was also featured on BBC Radio 1 by Colin Murray which led to the success of their debut album, Never Mind The Hotpots.

The record hit the top spot on iTunes' UK comedy chart and number two in the BBC 6 Music album charts.

Their quirky tunes – which include plenty of homespun lyrics in a Lancashire dialect – have secured them a growing national following with songs like Chippy Tea and eBay Eck.

Among their fans are BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, who grew up in Warrington, 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq and comedian and presenter Paddy McGuinness who describes them as 'the Spinal Tap of folk bands'.

Paddy was such a fan that he recently took the band on tour with him where they performed to more than 20,000 people over 18 shows.

The Hotpots have recorded nine albums in under 10 years with most of their songs focused on northern culture as well as their bemusement over current trends and technology.

- Lancashire Hotpots perform at the Pyramid on Saturday. Tickets are £15 in advance or £17 on the door.

Visit pyramidparrhall.com or call 442345.

DAVID MORGAN