SOUND of Thieves always seem to find themselves in the right place at the right time.

The couple and musical duo only returned to the UK around two months ago after developing their sound in Cyprus.

But one of their first gigs back in Manchester was outside the Etihad Stadium for Manchester City.

Phoebe Pope and Jan Bures were invited to perform for 'City Square Live' after being spotted busking in Piccadilly.

The pair decided to go to Nicosia in Cyprus originally to spend time with Jan's mum Ewa who is a professional musician for the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra.

But they came just at the right time for that too, becoming part of the Mediterranean island's underground movement of experimental music.

"Everybody compared it to the 60s and 70s in England when rock and roll started to catch on," said Phoebe, 25.

"We came at the right time because a lot of people who left Cyprus to study brought back influences from different countries.

"They were looking to do something different and be more creative so there started to be an underground movement.

"New venues began to open and all this experimental music started to emerge. There was a good vibe."

From that emerged Sound of Thieves, an electro funk band with Phoebe on vocals and Jan on electric bass. They experiment with their sound using of sampling and looping.

Phoebe added: "Jan’s always played in bands and likes rock and funk and that kind of stuff. I wanted to write film music and that is what I studied at university.

"We blended those styles together in a way. That is why we’re called Sound of Thieves – we ‘steal’ from different genres."

Jan went to the University of Salford and Phoebe studied at Leeds College of Music.

They met while both working in the Post Office bar in Bolton over the summer holidays and were a couple for about three years before forming their band.

In the process they have become part of new wave of duos following in the footsteps of the likes of The Black Keys and Royal Blood.

Phoebe, who was inspired to become a performer after seeing A Midsummer Night's Dream, said: "It’s definitely easier because if you have to organise a 10-piece jazz band or even a five-piece rock band someone’s always going to be busy or tired.

"When it’s two of you it’s easier to organise and agree on ideas. The development in musical technology also means you can almost create the sound of a whole band.

"It’s good to be back as we can see the potential to go further. That’s the good thing about the north. There’s so many amazing bands but the scene still doesn’t feel oversaturated."

- Sound of Thieves play at The Venue in Lymm on Saturday