A YEAR ago the closest that Fez could get to a stage was an open mic platform at Alexander’s bar in Chester.

So it must have felt surreal when they were invited to perform in front of hundreds at Warrington Music Festival and share the bill with Cast and Space. Brothers Joe and Nathan Rhodes formed Fez with Ryan Hunt and Joe Banks just last year but they are already starting to make waves in the music scene.

Bassist Nathan, 18, said: “It felt different being on a big stage and it felt weird that Cast were going to be on there the next day.”

Frontman Joe added: “It was cool. We seemed to draw people in when we came on so we were pretty pleased with that.”

Fez will be performing at Friars Court in Barbauld Street on Saturday, June 10, and will be returning for a special all-day Friars Live session to raise money for the River Reeves Foundation on July 22 by popular demand.

The organisers asked fans to vote for who they wanted to play at the gig which will help the foundation’s work supporting young musicians and those involved in the performing arts.

Joe, a former Great Sankey High pupil, said: “We got about 1,200 votes. We couldn’t believe how many people wanted us there and it’s a great cause to play for so we’re really happy about that.

“We also won the vote to have our song played at a Warrington game at Halliwell Jones Stadium which was a wow moment. It felt like everything was coming together for us playing at the festival.”

So far Fez, who are inspired by Arctic Monkeys, Catfish and the Bottlemen, The Wombats and The Fratellis, only have one song recorded called Dreamin’ which has been played on Salford City Radio.

But they gave a taste of things to come at Warrington Music Festival.

Joe, who spoke to Weekend on the same day that the band were visiting SSR Studio in Manchester, added: “We’re releasing a single called Smile which we played for the first time at Warrington Music Festival and it went down really well.

“People were really enthusiastic and even Golden Square were tweeting about it.

“We’re recording that one now and another song, Just Tonight, will come out a little later.

“Smile is summery so it’s perfect for in about a month.

“I think there’s a buzz around Warrington. It has a good music scene and we’re hoping to come out of that.”

Fez headline Friars Live on Saturday, June 10, with support from Brothers of Mine, Calling Alaska and Matthew McClure. Tickets can be bought at skiddle.com or on the door