LIGHTYEAR have been kicking up a fuss for about three years with their seven-piece carnival of melodic up-beat ska chaos, pop tunes and the most dangerous brass section on the planet.

The band members, from Derby, include Chas (vocals), Nelb (guitar), Neil (trumpet & vocals), Barrs (bass), Jim (drums), Ben (saxophone) and Mark (trumpet). They are not your typical ska-punk band, Lightyear inject punk, hardcore and pop influences into their songs and have rapidly become one of the most dynamic, enjoyable and unpredictable bands around.

The Lightyear live experience is a bouncing, energy driven orgy of jumping brass, diving vocalists, more than frequent nakedness and quite astonishingly stupid tattoos, but underpinning all this are the infectious tunes that leave every foot tapping.

If you dare to witness this chaos, they'll be performing at the White Horse, High Wycombe, this Saturday. The band will be using this gig as a warm-up to their appearance at the Carling Weekend Reading Festival on August bank holiday.

Despite Lightyear not taking themselves too seriously, the band are committed to the independent ethos of punk rock, and have gained fans and a reputation in the underground scene for their riotous antics.

Nothing can stop Lightyear, who are constantly gigging despite blowing up three tour vans in 12 months.

They've also managed to get into the recording studio to record their debut album, Call of the Weasel Clan, which is due for release on October 8.

Written by Rachel Wakefield