THEY are one of the biggest bands in the world – yet they can walk through their hometown without being recognised.
Oxford's Glass Animals have proved a phenomenon.
Their debut album, released on Paul Epworth’s label Wolf Tone, has so far sold nearly half a million copies worldwide and amassed a staggering 200 million Spotify streams, obliterating all expectations simply by word of mouth.
Their anomalous rise has gained the four-piece a legion of fans all over the world, including festival appearances at Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Glastonbury and has resulted in the band playing two sold-out headline shows at Los Angeles’s 2,000-capacity Wiltern and New York's 3,000-capacity Terminal 5.
And tomorrow they are coming home – with a warm-up gig for a handful of friends, family and fans at Oxford's Bullingdon – with tickets at just a fiver.
The show coincides with the launch of new single Life Itself, released via Caroline International / Wolf Tone. It is the first track to be taken from their highly anticipated second album, How To Be A Human Being, to which the band are currently putting the finishing touches in the studio and which will be released this summer.
Frontman Dave Bayley told us: "The Oxford show is actually a bit of a baptism of fire.
"Playing in front of a handful of friends and family is definitely tougher than any crowd of 20,000 or so you may get at a festival. They're gonna tell me what they think and grill me on every little slip up."
If you are lucky, you might still be able to grab one at alt-tickets.co.uk/glass-animals-tickets
WIN!
The band have given us a pair of tickets to tomorrow's Bullingdon gig to give away to one lucky reader.
For s chance to win, simply tell us the name of Glass Animals' debut album. Email, by 10am tomorrow (Friday June 3), to tim.hughes@nqo.com.
Don't forget to include your full name, address and daytime phone number.
Usual rules apply and the Editor's decision is final.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here