THINGS are hotting up for The Fever after a chance hearing of their debut album landed them a support slot with The Proclaimers on their Scottish tour last week.

It started to take off when The Proclaimers heard the album Call It What You Want while they were touring in Australia.

"Their tour manager bought a copy of the record, and took it with him, the band played it on the tour bus and they offered us the tour," says Neil Ivison, singer and guitarist with The Fever.

"They got in touch with us a couple of weeks ago because they were very impressed."

Call It What You Want, a 10-track album, was recorded in South Wales in March this year.

"We set up as a live band in the recording studio to get a live vibe and knocked the tunes out," says Neil.

"We did the whole album in a weekend and it took a couple of weeks to mix."

Neil describes The Fever's music as "groove rock," or "rock with a groove."

"Our music has 70s funk under it, with catchy choruses, but it is predominantly rock," he says.

"The songs are mainly up-beat."

Aside from Neil, The Fever, who hail from Malvern and Bromyard, consist of George Elliott on bass and backing vocals, Lee Harris on drums, and Adam Barry on organ.

Some people may remember the band in their previous incarnation as Seymour.

"We decided on a fresh start," says Neil, the band's lyricist.

"We all got together and thought of a lot of names. Lee came up with The Fever.

"It was just a name that was on the list which we narrowed down. We wanted something catchy."

Neil, from Bromyard, has been playing in bands since the age of 13, but did not think of singing until the opportunity arose.

"I've always been into music and always had a big music collection," he said.

"My dad was a DJ and had a jukebox in the living room.

"I got into singing when I was in a band and no-one would sing, so I was told to front the band!"