A MUSICAL father and son are enjoying one of their busiest ever festive seasons of song - and they say it's all down to grandad's influence!

Rythym guitarist Scott Hardiman and his dad, Ian, both play in Kidderminster-based groups. Scott, 33, is a big hit with Ballroom Glitz, playing 11 gigs in a 10-day period this Christmas and New Year.

A hectic schedule in the festive season will see the six members of the band, formed 10 years ago, travel from Scotland to Torquay for gigs.

Queen's challenging Bohemian Rhapsody is among favourite songs fans ask for and the group's repertoire also includes music by T-Rex, Queen, Mott the Hoople, Sweet and Abba.

And Ian, a 55-year-old carpet industry worker who plays lead guitar with Addiction, has been booked to sing over the holiday period in a top Midlands hotel.

He is also looking forward to a busy line-up of dates in the New Year.

Scott, who makes sunbeds for a Kidderminster firm, said: "It must be in our genes. My dad's father, Jack, was well known in Kidderminster operatic and theatre groups. He sung in church choirs as well and had an excellent bass voice.

"Although he died 22 years ago, we believe he left the family with a strong interest in music and our talents are definitely down to him."

When Scott was in his 20s he regularly travelled with a friend to the Hotel Alhambra in Santa Susana, Spain, for a three-month booking.

Ian, of Southgate Close, originally played in a Kidderminster band called The Rolling Stones which had to give up its name to avoid confusion when Mick Jagger sprang onto the music scene.

He then played with Ward Five, touring in an old ambulance, and later the Indigo Set whose singer was Colin Youngjohns.

l Ballroom Glitz can be seen at the Robin Hood, Merry Hill, on Saturday.