A local indie band is set to take the leap as supporting artists for chart-topping singer Lewis Capaldi’s European tour.

From Paris to Prague to Berlin, ‘Only The Poets’ made up of Tommy Longhurst, Andy ‘Roo’ Burge, Marcus Yates and Clem Cherry are gearing up to show off their indie-pop creations to the masses alongside the A-lister.

Founded in Woodley by lead sing-songwriter Tommy Longhurst and bassist Andy ‘Roo’ Burge in 2018, the quartet have finally found their sound and are taking the leap across the pond to once again perform to international fans.

Lead singer-songwriter Tommy Longhurst said: “Lewis is an incredible artist and the biggest you can get, in the UK and worldwide. To be asked to do that was really humbling and we’re going to get to tour Europe again, which we’ve done before.

“I just can’t wait to get out and play big shows with him and we’ll be supporting him for the 12 of the 19 shows. It’s just exciting to be in the shop window for lots of people that have probably not heard of us before.

“It gives us a chance to engage people and get them into our band.”

The band started at the Purple Turtle venue in Reading during a ‘BBC introduces’ music event.

Tommy explained: “We’ve already got a bit of an imprint out there but we’re lucky enough to go and tour with Lewis. The good thing about this tour is that we’ve actually done a show in every single city we’re doing with him, so we’re able to build on something we’ve started over there.

“It’s going to be amazing. We’re getting a chance to play for thousands of people that probably havn’t heard of you.

“We just love being on the road as well and it will be the biggest tour we’ve ever done.”

The band was signed with record label EMI in November 2022 after four years of ‘blood, sweat and tears’ and pure grind whilst working their way up.

Longhurst added: “It all feels like perfect timing and all the stars have aligned for us as a band.”