Virginian livewires The Hot Seats make a long-overdue return to these shores at the end of this month to appear at three summer festivals – and embark on their most extensive UK tour.

When the five-piece first played on this side of the Atlantic, they took Edinburgh Festival by storm and carried off a prestigious Herald Angel for their outstanding contribution to the event, described in the process by the publication’s arts editor as “sensational”.

That year (2008), they also appeared as one of the headline acts at the annual Americana festival staged by Maverick magazine in Suffolk.

They went on to earn “fave rave” status at Leicester’s big Summer Sundae Festival and won even more acclaim following a triumphant headline show at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections Festival where they won a standing ovation from a capacity crowd.

The band arrives with a brand new album to promote and their signature sound, combining the virtuosic soloing and tightness of bluegrass, the band-driven rhythm of Appalachian old time, the bounce of ragtime and the swagger of good old rock and roll, remains solidly intact. The humour and irreverence is delivered in light-the-blue-touch-paper-and-stand-back style, presented with a hugely enjoyable Vaudevillian edge.

This year, they play Speyfest in the Scottish Highlands, Pittenweem Arts Festival in Fife and Didmarton Bluegrass Festival in the Cotswolds.

But the band also has a string of theatre, arts centre and club dates in England and Scotland.

Frontman Josh Bearman says they are excited to be returning to some of their former stomping grounds and visiting some venues for the first time.

“Our good friends and stablemates, The Wilders, have played most of the places we are going to and we have heard great reports about audiences who like to let their hair down and have a great night out.

“We aim to entertain and make sure everyone has a big, broad smile on their face at the end of the night,” he said.

“We have a new album to promote too and loads of new material in the set as well as some of the old favourites.

“This is our biggest ever European tour, which runs to just under six weeks and of course, we are returning to Edinburgh for another short run at the Fringe which is destined to be another highlight.”

After their appearance at the legendary Bristol Rhythm ‘n’ Roots Revival in Tennessee, Maverick magazine said: “For sheer entertainment on the physical performance front as much as the playing, these guys are bonkers but brilliant”, adding: “great musicianship aside, it’s near impossible to explain what makes them so fantabulous as the show is stuffed with multi-faceted delicacies”.

The Hot Seats Scottish Tour 20011

Thur July 28: Gartly, The Tin Hut

Friday 29: Inverness, Wild West Fest

Sat 30: Speyfest, (Fochabers)

Sun 31: Speyfest, (Fochabers)

Tues Aug 2: Tobermory, Isle of Mull, An Tobar

Thur 4: St Andrews, The Byre Theatre

Fri 5: Isle of Skye, Aros Centre

Sat 6: Stornoway, An Lanntair

Sun 7: Banchory, Woodend Barn

Tues August 9: Kilbarchan, Old Library

Thur 11: Stirling, The Tolbooth

Fri 12: Neilston, Crofthead Hall

Sat 13: Pittenweem Festival, Fife

Sun 14: Irvine, Harbour Arts Centre

Tues16: Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Wed 17: Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Thurs 18: Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Fri 19: Peebles, Eastgate Theatre

Sat 20: Birnam Arts Centre

Sun 21: Aberdeen, The Blue Lamp

Thurs 25: Glasgow, Laurie’s Acoustic Music Bar

Fri 26: Hawick, Heart of Hawick auditorium

Source: Louden Temple