Hunter and the Bear started out as a duo, Irvine and long-time friend Jimmy Hunter, who hails from Glasgow.

The pair ended up at the same university in Newcastle where Irvine studied English with drama and Hunter a business course.

Irvine says: "I was interested in the singing and song writing side of music, but Jimmy taught me to play guitar.

"He coached me through to a point where we could play together."

Later, after university, the pair headed north to Irvine's family home in Achiltibuie in Wester Ross to write songs, before travelling to London in pursuit of gigs.

They spotted drummer Gareth Thompson, from Brighton, playing in Ronnie Scott's Jazz Bar in London's Soho.

Chris Clark, from Shrewsbury, a bassist with a love of heavy metal, joined the band next.

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www.hunterandthebear.co.uk/

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