DARWEN Live – well it certainly was for one band.

Blackburn indie band the New York Tourists had to pull out of their biggest date of the year so far – for the birth of the lead singer’s baby daughter Iris.

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The four-piece had been due to play The Belgrave Live Music Bar, on Belgrave Road, but were forced to cancel at the last minute when Jenny Cockerill-Taylor, the wife of vocalist-guitarist Gary Taylor, went into labour three weeks early.

The band tweeted: “Due to matters out of our control. We are unable to play this years DML at 7pm at The Belgrave. Gary’s Mrs Jenny went into Labour last night.”

The family posted a beautiful picture of the three of them on the band’s website, attracting messages of congratulations – and thanks from the new dad who said: “Thanks for the love people, She’ll be wearing an NYT T-shirt in no time! I’ll be back in the game before you know it – Gary x.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Gary, whose first wedding anniversary is on Saturday, said: “It came as a total shock really and I am overwhelmed.

“One minute we are gearing up to be playing and the next thing....

“It’s all happened in a year. New house, new job at Baxi and now a baby.

“We’ve named her after my grandma as she was very special to me.”

The band – which also includes father-of-two Carl Rutherford on guitar, Adrian McKenzie on bass and Joe Mooney on drums – have been described as “Queens of the Stone Age meets Foals”.

And Gary is set to juggle changing nappies and playing live – the band is scheduled to return to gigging at Glastonferret, at Preston pub The Ferret on July 3 and at Blackburn’s Moofest on July 5 at Wellybobs, Davyfield Farm, Darwen.

He says he is definitely not giving up the Rock and Roll dream.

He said: “No way. Carl has two lads and as long as it’s do-able we’ll do it.

“We have already been sorting out arrangements.

“And she’ll be coming to all the gigs when she up and about.”

Their song Chew Me Up, Spit Me Out was listed on BBC Introducing’s top 10 tracks of 2013 and they have since supported The Subways, The View, The Sunshine Underground and Buzzcocks, as well as playing Kendal Calling, Shrewsbury Fields Forever Festival and headlining the alternative stage at Blackburn Festival.