NEARLY 30 years since their split, the sounds of The Jam are set to be played at an intimate gig in Oswaldtwistle on October 16.

In 1982 the mod rockers, fronted by Paul Weller, parted ways but one fourth of the iconic band, Bruce Foxton, is back in the studio.

And now he’s on tour with From The Jam, taking in some of the UK’s smaller and more intimate live music venues, to promote the band’s new release ‘Later Day’.

On October 16 Bruce and the band — Russell Hastings and former Big Country’s Mark Brzezicki (in place of drummer Rick Buckler) — will play Mackies Bar at Oswaldtwistle’s Global Conference Centre.

“We’re trying to play to places off the beaten track,” said legendary bass player Bruce, who enjoyed decades of success with The Jam and Stiff Little Fingers.

“And we enjoy taking our music to places we’ve not been before.

“For many years people travelled to us in the bigger cities, but we’re trying to go to them now.

"In some ways I think it makes it more special for everyone involved.”

The 55-year-old, who has recently played bass on Paul Weller’s new material, added: “We’ll be playing all the old Jam singles and albums, but also trying out about three of our new songs.

“After my wife died last year, we went on hold a bit, but now we’re entering a new page in our life.

"We’re moving on and it’s exciting times, we’re writing and in the studio every day.

“We’re not trying to emulate what we did in The Jam – that was unique – but we’re working in a similar style while trying to make it contemporary.

"I just hope it goes down well with the fans.

“Even with The Jam it was trial and error, so we’ll see what Oswaldtwistle thinks of our new material.

“I’ve got to learn how to pronounce the town’s name properly first though,” he joked.

Mark McVey, events manager for the Global Conference Centre, Watson Street, secured the gig earlier this year in a bid to bring more “quality bands to East Lancashire’s smaller towns.”

He added: “There isn’t much going on in Oswaldtwistle and we wanted to bring some real entertainment to the area.

"And while there are bands that play, and some are of a good quality, we wanted to host a band that have real quality.

"To get Bruce from The Jam and Mark from Big Country to come is exciting for us and I’m sure for the many fans they both have here.

“We have a capacity of 400-500 and we anticipate it to be a full house. It should be a really good night.”

From The Jam formed in 2007 with a tour that called at 53 Degrees, Preston, and they will play Clitheroe Grand in December.

But it is the Oswaldtwistle gig where the band will play their new material live.

Their first new release, ‘Later Day’, is available for download via Angel Air on Monday, and none other than Paul Weller has done the sleeve notes.

The gig will also see support from Accrington mod band The Itch.

The trio, founded by brothers David and Colin Benmore in 1992, have had followers including Radio One’s John Peel and regularly support big named bands.

But David said the band were particularly excited about their slot for From The Jam.

He said: “It’s quite a coup: a member of The Jam and a member of Big Country appearing in Oswaldtwistle.

"Blackburn, Burnley and Colne have had plenty of name acts appearing at their respective venues over the last decade and now it’s Oswaldtwistle’s turn.

"We are only too pleased having been chosen to be the support band to give our input in putting Oswaldtwistle on the map, and giving local people something to shout about.”

* From The Jam — The Global Conference Centre, Watson Street, Oswaldtwistle, October 16, 7.30pm. Tickets are £20 from 01254 386 475.