YOU might not realise it yet, but Wu Lyf are a big deal. A really big deal, in fact.

The cogniscenti have been chattering excitedly about them for a while and Jay Z has announced that he is a fan.

Without the four boys lifting so much as a finger, Manchester International Festival came knocking, begging them to curate a stage at this year’s event.

“We were contacted by them out of the blue,” says bassist Tom McClung, soon to be Lowercroft’s most famous resident.

“It was pretty amazing because we’re still a fairly new band and while we’re not exactly directionless, we’ve not totally fixed on what we want to do yet.

"So yeah, it was crazy exciting.”

The band will be taking over the road tunnel on Manchester’s Great Bridgewater Street, which will be closed to traffic and pedestrians.

Along with Dirty Beaches, Herb Diamante and London band Family, Wu Lyf will be holding the summer party of the festival.

The Wu Lyf lineup is completed by Tom’s childhood friend, Joe Manning, on drums, singer Ellery Roberts and guitarist Evans Kati.

It might look traditional, but their overarching creative ethic, which extends to films and artwork, suggests otherwise.

“I’d say our music has a pop sensibility, but it also has a real honest emotion to it,” says Tom.

“It’s heartfelt — it’s pop music that means something to the people who made it.”

With the debut album released this month and the tide of acclaim growing ever more hysterical, Tom could be forgiven for feeling more than a little pleased with himself.

But the 21 year-old remains relaxed at the prospect of success.

“I’m feeling suprisingly casual about it — it’s really strange getting everything you want,” he says.

“You dream about stuff like this happening and when it does it’s even better because you don’t expect it.”

* Wu Lyf play The Tunnel in Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester, on Saturday, July 16. Tickets cost £13.50. To book, visit mif.co.uk