Hogging the space between local legend and global greatness, the north coast quads have scrawled their name over every square inch of the country, taking the rough with the smooth and living to tell the tale through their colossal sound.

This week sees the band launch their debut album in...well, if we're being politically correct, probably in two locations.

But you know how we feel about politics around this part of the country, so yes, ASIWYFA will be launching their album at the Cellar Bar in Draperstown - the night before Belfast no less.

And at £3, it's also 200% cheaper than the big smoke.

Guitarist Rory Friers spoke to the MAIL this week about the hard work and determination that has taken ASIWYFA to the top.

"It's really exciting to have got to this stage," he said. "We've been sitting on this record for about the last nine months like a pregnant woman about to burst but now that it's been out with the press for the last few weeks we've been getting some really great positive reaction."

Chances are you will have heard of ASIWYFA even if you've never heard them. Like the godfathers of NI's music scene, the band have constantly promoted and encouraged all that's good here through events like last year's A Little Solidarity. Being talented buggers themselves doesn't go unnoticed.

"It's lovely to be thought of as hard working but really it's just a natural thing for us. If you love something you put everything you have into it and that's why we push ourselves with everything we do.

"The music here is great but there's something different going on - there'es a great attitude and ethos from all the bands and being part of that is a great feeling.

"Most cities in the UK don't share the same collective feeling that we have here, there's so much potential for something really great to happen.

"But we shouldn't get too nostalgic about it. Yeah we're here and it's great, but lets make NI a long-term sustainable industry."

Having fastened themselves tightly into the front seat of the monster truck of NI music, they soon took their show across the water, putting UK fans in the headlights and threatening annihilation. Thankfully that's exactly what fans there wanted to see too. And from there it was just a short jaunt over to...Japan?

"We signed a deal with Japanese label Xtal Records because we always saw it as being a good market for what we were doing and we always seemed to pick up a fair amount of fans from Japan."

But Japan's a hell of along way from Draperstown, or not depending on the kind of mood you're in, so what about this week's gig?

"We can't wait to get back again, it'll give us a great chance to rehearse our songs and show the people what they can expect from this album."

And what about launching their album here?

"Just don't tell anybody in Belfast!"


Support on the night comes from LaFaro and InExistence.