SHADES of The Jam and The Kinks can be clearly heard in the off-beat sounds of Dartford rock hopefuls, Rosemary.

The young three-piece have been making a name for themselves with a number of gigs in London, where they have just received airplay on XFM radio.

The group’s strong nod to classic English bands has spilled over into their style - sheepskin coats, scarves and scooters are the order of the day here.

What hits you most is the music’s sense of immediacy, a longing to break out of average suburban surroundings which are the norm for many in Kent.

Their cause has been considerably aided by their latest EP recorded in Rochester with Jim Riley, who has recently worked with Chatham based cult hero Billy Childish and The Buff Medways.

And after support slot alongside rising indie stars including The Others, they are beginning to make a name for themselves.

Bassist and songwriter Tim Hill appeared laid-back about their ventures so far.

He said: "Everything is going well and were starting to get a following now and hopefully people who don’t know who were are starting to turn up to our gigs."

Bouyed by their studio, they are now chasing a record deal. But are not about to rush into being tied to the corporate world and all it entails.

Tim and vocalist Martin Brett had joined forces at college in Dartford before recruiting their drummer Jonathan Chamberlain to complete the close-knit line-up.

Far from being complacent, they are keeping a keen eye on the scene and are awaiting fresh live dates in the capital.

If you were a betting man or woman, you wouldn’t do badly with a flutter on their distinctive tunes carrying them a long way.

As their bass-man added, after time spent honing their act, they now feel ready to ride the rock n’ roll rollercoaster.

"Our ideas are really coming across, we have hit the nail on the head with the music and think we now sound a lot different to other bands out there."

For gig details see the band’s website below. Their EP is available at www.rosemarymusic.co.uk.