CABBAGE have been making quite a name for themselves since smashing their way onto Manchester’s biggest stages.

Despite being on track to becoming a household name, the band of five are far from mainstream.

There aren’t many bands who can boast having a song banned from the BBC playlist while at the same time playing live on 6 Music.

Forget your indie Mumford & Sons and Bastilles, the group of friends from Mossley, Burnage and Yorkshire are neo post punk, unapologetic and outspoken to boot.

Their socially-minded songs satirise and poke fun at the establishment and political going-ons of the world.

But it’s proving to be a winning formula, as their debut Le Chou EP was picked up by NME and the Guardian, and within less than a year they are now playing sellout gigs and are set to support the Courteeners at their biggest ever show, at the 50,000 capacity Emirates Old Trafford in May.

Lead vocalist Lee Broadbent said: “We’ve not even been going a year yet. It’s been hard work, we are really, really skint but it’s what we want to do.

“The Old Trafford gig will be our biggest stage. We’re going to be bringing a bit of chaos to the big stage.

“We are desperate to make new music already and take the stage antics to the next level.

“The music industry is very tame at the moment, there’s not many bands playing our kind of music. I’m not saying everyone is politically correct but no one wants to go out and say things any more. We’ve come to a point in society where people only seem to care about themselves.

“I don’t think bands are doing enough to stand up and have a say or be more controversial.”

Alongside Lee is Joe Martin on vocals and guitar, guitarist Eoghan Clifford, Stephen Evans on bass and drummer Asa Morley.

The boys share their management with the Blossoms, which they credit for helping get their name out there.

Following a year of support gigs they have now set out on their first headline tour which includes a sell out gig at Bolton’s Blind Tiger.

Lee added: “We are finally glad to be in control of our own stage. It’s been really good to get the opportunities and be on the road as much as possible.

“I think being different to what’s out there at the moment has given us a leg up.

“The thought of standing there and just playing songs is odious. Hopefully we can inspire other bands to stand up and smash things up for a bit.

“The places we love to play are where you can get a pint of John Smith or Guinness for a couple of quid. If Bolton has got that then we’ll be happy!”

Cabbage play Blind Tiger in Nelson Square on Saturday.