AS they look forward to even bigger things next year, Bolton’s rising indie stars Jordan Allen say 2017 will be a year to remember.

For it has been a year in which they band released their first EP, played two of Manchester’s biggest venues, won a national radio competition and have been on the bill at some of the country’s most famous festivals.

They even performed to a home crowd of thousands before Paddy McGuinness switched on Bolton’s Christmas lights. Their latest single has also been heard at Macron Stadium on match day.

Now their first 16-date headline tour this month has shown fans why front man Jordan, lead guitarist Danny Quin, bassist Kieran Loughran and drummer Nathan Howard are now one of the most exciting unsigned bands in Britain.

“Being out on the road has been crazy and beyond everything we’d expected” said Jordan.

“The scenes at every venue were mad. As soon as we played the first chord of R.O.S.I.E the whole crowd would sing the song back to us.

“We may have expected that at The Ruby Lounge in Manchester or in Leeds, but seeing it in places like Southampton and Plymouth as well was a revelation.”

“That song has given us a whole new set of fans and next time they’ll bring their mates along too. Before, as an unknown band, we didn’t always capture everyone’s attention, but this time everyone’s been on board.”

Two new punchy songs, Out of My Mind and Wasted Generation, have also been resonating with fans and Jordan says both have the potential to be future singles.

“Wasted Generation gets a lot of mentions after shows so that may be first one released” he added.

With their long-time producer David Radahd-Jones, the band have also been working on other tracks not yet in their set, including one called Synchronised, which Nathan said is a “real progression” of the band’s sound.

“After hearing Jordan’s first acoustic version I thought that could be the tune to make us famous” said Kieran.

“We don’t want to be a band that does the same thing each time” explained Jordan. “We’re always trying new sounds like our new track Without Any Clothes which has a funky vibe.”

It’s not always easy for northern bands to grab the attention of the London music scene, but after being voted winners of Virgin Radio’s FreshFest competition and selling out Camden Assembly, Jordan is confident things are already changing for the band.

“It’s not easy turning heads in the music industry, but hopefully we’ve reached a turning point with these latest songs and tour, though we’re definitely having to work hard for it,” he says.

In February the band supported South Yorkshire pals The Sherlocks at Manchester’s Albert Hall where the former Wesleyan Chapel was a sea of bouncing fans for both groups.

On the same day, they released their EP Livin’ La Vida Bolton, featuring the outstanding bittersweet but optimistic single 110 Ways to Make Things Better, a tribute to Jordan’s father and greatest supporter Kevin who passed away last year after a brain tumour related terminal illness.

The band have become good mates with Sheffield band SHEAFS and reunited with The Sherlocks in September to play to more than 2,600 people at Manchester Academy.

“Being on so many dates this year with The Sherlocks was fun and everything we needed at the time and more,” said Jordan.

“They are leading the way for bands like us. Now we need to work towards getting to the sort of venues that they play on our own”

Jordan Allen’s latest single R.O.S.I.E is out now.