IF Xan Holbrook, songwriter for new Bury band Gypsy Lips, gets writer’s block he is sure to be able to get some good advice — he is the nephew of Elbow’s Guy Garvey.

And with his uncle’s band having scooped the Mercury Music prize, Xan knows he has high standards to meet if he is going to follow in his footsteps.

“Certainly in terms of lyricism and songwriting he’s a benchmark,” he says. “It’s quite comforting to have a relative who has been there, done that and got the t-shirt.”

However, Xan says that it wasn’t his uncle’s fame he wanted to emulate — he caught the performing bug several years ago when playing live with fellow Gypsy Lips member Joe Hope.

“We have been in all sorts of bands together that didn’t work out, but we found a common love of playing the blues,” he says.

Xan and Joe, who are both 18, now perform as a duo, and name their biggest influences as The Black Keys, Seasick Steve, The White Stripes and Jimi Hendrix.

“The Black Keys are very old school, but experimental at the same time, which is what we are trying to do,” says Xan. “Also Seasick Steve, he’s one of the most eclectic men you’ll ever see with a guitar. It’s extremely raw, but also very soulful and expressive.”

The band are playing Manchester’s Moho Live on July 25.