XTC veteran Dave Gregory comes to The Furnace in Swindon’s Commercial Road with new band Tin Spirits on Friday, January 29.

Tin Spirits covers classic tracks such as Steely Dan’s Reelin’ in the Years, The Doors’ Riders on the Storm and Rush’s Tom Sawyer, together with a roster of XTC songs including Dear God, Towers of London, Language in Our Lungs and The Mayor of Simpleton.

The band came together last year after Dave met guitarist and XTC fan Daniel Steinhardt at a gig by blues outfit The Matt Schofield Trio at Riffs Bar in Greatfield, near Hook, Swindon.

Daniel Steinhardt runs guitar effects specialist firm thegigrig.com. He and fellow musicians Mark Kilminster and Dougie Mussard together make up well-regarded rock band The Hi-Fidels.

Dave took part in a studio session with them after Daniel invited him to try out some equipment from thegigrig.com.

Dave, 57, said: “That’s the core of the band - The Hi-Fidels and me.

“As a result of meeting this band and doing this session we decided it would be fun to get something rehearsed. We realised that with a few rehearsals we might have a rocking little band.

“2009 was full of rehearsals and a few gigs, and we’ve started to get a following.”

The Furnace gig features XTC tribute outfit Fossil Fools, and plenty of XTC fans - understandably - are also fans of Tin Spirits.

Dave is happy to talk about his own role as lead guitarist in the world famous band, which he left a little over a decade ago, but is reluctant to describe himself as famous.

“I’m well known among a certain clientele but not famous,” he said. “I can’t be famous if I live in West Swindon on an estate - and that suits me.

“I’m just a bloke who happens to play guitar and made some records.”

This modesty rather belies his status not only as a former member of XTC but also a session musician with artists as diverse as Marc Almond and Lulu, not to mention a guest slot on a recent album by progressive rock stars Big Big Train - but it’s a modesty that comes across as 100 per cent genuine nevertheless.

Doors at the Furnace gig open at 7.30pm and tickets cost £8. Tickets are available from The Rolleston pub, Blue Banana, Swin City, Rock & Roll Music and The Information Centre.

Further information is available on 01793 534238 and at www.thefurnace.org.uk