ACCLAIMED as cool, hip and funky, Wiltshire-based band Hip Route will be playing at Swindon’s Beehive pub at 8.30pm tonight.

If after a long working week a mellow night of music and a relaxing drink or two appeals, then head down to the quirky pub in Old Town and listen to the music of of this three-piece roots band, made up of Jim Blair on Weissenborn, acoustic and electric guitar and vocals, Jon Millard on bass and vocals, and Steve Lodge on drums, percussion and vocals.

The band has a busy schedule of live performances and have recorded and independently released three albums to date, which are available in CD format at gigs and digitally at online outlets.

The first was Working on Hope, in 2007, followed by Sing it Out on 2010 and Hands Together in 2013. Recording and mixing is also underway for a fourth album for release this year, preceded by a new single called Shout Out, featuring vocals from Reef’s Gary Stringer, which was released in April.

Hip Route have shared a stage with Reef, Jason Mraz, Ben Howard, Newton Faulkner, The Hoosiers, and Alabama 3, among others.

Following Friday’s gig at the Beehive, Hip Route will be heading for the Three Horseshoes in Bradford on Avon on June 23, and the Devizes Beer Festival on July 7.

The Beehive’s MESS session follows on Monday June 11 from 8.30pm, offering a folky, rootsy jam session in the Bottom Bar to which all are welcome, then on Tuesday it is time for the poets, with Oooh Beehive, a monthly spoken word and poetry open mic night held on the second Tuesday of every month. For more information on Hip Route and to listen to some tunes, visit hiproute.com.