THEY’RE played all over the world, they’re multi-instrumentalists, they wear sinister clownish make up and their website proclaims them a ‘death oompah band’.

They’re the Tiger Lillies. They were formed with the intention of being unlike anything on Earth and they’re coming to the Arts Centre in Swindon tonight.

Swindon is the first stop on a tour of their latest show, The Songs of Shockheaded Peter and other Gory Verses.

Many of the songs are based on the stories in a notorious and very real 19th Century German book of supposed “instructive stories” for children.

The tales feature thumbsucking youngsters having the digits cut off by a nocturnal maniac, burning to ashes after playing with matches and suffering other horrible self-induced fates.

“It’s funny and it’s dark and it can be quite offensive at times,” said the London band’s vocalist, Martyn Jacques.

A man with a naturally deep voice, the 50-year-old spent years training himself to sing in a ragged and sinister yet tuneful falsetto. The style is ideal for the band’s sinister cabaret songs.

Martyn added: “We started out 20 years ago, trying to do something original and different.

“I suppose it was more in the spirit of artistic expression rather than just trying to make something commercial for the charts.”

As avowedly anti-commercial as the Tiger Lillies may be, they are far from lacking in acclaim or devoted fans. Their 2003 album, The Gorey End, was nominated for a Grammy, and concerts are frequently full houses.

Martyn said: “It’s word of mouth and the internet - people have heard of you and they come and see you.

“There are music fans who like to look at more unusual areas of music - more esoteric.

“I suppose we’re one of those bands if you’re interested in death oompah!”

Martyn’s fellow members of Tiger Lillies are Adrian Huge and Adrian Stout. Between them, the trio play instruments including - but not limited to - the musical saw, the accordion and the ukulele, as well as the more traditional guitar, bass, drums and keyboards.

The Arts Centre gig starts at 8pm and is limited to people aged over 16.

The music covers plenty of adult themes, and it’s not unknown for audience members to walk out of Tiger Lillies concerts.

A good idea of the band’s style can be obtained via YouTube.

The band’s website is at www.tigerlillies.com.