Pop Pourri: Stoneblue hoping to reclaim Watford in the name of rock n' roll.

A BAND from Watford is hoping to relaunch itself on home turf after a three-year absence from the town.

Stoneblue was a regular on the local circuit, playing the likes of The Horn and The Firkin in St Albans and The Pump House in Watford, until 1997, when members felt they needed to play bigger venues.

London's Sound Republic is now a regular haunt but the pop rockers say they would love to return to Watford and build a solid home fan base if a suitable venue became available.

Leadsinger Maz Ataie said: 'We want to develop a hardcore home following. We haven't really had any Watford support from 1997. There's another generation to capture and really get interested in the band. But there are not many places to play in Watford.'

He added the band would love to get together with other local groups to play venues such as The Colosseum or Area nightclub.

The five-piece band is currently writing new material, rehearsing and trying to clinch that all important record deal.

Formed in 1994 under the name Xstatic, the group released a mini album called Exit Woman and, with new management, put together a three-track CD - Underground Pop, last year.

Fusing sounds from the 1980's pop scene with heavier rock groups of the late 1990's, such as the Manic Street Preachers, the band has managed to produce a sound that's a little bit different, but still commercial enough to find chart success.

Underground Pop proves the band definitely has something. Big melodies and catchy choruses abound - the type to get your arms waving in the air at a live gig.

But, I'm told the new material will be even better, with a more rugged, raw feel now the group has taken back control of the recording process.

It would be fantastic if someone rose to the challenge of staging a gig at one of the town's larger venues for a few talented local bands. It would help raise the profile of the groups involved and would be a great night for fans.

In the meantime, we'll just have to content ourselves with seeing Stoneblue in London - playing the Water Rats on Thursday and at The Monarch in Camden next month.

For more information on the group visit the web site www.stoneblue.co.uk.

Here are the gigs:

Saturday: Limehouse Lizzy The Horn, St Albans, £5. Roadhouse Rose and Crown, Kings Langley, £1 before 9pm, £2 after. Steppin Out The Sportsman, Croxley Green, 9pm, free. The Self Righteous Brothers The Crown, Ley hill, Chesham, contact 01494 783910 for details. Brandon Block/Anders/Natalie Kilminster Room 1 and Steve Harvey/Chris Good Room 2, Area nightclub, The Parade, Watford, 9pm to 3am, £10, £8 members. The Grapevine Blues Band The Tally Ho!, Trumpington, Cambs. Duelling Pianos Jumpin' Jaks, Hemel Hempstead.

Sunday: The Blue Angel Acoustic Cafe The Horn, St Albans, 7.30pm to 10.30pm, free. Calvin Jones Rose and Crown, Kings Langley, 8pm, £5. The Self Righteous Brothers The Crown, Letchlade. The Grapevine Blues Band The White Hart, South Woodford, E18.

Monday: Jammin Night The Horn, St Albans, 8pm, £2. Whitney Houston tribute Jumpin' Jaks, Hemel Hempstead.

Tuesday: Bereta/Trench/Aconite Thril The Horn, St Albans, £3. Unplugged session Rose and Crown, Kings Langley.

Wednesday: Broken Arrow/Support The Horn, St Albans, £3. Boogie nights, 1970's and 80's disco and funk, Room 1 and house and garage DJ competition, Room 2, Area nightclub, The Parade, Watford, 9pm to 2am, free. Pancracker Jumpin' Jaks, Hemel Hempstead.

Thursday: The Hamsters perform ZZ Top and Hendrix The Horn, St Albans, £6. The Self Righteous Brothers Eddie's Wine Bar, Rickmansworth. Stoneblue Water Rats, 328 Grays Inn Road, London,10pm, £4. Wa Wa Zat Jumpin' Jaks, Hemel Hempstead. Will Killeen The Crown, Ley Hill, Chesham, contact 01494 783910 for details. The Grapevine Blues Band The Greyhound, Harlow.