KENDAL indie heroes Wild Beasts will cap off a successful year by treating local fans to a special homecoming gig this Christmas.

Chris Talbot, Tom Fleming, Hayden Thorpe and Ben Little have gone from strength to strength after receiving rave reviews for their second album Two Dancers earlier this year.

“The response has been very complimentary,” said frontman Hayden Thorpe. “It’s comforting and heartwarming when what you do is appreciated.”

In less than a decade the Beasts have gone from relative obscurity, practising on Kendal’s Mintsfeet Estate, to international acclaim playing to packed out crowds at Leeds Festival, Latitude and Bestival.

“Latitude was the pick of the bunch for us because two of our favourite artists were there - Thom Yorke opened it and Nick Cave closed it,” added Hayden. “And touring in New York was a big deal. From our first gig we got a fantastic response and it was a real eye-opener to see that there is a world outside that we can tap into.”

Last month the beastly boys appeared on TV’s eclectic music show Later with Jools Holland.

“Jools Holland was amazing. We really enjoyed it, but I was so nervous beforehand that when we actually came to play it was just a case trying not to mess up. I think any music fan is a fan of the show, because it’s the only one out there that shows live music now.

"The variety is what makes it special because you have to pitch your wits against various kinds of music.”

Early next year Wild Beasts will roar through Australia, Europe and America before sitting down to write material for a new album.

But first the band are looking forward to a return visit to Kendal for a special homecoming gig at the Brewery on December 22.

“We’re really excited about it,” said Hayden. “That will be our last show of the year and it will be a fitting way for us to cap off this brilliant year.

"A lot of our friends come home for Christmas so it’s as much a bit of a private party as anything else.

“The farther apart you go and the more you travel, the more you are drawn back to where you come from and what you know.

“The Lakes is our comfort zone and one we always come back to. For us it’s a unique source of material.”