WHO would have thought a couple of extreme metalheads and two acoustic singer-songwriters would get together to create an exotic bluesy rock sound.

But that’s what Summer Snowmen have done, and it seems to be working for them.

The four-piece are made up of Jack Bennell (vocals, acoustic Guitar); Nathan Edgell (vocals, acoustic guitar); Jake Blackman (electric guitar); and Joe Wimpress (drums) and got together while studying at the Colchester Institute.

Jack says: “Jake and Joe were really into their metal, while Nathan and I are very much acoustic-based, but all of us were willing to work together to see what would happen.”

It didn’t take very long before they knew they might be on to something.

Jake adds: “I had been in metal bands for years, but when they asked me to join, I thought: Why not give it a go?

“We played one gig and afterwards I thought: ‘Do you know what, this could work’.”

That was at a pub in Ardleigh around Christmas time last year.

Jack adds: “To be honest, we didn’t expect a lot because we had only just started, but we told a few friends and the place ended up so rammed, they had to move the pool table.

“Because we’ve been studying a lot recently, the gigging has been on the back burner a bit, but we had a nice little run in March with seven gigs in nine days.”

They also played a high-profile gig at the O2 Islington Academy.

Joe says: “We’ve been very lucky, because we’ve got some amazing tutors at the college who have taught us loads, but we’ve been on a pretty steep learning curve ourselves.

“Big gigs, like the O2, are daunting, but it teaches a lot about where we want to be in a few years.

“For example, it’s the first time we had a dressing room, which was pretty cool.”

Drawing from their multitude of different influences, such as alternative, blues, indie and post rock, Summer Snowmen have also recorded their first EP, which they are launching with a special gig at the Twist this week.

Jack says: “We got very lucky with the number of gigs we had and from the money we made playing them we decided to make this EP. It’s a kind of showcase for venues and festivals but also telling people what we’re about.”

Summer Snowmen
The Twist, Military Road, Colchester. Thursday, May 16. 7.30pm.
£5 on the night. £4 in advance.
www.facebook.com/summer snowmen