Six years ago, Adam Devlin, Scott Morriss, Eds Chester and Mark Morriss - collectively known as The Bluetones - were taking their first steps in what has turned out to be a meteoric career, writes Templeton Blake.

Sharing a house with another then fast-rising act, Dodgy, their first public outing appeared on the sought-after Fierce Panda EP, Return to Splendour. The opening track on the said EP was entitled No.11 - later renamed Bluetonic - which became a Radio One Evening Session power play.

Support slots with Strangelove, The Charlatans and Oxford's very own Supergrass followed - and 1994 concluded with the release of a double A-side single - Slight Return/The Fountainhead - released on their own label, Superior Quality Recordings. For a while The Bluetones were an unstoppable force as their name became associated with the Britpop boom.

Their debut album, Expecting to Fly, hit the number one spot in the album charts and several singles gave a good account of themselves.

But The Bluetones second album, Return to the Last Chance Saloon, received a mixed reaction from the fickle UK music media. Abroad it was a different story.

They spent much of 1998 conquering Australia and revisiting Japan. They also appeared at many European festivals, as well as returning home to play the main stage at that year's Reading Festival. During the summer of 1998 Mercury Records took over the marketing of The Bluetones' Superior Quality Recordings - but not quickly enough for the band, who released a single, Four Day Weekend independently and sold it over the Internet and at gigs. Such was the demand it had to be repressed immediately.

The Bluetones devoted followers, dubbed The Blue Army, were still keeping ther faith - even if the music media and record companies were not.

The band also keep the faith with their fans. Noit surprising really, as the 'Tones have been a hard-working band since they first got together.

"We're not one of those bands that was formed from a small ad," said Adam. "We're buddies, we've known each other forever!"

Fast forward to last month, when The Bluetones finally released their third album, Science & Nature. Around the time of release, lead guitarist Adam Devlin said: "The reasoning behind the title is really to do with the sound. The second album was just straight down the line electric guitars, bass and drums.

"This is a bit madder and it's got a few more beats. That's the 'Science' bit. But it's also got the more 'organic' instruments - that's where 'Nature' comes from. It's much more akin to the first album than the second one."

Only one other subject arouses The Bluetones collective passion as much as music, and that's football. Word has it they're all Brentford supporters! They appear regularly on Sky's Soccer AM programme.

Science and Nature entered the album charts at number seven. With the band doing the rounds of all the major UK summer festivals - including Glastonbury and Reading - you can bet on it becoming a permanent fixture in the charts this year.

The Bluetones warm up for their Glastonbury date with an appearance at The Zodiac next Thursday. Tickets are on sale now - but don't leave it too late.