A PUNK band from the Isle of Wight are looking forward to getting back out on the road next year, including a gig in Northwich.

Grade 2, a three piece from Ryde, are lined up to play the town's The Salty Dog on Sunday, February 13, as part of a massive tour of the UK and Europe.

Bass player Sid Ryan took time out to talk to the Guardian about the band and getting back to playing live after a pandemic-enforced break.

"There's myself on bass, Jack Chatfield on guitar and Jacob Hull on drums," he explained.

"The band was actually formed when we were still at school about nine years ago.

"We were stuck for a name and a friend of ours suggested Grade A, but none us had any of them, so we chose Grade 2 about our haircuts instead."

Northwich Guardian: Punk band Grade 2 are booked to play at The Salty Dog in Northwich on February 13

Punk band Grade 2 are booked to play at The Salty Dog on February 13

The band have released three records - 2016's Mainstream View, Break The Routine the following year, before releasing a Graveyard Island in 2019.

"We've toured the whole of Europe and the States," Sid added.

"Pre-Covid and since we left school it's been non-stop playing.

"So now, having had such a long break, it's a waiting game to get back to it.

"For the first eight months of the pandemic there was a lot of frustration seeing so much stuff getting cancelled.

"But looking back on it now, it was a time to basically take a step back, see what we've done and where we should go next.

"It gave us a lot of time to focus on where we should head musically next.

"So there was some kind of silver lining there but at the start none of us saw it that way."

With early influences from the likes of The Clash, The Jam and The Stanglers, Grade 2 have a classic punk sound with Louder Than War describing their album Graveyard Island as "Upbeat stripped back punk’n’roll with a bit of yobbo thrown in.".

"When people come and see us live, it's a full on set of high pace, high drive and there's a lot of energy in the room," Sid added.

"From the end of January, fingers crossed, it's all guns blazing until December.

"I just hope people in the area can make it down because it's going to be a good night."

For more information on the band and to purchase tickets, head over to grade2official.co.uk.