While not producing any rock’n’roll bands that match the selling power of The Beatles, Oasis or Glasvegas, there does seems to be a group of Souters who are on the cusp of greater recognition, and which includes The Darien Venture.

Named after a proposed 17th-century overseas trading scheme to stop disputes with the English, the Glasgow-based group features Selkirk duo Liam Rutherford and Jonny Beveridge.

The band last month released a joint EP with Trapped in Kansas, another with a Souter influence in guitarist Gregor Fair.

Both have just come off a five-date Scottish tour in support of the EP, and last week announced that they are to play gigs south of the border in September.

With a full record due to be released by The Darien Venture before the end of the year, it is a busy time for Liam and Jonny.

Guitarist/singer Liam explained how the relationship with Trapped in Kansas came about.

He said: “We played gigs together with both myself and Gregor coming from Selkirk and we then met up in Glasgow last year and the split EP materialised from that.

“Trapped in Kansas were on the same commercial music course at University of the West of Scotland. We have the same kind of influences but TiK are more delicate so we compliment each other quite well on the EP.

“Some of the gigs were better than others. At Dundee, the barman at the venue said when we arrived ‘I thought this was an acoustic gig’ which posed us some problems. But Glasgow was packed while The Tunnels in Aberdeen said it was the biggest crowd they had had in ages which was nice.”

Both bands may still be unsigned, but this does not worry Liam.

“When you are in the music industry for a bit you get a bit more savvy and lose the naivety you had as a kid when a record deal was the be-all and end-all.

“You realise people within the industry are out for themselves to make money – being unsigned means you have more control.”

Another Souter success story is Liam’s brother Kyle, just back from a tour that took in Germany, Switzerland, France and Greece, with his new heavy metal band Cerebral Bore, and culminating in an appearance at Moscow Deathfest.

And with Frightened Rabbit’s continued rise, another Selkirk band with a distinct brotherly presence in members Grant and Scott Hutchison, the Royal Burgh’s talent conveyer belt does not seem to be slowing down.

“Scott was a couple of years older than me at school but influence-wise Frightened Rabbit have inspired us. Myself and Gregor from TiK are big fans,” added Liam.

“My brother has just returned from Russia which is insane.