LIVERPOOL indie pop-punks Sheepy open their April tour with a York show at the Fulford Arms tomorrow night, promoting their imminent second album Alarm Bells.

The line-up comprises Liverpudlian schoolfriends Luke Jones, on guitar and vocals, and Ollie Phillips, on drums, abetted by Irish bassist Villy Raze.

To say songwriter Jones was prolific would be an understatement, as his abundant ability to pen short, sharp, catchy punk pop in the time it would take most people to flick through the newspaper on their daily commute is remarkable.

"Writing my 15th bedroom-recorded solo album called 15, I jokingly thought to myself, 'why not write 15 songs in an hour for the 15th?'," says Jones.

"I was thinking of going for quantity not quality with short, punchy punk tracks of about two minutes each. But I was only half joking as I tried to brainstorm lots of ideas that were coming to me in a short space of time. I wrote the 15 songs in about a week.”

In turn, this prompted Jones to pen Sheepy's new single 15 Songs (In An Hour).

Originally discovered by London label Blang playing at a pirate radio festival in Mayo, Ireland, Jones had by then already recorded ten solo albums at home. He gave four copies to the label, which signed him immediately.

Since then Jones has made another six home demo albums; formed the band; played gigs around Britain, Ireland and Europe; released one album, five singles and an EP; been played on BBC Radio 6Music by Steve Lamacq, Tom Robinson and Gideon Coe, and had two singles used on Sky Sports' Soccer AM as the soundtrack to goal compilations.

Now comes Sheepy’s second album proper, Alarm Bells, recorded in Brixton with Jim Bob, Monochrome Set, Band Of Holy Joy and Chris T-T producer Jon Clayton for release on May 9 on Blang Records.

Jones is already recording his 17th home solo album. Meanwhile, tickets for tomorrow's 8pm gig will be available on the door.