It’s now official — The University of Nottingham is an undisputed hotbed of musical talent. UoN’s London Grammar topped off an amazing 18 months by bagging an Ivor Novello in May and now attention is turning to another band who came together on the hallowed turf of University Park — Amber Run.

Decked out in Chelsea boots and All Saints knitwear Joe Keogh, Henry Wyeth, Will Jones, Tom Sperring and Felix Archer — four from UoN, Felix from Nottingham Trent — formed Amber Run in the city for something to do as much as anything else, not thinking the whole thing would take off. But then, thanks to BBC Introducing, an initiative which supports undiscovered and unsigned music, they ended up playing Reading and Leeds festivals as their fourth and fifth ever gigs.

“Before Reading and Leeds, it was genuinely just us making music for the sake of making music,” says vocalist Joe. “And then at that point some actually said ‘your music’s alright, we think people might like it’ and then it was at that point we thought ‘okay, let’s give this a go and see what we can do’.

“It was only afterwards that we realised how big it was, and so big for a small band who haven’t even released that much music. It also gave us the confidence to be able to say ‘we deserve to play headline shows and we think we can do this’.”

And the band is keen to push on from this initial success and follow in the London Grammar footsteps. “They are amazing — their success is because they’re amazing musicians and wonderful songwriters and Strong is such a huge tune,” says Joe.

“The fact they came from Nottingham Uni and are so successful — it’s healthy competition and it does spur you on,” adds Henry. “When you see your peers, who have gone through what you have, doing so well, it makes it attainable.”

You can catch Amber Run alongside headliners Tom Odell and Happy Mondays at Splendour Festival at Nottingham’s Wollaton Hall on Saturday 19 July. Visit www.splendourfestival.com for more information.

Follow the band on Twitter via @amberrunuk