YORK indie-rock band and Leeds United fans Skylights are to play a home-city gig at The Crescent on August 18, buoyed by the reaction to their debut single, YRA (Yorkshire's Republic Army).

"The single has gone down really well on the BBC Introducing radio shows and in the legendary Leeds fanzine The Square Ball," says guitarist Turnbull Smith, 34, who is joined in the line-up by vocalist Rob Scarisbrick, bassist brother Jonny Scarisbrick, 34, and drummer Myles Soley, 35.

"I came up with the intro riff and a few chords for a song and sent the recording to Rob to work his magic with the lyrics, Myles the beat and Jonny the bass."

"It's a Yorkshire anthem, taken from a Leeds chant," says Rob. "We're proud of where we come from and incorporate it in that tune. It's tongue-in-cheek-turned-anthem."

Why are York lads supporters of that Dirty Leeds lot up the road? "Jonny and Rob's dad is a huge Leeds fan since the 1960s, and with his influence we've followed them home and away as far as Malaga," says Turnbull. "The FA Youth Cup final in 1993 [Leeds United 2 Manchester United 1] at Elland Road was our first game and it got us hooked."

Skylights formed in Acomb in the summer of 2008. Brothers Rob and Jonny had known Turnbull since they were children and Myles used to play in a band with Turnbull when they were 18.

"Jonny had decided to start a band and came to me," says Turnbull. "I'd always played bass in previous bands so decided to try out guitar and Jonny had always played guitar rather then bass, so we swapped roles. We needed a singer, so we asked Rob, who, at the time, was more interested in travelling the country supporting his beloved Leeds United, but we managed to persuade him. To finish the line-up, I asked my old band mate Myles to join the band on the drums.

They settled on a sound influenced by Leeds band The Music, Manchester's Oasis, Wigan's The Verve as well as those punk cornerstones The Sex Pistols and The Clash.

"We did a few shows but nothing too serious and stopped playing, but ten years later, we decided to start again and make the most of our opportunity by releasing our first proper single, YRA, with two B sides, Take Me Somewhere and Nothing Left To Say."

BBC Introducing presenter – and Leeds United fan Jericho Keys – said "This is a massive track" when playing YRA on BBC stations across the north and was not alone in his support. "With the good feedback we've received from YRA, we decided to release out new single, What You Are," says Turnbull.

YRA's official video can be viewed at t.co/UvGu0vpHGU, while What You Are can be heard at soundcloud.com/skylights2018/what-you-are.

Skylights play The Crescent, York, on August 18 with support from York bands Honours and Fond. Tickets cost £5 at fibbers.co.uk or on the door.