A HIGHLY respected figure who embodies the DIY punk spirit will grace Worcester with his presence next month.

The latest musical venture from ex-Minutemen, dos, and fIREHOSE bassist Mike Watt will be hitting the stage at the Marr’s Bar, in Pierpont Street, on Thursday, February 28.

Watt is regarded as one of the most original and influential bassists of all time, with his career spanning four decades and spawning critically-acclaimed, genredefying music.

For his latest project, Il Sogno de Marinaio, he has teamed up with Italian guitarist Stefano Pilia and drummer Andrea Belfi.

Watt originally met Pilia, a renowned musician at the forefront of the Italian avantgarde music scene, in 2005 while touring Italy and the trio got together in 2009 to set out and create music that was both organic and original.

The band will be playing material from La Busta Gialla, which is set to be released via Watt’s own Clenched Wrench label.

Of forming the band, Watt said: “I was invited to join them in playing six shows in Italy during the late fall of 2009.

“We needed material for these shows and I thought that if we were going to come together to do that then why not also record the stuff for an album?

“The resulting sound is the three of us coming from different places and joining together to make a sound singular to the dynamic between us.”

Support at the show, being put on by Worcester promoter The Task in Hand, comes from city’s own Virals, who will be playing their first show in the Faithful City.

The group features Shaun Hencher, formerly of Lovvers and cult mathcore favourites The Murder of Rosa Luxemburg, along with a live band and promises a lighter and poppier sound than his previous output.

Expect sun-kissed glamgrunge with power pop tendencies and tunes from his new four-track Strange Fruit EP.

Doors are 8pm and tickets cost £7 or £9 on the door.

For more information and tickets, go to thetaskinhand.

co.uk or alternatively call 01905 613336.