The Brighton bubble can stifle artists. But House Of Hats refuse to be restricted.

Within a few months of forming two years ago, the four-piece started the Harvest Sessions.

The monthly night at The Brunswick, which puts them on a bill with other acts they’ve met on the road and artists with connections to House Of Hats’ community, allows the ex BIMM students to hone their craft and broaden their horizons.

The event became so popular that when the Americana and folk group came to release their debut album This Love earlier in the year, they were able to take over Komedia.

Now, thanks to a busy schedule, the Harvest Sessions is a quarterly event with a permanent slot at Komedia, with alternate shows at The Brunswick.

Trad folk fans will recognise House Of Hats’ grassroots approach. As will Mumford & Sons aficionados who remember the Londoners’ Communion club nights at Notting Hill Arts Club.

House Of Hats’ ukulele player James Kuszewski says he knew nothing of the Mumfords’ night when he co-founded Harvest Sessions. He has since spotted similarities, which confirms “we are doing good things”.

“What happens is you find yourself gigging over and over again in Brighton and it’s a bubble and you tend to get stuck.

“It’s great in one respect because it helps you build up a fan base in your hometown, but the danger is you get comfortable and you don’t move away.”

A week before our interview Kuszewski, plus Alex Gigante (guitars, piano), Al-Anoud “Noddy” Al-Omran (acoustic guitar, piano) and Roberto Gigante (bass, percussion), accepted a challenge on Dutch radio to write a song from scratch in 60 minutes. Its title, Brighter Than The Light, even came from the listening audience.

They were invited to US radio stations as part of the promo for This Love and have plans to return later in the year to take their sound beyond the East Coast.

Before then there is a double-header Harvest Sessions with another group from the House Of Hats community, Will And The People.

House Of Hats leading lady Noddy left the psych-folk quartet to help her “flourish creatively”.

“I needed to do more writing,” she explains over the phone.

All four get the chance to flex their writing chops on This Love. So it is down to the tender four-way harmonies and producer Pete Smith’s subtle work to pull the mix of styles together to unify the album.

“We all connect to Bob Dylan and Emmylou Harris,” says Noddy of all their desires to tell stories. “But there are many genres going on in our influences.”

Smith, who received a Grammy nomination for his work de-jazzing Sting’s The Dream Of The Blue Turtles, came on board after meeting Alex Gigante in the Brighton phone shop where the pianist worked.

Yet Noddy credits Kuszewski with fusing the harmonies which have gained House Of Hats comparisons with Fleetwood Mac and Crosby, Stills and Nash.

“He comes from a gospel and soul background,” explains Noddy. “He had the ability to bring our harmonies together. That came from him. Now it is natural and we can pick notes well.”

The secret is to know each others’ voices and find the right blend.

“We are creating a chord with our voices,” she adds.

Kuszewski says the band’s name also comes from the group’s community approach.

“It’s a Mad Hatters Tea Party-like social scene”, he says.

He puts vocal harmony above all else. “Our core thing will always be the harmonies and our instruments fit around that.”