One of Brighton’s musical success stories, Johnny Truant, have decided to call it a day after a decade playing together. But not before a final farewell hometown gig.

The five-piece, who formed after meeting at Lewes Tertiary College, made the announcement at the end of October and have since embarked on a final tour that has already taken in Leeds, Glasgow and the capital.

“We are really excited about playing Brighton,” says singer Olly Mitchell. “There’s been some great shows on this tour, but it’s constantly in the back of our minds that we’ll be playing there soon.”

News of the band’s demise met with grave disappointment from Johnny Truant fans across the country, many of whom have said the band’s last record No Tears For The Creatures was their finest yet.

“It’s been a strange feeling being on tour knowing we’ve broken up, but the feedback we’ve had has been awesome,” says Mitchell.

The band’s success as a touring outfit has informed their decision to split.

“We thought a lot about how we were going to tell people about it because there are so many reasons,” says Mitchell. “A lot of them are positive, in that we never really planned to go as far as we did.

“The band was formed out of friendship as much as anything else, and we were peaking as a band on the last tour we did – we felt we wanted to go out on a high.

“We never wanted to be one of those bands that’s flogging the horse until no one gives a s***.”

The band are keen to stress there is no bad blood between members, and they have plans to work together in the future in different incarnations, which could be reaching Brighton stages soon.

“Everybody in the band will be doing other things, and we’re already talking about it because we’re really excited,” says Mitchell. “I’m sure we will continue to create music with each other.”

Before then, however, the band have a date at the Engine Rooms for a gig that looks set to be a memorable one for Johnny Truant and their considerable fanbase, which tonight will include a large contingent of friends and family.

“We are turning it into a party,” says Mitchell. “We’ve got the venue until 3am, so anybody over 18 years old will get a wristband and they can stay on. It’s what we do most nights on the tour, but other people will be invited this time.

“Brighton’s where we started and there are so many people there who have helped us get this far.”

Support comes from Blackhole.

  • 8pm, £6, call Rounder Records on 01273 325440, Resident on 01273 606312, or visit www.loutpromotions.co.uk