I AM Kloot are one of those rare Manchester bands who, if acclaim for their music transferred into pounds, would be living the highlife on their own private island in the Caribbean.

"I am happy with the way things are though," says bass player Pete Jobson as we chew the fat in the trendy Northern Quarter hang-out that is the Koffee Pot.

"We always seem to get critical acclaim for what we do here in the UK but not the commercial success you might expect to go with it."

Europe is a different story. While the UK still sees I Am Kloot as an uber talented cult band, our European friends put them on as headliners at massive festivals and even play them on their top-rated radio stations.

Maybe we should take note of the Europeans a bit more eh?

"All I ever hear is `they will be massive'," Pete muses as he sips from a bottle of mineral water - he doesn't do solids before 3pm - and I tuck into a deliciously old school full English breakfast served with a steaming hot cup of gorgeous filter coffee.

"But all we really want is that as many people as possible get to hear our music."

Most bands

I Am Kloot aren't like most bands you meet. For starters they like to do touring and recording very much their own way. Not for them a rake of 30 gigs on consecutive nights across the UK.

"We will do gigs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and then take a few days to do other things," Pete says.

"Because we are totally independent [the band has its own label and sorts its own tours] we are under no pressure. We can do things at our own pace. Johnny likes to go off and find a racing track and race cars - he's always looking for tracks during days off on tour. And we like to be social and go out for nice meals and a few drinks too. There's not many bands get that chance on tour," Pete adds as I nod approvingly and get back down to the business of polishing off my field mushrooms and Bury black pudding.On tour the trio is joined on guitar by Norman McCleod, who runs Moulah Rouge Studios in Stockport and played the famous guitar solo mon Carly Simon's classic track `You're So Vain'.

"Norman and his brother Colin play with us on the road so it's a nice vive with the five of us," Pete tells me.

Maybe I Am Kloot might start seeing some of the critical acclaim they enjoy registering in commercial terms after their headlining appearance at Platt Fields on Saturday night, as part of the Summer In The Park Festival.

"We can't wait," Pete says. "It's always nice playing your home town, even if you do have to give away loads of complimentaries to your friends and family.

"We're bringing back the huge backdrop from our first big shows for this gig," he promises. "And we may have a few surprises, including a special guest or two joining us on stage," he teases.

Let's hope the food on the Saturday night is as good as the music is destined to be.

Bet it still won't be a patch on my Koffee Pot Full English though.

Koffee Pot, 21 Hilton Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester. M1 1JJ.