US band, Alien Ant Farm, are bringing their playful brand of nu-metal to Manchester Academy.

The four-piece are known for their sense of fun on stage. Frontman, Dryden Mitchell, said:

"It's magical when we play our stuff for fans. We take our music seriously, but we're also a very tongue-in-cheek group. We want to keep that enjoyment going."

The Californians are best known for their surprising cover of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal.

The song has been nominated for best hard rock performance in this year's Grammy Awards.

Alien Ant Farm's strange name is the brainchild of their guitarist, Terence Corso.

He said: "I was daydreaming one day, and I thought to myself, 'Wouldn't it be cool if the human species were placed on earth and cultivated by alien intelligence?' Maybe the aliens are watching us like a kid does with an ant farm."

The group's debut album, Anthology, is out now on fellow nu-metal band, Papa Roach's, label, New Noize

The Manchester show is one of three British gigs on their world tour.

Alien Ant Farm are at The Academy on Friday 1 February. Tickets sold out.

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