For Brighton-based Two Spot Gobi, opportunity knocked on their door when American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz dropped into one of their gigs.

Now, less than 12 months after releasing their first single, the six-piece have played in front of 8,500 people at Berkeley’s Greek Theatre, provided post-Oscar night enter- tainment for Hollywood’s biggest stars, and are launching their debut album at Brighton’s Hanbury Club.

Not bad for a band put together for a University Of Sussex degree project.

“It has been an incredible year,” admits vocalist James Robinson.

“Last year we released a single called Sunshine Lady, which [US celebrity blogger] Perez Hilton blogged about. Our MySpace page went crazy – we had about 50,000 hits in two days.

“I think he heard about it through Jason. Perez is a big fan of his.”

That link with Jason was established when he dropped in on a Two Spot Gobi gig three years ago in Plymouth, while on a break from touring.

“We have been in touch ever since,” says James. “I have been a big fan of Jason’s since I heard his first album when I was 18.

“He is an amazing guy, really generous and really talented.”

The band supported Jason at three stadium gigs in California last year, including the Berkeley gig, and is the official support for the European leg of his world tour.

All the American interest led to the band playing at chat show host Leeza Gibbons’s first Oscars aftershow party this February.

“It was on Brighton Avenue, opposite the Brighton Cafe in Beverly Hills, which felt appropriate,” says James.

“When we went on to the red carpet there was Paris Hilton in front of us, and we saw people like Slash from Guns ’N’ Roses, Forest Whitaker, Olivia Newton John, and Mel B from the Spice Girls.”

Strangely enough, there was a rush in interest when Two Spot Gobi first started working together in 2005.

“We started out recording tracks at university for Rob Lewis, our cello player, and his third year project,” says James.

“People heard the music and started copying the CD. We must have given out about 200 copies.

“When we played our first gig it was a bit crazy – people knew the words to the songs.”

Tonight the band will be launching their debut album, Everywhere You Should Have Been, which was recorded in south London last year with former Republica guitarist Johnny Male.

The album, which is currently available for download from iTunes, collects all the best songs from the band’s four-year history.

Two Spot Gobi will start writing for the second album once they have finished touring with Jason and on their own as headliners. They are planning to record it in California in July and August with an as-yet unnamed producer.

But, despite label interest in America, the band is holding off from getting signed until they can get a good deal.

“The more you can do on your own, the more bargaining power you have,” says James.

“There’s plenty bands can do on their own with the internet.”

Support from Koala Friday.

  • 7pm, £8/£6, 01273 605789