But they have never actually shared a stage as their two separate acts.

Madden, guitarist/singer/songwriter, has a three-piece blues/rock band simply called Richard Madden, while Smidt is a member of Max and the Magnificent Margaritas, a pop/rock band.

Madden sometimes plays guitar in Smidt's band, and Smidt has been known to add his harmonica touch to Richard Madden's outfit.

The shire can be quite a small place when it comes to original music and to finding venues where that music can be played, so pooling resources is not that unusual.

At the Brass Monkey on Sunday, (August 3) the two mates will come on as separate acts: first Max and the Magnificent Margaritas, then Richard Madden who is enriching his band's sound with a guest horn section.

After all their original music gets played, the two will undoubtedly get together for a Stones or a Beatles cover song.

``What happens when you team up Richard Madden, talented, tasty blues/rock guitarist and singer/songwriter, with his partner in excess and crime Max Smidt, melodic acoustic rock singer/songwriter, tearing through tracks off their debut releases Force Of Nature and Music is the Mistress?'' Madden asks.

``What you get is an exciting and dynamic two-and- a-half-hour show with a kick-ass band that fuses showmanship with raw musical talent, a night that's definitely guaranteed to satisfy.''