COLCHESTER electro dance duo Plaitum have managed to secure a support slot with indie stalwarts Bloc Party.

Since spotting Abi Dersiley and Matt Canham performing at a battle of the bands concert at their previous school, Philip Morant in Colchester, we’ve been saying they’re one of the most exciting musical acts playing around north Essex at the moment.

Abi and Matt met at Philip Morant as 11-year-olds but only started performing music together in the last few years.

Now at the Colchester Sixth Form College, they have played a number of gigs in and around Colchester, including an exciting support slot at Dingus Khan’s gig at the Colchester Arts Centre.

Matt says: “Playing with Dingus Khan was awesome because they’re a super exciting band. One of many that were, and still are, at the Sixth Form College. The college seems to be some sort of musical mecca at the moment.

“Performing with Bloc Party will be a new experience though, and we’ll be playing the harder, better, faster and stronger versions of our songs that we’re in the process of recording at the moment for our EP.”

With an atmospheric sound lying somewhere between the XX and Portishead, in recent months they’ve developed, giving their tunes a more dancy vibe similar to early Chemical Brothers.

They will be playing the Ritz in Manchester on June 20, which is already a sell-out.