HERTFORDSHIRE’S newest girl band, The Folk, appeared live on the country’s oldest student radio station in Hatfield.

The county’s answer to X Factor stars Little Mix visited the University of Hertfordshire to sing and chat with DJ Callum Hale on Crush Radio.

Crush is the oldest student radio station in the country, while The Folk’s four teenage members – Stevenage girl Lucy Holmes, Lauren Deakin Davies from Walkern and Buntingford pair Rose Goodship and Sam Saward – are still at school while following their musical dream.

Best described as Mumford and Sons meets Florence and The Machine, The Folk are not a manufactured group but offer acoustic pop on folk instruments.

And as if to prove it to the slightly cynical university listenership they can actually sing and play, the girls performed three of their original songs live in the studio.

The Crush DJ was impressed with the band, who were relaxed and at home in the studio, helped, no doubt, by being interviewed on BBC Three Counties, Jack FM and YOR Radio in recent months.

“Listen to the band and you too will hear and experience how truly mesmerizingly brilliant their music is,” said Callum.

“The Folk is made up of Lucy, Lauren, Sam and Rose; four of the most talented girls you are ever likely to meet! Was a great pleasure having them on the show.”

The four AS-level students, who go to Freman College in Buntingford, formed about a year ago at school and cut their teeth busking in Hertford.

They used the proceeds to pay for studio time to record their first EP and the single they are releasing digitally on April 12. When It Rains will be available on iTunes, Amazon and Napster.

The Folk also have a string of festival dates and gigs lined up.

They are booked for the Nettlebed Stage at this year’s Rhythms of the World Festival in Hitchin on July 24.

Before then, they will play a free ‘all ages’ afternoon gig in Hertford at the Corn Exchange on Sunday, March 25.

To hear a recording of the Crush Radio show, go to http://www.callumhale.co.uk/the-folk – click on the link above right.

For more on the band, go to www.thefolk.co.uk