HALF Man Half Biscuit formed nearly 30 years ago and since then their presence has been a necessity to music.

The four-piece band from the Wirral will be heading to the Tramshed, Cardiff on Saturday, May 14, for one of their rare yearly shows.

Throughout changing times they have spanned the decades, released 13 full-length albums and dropped a 1001 pop culture references.

Their approach to promoting their music is famously non-existent – even rarer are interviews of any kind.

Their existence is somehow outside of the modern world, yet also a reaction to it.

HMHB are a truly genuine band, blessed with a magical capacity to make the most jaded of listeners fall back in love with music again.

Witty and dry, sardonic yet never cynical, melodically infectious yet edgy sing along songs, these four lads are perhaps still to some extent an undiscovered national treasure.

Back in 1985, Half Man Half Biscuit sat comfortably at the top of the indie album chart.

This may not seem so much of an achievement, unless you take a look back at the other contenders in the chart at that time.

Acts such as Depeche Mode, New Order and The Cult were all on the scene, and you could guarantee that none of them managed to hit the number one spot with an album that had been recorded in just a couple of days and for around £30.

That album was Back In The DHSS, it became an instant success after it was championed by the late John Peel, for whom they did a total of 12 sessions over the years.

As soon as he heard the white label test pressing, he was smitten.

Since then, they have released a further 12 albums with Nigel Blackwell never taking the music business too seriously.

Tickets to see Half Man Half Biscuit cost £20 and are available from the box office on 0871 220 0260, tramshedcardiff.com or seetickets.com