THE Dixie Fried “juggernaut” is set to roll on this year, as the West Lothian duo announce plans to record their fourth album.

The two-piece, comprised of guitarist and singer Craig Lamie and John Murphy, plan to hit the studio this summer to lay down tracks for the new release.

While the album is not likely to be completed until the end of the year, the Whitburn lads are excited to offer up more material.

John said: “The plan is to do half of the recording in June and the second part in December.

“It’s going to be something; myself and Craig are always working on new material, and we can’t wait to drop some more dirty grooves.”

Dixie Fried, set to play at Forthside Festival next month, first broke onto the scene with their eponymous debut album in 2011, followed by A Ways to Go and On Sunburst and Thump.

A self-funded project, the band rolls “every penny” made into production costs and each gig helps to further hone the finished article.

Yet, for John, the journey from their origins to now has been a joy to behold.

“To us, it is all about the music,” he added. “I know that sounds clichéd, but from our first EP to our third album the progression in what we do is very exciting.

“Every penny of money the band earns has gone towards making the next recording even better, so much so, that the last album was recorded at a world-famous studio in Scotland and mastered at one of the UK’s finest. Then, as well as a digital release, we also got vinyl made and it blew our minds.”

John continued: “Our main ambition is to keep progressing. That means we keep the juggernaut rolling and producing a great product that more and more people jump on board and come with us for the ride.

“We play to more and more audiences every year, and, if that keeps growing, we can keep investing back in the music.”

With a surplus of infectious grooves to go around, John and Craig will be rocking more crowds over the next few months, including Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh on May 11, and Broadcast, Glasgow, on May 30.

And though it’s just the two of them, the pair certainly pack a punch on stage and promise to get the audience moving.

John said: “You might start watching us, thinking: ‘How can only two people be on the stage?’. But by the end of the set, you will be cutting some rug with everyone else.

“We promise to get the toes tapping. It is impossible not to feel the groove and be touched. Also, we guarantee to use the cowbell more than you will have ever heard before.”

Dixie Fried are also among the acts signed for the inaugural Forthside Festival in Stirling, on May 3-4 – a date they are both eagerly anticipating.

“Independent festivals, in our experience, are the very best to play,” John added.

“The low ticket prices encourage lots of people to come along and see the wealth of local talent out there – and Scotland has an unbelievable pool of talent to call on.

“And so, when the acts take to the stage everyone is surprised at the level before them, they seem to interact more with the music there than they do at the large festivals.

“Everyone involved with the smaller festivals are so involved that when the music starts you can see the relief on their faces, that they got it done.

“A huge credit to everyone who puts these on around the country; it should be that every large town or city has at least one music festival every year.”

To see Dixie Fried at the Forthside Festival, book your ticket at Skiddle.com