THE concept has been proven and phase one is complete.

Formerly defined as Scotland’s best kept secret, loose lips have been waxing lyrical and numbers are growing with every wrest gig that comes and goes with the Barrowlands recently packed to bursting in a landmark moment for the band.

The sell-out show at the end of August was a night to remember for the Edinburgh-based four-piece, who now play PJ Molloys across the bridge in Dunfermline this Friday night as momentum grows.

One new listener reached out to them recently to apologise for being “late to the party”, but frontman Stewart Douglas told the Press that if they are to reach new heights, stages and countries – adding to now familiar haunts in Denmark and Germany -, this has to be considered just early doors.

“We used to write music for years that no one would ever listen to, and it was still this fulfilling and positive thing to do,” he recalls.

“Literally, nobody would listen, and we’d be playing for our own enjoyment, and then we’d go to gigs, and nobody would come and yet we’d still absolutely love it.

“I couldn’t imagine not having this now. It’s a massive part of my day-to-day life, and the same with the rest of the guys.

“We aren’t self-congratulatory. We realise it’s an amazing thing to be able to do and we’re genuinely buzzing to do this.

"It’s a bonus that the nights are bigger and growing everywhere we go. We have and would still do this if nobody came, as we do love it so much.

"It’s almost like a funny by-product that people engage with the music and like it. It’s amazing to think that if we put something out on Spotify, we know people are going to be waiting at midnight to hear it.

"It’s so lucky to be in this position, having been doing this for so long with nobody caring and doing it anyway.

“From a human perspective, it’s beyond dreams come true already. It was Craig (Robertson), who plays bass, who said, ‘Do you ever think this is just a simulation? Weird stuff keeps happening whereby we keep getting to do these crazy things’.

“We’re already beyond expectations and keen for more.”

A German promoter once used a terminology akin to goosebumps to describe the heartfelt Scottish indie rock tunes wrest have released and played over the years. With lyrics authentic, raw and romantic, the hairs-on-end descriptor is fitting.

For fans of the likes of The National, Frightened Rabbit, Biffy Clyro and Idlewild, the 'quintessential' songs for those looking to dip their toes into the wrest waters, Stewart feels, include Adventures, Second Wind and Dark Matters – one off each of their three albums -, adding that Human – controversially omitted from the three-strong shortlist when asked for an answer - remains the most gravitated towards by new followers.

“It’s music from my heart to the world,” Stewart proclaims, quickly adjusting in the knowledge a few pints could change the delivery of said line late in the night.

Forming late in 2018 and still unsigned, the journey has been one of ever-evolving discovery, reaching new milestones but remaining rooted and appreciative of experiences they have had thus far.

“We never set out with a serious aspiration to play large shows or anything like that, because that just doesn’t happen,” he states.

“As time moves on, you start taking on more challenges and before you know it, you’re trying to sell 2,000 tickets for the Barrowlands, and we’re pitching to Germans in Germany in the wild hope that people will come across.

“As we’ve gone along, we’ve said to ourselves, ‘Why not?'".

The party is just beginning for wrest, and while selling out the Barrowlands was beyond any gig they believed to be capable of - and with fans indeed making the trip from Germany and as far as the US -, it has solidified the belief that connecting with an audience on that scale isn’t going to be a one-off experience.

Stewart said: “It was the best gig we’ve ever played by some distance.

“It feels in some respects that’s the end of phase one. It’s been a bloody long phase if that’s just phase one, as Christ we’ve been at it for so long.

“It does feel like a landmark moment for us as a band, but I think it proves the concept to ourselves that we actually can play to a bigger room.

"We have that taste for doing more. We have that hunger and drive for it, and I don’t see why we can’t.”

The last remaining tickets for PJ’s on Friday - doors at 7pm - are still available via Ticketweb for £18.50.