ONE of Cirencester’s most well known music groups is embarking on a journey to get up close and very personal with its fans.

Ethemia, known locally for standout performances at the Phoenix Festival and the recent Advent Festival, have pledged to play intimate shows in the living rooms of people who are unable to attend one of their gigs.

The idea, dubbed Ethemia’s Special Sofa Sessions, came about when the band was approached by a fan whose seriously ill mother wanted nothing more than to watch her favourite band perform.

Michaela Mott, one half of the duo, said: “It really was a light bulb moment. No matter what’s going on for the people who can’t make it, we can go to them.”

The band has, so far, only played a handful of gigs after coming up with the idea in the summer.

Guitar player Berny Poulton said: “This is a new thing for us. We’re not ones for wasting time, we just knew we had to follow this path.”

Emotions have been known to run high at the band’s gigs with the unsuspecting audience members bursting into tears at the sight of Berny and Michaela walking into the room.

Michaela said: “It’s been quite raw. It’s such an emotional experience to play in the homes of these people. It’s so different to a normal gig, it’s just incredibly personal.”

Ethemia will face their toughest gig in the coming weeks following an invitation to perform on the oncology ward at Cheltenham General Hospital before Christmas.

Michaela, whose mother received treatment on the ward, said: “It’s going to be quite hard. I’m sure it’ll stir up some emotions but it will be amazing.”

Berny added: “We should feel scared but we don’t. It just feels like there’s a flood of emotion out there waiting to come in.”

Anyone wanting to nominate a person for a Special Sofa Session should contact the band via www.facebook.com/ethemia.