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By John McGurk

PUTTING a smile back on the faces of grown-up indie kids of the early Nineties, will be the 'happy ever after' rock pop trio, The Frank And Walters.

For this band of merry men are back in Ulster after a long absence, with their distinctive brand of quirky, but infectious melodic pop.

The Frank And Walters first emerged as part of a new wave of Irish bands, attempting to follow in the wake of U2's earth-shattering success in the late Eighties/early Nineties.

After forging their idiosyncratic, happy sound on a number of critically acclaimed EPs, they scored a UK Number 11 hit single, with the irresistibly catchy chorus of ‘After All’, in January 1993.

Debut album, Trains, Boats And Planes also made the UK Top 40 - achieving a more than respectable Number 36 placing.

However, the great promise, which had been displayed, just seemed to disappear.

Maybe it was the three-year delay in coming up with album follow-up, 1996's Grand Parade. For, in spite of high praise from the NME and others, it failed to chart.

Subsequent sets, Beauty Becomes More Than Life (1999) and Glass (2001) appealed to only their hardcore following.

A Best Of collection in 2002 and the departure of founding member, guitarist Niall Linehan prompted notions of the band's life drawing to a close.

But, last year, a re-energised group, featuring new guitarist Kevin Pedreschi, reappeared with a jubilantly welcomed double album of old and new tracks, Souvenirs.

Now, they have a prestigious Meteor Music Awards 2006 nomination for Best Irish Album and the impetus to record another set, Renewed Interest In Happiness, due for release later this year.

· The Frank And Walters kick off a UK tour at Spring & Airbrake, Belfast this Friday and The Dungloe Bar, Londonderry on Saturday. Belfast tickets are £10, available from Katy Daly's and Ticketmaster outlets. Belfast support is The Betes Noires, who will soon be promoting a forthcoming UK label release with April dates in England. Admission to the Derry gig is £5.