IT was a star-studded New Year’s Eve for one South-West band in West Somerset – and one hell of a bash they won’t forget in a hurry.

Eight-piece Burnham party band, The Riverbrew, was hand-picked by Hollywood couple of smash-hit US TV series Homeland, writer Alexander Cary and actress Jennifer Marsala, to play at their wedding in St Audries Park manor estate in West Quantoxhead on December 31.

The group even met Hollywood A-Lister Damien Lewis, the flame-haired Brit actor who stars as Nick Brody opposite American actress Clare Danes in the political thriller series.

Rob said: “We were just sound-checking while they were in the other room doing their speeches, and this ginger guy comes out and got chatting to the band.

“All of a sudden I thought, ‘I know that person’. He was singing away. It was bizarre.

“We played a typical Riverbrew set – they wanted typical wedding cheese.

“I think the guys were a bit more like, ‘We need to make this good’. But I said, ‘Calm down, they’re human; let’s do the best we can.”

The New Year gig topped off a “crazy year” for The Riverbrew, who celebrated their tenth anniversary, and heralds in more excitement for 2014.

The band has been secured to play at the wedding of a BBC Radio 1 DJ – identity as yet undisclosed.

Rob is also embarking on a solo project with heavy hitting producer for Phil Collins, The Police and Paul McCartney, Hugh Padgham.

For the latest on The Riverbrew, visit www.theriverbrew.co.uk