LESS than a year ago The Futureheads were playing in a little bar in an upstairs room in Holmeside, Sunderland.
On Sunday they're headlining on a stage at the biggest music event in the city's history.
It's quite an achievement, and the band are mightily pleased about it. But what pleases them even more is the city's success in securing the event in the first place.
This is the kind of thing that they and all their friends from Sunderland's DIY music scene dreamed about for years – major stars playing concerts in the area.
The Futureheads were on tour in Canada when I caught up with Barry Hyde and he was keen to know how people in Sunderland were reacting to the Radio 1 announcement.
"I bet everyone in Sunderland is really excited about it. It's really good that it's happening up there, with all the bands that are going to play."
He didn't go on to crow about his own combo's meteoric rise. The focus, he believed, should be on Sunderland.
"I think Sunderland deserves to get something great. There are lots of good bands in Sunderland and the audiences are great, and I think it's something that people are going to remember for years.
"Hopefully, more things will come from it."
When I suggest that the national success of The Futureheads, and their work in helping set up a thriving music in Sunderland, were key factors in securing the Big Weekend, he is typically modest.
"Who knows if it's down to us? Certainly the fact we are from Sunderland has put some emphasis on the North East. We sing in our own accents and are not ashamed to be from Sunderland. I think it changes people's perceptions."
Barry and the lads are on their latest trip around North America. They've supported Franz Ferdinand, have done two headliners and now they're supporting Hot Hot Heat.
They're actually enjoying being second on the bill.
Barry explains: "There's not as much pressure on us, so we've been writing songs, having some nice food, drinking lots of water and watching movies."
But that's not to say they're averse to headlining. They'll be back to do so in America in June, and they are eagerly looking forward to their biggest tour of the UK.
In total, the band are on the road nine months of this year, so days off are a precious thing. It also means the lads are cocooned from the rest of the world. As a result, they are, to some extent, unaware of the impact they are having.
"It's so fast-moving. You have all these things to think about. All these new challenges. You have to keep yourself in shape, and the band working well. It's only when you have time off that you discover what's going on."
The Futureheads will have a little time off during the Big Weekend.
Barry says: "I'll be going to see my mates, see my family, get down to the Ivy (House), see if there are any gigs on."
Then it's back to touring and television and recording. The debut album has just gone gold in the UK (with sales of 100,000) and their first chart single, Decent Days And Nights, is being re-released this month.
As for that Big Weekend gig, he says: "We are chuffed that we're going to headline the second stage on the second day. It's going to be absolutely brilliant."
But soon he was back to talking about the other bands in city. He particularly rates Field Music (who played at Radio 1's Little Party this week). One of the band's members, Peter Brewis, used to be the Futureheads' drummer and Barry is hoping Field Music will be able to support them at a gig towards the end of their UK tour.
Once again, it was less about The Futureheads, more about Sunderland.