The year of 2011 will go down as a pivotal one for Glaswegians Sam McTrusty, Barry McKenna, Ross McNae and Craig Kneale, aka Scotland's latest big alt-rock export, Twin Atlantic.

The year began with high hopes for the band's debut record, 'Free', and ended with an extensive tour of the US and Canada to promote what had become a hit rock album, producing four singles and earning Twin Atlantic considerable recognition on, er, both sides of the, um, Atlantic.

'Free' was the biggest selling record by a UK rock band in 2011 and contributed to Twin Atlantic being named iTunes Rewind Rock Artist of The Year. The media love-in continued with covers of Kerrang! and Rock Sound.

But, far from getting swept away by it all, the four-piece are keeping their feet on the ground and doing their best to maintain a grass-roots connection with their home fan base: "The fans that we have gathered [in the last five years] is something we are really proud of and we can't wait to have you all, along with new intrigued human beings, in the same room again so we can experience the feeling that makes being in this band so damn exciting".

Later this month, the Scots are returning to the US to tour with You Me At Six and The Swellers, before returning to these sceptred isles in the spring with a twelve-date tour.

Twin Atlantic kick off their UK and Ireland tour in Dublin on 9th April, followed by Cork, before beginning the UK dates in Derry on 11th April, moving onto Belfast, Inverness, Manchester, London (Koko), Cardiff and more, before the final date in Portsmouth on 22nd April 2012.

We will have tickets for Twin Atlantic tour dates when they go on sale at midday on Friday 13th January, priced £13.50 for London and £12 for all other UK dates.