The brothers' band, Homework, was among the 16, out of hundreds of hopeful entries, which earned top marks to secure its place on the stage which helped launch the careers of the likes of Biffy Clyro and Snow Patrol.

Drummer Ritchie, who is originally from Inverarnie, acknowledged this would be the biggest crowd they have yet played to and a great chance to increase the Edinburgh-based group's exposure, but added: "We treat every gig as important."

Even so, Homework will be taking a bit of extra care with their set, which will have to be pared down to 30 minutes for their opening T Break slot.

"We had our EP launch last week and we thought that went very well, so we'll be taking stuff from that," Ritchie said.

"We thought we'd try to do something a little different with that. A lot of bands have EP launches where they try to get people to buy the EP, but the music business has changed. Before, people would play gigs to promote their records. Now they produce records to promote their live work.

"Because we don't have a record company, what we decided to do was charge everyone £10, which included entry and unlimited free alcohol, and give everyone who was there a copy of the EP."

The approach might have been unorthodox, but it was successful.

"Everyone seemed to enjoy it — but that might have been something to do with the free alcohol. It can't have hurt," was Ritchie's self-depreciating comment.

It might only be expected that the Kass brothers are sensitive to changing trends within the music business.

Singer and guitarist Oli (25) graduated with a first class degree in popular music from Napier University and Ritchie is currently studying on the same course.

Oli also spent a year in London as media manager with a music research company, before returning to Edinburgh to form Homework with his brother, Ross Baird from Mull and Ally Dennis from Dumfries.

However, they are all still learning, not least from the process of recording the "Sleepless Nights" EP, which also boasts a cover by Naomi Holliwell, best known for illustrating the bestselling books of Edinburgh writer Alexander McCall Smith.

"We learned a lot from playing the songs back," Ritchie said.

Homework (left to right) Ritchie Kass, Oli Kass, Ross Baird and Ally Dennis

"When you are playing live, you are listening in a different way. When we were recording, we went over everything with a fine-tooth comb. We wanted to get everything right."

Homework plan to go back to the studio after their Scottish tour in September and though they have an Inverness date lined up in October, they hope the tour will allow them to play with Homework in their home town.

It will also allow the Kass brothers to play in Inverness together for the first time with the same band. Though both have been in other groups, it was only with Homework that they started playing together.

"It seems to be working quite well. We've never had a big brotherly Gallagher-style fall-out," Ritchie added.

Yes, unlike the Gallaghers of Oasis, the Davises of The Kinks or most other pop sibling combinations you can mention, the Kass brothers' relationship tends to be friction free, something Ritchie attributes to their different personalities.

"Oli and I are also very different musicians," he added.

"We play different instruments, but we also have different approaches to music and like different things. I like a lot of jazz and stuff, which is quite different to what we do. Because of that, occasionally he has to be blunt with me or I have to be blunt with him, but we can just put it behind us and don't take offence."

With the T in the Park campsite opening on Thursday and their set not clashing with any of the headliners, Ritchie hopes Homework will have a decent turnout this afternoon. Then after that, he will be free to enjoy the rest of the festival with Blur, Mogwai and Mr Scruff among his must-see list.

"And I'll definitely be hanging out in the ceilidh tent," he added.

"I do like a bit of ceilidh."

l Homework play the T Break Stage at T in the Park today at 6pm.

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