The Sundance TV network in the U.S. has picked up a 12-part British music series that focuses on artists recording in the Abbey Road studios in London.

The series, Live from Abbey Road, which began airing in January in Britain, features artists such as Paul Simon, David Gilmour, Corinne Bailey Rae, the Kooks, Razorlight, Snow Patrol and Kasabian.

Each hour-long program features three sets of musicians — an established act, a singer-songwriter and a breakthrough act.

They are filmed in the studio as they are recording and in-between sessions.

"I feel we have something completely different," said Londoner Peter Van Hooke, a record producer and drummer with Van Morrison's band, who is producing the TV series.

"I've actually thought about why it works in so many ways, and it is very simple. It's because we have no studio audience, so it's very, very personal and intimate. Records are not made with audiences," he said in an interview with Reuters.

Musicians were initially apprehensive about the concept, fearing that both the sound and visuals would be the same kind of "rubbish" seen on most music shows on TV, Van Horne said.

"The first part of every day has been to get them to understand that this is a very familiar environment and they're dealing with musicians who understand their credo," he said.

The show, with at least three tracks from each artist, includes down time, interviews, interaction between band members and failed recording sessions.

The EMI Abbey Road studios in London were created in 1931 and are famed for recording the Beatles, among other famous artists.

The Sundance Channel will begin airing the show in June and the series is being sold around the world.