When The Beautiful South split in 2007, there were some band members who weren't ready to let it go.

Two years later, singers Dave Hemingway and Alison Wheeler, alongside lifelong members Damon Butcher (keyboards), Gaz Birtles (sax) and Tony Robinson (trumpet), reunited and formed the nine-piece band, The South.

Dave was the drummer in The Housemartins and, following their demise in 1988, was asked by frontman Paul Heaton to join his new band, The Beautiful South.

The band went on to have hits such as Old Red Eyes Is Back, Perfect 10, Rotterdam, Don't Marry Her and A Little Time. Their greatest hits album, Carry On Up The Charts, was one of the fastest-selling albums in UK history.

Dave says The South had the blessing of Paul Heaton, but wouldn’t have happened unless the fans wanted it. “I wouldn’t have done this without integrity. We didn’t want to become a tribute version of ourselves. There had to be some quality control,” he says. “Our fans grew up with us and of course they want to hear the old stuff, but we're not just re-hashing that.”

The South are at St George’s Hall on Friday, May 23. Ring (01274) 432000.