EVERGREEN soft rockers Smokie are making a comeback with a new album and hometown show.

They may not be the most fashionable combo around, but the Bradford band are determined to make their mark on the contemporary music scene, with the release of Uncovered Too next month and a 30-date national tour, kicking off at St George's Hall.

The CD, which hits the shops on February 11, features cover versions of 14 classic pop songs and all time group favourites.

And the Bradford show promises fans a special double bill, featuring the old Smokie and a separate performance of their new tracks.

All the tracks, from Bruce Springsteen's Hungry Heart to Paul Young's Every Time You Go Away, have been given the distinctive Smokie treatment - and an orchestral twist.

The band collaborated with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, which they worked with on their last greatest hits album, on all of the tunes.

Bass guitarist and founder member Terry Uttley said: "It was a great pleasure and honour working with the Prague symphony again, as they are true rock attitude musicians.

"The cover songs that we chose turned out exactly as planned - classics at the start, classics in 2002."

Formed in school 25 years ago, Smokie first hit their commercial stride in the 1970s, when they notched up 11 of their 14 British Top 20 hits.

Songs like Oh Carol, It's Your Life and Don't Play Your Rock 'n' Roll To Me established the band as a global force, and they have sold around 30 million records to date.

But it was in 1995 that they enjoyed their biggest hit, Living Next Door To Alice. Featuring a guest comedy vocal, with some colourful lyrics, by comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown, the song became a drunken anthem in pubs across the land and shot the Bradford rockers to Number 3.

Drummer Steve Pinnell says the band can see the funny side of their biggest smash. "I think it's fun," he said. "It's not one of my favourite songs but I won't deny it's our most successful.

"As far as being a serious band goes, we're just entertainers - we want to draw the public into what we do. And we can laugh at ourselves, absolutely."

Unfashionable but still popular, the group reformed in 1986 to perform at a charity concert for victims of the Bradford City FC fire disaster - and they have been touring ever since.

Chart success may have eluded them, but Smokie continue to attract huge audiences in countries as diverse as Denmark and China.

Lead singer and devoted Bantams follower Mike Craft promised fans a double treat at their Bradford show on Thursday, February 21.

"They'll hear all the old hits - but we're also going to be our own support band," he revealed.

"We'll go on and do 40 minutes of the new album then take a break, when people can go for a beer or buy a T-shirt, then we'll come back and be the Smokie they remember!" he said.

The group will then embark on a three-month tour, taking them from Bournemouth to Aberdeen.

Tickets for the hometown performance are available from the box office on (01274) 752000.