IT'S been nearly three decades since The Bluetones first broke through during the Britpop explosion of the 90s, but according to frontman Mark Morriss, the band is still “full of enthusiasm with a drive to be the best" they can be.

Their debut album, Expecting To Fly, famously knocked Oasis' (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? off the top of the UK album charts back in 1996. 

Now, fresh off a successful Irish tour, Morriss hints that there’s plenty more to come as they gear up for a stop in Carlisle.

Touring however, has changed for the band as they've gotten older.

“We’ve stopped having alcohol on our rider list because if it's there we'll end up drinking it," Mark laughed.

"A few years ago, it was all about the party – but now, we’re more focused on getting the show right. Smelling the roses, taking it all in," he said.  

"You get more pleasure from doing a good show than when you were burning the candle at both ends trying to get through it."

Although some Britpop bands have become known for headline-grabbing feuds, The Bluetones have kept things pretty harmonious, even when they took a brief hiatus. 

“There’s always creative push and pull,” Mark admits, “ it's not always tea and cakes but we never argue about money or anything ridiculous. We’re a bit of a semi-communist model—everything goes four ways. It means we’re focused on the music rather than distractions," he said. 

 

And while the group has come a long way from living on £36 a week and surviving on “cheese and beans” through the benefit Enterprise Allowance Scheme back in the 90s, the fire that drove them back then is still very much alive today.

“We’re in our fifties but we still feel like young men, full of enthusiasm, and a drive to make the perfect record and be the best group we can, it’s still something that bonds us.

“We love each other, we’re family, I know it sounds cheesy but after all these years you reflect on those things and it feels special," he said. 

This won't be the first time the seminal indie-rock group has been to the Border City, however. 

“I’ve played The Old Fire Station twice before,” Mark said. “Once as a solo gig back in 2016 – I didn’t block any time in my diary for a holiday, so my family and I ended up shaping our Lake District holiday around it. Halfway through the week, I played the gig, then went back to the campervan.

“Last year, I played an acoustic show with Adam (Devlin) from the band. Carlisle’s a beautiful part of the world, and we’ve always been made to feel very welcome. This is only the third time the band’s played there in our whole career, so it’s long overdue.”

Whilst there is new music on the horizon, Mark said: “We’ve learned over the years that audiences don’t want to be bombarded with too many new songs on the night, you want to lose yourself in familiar things.

“This tour will be showcasing the Drive-Thru EP but it will be more of a greatest hits set with those scattered throughout and a couple of other little surprises," he said. 

The group will be at the Carlisle venue on Sunday, November 3. 

Tickets, priced at £25, can be purchased via the Old Fire Station website.