Back in 2008 The Beautiful South split after 20 years together due to irreconcilable “musical similarities”.

But original vocalist Dave Hemingway, who first worked with songwriter Paul Heaton as drummer with the last incarnation of The Housemartins, didn’t want it to end there.

Together with Alison Wheeler, who was a member of The Beautiful South from their 2003 album Gaze, keyboard player Damon Butcher and the horn section of Gaz Birtles and Tony Robinson from the touring band, he formed The South. As well as selected tracks from The Beautiful South’s rich back-catalogue of bitter-sweet love songs and observations, The South will also be performing tracks from their debut album Sweet Refrains – proving this isn’t just an exercise in nostalgia.

  • The South play Komedia, Gardner Street, Brighton, on Monday, September 30. Starts 7.30pm, tickets £22.50. Call 0845 2938480.