The Beautiful South’s announcement in 2007 that they were splitting because of “musical similarities” was one of the greatest sign-offs since Neil Young told Stephen Stills to eat a peach.

But for many of the band the split was tinged with a sense of unfinished business, coming after a business meeting rather than a farewell tour.

“It wasn’t a surprise – we all saw it coming,” says vocalist David Hemingway (pictured inset), who co-founded the band with fellow Housemartin and songwriter Paul Heaton back in 1988.

“We could see that Paul was unhappy with the way the band wasn’t getting the airplay and radio play we were previously.

“It was frustrating for him that the band didn’t have the same clout it had – the last two or three albums were still up to standard but didn’t get played much.”

It was original drummer Dave Stead who got in touch with Hemingway a couple of years later to form The New Beautiful South – the predecessor to The South – with the remnants of the touring group minus Heaton, guitarist Dave Rotheray and bassist Sean Welch.

“He said, ‘We want to do it again,’” says Hemingway. “The first thing I asked was whether Paul was okay with it. Dave assured me he was.”

Stead has since left the band to open a restaurant. It left the renamed The South to find a new rhythm section and guitarist to go alongside vocalists Hemingway and Alison Wheeler (pictured with Hemingway) – who joined The Beautiful South for their last three albums – as well as long-time touring players Damon Butcher on keyboards and horn section Gaz Birtles and Tony Robinson.

“It was important to get the right people,” says Hemingway. “I have never been a big fan of auditioning people. I never had to audition to join The Housemartins. It was all word of mouth, with the original drummer Hugh [Whitaker] recommending me.

“It always seemed to work with us.

“The Beautiful South were all good mates. We didn’t have many fall-outs – it should be about being in a band, playing some songs and having a laugh.

“I found it quite surreal to be playing the big gigs – it felt like one day we would be found out!”

He is enjoying the closer connection The South has with the fans now they are out of the stadiums and playing smaller venues – although the after-parties have had to be scaled down since The Beautiful South’s heyday.

“We’re fortunate in that we have such a big repertoire to call on,” he says. “We can change the set around and make it fresh all the time.”

Added into that is The South’s first album of original material, Sweet Refrains, which was recorded earlier this year.

“It was always a plan to produce new material,” says Hemingway. “We had no record company so we basically had to do everything ourselves.”

The 12 tracks are recognisably from the same stable as the Heaton/Rotheray songs which made The Beautiful South’s name – perhaps underlining the role the rest of the band had in their creation.

“They were always going to have a Beautiful South feel to them,” admits Hemingway. “It was a question of bringing a bit of freshness to it.”

A lot of that freshness comes from the interplay between Hemingway and Wheeler, building on The Beautiful South’s popular duets such as the number one A Little Time and Perfect Ten.

There is more to come, with Hemingway saying the band now has enough songs in the bag for a follow-up album.

“We are going to see where it goes. We want people to come along, see us and have a listen to the new album. Maybe, in a year’s time, we will take stock and see where we are then.”

Support from Kim Slade.