IN the wake of the March release of their sixth studio album, The Take Off And Landing Of Everything, Elbow are playing their first live dates for more than a year.

Surprisingly, tickets are still available for the Bury alternative rock band’s gig at Leeds First Direct Arena, one of eight shows on their British arena tour.

The new album was recorded at Elbow’s facilities at Blueprint Studios, Salford, and as with 2011’s platinum-selling Build A Rocket Boys! and 2008’s multi-platinum The Seldom Seen Kid, the production and mixing was in the hands of keyboard player Craig Potter.

Mark Stead’s review in The Press suggested that “rather than soaring, Elbow’s sixth album finds them levelling out.”. “There’s craftsmanship, sincerity, wit and likeability,” he wrote. “But there’s also the frustration that good songs – This Blue World, Charge, Real Life (Angel), Colour Fields – could have been great with more hunger, more progression, more need to prove something (which still wouldn’t have rescued Honey Sun and The Blanket Of Night). The Take Off... doesn’t mess up. It’s just ordinary.”

Judge for yourself tomorrow night in the presence of Guy Garvey and co.

Elbow, Leeds First Direct Arena, tomorrow, 7.30pm. Tickets can be booked online at gigsandtours.com/tour/elbow and on 0844 249 1000.