Preview: Ocean Colour Scene, Grand Opera House, York May 30

On sale since May 8 on a limited-edition release, this album is the Birmingham band's chance to broaden their retro rock, beyond mod revivalism into folk, blues, soul and reggae, and it forms their first record on their new Mosley Shoals Records label after parting with Sanctuary following an unhappy liaison.

"We're showcasing the diversity of the band with these songs," says guitarist Steve Cradock, outlining the decision to go DIY. "We're keeping it to just 10,000 copies for the fans, and then we'll move on."

Ten years on from their multi-platinum selling Mosley Shoals album, Ocean Colour Scene recorded an acoustic set at the Jam House, an intimate locale in their home city, on February 16 when they gave the usual suspects the night off.

Instead of The Riverboat Song, The Day We Caught The Train and The Circle, they focused on new songs and rare tracks, such as It's A Beautiful Thing, a PP Arnold number they had not performed since touring with her in 1998.

"When we started the idea of a live acoustic album, we wanted to play songs that hadn't got any airplay, songs that were B-sides, and then we took it further with five or six new songs," Steve says.

"We cut it that night, just around the corner from the gig, and I was back listening to it in bed after midnight. It sounded really good, very compressed, and that really suited it, maybe better than the final mix for the album."

The Acoustic Tour will be different again from the album set-up. "For the recording we decided we wanted to steer clear of the old singles, otherwise I don't think we would have done it and the audience really enjoyed it," says Steve. "The tour is different from that night because The Jam House was not a sit-down venue, but the places we're doing on tour are seated, rather than having people standing at the bar."

A further difference will be in the personnel on stage. For the live recording, Ocean Colour Scene were augmented by soul singer Carleen Anderson, Scottish folk fiddler John McCusker and Michael McGoldrick on pipes and flute. "John and Michael played Matilda's England with us: it's a folk song which sounded ancient and had a really dusty feel to it, and it's always good to bring the old and the new together," says Steve.

The familiar Ocean Colour Scene line-up will be performing in York, led by Simon Fowler and Steve Cradock, but the audience will see them in a new light. "You don't have to beat yourself up so much when you play acoustically, but if we play an electric set and I'm not hurting at the end, I don't feel I've done my job. An acoustic show is a totally different way of playing, though it's just as intense," says Steve.

The band will plug in the electrics once more when work begins on their next recordings. "We're going to record a couple of singles as opposed to planning an album straight away. We're going to record a heavy, stomping, guitar single, which will be out in September, and another single for January, and then the album will be out maybe early next year," says Steve.

Meanwhile, he continues to combine his Ocean Colour Scene commitments with his long service in the engine room of Paul Weller's band. A Weller live double album, Catch Flame!, is set for release on V2 on June 12.

"It's just a joy working with him for so long. I've been to Japan and Europe with him this year and I've just written a song with him called Small Personal Fortune," he says.

"We've worked together for 12 years now, and it's been full of surprises. The past eight years have been better and better, and now he's got rid of the keyboard player, it's a really tight four-piece."

If Ocean Colour Scene are revitalised, then so is Weller, according to Steve: "For the last year he's started writing for the live audience again, rather mid-tempo music for the home, and that's great news."

Ocean Colour Scene, Acoustic Tour, Grand Opera House, York, on Tuesday, 7.30pm. Sold out.