Bees buzzing to Midlands for live show

Fearlessly-individual, groove-loving rockers The Bees are planning a return to The Midlands for a one-off gig as part of a national tour.

The Isle of Wight combo released their fourth album Every Step's A Yes on Fiction this autumn.

The first single from Every Step's A Yes was I Really Need Love, a stunning, uplifting song built on the push and pull between two really simple chords.

It was the result, says Aaron Fletcher, of an attempt to write a "universal song, something everyone could grab hold of," and even by that bar-raising measure, it can be considered an unqualified success.

The band will join Paul Weller as special guests on his UK tour in November and December, including a gig on November 28 at Birmingham Arena.

The band's latest album is their first for Fiction."It's like starting all over again," says The Bees' songwriter (and guitarist and bass-player) Aaron Fletcher. "Only now we've got loads of fans and people who love us. And our own studio. And an amazing label…"

Their new album Every Step's A Yes is the most focussed and most complete record.

The one-time Mercury Prize nominees have just played two gigs at Glastonbury and both of them were, in their own words, among the best gigs they've ever played.

A recent hometown show in Ventnor on the Isle Of Wight went so well the band felt completely reborn. Something significant has happened almost without them noticing.

It's been three years since the band's last record, Octopus. Since they left their last label and found freedom from the write it/rehearse it/record it/tour it treadmill, they've spent the time making music and singing songs, pulling all the amazing tunes out of their heads at their own speed and in their own time.

There have been appearances alongside Pink Floyd and the Incredible String Band at the Syd Barrett tribute night in summer 2007. The band changed. Everyone slowed down – the dynamics of the group began to shift.

Paul and Aaron had shared a house for seven years, but in 2008 Aaron moved out – just down the road – and they both felt the change. "The flame got brighter," is how he describes it. Aaron took to writing song in his kitchen with Tim Parkin playing his new double bass. "It was very chilled out," Tim laughs.

"We used to get stressed making sure everyone was together at the same time," says Paul. "Sometimes we'd not record because someone didn't turn up. Now if you want to be involved, get involved…"

Aaron and Paul have taken their time, worked hard on what they do and they have become two of the very best songwriters we have. All the new tracks were complete pieces before they ever got near a mixing desk and what has emerged are a string of beautifully realised songs, the most mature and affecting things they have ever written.